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

57

"Come on, Meredith! Try one more time!" Bailey said

"I can't!" Meredith panted as she was doubled over in pain

"Mer-" Derek walked towards her as she started sobbing

"It hurts! Leave me alone!" She pulled away "Leave me alone!" She screamed again

"But-" Derek tried but Bailey pulled at his arm "Give her a minute"

"Please- Yell if you need me. I'm outside the room" Derek softly said as he had a hard time walking away from his wife that was doubled over in pain

Meredith sat there for a bit longer until the pain started to fade. She didn't wanna call out for anyone just yet. She had to try and eat more. She knew this was crucial

One spoon of soup but the pain started to come back. She scooped again and again until the pain became too bad. She was breathing harder but tried to find a comfortable position until she could try eating more again

As she tried again she hadn't noticed Derek had walked into the room. He was watching her in awe as she tried to eat more soup. He saw her stopping again as pain got too bad but he was proud as he saw her trying again a bit later

Eventually Meredith stopped halfway. Her hand resting on her stomach

"Hey" Derek walked towards her and saw her face that was stained with tears

"Hi" She whispered back

"I'm so proud of you. How do you feel?" He rubbed her back softly and took a seat next to her

"My stomach hurts but it's okay, I guess" Meredith quietly said and leaned into Derek's body

"I'll page her. Close your eyes" Derek kissed her forehead and wrapped his arms tightly around her

After a bit Bailey walked back inside

"Hey guys, how did she do?" Bailey asked the two but then noticed Meredith was asleep in Derek's arms

"She amazed me" Derek smiled, tears even welling up in his eyes

"She's unbelievable" Bailey smiled and fixed Meredith's sweater a bit

"Can you page Mark and Addison for me?" Derek asked "I'm sure they would wanna know"

"I'll go page them" Bailey nodded and grabbed her pager

A few minutes later Mark and Addison walked through the doors

"Is everything okay?" Mark asked concerned as he saw Meredith asleep in his brother's arms and was scared this appointment worked out bad for her

When Derek turned around they got even more concerned. They saw the tears on Derek's face and Mark ran towards them

"What's wrong with her?" Mark asked concerned

"She did great" Derek softly laughed

"She did?" Addison asked with a smile

"I'll leave" Bailey smiled and walked out

"She ate half a bowl of soup but it didn't go easy. She was in a lot of pain so I wanted to ask if you could help out while I carry her back to the car so I don't have to wake her" Derek said and lifted her

Addison put all Meredith and Derek's stuff in the wheelchair and started pushing it while Mark made sure no one would bump into them

"Are you two gonna go home now?" Mark asked as he helped Derek to get Meredith in the car

"I think she needs her bed for a few hours but mom and dad have the kids, I was gonna ask if they wanted to come over. Are guys interested in coming over as well?" Derek asked as he buckled her in

"Oh- of course" Mark smiled and held Addison's hand "We'd love to come over"

"Do we need to bring dinner?" Addison asked

"I bet mom will offer to cook. I'm calling her while driving home" Derek replied

"Be careful and take care of her" Mark covered her with a blanket and closed her door

...

Carolyn was cooking in the kitchen while all the other adults were in the living room. Meredith was asleep on Addison's lap while Derek was rubbing her back softly

"Dinner will be ready soon" Carolyn yelled

"I'll go help mom" Mark said and stood up

"Mer, wake up" Derek tried but Meredith tightened the grip she had on Addison's shirt

"Mer, dinner's ready" Addison brushed her fingers over Meredith's cheek

"Don't want to" Meredith whispers

"You need to try, Mer" Addison quietly replied and kept stroking her cheek

"Come on, honey" Derek tried to slowly let her sit up

"Please" Meredith whimpered

"Maybe it will go better" Derek tried to convince her to at least try and eat a bit of soup as he was concerned about her health. In order to start PT and to get better she'd need energy and nutritions

"I wanna sleep" She looked into his eyes, tears visible

Derek could also feel how scared she looked. He knew she hated the pain in her stomach. The pain that was also there after her tube feedings but it definitely wasn't as bad as when she tried real food even if they prepared it without any herbs and without too explicit flavors so it would still be neutral

"Meredith, why don't you come with us. We'll see if it works out or not" Christopher then intervened

"Dad, it hurts" Meredith whimpered

"I know, sweetheart. I know but it's really important to try" Christopher held her hand and rubbed it slowly

"I know" Meredith cried

"Dinner's ready!" Emma ran in and announced

"We're coming, honey" Derek assured his daughter and lifted Meredith in his arms. He walked towards the kitchen and placed his wife down on the chair, taking a seat next to her

Addison had taken a seat next to Mark and leaned into his touch, they both hated to see Meredith like this. they just wanted to be able to help her

"Here sweetie" Carolyn placed a bowl of soup in front of Meredith after Christopher had covered her with two blankets

"Thanks" Meredith murmured, almost that quiet not everyone heard it

Derek kept softly rubbing her back as they sat at the table. Everyone except Meredith had started eating, checking on Meredith from time to time without saying anything

Meredith slowly grabbed her spoon, spooned up some soup and ate it. After 2 slow spoons she reached for her stomach as pain ripped through her abdomen, she tried to focus on Derek's hand that was still stroking her back as she didn't wanna worry someone else

Eventually after dinner they had hooked her up for her tube feeding as she hadn't tried to eat anymore