If that's what it takes

89

The door clicked as Mark left the room, leaving Zoey and Derek alone with Meredith. Derek shifted Zoey in his arms as she looked down at Meredith. "You're going to fix her, DD?" Zoey whispered as she watched him grasp Meredith's hand.

"We're going to try our best, little one." Derek whispered.

"What are we waiting for?" Zoey asked.

"Just... I..."

Meredith's eyes blinked and Derek turned his attention to her.

Tell her that you're saying goodbye.

Derek was struck by her answer. Goodbye was not an option in Derek's mind. Goodbye was by no means something that Derek was ready to say. "No." Derek whispered.

"What?" Zoey asked as she looked to Meredith as she blinked. "What is she saying, DD?"

Tell her that I loved her... tell her that I want to say goodbye... so if I don't make it... she'll know she's not alone, that her mother always loved her.

"What is she saying?" Zoey asked softly.

Derek cleared his throat as Meredith finished what she was saying. "She says she loves you very much, sweetheart." Derek said as he kissed the little girl's head. "She said that she's always loved you and will love you forever."

I didn't say that.

"She loves me very much?"

"Yes she does." Derek replied.

Tell her I said goodbye, Derek.

"She says that she is going to do everything she can to come back from this... She wants to hug you."

"I can hug her."

Derek! Tell her I said goodbye!

"She wants to hug you back." Derek said, watching Meredith plead with him. He shook his head and gave her a stern look as he watched Zoey smile softly.

"I want her to hug me."

Derek... Please... please tell her what I'm saying

"She's going to try her very best." Derek said softly as Zoey snuggled into him as she watched Meredith. Derek lifted her down to the bed, as she crawled up toward Meredith's face.

"I love you very much, Mommy." Zoey said as she leaned forward and kissed Meredith softly.

I love you.

"Meredith..." Derek said softly.

I don't want to talk to you.

Meredith's eyes closed when she said that, tears rolling down her cheeks as Zoey kissed Meredith again. "Feel better soon, Mommy." Zoey whispered as she ran her fingers through her hair and kissed her forehead. "Feel better soon..."

"Meredith..." Derek said as he wiped the tear from her cheek. "Meredith, please look at me." He whispered.

After a moment, Mark and Cristina walked into the room. Cristina glanced to Derek, and noticed an immediate look of panic on his face. "Derek... are you alright?" She whispered.

"She won't look at me." Derek said as he looked to Cristina.

"She's probably tired." Cristina replied as she approached the bed. "Don't take it so seriously." She said as she approached the bed.

"Aunt Crissy... are you taking mommy now?"

"We are..." Cristina nodded.

"Take good care of her... okay?" Zoey whispered as she kissed Meredith again.

"I promise we'll take care of her..." Cristina whispered as Derek lifted the little girl from the bed. "Are you ready, Mark?"

"I'm ready." He nodded.

"Let's get her down there..." She nodded as Mark and Cristina helped lift her to a gurney. Her eyes remained closed the entire time. "Let's go..." Cristina said as Mark covered her with the blanket and tucked her hands beneath it. "I'll have Mark keep you informed." Cristina said, as Derek held tightly to the little girl as she waved.

"Bye, Mama... bye, Mommy..." Zoey waved.

As they rolled out of the door, Meredith's eyes opened and she looked directly at Derek.

Goodbye.