Against the clock

53.

'Meredith,' Derek's voice was a low, urgent whisper, barely audible above the pounding of my own heart. I turned to him, tears still streaming down my cheeks, my breath hitching in my chest as I struggled to maintain control.

His gaze softened as he spoke. 'We'll get out of this,' he murmured, his voice laced with a quiet resolve. 'I promise. This is the second time, in the same place. The police will be here in no time. We just have to hold on a little longer.' Hope flickered within me at his words, a small glimmer of light in the darkness that surrounded us.

'What if he kills our baby before they get here?' I whispered, my voice trembling with fear and anguish. The thought of losing our child, the one bright spot in the midst of this nightmare, sent a chill down my spine. 'Or... or what if he kills you?' I added, my voice quivering with the weight of the thought. 'He thinks you're my boyfriend.' Derek's jaw clenched with determination as he met my gaze, his eyes reflecting a fierce resolve. 'If it comes down to it, I'll fight him,' he declared, his voice low but unwavering.

'Meredith, you've got to promise me something,' Derek's voice was gentle yet urgent, his eyes locking onto mine with intensity. I held my breath, waiting for his words, a knot tightening in my stomach at the gravity of his tone.

'If you see a chance to get out of here, you take it,' Derek continued, his voice thick with emotion. 'Don't worry about me. Just go. Get to safety, protect our baby. Promise me.' Tears welled up in my eyes as I grasped the weight of his request. The thought of leaving Derek behind was unbearable, but I knew he was right. Our priority had to be our survival, for the sake of our child.

As Derek's words sank in, a lump formed in my throat, choking back the overwhelming emotions threatening to consume me. 'I promise, but you have to do the same,' I whispered, my voice barely audible as tears streamed down my cheeks.

'Have you thought about any baby names?' Derek asked, his voice soft. A soft smile touched my lips at Derek's question, despite the heaviness of our situation. 'Yeah, I have,' I admitted, my voice wavering slightly as I blinked away a stray tear. 'But... I don't know if now is the right moment to talk about it.'

'I want to talk about it. It's important to me,' he said gently, his voice steady despite the turmoil swirling around us. With a nod, I took a deep breath, steeling myself against the overwhelming emotions threatening to consume me. 'Alright,' I agreed softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Derek's eyes lit up with a hint of excitement as he nodded, eagerly awaiting my suggestion. 'What name do you have in mind?' he asked gently, his voice tinged with anticipation. I hesitated for a moment, feeling a rush of emotions welling up inside me. 'I... I was thinking... maybe we could involve my mom in some way,' I suggested tentatively, my voice trembling slightly. 'Her name was Ellis, and she meant a lot to me.'

Derek's expression softened and he smiled. 'That's a beautiful idea, Meredith,' he murmured, his eyes reflecting warmth and understanding. 'Ellis... it's a lovely name.' A sense of relief washed over me at his response, grateful for his support and understanding. 'Thank you,' I whispered, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. 'I think it would make a perfect middle name for a girl.'

But Derek's gaze held a newfound determination as he spoke, his voice filled with conviction. 'What if we made it her first name?' he suggested, a spark of excitement dancing in his eyes. Tears welled up in my eyes at Derek's suggestion, his unwavering support filling me with a profound sense of gratitude and love. 'I love that,' I whispered, my voice choked with emotion. 'Ellis... it's perfect.'

'And your mom's name as the middle name,' I added, my voice trembling slightly as I glanced up at Derek, my heart overflowing with affection for him. 'Carolyn.'