Jump Then Fall

35.

Derek Shepherd was completely exhausted and was realizing just why patients families didn't get any sleep when they stayed over. The tiny chairs in the hospital rooms were impossible to be comfortable in and the beeping of the machines kept him awake all night. But it wasn't just the noise and the hard chair that had kept Derek awake. He kept opening his eyes to make sure that Meredith's vitals were stable and to check if she was awake. Even though nurses were in and out through the night, checking her and making notes in her chart he didn't trust anyone to watch after her and he hadn't gotten any sleep. It was almost nine in the morning when Derek finally dozed off, unable to stay awake any longer.

"Mmph..." He heard a small grumble and he looked up at her, noticing Meredith's nose flinch slightly. Every time she woke up she scrunched her nose and Derek missed that, because this time it just looked so painful.

"Meredith..." Derek jolted awake. He wasn't sure how long he'd been out, if it was five minutes or five hours but it didn't matter. "You're awake..."

"Mmm..." Hours ago, they had told him that they were easing up on a few of the medications which were making her sleep. They told him it could be minutes, maybe a few hours before her body finished sleeping it off. She was waking and she looked like she was in so much but still so beautiful. She was so beautiful in his eyes.

"Hey." Derek smiled weakly. Her eyes were still swollen slightly shut and her face was terribly bruised but she was okay. She was going to be okay.

"Ouch."

"It's going to hurt for a little while."

"I feel like I got hit by a bus." Meredith whispered, her speaking was slightly changed by the swelling in her mouth. This was so unfair to her.

"Do you remember what happened?" Derek breathed. He couldn't reach out and touch her. He wants to hold her and comfort her but it would just cause her more pain.

"Uh huh..." She was groggy and she was falling in and out of sleep as he spoke to her.

"Good....that's good."

"Head..."

"Hurts right now but it's going to be fine."

"Yeah." Her mouth stayed open and he just wanted to hold her. To hold her and make sure she's okay.

"They um...they did CT's and blood work and everything is okay...you're going to be okay."

"Good...thats...it's good." Her body was weak and sore as she tried to open her eyes again, but could barely get them open a bit. "Stole my money...ass."

"They got the guy. Alex grabbed him and held him long enough for the police to come." Derek told her. "Once everything's sorted out with the police, you should get the money back."

"Wallet...I didn't have it and I didn't have much with me."

"I just...all night..." Derek struggled to speak. "I kept thinking if they hadn't found you and I...you're okay."

"Derek." She squeezed his hand weakly. He was amazed by her strength. She was always so strong and right now she didn't' have to be.

"You're um...you're going to need surgery. Minor surgery. Not right away."

"On what?" She whispered.

"You're arm...It's pretty badly broken. Cristina said you were using it protect your face." Derek breathed.

"Oh...yeah....I....he wouldn't stop so I needed something." Meredith swallowed. "So surgery...on my wrist."

"It won't be for a few weeks, once your stronger."