Delicate Hearts

Thirty Three

The room had comfortable seats, around 20 of them. A large television, an area where you could make tea and coffee as well as juice and a water machine.

Time went slow, too slow. When the door opened he had hoped to see Ellis or another doctor but it was his mother, father, Addison and Amelia.

"My boy"Carolyn instantly rushed to embrace Derek as Mark took Addison into his arms.

"Have you heard anything"Addison asked through her tears as she took a seat beside Amelia.

"No, no"Mark shook his head, Derek hadn't spoken. He was in shock, complete shock. The door opened again fifteen minutes later. Ellis walked in, her clothes blood stained, her head had been stitched.

"Nothing yet"She gulped. She still shook with fear. She had treated gun shot wounds plenty of times. But it was her daughter, she was shot only meters away from her. She listened to her cries and watched as she coughed up blood.

She didn't sit down she just paced until the doors opened.

"I got you some scrubs to put on" Arizona offered a warm smile. Ellis thanked her.

"Arizona, is there any news on my baby"Ellis cried. Arizona took a sharp breath.

"The last I heard they had called down Burke and Yang. She coded on arrival but Hunt got her back. There are seven of them in there. Owen, April, Callie, Richard, Cristina, Bailey and Preston." Arizona could see the worry in Ellis' eyes. "Get changed, have a coffee. I will update you okay" Ellis nodded without processing what had been said.

She changed into the dark blue scrubs and took a seat beside Derek. He placed his arm on the back of her chair.

"She is a fighter Ellis, she is"Addison cried. Ellis forced a laugh.

"She always has been. But this...you didn't hear it. The scream when he shot her, the way he laughed and shot her again when she called my name. How she choked on her own blood as the bullet pushed through her. As she looked into my eyes and lost her pulse. How she trembled, how the blood ran from her nose as she let go of my hand"Ellis couldn't shake the image from her head. He knew she would come for me. She is the only one who would. When he heard her he looked at me and said ' enjoy seeing her alive whilst you can'" Ellis couldn't believe her own words.

"She was that bad...."Addison choked on her tears. Ellis nodded as April walked in. Her scrubs freshly coated in pure red blood.

"We need consent to take her to surgery"April looked broken as she handed Ellis the clip board.

"Where is the bullet, her lung?"Ellis asked.

"It split, the first bullet split. One half is lodged into the lung, the other pierced her heart. She is hanging on but she is weak, she is losing blood and I..i"April couldn't cry, not now.

"Richard, I need Richard" Ellis cried. April nodded and rushed away, the room sat in silence until he walked un.

"Ellis.."He began.

"No, Richard I need you in there with her. Not as a doctor but as Uncle Richard. Stroke her hair, talk to her, please Richard. I can't lose her. She is my baby"Ellis trembled.

"I won't leave her side El I promise.She's awake right now"He released. "Do you want to..just in case"He gulped at his own words.

"Derek, we can go in before they go, come quickly" Ellis held her hand out. He didn't hesitate.

Richard asked everyone except Burke and Owen to leave for a moment.

Ellis held her hand and told her how much she loved her. Derek however placed a hand on her head, stroking her hair he looked into her eyes that flickered open now and then.