If that's what it takes

17

Zoey was released from the hospital at nearly six in the evening, Derek signed the last paper for her release and walked back toward her room to get her. As he made it to the door, it opened before he could reach for the doorknob and Mark's head poked from the room. "Is she all set?" Mark asked as Derek nodded.

"She's all ready..." Derek nodded as he looked down to see a little face looking up at him. "Do you have everything?" He asked as he looked up at Mark.

"I put everything in the car... she has Molly and the mouse, and..."

"Her name is Floyd." Zoey interrupted, squeezing them tighter as she pushed through the door and grabbed hold of Derek's hand, pushing herself into his leg.

"Are you ready to go to my house?" Derek asked as he felt her tiny fingers wiggling in his hand as she watched Mark.

"I'm ready to go home." She said softly as she looked up at Derek.

Derek smiled down at her, she had changed into a pair of jeans and a little pink shirt. Her socks were white with little pink hearts around the cuff, and she was wearing the sparkly pink shoes that she had worn on the first day Derek had met her. He watched as her gray eyes looked up in apprehension as she gripped his hand tighter as she bit her lower lip slightly as Derek took a step and watched as she took two to keep up with him.

Mark followed behind them, talking about something, though Derek couldn't hear a thing, his mind was racing so quickly. He had so much to think of, so many things that he had to get in order to prepare himself for this. It had happened so fast, that he hardly even had time to breathe, and since he didn't see the changes stopping any time soon, he forced himself to breathe now and then, to take a break for just a second.

"So you'll have to get her a jacket tomorrow and probably... Derek, are you even listening to me?" Mark asked as he put his hand on Derek's shoulder.

"You're clucking like a chicken, Mark." Derek replied as he looked down at Zoey as she giggled at Derek's remark. "Don't worry about it... if she's cold, she'll tell me... if she wants something to eat, she'll tell me... She's not a mute, Mark, and she's not a newborn."

"I'm a little girl Mister Mark." Zoey replied, sensing Derek's slight agitation at Mark's constant talking.

Derek walked to the elevator with Zoey attached to his hand, he pushed the button as he turned around to face Mark. "Thank you, Mark." Derek nodded. "Thank you very much for your help."

"It's no problem... but... am I still allowed to hang out at your house?"

"Of course you can come visit... alone... no women..." Derek said sternly as Mark smirked. "I'm absolutely serious." Derek said with a shake of his head. "The social workers will be at the house tomorrow afternoon... so when I get home, I'm going to make a list of all of the things that we're going to need." Derek said as he held Zoey's hand as they walked into the elevator with Mark following. "And we're going to go shopping a little tomorrow evening." He said as he looked down at the little girl. "It's going to be fun."

"Are you looking forward to staying with Just Derek, Zoey?" Mark asked as he crouched down to her level and smiled at her as she held tightly to Derek.

"Oh yes." She nodded. "I just can't wait until Just Derek shows me his sparkly pink shoes." She said with a smile as she looked up at Derek.

"Sparkly pink shoes?" Mark laughed.

"They're in the shop..." Derek chuckled as Mark stood up, watching Derek's face turn bright red as he laughed. "It's a long story..." Derek said as the elevator doors opened and they all stepped off into the lobby together. "So we'll see you around..." Derek said with a half smile to his friend, who nodded.

"Derek, if you need anything... and I mean anything... just let me know... and don't worry, I think she's going to take better care of you than you are of her." He winked.

"I wouldn't put money on that, Mark..." He said with a laugh as Zoey watched Mark.

"You're not coming with us, Mister Mark?" She asked softly as she glanced to Derek.

"Mister Mark has to stay here at the hospital and work, sweetheart." Derek said softly.

"Oh..." She said as she sighed. "Can I give you a hug?" She asked softly as she squeezed her doll and mouse in her arms.

"Of course..." Mark said softly as he crouched down and let her wrap her arms around him.

"Thank you for the story, Mister Mark." She whispered softly In his ear.

"Thank 'you' for the story, Ms. Grey." Mark said softly as he squeezed her back, kissing her cheek as she pulled from the hug and grasped Derek's hand again.

"Thanks again, man." Derek said holding his hand to Mark, who grabbed it and pulled him into a hug. "I'll see you later."

"See you guys later." Mark said as he pulled from the hug as Derek turned to walk out the door with Zoey holding his hand.

"Bye Mister Mark!" Zoey exclaimed as she walked with Derek.

"Bye, Zoey... bye Molly... Bye Floyd..." he said with a laugh as Derek shook his head, and the two of them made their way silently out the door and toward the car.