The Seventh Sense is Love

Clinical Surgery and First Steps

Ian stood up straight and seemed to ponder taking his first step at just over fourteen months old. Derek was thrilled that he had been home to see it. However, he was equally relieved when Ian just crawled rapidly toward him after falling on his laughing butt. He didn't want Meredith to miss such a milestone. He didn't want to miss it either, but he figured she'd be really hurt if she missed their sons first steps. The clinical trial was getting to her again and she had been very testy and emotional for the past couple of weeks. Derek didn't even want to contemplate Meredith's exact reaction to missing Ian's first steps toward becoming a walker. Even if her reaction would be understandable.

Picking up his son, Derek said, "We'll save the attempts at walking for when mommy is here with us. Okay pal?"

"Ma ma ma ma," Ian chanted happily and placed a wet kiss on his dad's cheek.

"Yes," Derek chuckled, carrying Ian to his nursery for a change of diaper and clothing. "I love mommy too and I don't want her to cry over missing your first steps. So, we need to be together when you become an even bigger boy."

Ian gave Derek a very serious look, as if he understood exactly what his dad was saying to him. Then he gave his big, happy smile and said, "Ma ma, da da."

He smiled at his son and rubbed the top of his head - which actually had hair now. There still wasn't all that much of it but at least it was there. It was Meredith's color and the ends had a tiny bit of curl to it. Ian didn't say da da as much as he did ma ma so it always made Derek feel a surge of emotion and thankfulness upon hearing it. He was still very aware of how close he'd come to an alternate, miserable life. He was so glad that he had taken the chance with Meredith.

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee," Ian's loud sound that they figured meant himself, interrupted Derek's pensive mood.

"Yes, and Ian," Derek acknowledged. "Let's finish getting ready and go see mommy at the hospital."

There was a constant stream of chatter between father and son as they got ready for their day and drove to the hospital. Meredith met them outside of the daycare - as either did at the beginning of each day. "Ma ma ma ma," Ian said excitedly and reached the moment he saw her.

"Hi sweetie," Meredith said and held him close to her. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath of his clean, baby scent. When she opened her eyes again, she looked at Derek. He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

"Hi Mer," he said, knowing by her expression that it hadn't been a good morning for her. Now he was even more thankful that he didn't have to tell her that Ian had taken a step. Please Ian, Derek thought, wait to walk until mommy is home, too. They spent their customary time together in the daycare with Ian. When they left, Derek took Meredith's hand in his and said simply, "Tell me."

Meredith looked at him and gave a tiny smile as she squeezed his hand in hers. It still amazed her sometimes how well they knew one another; it was comforting and reassuring.

"We have two new clinical trial patients."

"Yes," Derek nodded. "Beth and Jeremy."

"They're young, Derek," she said, and her voice broke just a tiny bit. She didn't say anything else until they were inside his office and the door was shut behind them. "They're only seventeen, Derek. And," she said, holding up a hand when she thought he was about to speak. "They know one another."

"Oh," he said, surprised by this information. "How?"

"They were a part of a cancer support group."

"Were?"

"Beth and Jeremy are the last two alive."

"Crap," Derek muttered, pulling Meredith to him. He could understand how this was already difficult for Meredith. Hell, it was difficult for him, too.