A Fight to Remember

I Think I Stole a Baby Pt. 1

Derek.

Consciousness seemed to be so far away. My eyelids were curtains stuck in the closed position. I drifted, part of me semi-aware of my circumstances, the other blissfully ignorant. Except, I wanted to be aware. I wanted to know what was going on.

Meredith. Hadn't she just been here?

Where was that comforting weight at my side?

My fingers wiggled and gripped the sheet. But something felt... off. Like a part of me was... lost. Light pricked my irises for a second before I closed my eyelids. But then my daughter's terrified face loomed in front of me.

Ellis! I could hear myself cry.

Dad! Her voice echoed back to me.

A shadow loomed over me. Water? No... a wave. "Uhh," I groaned.

The massive black wall rose above me, so huge it blocked the sun. But all I could see was my daughter's terrified face. The wind whipped and tore around us, salt water spray battered my skin and soaked my jacket. I could feel myself slipping...

Dad!

Ellis!

You have to-

You have to-

Let go.

"Ellis..." I breathed, thinking about my youngest. What happened to her?

"Shepherd?"

I sighed and cracked my eyes open to see two blurry blobs greet me. "Derek," a familiar voice called. "It's alright. Take your time, you just had surgery."

I relented, feeling the pull from the effects of the anesthesia. My vision blurred, I couldn't keep my eyes open, and slowly, my eyelids drooped shut.

But- The wave... big black, and overwhelming, rushed toward me... I snapped awake, fighting the pull of exhaustion to be in the present, not... whatever that was. In front of me, two blurry blobs leaned over.

"Hey," Blurry Blob number one said with concern.

"Amy?" I asked, recognizing her voice.

"Yeah Derek," she said, emotion breaking her soft inflection. "It's me."

"Hmm," I sighed, and squeezed her hand. I'm okay. "Water?" I croaked. My throat was dry and raw from intubation, one side of my head felt like someone pounded me with a Jackhammer, and I just felt...old.

"Here, this should help" Blurry Blob two said, coming closer. The bed hummed, and I was tilted up.

"Oh," I said, dizzy at first, but then I felt better.

"That'll help keep your ICP low," Blurry Blob two said, and now I recognized her voice. Bailey.

"Yeah," I knew that. "Thanks Miranda."

"Mm-hmm," she hummed. Amy slid a cup with a straw in front of my mouth. Too exhausted to grip it with my hands, I simply sucked on the cool liquid.

"Just gonna do a neuro check, okay Derek?"

"Mm," I nodded, or attempted to. "Where's Meredith?" I asked as she flashed the penlight in my eyes.

She didn't answer right away, "Squeeze my fingers..." she said.

I did so, but regarded my sister coolly. "Amy," I prodded, "Where's my wife?" I missed her. I needed her.

"It's okay," she said, placing her penlight in her pocket. "The kids went to find her."