Driving Sideways

16.

Derek was able to get Ellis in the car and Richie settled before he peeled out of the driveway quickly.

"Where are we going, Daddy?"

"The hospital, buddy..." Derek said, trying to remain as calm and positive sounding as possible.

"The hospital? Why? What's wrong with GG? Is she okay?"

"She's just taking a nap, buddy..."

"Is that why you carried her to the car daddy? Because she's taking a nap? Like you carry me and Grey to the car when we're sleeping?"

"Exactly." Derek replied as he drove, checking every other second to make sure that Ellis was breathing. He watched as her head lolled slightly as she started to regain consciousness. "Ellis... Ellis, can you hear me?" Derek said her name trying to get her to respond. Her eyes were half open and she was moving, but she wasn't responding to him.

"GG! Its me... It's Richie... Are you okay? Wake up from your nap, silly GG!" Richie exclaimed, he had a slight smile on his face, but he could see the concern in his father's eyes and it was starting to make him a little nervous.

"GG, did you hear that?" Derek said as he touched her hand. "Ellis... Richie wants to talk to you..." He said, his voice panicked as he pulled the car into the hospital parking lot, making his way quickly to the emergency bay behind it.

✨✨✨

Meredith arrived home, lifting her son from the car, he instantly put his head on her shoulder. "We need to go inside... and snuggle on the couch with Granny and some soup... or some yummy macaroni and cheese... and wait for daddy to call... how does that sound?" She whispered softly as she held him to her.

"I miss daddy..." He mumbled as he held his mother's neck securely.

"I know that you miss daddy... I miss daddy... we all miss daddy..."

"I miss Richie..." He mumbled.

"I miss Richie too, little man..." She whispered as she carried him up the porch to the front door.

She carefully opened the door, and was immediately enveloped in the smell of tomato sauce. She groaned in satisfaction as she sighed. The smell was heaven and she kicked her shoes off as she smiled at Marion walking into the room. "You look like you had a very long day, dear..." She shook her head.

"Is that dinner cooking, or did I die and go to heaven?" Meredith asked with a smile.

Marion smiled as she shook her head. "You flatter me far too much, dear..."

"If you didn't cook so well, I wouldn't have to..." Meredith laughed as Greyson gripped her a little tighter. "There's Granny... say hi to Granny..."

Greyson turned his head and waved a tiny wave. "Hi, Granny..." He said softly.

"Why don't you go on and get him into his pajamas... bring him down and we'll have our dinner..."

"That sounds great!" Meredith said with a smile as she walked up the stairs.

She entered Greyson's room and carried him to his bed, carefully pulling his arms from around her neck, she set him on the bed.

"Alright... take your shirt off... and we'll get those jammies on..."

"No." He mumbled.

"No?"

"No, I'll keep my shirt on." He said as he nodded his head.

"Don't be silly..." She said as she carried his pajamas to his bed. She knelt beside the bed and tugged on the bottom of his shirt. He struggled a little and she pulled the shirt over his head and her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh my..." She said, covering her mouth with her hand. "Greyson, what happened!" She exclaimed suddenly as she looked at her son's body. His shoulders and chest had several bruises about the size of a nickel on his skin. He looked into his mother's eyes and saw her fear, her terror and his lip began to tremble and his eyes filled with tears.