Faster car

80

Being a mom was not easy. Being a mom to a sick baby? Definitely not easy. In fact, it was probably one of the hardest things in the world. Besides the screaming and the crying, there was throw up and snot and coughing and...it was pretty much disgusting. And really, more than anything, Meredith hated watching her son suffering. Watching him scream had been the hardest thing she'd ever seen. It had been such a long day, such an insanely long day. There were days at work, days she had thought at the time were bad days that had nothing compared to today. Because none of those people were her son. So running around and worrying about patients had nothing on what the last day had been like. She was ready to collapse or cry or something. But she was still going right now. She was still moving and walking and standing up right and holding a tiny baby. Cole was definitely feeling better, he was even watching Derek over her shoulder and giggling slightly as he watched his daddy do something behind her. She was happy that Derek was making Cole laugh, completely happy that they weren't stressed anymore.

Cole's temperature had gone down overnight thanks to the Motrin and when she had checked on him sometime around sunrise he had been wet with sweat, his fever apparently entirely broken but it hadn't exactly been the cure all. He had still been congested and his stomach had clearly been bothering him and it had been a day of trying to help him feel better. And now, he seemed better, he really seemed so much better. "What are you doing?" Meredith giggled as Cole laughed loudly.

"Secret stuff."

"What kind of secret stuff?" she rolled her eyes, trying to look over her shoulder.

"Daddy and Cole secret stuff."

"Of course,' Meredith smiled softly as she rubbed Cole's back. He was slowly becoming more himself, slowly and surely becoming the happy little boy and laughed at everything and everyone who wanted everyone to pay attention to him. She was so happy that he was feeling better, so completely happy that soon, he would have his nightly bottle, be put to bed, and sleep peacefully.

"My son and I need to have secrets."

"You're playing peek-a-boo, aren't you?"

"Maybe."

"And you're sticking your tongue out when you uncover your eyes."

"I...no."

"You are. That's the only thing that makes him laugh like that."

"Oh...well, maybe."

"I thought so," she giggled as as Cole hit his fists against her shoulder.

"He needs a little cheering up," Derek laughed softly.

"He does," she murmured. "How does he look?"

"Good," Derek breathed. "His cheeks are a nice pink."

"Like...a healthy pink or a fever pink?"

"Healthy pink. Tired."

"Good," she smiled. "Are you tired, Cole?"

"He has to be."

"Well, your bottle is almost ready," she murmured softly, taking in the smell of the Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo she had used just forty minutes earlier to get him clean.

"Good."

"Just a few more seconds, Cole. Play with Daddy."

"But Cole disappeared, Mer."

"Oh really?"

"Hmmm..."

"Where is he?"

"I don't know, Mer."