Echoes of Resilience

27

Meredith I need you to calm down and breathe with me, everything is going to be okay." Addison picked Meredith up and started to bounce her on her hip. "In and out sweet girl, that's it. Good girl."

"I'm really scared Addie." Meredith cried, tears escaping and rolling down her face.

"I know you are, you have every right to be scared honey. You don't have to do this, I can read your statement for you honey, it doesn't have to be you."

"I appreciate that, but it has to be me. I need it to be me. I can't keep hiding in the shadows, my kidnapper may walk free because the police mishandled my case. People need to see that I'm a real person, they need to see what this has done to me. Everyone knows that police investigations are traumatic, but the added trauma caused by carelessness is something that needs to be brought to light, and who better to bring it to light than someone who is a direct victim of it?" Meredith explained as she calmed down, laying her head on Addison's shoulder as the redhead sat down with her seated on her lap.

"Have I ever told you how much you amaze me?" Addison asked with wonder in her eyes.

"Once or twice." Meredith smirked with a giggle.

"I'm serious Mer, you're so damn strong. If I went through what you went through I don't think I would still be standing, yet you get up everyday and refuse to let what happened deter you. Ever since you found out that the plea deal fell through you have thrown yourself into this lawsuit and made sure your statement is absolutely perfect. No one would blame you if you just stayed in bed and cried, but you've taken all that anger and sadness and channeled it for good. You inspire me Meredith."

"Thank you Addie, that means more to me then you know. How much longer do we have before the press conference?"

"About four hours, let's go lie down and take a nap for a couple hours." Addison picked Meredith back up and carried her into her room, plopping her down on the bed before climbing in next to her. Smiling when she felt Meredith cuddle into her side. "Cristina and Arizona will be here in about two and a half hours to help you get ready and all three of us will be on camera with you. We're not letting you go through any of this alone, your fight is our fight."

"You promise?" Meredith asked, looking up at her with big eyes.

"I pinky promise." Addison held out her pinky to the blonde and gently kissed her temple. "Now let's get some sleep sweet girl, you haven't slept nearly enough lately."    Addison pulled Meredith tighter into her side, playing with her hair and singing until the sounds of snores filled the room.

"Wait, you're saying that we are personally named in the lawsuit?" Officer Jacobs asked, flipping through the document in front of her.

"Yes, you and Taylor are both named due to the fact that you found the rope that had Rose's blood on it but neglected to test it. She's suing the two of you, Seattle police department, Boston police department, the jail Shepherd is being held, and the Washington FBI division for emotional distress and damages. You guys need to find lawyers, good lawyers, but honestly she has a really good case." Isabella explained. "I have no choice but to drop the charges against Derek in regards to Meredith's kidnapping, the defense will have a field day with our lead witness having a lawsuit against Seattle PD, plus you two should definitely stay away from her. I'm still pursuing charges against him for Rose's murder, but since the lawsuit was filed other states have found a renewed interest in him, my office has already received extradition requests from Nevada, Florida, and Oregon. Florida wants to pursue capital murder charges and is aiming for the death penalty. Part of me wants to use that to my advantage and offer Derek a deal again. If I can promise to keep him in Washington then I may get him to plead to life imprisonment. I just don't know if his lawyer will go for it."