Little Shepherd

Chapter 27

Josie's been asleep for hours. Her fever has stayed down, the anesthesia should be long gone out of her system. She should be awake by now.

"Her little body is exhausted. She just needs more time that's all." Arizona tries to convince them. Derek hasn't left Josie's side once since they've been here. Addison needed to clear her head, but hasn't gone far. Meredith only briefly parted to get Derek and herself coffee. Izzie and George ran home to grab some of Jojos things, hoping that some familiarity will bring her comfort when she wakes up. Izzies idea of course. Derek looks up when they walk back into the room. Izzie sends him a pity filled smile. She feels horrible for them all. They've all grown to love her and seeing her like this this is beyond difficult.

"We brought her favorite things." She tells him. "The stuffed bunny she brings every time she sleeps over, that fuzzy blanket she always steals from George."

"She needs it more than I do." George adds sadly.

"Thank you both, I'm sure she'll really appreciate this." Derek replies weakly.

"May I?" Izzie asks, referring to the still sleeping child. Derek nods.

"Yeah, of course." He lets go of Josie's hand, leaning back a bit allowing Izzie to drape the fuzzy blue blanket over her. She tucks the edges around her and wraps her tiny limp arm around the rabbit. Josie's pale skin looks even lighter compared to its brown fur.

"See, that's much better." She whispers proudly. Derek forces a small smile. He wishes that a stuffed rabbit could make this all better. He can't stand to see his baby this way. He just keeps staring at her eyes, waiting and praying for them to blink open. The dark bags under his eyes are almost as dark as hers. He hasn't even left her long enough to even go to the bathroom. He refuses to take his eyes off of her, almost as if his absence would allow her to slip away for good.

"Any change?" Meredith asks hopefully as she walks in with coffee. Derek shakes his head drearily. Meredith hands him his coffee from behind him, rubbing one of his shoulders with her free hand. "Maybe you should get some air, go to the bathroom, take a walk, something." She suggests softly.

"I can't." He whispers.

"You're going to drive yourself crazy in here. We'll stay with her, tell her a story or something. She'll be fine. We'll call you if anything changes I promise." He considers it for moment. His stomach is screaming at him. He's had to pee for hours.

"Alright, but only a minute." Meredith nods.

"We won't leave her side." George says, trying to make Dereks departure easier on his conscious. He finally stands, stretching the muscles he hasn't moved since this afternoon. He thanks them and leaves the room. They can see the turmoil and guilt for leaving on his face. George takes Dereks seat and the girls sit on either side of her bed.

"Hey kiddo, it's George. Izzie and Mer are here too. You gotta wake up soon okay? We're all goin a little nuts without you. Especially your dad. He uh he really needs you to wake up soon alright?" He tells her as he gently takes her hand into his.

"Geez George that's depressing." Izzie whispers.

"What? I-" he cuts himself off leaning back into the chair with a deep sigh.

"Izzie brought bunny and Doctor Robbins has all the chocolate ice cream you could ever eat waiting here for you. So many people love you beautiful girl." Meredith tells her.

"That's more like it." Izzie says with approval. There's a knock on the door causing all of them to look up.

"Christina?" Meredith asks surprised to see her.