Jump Then Fall

40.

Derek had never been this frustrated and had never felt so helpless. As a doctor, people looked to him for answers, to find the fix for problems and to cure their illnesses and now...he couldn't do anything. He had given Meredith her medicine, tried to get her to eat and done everything he could possibly think to do and nothing was helping. Meredith was in so much pain and wouldn't let him in. He knew she was hurting and that she was traumatized but she wouldn't tell him anything and he felt helpless. She has asked to be left alone for the evening and now that he had put Trevor and Leighton to sleep, he needed to talk to her. No kids, no interruptions. He knocked softly on the guest room door, waiting and hoping that she would answer.

"Come in." He heard her shout.

"Hey." Derek smiled softly, walking into the room and closing the door behind him.

"Hi."

"So...the kids are in bed."

"Good...Leighton was tired."

"She tried to pretend she wasn't so she could come back in here." He chuckled walking over to her bed.

"If she wants..."

"She'll keep both of you up all night and she has to go back to school tomorrow."

"Just offering." Meredith groaned.

"Mer..." Derek sighed.

"What?" She breathed, looking up at him with her eyes that were yellow around the bruises.

"I want to help you."

"Derek what made you think this was a good idea? Trevor came in to see me and he was confused and he kept asking questions. He said you keeping me here because you're a doctor and can take better care of me but then he pointed out that you never bring home other patients and...do you think he's stupid?"

"I don't think he's stupid...I...I was scared. Maybe I'm selfish but I was scared after what happened to you. And this was all I could think to do."

"He knows something...he has too."

"He thinks we're friends." Derek sighed.

"And Leighton won't stop talking about your mother knowing about me..."

"Well she's not going to tell Trevor...and Leighton has no idea what my mother knows."

"Not that it matters." She replied, leaning against the headboard.

"If I thought Trevor could handle it...if I thought he wouldn't be confused, I would tell him everything." Derek breathed. "Everything."

"There is nothing to tell...you're an ass and now we don't have sex."

"There is so much to tell him...starting with the reason I missed his speech. And the reason you're here."

"Can you help me change?" Meredith altered the subject quickly.

"I...what?"

"My clothes...I can't sleep naked because your kids are here."

"Oh..." Derek breathed, staring at her. The last thing he had expected was for her to ask for his help, for anything.

"Not being sexy I just can't do it alone." She rolled her eyes.

"I'm not...um...what do you want to wear?"

"Tank top...sweats." Meredith breathed. She wanted his sweats, they felt so good on her and they were comfy but she couldn't ask for them.

"Okay." Derek sighed, getting up from the bed and going over to the drawers that had been filled up with her things and pulling out what she had asked for.