A Dream Or A Nightmare?

5

"Meredith, we're going to have to get the authorities involved at some point. We have to know what happened." Richard said gently.

Merediths fist reached out and grabbed dereks shirt in a tight ball. "N-no." She replied.

"We have to know, Mer." Derek said softly.

"H-have to?" She whispered. Derek nodded sadly.

"Okay." Meredith responded, shaking slightly.

Richard had the police come in a few minutes later. "Okay Mrs Shepherd. Just tell us what happened and don't be afraid to take breaks if you need." The police officer, who's name tag read Officer Adam Jones.

Meredith looked at Derek, who nodded assuringly. "The n-night Derek got into an...a-accident I went to d-drop the kids off at d-daycare." Meredith started, shaking as she recapped the story.

"What daycare?" Officer Jones asked, writing down stuff on a note pad. "The one here, at S-Seattle grace." She replied. Jones nodded and motioned for her to go on.

"Umm...I drop-dropped them off and went b-back out to my car. Then some guy...his n-name was jack...he t-told me he needed help. I-I said no. But he was r-really persistent. I said n-no again and he pulled me to his v-van and threw me in the back." Meredith said, tears pooling in her eyes as she looked away to her lap.

"Take your time." Derek said softly, running her arm delicately. "He-he put a g-gun to my head and said he-he worked for the government. And s-said if I ever w-wanted to see Derek again I'd sh-shut up and go with him." Meredith exclaimed.

Dereks heart dropped. This whole thing...it was to protect him? It was his fault his wife was kidnapped and beaten?

"Okay. What happened next?" Officer Jones asked.

"I-I think he hit me...I don't remember much until h-he woke me up...he brought me to s-some place in T-Tacoma. It was like a h-hospital, but they did p-procedures on p-patients who had no chance of living." Meredith said swallowing thickly.

"He made me o-operate on them. I-if I didn't they would h-hit me and wouldn't f-feed me." She whispered, the tears falling as she buried her face into dereks shirt.

"Can we just wait a minute?" Derek asked. Officer Jones nodded. "It's okay. You're okay." Derek murmured, hesitantly rubbing her back. Meredith tensed at first but relaxed knowing it was just Derek.

After a moment, Meredith spoke again. "I d-did the same thing e-everyday. I d-didn't have a phone, c-computer, anytning to c-contact anyone." She whispered.

"Where did you sleep? Did you eat?" Jones asked. "I-it was like a jail cell. A s-small room with n-no windows or anything. J-just a small bed and a sink and t-toilet." Meredith replied.

"T-they didn't f-feed me much. I-I only got d-dinner, if they remembered."

"How often did Jack hit you?" Jones asked. Meredith sucked in a sharp breath. "I-it wasn't just Jack. I-I don't remember their n-names. B-but they would h-hit me e-everyday." Meredith replied.

Derek was near tears as she explained. This was all his fault. "Okay. That's enough for now. I'll come back later, okay, for some follow up questions." Officer Jones said before leaving.

Meredith was shaking by the time it was all done. That and her pain meds were certainly not strong enough.

"It's okay. I got you. I got you. It's all done. You're safe." Derek said. "I-Im tired." Meredith whispered. "Okay. Go to sleep. I'll be here." He replied.

"C-can you h-hold me?" Meredith asked timidly. Derek smiled. "Are you sure?" He asked. Meredith nodded. Derek climbed fully into the bed and wrapped his arms around her.

"Is this okay?" He asked. Meredith nodded. She knew Derek would keep her safe and protected.

•••

"Get up and do your surgeries now!" Jack yelled. "No. I don't have to. I'm not going to operate on another patient who doesn't have a chance in the first place. Why can't you just let them go peacefully?" Meredith asked.

"Did I tell you to talk?" Jack snapped. Meredith winced and fell to the ground as his fist met her cheek hard. "I have eyes on Derek still. Don't make me do something I don't want to do." Jack said, standing over her.

"Don't hurt him." Meredith pleaded. "Then do as your told!" Jack yelled. Meredith nodded and got up. Jack grabbed her elbow and led her to her OR.

"Meredith! Mer!" Derek said loudly, hoping she'd wake up. Merediths eyes snapped opened and she sat up.

She gasped as pain shot through her torso, her heavy breathing an indicator of how bad her nightmare was.

"Mer. Its okay, you're safe, it's just me, Derek. You're fine, it was just a nightmare." Derek soothed. "G-get away." Meredith said.

Derek quickly back off and turned the lights on. "It's just me. I'm not going to hurt you, I promise Mer." Derek said.

"D-Derek." Meredith breathed. "It's me. You're okay." He said, walking closer to her. Meredith reached over to grab her hand, but yelled in pain.

"What is it?" Derek asked. He gently and slowly lifted up her gown, only to find it soiled with blood. "I think you tore a stitch or two. Do you want me to page Bailey or Richard?" Derek asked.

"B-Bailey." Meredith replied.

Bailey came in and quickly stitched Meredith back up. "You're okay Grey. Just a few torn stitches." Bailey said softly. "T-thank you." Meredith whispered.

"No problem." Bailey said, leaving the room.

Knowing Meredith wouldn't want to go back to sleep, Derek stayed up with her and just held her all night.

"I-I love you." Meredith whispered, unsure of herself. Derek smiled. Those there words were all he wanted to hear over the last years.

"I love you too." He replied.

Hey guys! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and hope your all doing well. If you guys have any ideas feel free to let me know. Let me know if you liked this chapter.