Looking at you side ways

71

A few days later Meredith frowns as she glances at her phone. It's the nursing home. She flips it open and says hesitantly, "Hello."

"Hi. It's Ms. Henry again. Is this a better time?" Meredith sighed [i]and knew she would have to deal with it. She had cut her off this morning when she was running late for work.[/i]

"Sorry about this morning. I was running late for work. What were you calling about?"

"I just wanted to remind you that tonight's our monthly family dinner. You know, you haven't been to any of our family functions." Meredith heard the disapproval in the woman voice and angrily thought [i]why start now? They hadn't been a family for twenty something years and they most certainly didn't do functions![/i]

"You have to understand. I'm a surgical intern so my time isn't my own."

"Our residents really respond to these events. They always enjoy themselves which is so rare. I think it's important you attend."

Meredith thought [i]sure bring on the guilt. [/i]She replied, "I'll be there. I'll try to be there. I'll definitely try."

"Good. Then we will see you tonight."

"Bye." Meredith flipped her phone shut and leaned up against a wall and took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

She felt his presence and opened her eyes.[i] Derek was next to her looking concerned.[/i]

He cocked his head at her and asked, "Why does my beautiful girl look so sad?"

She said softly, "It's my mother."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. She is fine. The nursing home is trying to guilt me into coming to some family dinner tonight. Like we ever sat down as a family for dinner anyway!"

Derek stared into her pain filled eyes and [i]wished he could take it away.[/i] "Do you want me go with you?"

"No. I don't want to go at all! And I know that makes me a terrible person, but she either doesn't know me or if she does she says horrible things to me."

"Sweetie. You go all the time and are subjected to her abuse. Don't feel guilty about not going. You do what you can for her, but you have to take care of yourself too."

"I know, but I still feel guilty. Damn it! She was never there for me."

Derek was [i]a little concerned at Meredith agitation. She normally didn't let her mother bother her so much. Then he realized maybe it was because her birthday was coming up and she had bad memories of her parents not being there for her.[/i]

Derek rubbed her arm a little and asked, "What do you need?"

Meredith gave him a little sad smile and said, "You. Just you."

He whispered, "You have me Mer. Totally."

Meredith fidgeted with her watch and said, "I should get back to my patient before Dr. Bailey catches me slacking off."

Derek watched as Meredith physically pulled herself together. "Okay Mer. I am going shopping after work today. Did you check with Yang about Preston?"

Meredith replied, "Yeah. She's okay with Burke hanging out with us. They are actually very friendly considering. Just not for dinner when she is bringing Owen. So it should just be the five of us."

"Okay. I'm still going to get food for six in case Mark changes his mind about inviting someone. You'll let me know if you change your mind and decide to go tonight. I'll go with you."

"Thanks Derek. I gotta go." She ran down the hall and Derek looked after her worriedly.

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In the late afternoon, Derek found Meredith in the CT room waiting for results.