"You're an idiot."

"I know," Derek said, searching the shelves of the Wine & Spirit store. "I know, Emma, but she didn't want me to stay."

"Why should she," his youngest sister asked, angrily, "you're with the nurse. Fine, Rose. But, whatever, how could she ask you to stay when you had plans with Rose?"

It was times like this that he really wished he didn't tell his sister almost everything. Emma hadn't liked the idea of Rose since he brought her up a few months ago. He sighed as he stood there scanning the labels. It had to be really good champagne . . . victory champagne . . . and it needed to be a big bottle because Derek foresaw lots of celebrating . . . in the future.

"You're an idiot," Emma repeated. "You're an idiot and Mark is an idiot. I can't believe they had to instill a Date and Tell Policy. I mean, how childish."

"Yeah, I don't know," he said, not paying attention.

"Derek!"

"What," he asked, picking a bottle from the shelf and looking it over. It had to be perfect.

"What did you do," she asked.

"Huh?"

"You did something . . . something bad. Now, tell me what it is or I won't stop Mom the next time she threatens to book a flight to Seattle."

"How many times has she done that," Derek asked, curiously. He missed his Mom.

"Only twice a day, every day, since I told here where you're at."

"Oh," Derek said, placing the bottle back on the shelf. "Now probably isn't a good time," he said.

Emma sighed. "What did you do?"

"I was with Rose."

"Obviously, Derek," she said, "you two are dating. What does that have to do with . . . oh my god, you ass. You slept with her? You know, Derek, for a Brain Surgeon, you're pretty damn brainless sometimes. I actually worry that you cut people's heads open and take sharp objects to their brain."

"Stop it, Emma," he said irritated, "it didn't mean anything."

"Like the kiss," she prompted. "Please tell me that you used protection," Emma said, nearly pleading.

"Yes," Derek said, picking up another bottle. He had no idea what he was going to do about it. He had thought about Meredith the entire time. Meredith . . . he really missed her. He missed her despite the fact they had been working closely together and seeing each other everyday. He missed touching her. He missed the way her eyes sparked. He missed her laughed. He couldn't remember the last time he heard her laugh.

He found a bottle that would work . . . it was perfect. He took his purchase to the register.

"Did you find everything you were looking for," the cashier asked.

"Yes, thank you," Derek replied, pulling his wallet out of his back pocket with his free hand.

"Where are you," Emma asked.

"The liquor store."

Emma sighed. "And what are you doing at the liquor store?"

"Buying champagne," Derek said, with a smile on his face. "Victory Champagne."

"What are you celebrating?"

"Nothing, yet," he answered, pulling out his credit card, "but as soon as Meredith and I save our first clinical trial patient . . . we're going to celebrate." He took his card back and stuffed his wallet back into his pocket.

He decided he should call Emma more, because she called him on his crap and he didn't get mad at her for it.

"How's Mark doing?"

"I haven't seen him much today," Derek confessed. "He was alright yesterday though. I think he's still at the hospital."

"Um. . ."

"What?"

"I just got an email from Mom," Emma said. "She wants all of us to go to Seattle to see you. You know, if you just called her, like once a week, things like this wouldn't happen. None of them are talking to Mark, you know."

Derek sighed. "Yeah, I know."

"It's stupid," Emma said, "but Nancy came back and started repeating everything you said . . . anyway, they're all mad at the both of them. I talked to Addison the other day."

"Yeah? She was in Seattle a week or two back."

"She said," Emma laughed, "she's dating a cop."

"Are you okay with that?"

"We talked it over," Emma said. "I'm always going to be concerned that what happened to Miles will happen to this guy that Addie's with. Kevin. His name is Kevin. But, he seems to have a good head on his shoulders and Addie has Naomi and Sam."

Derek nodded. "I'm glad she's happy."

"You need to talk to Meredith."

Derek sighed, placing the bottle on the floor in the back. "I will. I'm on my way now. We lost are latest patient after I left."

"Was there anyway to prevent it?"

"I won't know for sure until I look over the labs. You should see her, Emma, she's brilliant. She did the research for this all by herself and even though she didn't want to talk to me, she trusted me enough to help her see this through."

Emma smiled. "See, there's still hope. Don't make me come out there, Derek. I'm really busy."

"Erica Hahn's a wonderful surgeon," Derek teased, "I'm sure I could talk her into finishing your Fellowship."

"Shut it, Big Brother, I have enough going on without moving across the country. Promise me you'll fix this and call Mom and I'll do my best to keep her on this side of the Mississippi River."

"It's a deal. Alright, I'm going to go. Thanks for talking with me."

"Anytime, Big Brother, anytime. I think Abby woke up. I'll talk to you later."

"Kiss her good night for me," Derek said, thinking of his niece.

"Yeah, yeah, go be with her, Derek, it's hard losing a patient but I imagine this is a little worse."

"Yeah, alright, miss you already."

"Shut it, Big Brother. Gotta go."

"Bye."

"Bye."

Derek disconnected the phone and turned the ignition. It was time to talk to Meredith.

Author's Note: I've used the name Emma once or twice for Derek's sister before. I like the idea of Derek's family and hope they make it out to Seattle soon. He has Mark, but I think he needs more than that. Anyway, I hope you liked it.