A Fight to Remember

You Get the Rest of Us to Move Forward

A/N: Picking up right where I left off last chapter...

Sonny 2029

I grabbed the empty coffee cup from the bench and poured a drought of whiskey, offering it to her. She accepted it sadly but didn't take a drink.

The boat rocked again, up and down. Seagulls glided and dived around us. I checked my watch, 10:30 am. But time didn't matter today. Today it was about her. I decided to give her some space, and went about tidying my boat. I picked up some tangled fishing lines and started to unravel them.

There was a whimper. A sob. A tinny 'clang'. My head snapped over to her at the noise.

"DEREK!" She called into the air. "DEREK!" She cried again. I didn't know what to do with the sudden burst of emotion from this tiny woman. She slid down against the wall, her face away from me.

"Damn." I muttered under my breath. I reached again for my flask and took a swig for courage. I stubbed out my cigarette. Was she cold? Picking up the blanket, I walked over and draped it over her. She clutched it close to her with pale fingers. She was freezing, I was sure.

She shot up, leaned over the side of the boat and threw up. I gave her a moment to compose herself before walking back over to her. I touched her shoulders lightly and guided her to the covered helmroom. I dug out my portable heater and turned it on. She sat down in a daze and wrapped the blanket more tightly around her.

Still wanting to give her space, I scribbled absently with a logbook.

"I hung on... " She said, "For my kids, they didn't want to give up. I kept trying..."

xxx

Meredith. 

Seattle. August 25 2028

"A DNA sample?" I asked over the phone. "Wait- what do you mean?"

"We've found several bodies that have washed up on shore, unfortunately they are not easy to identify." The soft voice of Karen Rhodes, one of the investigators for missing persons, was becoming very irritating.

"I... Are you saying what I think you're saying?" I croaked out.

"I just said it Dr. Grey. It's been over two months now. We have long stopped looking for survivors..."

"But we don't know that... he could be trapped somewhere- on an island or something."

"At this point, Dr. Grey, we're presuming him dead."

Dead. Presumed dead. She had to say that with such finality. Like I was talking to a customer service agent: 'I'm sorry, there's nothing more we can do for you... please accept this token credit for your trouble' Why?

"Please, Dr. Grey, just do this, it may help with closure."

"I don't need closure Karen, I need my husband!"

"Well, I'll send you an email with instructions to provide a sample of Derek's DNA, and when you're ready-"

I swore and hung up the phone. Dropping it on the table, I sighed and planted my head on my desk.I heard a noise, Bailey darted past the door of my office. What was he doing here? How much had he heard.?

xxx

Meredith 

November 2028.

I was in the trailer. It was the only place I could go when I made these calls. I pulled out my red note book and flipped to the last page. I had a list of names and numbers and other details of people I had contacted throughout my search. I ran my finger to the first number to call and began dialing: