Chapter 60
May 7, 2026- Seattle, Washington
"Mer? Are you awake?" Derek whispered into his wife's ear.
"Hmm…." Meredith mumbled as she stretched a little bit. She opened her eyes and met the darkness. She looked at her alarm clock, "Derek it's one in the morning," she said as she turned to him.
"I know, it's just, I," Derek stopped and sighed. Meredith quickly got a little worried, "Would I really have kicked her out?"
"I don't know," Meredith whispered.
"I would have, wouldn't of I? I would have kicked out our pregnant sixteen-year-old daughter. What kind of father does that?"
Meredith turned back around and cuddled close to her blanket, "I wouldn't know. My father wasn't there for me."
May 7, 2026- Seattle, Washington
Derek woke up the next morning alone. He rarely woken up alone and when he did, he knew he'd hurt Meredith. She might not admit to it, but after living with her for eighteen years he's picked up on her little habits.
He pulled the covers off of him and walked out into the hallway of his quiet house. He ended up in the kitchen, noticing a note on the counter. It was from Meredith, saying she was at the hospital. Her hiding place, everyone's hiding place. He sighed and crumbled it up before throwing it away. He knew Celine was at school, so he was on his own for the day.
First, he ran to the store. He picked up a few groceries and some fresh lavender for Meredith. He picked up something for breakfast since he didn't feel like making anything and headed back home. After eating, he set up the lavender in the kitchen and put the groceries away. He cleaned up the dishes, knowing Meredith wouldn't be happy if they were still dirty when she got home.
When he felt the kitchen was clean enough to meet her standards, he headed towards the hall closet. He picked up the phone book and headed to the living room with it and a pad of paper.
May 7, 2026- Seattle, Washington
"What are you doing here?" Bailey asked gruffly.
"No offense, but you aren't my resident anymore. You can't boss me around," Meredith said as she closed the chart she'd been working on.
"That didn't answer my question," she said placing her hand on her hip.
"I'm working. I need to pay my bills," Meredith said as she began to walk down the hall.
"You and Derek could quit and live just fine for a few years off of your savings. That's not the real reason," Bailey said following her.
"I have patients to see."
"You have a husband and daughter at home that need you," Bailey said.
"Derek is just fine and Celine is at school. I'll be home soon after her. She's strong. An hour without supervision won't kill her," Meredith said, trying to get Bailey off her back.
"You need them just as much as they need you."
"I'm fine."
Bailey rolled her eyes, "Don't start that fine crap. Whenever you start saying fine, you are the least fine you possibly can be." Bailey sighed and her eyes softened a little, "Go home to your husband. Don't hide from this. You'll find her."
May 7, 2026- Seattle, Washington
Derek closed the phonebook and looked at his list. It was pretty long and he knew it was going to take him all night, but he didn't care. He had to do this. It was the least he could do. He ripped the sheet of paper off of the pad and put it in his pocket as he picked up the phone book and put it away.
He headed back into the kitchen and wrote a note for Meredith and Celine, leaving it in the same place that Meredith's had been. He sighed and prepared himself for what he might do tonight before grabbing his keys and heading back towards his car.