I'm still standing

27

A few hours later, Miranda entered her room with Teddy

"Hi, Derek" They said

"Do you have to wake her again?" He frowned

"Yeah, we have to discuss some things" Teddy said

Derek frowned and his heart started to beat faster as he got really scared now. He woke up Meredith who didn't seem very pleased

"Teddy and Miranda are here" He whispered

"Hi, Meredith. How are you feeling?" Teddy asked

"K-Kay" Meredith said wheezing

Teddy nodded and changed the nasal cannula to an oxygen mask to provide Meredith enough oxygen

"N-No" She started to protest

"You need it, Grey" Bailey said sternly

Meredith gave in and the wheezing stopped quickly after. Derek kissed her forehead as he saw how annoyed she was by the oxygen mask

"Shopping..t-trip" Meredith forced out

"Shit" Derek gasped "I totally forgot"

Meredith looked at him with an angry expression

"Mer, I'm sorry, I didn't think about the date and-" Derek was explaining but she turned her head away and closed her eyes

"I think she needs a nap" Teddy said as her heart broke at the sight of one of her friends in this state

Derek nodded and took a seat in the chair next to Meredith's bed

He sat there for a while, mentally beating himself up about forgetting his daughter's birthday. He kept paying attention to his wife's stats who still looked pretty bad

"Me and.. andEllie.. we've planned-" Meredith started but bursted out in coughings. Derek lifted up the mask and wiped away some drool before placing the oxygen mask back on her face

"-we've planned.. a shopping trip" Meredith smiled weakly

"You're the best" Derek smiled and brushed some hair out of Meredith's face

"Hmm" Meredith groaned and fell asleep

It's been two days and they were finally able to stabilise Meredith's pneumonia which left her very weak and slightly depressed as she wasn't able to do even the easiest things, missing her family and just feeling horrible because of the pain

"Come on, Mer. You need to wake up so I can get you dressed" Derek said

"Don't wanna" She groaned

"Come on, Mer" Derek sighed

"Then dress me! It's not as if I have any control over my body anyway" Meredith snapped and turned her head

"Hey, what's going on in that beautiful head of yours?" Derek cupped her face

"Don't!" She snapped before she started crying

"Hey, baby.." Derek frowned

"Don't baby me, please" She hysterically begged "I know you have to wipe my ass and feed me!"

"Mer, that's not what I mean" Derek snapped a bit

"I know.." Meredith sighed and kept crying

"Here, blow your nose" Derek removed the nasal cannula and helped her blow her nose. He noticed her fingers moving a bit from their spot on the blanket. He didn't bother to ask her again if he could get her dressed, he took a seat and pulled out his phone as Meredith turned her head away from him

...

"Hi" Ellis entered Meredith's room "Where's dad?" She frowned

"How should I know?" Meredith snapped

Ellis was shocked by her mom's reaction. She couldn't remember when her mom had snapped at her in the past. She was fighting tears as she took a seat and watched her mom close

She noticed how Meredith's fingers were slightly curled in

"Mom?" Ellis whispered

"Hmm?"

"Are you okay? Do you need more meds?" Ellis quietly asked and Meredith just nodded in response

Miranda walked in and Ellis asked if her mom could get some more meds

"Why didn't you ask earlier?" Bailey frowned as she felt how tensed Meredith's muscles must have been, knowing how much pain this causes

"How am I supposed to ask something when I can't push the nurse button?" Meredith snapped

Miranda and Ellis looked at each other and both had to fight back the tears as they were looking at Meredith, one of the strongest people they had ever know and seeing her now, so broken, so vulnerable, it hurts them

"Mom, I'm sorry. I should have been here" Ellis' voice cracked

"It's not your fault, Ellis. Don't blame yourself for everything. This is my stupid body refusing to work" Meredith bluntly said