My Dad the Brain Surgeon

Chapter 19

Taylor's ICP had lowered enough for her to regain consciousness. I had two needle happy interns waiting to put her right back to sleep. They were making her uneasy. 

"Back up. Give her some space. Not a drop of that enters her IV before Derek gets in here. Got it?"  

"Sorry, we've just never seen an induced coma started before."

The fear that struck in Taylor caused her ICP to start rising again. "That's not how a patient should find out about something like this. Leave until Derek is here." I was supposed to be trying to parent the patient, but I felt like I was parenting the interns.

"Meredith... what's happening?" Meredith?  I was terrified when she called me mom. I wasn't expecting hearing her call me by name again to sting so much. I grabbed her hand and acted like I didn't notice.

"The pressure in your brain keeps rising and that isn't safe. We are just going to put you to sleep for a little while. That will allow your brain to recover from surgery. Once we think your brain can handle it, we'll wake you back up. I don't want you to be scared of this. You won't feel anything and you happen to have one of the world's best neurosurgeons as your doctor. He should be here any minute. We've got you!" I couldn't tell if my words were offering her any comfort until she cracked a slight smile.

"You're staying with me too..? You don't have to..." There it is. I recognize that lack of trust, that fear of abandonment. She's afraid I'm going to leave just like her birth mother and Addison. 

"Someone else can cover my patients. I'll be right here for everything. I promise!" She was finally seeming to get comfortable when Derek walked in. He took her other hand, kissed her head, and whispered, "I love you." They started the medication and within seconds, she was out. Derek came in the room confident. That confidence was slipping. I could see his eyes starting to fill with tears. 

"I'll give you some time with her while I get someone to cover me for the night. I'll be back in a few minutes. I have a promise to keep!" After a quick kiss, I was out the door only to see that damn woman back.

"Are you and Derek married?"

 I wasn't about to try to explain the post-it to her. "Not legally, yet. I thought we asked you to leave?"  

"If you aren't married then why did my daughter call you mom?" 

"I have a job to do. I don't have time to listen to you try to make him out to be the bad guy. She isn't you daughter. You signed away your rights. She is his daughter. He is the one who has done everything for her and today he saved her life. He asked me to adopt her. I am going to. She will then legally be my daughter. She called me mom because instead of leaving her, I stood by her today. I don't know what you want, but you will not win this battle." I stomped off hoping she would leave us alone, but I knew she wouldn't.