Hi everyone, once again, thank you all for your kind reviews. I just like to know what you're thinking!
Warning: This chapter contains some mention of violence.
xxx Bless xxx
"Lexie are you hurt? Please say something!" The ten minutes ride seemed like an eternity. The muffled sounds indicated Lexie still was on the line, but for Meredith it wasn't enough. "TALK TO ME!"
It has never been that bad, and it was all her fault. It was a pretty normal evening, one of those nights when Thatcher would drink without causing trouble. He would just sit on the sofa and cry. That's why Lexie figured she could talk to him. It would be fine. Thatcher would realise he was hurting himself and he would agree to get help. He'd agree because he wouldn't let his daughter down. He'd agree because he was her father, and somehow, he still wanted to be there for her.
That's not how it happened.
"I'm... sca.. scared..." Between two sobs, Lexie did her best to articulate. "I can't move" She didn't know if it was from the pain or the fear, maybe both.
Meredith sighed, she knew how quickly things could turn badly. "That's fine, we'll be here in no time. Are you safe right now?"
The house was silent, Thatcher had probably fallen asleep, or so she hoped. "Yes"
"Good, that's good Lex! Just listen to me, I'm gonna... tell you five things about me... Just like you did once.. Okay?... Just focus on me..." Anything that would help time go faster.
Meredith grabbed Derek's hand. Too many mixed emotions were now running through her mind but she couldn't let any of them reach the surface just yet. Lexie needed to be her priority. Derek simply nodded, encouraging Meredith to keep going. "I like blueberries, that's one thing. I like blueberry pancake but since I don't know how to make pancakes, I just eat blueberries for breakfast."
"I suck at knitting..."
"I have a lucky charm. Actually if you repeat this to Cristina I won't talk to you again" Maybe it was her imagination, but it seemed like Lexie had calmed herself down. She even heard her chuckle a little.
"Number four, I signed up for a gym membership about two years ago... and still haven't been there once!" Derek wondered if she was making that up, since even he didn't know about it. He would have laughed so hard if now was a good time.
"And last one, I... " Meredith's voice suddenly became serious. This wasn't like revealing a big dark secret, but for her, it was big enough. "I always care, even when I say I don't"
He wasn't Thatcher, he was just an angry man whose eyes were blinded to love.
When fury won his heart, he forgot how to be human, how to feel, how to react. He was finally settled on a chair, quiet, but he still didn't look like he was really aware of his surrounding. When the bell rang though, he rushed to the door, without opening it.
"Thatcher, I need a word with you" Derek announced firmly but politely.
Meredith was hiding behind him. She wasn't afraid. She just wasn't sure she felt ready for what would happen next.
As realisation hit him, Thatcher ignored the door and clumsily headed towards Lexie's room instead. "You call THEM?! You promised! .. You.. You.. promised you would be good... you're a LIAR. A bitch and a liar! Your mother would be ASHAMED! " He was punching the closed door so loudly that he would end up breaking it.
Derek was trying to find a way in without success.
"Derek!" Meredith urged, alarmed by Thatcher's yells.
"Step back!" Derek finally kicked the door with all his strength.
"Lexie, let me in"
Meredith just stood in front of the brunette. She felt like breaking down next to her sister. Her heart ached so badly that she couldn't react.
Lexie was curled against her bedroom door, her hair was covering most of her face. Traumatised.
"Okay" Meredith whispered, taking a deep breath. Crawling wouldn't help, so she decided she would act like a doctor. It would be easier, to just pretend Lexie was some random patient. She knelt down in front of the disconcerted woman and check for a pulse.
She noticed a small cut on Lexie's forehead. It didn't seem deep enough to need stitches, but it could mean Lexie hit her head.
"Do you feel dizzy?" Meredith gently asked, taking a closer look at Lexie's cut. "It doesn't look too bad" Meredith reassured.
"Hurts" Lexie finally admitted, still avoiding any eye contact.
"What hurts?" Meredith asked with concern. "Lexie, show me where it hurts?" She urged.
Lexie could see Meredith's lips moving, but she couldn't focus on the meaning. Right now, it was so hard to just exist, to just be.
Meredith suddenly noticed Lexie was holding her arms around her stomach. She initially thought it was some sort of self-protection posture but maybe there was more to it. She delicately tried to lift Lexie's shirt but the brunette prevented her to do so.
"It's ok, I'm not gonna hurt you" Meredith reassured the shaking woman "Let me see"
"God.." Meredith muttered. The bruised abdomen was making it harder not to feel like a sister right now. She carefully examined the bruises making sure not to cause Lexie more pain. "We're going to get you out of here, all right?"
Derek was practically holding Lexie up, as they were slowly crossing the living room. The place was a mess. Every piece of furniture seemed to have suffered from Thatcher's rage.
Derek had managed to deal with Thatcher, until now.
"You can't take her, she's my daughter!" He shouted, positioning himself in front of Lexie. The brunette was biting her lips. She wouldn't be able to contain her pain for much longer. Tonight, it felt like she lost her dignity.
Meredith violently grabbed Thatcher's arm and pushed him away from her.
"You touch one hair on my sister again and I come after you!" In that moment, Meredith's little frame didn't matter. The conviction in her voice combined with her tenacious gaze converted her into a giant.
The fear that was holding Lexie hostage was now eating her alive. She had no strength left. What if, she just gave up? The thought crossed her mind for less than a second, but it was already too late. Gradually, the ground under her feet evaporated itself. This world was just too big for her. She couldn't stand to be in it anymore.
"Meredith, not now!" Derek commended as he felt Lexie collapsing in his arms.
Meredith nervously opened the car door as Derek carried the unconscious brunette. She hurriedly got in first and grabbed Lexie's shoulders. "You got her?" Meredith nodded while she carefully pulled the young woman in her lap.
"How is she?" Derek asked as he started to drive.
"Her pulse is still weak. She needs a head scan and an ultrasound"
"Just stay with me!" Meredith begged, when Lexie opened her eyes.
