Little Shepherd

Chapter 40

"Daddy?" Josie whimpers quietly. She stands beside Meredith's bed where Derek and Meredith had both been sleeping with her bunny and Anatomy Jane tucked under each of her arms. Derek sits up sleepily.

"What's wrong baby? You okay?" He asks her groggily.

"I woke up alone in Georgie's big bed. I got scawed." She explains tearfully.

"It's okay baby, come here. You can sleep with us." She climbs up into bed with Derek's hand on her back for support. She crawls over him so that she's in between him and Meredith. Meredith feels the movement and wakes up.

"What's wrong? What's going on?" She asks worriedly.

"Josie got scared, she's alright."

"Sowwy mama." Josie whispers apologetically, pausing in place. She feels bad for waking them up, but she didn't know what else to do. Meredith sighs with relief, just happy that she's safe.

"It's alright love, come here." Josie smiles and wiggles her way under their blankets. Meredith lifts her arm allowing Josie to cuddle up against her. Derek is already back to sleep, the gentle sounds of his deep breaths comfort Josie as she settles in. She's been surrounded by beeping machines and an almost constant flow of nurses and doctors just outside her door for who knows how long. Waking up in the silent darkness of George's room all alone was terrifying. Meredith kisses her forehead, half asleep herself.

"You okay now?" She asks the child softly. Josie nods.

"I'm okay now."

*****

The next morning Derek and Meredith wake up before Josie does. They quietly slip out of bed and sneak out to the kitchen.

"I can't believe she's four." Derek says to Meredith quietly as he gathers the ingredients to make Josie her extra special birthday breakfast. "It feels like just yesterday that she was taking her first steps, now look at her." Meredith smiles. She can't help but feel a little sad that she missed all of those firsts with Josie. She shakes it off quickly. Izzie joins them in the kitchen before she has a chance to reply.

"Please tell me you're not cooking." Izzie comments at the sight of the two of them standing next to the stove.

"Well..I..We were going to." Derek answers, laughing a little.

"May I?" Izzie asks as she walks over to where they're standing. Derek shrugs and steps out of the way. Meredith lifts her hands in retreat and she too moves out of the way. "What's the plan? Chocolate chip pancakes and bacon?" Izzie questions as she looks over the ingredients.

"That was the plan, yeah." Meredith answers with an amused smirk.

"I'm a brain surgeon you know, I can handle a few pancakes." Derek says with a laugh. Izzie gives him a 'can you really?' look as she bustles around the kitchen. "What? I can." Derek insists.

"I've seen Meredith burn water...so no offense to either of you..I'll take care of this." Izzie responds playfully.

"Hey!" Meredith protests. "I have not burnt water!" The three of them laugh.

"What's going on?" George asks as he walks in.

"Derek and Meredith were about to cook, I insisted on taking over."

"Oh thank god." He mumbles jokingly as he sits down at the table.

"Oh come on, I'm not that terrible of a cook." Meredith laughs. George raises his eyebrows at her questioningly.

"We definitely could have handled it." Derek says in agreement, knowing full well that whatever Izzie whips up will be significantly better than what him and Meredith would have made. Josie walks in joining the lighthearted commotion. She rubs her eyes sleepily as she approaches Derek, her Anatomy Jane doll still clutched in her arm.