If that's what it takes

68

Derek walked with Kara to the school. He didn't tell her anything about Zoey being angry at him, and he didn't give her much more insight into Zoey's past. They walked pretty much in silence as Derek thought of his tasks later in the afternoon, his mind was very much full of other things, and he didn't even hear Kara talk to him when she finally said something.

"Derek?" She said softly as she touched his shoulder.

"Hm...?" He asked as he turned to look into her eyes as she tilted her head.

"You didn't answer me." She said softly as she watched him give her an apologetic look.

"Oh... Oh, I'm sorry... I'm just... I'm kind of lost in my thoughts. What were you saying?"

"I was asking if you were interested in getting something to eat after we pick up the girls... You have time before you're on call, right?"

"Yeah... but... I promised Zoey we'd do something together..." He said with a nod.

"Go see sleeping beauty?" She asked as she watched Derek's eyebrows raise slightly. "Carrie told me a little..."

"Sleeping beauty is her mother." Derek said softly. "If you must know... nosy little thing..." Derek said with a slight smirk. "She... is in a coma."

"Her mother is in a coma? How horrible..." She said as she covered her mouth and looked Derek in the eyes.

"Yes... but... what is worse... is that she doesn't know it's her mother... she thinks her grandmother was her mother... it's a long, complicated story. I told you... its for another walk to work."

"And she's in the hospital... Zoey's mother?"

"She's on the psych floor... they think it's a psychological issue... I think it's a neurological issue... See... she can communicate... just recently she's begun to communicate in small bursts... and... I think if she's tested, we will find a clot or a tumor or something... but the chief of surgery refuses to go that avenue. Her mother had requested no testing on her, unless it was to save her life... unless...otherwise, she wanted her to die of natural causes when it was her time."

"It sounds cruel." Kara whispered.

"It's very cruel..." Derek replied. "But the crueler fate would be if she died before she was able to know her daughter... I'm not giving up on her." He whispered as he swallowed hard, letting his emotions show through in his face as he gave Kara a half smile. "They both deserve more than they've been given." He whispered.

"You really love them, don't you?" Kara said as she watched Derek's eyes dart to hers.

"I hardly um... I hardly even know, Meredith." He said as he cleared his throat.

"But you know her... and you care for her, it's evident in your reaction."

"It's not...strange?" He whispered. "To be reacting this way to someone who I have only known through a strange silent connection?"

"It's not strange at all, Derek. It shows you're compassionate... that you're caring and connected to this little girl. The fact that you want her mother to be well again is a testament to your values and your feelings and love for that little girl... who frankly, I think adores you... absolutely adores you." Kara says as they reached the classroom.

Zoey and Carrie came running out of the room together with their coats and bags and they both ran to Kara. "Mama... we had a great time at school today!" She said excitedly. "Can Zoey stay over sometime?" She asked as Zoey smiled brightly.

Kara looked to Derek, who looked lost as he looked to the little girl. She didn't even look in his direction and Kara thought it was odd. "We'll talk about it another day, sweetheart... not on a school night.

"Zoey... come on, sweetheart." Derek said softly, unsure of what to say to her as her face darted in his direction, and back to Kara.

"Bye, Carrie... bye Ms. Swann." She said softly as she turned toward Derek, who looked pathetically sad as her smile dropped from her smile. She walked over to him and took his hand.

"Bye, Derek..." Kara said as Zoey tugged on Derek's hand on their way toward the exit.

"See ya, Kara... Carrie..." he sighed as he let the little girl pull him through the hallways back to the sidewalk, her mouth closed and her demeanor solemn as they walked toward the hospital together.