Little Shepherd

Chapter 21

A few day's later Derek is awakened to the sound of a phone ringing.

"Hello?" Meredith answers. He's half asleep and can't hear the other side of the call. "Is everything alright? Well then I have to go... I really have to go." And without another word she clicks her phone shut ending the call.

"Who in the world is call you at this hour?" He asks as he checks the time on his watch.

"No one." She replies. Josie comes running into the room in her princess pajamas.

"Hey baby, good morning." Derek chirps as she climbs into the bed between the two of them.

"Good morning" she replies happily as she stretches her arms to hug them both. Meredith chuckles and snuggles her as Derek does the same. They hear Izzie laughing and George arguing right outside the door.

"I hate to break up this snuggle party but we're going to be late for rounds" Meredith says. Derek groans and the three of them climb out of bed. "What's going on out here?" Meredith asks Izzie as she leaves the room with Josie right at her side.

"George is upset because I caught him playing with Jimmie and the twins." She says through laughter.

"Whose Jimmie?" Josie asks innocently.

"Oh god" George mutters, mortified. "I have a girlfriend! A real live girlfriend!"

"What's going on out here, sounds exciting." Derek says as he peaks his head out the door half dressed.

"George's girlfriends name is Jimmie" Josie tells him. Izzie covers her mouth trying to stifle her laughter but Meredith can't contain hers. Suddenly Dereks phone rings. He takes one look at the caller ID and shoves his phone back in his pocket.

"Don't you want to answer that? It could be the hospital?" Meredith says.

"It's not." He replies bluntly. His mood has completely sobered. Even Josie notices the switch in mood. He walks off downstairs leaving the three women in confused silence.

"Mama?" Josie says looking up at Meredith with the sweetest face. Izzie smiles like crazy at the sight of them.

"Yes?" Meredith replies gently.

"Is daddy okay?" She asks quietly. Meredith squats down to her level.

"Yeah baby I'm sure he's fine, watch we're gonna get dressed and go downstairs and he'll be all better." She tells her, hoping that it'll be true. Josie nods. The two of them get ready for the day, Meredith helps Jojo get dressed and does her hair. They stand side by side looking in the bathroom mirror as the brush their teeth together. Josie giggles as Meredith wipes a smudge of toothpaste on Josie's nose.

"Hey!" The child laughs. Josie tries to return the favor but she almost toppled off the step stool she's standing on.

"Woah you okay?" Meredith asks seriously. She can't help but laugh along with her when Josie bursts into hysterical laughter. She never could have imagine something so simple as brushing her teeth could bring her so much joy.

When they finish up they head downstairs. They find Derek is hard at work in the kitchen making breakfast like nothing ever happened, just like Meredith predicted.

"Bacon??" Josie asks excitedly as she runs into the kitchen.

"And eggs." Derek replies with a smile.

"Is it my birthday?" Josie asks with a laugh. Derek boops her nose.

"No silly. There doesn't have to be a special occasion for a good cooked breakfast." Josie and Meredith both look at each other full of suspicion. Meredith shrugs. Jojo mimics her, shrugging too.