Meredith had been called into the hospital at 4 am. So much for sleep. One of her patients needed to go in for an emergency surgery. The surgery had lasted a few hours and by the time it was done, it was time for her to start her shift.
She dragged her tired body through the halls, hoping to catch a little shut eye. Her husband had the day off so he was at home with their son and probably sleeping in, unless Dillon had woken up again. Owen passed Meredith in the hall and stopped her.
"Hey, everything's still on for tonight?" He asked.
"Yep. Are you still bringing the pies?"
"Of course. Five freshly baked from Seattle's finest bakery." They laughed.
"Good. Well then, I'll see you tonight."
"Alright." Meredith continued her journey down the hall where she ended up in front of an on-call room. She walked in and laid down. Completely exhausted she fell asleep in no time.
Dillon woke up with a sore throat and itchy eyes. It was really hot. Kicking off the covers, he rolled over to ask his mommy for something to drink. Noticing she wasn't there, he panicked. He rolled over and saw his dad's sleeping figure, which caused him to calm a little. He put his hand on Derek's cheeks and patted them. Derek came around to the feeling and slowly opened his eyes. He grabbed Dillon's hand in his and kissed his palm.
"Dada!" He said, his voice hoarse.
"Good morning monkey." Derek smiled.
"Mama?"
"She's at work monkey. She'll be back this afternoon." Dillon didn't say anything. He just put his head down on Derek's chest. He felt the warmth of Dillon's cheek against his chest and he got a little worried.
"Dillon sit up for a minute bud." Dillon sat up and Derek took the opportunity to press his hand against his forehead.
"You're hot buddy. You need to lay down." Dillon broke out in a fit of coughs. Derek reached over to his bedside table to grab Dillon's cup. Handing it to him, Dillon drank all of the water in the cup. He laid back down after handing the cup to Derek.
"Are you hungry?" Dillon nodded his head. Derek picked him up and carried him downstairs.
"What do you want to eat monkey?" Dillon shook his head.
"Nothing?" Now he shook his head yes. Derek looked at him confused.
"So you're not hungry?"
"Nope." Dillon spoke. Derek just shook his head confused.
"Well what is it then?"
"Lay down." Derek picked him back up, walked into the living room and set him down on the couch. Derek began to walk away when he felt Dillon pull on his hand. He knelt down in front of him on the couch.
"What's wrong Dillon?"
"Lay me." He knew what Dillon was trying to say but he saw he was having trouble thinking about what to say.
"I will, I'm going to grab your pillow and blanket and then I will come back and lay with you." Derek jogged back up the stairs and grabbed his pillow and blanket and his stuffed toys. He knew Dillon would send him back up for it if he didn't grab them. He stopped in his room to grab his phone. When he came back downstairs he noticed Dillon had stacked all of the medical journals that were sitting on the table, into one perfect pile. It uneased Derek a little bit. He pushed thought aside and called out to Dillon from the stairs.
"I grabbed your Monsters Inc. toys."
"Wha?" Derek thought that as strange. He walked closer and sat on the couch and repeated the same thing to him. This time he understood clearly and smiled wide.
"Fank you." Derek smiled and laid out his pillow and blankets on the couch. He walked over to the TV and put the movie 'Toy Story' into the Blu-ray player. He picked up his son and laid him down on the couch with him. He pulled the covers up over him, when he felt his small figure shiver.
"Are you okay Dil?" He nodded his head and curled into his dad, getting comfortable to watch the movie. Derek checked his phone and read the text message from Meredith.
"Hey. Sorry to leave so early this morning, had a repair to do." Derek smiled and started to reply.
"Hey. Good Morning. Saving lives is perfectly fine with me." The phone started ringing a few seconds later.
"Hello?" Derek asked with a smile on his face.
"Hey. Is Dillon awake?"
"Yeah. We're laying down on the couch and watching Toy Story. He's sick."
"Is he okay?"
"Not sure. He's not talking much. He's just laying down."
"Can you put him on the phone for me?"
"Of course. Give me two seconds."
"Hey monkey? Mommy's on the phone and she wants to talk to you." Dillon slowly turned around and Derek held the phone to his ear.
"Say hello."
"Hello?"
"Hi baby. Good morning." Dillon's face lit up with excitement.
"Mama!"
"Baby! What are you doing?"
"I washing with dada." Meredith would've thought he meant washing clothes if Derek hadn't already told her they were watching a movie.
"What movie are you and dada watching?"
"Toy Sory!" Dillon soon broke out in a fit of coughs. Once they finally settled down Meredith began to speak to him.
"Are you alright Dillon?"
"Yep. You go home mama?"
"I'll be home in a few hours. Remember Aunt Lexie and everyone is coming over tonight."
"Otay. Here dada."
"Okay I love you."
"Wuv too." Dillon pushed the phone that Derek was holding away from his ear and turned back around.
"Hey."
"Hey, he doesn't sound too good."
"Yea. I'm just going to lay down with him."
"Okay. I'll see you this afternoon. I love you."
"I love you too Mer." With that Derek hung up the phone and set it on the table. He settled in on the couch behind Dillon. He payed close attention to Dillon's fever.
Meredith walked down the hall and put her phone back into her lab coat pocket.
"Meredith?" She turned around seeking out the voice that was calling out for her.
"Chief."
"How did Dillon make out yesterday?"
"He relaxed eventually, but today he's sick." Richard turned his hand over to look at his watch.
"Then what are you doing here? Go home, be with your sick son." Meredith smiled at Richard and said thank you. She walked to the residents lounge and changes back into her clothes, grabbed her purse and her keys and took off for home. When she walked in, she was greeted with the cutest sight. There was Dillon laid on top of Derek asleep with his mouth hanging slightly open. Underneath him was Derek, with an arm wrapped protectively around Dillon and his mouth also slightly open. Meredith used the time to sneakily snap a picture. She stood there for a minute, just admiring her life. She smiled at the two guys on the couch, thinking about how crazy it was that Dillon was Derek's carbon copy.
Meredith ran upstairs to change into something more comfortable. When she came back downstairs she went to the kitchen to grab something to eat. She came back in the living room and settled herself onto the couch, in the only space that wasn't taken by the two sleeping guys. She too found herself slipping to sleep. When they all woke up around 2, Dillon had been excited to see his mommy. Derek and Meredith decided they'd spend the time they had before the small party tonight, in the house getting ready.
Derek took Dillon up for his bath. He watched as Dillon watched his toy boat float across the water. After he washed Dillon up, he went to wrap him up in his towel but Dillon bolted from the bathroom. He ran out of the bathroom chasing Dillon. Dillon looked behind him and ran straight into Meredith. Derek caught him and wrapped him in the towel. He took him back to his room and got him dressed in a pair of black jeans, a blue collared shirt and a pair of shoes. Dillon put his hands up, telling Derek he wanted him to pick him up. Derek picked him up and carried him to his and Meredith's room. Derek set him down on the bed and he sat quietly until Derek had changed into a new shirt.
Meredith was downstairs getting everything ready when she heard the doorbell ring. She walked to the door, knowing it was Owen and Cristina. Derek was carrying Dillon downstairs and tickling him while he laughed hysterically. Owen greeted Meredith while Cristina started to talk about her horrifying day of no surgeries. Meredith was laughing at Cristina's horrified face. Owen looked at Derek and Dillon and smiled at them. Derek set Dillon and walked into the kitchen with Owen, while Dillon went to go play.
As more people friends showed up, Dillon got a little more uncomfortable. He felt trapped and he didn't like so many people around him at once. He walked over to the corner where the recliner was and sat behind it. Awhile passed before a couple of people headed home. The only people left were Christina and Owen, Alex, Mark and Lexie. Owen noticed Dillon in the corner and walked to him. He crouched down next to him in the corner and sat down.
"Hey little man." Dillon said nothing back. He put his hands around his knees and started rocking back and forth.
"Why are you sitting in the corner all alone?"
"Is quiet." Dillon whispered. He broke out into a silent bout of tears. Owen's heart broke at the sight and sound.
"Hey don't cry little man." Owen picked up Dillon and walked into the kitchen with him. Derek and Mark, who were in deep conversation about the Yankees, heard the crying and looked to where Owen had just walked in the kitchen with Dillon.
"What's wrong?" Derek got up with a worried look on his face.
"He said it was too loud and started crying. His body temperature is pretty hot too." Owen passed Dillon to Derek. Mark tried to help comfort Dillon but his cries only seemed to get louder. Meredith, Lexie and Christina walked in from outside and Meredith immediately became worried.
"Meredith. Can you grab the thermometer?" Meredith went upstairs and into the bathroom to grab the thermometer and came back down with it. She told Dillon to hold still while she took his temperature. She put the thermometer in his ear and waited for the beep.
"106. Oh my god."
"Get him on the couch and lay him down." Owen said, going with Mark to get a couple of ice packs. Owen hurried to the living room and put a couple of ice packs on him. He came over to kneel down by him.
"I go home mama. Home."
"We are at home baby. Just lay down okay."
"He's confused. That's typically caused by a high fever." Meredith sat with Dillon for a while, just holding him and hoping he was going to be alright. Mark and Lexie had just left, each getting pages to the hospital. Owen came over one last time and took his temperature.
"104.7. It hasn't gone down much but the ice packs are helping. I think if you keep a close eye on him tonight, he should be okay but if his fever goes up again, bring him into the hospital."
"Okay. Thank you Owen." Owen and Christina said their goodbyes and headed back to the hospital. Derek came back to the couch and sat on the other side of Dillon. Derek picked him up and settled him on his lap.
"My car. Car dada." Dillon pointed to his green truck on the floor.
"No cars tonight bud. It's time to go to sleep."
"No. No want to."
"Dillon, it's late. We're not playing with anymore toys tonight." Derek said firmly. Dillon screamed and tried to squirm out of Derek's lap.
"Dillon, we don't scream." Meredith said. Dillon screamed again and then another time. He began to flail his arms and scream and cry. Derek was telling him to calm down when Dillon hit him across the face. Derek knew that he didn't do it on purpose, but he was just throwing a tantrum.
"Alright Dillon." Derek held Dillon's arms down so he couldn't hit again. He still screamed at the top of his lungs. Derek found that the tighter he held Dillon, the faster he calmed down. It took about 15 minutes until Dillon was completely calm and quiet.
"Are you hungry Dillon? You didn't eat anything at dinner."
He shook his head and curled up between Meredith and Derek, while they watched a movie. Derek turned off the TV while Meredith tidied everything up. Derek picked Dillon up and Meredith led the way up the stairs. They stopped in Dillon's room to change him into his pajamas and put him in bed. Derek and Meredith both kissed his forehead before walking out and turning off the lights. They walked to their room and changed into their night clothes before crawling into bed.
"Mer?"
"Yeah?"
"I think it's time we talked to someone about Dillon. I know we said he is fine and it's just a phase, but we can't ignore it anymore. Especially not after the last couple of weeks."
"I know Derek, I do. I was thinking that it was time too. But whatever the doctor says, changes nothing."
"Of course not Mer. He's still our baby. I'm just worried you know?"
"Me too Derek." They laid still in the bed, not saying anything. They heard the small pattering of feet down the hallway. Soon enough there was little Dillon at the foot of their bed with tears in his eyes. Meredith leaned forward and settled him on the bed between her and Derek.
"What's wrong honey?" Dillon turned his body into Derek's and cried more.
"Meredith. He's burning up." Meredith pressed her hand to his forehead and agreed with Derek.
"We need to go to the hospital." Meredith got up and threw on a pair of jeans and shoes, as did Derek. Meredith went to Dillon's bedroom to grab a change of clothes for him. The family hurried out to the car, Derek only stopping to grab Sulley and Mike Wazowski for Dillon. They drove to the hospital and took Dillon right into the emergency room. Lexie was working the ER tonight.
They waited around for a few minutes before Tyler spotted them.
"Dr. Grey? Dr. Shepherd?" Tyler ushered them through the door to a bed in the ER. Derek set Dillon down on the bed and he held on tight to Derek's shirt and started screaming. Arizona looked across the ER and noticed the Shepherds. Derek was still battling with Dillon to let go of his shirt, but he had stopped screaming.
"Meredith, Derek? What's going on?" Arizona hurried over. Dillon had become the hospitals favorite person. He was always cheery, playful and funny, even if he couldn't communicate with everyone.
"His fever went up again." Arizona took Dillon's temperature as best as she could while he was squirming around.
"105." Arizona sat on the bed with Dillon and calmed him. It took a few minutes but she did it.
"Okay Dillon, I'm just going to feel around your tummy and back okay?" Dillon didn't respond or acknowledge her. It was as if she hadn't said anything. Arizona thought it as strange for such a young child to be exhibiting the teenage ignoring act. She felt around his back first, looking at him for any signs of discomfort. She noticed the repeated blinking of his eyes every so often, like something was in them. Arizona felt around his stomach and to see if there was anything unusual.
"When was the last time he ate?" Arizona asked suspicious of something.
"He refused to eat all day. Derek had to force him to eat some of a grilled cheese?" Meredith said, the worry evident in here voice. Meredith and Derek may have been doctors, but they were finding out that the situation was much different on the parent's side.
"Any vomiting?"
"None."
"Complaints of pain?"
"He hasn't said anything about pain. Then again he doesn't talk often." Derek said sadly.
"It's not appendicitis. Dillon can you lift up your shirt for me?" Dillon kept his eyes looking up and away from Arizona. Arizona got a little closer and whispered to Dillon. "Hey Dillon, do you think you could take of your shirt so I can examine you." He just looked at her and then Derek. He lifted up his arms, and Arizona took it off him. Arizona did some more feeling around and she knew what was wrong when Dillon winced.
"You see how his stomach is sucked in? It's a reflex that very young children tend to do when they're anxious or when they're sick. He's developed a muscle strain in his abdomen, so that means he's been doing this for quite some time. As for the fever, he has a cold. His fever is quite high which worries me but all in all he should be fine. You can take him home for the night, but keep a close eye on him. I want you guys to bring him in tomorrow morning, at 8:30. We'll take some blood, run a couple of tests." Arizona said while playing with Dillon. Derek put his arm around Meredith and breathed out a sigh of relief.
"What kinds of tests?" Meredith said.
"Blood tests. Mainly a couple of motor skills tests and development tests. I know you've expressed some concerns about his development to me recently, so I just want to run some tests. If that's okay with the two of you?" Arizona questioned. She noticed his behavior and mannerisms lately and was a little worried.
"No, no. That's fine. We've agreed that its time." Meredith said.
"Ok then. It's official. I will see you all tomorrow morning." Arizona said happily and picked up Dillon, tickling him. She handed him over to Meredith.
"Thank you Arizona." Meredith said gratefully.
"Say thank you to Arizona, Dillon." Meredith said to him quietly.
"Fank you." Dillon said, his tone just above a whisper.
"You are most certainly welcome sweetie. Have a safe drive home guys."
"Thank you." Meredith and Derek said in unison. As the family walked out, they ran into Christina and Owen. They stopped and talked for a few minutes before Dillon started to whine. They parted ways and said goodnight. The family traveled home and got in the house. Meredith went and changed Dillon into his pajamas and grabbed his little blanket that he carried everywhere with him, and brought him to hers and Derek's room for bed. She walked in just as Derek was sliding into bed with Dillon's Monsters, Inc. toys. She laid him down in the bed next to Derek and changed back into her own pajamas. She slid into bed, curling up close with her son and her husband. Derek reached across the small body that was in between them and laid his hand on Meredith's shoulder.
"I guess there was no fighting sleep tonight. And he's a bit cooler now." Meredith smiled and said while looking down at the little figure. She leaned down to kiss her son's forehead and the across to kiss Derek.
"I love you Derek." She said closing her eyes.
"I love you too Meredith." He replied, doing the same.
Sorry I took a while to update. I broke my shoulder last week and between that and school, I have had no time to do anything! Just a little background on why I'm writing this story. Autism is a huge deal and I'm surprised Shonda had never incorporated it into the show. My brother has autism, so everything that I've written and will write about are things that I have experienced from an outsiders POV.
I hope you all enjoy the story so far! More to come in a few days.
