I'd do anything for love (3/4)

26

"Catherine, Bailey, I don't know.." Derek sighed

"Derek, your patient is too weak to be transferred" Bailey sighed "You know I wouldn't ask you to do this if there was any other way to solve this"

"I know but.. She's really weak and with the girls- If- I" Derek stuttered, his hand rubbing his neck "She's terminal, Bailey.." Tears appeared in her eyes "She has another round of chemo, then I'm unable to be there with her"

"Just a few days, Dr Shepherd" Catherine jumped in as she noticed Bailey's eyes filled with tears

"I'm sorry, I have to ask Mer and our family" Derek shook his head

"Well, go home and ask her. Your plane goes tomorrow morning" Catherine replied and watched as Derek nodded and headed out of the room

Derek drove home, without thinking. He knew Addison and his mom were at the house. He parked his car, got out and walked inside. He saw Meredith asleep, her head on Addison's lap

"Hey" He walked inside before kneeling down in front of Meredith and placing a very soft kiss on her forehead "How is she?" He quietly asked

"Hi. She's been exhausted, Derek" Addison teared up "God, mom and I helped her change clothes because she was so cold. She's so thin" Addison reached her hand in front of her mouth, her other hand still rubbing Meredith's head and neck softly

"I know.. You should see her naked.." Derek couldn't hold the tears at bay

"Oh, Derek. You're home already" Carolyn walked inside the room

"Yeah.." He sighed, remembering the hard conversation he was about to have

Carolyn took a seat and watched Meredith breathing heavily as if every breath was a chore

"Our little girl" Carolyn whispered as Derek grabbed his mom's hand

"They asked me to fly to Los Angeles for a few days, one of my patients is just too weak to be transported" He told them

"Do you wanna go?" Carolyn asked

"I don't want my patient to die. I'm the only one who wants to try.." Derek started before he looked at Meredith "They said he had about 3 months left, I'm the only one who wanted to try cut the tumor out" He started telling them "I don't wanna take their hope away" Derek teared up as he looked at Meredith

"But you're scared?" Addison questioned

"She'll be here while I'm in Los Angeles.. And the girls-" Derek started

"If Meredith is okay with it we can help out" Addison immediately suggested "I can stay here with Mark for a few nights, no big deal"

"She has another round of chemo-" Derek started

"Your dad and I will be around as well. We've been dealing with it before, dear" Carolyn softly said and squeezed her son's hand softly

"I don't wanna waste time I can spend with her" Derek sighed

"You work a few days a week, Der. I'm sure she'll want you to go"

"I only work on cases I had agreed on before" Derek said

"I know and she wouldn't want anyone's surgery to not go through because of her" Carolyn said

"You're right" Derek sighed and saw Meredith stirring slightly "Hey sleepyhead" He placed a kiss on her forehead

"Hi" She breathed but closed her eyes quickly after aa she started shivering again

"I'll get you some more blankets" Carolyn said and walked towards the kitchen

"Mer, I need to talk to you" Derek spoke up

"What's wrong?" She muttered

"Bailey and Catherine are asking me to fly to Los Angeles tomorrow. There's a patient who can't be transported to Seattle and no other surgeon wants to try" Derek explained

"You should go" Meredith weakly turned her head and opened her eyes "You're that patient's last chance" She looked at him with tears in her eyes

"We will keep fighting for you, Mer. You're not done yet" Derek said sternly as his hand cupped her face

"I know that, I- Just do this, Derek. Their families-"

"You have chemo on the second day I'm gone" Derek sighed

"Derek, me and the girls will be fine. We can look after ourselves" Meredith nodded her head

"Mom and Addie also offered their help" Derek muttered

"See?" Meredith squeezed his hand weakly

"I'll miss you" Derek said and held her hand against his cheek

"We'll miss you too" Meredith nodded "But you need to help that patient" Meredith firmly said

"I will" Derek nodded

"Good" Meredith yawned "Lay with me? I'm gonna take another nap" She asked and Derek immediately climbed on the couch with her. His arms around her waist, holding her close to him. He felt shivers going down his spine as he felt her ribs poking out, her hip, every bone in her body was noticeable

...

The whole evening had been spent on the couch. Meredith was, once again, asleep in Derek's arms while the girls were watching a Disney movie

"Der" She whispered

"Yes?" He looked into her green eyes

"Be careful, okay?" Meredith asked

"I will be" Derek promised "You wanna go to bed in a bit?"

"Once their movie ended" Meredith nodded and curled more into Derek as she was trying to stay awake "Maybe we should go on a ferry boat when you're back. The girls have been asking me" Meredith said

"I don't know if that's a good idea. It's cold and I don't want you or the girls getting sick" Derek sighed

"Derek, they're kids. We can dress up" Meredith tried to convince her husband anyway

"We'll see, Mer. I really don't want any of you to get sick" Derek said as they got disturbed by the girls walking towards them

"Can we watch another movie?" Emma asked with wide eyes

"Why don't we go watch another movie in the big bed upstairs?" Meredith weakly suggested, she couldn't wait to curl up with her husband and two girls

"Yes! Come on, hurry!" Emma giggled

"You heard them. Come on, hurry" Derek laughed as he turned off the tv and scooped Meredith into his arms before carrying her upstairs where he laid her down while his two girls climbed in next to her. He tucked them in and turned on the tv in front of the bed, immediately giving the controller to Ava "Just rest" Derek whispered in Meredith's ear

"I'll miss you as my pillow" She chuckled

"Only two nights" Derek kissed her forehead

"Two nights" She nodded