If that's what it takes

71

Derek walked with Izzie and Zoey toward the car. She held his hand tightly as they walked, looking up at him with a bit of a lost look in her eyes, he leaned down and lifted her up into his arms as they walked. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tightly as Derek talked about how to get to his place.

"I can't believe you live all the way out there... I would think you'd want to be close to the hospital to get here in emergencies and stuff... but like... you're a ferry ride and a long drive away and all that... you should get a place closer to the hospital... I have a place... right down the road from the hospital... between where Lexie lives and... crap..." Izzie whispered.

"What?" Derek said as Izzie bit her lower lip.

"I have to go back to the house and get the mail... I was taking care of the house... until the um... police were done, and I have to go and clean and..."

"You will not under any circumstances bring this child anywhere but home... Izzie... I'm serious... home and back to the hospital, that is it..." Derek said sternly as Izzie sucked her breath in slightly. "I am absolutely serious, Izzie." Derek said, his voice even more stern as he shook his head. "My house... hospital... that is it."

"DD's house and hospital..." Zoey whispered into Derek's ear.

"Alright, alright..." Izzie rolled her eyes as she got to Derek's car and he unlocked it quickly. He reached inside and pulled her car seat carefully while still holding tightly to the little girl.

"You're going to have to loosen your grip a little, you little monkey..." Derek whispered as she squeezed him tighter. "Don't worry... I am not going to be far..." He said as he pulled the seat from his car and held it with his free hand as he held Zoey tightly with his other.

"Don't make me go, DD..." She whimpered.

"Shh..." He whispered as he bounced her as they followed Izzie to her car. They stepped up to Izzie's car and she unlocked the doors. Derek opened the back door and crouched down, pulling Zoey's arms from his neck, he set her on the ground. As he fastened the car seat into the car, she clung to his leg tightly.

"Don't leave me..." She whimpered. "Please..."

"Don't worry... you'll get home... you'll get some sleep... and Izzie will take you right here to see DD." He said as he pulled her from his leg and lifted her into the car.

"I don't want to... I want you to tuck me in..." She whined.

"How about..." He said as he pulled his calling card from his pocket and handed it to her. "If you get scared, sad, unhappy... you name it... and you want to talk to me... you call this number... it'll go right to my phone or my peeper..."

"Your peeper..." She mumbled as she took the card and put it in her pocket.

"Make sure you give Mister Derek, Floyd, and Molly a kiss goodnight..." He said softly.

"I will..." She whispered.

"Please try your best to be a good girl for Izzie..." He whispered. "She's a nice lady... she takes good care of Sleeping Beauty, doesn't she?" He asked.

"Yes..." She sighed.

"Then I think she is just the lady for the job of taking care of you..." He smiled. "Why don't you talk about Sleeping Beauty... she makes you smile, right?" Derek asked.

"Yes..." She whispered. "I can tell her the story..."

"The story?"

"Sleeping Beauty and Prince Derek..." She said solemnly as Derek kissed her cheek.

"Great idea..." He said with a smile as he ran his fingers through her hair. "You know what my job is tonight, right?"

"No..." She whispered.

"I... get to keep an eye on your Sleeping Beauty." He whispered.

"She's your Sleeping Beauty too." She replied.

"She is?"

"Yes." Zoey whispered. "I asked her if she liked you and she blinked one time during 'Yes, No, I love you.'" She said with a little smile.

"Well I guess I'm just going to have to talk to her about that, aren't I?" He said with raised eyebrows.

"I guess..." She giggled.

"You have sweet dreams, little monkey..." Derek whispered. "I'll call you before bedtime."

"Not if I call you first..." She said with a giggle as she patted her pocket.

"Hey... that number is for emergencies." He said as he leaned forward and kissed her nose. "I love you, Zoey Grey." He said softly as she smiled a sad smile.

"I love you, DD Grey..." She said as Derek's eyes widened and she giggled. "You're my DD..." She shrugged.

"You're my girl... I'll talk to you soon..."

"Bye, DD... don't forget I love you."

"I would never..." He said as Izzie started up the car. "I love you."

"Bye..." She said with one more wave before Derek closed the car door and watched Izzie drive away, as Derek watched the car disappear, the little hand of Zoey waving in the air as it disappeared out of sight.