Meredith swayed on her feet in the OR. Her eyes struggled to stay open and she reached out to steady herself, resting her weight on the wall behind her. She felt extremely dizzy all of the sudden and nausea flooded all around her.

"Late night, Dr. Grey?" Addison asked bitterly from behind the table. Pain shot through Meredith's abdomen and she began to pant softly, holding back tears in her eyes. Her hand rested protectively on the small bump in her abdomen as her knees wobbled under her.

"Seriously, Grey, are you okay?" Addison asked. Meredith could barely shake her head as she clutched her stomach and stumbled toward the door.

"I... need to go... I feel... sick..." She slurred, falling into the door and collapsing just beyond the threshold. Her head pounded and her vision fogged. There were people all around her. Addison was there. And then there was nothing.

XxXxX

She saw only darkness as she floated in abyss. Distant sounds rang out around her. Indistinct shouts and voices. Silence for a while. Then, the clearest, sweetest sound she could hear. Derek's voice. Loud in her mind, bringing light to the crowding darkness.

She couldn't understand what he was saying. She could hear him and his voice was clear but the words didn't register to her. She tried to reach out to him but the darkness was too thick. It felt as if her entire body had weights chained to it.

His voice got louder and more desperate. She felt as if he were reaching out to her through the darkness. With all of her strength, she lifted her hand to take his. He pulled her closer to him, closer and closer. She could almost make out what he was saying. She felt like she was swimming to the surface of a deep ocean, feeling the tension like she was just about to break the surface.

And then she was there. The darkness wasn't so thick and unbreakable. She heard his voice as clear as day. She felt his hand on top of hers. She coughed and opened her eyes slowly. Derek was staring at her. His eyes shone with unshed tears. She managed a weak smile.

"Hey." She practically whispered, her throat sore and dry. Derek smiled at her, placing his hand on her cheek.

"Hey. How are you feeling?" He asked. She swallowed painfully and leaned her face into his hand, finding comfort in his soft touch.

"Fine. How's our baby?" She asked. He smiled.

"Fine." She let out a soft sigh of relief.

"Why... why did I faint?" She asked him quietly. He shook his head at her.

"Addison says it was just exhaustion. You shouldn't have been standing that long without eating or drinking. You've got to worry about two people now instead of one." He scolded, placing his other hand on her bulging stomach. She lifted her hand and placed it on top of his.

"I'll be more careful." She promised simply. He smiled at her.

"You should go home for the day. Rest. Your body needs it." He said. She sighed. She knew he was right, but she couldn't help but feel disappointed that she could miss an amazing surgery.

"You're probably right." She admitted. He smirked at her.

"I'll go get dressed and we can leave." He said. She shook her head.

"No, you should stay. Save a life. Do a cool surgery and tell me all about it when you get home. It's okay. You go. I'll be fine." She said.

"Meredith, this is what we do. Boyfriends. Fiancés. Husbands. We take care of our girlfriends and our wives. I want to take care of you." He argued.

"I'm fine, Derek. I'll see you in a few hours." She insisted. He sighed.

"Okay, Fine. Just... be safe, okay?" He finally agreed, his hand pushing her bangs out of her face and tucking them behind her ear.

"I will. I love you, Derek." She said. He smiled at her and his eyes twinkled, sending shivers down her spine.

"I love you too, Meredith." He kissed her softly and stood up, his hand lingering on hers for a few moments longer. He didn't know why, but he felt reluctant to leave her. Maybe it was that she could have been hurt and he wasn't there. Maybe it was that she wasn't used to him taking care of her. Either way, he had to force himself to leave the room and tell himself that she was right, that she would be okay. He wouldn't have survived if he hadn't.

XxXxX