Chapter 62: 501 is Down

Derek's breathing grew rapid, making it hard for him to even grasp for breath. "Fucking tell me now!"

Mark felt his throat go dry and couldn't mutter out anything when looking at the desperate look on Derek's face. He had to say something but what he had to say would crush the man looking back at him with eyes that was full of concern, fear, and angst.

Derek took a rapid few steps around the car, towards Mark, "give me that fucking phone." Derek demanded, trying to get the phone out of Mark's hand.

Mark moved his hand so that Derek was unable to grab the phone. He knew he had to tell Derek the contents of the message, but he had no idea how to even start because in reality, there was really no news at this point. He knew nothing more than the contents of the message which was very factual. Mark took a step back from Derek and looked at him square in the eyes, "Derek." He muttered out, having to clear his throat to say it again, this time more confidently, "Derek."

Derek's entire frame shrunk a little at Mark's tone, but he looked to Mark, needing him to tell him something, anything. "What is it?" Derek said, calmly trying to slow his breathing because in this moment, this last moment of hope that the text really was nothing and Mark was just overreacting to something.

Mark took a deep breath, "501." Before Mark could get anything else out, Derek spoke up.

"What about 501?" Derek said through clenched teeth, trying to keep his breathing normal and his heart rate down.

"There has been no contact with the plane for 30 minutes." Mark said very but clearly keeping his eyes on Derek the entire time.

Derek knew there wasn't reason to worry just yet and did what most would do in this situation, "Maybe something happened and the communication on their end was dropped, a malfunction with the equipment and they are on their way back."

Mark realized this was unlikely, but to continue. He knew he had to say the other part of the text message and there was no easy way to say it, "Derek. There have been eyewitnesses that have already reported seeing the plane." Mark stopped knowing he didn't have to say anything else.

Derek felt his entire world crashing in on him. A million thoughts flooded his mind at once. He thought of her smiling back at him this morning when he walked out the door, both filled with all the love that they had to offer neither considering that could be it for them. He was really trying to hold it together, not sure what to say or how to react. All he could think about is how much he loved Meredith and now… he couldn't think about that in this moment, "What about Meredith?" Derek took a deep breath and yelled out more loudly, "MARK, WHAT ABOUT MEREDITH?"

Mark watched Derek's face fall down to the ground. Mark was feeling the pain of his best friend and began to speak very quietly in the most calming voice he could, "There is no information. They believe at this time they ejected, but that hasn't been confirmed."

"WELL, DAMNIT, WHY DON'T YOU USE THAT FUCKING PHONE AND FIND OUT." Derek yelled out to Mark.

Mark looked around seeing that a few people had stopped while hearing his shout out. Mark put his hand on Derek's shoulder and said very quietly and calmly, "Derek, let's get in the car and go somewhere else, you can't be here. People are watching."

"I don't give two fucks about anyone right now except for Mere…" Derek stopped to look around realizing where he was at. He was standing at Mark's car out in the open with people around watching. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself in some way. Derek lowered his voice and started to talk in a more normal tone, "What exactly do you know? Just give it to me point blank. This is not the time to fucking sugar coat anything. Who sent you the text in the first place?"

"Cristina sent it. She said they lost communication with 501 thirty minutes ago, there were eyewitnesses who have called in, and it is suspected the pilots ejected, but not confirmed." Mark said hesitantly, but quietly.

Derek's brain was on overload. He finally pulled his head up to look at Mark while Derek was trying to push back any tears that were threatening to fall, "What do I do? I need you right now to tell me what to do." Derek pleaded with Mark. He couldn't think right now past needing to drive wherever Meredith was, find her, and hold her in his arms and never let her go. His mind started thinking and he started talking outloud, "Well, they couldn't have been too far if it has been 30 minutes and they were going southeast out of here so they couldn't be farther than Oregon. With the ejection, they should be able to track them quickly and/or they should be able to call in. So, we should go in the hanger, wait for news." Derek was almost mumbling to himself with his mind thinking everything instantaneous and started walking absently to the hanger, getting back around the car.

Mark knew whatever happened, Derek was not going in the hanger, and he had to do whatever he had to stop him in this moment. Maybe later, but right now, there was no way he could go in. If he found out devastating news about Meredith, not only would he lose Meredith, possibly his career. He was glad Derek was at least talking things through but that was Derek, always processing every move. Mark knew he had to be there for his friend even if he had to use force to stop him, "Derek. I think it would be best if we at least get in the car and wait for any news. We can't stand out here and at this time, we shouldn't go to the hanger."

Derek stopped, turned around, and looked at Mark, "Why?" Derek almost laughed it off and angrily said, "In case I find out she did not eject and is part of the wreckage?"

Both men stopped and looked at each other as Mark realized Derek was about to break. Derek leaned up against the passenger side car and put his head in his hands, trying to keep himself from sobbing from the worst case scenario. "She can't… she has to be alive. I love her." He said through the tears that were falling but hidden to all but Mark.

Mark stepped to Derek, "Come on, let's get in the car. We can stay on base; we will just go to the secluded area of the coast."

Derek shook his head in acknowledgement but kept it down. He was able to open the door and get in. Mark tried to be as inconspicuous to the onlookers to what was really going on. To anyone walking by, Derek could have been upset about any number of things.

Mark got in started the car and drove slowly for the five minutes to the secluded area of base at the ocean. Derek spoke up quietly as they pulled to a stop with nothing but the Pacific Ocean in front of them, "How will we know?"

"Cristina. I texted her back as we left to tell her to keep me informed." Mark said as soberly as Derek.

"She has to be okay Mark. I love her. She just has to be." Derek said looking out at the water as the tears had subsided briefly.

They sat silently for five minutes when the loud ringing of Mark's cell phone started, indicating it was Cristina. Derek went to grab the phone from Mark who let him have it this time around. He knew there would be no stopping Derek from getting it or finding out any information she might have.

"Cristina. Meredith... is she? Please tell me they have heard from her?" Derek pleaded desperately.

Mark was not a religious man, but in this moment, he found himself sitting in the driver's seat with his eyes closed praying that there was news, news that Meredith was indeed alive.