fragments of my life [MERDER]

TWENTY-TWO

"This is Meredith Grey, 34 years old."

Meredith made out as she drifted in and out of consciousness, between her dream state and her reality, the person speaking infusing alarm into their voice. Meredith's eyes opened, just for a millisecond, but it was enough time for her to make out the rough silhouette of Cristina next to her, speculating that it was her person's voice, pushing her along a gurney.

"29 weeks pregnant. Her water broke approximately five minutes ago, she's been in and out of consciousness ever since. Suspected placental abruption."

Meredith's eyes fluttered open once again, instantly recognising the rose-pink canvas around her as the walls of the OB floor at Seattle Grace. Trying to blink her eyes open, she noticed other small details; her right arm was cradling her bump; she had an oxygen mask pressed over her nose and mouth; she noticed a red liquid by her knees, quickly deducing that it was blood. Maybe she'd had a placental abruption, which had caused her to pass out after her water broke. She felt the lights above her head intensify as she was wheeled around a corner, and out of the darkness. She was in an OR; she was sure of that. That was the last thought Meredith had before she passed out completely.

Meredith woke up lying in a field, surrounded by iridescent, multi-hued meadow flowers, a light breeze swaying her golden locks from side to side. The air was clear, crisp, and slightly cold, with an overwhelming smell of... lavender. She recognised that she no longer had a bump, and was dressed in pure white, flowing clothes.

"What are you doing here, Grey?" Meredith acknowledged the voice speaking to her straight away.

"Where am I, Mark? I thought you were dead." Meredith got up and turned around to look him in the face, astonished that, at least to her, Mark was, physically there, actually there, looking down at her, a little disappointment tinged in his eyes.

"No...You're not supposed to be here. Derek's not supposed to be here. What is it with you two?" Mark paced around her with agitation.

"Can you answer the question, Mark?" Meredith prodded.

"Ah, I don't know. I haven't been here long." Mark sighed, audibly disheartened.

"It's like, a limbo; a realm between the dead, and the alive. A place where people near death come, and they stay forever, or fight, return to life, to being alive. I've come down here to get you two idiots to return to where you belong; together, alive."

"Two? Derek's here?" Meredith instantly diverted her gaze away from Mark, her green orbs scanning her surroundings, attempting to pick out Derek. It was like trying to spot a needle in a haystack, Meredith thought.

"He's around somewhere. Meredith, I need you to take care of Lexie for me. She'll try and hide her pain, but she's hurting inside. It's important... Meredith, are you listening to me?" Mark asked as Meredith began walking around, looking for Derek.

"Where's Derek? I need to talk to Derek." She looked back at Mark, who was leaning against a large willow tree on the outskirts of the field.

"Meredith, you need to listen, you don't have much time. Not enough time." Mark exhaled, annoyed.

Meredith felt the winds pick up, the flowers and long grass no longer drifting in the breeze but shaking in the winds, scared shivers, almost if they knew what was going to happen.

"I heard you. I need to find Derek, where's Derek?" Meredith quizzed Mark once again.

"He might be here a little while longer, Meredith; but it's your time now. You have to go back."

Mark looked at her, then began to walk away to a path in the distance.

"Take care of Lexie, for me, Meredith."