A/N: I highly suggest that as you start to feel the end of this chapter, you play Come Home to Me by Leon. This chapter is named after that song.
"I'm fine," Meredith laughed, "What do you mean you have a feeling?"
Derek sighed as he kept his eyes on the road, "I just dropped off Zola and I just had a feeling."
The more he thought about it the more ridiculous he felt. She was the chief. She was busy. She had so much on her plate already the last thing she needed was to calm down her overly, unnecessarily, nervous husband.
"Want to know what I do?" he could practically hear her smirk, "I wait for it to pass."
"The last time I gave you that advice, the hospital blew up," he laughed, "You're not helping."
"I'm fine, I promise," Meredith insisted as she walked down the hall, "Busy. Overworked. Overwhelmed but otherwise I'm great."
"Take it easy please," Derek sighed. He was very well aware that the response would be a no. It wasn't going to happen.
"Nope. I can't. Not in my nature, don't know why you bother," she retorted, "Get off the phone and get home safe."
"Fine, I'll see you at home," she heard him before she clicked the phone off and walked towards the security guard waiting for her.
It wasn't a good day. None of today pointed to good.
"Okay, tell me again?"
Marcus nodded, "Protesters are outside the clinic trying to block the entrance."
"Okay, well it's not illegal to peacefully protest-"
"Respectfully, Chief Grey," he sighed as he gestured to the door, "There's nothing peaceful about it."
She followed him out the door. She could hear the screams before he opened it. She could feel the pressure seething and once she had a clear view, the fear trickled in. Angry protesters held signs accusing her doctors of murder. They shouted as nurses tried to walk through only to be yelled at and harassed. The signs were stained with cruel accusations. All in the name of life. According to them. But didn't they know that was exactly what they were doing? Since when were medical professionals the villains? When did the world turn so black and white?
Meredith sighed as she closed the door, "Is Dr. Montgomery in the clinic?"
"Yes," Marcus nodded, "She went in with Dr. Bailey but she was here early enough that they didn't see this chaos."
"Okay, push those protesters back, I want every person in that clinic protected," Meredith ordered as she closed the door.
"No, Dr. Grey," he sighed, "We need to close it for the day-"
"That's not gonna happen," Meredith shook her head as she pulled out her phone, "Dr. Montgomery and Dr. Bailey are not gonna give in and I'm not going to go over their heads. This is their clinic."
"It's not safe for them to be in-"
"Bailey," Meredith gritted on the phone, "What's going on?"
Through the phone, she could hear the chaos in the clinic. She could barely make out Bailey's words, "We are not closing Grey!"
"I figured-"
"Meredith," Addison's voice cut through, "It's my fault. They're here for me. I took two planes. I didn't take the PRC-"
"It's not on you Addison. This is not your fault," Meredith calmly reassured her, "Do you feel safe in that clinic? Should we close-"
"Are you kidding?" Addison angrily asked, "That is dozens of patients! Not to mention the OB residents that traveled hundreds of miles-"
"There's a hundred people outside-" Marcus insisted before being cut off once more. Meredith's head snapped up and glared at the man.
"Then call for backup or call control!" Addison yelled again, "We are not closing, Grey! I don't care if you are the chief. This clinic. Is not. Closing!"
"Okay, what do you want us to do, Grey?" Bailey calmingly asked.
This was a crisis. A crisis she was in charge of. The surgical department had sponsored this clinic. And she was a board member. Chief of surgery. This was on her.
"Keep it open," she agreed before looking up to Marcus, "Call for back-up, get more security. And do not leave that clinic unattended! I want security at those doors now!"
Marcus exhaled as he walked out to carry on with his orders."
She was fine. Meredith Grey was fine.
Busy. Overworked. Overwhelmed but otherwise fine.
Meredith stared at the protocol books on her desk. A solid two hours had passed and she was getting nowhere. Nowhere. And there was no way in freakin' hell she would get through any of them any time soon.
A knock disturbed her thoughts, "Come in."
"Hey," Maggie walked in and closed the door, "The clinic has dozens of-"
"I'm aware," Meredith nodded, "Addison and Bailey insisted on keeping it open. I'm preparing just in case."
"I can see that," Maggie peered at the book curiously, "Wasn't your husband chief once?"
Yes, he was. And everything that happened during his tenure was something she was unwilling to revisit anytime soon.
"He was on call last night. And he had a momentary lapse of panic this morning," Meredith shook her head, "Besides Hunt's here, he had the job longer than Derek."
Maggie nodded, "Richard's here too."
"Richard? Why is Richard here?"
"No idea," she shrugged, "I just saw him talking to Altman in the hallway."
Catherine. Richard had found out about Catherine's prognosis. That's why he was here. It was the only possible reason.
"How'd your surgery go?" Meredith asked as she changed the topic.
Maggie shook her head, "The donor was in an MVC. He bled out and didn't make it."
"No," Meredith sighed, "So my patient's back on the UNOS list. I tasked Lucas with coming up with a treatment plan in the meantime."
Meredith sunk in her seat. It was just hit after hit.
"Be honest, how much am I gonna hate it?"
Derek laughed, "Just because I hated it, it doesn't mean you will. We're built differently."
"Not that much," Meredith snorted, "I live to cut and so do you. It's why you quit."
"Sometimes you'll hate it," Derek shrugged as the hospital doors slid open, "Sometimes you'll have to take hit after hit and sometimes the decisions you'll have to make will be awful-"
"Why the hell did you let me-"
"But you, Dr. Grey," he turned to her with a smile, "Will be excellent. I know it."
He flashed his signature grin as the elevator doors opened behind him.
"Have you seen Amelia?"
"What?" Meredith snapped her head back to Maggie.
Maggie leaned on the chair, "She dropped off Scout at daycare but I haven't seen her since then."
"No I haven't seen her," Meredith shook her head before her phone rang, "Crap. Crap, crap, crap, crap!" She quickly stood from her chair and reached for her pair of blue converse and walkie talkie.
"Mer, what's going on?"
"Crap!"
Maggie watched as she ran out of the office and down the hall, "Meredith!"
Derek walked into the empty house and threw his keys on the bowl by the desk. He sighed heavily as he removed his coat.
"Where the hell have you been?"
He jumped at the sound of his sister's gruff voice coming from the hallway.
"Amy!" he exhaled, "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Crashing in Zo's room," she shrugged, "I was gonna go home but I didn't want to be alone. So I came here. And I was alone."
"I was dropping the kids off," he gathered his breath and walked towards the kitchen to serve himself a cup of the freshly brewed coffee she'd obviously just set, "I have those, remember?"
"Mmhm, I also remember when you'd walk me to school," she snorted, "I hated it."
"What's up? Why are you here?"
"I told you," she stuffed her hands in her pockets as she walked to the kitchen bar, "I didn't want to be alone."
"You have your sisters," he set a mug in front of her which she gratefully took, "You usually go to them."
"Are you jealous I go to my sisters? Is this you and your big brother jealousy?" she playfully glared at her brother as she watched him sip his coffee.
"I'm not jealous," he chuckled, "I'm glad you have them."
So was she. With the biological sisters she had, she was more than grateful that the universe had given her Addison, Meredith, and Maggie. They were her true sisters.
"Your wife's busy and Maggie is going through her own thing," she sighed, "I don't- I-I can't go to them right now."
"I get it," he nodded before yawning.
"Oh, you were on call last night," Amelia grimaced, "Sorry, I should go and let you-"
"No, you should stay. Keep me busy because I'm slowly losing my own mind."
"What's going on?"
"I just have this feeling," he shook his head, "I'm just paranoid, don't listen to me."
Amelia hummed as she studied her brother.
"Kai left?" he gently asked. His eyes studied how his sister gripped the mug and her body tensed. Her brows slowly raised as she searched for words.
Ameli shifted, "Not yet. I think they leave within the week."
"You're avoiding them," he confirmed, "You don't want to face them yet. It's why you're here."
"Why does everyone leave?" she whispered as she tried to hold back tears, "Why do people get shot? Why do airplanes crash? Why do people attack their doctors? Why do people try to do good and get hit by a truck? Why do people leave me?"
"Amy," he searched her eyes, "I'm not leaving you. I'm right here. I know that I'm not the easiest brother and I'm not the best one either but I'm right here. Even when I'm far away, I am right here for you."
Amelia turned to him and gently smiled. No, her brother was not leaving her.
Their phones both rang.
Attn: Grey+Sloan Staff. Out of caution, stay away from the Elaine Bailey Memorial Clinic. The scene has been determined as unsafe due to ongoing protests. Remain under lockdown if you are in the building.
"Shit," Derek pushed himself off the counter.
"Wait, wait, Derek, wait," Amelia called out.
"If you're gonna tell me to stay-"
"No, I'm not gonna tell you to stay here. But I am gonna drive, hand over the keys," Amelia reached for the keyes as she shoved him to the coat rack.
"How's Kwan?" Meredith asked as she stormed down the hall.
"He seems to be fine," Owen quickly reached her, "Yasuda ran neuro checks, reported it was superficial."
"What about Bailey and Addison? Have we heard about the trainees?" she looked out the window and saw the protesters still picketing outside. They seemed to be far much angrier than they were in the morning. And the amount of law enforcement had increased. Deep down, she knew it wasn't enough.
"Everyone's scared," Link explained, "Are they under lockdown? Is the clinic under lockdown?"
"Yes!" Meredith confirmed, "No one goes in and no one comes out until they get the protesters under control."
"What about trauma?" Link asked, "Have you considered-"
Owen chimed in, "We should put out a statement-"
"-all the interns are-"
Meredith stopped midway as she locked eyes with a figure in front of her.
Richard.
"Everybody stop!" she called out as she looked around, "We take care of our patients. We are not sending anyone home. Make space for the clinic overflow in the ER, and help where you can"
The staff nodded as they walked away. She stepped closer to her former mentor. The closest thing she had to a fatherly figure.
"Richard what do I do?"
The man stared at her sympathetically before shrugging, "Well you're the chief."
Meredith snorted, "Thanks. Very helpful."
Richard gently chuckled before stepping forward, "You're the chief. You know your staff, you know what they need. You don't need me or Hunt or even Shepherd to tell you what to do."
"Right," Meredith gulped, "What are-what are you doing here?"
"I heard Addie was in town and I wanted to say hello," he looked around, "To my surprise, there's a million protesters around there and the clinic has been shut down."
"They didn't want to," Meredith shook her head, "But a resident was hit with a brick with the words Montgomery Murders written on it."
"Oh God," Richard gulped, "Bailey and Addison? They're alright? Is everyone safe?"
"They're locked down," Meredith nodded, "So far, they're okay."
"See," Richard smiled, "You're Doing the right thing. You're keeping everyone safe. You were an excellent choice for chief. Always have been."
Meredith heard chatter through the talkie. She lifted it closer to her ear before freezing. Her gaze slowly lifted to Richard.
"What?" he asked, "What's wrong? What's going on?"
She swallowed.
"C'mon," Derek slammed the hand on the dashboard as he grunted, "Why the hell is there so much traffic?"
He could've sworn that every lane was moving except the one they were in. He'd probably get there faster if he jumped out and ran.
"Okay, you need to relax," Amelia turned to him and then to the standstill traffic, "This is why I said I would drive-"
"You drive like shit."
Amelia scoffed, "I'm not the one who stopped in the middle of-"
"You crashed the Mustang!"
"I was fourteen! And I was high! I had an excuse- a bad one- but, what's yours for being such an idiot?"
"Amy!"
"You started it!" she hissed, "I'm sure everything is fine. It's under lockdown as a precaution."
"I had a feeling," he swallowed, "I had a freaking feeling."
Amelia quickly eyed him before gripping the wheel, "I told them not to leave."
"What?"
"Kai? I asked Mer if she would consider offering Kai a research position at the hospital," Amelia swallowed, "And uh, she said she would. So I told Kai and they replied that our relationship works because of the dynamic of our relationship."
"Which means?"
"I don't have Scout on the weekends when they're here. And then they decided to move here and Scout was so much more present," Amelia continued, "They don't want kids, they made that very clear and it's unfair of me to ask them to change their mind. Link did that to me and I hated him for it.
Derek watched as his sister nearly broke down in front of him, "You're right."
Amelia turned to him with a glistening look, "I am?"
"You can't ask them to want something they don't," he whispered, "But you're allowed to feel the pain."
Amelia blinked away the tears, "Not right now. I'm driving and you already think I drive like shit."
Derek chuckled, "Amy?"
His sister's eyes locked with his own. Practically identical blue irises.
"Thanks for the distraction," he whispered, "I know you're not ready to talk about it so…thanks."
The traffic moved.
A pregnant woman was lifted off the ambulance.
"What happened?"
Marcus turned to Meredith and shook his head, "We were escorted them out of the clinic from the back- as protocol dictates-"
"So how the hell did this happen if you escorted them out?"
"A car came out of nowhere," Jo yelled as she walked in behind a patient. She turned to Owen and dictated name, condition, vitals, everything he needed to know to save her, "Dr. Montgomery is in the rig behind her."
This was worsening. It was worsening and she needed to make sure everyone in the building was safe and sound. That everyone made it home.
"Okay, everyone listen up," Meredith commanded, "The entire hospital is under lockdown. No one gets in unless they are essential staff! We are on a hospital wide lockdown! All essential personnel will be escorted out and everyone else stays indoors until law enforcement clears us!"
She watched another gurney make its way into the ER. This time she immediately recognized the patient. Meredith quickly made her way over, "Addison!"
"I was only clipped by a car," Addison's no nonsense voice calmly explained, "It's my shoulder"
"Okay we need to assess you-"
"Grey-"
"You were my attending years ago," Meredith turned to her sternly, "But I'm the chief now, and you need to be assessed before you go near any patient."
"Tia," Addison swallowed, "Someone needs to take-"
"We got her," Meredith nodded before turning to Bailey, "You okay?"
"I'm hanging in there," Bailey nodded, "I'm gonna check in on Tia and get Karev on stand-by in case we need him."
Meredith looked around. Chaos flourished everywhere.
She was fine. Meredith Grey was fine.
Busy. Overworked. Overwhelmed but otherwise fine.
"I'm sorry sir, I can't let you in" the guard insisted as he pushed the firefighter back, "You're not bringing in a patient"
"My wife is in there! My kid is in there!"
"Ben!"
"Derek," Ben turned around and shook his head to find Derek push through the crowd and make his way closer to him, "Did you just get here? They won't let me in?"
"What the hell's going on?" he asked desperately as Amelia pushed through the crowd, "Why aren't they letting anyone in?"
"Essential personnel only," The guard explained.
Derek and Amelia checked their pockets. They groaned as they both realized that their hospital badges had been left in the house alongside their case notes and other work. No proof they were employees here.
"Why is it under lockdown?" Derek asked as he peered through the window in search of anyone they knew.
"You don't know?" Ben blinked, "The protesters got violent. Someone was hit by a car. Bailey won't pick up-"
"Who was hit?' Amelia asked as she noticed the blood drain from her brother's face, "Do you know who was hit?'
"I don't know, I just heard it on the radio," Ben shook his head as he desperately turned to the glass door, "Don't they know you work here? That your wife's the chief? Derek?"
"You sure you don't know who the hell got hit?" Derek calmly asked.
Ben realized why his friend had frozen, "If it had been Meredith, I would-"
"You don't know," Derek swallowed as he realized he wouldn't get any clear answer, "You're not sure. You don't know."
Ben blinked, "No, I-I don't. It's why I rushed over."
"Hey!" Alex yelled from the inside, "Let them in, they work here?"
The security guard turned to the doctor yelling inside, "We have orders! Essential personnel only-"
"They're doctors here, two neurosurgeons and an anesthesiologist, they're essential! And one of them is on the board of directors. You really don't want to piss him off!"
The security eyed Ben- clad in his firefighter uniform.
"What? You heard him, let us in. You want to see my medical license?"
The guard stepped aside as the three rushed inside. They quickly made their way to the surgical wing, noticing the chaos inside the building.
"Bailey's in surgery," Alex explained as he pointed to a direction, "I'm heading to her OR now."
"What about the daycare?" Amelia asked. She could feel a knot form in her throat.
"Kids are good in there, playing with playdoh," he nodded, "I was just there."
"Karev, where's Meredith?" Derek desperately asked.
"Haven't seen her. I'm sure she's fine," Alex turned, "But one of your interns has a head injury and Montgomery is in the ER-"
"What?" Amelia asked desperately before bolting to the ER.
"Amelia!" Derek chased after her before turning to Alex, "Karev, If you see Mer tell her to text me to let me know she's alive!"
"I'm fine," Addison insisted, "I just need you to pop this shoulder in-"
"Not without some sedation-" Link shook his head as he tried to help the surgeon.
Amelia ran into the room before, "Addison-"
"Amelia, tell him I'm fine!" Addison angrily gritted. She sat up on the gurney and eyed her, desperate to be liberated from the confined space. She was needed elsewhere, not on this damn gurney.
"You are not getting it popped in!" Amelia yelled, "Not like this!"
Amelia turned to her coparent and gripped his arm, "Scout?"
"Safe, he's safe," Link nodded, "I gotta sedate her if-
"No!" Addison groaned in frustration, "Derek, you tell him!"
Derek pursed his lips together, "You're not getting it popped in without sedation. Have you seen Meredith?"
"I have a patient who is having a c-section because some idiot came after me!" Addison groaned loudly back in as she turned to Link, "Pop it back in, dammit!"
A crash interrupted before Derek could ask about his wife once more.
"Kwan, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, it was just a superficial cut" Kwan answered as he tumbled when he tried to stand up.
Intern. Hit. head. Right. Karev had told him.
"You could be concussed," Derek blinked as he turned to the second intern in the room, "Uh, Millin, take Kwan to CT, I'll be right in."
Kwan shook his head, "I don't need-"
"You're off the floor, Kwan!" Derek shouted, "Get a CT!"
Millin pulled him out of the room as Derek looked around, spotting another intern, "Shep! Where's Grey?"
"I-I was just- hey, I can't get the kids," Lucas yelled as he walked backwards to his destination, "I'm scrubbing in on a trauma and-"
"I'll get Erin," Derek shook his head, "Where's Grey?"
"I heard her in here a while ago announcing the lockdown. I have to go!" Lucas ran off leaving his uncle breathing in relief.
A shout shook him away. Link had given in and popped in Addison's shoulder. With no sedation.
"I have to call Jake," he heard Amelia say, "If we don't-"
"Don't call him! I don't want to scare him or Henry," she retorted as she tried to sit up.
"Derek help me out here," Amelia glared at her brother.
Addison stood, "I swear Derek, if you try to convince-"
"I have been losing my mind since the second I found out the clinic was under lockdown. Meredith won't answer my calls or my texts and I haven't heard from her. I won't be fine until I physically get my eyes on her and see that she's fine." he lowered his voice as he brutally opened up to his ex-wife, "I know you're my ex-wife and I should be the last person to tell you this but if you don't tell Jake, he will also be losing his damn mind! Call your damn husband, Addie!"
Addison glared at her ex-husband angrily, "Fine. Call Jake."
Amelia sighed in relief, "Okay. I'll be back."
Link shook his head as he reached the bed.
Derek made his way to leave the room.
"Derek!"
He turned.
"She's fine," Addison whispered, "She was also yelling at me when I came in on the gurney. I had eyes on her."
Derek exhaled before turning to Link, "Don't listen to her if she says she doesn't have any pain. You do everything to get her home safe."
"Adams!" Meredith yelled from the end of the hall, "What the hell are you doing here! You're supposed to pick up-"
"I just talked to Derek," he shouted back, "I'm on a case, he said he'd get the sitter-"
"He's here? Derek's in the hospital?" Meredith's eyes widened. The hospital was under lockdown, how the hell was he here?
"Yeah, I think he's the attending working on Kwan," Lucas nodded, "He was in the ER."
Meredith exhaled, "Okay, you're scrubbing in with-?"
"Bailey and Hunt," he nodded as he showed her his phone, "I have the husband on hold, I gotta run-"
"Go, go!" Meredith turned to find the elevator doors open, "Alex!"
"What?" he yelled as he looked up at her. He was in a hurry, she could tell.
"How's the baby?"
"Montgomery is with him," he explained, "He's stable, we had a scare but he's stable."
Stable. That was good. Not perfect, but good. So far.
"Okay keep me updated," she yelled as men in suits and police uniforms approached her.
This she remembered. Derek was constantly questioned after the shooting. Hunt constantly coordinating after the storm. Bailey trailing with officers behind her after the fire.
This she didn't enjoy.
A stout man in a dark suit approached her, "Dr. Grey, I'm Detective Ramos. Can we discuss coordination with you?"
"Yes, in here please," she swallowed as she led them into the conference room.
Derek tapped on his shoulder as he tried to ease his nerves. He waited for the computer to load the images as Kwans voice was heard over the intercom.
"What do you see?" Derek asked his intern.
Millin studied the scan, "No bleeding or fractures. No traumatic brain injuries.
"Good," Derek nodded as he clicked on the intercom, "Kwan, you're clear but you need to go home-"
"I can't go home. I live alone. If I go home, I fall asleep and die and no one would know."
Derek sighed. He was right. Things could easily take a sharp turn. He needed to remain with people around him. He turned to Millin, "Okay, you need to supervise him-"
"Dr. Shepherd, I don't want to-" she objected.
"He can't scrub in on any surgeries and he can't do any procedures." he shook his head "Only let him do notes and patient intakes."
Millin rolled her eyes, hoping Dr. Shepherd had missed it. He didn't.
"Jules, I get you five are competitive and you two are the most competitive with each other, but if you're going to survive your intern year, you need to watch out for each other."
"Dr. Shepherd-"
"Consider this an assignment," he shook his head, "He's gonna need regular neuro checks. Page me if he has any dizziness or headaches."
Jules sighed, "Yes, Dr. Shepherd.
Hours passed. Some things seemed to slow down. And when Meredith finally had a moment to breathe, the patient she promised Addison she'd care for was in the ICU. Meredith watched as they took her in her room and connected every IV and machine.
Bailey leaned over the nurses station and watched. Patiently.
"Hey," Meredith approached Bailey, "They caught the driver and the lockdown has been lifted."
"Oh, that's good." Bailey sighed. She turned back to the patient, watching every single step. Meredith could see the exhaustion in her eyes.
"Miranda, you should go home. I heard Ben was in the gallery-"
"I kicked him out, he shouldn't have-"
"He was worried," Meredith reassured her, "He was worried and wanted to make sure you were safe. You need to get home to your daughter and your husband and rest. Tia will be fine."
Bailey exhaled, "Why is this happening? Why are we the ones…I just want to help. It's all I want to do."
Meredith swallowed a lump in her throat. Miranda Bailey- Dr. Miranda Bailey- was never one to go down without a fight. She was never one to sit and watch. She was someone who took action.
Meredith whispered, "If you want to keep the clinic closed for a few days-"
"No, no, we can't close it," Bailey shook her head, "It'll be open tomorrow morning."
A doer. Dr. Bailey was a doer and a person she highly respected. She'd keep fighting.
"Dr. Bailey?" Lucas stepped from the hallway with a man next to him, "This is Brandon Marwood. Tia's husband."
His eyes turned to Meredith and nodded before he walked away. Meredith watched as Bailey escorted Brandon into the patient's room. She watched as she explained to her the intricacies of her condition.
She sighed in relief. This was a day for the books. Having to run around the hospital, directing traffic, yelling at security. Now all they needed was for Tia to wake up and meet her son.
Meredith pushed herself off the nurses station and made her way to the elevator. She rubbed the back of her neck as she waited for the doors to open.
To her surprise an intern sat on the floor. Her arms around her knees. Stoic and frozen.
"Yasuda? Are you okay?" Meredith stepped in and lowered to her level, "Yasuda look at me."
It reminded her of her daughter. Sitting on the floor trying to assess the world around her while her insides trembled with fear.
"No," Yasuda shook her head, "I don't think I am."
"Okay," Meredith swallowed, this intern was having a panic attack, "Let's take some deep breaths. In and out. C'mon."
She helped the intern gather herself and quickly stopped the elevator. Waiting patiently for Yasuda to gather her breath.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry,"Yasuda quickly made her way to stand, "I didn't mean to hide. I didn't mean to freeze! Surgeons don't freeze."
"You aren't in an OR," Meredith assured her as she stood with her, "This was a traumatic and violent day. You didn't sign up for things like this, no one did, this job is not supposed to be like this. You are human and you are allowed to feel."
Yasuda looked up to her and nodded.
"We're human," Meredith assured her, "We can only do so much."
"How's she doing?" Derek asked as he hung up the phone. He stood next to his sister as they watched her and Alex care for the preemie they'd helped deliver.
"Jake's on his way up," Amelia sighed as she shifted her weight, "She's pissed at me but I know she needs him. And she's biting her lip which means she's in pain"
"Yeah," Derek turned away from the window and leaned against it. He tapped on the phone screen again, willing a text or a call.
"Still haven't seen her?" Amelia's voice cut through his thoughts
"No," he shook his head, "Scout? How's he doing?"
"Link took him home," Amy smiled, "I saw him for a bit and stayed with him before Link finished. He's okay."
Derek smiled before his eyes caught sight of his sister-in-law, "Mags! Where's Mer?"
"I haven't seen her since this morning," she shook her head as she turned and walked towards them, "You guys okay? When did you get here?"
"Hours ago," Amelia gulped as she stared at Derek, "Go find her. I'll stay with Addie-"
"Yeah, I got the kids," Maggie nodded, "I'll go check on them."
"Thanks," Derek nodded as he pushed himself off the glass, "Zo's gonna have questions. It's probably all over the news now and I haven't been able to-"
"I got Zo," Maggie nodded as she watched him rush to the elevator.
As the doors closed behind him a text arrived.
You're okay, right?
Derek sighed as he pressed the red emergency stop and clicked his daughter's contact.
"Daddy?" Zola's trembling voice echoed.
"Hey, princess," he sighed as he tried to mask his nerves. He ran his fingers through his hair and pulled on the ends, "Everything's fine, they lifted the lockdown."
"Mom won't pick up her phone, I tried calling her a million times and she won't-"
"I know, I know, she's been with police officers and trying to make sure everyone is safe and-"
"Did you see her?"
"Yeah," he lied, "Momma's fine."
Zola remained quiet for a moment.
"Zo?"
"You're coming home? The both of you? Are you coming home tonight?"
Derek sighed. His daughter had another panic attack. The fear that she'd lose her parents- her mother- was still very real.
"As soon as we can, we're going home, okay?" he tenderly confirmed as he tried to imagine holding her in his arms, "Aunt Maggie is on her way to stay with you three for a bit before we can get out of here."
"Okay," he heard his daughter swallow, "Can you tell mom to call me?"
He pressed the emergency stop again, releasing the elevator, "As soon as she can."
As they exchanged goodbyes, the hospital doors opened, "Derek-"
The voice was instantly recognizable. And there was only one reason why that person was here.
"Richard," he turned to him, "Hell of a day for you to be here."
"Yeah, Meredith had a handful today."
At the sound of her name, Derek's head perked up"Have you seen her?"
"A while ago," Richard confirmed, "She seemed fine. A little overwhelmed but you know the job."
"Yeah," Derek exhaled before he studied Richard, "You're here about Catherine?"
Richard nodded solemnly, "She told me. How bad is it?"
Derek stared at him for a moment. Catherine hadn't given him the clear to discuss her health. She held a powerful hand and he wasn't about to betray her trust, "Richard-"
"Years? Months? Tell me the truth," Richard insisted, "I just need to know."
"We can never know. Not completely. And Catherine wants to do things her way and I know you're my friend but she's- Richard she's my patient. I can't break that trust unless you're okay with her looking for someone else. Amelia would say the same thing."
Richard nodded, "You'll tell me. If I should be-"
"We're not there yet," Derek admitted as he clapped his shoulder, "It's all I can say. Just- just be there for her. Let her know you're her shoulder. Just be there."
"Zo-Zo," Meredith exhaled as her daughter picked up the phone, "I'm so sorry-"
"Mom are you okay?" Zola practically yelled, "I talked to Dad and-"
"We're okay, we're fine, I saw Dad and he's good," Meredith fibbed. For the sake of her daughter's stability, a tiny fib was acceptable, "Everyone is okay."
"I was so scared," she could hear Zola try to contain her tears. She had younger siblings and she was always the strong one for them. And she'd bet anything that Zola was hiding in that closet of hers.
"You remember the lion daddy bought you?" Meredith whispered, "I brought it to you when you had your shunt revision?"
"Yeah?"
"What else did Daddy and I get you when you were little? Tell me four more things. Four things that brought you joy."
Zola went quiet for a moment. She was thinking. Some thinking was good for Zola.
"My sock monkey. And my teacup set," she giggled, "And then dad got me the stethoscope I wanted for my birthday when I was seven and the Tessa books you gave me for Christmas"
"Okay good," Meredith lightly chuckled, "I'm gonna be home soon, okay? Dad and I are both gonna be home with you and Bailey and Ellis."
"Okay," Zola sniffed, "Ellis fell asleep a little while ago. And Bailey is in his room playing video games. I checked their homework. They finished everything."
Meredith smiled as she pictured Zola bossing them around as Bailey resisted his older sister's commands, "You're such a good sister, Zozo. I love you. We both love you so much."
"Me too," Zola's voice trembled just a bit.
"Okay, we'll wake you up when we get home okay?" She hung up the phone and made her way to the catwalk. The final hurdle to her office.
"Chief Grey-" Lucas called out, mindful of calling her anything but, "Chief!"
"No! No, I'm done. I'm done for the day. If you need a consult look for someone else please-"
"Not its' not-"
"Adams I'm not kidding," she gritted through her teeth as she walked down the catwalk, "I need to get-"
She stared ahead at the figure in front of her. Equally frazzled. Just as exhausted. Most likely searching for her.
Derek exhaled from the opposite side of the catwalk. The sight he'd been waiting for all day finally providing relief.
"-home," Meredith finished with a shudder.
"He's been looking for you all day," Lucas explained.
Those corny, over the top romantic scenes where the guy gets the girl and they run to each other had nothing on this.
They both tiredly made their way to each other until they crashed into one another. Their arms enveloping and gripping at each other. Meredith stood on the tip of her toes as she reached to wrap her arms around his neck, her face tucking in the sweet spot she'd often find between his neck and jaw. She inhaled his signature scent, breathing in the relief that she was safe.
Derek's arms wrapped around her lithe frame. Holding her a little tighter and slightly swaying. His eyes closed as he inhaled the lavender smell he'd grown so fond of. It was a scent he'd recognize anywhere. So penetrating and comforting, that being surrounded by it provided a safety net.
They were fine. No marks or scrapes. No scars or need for an emergent surgery.
A whirlwind day ending in each other's arms. Safe.
A/N: We needed to circle back to s20 canon because this is the au to ~that~.
I was never gonna hurt Mer. I wanted a badass Mer chapter and I think I got that. I think we were robbed of a badass chief Mer scene. Idk I didn't see enough so that's my assumption, I could be wrong. Anyways, the episode that inspired this was perfect to put Meredith as chief and in control of a crisis. It was also excellent to separate MerDer and watch them freak out over each other while also getting the job done. You also get to see how close Meredith, Derek, Amelia, and Maggie are and how they all help each other and how Lucas is fitting in with them. And Zo's anxiety isn't just fed off the diagnosis that she's gifted. She's been through trauma and something like this would be all over the news.
It's a rich filler chapter, I hope. We'll see more of the Little Grey-Shepherds soon.
I can't wait to read your reviews. Thanks for reading!