Drowned but Not Out

Chapter 27

Meredith had been working hard since the incident with the patient a few weeks ago. Dr Wyatt had noticed how much she had progressed and was giving her more and more privileges within the ward.

There was just one more left, but Dr Wyatt didn't want to be the one to tell Meredith, so she paged Derek up to the ward as a matter of urgency.

Due to Derek's busy schedule, it took just under an hour before he could get up there and by the time he did, his face was pale with anxiety.

"What? What is it? Is Meredith okay? Did she have another seizure? I was in a surgery and the resident didn't know what to do next and, and Nelson was in his own surgery so nobody could take over. Oh my god, please tell me that Meredith is okay." Derek said, all in one breath.

Dr Wyatt stifled a laugh and held up her hand to stop Derek from his panic induced ramble.

"Derek, come with me to my office please."

"Oh god, it's bad news isn't it? She's been doing so well lately and she's relapsed. I knew lapses could happen but I need to see her, she must feel terrible."

"Derek, Meredith is fine. Now if you'll come with me?"

Derek straightens up upon hearing that Meredith is okay, nods and follows Dr Wyatt.

–

I'm bored.

I wonder if I can ask to have my internet access cut up so I can 20 minutes in the afternoon, and 20 minutes in the evening.

But that might interfere with my leave as well.

I can't wait to leave. Surely discharge must be close! I haven't self harmed in ages and my tics are relatively under control, I know most of my triggers.

Meredith was sat in a chair in her room staring out of her window, when she heard a knock at her door, so she looked around and smiled when she saw it was one of the workers.

"Dr Wyatt wants to talk to you, if your up for that?"

"My therapy session isn't until tomorrow, though?"

"I'm only a messenger I'm afraid."

Crap, what have I done wrong?

Not knowing why Dr Wyatt wanted to see Meredith had caused her to get more and more anxious.

Immediately her temperature felt like it had dropped, as if she was sat in the middle of the arctic circle. When Meredith stood up to leave, she grabbed an extra hoodie from her wardrobe and put it on, which wasn't easy when her neck kept spasming but she tried to rationalise with herself that she knew it was just because her anxiety was spiked right now.

By the time Meredith had reached Dr Wyatt's office, her vocal tics were starting which was starting to annoy her.

"Meredith, come in." Dr Wyatt opened the door as soon as she heard Meredith.

Ignoring her, Meredith walked in and, upon spotted Derek, immediately sat next to him.

"Quack." Meredith's neck jerked forward.

For gods sake.

"Meredith, are you okay?" Dr Wyatt asked, seemingly concerned as Meredith was ticcing a lot.

"What the - pickatu - hell do you want? *tut* W-what have I done w-w-wrong? I've done e-everything right! Why am I being - quack - p-punished!" Meredith practically shouted.

Her temperature had now risen as she struggled to regulate it when she was triggered so she removed the hoodie she had just put on.

After she was resettled on the sofa, she caught sight on Dr Wyatt and Derek trying to hold back their laughter.

"Quack quack! Oh g-great! Now y-you're laughing at me! That's grand!"

Screw them!

"First y-you send someone to c-come to my r-room to tell me to come here w-with no e-explantion which you know will trigger me and now your l-laughing at me! Screw you!"

Meredith got up and headed towards the door.

Derek jumped up and went to grab Meredith's arm.

"Mer, it's nothing bad. I'm sorry, we didn't mean to trigger you in anyway. We have good news. Excellent news."

Meredith turned around, waiting for him to continue.

"I'm taking you home." Derek said with a smile.

"I g-get more l-leave?"

"No, you get discharged." Dr Wyatt spoke up. You're being discharged, Mere!" Derek said, smiling.

"I-I am? R-really?" Meredith didn't know what to think. "A-Am I r-ready? I mean I-I've been h-here long enough. Everyone p-probably thinks t-that I quit d-doing my internship b-by n-now."

"You are ready Meredith. You've come a long way. I'm extremely confident in letting you go home and back to your internship. I really think you can handle it now. And like you said, you know how to handle your triggers now as well. So yes, Meredith, you are being discharged. I'm so proud of how hard you have worked here. I know it hasn't been easy but you did it. And we will be continuing to see each other 2 times each week."

Meredith's nerves slowly decrease. "When do I get t-to go home?"

"Today." Dr Wyatt says with a smile.

"Really? I get to go home today?" Meredith asks with a big smile. "I get to sleep in my own bed again?"

Derek nods. "You're coming home with me! You just need to pack and then we'll head home!"

"When c-can I go back to work?"

"I've already cleared it with Dr Webber and Dr Bailey, you will start back work two days from now. For you, having work will be another good coping skill to use. Of course, you can't abuse that but I think going back to your internship will be a great thing for you."

Meredith smiles widely at that. "I'm excited to go back."

Dr Wyatt smiles proudly at Meredith. "If you'd like, the nurse can take you back to your room now to pack up your belongings."

Meredith nods. "Yes please!"

Dr Wyatt nods and pages a nurse. "Okay, Meredith the nurse is right outside my office. She will also have you sign your discharge papers. Good job Meredith. I'll see you at your next appointment."

"Thank you." Meredith says. She walks with the nurse to her room and quickly packs up all of her belongings. The nurse has Meredith sign all of her discharge papers and once that's complete she walks Meredith up to the nurse's station where Derek is waiting for her.

"Ready to go?" He asks her with a smile.

"I'm ready." Meredith says.

We hope you enjoyed! Thanks to my co-writer nkgreysanatomy