Where You Belong

58

Derek was exhausted.

He was a light sleeper; always had been. And now, even with the exhaustion of the day before, he still found himself waking to every small sound. The beeping and humming of the many monitors by the bedside had gradually become background noise, but the excessive checks performed by night nurses, Bailey and Richard, and Meredith's many friends had woken Derek time after time.

At first he had raised his head to greet whoever was there, but soon he simply buried his face deeper into the back of Meredith's head and kept his eyes closed tight. He was exhausted, both physically and emotionally, and knew he needed sleep. But even when he was awoken for the twentieth time, he still couldn't be annoyed. Because Meredith was warm and breathing and in his arms. And that was something he doubted he could ever take for granted again.

Right now that was the only thing in the world that mattered to him.

A series of footsteps echoed on the hard hospital floor, pulling Derek from his light slumber once again.

"Who's presenting?" Richard's familiar voice rang out.

Rounds. That meant it was somewhere around six in the morning. Normally they would wake the patient, but seeing as Meredith wasn't having surgery today, didn't have tests scheduled until later and was a VIP patient, they were likely leaving her to sleep if possible. It was tempting to keep his eyes closed and wait until everyone left, but he wanted to be a part of her team, even if he was strictly on the family-and-friends side of it.

After carefully pulling his arm away from Meredith's waist, Derek propped himself up on his elbow and ran his hand over his face, willing himself to be less tired. Bailey greeted him with a tired smile, with a hint of tension, and Richard avoided his gaze. Derek furrowed his brow, confused, but quickly shook off his confusion, telling himself they had probably been up all night.

"Uh, Meredith Grey, twenty-eight-" George began after no one else spoke up, only to be cut off.

"Doctor Meredith Grey," Cristina cut in with a roll of her eyes and a glare sent towards George.

Meredith herself groaned as she opened her eyes, taking in the many doctors standing before her. "This is so not cool from this side..." She mumbled. When she had had her appendix out, she hadn't been rounded on. Bailey had demanded she be kept overnight for observation, and had given Derek the green light to take her home first thing the next morning.

Everyone smiled at her comment, and Derek placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Doctor Meredith Grey, twenty-eight-" George began, only to be cut off again.

"In for surgical removal of neurosurgeon," Alex cut in. "First attempts were unsuccessful, but we hope to- oompf," he expelled a breath of air as Izzy elbowed him hard in the stomach.

"Shut up, Alex," she hissed.

"What?" He asked, taking a step away from her. "Everyone else thought it was funny."

And it was true. Christina and George were laughing quietly, and Bailey and the Chief cracked smiles. Even Meredith laughed, for a second at least, before the force of the action took its toll on her sore ribs and she gasped in pain.

Derek was quickly up and leaning over her, careful not to put any pressure on her. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, her eyes still closed in pain. "Laughing...bad."

Bailey stepped forward, concerned for her fallen intern. "Meredith, do you want something stronger for the pain?"

Meredith released a shaky breath and shook her head. "No. Never again."