Chapter 74:
July 8, 2026-
"You need to get her out of that room," Burke said looking at Cristina.
"Yeah, like that's going to happen. I took her out for a few hours and you went and tried to kill him."
"I was doing what my patient wanted," Burke said defensively.
"Without his wife's approval? What the hell were you thinking?" Cristina yelled.
"This isn't about Meredith. This is about Derek and what he wants. Meredith can hate me for it, but Derek wanted this surgery and I wasn't going to deny him," Burke said before turning and walking out of his office, leaving a thoroughly pissed off Cristina behind.
July 9, 2026-
Meredith looked at the clock hanging on the hospital room's wall. It was two in the morning and Derek still hadn't woken up. Saying she was worried was an understatement, but so was saying that she was mad. She was furious at the fact that no one found it important enough to tell her that her husband went into surgery.
But no matter how mad she was she just wanted him to be okay. That's why she hadn't left his room since he'd been brought there and that's why she'd been holding his cold hand all night. She was afraid of what would happen if she ever let go.
July 11, 2026-
Derek was awake. He'd been awake for over a day, but Meredith couldn't be happier. He was awake. He survived. She felt like nothing could bring her down right now. Her husband was alive and she was in his arms right now. Granted they were lying in a hospital bed and he was hooked up to more machines then she wanted to think about, but she was in his arms again.
Every bit of anger she held towards him and Burke completely disintegrated the second he opened his eyes and looked into hers. Everything just melted away. Nothing was as important as he was right then.
But now, she had to pry herself away from his arms and sit next to him. Doctors were about to come in to talk to them and she knew it wasn't appropriate for her to be lying with her arms wrapped around him. She hated the fact that she had to get up, but she understood it.
"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd," Dr. Henderson said as he walked in, followed by Burke.
"Okay," Burke said after he shut the door, "The surgery did help."
"You should be very thankful for that," Meredith said eyeing Burke carefully.
"I am," Burke responded, "But it didn't cure the cancer." Burke could see both of their faces falling as Meredith gripped Derek's hand tighter, "Derek, we knew this wasn't a cure going into it. It was going to help, which it did, but it isn't a cure."
"More chemotherapy, rest, and time is all that we can offer right now," Dr. Henderson added.
"You two both have a rough road ahead of you, but you've made it this far and I'm sure you will come out of it fine. Both of you will," Burke said.
As the doctors left, Meredith turned towards Derek who had a doubtful look upon his face. "Derek?"
"He's sugar coating it. He won't tell the truth when you're here. He thinks it's too much for you. It's probably Cristina's doing, but I'm a doctor. I know the truth without him having to say it," Derek answered dully.
"Derek-"
"Meredith, I still don't have much of a chance," Derek said cutting her off. Her head fell on him in tears, but he couldn't be strong this time. Instead of telling her everything was okay, he just cried with her.