Don't you remember

6

"I know you hate it but is it okay if I dress you?" Derek asked

"No pain?" Meredith frowned

"I'll be really careful" Derek nodded but knew that the stinging sensation in her hand wouldn't make dressing any easier

He carefully helped her hand through the holes of the shirt and heard her wince already

"I'm really sorry" He sighed and continued. By the time he finished with her shirt he noticed her cheeks were wet "I'm so sorry"

"Pants" She whispered and he nodded in response and started changing them as well

"First day of therapy" Derek carefully said

"Yeah" Meredith softly smiled as she looked at her daughter who was still asleep next to her

"Mer, what are you thinking about?" Derek asked carefully

"T-Therapy.. uh.. make me better. Better for.. uh.. you and G-Gracie" Meredith slowly explained

"Therapy will help you a lot, Mer" Derek kissed her forehead "Gracie and I will help you through it"

"Thanks" Meredith nodded softly as she rubbed her head

"Does your head hurt?" Derek asked concerned

When Meredith nodded, he held his breath. He quickly grabbed a penlight that was still in his bag and did a quick neuro check

"We have to talk about this" Derek whispered when he didn't see any abnormalities

"N-Normal" She sighed, seeming as if she did remember her medical knowledge

"Yeah, they're normal" Derek kissed her head

...

Derek and Grace were walking through the hallways of the hospital. They were kicked out a few hours ago because of Meredith's therapy so he and his daughter went to buy ice cream

Grace was exhausted and was barely awake while Derek was carrying her

"Derek!" Alex yelled as he noticed them

"Hi" Derek breathed

"Hi, hi Gracie" He smiled softly

"Hi" The girl responded, half asleep

"Can I come see her again today?" Alex asked

"Maybe tomorrow? She's having therapy right now, it's her first day.." Derek sighed

"Perfect. Shall I bring some dinner tonight? I don't wanna stay but see it as a treat because she survived her first day in therapy" Alex smiled softly

"That would be nice" Derek nodded

"Cristina called me again yesterday.." Alex sighed "She wants to come over, I told her to wait a little longer"

"I know.. Mer is refusing to see everyone except the three of us and her doctors" Derek sighed

"She'll be okay" Alex nodded as his pager started beeping and quickly ran off

"Come on daddy, I wanna see mommy!" Grace whispered

"Bossy" Derek laughed

"Like mommy" Grace muttered as she yawned

"I think it's time for you to take a nap" Derek laughed and went to sit down in Meredith's room, Grace in his lap "Sleep Gracie"

"Wanna wait for mommy" Grace groaned

"Okay" Derek sighed and they waited for Meredith, together

Until, finally, a bit later Meredith got wheeled back inside by Laura, Meredith's speech therapist

"Hey, you look exhausted "Derek softly smiled and placed Grace on the chair so he could lift Meredith onto the bed

"S-Sleep" She murmured, not looking into his eyes

"Can Gracie join you? She needs a nap as well" Derek asked slowly

"Yes" Meredith nodded but still refused to look him into the eyes

"Derek, can I talk to you for a minute?" Laura asked

"Oh- Of course" Derek nodded and helped Grace lay down next to Meredith before he followed Laura

"Mommy, how did it go? Daddy said today was a big day" Grace murmured as she rested her head on her mother's chest

"D-Don't.. uh.. know?" Meredith rubbed her head

"That's okay" Grace whispered and soft snores quickly followed as a tear escaped Meredith's eye. Her left hand brushing softly over Grace's blonde curls

When Derek entered the room, she closed her eyes. She didn't wanna deal with any more talking or trying to move her fingers, she needed it to be over but Derek was too smart, he knew her too well

"Mer.. Do you wanna talk about today?"

"N-No me talk!" She snapped

"That's not true. We can make it work, we have time" Derek softly replied

"G-Grr.. B-Birth..day?" Meredith struggled "H-Home!"

"Mer, I promise you that we'll do everything we can to make sure you're home on that day

"Stupid" Meredith sighed "Me.. Me stupid"

"That's not true, Mer. You got a stroke, you're recovering" Derek kissed her forehead as she started crying hysterically. Derek was grateful that Grace was asleep

"Hey honey, it's okay" He climbed in with her and held her tightly as she cried

"D-DDDD" She slurred

"Calm down Mer" Derek whispered and noticed she kept rubbing her forehead

"G-Gown? Where?" Meredith asked as she looked at herself as if she didn't remember where she was

"Hey, calm down. You had a stroke, we're in the hospital. You are okay" Derek assured her "Everything is okay, do you remember having therapy earlier with Laura and Mark?" Derek asked softly and noticed she had to think hard but she eventually nodded "You're just very emotional, your brain has a hard time so you just need to rest" Derek kissed her forehead "Sleep, I'm staying here" He said and kissed her head and waited until she was asleep

AN // I'm not really happy with this chapter but it will get better I hope. Just working towards something