Chapter 63: Is She Okay?

Derek sat for what seemed like the longest two seconds of his life with the phone to his ear, needing Cristina to say something, anything about Meredith. Derek took another deep breath and calmed slightly and said, "Just tell me. I have to know."

He heard Cristina's voice for the first time, "From what I am hearing, she did eject along with Alex. I believe they have spoken to one or both but…" Cristina trailed off not sure what to say. She was getting 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th hand information.

"Fucking tell me." Derek said a little more hastily than he would have liked.

"She is pretty banged up it sounds like. If what I am hearing is true, something about the ejection seat malfunctioned before it finally ejected. Rescue crews are on their way now." Cristina said grimly.

"Where is she? How far did they get? What the fuck happened?" Derek had so many questions.

Mark was somewhat relieved when he saw Derek's shoulders relax ever so slightly meaning Meredith must at least be alive.

Cristina really didn't have many answers but would tell him what she knew. She couldn't imagine how he must be feeling and was glad Mark was with him. She also realized how fortunate it was that they were not at the hanger when the news started spreading. She knew there he had to get back very soon. "They are out in a deserted area near Pendleton, Oregon. They aren't sure exactly what happened. A malfunction of some sort."

"Fuck." Derek knew he had checked everything very closely. This could not be his fault. If he signed off on something that wasn't okay, he could never forgive himself. Any work done in his shop was ultimately his responsibility.

"That isn't all Shepherd." Cristina said hesitantly.

Derek's breathe hitched not sure what he was about to hear. He did mutter out a simple with a questioning tone, "Okay?"

"A group is leaving to go down there in an hour and a half. You are on the list to go to help gather parts and get them back safely to start the investigation into what exactly happened." Cristina explained carefully and calmly.

Derek wasn't sure if this was good news or bad news. He figured Meredith would be sent up here as soon as possible. He didn't even have time to think although he knew ultimately there was nothing to really think about. What they told him to do is what he had to do. "Ok. I should go get a pack together."

Mark looked quickly over at Derek wondering what exactly these words meant.

"Yeah. That is what they are advising the team going. As a first class, you will be driving your vehicle with a group I believe. They are giving you 45 minutes to go and get the necessities and meet back up here." Cristina explained as Derek heard his cell phone going off at the same time.

"Hey, I bet that is the squadron calling my phone. I am going to hand you to Mark and answer this." Derek stopped suddenly realizing that Cristina had to know everything or at least how much Meredith meant to him. "Cristina. Thank you. I know we don't know each other that well, but thank you. She… I am not one to risk my career, but Meredith, she is worth everything. She is worth the risk."

"I can see it. I am a very observant person. Thankfully for you most of the naval population is so wrapped up in themselves, they don't notice." Cristina said in true form.

This caused Derek to let out a somewhat relieved breath while handing the phone to Mark to answer his own incoming call.

"Shepherd." He answered the phone quickly not even bothering to look at the caller ID.

"Derek." Derek heard the battered, quiet voice on the other end and immediately grew anxious. It was not the voice he wanted to hear; however, he was happy with anything.

"Where are you guys? Is she ok? Please tell me Meredith is with you and is ok." Derek asked with fear laced throughout his voice. He wondered why it was Alex calling and not her?

"I only have a few seconds. The paramedics are with her right now. I think they are talking about trying to get her to a bigger hospital. She is in and out of consciousness and keeps asking for you. Luckily, this is just the local paramedics. Right now, we just need to focus on her no matter what." Alex said very seriously but was worried about the implications of this.

"She is alright though? She is in and out of consciousness. She is okay… she will be okay, right?" Derek needed more information about her actual condition. He was growing more nervous by the second.

Alex didn't know what to say. He wasn't sure exactly how Meredith would be. There was some malfunction when she ejected. He was just feeling relieved they both got out. It looked like her arm was crushed by the way it was laying on the ground and he knew her back had quite a blow to it. They all did when they ejected because of the force they eject out. A pilot could only eject 3 times in their career before they were grounded forever. Alex noticed the other paramedic walking back over to him. "I need to get off here. She is holding her own for now. You will hear from me very soon. I have no idea what is going to happen next. I will keep in very close contact with you. Don't do anything until you hear from me."

"I am on the group coming to clean up." Derek said gravely not sure if this was good or bad.

"Damn. I am sure they will send us to a bigger hospital. We are really in the middle of nowhere. Well, nevertheless, I am sure they won't bring us all the way there." Alex said as the paramedic reached him, "Hey, I do have to go now. Talk to you soon." Alex said, hanging up the phone.

Derek reluctantly closed his phone and sat back in the seat. Mark got off the phone at the same time. He tried not to listen, but he heard every word, "So Meredith is okay?"

"I think she will be. She is asking for me as she is in and out of consciousness." Derek rested his head back on the seat and closed his eyes just trying to get a few minutes of normalcy. He had no idea what the next days would bring, but one thing was for certain, it would be a long few weeks.

Mark didn't really know what to say and decided to give Derek a minute or so to collect his thoughts before speaking up, "It seems like we need to go pack. We are both on our way out there." Mark said.

"Yeah. Let's go." Derek said with so much uncertainty about the future.

Forces… They happen even when we don't want them too.