Love is a game

19

"Alex? Alex!" Meredith called out for him

"Mer, are you okay?" Alex ran into her room, Poppy sitting next to Meredith

"My back- It hurts" She whimpered "Call Amelia, please"

"I'm calling an ambulance, this isn't normal" Alex said as he touched the sole of her foot to try and elicit some kind of response.

A little while later Meredith was strapped onto a stretcher

"Don't tell Derek" Meredith looked into Alex's eyes "Please. They don't have to be concerned about me. Especially Ellis she already worries too much,"

Alex nodded and stepped in the ambulance with Meredith. He held her hand tightly in his own as they got rushed to the hospital

"Meredith-" Bailey gasped as the doors opened and they wheeled her stretcher out of the ambulance

"Amy?" Meredith tried to turn her head

"I'm here, Meredith. We're gonna bring you up to scans now and hook you up to antibiotics. I'm afraid the infection is settling in your spine" Amelia was fighting the tears

...

"I'm not telling her she might become paralyzed!" Amelia yelled

"How is this possible?" Alex groaned

"Her infection- It must have found its way to her spine" Amelia sighed and took a seat as she felt defeat taking over "We should page Derek"

"She didn't want him to be informed" Alex jumped in "I'm going to see her. She must be worried" He made his way over to Meredith's room where she was lay on the bed, she had received a morphine drip and was sound asleep "You'll be okay, Mer" He kissed her hand, avoiding her IV.

A while later she finally woke up, he expected her to be more affected by the meds but she seemed to be very clear in her mind

"Hey, How are you feeling?" Alex asked as he brushed her hair out of her face

"Hmm.." She groaned "The scans?" She quietly asked

"They showed that there's an infection spreading inside your spine. You're hooked up to a bunch of antibiotics in a try to keep it under control but-" Alex stopped

"But?" Meredith frowned

"There might be permanent damage" He rubbed her hand

"Tell me it's not true" Meredith panicked "Where-Where's Pops?" She breathed heavily

"Pops is here, calm down" Alex explained and helped her turn so she could see the dog "Bailey wants you admitted for the time being. Just to control the infection" He kissed her forehead

"What about Ellis?" She whispered

"Should I page Derek?" Alex asked

"He'll run" She whispered

"He won't" Alex kissed her forehead "Come on, Mer. He needs to know and I can watch Ellis in the meantime"

"Go ahead" She sighed

Alex paged Derek and shortly explained that Meredith was admitted. He explained about the infection in her spine and Derek immediately ran into her room

"Meredith??" He ran inside, tears streaming down his face

"Derek-" Meredith whimpered

Derek immediately checked her out and ran his pen over her left leg, her toes not even flinching. He always used to tickle her because she couldn't stand it, he just hoped they would be able to reverse the damage even if he knew, as a brain surgeon, that this wouldn't be easy

"Derek, please.." She whimpered

"You'll be okay, Mer" He couldn't keep his tears at bay

"I need my legs" She whimpered

"I know. We'll find a solution. We will" Derek kissed her forehead out of habit

"Is Ellie here? I wanna see her but we can't tell her what's wrong. She can't know, she worries too much, she's only four" Meredith panicked

"I'll go get her" Derek nodded and adjusted Meredith in the bed "I'll be back soon"

Meredith was fidgeting with her blanket while waiting for her daughter

"Mommy!" Ellis ran inside "Hi Pops"

"Wait monkey, I'll help you on the bed" Derek lifted Ellis and carefully placed her down next to Meredith

"Hey munchkin. How are you?" Meredith kissed Ellis' head

"Mommy, why are you in the hospible?" Ellis quietly asked

"Just some tests. I'm okay, baby" Meredith kissed Ellis' head again

"Love you, mommy" Ellis wrapped her arms around her mother

"Meredith?" Bailey walked in but got stopped by Derek who took her outside to the hallway

"Has Poppy been acting okay?" Ellis asked

"Yeah. I think she needs to go for a walk. Maybe you and daddy can take her" Meredith suggested as she felt herself getting more and more exhausted

"Yes! And give her some water and food" Ellis said "Sleep mommy, I'll tell daddy"

"No, honey. When did you turn 40?" Meredith chuckled softly

"Wanna take care of you" Ellis kissed her mother's cheek and watched as she fell asleep

"Hi, is mommy asleep?" Derek walked in and saw Ellis tucking in her mother

"She is. We need to walk with Poppy" Ellis explained and yawned

"I'll take Pops. I'll ask Alex to sit with you and mommy" Derek kissed Ellis' head

"Poppy's hungry" Ellis muttered

"I'll give her food and drinks" Derek promised

"Kay" Ellis whispered and fell asleep in her mother's arms

Derek clipped the least on Poppy's harness and left the room where Bailey and Alex were waiting

"Hey. How are they?" Alex immediately asked

"They're asleep. Can you watch them for a bit? I need to take Poppy for a walk"

"Do I need to take her? I bet you wanna stay with them" Alex suggested

"Please" Derek sighed and handed the leash to Alex

"I'll be back in a bit" Alex smiled and watched Derek walk back into Meredith's hospital room

I'm so sorry, I updated the wrong story earlier!!