Sometimes Change Is Everything

Derek Shepperd sighed, running his hand through his dark curls. "Meredith I didn't mean to forget our plans tonight! It just things were crazy at the hospital. There were a lot of head traumas that came in with that car pile up on the interstate. There were so many surgeries and consults. I didn't realize what time it was. I'm sorry! He leaned in for a kiss, but she backed away, anger evident in her light green eyes.

"Derek! I'm sorry isn't gonna cut it this time! Today is our second anniversary for God sake! And you didn't even call to tell me that you weren't gonna make it to the restaurant? I felt so stupid sitting there waiting for you for over an hour and a half! The wait staff started giving me sympathetic glances after 30 minutes, but I wasn't ready to give up on you that easy! I thought you'd at least call! You're supposed to be my knight in shining whatever, and you told me you would always show up. What happened to that promise huh? As she said the last words her expression changed from one of rage to one of pain and sadness. Her voice cracked a little, and tears were flowing freely down her cheeks.

Many thoughts were floating around Derek's head, but he tried to keep his tone calm and soothing, "look baby I'm sorry. I really am! I don't know what else you want me to say, but you know how stressful work can be some days. It doesn't give you a lot of room to stop and think or even breathe. Sometimes it's like you're on autopilot, you know? Just so focused on what you need to do, or how you're gonna save a life that it's like the outside world doesn't exist?

She sighed exasperated. "Of course I do! I've felt like that many times, including today, with all the craziness of that accident; but I made a conscious effort not to get too lost in all the chaos because I had plans with you. There was more I could've and should've done, but I didn't! I got Izze and Christina to cover for me because you come first! Bailey will probably rip my head off if she finds out I left at the end of my shift, but I don't care!"

At the end of her speech he felt anger bubbling inside him, "well sometimes it's not that easy! I can't just get someone to cover for me!" His voice was loud and harsh now.

"I get that Derek. I know you have an expertise that no one else does. That's why you're a renowned neurosurgeon. Your talents amaze me! All I'm asking for is a little consideration and effort here! I don't want to end up the way my mom and dad did! With these words Meredith felt tears sting her eyes again.

This comparison shocked Derek. There was no way they'd end up like that! Their relationship was completely different, but he figured she wouldn't listen anyway, so he said nothing.

Meredith took a few deep breaths before speaking again, "I know work gets in the way of things a lot. That's one of the reasons I was really looking forward to tonight, because I was sure I'd get to spend some time alone with you."

He took a couple steps closer to her, gently taking her hands, "well we're alone now, he said raising his eyebrows hopefully with a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.

"Yeah good try Shepperd. I'm not in the mood! She stomped up to her bedroom pissed off. She couldn't believe him! He was trying to turn this fight into an opportunity to get lucky. Men were pigs. All of them!

Derek didn't even attempt to follow her. There was no pleasing her now. He decided to get out of there before he said or did something he would really regret. He'd take a drive to clear his head. He grabbed his car keys and left without a word. He barley noticed the rain pelting him as he stepped into his car. The rain was one thing that kind of bugged him about Seattle. Usually he found it depressing. It was something he just couldn't get used to, but tonight the gloomy weather matched his foul mood.

He wasn't really sure where he was going. He was on autopilot again, just seeing where the roads would lead him. He wasn't at all surprised to find himself at the pier. He always had a thing for ferryboats. Seattle had ferryboats. He smiled a little at this thought. It was one of the reasons why he loved it here. Of course there were no ferryboats out at this hour. There was only the water, which seemed dark against the backdrop of the night sky, crashing against the dock. It was a relaxing sound. Derek stretched and yawned as he got out of the car, finally realizing how tired he was. The rain had let up a little. It wasn't much more than a drizzle now. The air was crisp, but not too cold. He found it welcome and refreshing.

As he peered out at the water memories crept into his mind; like how beautiful Meredith was, even with no make up when her dirty blonde hair was pulled into a messy ponytail. Or the way she looked at him from across a room. She could say so much with her eyes. Then there was the way it felt when she kissed him. That though gave him goose bumps. It was an indescribable feeling, one that hadn't existed with his ex wife Addison. And how could he forget the way she crinkled her nose when he made her laugh really hard, or the sound of her laugh. He searched his mind and found that happy times with Meredith were few and far between lately.

"Oh God she was right!" he said to himself With this realization he began to remember darker times; like when she walked away after learning that he and Addison were married, or how much it hurt him to tell her to be with Finn because he was the better guy for her. These thoughts made his heart hurt. He couldn't lose her! He let a few tears escape from his blue-gray eyes. Then he vowed that he would do everything in his power to make his girlfriend the number one priority in his life! He glanced at his watch. It was 3:10 AM. She'd definitely be sleeping, but he needed to see her now. To tell her he'd been an idiot!

With that thought resonating mind in he sped towards Meredith's house. He was half way there when he hit a red light. A pair of headlights jolted him from his thoughts. They were coming straight for him at a good speed. He froze. A couple seconds later he felt the impact of the other car, the sound of grinding metal and breaking glass was unlike anything he'd ever heard before. It was deafening, and awful. Derek's head started to throb, and he was aware of blood trickling and spurting out of his body. He was breathing hard and his heart was racing. He tried to calm himself down so he could figure out a way to get help, but it was getting harder and harder to think. He felt nauseous and everything was spinning. Fade to black.