Keeping up with McFamily

Unseen Threats

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Meredith Grey moved swiftly through the halls of Grey Sloan Memorial, her mind already racing through the details of her next surgery. The day had been long, filled with back-to-back procedures, and she was eager to finish her rounds and find a moment to breathe. She had just exited a patient's room when a man's voice, harsh and filled with anger, cut through her thoughts.

"You!" the voice bellowed.

Meredith turned to see a tall, middle-aged man, his face twisted with rage, storming toward her. His eyes were wild, and his fists were clenched tightly by his sides. She recognized him immediately—he was the husband of one of her patients, a woman who had suffered a severe stroke during surgery and was now in a coma.

"Mr. Daniels, I—" she started, but he didn't give her a chance to explain.

"You said you could fix her! You said she'd be fine!" His voice grew louder, attracting the attention of nurses and other staff in the hallway.

Meredith kept her tone calm, trying to defuse the situation. "Mr. Daniels, your wife's condition was critical. We did everything we could—"

"Everything you could?" he spat, stepping closer, his face inches from hers. "You put her in a coma! My children don't have a mother because of you!"

Before Meredith could react, Mr. Daniels' hand shot out, grabbing her by the throat. The suddenness of the attack took her breath away, and she felt the panic rise as his grip tightened, cutting off her air. She tried to pull away, but his strength overpowered her. Her vision blurred, and the edges of her world began to darken.

"Mr. Daniels, stop!" a nurse cried out, but he didn't release his hold.

Meredith's mind raced as she struggled for breath, her body trembling as she fought against the fear that was consuming her. Then, just as suddenly as it started, the pressure was gone. Mr. Daniels was yanked away from her by a security guard who had appeared at the end of the hall.

Meredith gasped for air, her hands instinctively moving to her throat as she staggered backward, colliding with the wall. The world around her felt surreal, the sounds of people talking and shouting blending into a dull hum. She barely registered the security guard dragging Mr. Daniels away as she struggled to regain her composure.

"Dr. Grey, are you okay?" the nurse asked, rushing to her side.

"I—I'm fine," Meredith managed to say, though her voice was shaky. She nodded, trying to reassure the nurse and herself. But the truth was, she wasn't fine. She felt exposed, vulnerable in a way she hadn't in years.

She knew she needed to get away from the scene, to find a place where she could collect herself. Without another word, she turned and made her way to Derek's office, her legs feeling like lead beneath her.

When she reached the door, she didn't bother to knock. She pushed it open and stepped inside, her eyes finding Derek, who was seated at his desk, reviewing patient charts. He looked up as she entered, his expression shifting from focus to concern as he saw the state she was in.

"Mer?" Derek asked, immediately rising to his feet. He crossed the room in two strides, his hands reaching out to steady her. "What happened?"

Meredith opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, her body started to shake uncontrollably, and she felt tears well up in her eyes. Derek pulled her into his arms, holding her close as she buried her face in his chest.

"It's okay, I'm here," he whispered, but Meredith could feel the tension in his body, the way his muscles tightened as he tried to control his own emotions.

Finally, she managed to find her voice. "A patient's husband—he... he grabbed me. I couldn't breathe... I was so scared, Derek."

Derek's hands stilled on her back, and she felt him go rigid. When he pulled back to look at her, his eyes were filled with a cold, dangerous anger that she rarely saw in him.

"Who?" he asked, his voice low and deadly calm.

Meredith shook her head. "It doesn't matter—"

"Who, Meredith?" he insisted.

She hesitated, but she knew Derek wouldn't let it go. "Mr. Daniels. The husband of the stroke patient in Room 412."

Derek's jaw clenched, and without another word, he turned and marched out of his office, leaving Meredith standing there. She called after him, but he didn't stop. Panic started to rise in her again, but this time for Derek. She knew how protective he could be, and she feared what he might do in his anger.

She hurried after him, her heart pounding, but by the time she caught up to him, he was already in the corridor outside Room 412, where Mr. Daniels was standing with the security guard, still fuming.

"Derek, don't—" Meredith started, but it was too late.

Derek stormed up to Mr. Daniels, and before anyone could react, he threw a punch that landed squarely on the man's jaw. The force of it sent Mr. Daniels stumbling backward, and the security guard shouted in surprise.

"Derek, stop!" Meredith cried, but Derek was beyond reason. His face was a mask of fury as he grabbed Mr. Daniels by the collar and hit him again, and then again, each blow harder than the last.

"Is this how you deal with your problems?" Derek snarled between punches. "You attack my wife?"

By the third punch, blood was running down Mr. Daniels' face, and his knees buckled. Derek pulled back for another hit, but suddenly, a pair of strong arms wrapped around him from behind, pulling him away.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Shepherd, that's enough!" It was Alex Karev, who had appeared just in time to stop Derek from delivering another blow. He held Derek back, his grip firm but not unkind.

"Let me go, Karev!" Derek shouted, struggling against Alex's hold.

"Not until you calm down," Alex said, his voice steady. "You don't want to do something you'll regret."

Meredith moved quickly to Derek's side, placing a hand on his chest. "Derek, please, stop. I'm okay. I'm okay."

Derek looked at her, his breathing ragged, his anger slowly dissipating as he took in the fear and worry in her eyes. He stopped struggling against Alex and let out a heavy sigh, the tension in his body slowly ebbing away.

Alex loosened his hold on Derek and stepped back, but he stayed close, ready to intervene again if necessary. The security guard had taken control of the situation, guiding Mr. Daniels away to be checked by medical staff.

"Come on," Alex said, his tone softer now. "Let's get you both out of here."

Derek nodded, his gaze never leaving Meredith. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, holding her close as they walked away from the scene. Meredith leaned into him, her heart still racing, but she felt safer with him by her side.

When they reached a quiet room, Alex left them alone, giving them the space they needed. Derek sat down, pulling Meredith onto his lap, his arms wrapping around her protectively.

"I'm so sorry," Derek whispered, his voice filled with regret. "I shouldn't have lost it like that."

Meredith shook her head, resting her forehead against his. "You were protecting me. I understand."

"But you're right," Derek said, his tone softening as he looked into her eyes. "You're okay. That's what matters."

Meredith nodded, finally allowing herself to relax in his embrace. "We're both okay," she said, her voice steady now.

As they sat there, holding each other in the quiet room, they knew that no matter what challenges they faced, they would always be each other's strength.
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Another update! I'm proud of myself🥹