Title: How To Deal

Author: Fate Believer

Summary: Sequel to 14 Days. A look into what happens when Meredith and Derek begin working at the hospital together and how they deal with working together, living together, and managing to just skate by on the skin of their teeth.

Pairing: M/D C/B (later on) and maybe some Alex/Izzie.

Rating: T to M ( This is Meredith and Derek we're talking about here!)

Disclaimer: Don't own them. If I did...well they'd be a lot happier! In the meantime they belong to ABC and Shonda Rhimes.

A/N: I'm pretty sure I'd be flogged if I didn't write this sequel, although I did write a short fluffy interlude to tide over the masses. I can't say how grateful I am to everyone for the positive feedback. I'm a feedback whore. The more I get, the quicker I update.

From the moment she had first laid eyes on Alex Karev, Meredith didn't like him. He was cocky and arrogant and if she was dying he was the last person she'd want trying to save her life. Unfortunately for her, she was stuck in the pit with him. Seattle was having it's annual " Dead Baby Bike Race". That meant all these stupid idiots on bicycles were out trying to mow down the unsuspecting citizens of Seattle over who got to drink the most beer at the end of the race. It was stupid, but at least she could count on being busy for the day. Maybe she'd even get a surgery.

Alex had pulled the spokes out of her patients side, even though she'd won him fair and square in the coin toss. Now, she was stuck sewing him up. Leave it to Alex to stick her with the crappy stitches. He was cute she guessed, but not really her type. She liked her men with brain cells and this one obviously didn't have any. He'd been hitting on her since he got in here and she'd been doing her best to tune him out.

It was with great relief that she was finally finished. She informed him of what he needed to do to take care of himself and she was just about to send him on his way when he caught her by the arm and pulled her to him, pressing his lips firmly against hers. Her hand came up to his shoulder in an effort to push him away, but as quickly as it began it was over and he was on his way out the door calling over his shoulder that it was for good luck. He promised he'd see her again and she yelled after him that for his sake she hoped not.

Half amused and half irritated, she began to clean up the exam room. She was almost done when she heard the door slam behind her. She jumped and whirled around to find Derek standing there with his hands on his hips, glaring at her.

" Jesus, Derek! You scared the crap out of me, " Meredith continued her task of cleaning.

" You make out with patients now, " He demanded.

" He kissed me! Not the other way around, " She defended herself.

" It didn't look like you were doing too much protesting , " He countered, apparently not willing to let the issue go.

" What are you? Jealous? " She retaliated, clearly teasing him.

" I don't get jealous, " Derek answered defensively.

" Right. You don't get jealous. Which is why I had to tell my best friend about us, because you don't get jealous , " Meredith stated disbelievingly.

" Is it so wrong that I don't like seeing another guy kissing my girlfriend? "

" No. Just remember the girlfriend was the kissee and not the kisser. I only kiss really hot brain surgeons."

The corner of his lips tugged up into a smile and they locked eyes. She wanted to take him in her arms right then and show him just how much she liked kissing him and only him, but she knew this was neither the time nor the place.

" I should get back to work , " Derek told her after a moment.

" You should, "She agreed.

" You should know though...I expect really hot sex tonight for having to watch that. Consider it your punishment , " Derek forewarned before walking out the door.

Thinking he could have come up with something she actually didn't like doing, Meredith went back to her task of cleaning.

Lunch time came quickly and Meredith met Cristina at the deli next to the hospital. Even after only working at the hospital a short period of time, they had decided that the hospital food sucked. So whenever they got the opportunity they slipped away next door where they had a little more freedom to talk. Certain topics didn't belong in the hospital.

" My patient kissed me this morning, " She told her friend as if she was telling her the time.

" Your patient kissed you? "

" That's not the worst part, " Meredith laughed uneasily.

" Okay, so what's the worst part, " Cristina asked, halfway interested.

" Derek saw. "

" Ooh. Ouch. Did he go ballistic? "

" Surprisingly, no. He did tell me he didn't get jealous however."

" Right. Cause he was just sending you dirty looks in Joe's that one night for fun "

" That's what I told him."

" What'd he say? "

" He asked me if it was so wrong him not liking to see some other guy kissing his girlfriend. "

" I still can't get over that, by the way. Not only are you sleeping with your attending, you're actually dating him. "

" I think the fact you didn't talk to me for two days is a testament to the fact you haven't gotten over it. "

" At first, I was thinking you were only doing it for the surgeries. Then, when you told me you didn't know he was a doctor, I took pity on you. Besides, there's no way he can favor you. Webber knows and he'd eat both of you alive if he even suspected Derek was showing you favoritism, " Cristina pointed out, obviously happy with that idea.

" Seriously. Besides, I think I've suffered enough. Finding out the guy you're sleeping with and living with is going to be your boss while attending a dinner with a man who changed your diapers, not exactly my idea of a good time , "

" Dude, I'd have loved to seen your face. I bet it was priceless , " Cristina never got tired of giving her crap over the whole dinner fiasco with the Webber's.

" I should have ended it then, but I just couldn't. I think I've only ever had two relationships in my entire life and they were nothing like what he and I have , "

" You're so falling for him, " Cristina ducked the napkin that was being thrown at her.

" Will you stop saying that? I am not! I mean, I like him. I really like him. He's Derek, ya know?"

Cristina just smirked across the table at her.

" Shut up."

The worst part about being an intern had to be the hours. She couldn't remember the last time she got a good night's sleep in her own bed as opposed to the lumpy beds in the on-call rooms. Not to mention that the beds in the on call rooms were missing one important feature : Derek. The ER was still swamped by those stupid cyclists, so she hadn't been able to go home. Which sucked. Derek was probably sleeping soundly in their bed while she got stuck with the lumpy hospital bed.

Did I really just say it was our bed?

Truth be told, she had come to think of it as such. Sure, he had his own room and his own bed, but she could only count one time in which he'd ever slept in his bed. His room was probably collecting dust. All of his belongings were in her room. His clothes hung next to hers in the closet and his books were on her nightstand. It made more sense to think of it as their room and their bed.

She pondered Cristina's words from earlier. Was she falling for him? Feelings were something that wasn't discussed very often in their household. Possibly because they were rarely ever home at the same time and when they were, talking seemed like the last thing on their mind. It was relieving and frustrating all at the same time. She wasn't especially good at the talking parts of a relationship. It wasn't that she didn't want too...she just never knew what to say.

Her cell phone rang and she knew who it was instinctively without having to look at the caller display. She flipped it open and put it to her ear.

" I miss you , " Derek's voice sounded sad and she cursed those damn cyclists mentally for depriving her of really hot sex and a good night's sleep...in her own bed.

" I know. It's just...these stupid idiots keep piling into the emergency room. I don't think that put together they have one working brain cell in their tiny little banged up heads , " Meredith muttered miserably.

She heard him laugh and she wished more than anything it wasn't through the phone.

" You sound cranky. "

" I am cranky. I've done so many stitches today I think I'm developing carpal tunnel."

" Ah, the life of an intern. Med school made it sound so much cooler didn't they? "

" Bite me."

" Do I get to pick the spot? "

" Okay, thoughts like that aren't making it easier for me to go to sleep."

" Good, because I can't sleep either. What are you wearing? "

" Derek! "

" Ooh. I like it when you scream my name."

" I'm hanging up now. "

" I'll behave. I promise."

" No, seriously. I have to get some sleep."

She heard him sigh and she completely understood why. Sleeping alone sucked on it's own. Sleeping alone when you could be sleeping with someone else was pure torture.

" I'll see you soon, okay?"

" Okay. G'night Derek." She flipped her phone shut and dropped it on the floor. Then she rolled over onto her back and stared up at the bunk above her. Maybe if she stared long enough, she'd fall asleep. The door flew open, streaming light in and Bailey stood on the other side of it.

" ER's finally calmed down. Go home, Grey. You look like hell, " Bailey ordered.

Meredith scrambled to her feet. She didn't wait around for her to change her mind.

Meredith was half past exhausted when she stumbled up the stairs into her room. Derek was already asleep, hugging her pillow against him. Not wanting to be on her feet any longer, she shed her clothes as she walked before easing into bed beside him, tugging on her pillow. His eyes opened and he smiled when he saw her. A full on McDreamy smile. He relinquished control of her pillow and let her settle into bed before he pulled her against his chest and tangling his hand in her hair.

Sometimes life didn't suck so bad.