Highway to Hell

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

A few days later, Meredith was still in the ICU. Derek went outside her room for a little while

"Derek?" Bailey said as she approached Derek

"Bailey.." Derek sighed

"I've got the results" Miranda pointed at her tablet

"Tell me, Miranda. This doesn't feel good"

"Well.. Infection is still there. Her body doesn't react on the antibiotics" Bailey sighed "Oxygen levels keep dropping" Bailey explained as she heard sputtering from inside Meredith's room

Derek ran inside to do an assistant coughing. He placed his hands on her stomach and pushed "Come on, Mer" He whispered and she barely reacted before some violent coughings left her body

"Der" Meredith whispered

"Shh, Mer. Keep your energy" Derek said before placing the oxygen mask back on her face

"Shepherd?" Bailey called out from where she stood at the door

"Mer, I'll be right outside if you need me" He said before kissing her forehead. He walked outside the room into the hallway and continued the talk with Miranda.

"Derek.. I rather don't say this but things look pretty bad"

"I.. What's the next step?"

"If things don't get better we'll probably have to intubate her and put her on a vent to give her lungs the rest she needs.. But that's the worst case scenario." Bailey sighed, wiping a tear away

"She asked for Zola earlier"

"I know, Derek. But kids bring infections and we can't take that risk now"

"I.. I know.." Derek sighed "Miranda.. Is there a chance she won't survive this?"

"Usually I would say to keep positive but I don't know either, Derek. All I know is that she's strong and not ready to leave you behind"

"I can't live without her" Derek almost screamed

"Go in there, Derek. Sit with your wife"

"Thanks Bailey" Derek said before entering Meredith's room

...

Derek was fast asleep in the chair next to Meredith. Her fever was still up the last time they checked, she was still on antibiotics but they didn't seem to work so they had to do a good job of monitoring so her lungs don't collapse.

"D-er" Meredith choked out but it was barely noticeable. She started to panic. Her lungs felt wet and she tried to clear them with small coughings but it didn't work. She felt like she was drowning so she reached for the nurse button but her heart monitor went off, which woke Derek. He got up instantly and helped her coughing "Mer.." He whispered with tears in his eyes

"Derek.. Hurts.. Every-thing" She cried out, making her breathless in a few seconds. She was on the edge of a panic attack and she knew she couldn't have them. Her lungs couldn't handle hyperventilation at this point.

Derek handed her the oxygen mask and Bailey ran in "Everything okay?"

"She.. She needed to cough"

"Still this bad to cough on your own?" Bailey asked, Meredith nodded.

"How.. bad?" Meredith asked

"Mer.. try to sleep" Derek said as he kept tearing up while he gently kissed his wife on her forehead

"Chart" She spitted out

"Meredith, you need to rest, you don't want me to sedate you" Bailey replied

"That.. bad?" Meredith asked

"Meredith.. I'm gonna be honest with you. The antibiotics don't seem to help and we're thinking to keep you sedated until your fever lowers again"

"Scans?"

"Your lungs keep getting wet and you can't cough so we won't let you alone in your room anymore" Bailey explained

"Stats.. low"

"Yeah.. Your oxygen keeps dropping" Derek sighed

"Vent?"

"Only as a last resort, Meredith.."

"Will"

"What?"

"We need.. A will.. for you.. and Zo" She murmured before whispering "Cough"

Derek got up and helped her cough, but it took a long time. Derek looked worriedly at Bailey who got closer and helped by rubbing Meredith's back while listening to her lungs while after many attempts Meredith was finally able to get it out

"Meredith, I need you to stop talking and keep on that oxygen mask, please. Derek, once she got her breath back, give her a nasulle canule please"

Derek nodded

...

"Derek?" Bailey said as she quietly walked into meredith's hospital room

"Yeah?" He replied, waking up after a short nap

"Your mom is here with Zola. She insists on having dinner with you. I can sit with Meredith if you want" Bailey offered while pointing to Carolyn and Zola outside of the room

"Should I wake Mer? So she can see Zozo again" Derek asked

"I think she would be happy to see her daughter"

"Mer" Derek whispered as he gently woke her up

"Hmm?" Meredith groaned

"Hey, are you okay with me going for dinner with my mom?"

"Sure.. Zo?"

"Well.. take a look yourself. She's outside the room" Derek said while Meredith quickly opened her eyes before Derek carefully lifted the head of her bed

"Zo.." Meredith whispered while slowly waving to the baby while tearing up

She saw Zola's lips moving and she could almost hear her brabbling "ma". Her mother heart broke, she just wanted to be close to her daughter

"Are you sure it's okay for me to go?" Derek asked

Meredith nodded while faking a smile.

Derek kissed her forehead and walked outside the room kissing Zola's forehead before waving a final time at Meredith before they took off to the cafeteria

But Meredith started to breathe louder

"Meredith, keep calm. You'll be close to her soon"

"No! I.. I need help.. with everything! I.. I don't deserve.. to be called a mother" She violently spit out"

"Meredith, you know that's not true! That kid loves you so much" Miranda said while she rubbed Meredith's back while Meredith was clearly getting worse.

"I.. I can't" Meredith shouted while slamming at her legs "Work! Come on! Work!" Meredith screamed before having a panic attack

"Meredith, put on the mask." Bailey instructed as she gave the oxygen mask "Come on, Meredith. Deep clear breaths please" Bailey almost begged as Meredith's oxygen started to drop making the machines go off as different nurses and doctors ran in.

"Someone page Derek Shepherd and ask him if we can put her on a vent, now!" Bailey yelled

Hey guys! We hope you all enjoyed this chapter and hope your doing well. As always, go follow my amazing co writer, _Ktje_