It had been five days since Meredith had hurt her ankle... and she was bored.
She had taken Amelia's advice to rest her ankle and within one day had finished the novel she had brought with her from Seattle. The second was insufferable especially as Derek was scheduled for one of the escorted day hikes to Dawson Pass... something that Meredith was supposed to be joining him on. It was one of the toughest hikes in the park and Meredith had been preparing herself for it for weeks... and then of course she had to fall and her hurt her ankle. Derek then broke the news to her that it would probably take another few weeks before she got her fitness levels back to what was needed to undertake such a hike.
By the third day Meredith was starting to question her sanity and as the weather had turned from glorious sunshine to monsoon style rain she was stuck in her hotel room. Well at least she had managed to catch up on her laundry which was currently hanging to dry around her small cabin.
When she woke up this morning she was determined to do something useful... sitting around for the last few days had only made her think about things that she did want to think about... her impending return to Seattle was at the foremost, she knew she had to tell Derek about what had happened to her, but she couldn't – simply because she did not want to see the look of disappointment on his face, and besides why should she tell him when he obviously did not care for her as much as she cared for him...
It was on the fourth day that Meredith truly realised that she more than cared for Derek Shepherd... she was falling in love with him. He was not rich, and had no ambitions to be rich... just happy. He was the type of person you could depend on, reliable and had an answer for everything. He could brighten a room the minute he set foot inside it... when he talked the town listened. He was well liked, respected and he looked and treated her as if she was the most important person in his life... or so Meredith would loved to have thought.
His comments a few nights that he should be married and be a father by now had irked her for some reason. She knew deep down that was what would make Derek the happiest – being a husband and a father. It wasn't his dream of the perfect family life that had troubled Meredith... it was the manner in which he had told her.
On several occasions Derek had briefly mentioned an earlier relationship with a woman who was the love of his life and who had hurt him badly, as curious as she was as to learn what had happened, deep down she did not want to know... She could hear in his voice how much he despised the previous love of his life and that tone – in her mind anyway was a tone used to hide how much he still cared for the woman. So why should she share her past with him when he could walk away and into another woman's arms if and when she returned to West Glacier?
Meredith Grey did not believe in love... all it left was destruction or in her case a line of boyfriends with cashed bank cheques issued by her father as soon as he was introduced to them. No as painful as it would be to leave here in just under six weeks time, Meredith decided to let things be as they were – it would be easier to walk away from...
Meredith sighed as she closed and locked the door to her cabin and made the short walk down the path into the town. She was supposed to be meeting Derek outside the visitor centre and he was going to get permission from Richard to let her join him in the jeep whilst he patrolled the outskirts of the park.
She turned the corner and walked towards the ranger station when Derek stepped out of the vehicle and grinned.
"Good morning! You are not limping..." he smiled as he walked over and kissed her on the cheek. "I missed you last night."
"Well I didn't miss you kicking me on the ankle when I was trying to sleep," Meredith smirked back.
"It was not on purpose!" Derek stated tired of having this argument. He had been banned from sleeping in the same bed as her after accidentally hitting her ankle whilst sleeping.
"Whatever," Meredith smirked back "So... can I come with you today?"
"I hope so, the park may be a bit quieter due to the rain last night and from the forecasts it is going to be as bad again later," Derek said as he took her hand and opened the door to the ranger station.
"Good morning everyone!" Derek smiled as he entered, when he took one look at George's face he quickly realised that something major was happening.
"Someone call for a medic?" Alex Karev barked as he walked in behind them.
"If you wait there with Derek, the chief will explain everything once he finishes his call," George explained.
Alex and Derek nodded their heads in greeting while Meredith frowned – only now noticing how the ranger station was full of locals instead of tourists.
"Why do I get the feeling I will not be allowed to go with you today?" Meredith whispered to Derek.
"Let's just see what Richard has to say?" Derek replied already guessing what was going on.
"Good morning," Richard said as he walked into the room "Is everyone here?" he asked George.
"All emergency personnel present," George replied.
Meredith looked again around the room and saw Owen standing at the back as he nodded over to her.
"We just received an emergency radio call from campers situated between Sperry Chalet and Sperry Glacier, two young children are missing," Richard stated.
Meredith noticed how the atmosphere in the room suddenly changed, no-one was leaning against the walls or gazing at the floor... everyone was almost standing to attention just waiting for their command.
"We received the call from the parents who had set up camp between the chalet and the glacier," Richard said as he pointed to the map. "The two children – two boys Damon aged 5 and Robert aged 8 were last seen in the tent fast asleep at 10pm last night. The father woke during the night during the heavy rain and went to check on their tent and they were gone. He thinks they may have gone fishing in a nearby stream. We have air support on route but we have a large stretch of land... and water that we need to cover," Richard stated.
"Do we have any descriptions of the children?" Derek asked.
"The parents have given a detailed description which you will all find in this small pack," Richard said as he handed it out. "Once we get photos we will distribute them accordingly."
"Do the children have any medical conditions?" Alex spoke up
"No, thank goodness, but it was chilly last night and to add the wet weather conditions to that we need to be prepared for everything. Dr Karev I need you here at the station on stand-by just in case," Richard asked the doctor.
"No problem, Amelia is doing the surgery today and can jump in if needed," Alex replied.
"Good," Richard said as he stood and told everyone where they needed to be.
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"I can come with you," Meredith said as she watched Derek load the back of the jeep with supplies.
"No, you can't," Derek sighed as he closed the door.
"Okay, I know I don't really know that area but I have eyes, I can help that way..."
"Meredith, you can't," Derek whispered softly "you are not part of the park service and beside your ankle..."
"Owen is not a ranger and he coming with you," Meredith stated as she folded her arms demanding an answer.
"Owen is a volunteer with the park service and can read a map better than anyone," Derek explained "I appreciate that you want to help, but really, I would feel a lot happier if you were here... safe and warm and dry."
Meredith sighed knowing Derek was right "I just feel so useless; I can't even begin to imagine just what those parents must be going through."
"I know," Derek agreed. "I have no idea how long we will be out there..."
"Go," Meredith smiled "I will be here waiting... just promise me you will be careful."
"I will," Derek said as he hugged her and then gave her a quick kiss goodbye.
Meredith stood and watched as one-by one other park rangers and local volunteers all set off to join in the search to find the two missing boys. As she stood there she watched some tourists walk over and stand at the bus stop for the shuttle. That particular shuttle she knew stopped at various places throughout the park... and she suddenly had an idea.
She quickly turned and walked into the ranger station as she approached George she stated "I want to help and I have an idea..."
"Meredith..." Richard sighed "I know you mean well..."
"Where are the photos of the two boys?" Meredith asked.
"Here," George replied as he held up an A4 sheet of paper which had the boys faces printed on it.
"Write down the contact details at the bottom of the page and print off as many copies as you can," Meredith said as the two men looked at her "I can't go out and join the search but I can give flyers to everyone boarding the shuttle bus outside... I can even give some to the drivers to distribute along the other stops."
"George..." Richard barked.
"I'm on it!" George yelled as he ran to the photocopier.
"What else do you need?" Richard asked.
"A good raincoat and a chair," Meredith replied.
Ten minutes later Meredith was sitting in a raincoat on the chair supplied by Richard next to the bus stop handing out the pictures of the missing boys.
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By Lunchtime every tourist in West Glacier knew to be on the lookout for the missing boys. Despite the fact that she was cold and wet Meredith knew that she would rather be handing out flyers than sitting back at the cabin worrying about her own problems.
It was only when she started to get hungry that she noticed that the majority of the shops and cafes in the town were closed. She knew that Adele had closed early to go down to the hotel to sit with the boy's parents and to also keep them up-to-date with the latest news of the search efforts.
"What do you think you are doing?" Meredith heard from behind her.
Meredith turned round and smiled when she saw Carolyn Shepherd.
"Carolyn, what are you doing out in this rain?" Meredith asked Derek's mother.
"I could ask you the same thing," Carolyn laughed.
"They would not let me help with search so George printed off flyers and I have been giving them to people as they boarded the shuttle bus," Meredith explained.
"Excellent idea, but let someone else do that for awhile and come with me," Carolyn stated as she took Meredith by the arm.
"Carolyn, I need to give these out..." Meredith protested.
"Go and take a break Meredith, no-one is going to venture out in this weather," George said as he took the flyers from her.
Within seconds Meredith was being marched down the footpath and into Owen's restaurant.
"Okay," Meredith said as she entered the building and hung up her drenched rain coat at the door "I have to ask why are you opening the restaurant? Owen is not here and neither is the chef – they are out in the search party."
"I have a spare key to this place," Carolyn said as she switched on the lights. "This is the largest restaurant in the town and at times like these... everyone comes here. The rangers, the police, locals... I am the only person Owen trusts to look after the place in his absence."
"What about Olivia?" Meredith asked enquiring about the barmaid.
"Lovely girl, not good in a crisis," Carolyn said as she led Meredith into the kitchens. "She can work the bar, whilst you help me in here."
"What?" Meredith asked as she stood rooted to the spot.
"Pull up a chair and rest your ankle and we can get started," Carolyn said as she started removing items from the cupboards.
"I don't cook, I can't cook," Meredith stated.
"Meredith, it is nothing fancy. Trust me all everyone will want is some hot soup and sandwiches, I can teach you my homemade soup recipes as we go along," Carolyn replied smiling.
"Owen, I apologise in advance..." Meredith muttered doing the sign of a cross as she pulled on an apron and stood beside Carolyn.
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By mid-afternoon the place was full to brim with tourists and park rangers seeking shelter from the torrential downpour. Some nine hours after the alarm had been raised there was still no sightings of the young boys.
Despite her initial misgivings Meredith was actually enjoying helping Carolyn in the kitchen. They quickly got into a pattern of which Carolyn made the soup and baked fresh bread whilst Meredith made the sandwiches... and so far Meredith had not received any complaints.
"We are running out of soup Mrs Shepherd," Olivia yelled as she ran into the kitchen for more sandwiches.
"I'm just making another pot now," Carolyn said "Olivia..."
"Yes."
"Has Derek come in or has anyone heard from him?" Carolyn asked the barmaid.
"No he hasn't, I will let you know as soon as I hear anything," Olivia replied as she left the kitchen.
Meredith stopped buttering the bread and looked at Carolyn who was trying her best to hide her fears.
"I am worried too..." Meredith whispered "I'm best keeping myself busy."
"Same here," Carolyn replied "I used to be okay, but since his father died..."
Carolyn sniffed, she then held her head up high and smiled "He will be fine, and if I know my son he will not return to the village until those boys are found." Carolyn said as she returned to finish chopping the vegetable for the soup.
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Derek looked at his watch, nine hours and eight and a half miles later and still no sighting of the young boys. He turned and looked at Owen whose face confirmed to Derek that he was also preparing for the worst case scenario.
"Let's stop for a minute by those trees, get some sort of shelter from the rain," Owen suggested.
Derek walked over and sat down on a broken tree stump, this was definitely not the day he had planned...
For the first time in as long as he could remember he just wanted to be back in his small cabin, lying in a nice warm bubble bath complete with Meredith in his arms... but right now the priority was finding those missing children.
His relationship with Meredith had changed slightly over the past week. He was delighted at the news that was staying a bit longer than originally planned, the thought of saying goodbye and waving her off at the train station was beginning to make him feel physically sick... he wanted her to stay and as much as he was prepared to get down on bended knee's and ask her to stay, she was adamant that she had to leave.
He knew she was hiding something – who doesn't, but he wished he knew how to comfort her and convince her that he was the real thing. After everything that had happened three years ago Derek thought he would never fall in love again, but Meredith this morning, the way that she had insisted in helping with the search rescue efforts made him fall even harder in love with her.
She... he could not even think of her name, never once would she volunteer to go out and help in situations like this, but there was Meredith, only just recovered from hurting her ankle and she was raring to go and help. The truth was he wanted her beside him today. Her smile, her positive attitude would have helped him to keep his spirits up...
But since he revealed to her that he should be married by now, she had been off and deep down who could blame her. He wanted her to know what happened but although it was three years ago the wounds were still raw... and as he stood up Derek released that he what he felt back then... was nothing compared to the love he felt for Meredith.
All he needed to do now was encourage Meredith to stay in West Glacier...
Derek was broken from his thoughts by the crackling of his radio and he quickly answered it.
"Shepherd," he replied as Owen came and stood and beside him.
"The helicopter search team think they have spotted them in some bushes not far from here at the other side of the stream," Derek said quickly as they gathered up their belongings "Some hikers spotted them earlier and when they returned to their hotel they noticed a flyer with the pictures on it and called the ranger station.
The helicopter is going to air lift us all back to West Glacier."
"Well what are we waiting for?" Owen smiled as he took the lead through the trees to move towards the edge of the stream.
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Olivia set down the phone and ran into the kitchen "They found them! They are okay!"
"Thank goodness," Carolyn smiled as she stopped what she was doing.
"Derek and Owen are on their way back to the town with them in the helicopter," Olivia explained. "From what I just heard Derek is a real hero, he had to wade through an overflowing river to get to them."
"What?" Meredith asked concerned.
"Is he?" Carolyn asked
"They are all okay, they will be landing a few minutes," Olivia replied smiling as she left the kitchen.
"Told you Derek would be in thick of it," Carolyn said as she hugged Meredith.
"Yeah," Meredith smiled even though her mind was elsewhere.
Derek was a hero. He got in the river and saved two children's lives... Meredith closed her eyes as she felt herself break out into a cold sweat. If she told Derek the truth he would hate her, he would blame her...
She quickly opened her eyes and tried to act normal even though her head was spinning...
"Meredith..." Carolyn repeated again as she stood in front of her "Are you coming to meet them?"
"No... " Meredith stammered "I'll stay and make some fresh coffee, besides someone needs to look after this place for Owen, that and my ankle is getting sore."
"Okay, well sit down then for a few minutes, no doubt Derek will come straight here anyway," Carolyn smiled.
Meredith sighed as she watched Carolyn walk out of the kitchen... She took a couple of deep breaths to calm her nerves and then stood up and ran over to the stove to stop the soup from boiling over.
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Thirty minutes later after landing in West Glacier Derek was given a clean bill of health from Alex and as he approached the ranger station he saw his mother and sister standing waiting for him... but where was Meredith?
Within seconds he was pulled into a tight embrace and when finally released he smiled. "Where is Meredith?"
"Back at the restaurant looking after the place, besides being overwhelmed I think her ankle was annoying her," Carolyn explained "I'm not surprised though, she was standing out here in the pouring rain the entire morning handing out flyers."
"She did?" Derek asked.
"Her idea apparently," Amelia smiled.
"The two hikers who first saw them in the distance did not realise they were separated from the parents until they returned to the hotel and saw the flyer," Derek informed them.
"Well it looks as if Meredith as every bit the hero as you are dear brother," Amelia smirked.
Derek walked quickly down the path to the restaurant; all he wanted to do was hold Meredith. As soon as he opened the door and stepped inside a loud cheer rippled through the room and he felt numerous pats on the back from the locals and tourists alike. He quickly found Meredith setting a plate of sandwiches on the bar counter.
"Hey," Meredith said as she saw him and walked round to meet him.
"Hey, I heard mother let you lose in the kitchen," Derek joked smiling warmly at her.
"Well no-one has complained so far," Meredith smiled back as Derek pulled her into her his arms and held her close.
"Your idea worked," Derek said whispering in her ear. "Two hikers saw the flyer and called it in. You continually amaze me Meredith Grey."
Meredith stepped back for a second and looked at his face, she saw the pride evident all over his face and if it was even possible she fell for him even more... but she knew it would never last, not when he found out...
'Well I best make the most of it while I am still here' Meredith thought to herself and smiled.
"How does a nice relaxing bubble bath sound?" Meredith smiled.
"You took the words right out of my mouth," Derek replied as he pulled her closer to him and once again kissed her.
