Author's Note:

So, after nearly 3 months, it's finally here. Chapter 7! I'm so sorry guys for the delay again. College takes so much of my time right now and as for chapter 8, I won't be able to write for the rest of January due to another project and exams so I will probably start writing on chapter 8 in February. I hope you guys didn't lose interest in this story and hope you all still keep reviewing the story. I love to hear from every one of you on what you thought of the chapter and what you would like to see happen. Suggestions are really welcome!

As for this chapter, it's longer than usual so I hope you like that, but I'm sure you all will :p This chapter is a serious but at the same time fluffy chapter. A lot of cute/serious scenes and some humor too of course to keep it a bit light.

I hope you enjoy this chapter and please let me know what you thought of it! I've lost a serious amount of reviewers since I took them out of the woods and would love to know what I did wrong and what I can improve so I can make this story better.

For now I can only say: Enjoy!

Warm regards,

Isabel

Disclaimer: I do not own Grey's Anatomy or its characters. I'm just borrowing them for my own fun.

Chapter 7: Everything's going to be okay, right?

One level below them, in room 187, Owen was sitting beside Cristina's bedside. He had ordered her to take rest and as she didn't listen, he had admitted her. Her arm was put safely into a sling and she had finally fallen asleep. Owen let out a deep breath and raked a hand through his hair. His 3 top surgeons were all injured in the crash and he was bragging his mind about how to solve that problem. Work and personal matters were crossing paths and he had absolutely no clue how that solve that problem on such short notice. The only thing he did knew was that he was gonna make sure that his surgeons were gonna get the best care possible...

It was morning again and the sun barely got through the tights blinds in the CICU. It was a welcome light as, a light that expressed positivism in dark periods. The sun had the power to make you smile and make you happy when you were down. The sun was a powerful source of energy, an energy she really needed right now…

''Mer'' Cristina whispered as she stood in the doorway, her hand holding a cup of coffee.

She turned around at the sound of the voice of her best friend. ''Cristina'' she smiled lightly.

''I thought I would find you here'' she said as she walked up to her and handed Meredith the cup of coffee.

''Thanks.'' she smiled and took a sip of the coffee. Her eyes landed on Derek's pale face again and tears prickled her eyes. He was still so sick and she couldn't watch it anymore. He is supposed to be her knight in shining whatever, he is supposed to be the strong one and to see he isn't, made her eyes prickle with fresh tears again.

'''He's gonna be fine Mer, I've told you that already. I mean, now he isn't but he will. He's Derek, you know that. He will pull through this. Nothing stops him, not even a bullet, you've seen that yourself. You just have to keep hope Mer.''

''It's been 3 days Cristina. 3 days! We should've seen progress already. He's not gonna get better Cristina and I will be a single parent to Zola and this baby and-.'' She began to sob uncontrollably and Cristina stared at her person in shock.

''Come here'' she sighed and opened her arms for Meredith who gladly accepted the hug.

''He's gonna get better Mer. He's not getting worse. He just needs some more time, that's all. Teddy said she would reassess his situation tonight and if he remains stable, she will lower his sedation and he will probably wake up.''

''But.. but what if he won't. What if he won't wake up Cristina'' Meredith questioned as her worse fears surfaced.

''He will Mer. I'm sure of that.'' She smiled as she looked at Derek. 'You better wake up for her you bastard' she thought as she looked at her person again who was looking exhausted. Red stripes marked her face of where tears were one flowing freely and she knew that if Derek didn't pull through, her person wouldn't either…

''Hi'' Lexie smiled as the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was Mark ,who was sitting in the stool beside her, looking as hot as ever, even with the scratches on his face.

''Did you sleep well sweetie?'' Mark asked softly and bend down to kiss her lips, a grunt coming out of his mouth immediately.

''Mark?'' she questioned as she saw him putting a hand on the right side of his chest. His face displaying all kinds of discomfort.

''It's nothing Lex, I just broke some ribs. Owen checked me out, there's nothing to be concerned of, really.'' He tried to reassure her despite the heavy discomfort he was feeling. Broken ribs hurt as hell. He sighed. He wanted nothing but to hold her in his arms and hug her tightly but he couldn't even kiss her without feeling any physical pain.

Lexie smiled slightly and grabbed his hand. ''How's Derek?'' she asked.

''Hanging in there'' he replied. ''He hasn't woken up yet but Altman said she would reassess his situation tonight and see if they can lower his sedation. His lungs aren't worsening anymore so that's a good thing at least.''

He snorted at his own words. 'How can something not worsening but not getting better either, be a good thing' he thought. His brother was laying there in the CICU, on a ventilator, sedated, with a chance of not being able to ever wake up again and he was sitting next to the woman he loved, whom was alive and breathing and would be okay in the end. It was not fair and he felt guilty for his own happiness right now.

''He will pull through Mark.'' Lexie squeezed his hand tightly and looked him in the eye, seeing the hurt in his face. ''He will pull through just like we did. I'm sure of that''

''Yeah..'' Mark smiled slightly and squeezed her hand one more time. Tears prickled his eyes. He couldn't lose his brother, not now. Not ever. They had still so many things to do, so many things to tell each other. He just couldn't lose him…

At the desk opposite of Arizona's room next sat Callie doing charts. She had assigned Alex to Arizona's case and she finally had some time to breath as a lot had happened over the last couple of days. Thoughts and emotions were running wild and she still couldn't look at the empty space on the bed where her lower leg used to be.

When Arizona woke up 8 hours after the surgery, it was the first thing she thought and spoke about and Callie would never forget that moment….

It's been 8 hours after her life saving surgery and she was slowly starting to wake up from the anesthesia.

''Hi ,sweetie'' Callie smiled as her wife slowly opened her eyes. A few grunts escaped her lips and when her vision fully returned she immediately darted in panic around the room, obviously disoriented from the anesthesia. ''He, he! You're okay now. You're at the hospital.'' Callie tried to reassure her as she grabbed her hand and give it a firm squeeze.

But it didn't help as her eyes immediately fixated on the empty space next to her right leg and her eyes immediately filled with tears.

''Arizona…'' Callie tried to cautiously approach her but she was immediately cut off.

''NO! No, you don't get to say anything right now! You… you.. cut off my leg! You promised you wouldn't and you did, you di-''

''I had no choice!'' she creamed back as tears rolled freely over her cheeks. ''I had no choice but to cut it off okay! It… it was dead, it was making you sick and I couldn't not do it! It was the leg or your life and I choose you Arizona, I choose you and not the damn leg!''

A moment of silence followed before she said those few words that gave her the last push.

''Get out!'' She said and pointed at the door.

''But-''

''Get out NOW!'' she screamed. ''I don't ever want to see you again, you hear me?! Ever!''

She froze right at her spot and she couldn't bring out anything to say. Fresh tears prickled her eyes again and she burst out in cries before she immediately fled out of the room, leaving a very angry and upset Arizona behind…

It was a moment she would never forget. It had hurt deeply, but in her heart she knew that Arizona didn't mean it. It had come as a shock though at first, and she didn't know how to handle it, but after taking the time to think all of it through, she wanted nothing more than to fix all of it. She loved her wife more than anything in the world and she couldn't lose her. And if that meant not being able to see or talk to her wife for a few days, then she would do it…

The clock on the wall showed 5PM and Meredith was in the cafeteria waiting in line for dinner. Her stomach was growling at her as she hadn't eaten a decent amount of food over the last couple of days. As she waited, she saw Cristina walking in the cafeteria, immediately spotting Meredith and walking up to her.

''What're you getting?'' she asked lightly as she scanned the menu card. She knew her person was stressed out because of what happened with Derek and on top of that she was hormonal now so she knew any wrong move would give her the last push towards a breakdown and starting another conversation about Derek would be a wrong move, a very wrong move….

''I don't know. I'm not that hungry actu-''

''Yes, you are'' Cristina interrupted. ''I hear you stomach growling from miles.''

''I just can't eat much okay!'' she snapped.

''Okay..'' Cristina said cautiously.

''I'm sorry'' she apologized. ''I'm just.. Teddy said she would be there around 8 and I just can't stomach the idea of Derek not waking up. I miss him Cristina and Zola misses her daddy. When I picked her up from daycare yesterday she asked for him and I said to her that he went on a little trip for work and that we will see him soon , but what if he won't wake up anymore Cristina?'' she asked her person who was clearly looking for the right answer but couldn't find it either.

''I don't know Mer, I seriously don't know. All I can tell you is that he probably just needs some more time. I told you that his condition is not worsening and Teddy said she has good hopes of him waking up anytime soon. So, we just have to be patient Mer.'' Cristina replied softly, hoping that she reassured her person some more.

Meredith nodded in reply and smiled slightly at her person who returned the gesture.

''I would go for the lasagna though'' Cristina suddenly changed the subject and Meredith's smile grew bigger before a soft giggle came out of her mouth, filling the tense air with some positive laughter.

''Yeah, you're probably right.'' she giggled and took the lasagna before the two of them sat down in the cafeteria.

''Aren't you getting dinner?'' Meredith asked curious.

''No, I already had dinner with Owen earlier.'' She shrugged and smiled slightly. Wanting nothing more than the subject to change.

''Oh'' she said, looking surprised. ''I didn't know you and Owen were.. well, good again''

''We're not'' Cristina replied immediately. ''It's just, he deserves another chance and I still love him.''

''That's good. I'm happy for you, Cristina'' she smiled as she took a forkful of lasagna and stilled her growling stomach.

''Yeah yeah… can we just not talk about it anymore?''

''Okay.'' Meredith shrugged and took another bite of her lasagna…

''How late is Teddy gonna be there?'' Lexie asked Mark as he started pacing in the room.

''Around 8 Meredith told me'' he replied and looked at his watch again.

''It's gonna be fine Mark. Teddy was hopeful about him waking up and I'm sure she will tell us good news tonight.''

''I know Lex, I know… It's just…''

''Hard.'' She jumped in. ''I know..''

''Meredith will fall apart if he won't wake up anymore and Zola… she needs her daddy. They're gonna have a baby together and Derek always wanted to see Meredith pregnant Lex.'' Mark said sadly. ''I just can't imagine him not being able to see Meredith giving birth and Zola growing up. I just-.''

''Hey, hey, hey!'' Lexie jumped in. ''Don't say that. Derek will wake up okay. You're gonna go to his room in a minute and you will hear good news, okay?''

Mark just smiled and walked up to her bed, slowly bending down to avoid his ribs hurting, and kissed her slowly but passionately on the lips. The both of them groaning as their lips parted.

''Go'' Lexie smiled. ''And bring me good news when you get back!''

''I hope so'' Mark replied smiling and walked out of the room. Hoping to finally hear some good news about the person he grew up with and has turned into his brother…

When Mark walked into Derek's room he was greeted by Meredith and Cristina who were both sitting nervously on the couch.

''McSteamy'' Cristina greeted him jokingly, smiling as she saw the look on his face.

''Doctor Yang'' he replied professionally, not in the mood for any jokes at the moment.

''Good evening everyone'' Teddy greeted them as she walked into the room. The three of them immediately stood up, their heads turning into the direction of the cardiac surgeon as she and Meredith went to stand by Derek's bedside.

''How're you holding up so far, Meredith?'' Teddy started the conversation as Mark and Cristina took some distance from the two of them. Not wanting to be in front for this.

''It's hard without him you know? I miss him so much, and Zola too'' She replied sadly, looking at her husband again who still looked immensely pale. Various tubes still sneaking in and out of his body, making her feel sick to her stomach.

''Yeah…I know'' Teddy said sadly, glancing over at Derek and remembering her time with Henry, understanding Meredith's feelings completely.

''I hope we will be able to lower his sedation and wake him up by the end of the evening, Meredith.'' she smiled as she called the two nurses in. ''I'm gonna take him up for some tests now and then we will now more.''

''Okay'' Meredith nodded and turned her head towards her husband again. Bending down to give him a soft kiss on his forehead, she whispered: ''Be strong for me Derek. I love you.''

Teddy smiled sadly at her words and wheeled Derek out of the room, hoping to deliver Meredith and everyone in the hospital who was close to Derek, good news…

Barely half an hour later, the nurses wheeled Derek back into his room, followed by doctor Altman who looked content, holding the stack of films in her hands.

''And?'' Meredith asked nervously.

''Good news'' Teddy smiled. ''His scans are clear. The contusion is gone and we've successfully decreased the hypoxemia. ''

''Thank you doctor Altman.'' she smiled as tears glistened in her eyes. Tears of pure happiness, and both Mark and Cristina smiled brightly as the good news was heard.

''Well, I didn't do anything. He did.'' Teddy smiled as she looked at Derek. ''We've just helped him.''

''Still, thank you doctor Altman'' Meredith smiled. She couldn't suppress her happiness as Derek was finally going to wake up.

''Well, I'm gonna lower his sedation now and once I've done that, he will wake up within the hour'' Teddy explained as Meredith grabbed Derek's hand again and squeezed it tightly.

''I'm confident that he will be able to breathe on his own once we've taken the tube out, but we're prepared if he's not, of course. But don't worry Meredith, I'm sure he will do just fine'' she smiled as she lowered the sedation and checked all the monitors and wires again.

''I have to check up on some other patients now but page me immediately if he's starting to wake up, okay?'' she said as she smiled at the three of them and walked out of the room. Leaving a very happy Meredith behind…

It was 9 o'clock and Meredith sat on the stool beside his bedside, her hand still squeezing his every now and then, hoping he would give her a reaction. 20 minutes has passed since Teddy lowered the sedation but he was still not waking up. She knew it could take up to an hour but she couldn't wait anymore.

''He will wake up Mer, Teddy told it could take up to an hour for him to wake up'' Cristina said from her spot on the couch as she saw Meredith's tense and nervous posture.

''I know, I know. I just can't wait anymore.'' She replied as Mark smiled at her comment.

''He's just building up the tension'' Mark smiled as Meredith chuckled.

''Yeah, that sounds like Derek'' she smiled as she looked at his face again and suddenly saw the fluttering of his eyelids.

''Derek?'' Meredith questioned as she immediately stood up. Cristina and Mark following behind her.

''Page Altman!'' Mark said as he indeed saw the fluttering of his eyelids.

''Derek?'' Meredith questioned again as he was clearly having a hard time opening his eyes. ''Can you hear me? Give me a squeeze if you can, okay.''

''Good'' Meredith smiled as he squeezed her hand. Although weak, it was a squeeze, and that was all that mattered.

''Is he awake?'' Teddy asked as she walked into his room.

''He is'' Meredith smiled. ''He's just having a hard time opening his eyes.''

''That's okay'' Teddy replied as she went to stand beside Meredith, keeping a good eye on all the monitors for any significant change.

''Doctor Shepherd?'' she called. ''Can you open your eyes for me?''

Slowly he tried to open his eyes but he was having a hard time. ''Good'' Teddy replied as he slowly began to open his eyes. She dimmed the light above his head a bit and began preparing for the extubation.

''Hi'' Meredith smiled as tears began to fall from her eyes. She could finally look into his beautiful eyes again and she couldn't hold her tears at bay.

''Doctor Shepherd, are you in any pain?'' Teddy asked him and he shook no with his head.

''Good'' she smiled again and saw him looking at the tray with supplies beside her.

''All tests were clear. Your contusion is gone and we've successfully decreased the hypoxemia'' she started. ''It's still there, but not as bad as before. I also checked your blood gasses and your saturation. They're all stable so we will be able to extubate you now'' she smiled.

He looked between Meredith and doctor Altman, still a bit dazed.

''Derek sweetie, you've been out for 3 days but everything is okay now. You're doing great'' Meredith told him as he relaxed a bit more.

''Are you ready doctor Shepherd?'' Altman asked him and saw him nod.

''Okay, I will count to three and with three, you need to breath out as hard as you can, okay?''

He nodded again and mentally prepared himself for what was coming.

''Okay, on one… two… three!'' And on three, Derek breathed out as hard as he could.

''And… out!'' she said and quickly grabbed an oxygen mask as Derek struggled to breath.

''Long deep breaths'' she instructed as she securely placed the oxygen mask on his mouth and nose, all the while checking the monitors for any significant changes.

''You're doing great Der'' Meredith smiled as she stroked his hair.

''Sats are at 92'' Teddy interrupted. ''It's not great but that will probably go up a bit in the next few hours. Don't try to speak just yet okay? Your throat need to rest a bit and your lungs are still a bit weak.''

Derek just nodded and Meredith bend down to finally kiss him on the lips again. After 3 days not being able to, it felt good to finally feel his lips on hers again and when they parted, he slightly groaned, making Meredith chuckle.

''Hey man!'' Mark interrupted as he went to stand in front of the bed. ''It's good to see you again but don't you dare do this again.'' he smiled, and Derek smiled back. Glad to finally see Meredith and the people he loved again.

''Yeah, good to see you again McDreamy'' Cristina said, trying to sound uninterested in the fact that Derek was finally awake and stable now but everyone in the room knew that she was glad to see him awake again and Derek smiled at her comment, glad to see Cristina too.

''Doctor Shepherd-'' Teddy began but was immediately interrupted by Derek's hoarse voice.

''It's… Derek''

Teddy smiled at his answer despite the fact that he actually wasn't allowed to speak for the next few hours.

''Okay. Derek'' she smiled. ''As you already know, your lungs are still weak. I know you want to be home as soon as possible and I want you to. We all know that a patient recovers best at home and seeing you stable, I would like to send you home in a couple of days but only with one condition and that is that you need to wear a nasal cannula every night for a whole week. After that week, you come back here and we'II see how it goes. What do you think?'' she asked.

Derek nodded immediately and looked over at Meredith who nodded as well. ''That would be great doctor Altman'' she smiled.

''Well, it's a deal then!'' she smiled back. ''Doctor Torres will visit you tomorrow to check on your hand and ankle but I'm sure that won't form a problem in you going home in a couple of days''

''Great'' Meredith replied and doctor Altman excused herself, leaving them alone to enjoy each other as she went home for the day.

''I love you Der, I love you so so much'' she smiled as she bend down to kiss his lips again, intending to never let go again...