18

                                    

                                          

Meredith was having lots of trouble breathing the next day, so she needed the oxygen mask most of the time. Charlotte went to school today, her last normal day for the week as both Meredith and Derek had decided she'd be going half days so she could spend some time with her mom
Just in case Meredith wouldn't get those lungs...
"Do you want some more orange juice?" Derek asks Meredith but she shakes her head. Luckily she has the feeding tube that provided her from the nutricients her body really need
"Mom and dad?" Meredith muttered
"They'll be here soon. Dad texted me earlier, they brought pancakes." He smiles, hoping this would get Meredith to eat something
Instead he just received a nod from Meredith, nothing more. Of course he knew she was exhausted, her lungs were about to stop working, her entire body was working so hard in a try to keep going
"Derek? Meredith?" They recognized Carolyn's voice
"Mom-" Derek immediately went over to hug her, he was really grateful to have them this close
"Hi, Der. Are you okay?" Carolyn asks, her son nodding in their hug
"Hi Mer." Christopher placed a kiss on Meredith's forehead
"Dad-" She weakly smiled
"How's she doing?" Christopher said hi to his son, hugging him close
"She's weak.." Derek sighed, not wanting to breakdown
"She'll be okay." Christopher rubbed his son's back
"Have you been doing your treatment already?" Carolyn asks Meredith while she checked the chart
"She hasn't yet. She's due in ten minutes." Derek explained
"Well why don't you two go grab some coffee so we can have breakfast? Meanwhile I'll help Meredith with her treatment." Carolyn offers, she knows her son needs to have a talk with his dad but she herself desperately wants to talk to her daughter
The two men nod. Derek quickly kisses Meredith's head and follows his dad outside, just out of the room he was unable to keep himself strong, hugging his dad and finally giving a voice to the thoughts that have been hunting his mind for days now.
"I'm scared, dad. I can't live without her, I can't be a single dad to Charlie, she needs her mom. We all need Mer.." Derek started sobbing
"I know, son. But Meredith has always been fighting, she won't give up now either." Christopher tried to comfort his son
Meanwhile Carolyn got all Meredith's meds ready and helped her
"Aww-" Meredith winces, her ribs hurt so bad from all the coughing
"Are they bandaged?" Carolyn asks, knowing it helped her in the past. Meredith nods her head. "I'm sorry, sweetheart."
"Hmm.." Meredith groans again in discomfort even if she felt her lungs clearing, she had no energy to spit out the mucus
"Come on, honey. Spit it out." Carolyn guided Meredith's upper body, trying to help the girl as much as possible
...
The next two days went the exact same way. Her parents and family stopped by, she spend some time with her daughter but most of the time she's been asleep
She was halfway the week, she knew it was getting really tight now for her to get that surgery and she's aware of everyone's behavior around her, all of them are extremely nervous
Mark and Addison were currently visiting, both kids were with Carolyn and Christopher so the adults could talk without restrictions
Addison is holding Meredith's hand tightly in her own, she really feels the need to be close to her best friend
"You need to help.. Take care of Charlie." Meredith mutters, turning her head to face the redhead
"I will. Always. But there will be no need to. You will be here." Addison speaks up, not wanting to face that possibility
Meredith starts coughing again after a bit, so Derek gets up and helps her the best he can. 
"Take a deep breath." Addison instructed her best friend, holding tight onto her hand as an iv was in her other
"Better-" Meredith whispers after a few more coughs
"Here, your tea-" Mark handed it over to his sister
Meredith lets go of Addison's hand and grabs the cup with both hands, sipping her tea slowly, her hands tembling
"Thanks. Much better." She nods. Derek takes her tea and places it on the table, Meredith places her head immediately on the pillow and feels her eyes closing
"Don't fight it." Derek kisses the top of her head and all three of them watch her as she falls asleep