I'd do anything for love (3/4)

52

"M-Mark-.. D-Der-" Meredith was shuffling to the kitchen but she was almost falling over

"Mer, what are you doing?" Derek jumped up and helped her

"Wanted to check-" She said as she was out of breath

Derek scooped her up and carried her to the living room. He saw Emma and Ava had fallen asleep

Derek slipped the oxygen mask over her face and checked her pulse

"Are- Are we okay?" Meredith asked, still out of breath

"Mer, why didn't you tell me? They're my kids too" Derek quietly asked

"Was scared. Don't- Don't want them to get my genes" She whispered

"We could have done this together" Derek sighed

"S-Sorry" She wheezed when they heard the doorbell "Der- There's something else.." She sighed

"What is it?" He frowned

"I asked Bailey- To check my genes as well. My mother died early on-" She could barely talk anymore

Shh.. Shh" Derek whispered and then Bailey walked in

"Is she okay?" Bailey frowned and came to check on Meredith

"Just tired and a bit out of breath" Derek held Meredith in his arms

"It will be okay, sweetie" Bailey smiled softly

"Results?" Meredith forced out

"Of course" Bailey smiled

"Impatient as always" Derek chuckled but if he was being honest he was scared too

"The girls have slightly higher chances for some of the Alzheimer markers but you and I both know this doesn't mean they're gonna develop it. In Emma's mapping we found also a higher risk for diabetes and leukemia while Ava has higher risks for diabetes as well" Bailey started explaining

Derek reached for Meredith's hand and squeezed it softly

"Meredith.. We did find something concerning in your genes.." Bailey sighed "You have Li-Fraumeni Syndrome. I bet you know what that is?"

"Do the girls have it?" It was Meredith's first concern

"No. Not at all" Miranda shook her head

"Mer?" Derek looked at her as she started shaking in his arms

"I-" Meredith tried to speak but just couldn't

"How? My mother didn't have it" Meredith frowned

"I'm sorry Meredith, I don't have an answer for that" Bailey sighed

"But LFS causes mutation in cells. Cancer cells. Does this mean she'll possibly get more cancers in the future?" Derek asked

"Sadly, yes" Bailey nodded "But full body scans every few months, regular immunotherapy and some clinical trials have been showing good results so let's not panic yet. Let's focus on what's ahead of you" Bailey grabbed Meredith's hand but the younger woman didn't respond. She kept shaking as she was completely isolated from what was happening around her

...

Derek had called his parents and had asked them to come over. He had explained what was wrong with Meredith and he almost begged his dad to go talk to Meredith

So Christopher was currently on his way upstairs to Meredith and Derek's room. He knocked on the door but Meredith didn't respond. After knocking one more time he opened the door and found her in bed, she was covered in several layers of blankets as she stared ahead of her. He took a seat next to her and tucked the blanket underneath her chin

"Derek just told us" Christopher started

But Meredith didn't respond. She didn't move, she didn't say anything. Christopher got a little bit concerned over his daughter

"Meredith, there have been amazing clinical trials. And immunotherapy, people have them while they continue their daily life" Christopher talked to her

"Don't wanna live my life being constantly scared I'll get cancer again and again" Meredith finally started talking

"But honey, you'll have several check ups, they do it so they can catch it in time so you wouldn't need any further treatment" Christopher placed his hand in hers

"I don't wanna spend my whole life like this" Meredith whispered "I don't wanna be the sick wife or the sick mother" She started sobbing

"I know honey. But look at you, you are so much more" Christopher hugged her

"But I'll need PT to even be able to return to surgery with that stupid tremble. Maybe by the time they fixed it I developed another brain tumor that's leaving me like a vegetable"

"But maybe it won't come" Christopher rubbed her upper arm

"I don't wanna hold back on Derek's life.. or the girls' life" Meredith whispered

"You're not. They love you too much, we love you too much" Christopher kissed her forehead

"All you've been doing is taking care of me instead of enjoying life" Meredith said as she buried herself more into the blankets

"We are enjoying life because you, Derek, your girls, Mark, Amy, Addie.. You guys are our life. Our family. Believe me, we're doing this because we love you" Christopher said as his voice cracked

"Dad's right honey" Carolyn stepped inside

"But mom-" Meredith tried to stop Carolyn

"No. You are our glue, Meredith. We've known it since you were a little girl. You were our glue and still, even today you are our glue" Carolyn kissed Meredith's head

"I just don't know if I have enough energy. I'm just so tired" Meredith admitted

"I know honey. We would try to accept if you'd make the decision to stop fighting. It's your body, you are the one that's in pain but please don't do it because you feel guilty towards others because that's not true" Christopher held Meredith in his arms

"Hmm.." Meredith nodded

"We love you" Chrsitopher said

"So so much" Carolyn added as she stroke her finger over Meredith's cold cheeks that were stained with tears

"I love you too" Meredith breathed and leaned into her father's arms

Li-Fraumeni Syndrome