A/N: This is just a brief first chapter but there's more to come! I'm still upset over Derek's death so what better way to deal with it then pretend this is going to happen! I hope you guys enjoy, the next chapter will be much more eventful. Don't worry, it will have a happy ending :)

Meredith's head was blurry when she woke up. It took everything awhile to become focused in her vision. She was in the hospital; as a patient. As she slowly became more alert she was hit with a wave of fatigue. She couldn't remember what had happened; the last thing she remembered was pulling the plug of Derek's life support. Now she was in a familiar hospital room, one that could only belong to her hospital.

She tried to move but her body ached and her head pounded. What the hell had happened?

"You're up." A voice said in her doorway.

She looked to see none other than Derek Shepherd standing before her. Seriously, what was going on. She could feel tears beginning to sting her eyes and a smile creep across her face. He was alive. He was standing before her, living and breathing. He smirked at her and walked into her room, holding a chart.

"Welcome back." He smiled. "Can you tell me your name?"

Meredith looked at him confused. How could he not know her name? They were married, they had kids; didn't they?

"Meredith." She croaked, only then realizing how dry her throat was.

"Meredith." He repeated, sending chills up her spine. She loved how he said her name. "Do you know where you are?"

"Hospital." She answered.

"Do you know which hospital?"

That should have been an easy question for Meredith, but after Derek had to ask her name she wasn't too sure of anything. She simply shook her head.

"You're at Seattle Grace, Meredith. Do you know why you're here?" Again, she shook her head. "You had a brain tumor. The surgery went very well, you should make a full recovery. You'll be in a little pain and groggy for awhile but I'll take very good care of you."

"Dr Shepherd!" Cristina burst in, "there's an incoming head trauma, we need you."

"Cristina." Meredith said.

"Yeah?" Cristina answered confused.

"It's me, Meredith."

"I know, I got to scrub in on your surgery. Neuro, definitely not for me, no offense Dr Shepherd."

"None taken. You're one of the most promising interns here Yang, but I don't think Neuro is for you." Derek smiled.

"Cardio." Meredith spoke.

"Cardio?" Cristina was almost taken aback.

"I see it." Derek commented. "Who's on Burke's service today?"

"Burke?" Meredith said to herself.

"Stevens." Cristina answered.

"Switch. I can see you going far in Cardio Yang. Great suggestion Meredith."

"Right away, Dr Shepherd." Cristina hurried out of the room.

"I'd better get down to see the head trauma. You rest and I'll check on you later, okay?" Derek smiled and left.

Meredith was tired but couldn't sleep. She had had surgery. Everything she had thought was real was really the after affects of anesthesia. Cristina didn't know her, Derek didn't know her. Izzie was still at the hospital. Izzie probably wouldn't know who she was either.

Unanswered questions swarmed Meredith's brain. Was Derek still with Addison? Was her mother alive? Mark and Lexie? George? Were the people she had grown to know and love while under anesthesia real or were they just figments of her imagination?

Eventually, sleep claimed Meredith and she drifted off for a few hours.

When she woke up she found Richard Webber sitting by her bed. Her eyes slowly fluttered open and she looked at him.

"You're awake." He smiled. "Dr Shepherd said the surgery went well. You should be able to catch up to the other interns in no time. You are a Grey after all."

"Water?" She croaked. She was feeling more awake than she had the previous time she woke up but her throat ached more than it had before.

"Oh, of course." Richard said and brought her a cup of water. "How do you feel?"

"Weird. I had a dream and I thought it was real." Meredith confessed.

"You'll see this happen throughout your career, Meredith. Don't worry, as time goes on you'll forget about it and live in reality with the rest of us." Richard joked. "Hopefully the next time I see you, you'll be in scrubs."