Highway to Hell

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Meredith was now in PT. Lucy was stretching her legs to make sure her muscles kept trained.

"Any discomfort?" Lucy asked as she finished Meredith's final exercise

"My back again.. Can't feel the rest" Meredith said with a wink

"Your mindset has changed" Lucy said while giving her a smile

"Well, I wanna go on with life. I don't want to miss things because i'm self-pitying

"Scared for the plane ride?" Lucy asked

"A bit.. You know.."

"What scares you the most" She asked

"Leaving my chair before I get in. Not being able to run if something happens. Needing to ask help or using a catheter during the flight. And I have no right to be scared, I'm surrounded by friends, who are all doctors and who know what to do" Meredith honestly replied

"Would you feel safer when Derek would come with you?"

"I don't know. It's not like he can give me my legs back.." She sighed

"You'll be fine, Meredith. I know you're capable of this. The only struggle you'll have is to place your pride on the side and ask for help"

Meredith nodded

"You're good to go, Meredith" Lucy said as Meredith got off the table and into her chair before she grabbed her stuff and wheeled towards Derek's office.

Derek was still in the OR so Meredith transferred to the couch and layed down. She was in pain, not unbearable but intense. She grabbed her pain medication and took them in.

An hour later, Derek walked in his office and found Meredith asleep on the couch. Her breaths loud and unsteady

"Hi" He said he woke her up, slightly shaking her shoulders

"Hmm" She murmured before she tried to sit up but she winced in pain

Derek immediately helped her up before he started hoovering "Hey, what's up?"

"Back.. PT" She said before he immediately grabbed her pain meds out of her bag

"Here, take this" He said as he handed her the meds and a bottle of water

"Thanks" She whispered before taking them.

Derek took a seat next to her and pulled her on his lap, gently rubbing her back as she laid her head on his chest before relaxing as the meds started to work a bit

"Home?" He asked

"Hmm" She nodded

Derek lifted her into her chair and grabbed their stuff while Meredith pushed herself out before stopping "Der.. Can you.. Push me?" She asked, feeling vulnerable

"Of course" He whispered in her ear and they made their way to daycare to pick up Zola

"I'll wait here" Meredith said

"Be right back" Derek smiled as he walked in, only to return a couple of minutes later, this time with zola in his arms.

"You good to take her on your lap?" Derek asked

"It will be" Meredith said as Derek placed Zola on her legs "Be good with mommy, she has an owie"

"Wie?"

"Mommy's back hurts, Zo" Meredith whispered as she kissed the little girl's head

"Tell me if I have to take over" He whispered before pushing them towards their car before helping them in while Meredith winced in pain again

"We'll go home and you can rest" Derek said

"Kay" She replied

...

"Derek, I need to study.." She sighed

"Do you want me to call Cristina?"

"The only one who has a day off is Alex. Can you pass me my phone?" She asked from her spot on the couch
Derek passed her the phone before starting to play again with Zola

"Hey, Alex! Do you want to come over and study?" Meredith asked as she was calling Alex

"Sounds great, Mer! I'll be there in a bit! Do I need to bring something?"

"No, we're good" Meredith replied before hanging up and making a move to put her phone on the table as she winced again

"Mer, do you want your next dose?" Derek asked as Meredith nodded

"Ma!" Zola yelled as she pulled herself up against the couch

"Derek!"

"What-" He gasped. "Zo!"

"She.. She's trying to stand up" Meredith smiled widely

"She is" Derek smiled as he helped Meredith sit up before taking a seat next to her.

"Our baby is getting big" She said as she smiled when Alex ran into the house

"Hey guys!" He yelled as he walked in

"Living room" Meredith yelled back

"Hi Zola!" Alex said as he kneeled in the floor to say hello

"Coffee?" Derek asked Alex

"Thanks, Shep!" Alex replied before turning his attention to Meredith

"Nervous for the test?" Alex asked. He was still worried about Meredith although he finally stopped blaming himself for what happened during the ambulance crash

"Not really for the test, that will come later.. more worried about the plane" She admitted

"Well, I'll be there and Jackson, April and Cristina" He replied, putting his hand on her thighs before she grabbed his hand with hers.

"I.. Alex, it's just.. I replaced my legs with wheels but I won't have them on the plane. I'll sit there from the beginning till the end of the flight and if something happens I won't be able to run, to swim or anything! I can't go to the toilet by myself, meaning I'll need someone who can bring me there or a catheter.." She said as tears sprung in her eyes

"Hey, me and Cristina will make sure that we're sitting next to you and I promise, if something happens that I'll take care of you. I won't leave you behind but it's not like we're gonna be in a plane crash" He winked

"Thanks" She whispered before squeezing his hand again.

Meanwhile, Derek was standing in the doorway, listening to his wife showing her vulnerability. He was happy, she finally let some people in. She was talking instead or screaming at herself or her legs. He knew Meredith would be fine on that plane with her friends and he would call her right before they boarded.

Hey guys! We hope you enjoyed this chapter and hope your doing well. As always, go
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