Let It Go

75.

Derek hated Richard Webber. The man had never taken a vacation - never - and yet he decides to take a two week one to some place warm and tropical just as a natural disaster decides to take aim for Virginia. He hated Adele too. Chances were pretty good she gave Richard no choice but to go. Derek also hated being Chief and was reminded exactly of why he didn't want to be Chief of Surgery.

Everywhere he looked, someone was calling his name for something. A patient was coding, another was having a panic attack, another had torn his IVs out, several were trying to leave AMA. More tornadoes were touching down all over the area and more storms, worse then the one they'd just went through, were heading straight for them. Half the staff was clamoring for phones, trying to check on loved ones and even pets rather then concerning themselves with their patients. Derek had snatched the phone from one nurse in particular after overhearing her questioning her neighbor as to whether or not he had gone and checked on her dogs yet. He got that they were worried but right now they had a job to do.

Cell phone service was gone and the paging system was only working about half the time. He had people running up to him from other floors, asking him questions, asking for help, telling him their staff was trying to go home. The pitt was moments away from being overrun with the first rave of injuries and to top it all off, he had no idea where Meredith was which meant he couldn't fully concentrate.

"Dr. Shepherd!" "What?" Derek snapped. "A patient down on 4 is trying to leave. He underwent a heart transplant three days ago. He can't go but he says he doesn't want to die here," a nurse told him. "Tell him there are more storms on the way and that the hospital is a hell of a lot safer then trying to drive home," he said. "Dr. Shepherd!" a resident called. Derek started walking towards him. "And if that doesn't work, bother Preston Burke!" he called to the nurse over his shoulder. She didn't dare tell Derek it was Preston Burke who had sent her in the first place.

"What is it Dr. Rogers?" Derek asked. "My patient's brain is swelling. What do we do?" Dr. Rogers asked. Derek rushed into the room, shining his penlight in the patient's eyes and calling out to him. The patient's family hovered nervously around, firing questions at Derek, a woman demanding he do something to help her fiance.

"Get me a syringe and the longest needle you can find," Derek orderd. "A syringe, what are you going to do with that?" the woman asked. "Go Dr. Rogers!" Derek ordered. "And someone get the family out of here!" Dr. Rogers scrambled out of the room and a harrassed-looking nurse ushered the protesting family out of the room. Dr. Rogers reappeared moments later with the syringe. Derek took it and positioned himself over the patient. Dr. Rogers watched as Derek expertly inserted the long needle under the patient's eyelid. Seconds later, the syringe was filling with fluid. The patient begin to stir and Derek removed the needle.

"Keep an eye on him," Derek instructed. "And get rid of this," he added, passing the fluid-filled syringe off to Dr. Rogers. He stode out off the room only to be met by more calls for his name. "Dr. Shepherd!" "What now?" "The pit is being overran. They need as many bodies down there as they can." Derek sighed and headed for the stairs. He took his cell phone out again and tried Meredith. Still nothing but static. He let out a long strand of words he'd never say in front of his mother as he descended several floors of steps.

"Dr. Shepherd, there's a patient complaining of numbness in his arms and legs in 1019, another with a severe head injury in 1023, and Dr. O'Malley needs a neuro consult in 1054," a nurse rattled. Derek nodded. "Have you seen Dr. Grey?" he asked. "Earlier. It's been a while though," the nurse answered before taking off to help someone else. Derek felt only slightly relieved. He needed to actually see her to know she was okay. He headed for his first patient.

"Derek!" Derek spun around, his worry relieved at the sound of Meredith's voice. She hurried towards him, dodging people hurrying up and down the hallway they were in. "Hey," she breathed. Derek reached for her and pulled her to the side of the hallway.