Meredith yawned. She was so tired, she wanted to collapse tight on the spot were she was standing. She had been working a 48 hour shift and it was finally over. She sighed loudly and stuck her patients chart under her arm.

"Are you okay?" asked a concerned voice.

Meredith nodded and never bothered turning around she didn't want to see the man of her dreams standing behind her. She didn't need his concern because he had a wife and forgot to tell her. They had been practically living together but it still seemed to slip his mind to tell her about Addison. She was still raging and every time she saw either one of them she wanted to cry.

"Meredith…"

"Please Derek…Don't" whispered Meredith.

She didn't have the energy to argue. She just wanted to go to sleep and forget about Derek and Addison forever.

"I just want to make sure you're okay."

Derek leaned across and touched Meredith's arm gently. Meredith felt his arm on hers and she flinched. She didn't know whether to pull away or let him comfort her.

"No Derek, I'm not okay. You have a wife that you forgot to mention and even though I have Finn, he's…he's not you."

Tears were threatening to fall from Meredith's eyes. Derek tried to clear the lump in his throat by coughing which failed miserably. He couldn't breakdown in front of her. He looked at Meredith. She was so beautiful with her big eyes and long brown hair. She looked exhausted and her eyes swollen because of all the crying. Meredith could feel him staring at her. She knew she looked a mess, she hadn't slept in days and she had given up trying to dry her eyes. Forgetting about Addison or the fact that Meredith was still angry with him Derek wrapped his arms around her. Meredith couldn't fight any longer all she wanted was to be in Derek's arms and have him whispering comforting words in her ear. She relaxed in his arms, leaning her head against his chest. Derek smiled; he knew he had made the right choice to comfort her. Meredith knew that Derek had to go back to Addison and that she had to go back to Finn but for the moment she stayed snuggled in his arms. Derek felt Meredith's breathing calm down and he kissed her forehead. He hated her being upset, worse if it was him who made her cry. He wanted to stay here comforting her forever. She gazed up at him and couldn't stop herself from saying what she really felt,

"I love you Derek."

Before Derek could reply Meredith had turned and ran down the corridor of the hospital. Derek stood stunned. He had just been told the most important thing in his life. She loved him…she loved him. That's all Derek could think about as he walked down the corridor towards the chief's office. His thoughts were interrupted suddenly by a scream from the chief.

"What do you mean there's a fire in the surgical unit!"