Driving Sideways

47.

Derek finished up with the boys in the bathroom and was just exiting and walking down the hallway when an older man approached him. "Excuse me..." He said softly, looking to the younger man in scrubs who was walking down the hallway with the two little boys. Derek stopped and immediately the two boys pulled themselves behind their father.

"Can I help you?" He asked, unsure of why the boys were acting so strangely about this man, he looked up at him and tilted his head slightly, noticing something familiar about him.

"I... I'm Thatcher Grey...I'm Meredith's..."

"Mr. Grey." Derek said sternly, stiffening his posture slightly as he held the boys behind him. "Derek Shepherd." He said as politely as he could, holding his hand out and shaking the man's hand as he watched him look at him nervously. "Meredith's husband..." He said in a stern voice.

"Yes...I... I was here earlier... and I saw Meredith... well, I saw... I saw her much earlier and then I saw her a little while ago... and I was... I..."

"I'm really sure that Meredith isn't interested in speaking with you, Mr. Grey. She's been through an awful lot today, we both have. It's late... and I have to get our boys to bed."

"Is she alright?" Thatcher asked, his tone was showing genuine concern as he watched the younger man's eyes rake over him.

"Meredith is fine... she is strong, and she will make it through this..." He said strongly, unsure of exactly what Thatcher knew. "Though your concern shouldn't be with her, Mr. Grey." Derek said softly. "Shortly after Meredith spoke with you this afternoon, Ellis collapsed."

"Collapsed. Oh... Oh my... oh my God..." He said anxiously. "Is she alright? Is she..."

"She had to be rushed in for emergency surgery. She is in recovery... though from what I'm heard from your conversation with Meredith and Ellis, I'm fairly sure that you're not someone that they'd like to see right now. You can leave your inquiries at the nurses' station." He said sternly. "Excuse me." Derek said as he took his boy's hands and led them down the hallway, their heads turning to look at the man who they had seen earlier that day, feeling the same coldness from their father as they had when their mother had gotten through talking to him.

"Who is that man, Daddy?" Richie asked as they rounded the corner.

"He's someone that GG knew from a long time ago..." Derek said as he listened to the loudspeaker through the hospital calling for Doctor Shepherd. Just as he heard the announcement, the door to the on call room opened and Mark stepped out.

"There you are..." Mark said quickly. "That's the third time they called for you..."

"Shit..." Derek muttered as he held his boy's hands.

"I'll take them back to the house..." Mark said as he took their hand. "Do you want Meri to come with you?" He asked.

"No... let her stay in the room and..."

"Meri is coming with you." Meredith said as she stood in the doorway suddenly, taking a deep breath.

"Are you sure?" Derek asked, raising his eyebrows in concern.

"Hey... I'll either hear it from Richard, or from you... I'd rather hear it at the same time as you... so we can do this together." Meredith said, her voice tired and weak as she swallowed hard. She turned and knelt before her boys, leaning her forehead against their heads as they huddled into her. "You be good for your Uncle Mark..." She whispered as she watched them nod. "Daddy and I are going to go check on GG...see how she's doing, okay?"

"Okay..." The boys whispered as they nodded their heads.

"Mommy loves you very much."

"I love you, mommy..." Greyson whispered.