Jump Then Fall

39.

Everything ached. Her legs, her arms, her stomach, her back her head and every other part of her ached and she was starting to wish she could just sleep through all of this. The stairs had been hell for her, even though Derek had helped her each step of the way. He had made Leighton sit on the couch while he helped her and she had tried with all of her might not to cry from the pain.

Everything hurt so bad and Meredith wasn't sure what to do about it. According to the nurse, her pain meds were not due for another two hours and she wasn't sure how to handle it. The movement she did in the hospital was nothing compared to the movement she did getting in and out of the car, into the house and up the stairs had been so much more exhausting and painful.

Stupid Ally. She should have never left the damn bar alone because none of this would have happened. It was her fault and now she wasn't sure how this was going to work. She was staying with Derek and Leighton but more importantly Trevor. Did he even know what was going on? She didn't know but what she did know was everything hurt. Derek was getting her settled in her room, his guest room and she was watching as he fixed her pillows. "Can I sit back yet?"

"Just...one second." Derek put one more firm pillow behind her before pressing a light kiss on her cheek. "Be careful."

"Mmm." She sucked in, sliding over as she winced in pain. Her abdomen felt like the skin was tearing on the surface.

"Lexie dropped your things off last night and put them in the drawers and got everything all set for you."

"Okay."

"Mark said I should get you a bell so you can ring when you need anything."

"Funny..." Meredith groaned.

"Do you want anything?"

"Not right now..." She breathed, as he sat on the bed, adjusting her sling so her arm was sitting in just the right spot, close to her heart.

"Comfortable?"

"As comfy as I am going to get."

"I wish you would eat something." Derek sighed. He had offered to stop on the way home more than once but she had just shaken her head.

"The bagel was enough this morning."

"Leighton will want lunch soon if you get hungry...I'm sure she'd let you have some of her chicken nuggets."

"Okay." She whispered. This morning she had been a little more upbeat, but right now he noticed how quiet she was.

"I bought a few others thing for you too."

"Thank you Derek."

"You're welcome." Derek smiled, leaning forward and pressing a kiss on her forehead. "Anything you need...just ask."

"Okay." She breathed.

"Hmm..." Derek breathed, sitting on the bed and looking at her unsure of what to do.

"I'll just read or something."

"Do you want company?"

"I um..." Meredith swallowed, her hand moving over her throbbing stomach. Meredith tried to ignore the pain as she looked up at him. "Could I just be alone to read?"

"Yeah." Derek sighed, kissing her forehead again before standing up from the bed. "Yell if you need me. "

"I will."

"Okay." He breathed, reluctantly leaving her room.

"Okay." She breathed in, letting out a huge gasp as he closed the door. This sucked. She hurt so bad. So bad that she was pretty sure nothing had ever felt this bad and she hated needing this much help. Help walking anywhere right now was annoying because it hurt and she didn't want him or his kids to see her like this. It was all too much. She needed to distract herself. Meredith closed her eyes , sucking in before opening her book. She would read and take her mind off of the pain. It was still better than it had been so she had to be thankful for that. She hadn't read much when she saw the door to the small bedroom creak open and she saw Leighton standing in the doorway, covering her face as she giggled. "Hi."