We've Got To Stop Meeting Like This

Death By A Thousand Cuts

"Meredith, I know your flight home is this afternoon, but I need you to run a quick errand before you go," she rolled her eyes as she heard her mother's voice. Now she needed help, just as she was leaving the state.

She turned to look at her mother who stood in the doorway of Meredith's childhood bedroom, one hand on her hip as she spoke, "What is it?"

"I need you to take this file over to Mount Sinai, for Dr Christopher Shepherd. You remember him, right? Trauma surgeon. Anyway, he's helping me with a project now that he's back in work," she held out a file to her daughter who took it in slight confusion. Derek's father? Back at work? Where had he been?

"Yeah, sure, I can take it on my way to the airport, I guess," she put the file into her carry-on bag, her brow furrowed.

"Good. Oh, I meant to tell you, but I think with everything that's been going on it clearly escaped my mind. He was ill, Dr Shepherd. Lung cancer. Derek, Dr Shepherd, you met him on Friday, he was torn up about it. Thankfully, he's come through the other side and is in remission now. Well, let me know when you've dropped it off and let me know when you land back in Seattle. I've been thinking about visiting Seattle myself..."

As her mind processed the new information from her mother, Ellis' voice was tuned out in place of her concentration, so she didn't hear about the upcoming possibility of being visited by her in Seattle. Derek's father was ill? Why didn't he tell her? Is that what he meant yesterday, what her mother should have told her? No wonder he thought he might've heard from her. Dammit, why did no one tell her? And when she hadn't been there, April must've been the one there for him. Could she even begin to compete with that? She needed to get out of New York.

She arrived at Mount Sinai hospital with only two hours before she needed to be at the airport for her flight. She approached the front desk and was easily directed to the emergency department where she should find Dr Christopher Shepherd. She recognised him as soon as she saw him, partly from memory, and partly from the similar features his son had obviously inherited from him. Especially the blue of his eyes.

He looked up from the computer he sat at as she approached, looking at her over his glasses, "Meredith Grey? Is that you?"

She laughed softly as she pulled the file her mother had given her for him out of her carry-on, "Good to see you again, Dr Shepherd. My mother sent me."

"Ah, yes, she did mention over email earlier this morning. How is she doing?" He stood and moved round the desk to stand beside her, taking the files.

"She's much better now, back to work on Monday. I don't think anyone would be able to stop her."

"Do you have time for a quick coffee?"

She hesitated a moment, but nodded, "I have an hour before I need to head to the airport."

She followed him outside to the coffee cart, and he purchased them both a coffee each before guiding her over to one of the free benches that surrounded the small grassy area. She took the coffee from him with thanks, unsure of what he wanted to speak to her about.

"My mother, this morning, she mentioned you had been unwell. I wasn't aware, I hope you're feeling much better now, and it stays that way. I'm glad you managed to pull through," she gave him a warm smile before taking a sip of the coffee, letting the cup warm her hands in the cool spring air.

"Thank you, I'm definitely doing better now. Just got back to work this past week," he gave a small nod, "It was hard, definitely gave me a greater understanding of the illness. I appreciate the support your mother gave my son."

Her eyebrows rose, both at the thought of her mother showing compassion, and the mention of Derek in the conversation, "Oh, I hadn't realised. I mean, she did imply an appreciation of his talents..." she tilted her head to the side a moment as she mused, "I guess that's how she expresses herself, though."