code blue // melonie ann grey

TWENTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
MEREDITH'S POV

   "Has Melonie woken up yet?" Jackson asked me as I walked into his room. 

   I shook my head, sighing louder than intended. Jackson laid back down on his hospital bed and looked at the ceiling.

   It had been twenty-four hours and Melonie still hadn't woken up. Jackson was fine and awake, but he was still hooked up to machines to make sure nothing bad would happen.

   "This is all my fault," Jackson sighed, a tear escaping his eye.

   "No, it's not. Don't say that," I replied, sitting next to his bed. "It's the guy in the semi who did this, not you. He ran the red light. He wasn't paying attention. It's his fault. If I knew who he was, he would be dead right now."

   Jackson let a small chuckle escape his lips, but he instantly winced in pain.

   "Don't make me laugh. It hurts." He held his stomach. 

   "Sorry," I replied.

   "Can you go check on Melonie?" he asked.

   "I just came from there," I responded.

   "I know, but I need to know that she's okay at all times." He looked at me. "Please, Meredith."

   "Of course." I walked out of the room.

   I approached Melonie's room and walked it. Just like she was five minutes ago, she was still hooked up to machines and still unconscious, so I walked back to Jackson's room.

   "She's still unconscious," I told him. "I have to go eat lunch, though. I'll bring you back something, okay?"

   "Thanks, Mer," he slightly smiled.

   I walked out of the room and walked over to the attending's lounge, where April and Cristina were. I sat in between them, not saying a word. I just dug my fork into my pasta.

   "Owen's being such a douche," Cristina complained, continuing her conversation with April.

   "What did he do?" April asked.

   "He's just being Owen." Cristina popped a grape into her mouth. "He's always staring at me and it's incredibly annoying."

   "Yeah, well, Matthew's being a douche too-" April started, but I stood up.

   "You guys have got to be kidding me," I sternly said.

   "What?" Cristina asked, looking at me.

   "My sister and her husband are both in hospital beds, my sisters not even conscious, and you two are complaining about your petty little boy issues!" I raised my voice.

   "Mer, we-" April tried.

   "No." I held up my finger to silence her, and I started to walk out, but I turned around to face them again. "And Cristina, Owen looks at you because he loves you, not to be creepy. April, if Matthew's being a douche, talk to him instead of talking about him to other people. Or just break up with him! Simple!"

   I stormed out of the room, leaving an astonished April and Cristina behind. I sat in Melonie's room, looking at her as she laid there. I stroked her hair with my hand and sighed, wishing I could talk to her.

   Suddenly, her monitor started rapidly beeping. I shot out of my chair and pressed the code blue button.

   "She's coding!" I screamed. "Someone help me!"

   Callie and Alex came running into the room with other nurses and doctors. I stood back and watched with my eyes filling with tears.

   "Give me the paddles!" Alex screamed, and no one heard him, so he raised his voice, "Give me the damn paddles!" A nurse handed him the paddles and he rubbed them together. "Charge to two-hundred. Clear!" He shocked her and nothing worked. "Damn it. Come on, Melonie! Charge to two-fifty! Clear!" Again, nothing. 

   "Start chest compressions!" Callie panicked. "Karev, get Meredith out of here."

   Alex approached me and lightly pushed me out of the room, closing the door as we stood in the hallway. I just kept staring into space as tears rolled down my cheeks. 

   Alex wrapped his arms around me and I sobbed into his shoulder.

   "You cheated on her," I pointed out. "You cheated on her with her best friend. You hurt her. Why are you trying to save her?"

   Alex sat me down on a bench and sat next to me. "I know I did. And there's not a day that goes by that I don't regret it. I still love her, and I can't get over her." I saw his eyes starting to water and I just looked at him.

   I heard the monitor's beeping slow down and everyone's sighs of relief from inside the room. I sighed of relief as Callie walked out.

   "We saved her," Callie smiled, and I jumped up to hug her. "You can go back in."

   I walked in as the other nurses walked out. 

   I sat by her side and took her hand in mine. "Mel, please wake up. I can't lose you. I already lost Lexie. I can't lose you too. I know we fight sometimes, but all siblings do. And I know I'm a pain in the ass, but you still love me. Since the day I met you, you've not only been a great sister, but you've been my best friend. You've been there for me." I wiped a tear from my cheek. "It should have been me in that car instead of you and Jackson. You don't deserve this." I squeezed her hand. "Please. You have to wake up. I can't do this without you. You're the only person who truly gets me. If you leave me, I have no one. Derek's always working and Cristina only wants to talk about Owen. Please don't die on me. Please. I love you." I sobbed, setting my head down.

   After a little bit of holding her hand, I felt something. A miracle. Something amazing was happening. 

   I felt something squeeze my hand weakly. I lifted my head to look at my hand. Melonie's hand moved again, lightly squeezing mine again.

   "M-Melonie?" I stuttered. My hand was squeezed again. "Melonie." I tightened my grip on her hand. "Mel, I'm right here, okay? I'm not going anywhere."

   I looked at her and her eyes fluttered open. She could barely open her eyes and her eyes squinted, as if her head was hurting her. 

   "Oh my God," I smiled. "Don't ever scare me like that again, you hear me?"

   "I-I... m-" she tried, but she couldn't form the words. 

   "It's okay... you don't have to talk," I told her, holding her hand tighter. "I'm just glad you're okay."

   "I-I love you, t-too," she stuttered weakly, and I chuckled. "B-But, don't you e-ever say th-that it s-should have b-been you."

   "Oh, you heard that?" I laughed, and she slightly nodded. "I love you."

   She smiled tiredly. "Where's Jackson?"

   "He's okay," I answered. "He's in his hospital bed, but his injuries weren't nearly as bad as yours."

   "G-Good," she croaked. "T-The semi came out o-of nowhere."

   "Shh," I said softly. "Let's not talk about that right now. You need rest."

   Melonie weakly nodded and closed her eyes, instantly falling asleep. I looked up with happy tears rolling down my cheeks, silently thanking God.

~

Word Count: 1173