The Seventh Sense is Love

Aftermath of the Surgery

"Has he woken up yet?" Bailey asked as she walked up to the nurses station outside of Derek's room.

"No," answered Cristina with a huff as she shut the medical journal she'd been studying for an upcoming surgery. "It's been ten hours since he came out of surgery and Meredith hasn't left him for more than a trip to the bathroom."

"Ten hours is a bit long but nothing to worry about yet. Especially considering the complications that occurred during the surgery."

"Yeah, Grey - Lexie," Cristina clarified, "Told me they were calling time-of-death when she walked into the O.R. She said she flipped out and started yelling at the Chief and Lexington to keep trying with Derek. Lexie's worried about being written up for insubordinate behavior."

Bailey sighed and rubbed her tired eyes. Then she said to Cristina, "I shouldn't have sent her in that operating room. She's family and had no business in there. Tell her not to worry about any negative repercussions. I'm certain the Chief will take the bigger picture into consideration."

"Dr. Bailey?"

"Yes, Yang?" Bailey turned back to her after starting to walk away.

"I'm glad you sent Lexie in to check on Derek's surgery. I'm not positive anyone not close to Derek and Meredith would have pushed the Chief and Livingston to continue."

Bailey just stared at Cristina for several silent moments. Then, with a slight crack in her voice, she said. "Good point, Yang. Thank you."

Cristina smiled as Bailey walked away. Then she glanced toward Derek's room again and her smile faded. Cristina thought that he'd better wake his ass up soon. If he didn't, she was going to hurt him just for putting her friend through so much hell.

Meredith looked up as she heard footsteps entering Derek's room. She tried to smile at Cristina but found that she just couldn't. "Hi," she whispered hoarsely instead.

"Hi," Cristina answered and set a bottle of water, a turkey and cheese sandwich and an apple on the little side table near Meredith.

Meredith glanced at the food and water then back to Cristina. "Thanks," she said, "I'm just not hungry."

Cristina pulled a chair up next to Meredith's. Then, very calmly, she said, "You put some of the crappy cafeteria food into your mouth and feed that kid you're growing. If you don't, I'll strap your skinny ass to a bed and hook you up to an I.V."

Meredith just stared at Cristina and blinked. Then she started giggling and after a few moments the giggles became slightly hysterical sounding.

"Don't," Cristina whispered.

"Don't what?" Meredith asked as her hysterical laughing turned to heart wrenching sobs.

"Don't cry, please," Cristina said even though it was much too late for her plea.

Meredith got up and walked into the hallway. When Derek woke up - she didn't want to be in the middle of losing control. Cristina followed her and grabbed her hand in a show of support but didn't say anything. After a short while Meredith pulled herself together and whispered, "Derek died today."

"He's still here Mer," Cristina said, squeezing her friend's hand.

"Cristina, my sister said they were calling his time of death when she walked into the O.R. My husband," she rubbed her belly with her free hand, "my son's father died today. The reality is - I'll lose Derek someday and that scares me shitless."

"The reality is," Cristina stated emphatically, "that by some kind of miracle your husband," she reached out and - surprisingly - rubbed Mer's belly, "and this little guy's Daddy lived today."