Lost love

Chapter 10

"Do I have to go home soon?" Meredith asked quietly a the movie ended.

"When the hospital discharges you, you can't stay here." Kathleen stroked her hair.

Meredith's body tensed as she thought about going back home to her father, it was the last place she wanted to go and he was the last person she wanted to see never mind stay with. As she looked up at her teacher she wished she had a mother like her, one who showed her love and care, who gave her cuddles and made her happy but she knew she never would, she had learnt from her father that she wasn't capable of being loved and had been told multiple times that it was her fault that her mother was the way she was.

Ellis hadn't been back to see Meredith since she stormed out the hospital room and it upset Meredith, she thought her mom was angry at her which added to her fear of going home, she had no idea that Thatcher was the one Ellis was angry with. Earlier, once she had settled with a movie Kathleen had called her doctor in to tell him that she was awake, once Meredith was checked over and everything was stable she was given on a dose of pain medication for her leg and head. The intracranial haemorrhage as Nelson predicted was beginning to heal slowly but she would be left with a grade 2 concussion, hence the headaches Meredith kept experiencing. Ellis still hasn't returned either and a part of her had hoped she'd find Thatcher and do damage to pay for what he had been doing to Meredith.

"Do you have kids Mrs Adams?" Meredith asked.

"No, not yet Mer." She smiled.

"Hm." Meredith nodded, a question at the tip of her tongue.

"Why?" Kathleen asked intriguingly.

"Nothing. It's stupid, I'm stupid." She shook her head trying to forget her thought.

"You're not stupid. What's wrong?"

"I- I thought that maybe... maybe I could come home with you. I promise I'll be really good and I won't cause you any bother." She got out all in one breath.

Kathleen would be lying if she said the thought hadn't crossed her mind because it had, multiple times, but Ellis was still her guardian and there was no way a parent would give up the rights to her child with no reasoning. She knew for definite that Thatcher would now be out of the picture but Ellis worked a lot, she hadn't even been home in the time between the incident and her mother finding Meredith so who would look after Meredith for the most part? A nanny? She cringed at the thought.

"I'll even eat in another room so you don't have to put up with me as much." She said quietly as she clearly took Kathleen's silence as a no.

"Oh Meredith I'd never ask you to do that. It's just, what about your mommy? I'm sure she wouldn't want you to go and live somewhere else."

"Mommy is never home and daddy said I'm the cause of all her problems."

"That's not true Mer, don't believe anything he said. I'd love for you to come with me." Meredith's face lit up, "but I'm your teacher... I don't think I'd be allowed sweet girl."

"Oh." She nodded sadly, "it was stupid anyway, I shouldn't have asked I'm sorry." She apologised.

"You have nothing to apologise for." Kathleen smiled.

"How about we read a book before bed?"

Meredith nodded and picked her favourite book to read. It wasn't long before she was asleep leaving Kathleen to simmer in her thoughts. As she took the chair next to Meredith's bed she was thinking of ways around the problem they had, she would love to take Meredith in, as big as a responsibility as it would be; she had the resources and family to help her and she definitely had enough love to share with the girl. Before she made any decisions she knew she had to talk to her own mother because she provided her with the best guidance, she decided to do it tomorrow as she felt her own sleep taking over her as she yawned. It had been a long day.

***

The vibration in her pocket brought her back to the present, as her eyes opened she took note of a still sleeping Meredith next to her and smiled, happy that the girl was finally calm and able to rest.

"Crap." She muttered as she looked at the caller.

She stepped just outside of the room to answer the call.

"Principle Hastings." She answered.

"Mrs Adams. It's 10am, where are you?!"

"I'm so sorry, I completely forgot to call. Sir, I'm at the hospital with Meredith Grey. I won't be able to come into work today."

"What happened?" He asked, obviously aware of the flags she had raised previously about Meredith.

"I'm not sure exactly what happened but she was injured by her father Sir."

"Oh. Well, as sorry as I am for Meredith, you have 28 other children who are depending on you for their education."

"I know, but Meredith has no one. I'm sure you can find cover?" She asked, she was definitely out of her comfort zone.

"This will not be excused Mrs Adams." He said warningly down the phone.

"I'm sorry." She apologised.

In the time she took the phone call Meredith had woken up and had heard their phone call, well, Kathleen's part. She understood what was going on and when Kathleen appeared back in her room, she knew what she had to do.

"Meredith. You're awake." She smiled as she pressed a kiss to the girls temple.

"Do you have to leave?" Meredith asked her.

Kathleen stared at her, "don't worry about it. It's been taken care of."

"You should go. The other kids need you." She smiled, as much as she didn't want to be alone, she didn't want to be a bother either.

It took Kathleen by surprise. "Meredith it's okay, I can stay, don't worry about it."

"I don't want you to be in trouble because of me." She looked at her small hands, "really, you should go." She looked back up to her.

Kathleen didn't want to push Meredith and she felt that maybe the girl was asking for some space to be alone for a while, she needed to have time to process what happened, maybe it would do her some good. So, reluctantly she agreed, granted she was already late for work but she called back and let the school knew she was able to come in and cover was no longer needed.

"I'll come back later Mer, ok? And remember, if you need anything just press the pink button behind you and a nurse will come." She smiled sympathetically, fighting the guilt she felt of leaving her alone.

"Bye, Mrs Adams." Meredith smiled.

Once she left and Meredith took in that she was alone, she didn't know what to do, there wasn't much she could do except sit there and hope that someone would come in and keep her company. For a little while, she played on the iPad that Kathleen had left her but soon the battery started to die down and she didn't know where the charger was or if she had even brought one, so she set it down so that it didn't run out completely by the time Kathleen came back later. No one came into Meredith's room until lunch time, she expected her mother to visit her at least but she never did. Lunch today was chicken soup and bread, it wasn't her favourite type of soup but she still ate it, or as much as she could.

"Are you finished Meredith?" A nurse asked as she came to collect her lunch tray.

"Can I have a little longer?" Meredith asked, she knew if she kept the tray longer, someone would have to come back in and collect it again.

"You've already had more time than I'm supposed to give you. Sorry Meredith." The nurse said sadly as she took the tray after Meredith nodded.

"Can you get my mommy?" She asked the nurse before she walked out.

"She's in surgery." The nurse said before walking out.