If that's what it takes

66

Derek stepped into the room without saying a word, he closed the door and looked immediately to the woman lying in the bed. He wanted nothing more for her to open her eyes as soon as he stepped in, but he knew that it wouldn't happen. He swallowed as he stood in the doorway.

It's about time, Izzie... My muscles are aching for you to man handle them again... I'm so freaking miserable... I just want this damn headache to go away... and my baby wasn't here last night, I hope she's alright. I only just met her, but it's so lonely without her voice. What's with the quiet too? I mean... the only time you're this quiet is when you have laryngitis. Oh, I'm hilarious...

Derek took a step forward toward the bed. He watched the monitors as he stepped around to her chart, lifting it from the small holder as he read through it.

Come on Izzie, talk to me... stimulate me... bore me to tears... I wonder how 'Brangelina' is doing this week... come on... who is Mark Sloan sleeping with now? Give me some hot hospital gossip... did you find out if Derek has a girlfriend yet? Did you find out who this Rachel chick is?

He looked at the vitals and found that since the afternoon, her stats had all been a little on the low side. Her blood pressure was a little high recently, but other than that she was fairly stable. There were no indications on her chart of any interaction with anyone, leading him to believe that her eyes had remained closed while he was away, and he felt guilty for not visiting her the night before.

Izzie? Come on... are you giving me some kind of silent treatment? You usually just leap into action and grab hold of my leg like you're getting ready to wrestle an alligator... but you're being too quiet... and you're really starting to freak me out.

He set the chart down and walked to her side. He leaned close to her, and very gently picked up her hand.

You're not Izzie.

"Your daughter is no longer talking to me." He whispered softly, his voice showing his sorrow for the situation.

Derek. Why isn't she talking to you? What happened? I am so happy to hear your voice.

As if on cue, her eyes opened. It was strange to Meredith, this ability to open her eyes when Derek was around. It wasn't like she only wanted to see him or Zoey, but something in his voice, in the presence he brought her the strength to move. Derek, Zoey, Cristina... something in their energy, their presence, their hope and personal, internal strength had a power to bring her around to communicating outwardly.

"Oh... so I get the satisfaction of seeing those beautiful eyes again."

Don't flatter yourself, brain man... go on...

"She's not talking to me anymore, and I don't know how to get her to forgive me for what I've done..." He said softly.

What?'

She blinked as Derek read carefully, her eyes as he very gently began her therapy while he talked. His fingers danced over her skin so very gently, her sore muscles melting beneath his strong fingertips as he stroked her skin ever so lightly and helped her through her exercises.

"I broke something of hers... something that meant a lot to her... I didn't mean to, I didn't mean to even go through her little bag, but she was hiding in the closet... and you know... I still don't know her well... and she has such awful nightmares... and she's young, you know... and she was so traumatized, that I know there are things that she doesn't tell me... and I was afraid she was hoarding food... or was... I don't know... I don't know what I was expecting... but there was a picture of you..." He whispered as he watched her eyes, the concern held deep inside them as she followed him.