Disclaimer: I own nothing. Grey's Anatomy belongs to Shonda Rhimes.
Author's note: Hey!! Once again, school has kept me from fnishin this chapter to all who read/reviewed and sorry for making you wait. I'm sad because after this one, there is only one chapter left. *sniff* Enjoy and don't forget to review!
Meredith and Derek were sitting in a waiting room, close to the Pit. Her head was leaning on his shoulder while his hand was absentmindedly playing with her locks.
"Meredith!", she heard a familiar voice exclaim. Both Derek and her got up while Izzie ran towards them.
"I just heard about what happened! I'm so glad you're okay!", she said as she put her arms around her sister-in-law's body and held her tightly. "I was so scared!"
Meredith closed her eyes and breathed Izzie's scent, something she thought she'd never get to do again.
Derek watched the whole scene with a bright smile. Yes, he was exhausted mentally and physically but seeing Meredith so happy just made everything bright and shiny.
Izzie let go of her, turned to Derek and gave him a tight hug.
"I can't believe that son of a bitch kidnapped you! Derek, did you get checked out?"
"Yeah, did and I'm fine."
"And you Mer, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. He didn't hurt me.", she assured.
"You sure?", Izzie insisted
"Izzie, don't worry about me. I'm okay, I promise.", she answered with a reassuring smile.
"Then why are you still here?", Izzie asked.
"The police may have some questions for us so we have to stick around."
"But Finn, is he.....",
No.", Derek sighed. "They're working on him right now but he's going to make it."
"Really?", was all Izzie could utter.
"Yeah", replied Meredith. "When the gun went off, he passed out and we called the paramedics."
"Well, it's getting late. I'm going to meet Alex at home. I don't think he knows what happened yet"
"Okay, we'll see you in a bit", Meredith replied.
"Are you coming too, Derek? ", Izzie inquired.
"I wouldn't want to would to intrude.", Derek said. Of course he wanted to be with Meredith tonight, more than ever. After everything that happened today, he didn't want to let her out of his sight. He almost lost her once today and never would he let it happen again. Derek just thought that Meredith would want to be alone with her family.
"Derek", Meredith said. "After everything you've done for me, after all we've been through ,you're family now. Right, Iz?"
"Of course. You shouldn't be alone tonight. There's more than enough room for you.", the blonde smiled.
"Okay then.", he smiled back. "We'll join you once the police is done with us."
Izzie walked away, leaving the two of them face to face.
Meredith put her arms around his neck while his hands rested on her waist.
"I'm glad you're coming home with me.", she smiled.
"There's nowhere else I would rather be.", he replied.
After the cops were done with them, Meredith and Derek made their way home. When they got there, they were greeted by a very worried Alex. After a lot of hugging and talking, everyobdy decided it was time to go to bed.
As soon as they arrived to her room, they let their bodies fall freely on the bed, not bothering to take off their clothes.
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"Hmmm.", hummed Derek. Something was tickling his scruffy cheek. He opened his eyes to Meredith hovering over him, strocking his face with her slender fingers.
This has got to be the best way to be waken up
"Hey, beautiful.", she greeted.
"Hey.", he sighed.
"Did you sleep well?"
"I slept amazing. You?"
"Same. You make a wonderful pillow by the way", she joked.
"That's good to know", he chuckled.
Derek yawned and rubbed his eyes while Meredith got up. He noticed she had showered and changed into new clothes.
"Where are you going?", he asked.
"To the hospital."
"You're not working today, are you? I thought the Chief had given you the day off."
"Yes, he did. I'm going to see Finn."
Derek furrowed his brows.
"Why would you want to do that, Mer?"
She knew wanting to see her abusive ex-boyfriend was weird and not logical but she needed closure.
"I need to do talk to him."
"Then I'm coming with you.", he announced leaving no room for discussion.
She walked back towards the bed and sat in front of him.
"Derek, it's something I need to do alone. I promise I'll be back soon. Do you trust me?"
Derek's face softened as he sighed.
"Of course I trust you."
"Then I'll see you later. Izzie probably made breakfeast downstairs.", she said. She leaned closer and place a gentle kiss on his lips before walking out of the room.
What could she possiby have to say to him?
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She stood outside the hospital room, wondering if coming here was a good idea.
Mer, you have to face him one last time. Just say what you have to say and go. It's easy.
Meredith took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
"Come in", she heard a voice say from the other side. She opened the door and stepped inside.
He looks awful.
Finn was laying, both wrists handcuffed to the bed. He was hooked to mutiple machines and had a large bandage on his chest, covering the bullet wound. Meredith saw a chair in the corner of the room but decided not to sit down. She stood near the door, her hand firmly grasping her handbag.
"Meredith?", he whispered, looking up. "Meredith! I knew you'd come back for me, I knew you'd-"
"Stop, just stop.", she coldly said, interrupting his sentence. "I did not come back for you. I came back for me."
Finn's face darkened.
"Meredith, I'm so sorry for what happened. Please forgive me, I'm so sorry. I only did what I did because I love you so much.", he pleaded.
"Oh, really? All the times you hit, pushed me, made me feel like less of a human being, it was because you loved me? ", she asked, her voice going louder.
I have to calm down. I did not come here to fight, he's just not worth it.
Finn tried to sit up but was held back by the handcuffs.
"But Mer-"
"It's my turn to talk.", she replied. Meredith took another deep breath and looked straight into his eyes.
"You beat me down time after time but I'm still standing and that's all thanks to Derek. Because, Finn, he is ten times the man you will ever be. "
She tucked her hair behind her ears. He looked down, visibly hurt by what she was saying.
"I never meant to hurt you.", he whispered.
"Yeah you did, but it doesn't matter now. I'm going to live my life to the fullest and never, ever have to worry about a man putting his hands on me."
Suddeny, Meredith felt empowered and confident. For the first time, she stood before Finn, knowing fully what she was worth. Meredith was of average height, but at this exact moment, she felt eighteen feet tall.
"I also want you to know that I intend to presss charges against you for domestic violence and for every horrible thing you've done. I will make sure you never do this to someone else.", she declared.
Finn stared at her with an unreadable expression. She back away, ready to leave.
"This goes without saying but don't ever try to contact me again because as far as I'm concerned, you no longer exist."
With that said, shoulders back and head held up high, she walked out of the room.
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When she returned to Alex's house, she found Derek sitting on the couch, watching the news.
"Hey!", he exclaimed as he shut the television off.
"Hey", she greeted back. She took off her shoes and sat next to him, putting her legs on his lap.
"Are you okay?", he said. He figured seeing Finn again must've been hard an emotionnally draining for her.
"I'm more than okay, I'm great.", she assured him.
"Listen, I can't believe I forgot to tell you this but thank you.",he said, placing a quick kiss on the back of her hand.
"For what?", she asked.
"For saving me yesterday. You risked your life for me. No one has ever done that for me before."
"You're welcome but you saved me too. You saved me from a life full of fear and sadness. I was just returning the favor.", she giggled
"Well, I guess we'll keep saving each other for the rest of our lives.", he stated.
Did he just say «the rest of our lives»? What does he mean by that? Is it what I think it means?!
"The rest of our lives?", she repeated, eyeing him with a playful smile.
I can do this, I can say it. Come on Derek.
"Yes, the rest if our lives because...........I want to spend every day I have left on this earth with you. Meredith, I love you.", he confessed.
"Derek!" she exclaimed as tears blurred her vision. "I love you too. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."
He took her face between his hands and pressed his lips against hers. She closed her eyes and savoured his taste. For the first time in a long time, she truly felt loved for who she was. She felt safe and whole. This moment marked the end of a chapter and the beggining of a new one.