III – Part 12
Derek and Meredith ate their breakfast in complete silence. They were both lost in their own thoughts.
He was excited at the prospect of finally being able to meet his son today. Yes Addison had objected to him telling Richie he was his father but she can't object to him meeting the child. He only hoped she didn't bring Sloan along, he frowned at the thought of Mark Sloan raising his son. How could he make her see that he deserved a chance to be a part of his son's life?
He glanced across the table at Meredith, she seemed surly today. She hadn't asked how his meeting with Addison went and he didn't offer her the details. He did however hear that Addison and she had a nasty confrontation in front of quite a crowd. Derek smiled to himself. He kind of liked the idea that they were fighting over him. Maybe Addison was lying to him about her feelings to save face. Of course nothing would ever come of it, since he was a happily married man.
Meredith looked across the table at her husband. She couldn't help but wonder if he had heard what a fool she had made out of herself yesterday. How stupid she felt jumping to the conclusion that Addison had come to town to purposely try to take her husband away. Maybe he hadn't heard since he seemed to be in a pretty good mood this morning. She sighed over her cereal. She really hoped he somehow would miss the rumors.
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Addie stood in front of the desk at the nurse's station, Richie stood at her side. They had an appointment scheduled with Miranda this morning for the pre-transplant screening. The tests had to be done in order to qualify as a donor. They would do one batch of tests today, which was one week before the donation, then more tests the day before. It was extremely important, because any kind of infection could be detrimental to the procedure making it impossible to donate to Ellie.
Derek leaned against the wall down the hall from where Addison was, he scrutinized her look today. It was quite different from yesterday. Yesterday she had that I'm all business don't fuck with me look going on, today she had a look of the typical soccer mom. Her casual attire included having her red hair pulled back into a high ponytail, minimal make up, a pair of faded blue jeans, a navy blue Columbia t-shirt and black Nikes.
After studying Addison his gaze move to the small boy fidgeting impatiently at her side, he had one arm wrapped around her leg. He smiled at the fact they shared the same dark curly hair. He couldn't tell from this distance if he shared his blue eyes, he really wanted to know so he casually started to move in their direction.
Derek quietly walked up to her side and said, "Good morning." He had a big smile on his face.
She was startled by his greeting. She hadn't noticed him observing them. She protectively put her hand over her son's shoulder keeping him close to her. "Good morning Derek," she said evenly trying to not betray the emotions going through her head.
He couldn't take his eyes off the small boy before him. He smiled as he realized he did indeed share his eyes as well. He noticed plenty of Addison in him too, her mouth and nose. He quietly asked, "Are you going to introduce me?" His mouth went dry at the thought she would refuse.
"Richie this is Dr. Shepherd, he is an old friend of mine." She looked at Derek and gave him a shrug, what else was she supposed to say? Richie buried his face in his mother's side, he was being shy.
Derek bent down to his level. "Hi, Richie it's good to meet you." He reached out and brushed his curls. He could feel the back of his eyes burn the emotions running through him were overwhelming. Derek looked up and locked eyes with Addie, the emotions were swirling in his eyes. They were having another staring contest. She could see all the emotions playing in his eyes, this time she was the one who turned away first.
Derek stood up, cleared his throat. He asked hoarsely, "After Richie's appointment would you like to meet Ellie?"
Addie gave him a small nod. "I would like that," she said quietly.
The nurse behind the desk caught her attention and said, "Dr. Bailey is ready to see you now."
She turned to the nurse and quietly said, "Thank you." She took Richie by the hand and guided him into the exam room, without a glance back.
Derek stood staring watching their departing forms, he knew deep down if he really wanted a relationship with his son. Addison would not be able to refuse him.
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Addie settled Richie on the exam table. She was still trying to keep her emotions in check after her encounter with Derek. Yesterday had been so easy, but today, the way he looked at Richie, that just killed her. She had been so absolutely sure she never wanted to have him be a part of her son's life.
Miranda entered the exam room with a big smile on her face. "Good morning Richie." She knew it helped him to relax since she was someone familiar to him, she was also relieved to find out that Sully and Addie had explained to him already what was going to happen today. They just used a simple straight forward explanation.
Richie was able to grasp that he had something in his blood that would allow a very sick little girl to get better. He was a little scared about getting poked with the needles, but he wanted to be brave so he could make someone else better. After all his mom and dad were always making other little kids better, so he felt proud that he could do it too.
Miranda talked to him softly. "I know this might hurt a little bit. But you can hold your mom's hand really tight while I do this. Okay?" she smiled at him.
Addie sat up on the exam table next to him and put her arm around him. His eyes widened a little anticipating what she was going to do and he reached out for his mom's hand and held on really tight. He closed his eyes tightly and held his breath waiting. Addie rubbed his back and kissed the top of his head while Miranda quickly went to work.
After but a moment she finished drawing his blood. She smiled at the boy. "There, all finished that wasn't so bad now, was it?" she said while she swabbed his arm and put a Spiderman band aid on the spot she had drawn the blood.
He let out a big exhale and carefully opened one eye, then the other. "You are all finished?" he asked with surprise. She nodded and he grinned up at her. "I didn't feel a thing. You are really good at that."
"You better believe it. You didn't think your mom would pick someone who didn't know what they were doing did you?" He vigorously shook his head no.
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Derek decided to wait outside the exam room for them to finish. He wanted to make sure he had another chance to see Richie and he also wanted to make sure Addison didn't change her mind about meeting his daughter.
After a short time they emerged from the exam room, Richie had a Spiderman band aid on one arm and a sucker in each hand. Derek smiled at the boy and asked, "How did it go?"
"It didn't hurt at all," he said grinning up at him. "Mom says that's because I'm real tough."
Derek looked down at his son and said, "I have someone I want you to meet; her name is Ellie, if that is okay with your mom."
Richie looked up at his mom and she nodded. "Ellie is the little girl you are going to try to help make better," she said gently.
"She is?" He looked down at his two suckers then looked up at Derek, "Does she like suckers?"
Derek smiled his eyes lighting up at his son and he nodded. "Yeah she likes suckers."
Richie put both suckers in one hand, then reached out and took him by the hand. It was obvious he was ready to go meet Ellie. Derek emotions were running wild as he walked down the hall holding his son's hand with Addison following closely behind. It didn't take long to reach Ellie's room.
Derek, Addie and Richie stood outside Ellie's hospital room. Derek peered in the room and saw that Meredith was in the room with their daughter. He waited at the door watching the two and smiled, his eyes lit up as he watched them. Addie stood back and watched him watching his wife and daughter. For the first time since she had been here she felt some relief about Derek and Meredith's relationship, she could see it in his eyes how much he loved his wife and daughter. She had to laugh to herself though. He obviously still had a hard time conveying his feelings.
Derek still holding Richie's hand walked over to the bed. He kissed Meredith on the side of her head and then leaned over and kissed his daughter on the top of her head. He introduced Richie to both Meredith and Ellie. Richie shook both their hands, and then offered Ellie one of his suckers. She smiled when she took it from him.
Addie hesitated outside the room, after what happened yesterday she wasn't really too sure if she would be welcomed. Meredith looked up and saw her standing in the doorway and waved her in.
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Miranda had given Tuck a tour of the hospital earlier that morning. He had to admit he liked the hospital and was pretty sure he would be happy here. Now he just had to work on getting Sully and Addie to sign on, he grinned when he thought about the conference he had with Richard and a select number of staff members after the early morning staff meeting. It was their job to find patients that needed either Addie or Sully for a consult. Of course the ultimate would be a patient that needed both for a consult. O'Malley was already doing a stellar job, he managed to snag Addie twice in one day. He had to chuckle to himself at how indignant she was about the entire situation.
Tuck casually leaned against the nurse's station. The crisp new white lab coat was a stark contrast to his usual scruffy looking self. With barely combed sun bleached blonde hair, wrinkled khakis, a faded blue t-shirt and his favorite pair of worn black Chuck Taylor's, he looked over a chart as he listened to three of the interns conversation. He cocked an eyebrow when they started talking about the Mistress of Evil who had come to the hospital yesterday. Rumor had it she was coming back again today. He had a hard time keeping a straight face as he continued to listen to how these interns described his sister-in-law.
His attention was drawn to a gurney crashing through the emergency room doors. The paramedics were going over her stats, as they quickly moved her to a curtain and hospital bed. She was in the final stages of labor, so final in fact Tuck barely made it in time to catch the baby as it was delivered. He called for an emergency consult as he worked on the small patient. He was going to need both Addie and Sully on this one.
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