Disclaimer in chapter 1

Author's notes--

Special thanks to everyone who left a review, and even if you didn't leave a review, I thank you for taking the time to look at my very first fan fic. I would have updated sooner, but I accidentally erased the file and had to write the whole thing over again.

Chapter 2

Rose drummed her fingers along the steering wheel to the beat of the song that came through the speakers. She was surprised when Derek had abruptly asked her out to dinner, but graciously accepted. They had left the hospital together, taking her car, a beat up old sedan, and were driving on the interstate to their destination.

"So, where are we going?" Derek smiled from the passenger seat.

"It's a surprise," Rose teased.

Derek had let her pick the restaurant. It was his way of finding out what kind of food she liked. All he knew about her was that she was a scrub nurse, who ate a lot of candy, went to a party school, and was engaged a year ago, but broke it off. He didn't even know her last name. She on the other hand, seemed to know a lot about him, right down to the number of surgeries they performed together.

"We're here." Rose pulled the car into a roughly paved parking lot. Finding a space as closest to the entrance as she could, Rose shifted the car into park, and climbed out. Derek followed her lead.

"Which is where?" He asked.

"It's my favorite place. Come on." Rose grabbed Derek's hand and pulled him inside.

The restaurant was crowded, but not too crowded. There were people everywhere, but they were spread out in little groups, each talking amongst themselves. Derek and Rose made their way to the bar after giving their name to the hostess. He ordered a scotch, single malt, while she ordered something fruity.

Derek was on his second drink when the hostess finally called their names and led them to their to their seats in the middle of the restaurant.

Derek smiled, and took his seat across from her. He couldn't figure out what kind of restaurant it was from the menu. There was an interesting mix of foods on it, ranging from Italian, to Greek, to Chinese. He picked something simple and ordered another scotch, while Rose ordered what she wanted and a glass of wine.

"So..." Derek smiled again.

"So..." She repeated.

"You went to Santa Cruz?"

"Yup. And you called it a party school."

"I might have said that, but you did learn something there. Enough to save a man's life."

Rose shrugged. "I connected a wire. Or you connected a wire. I just showed you where it went."

"But you still saved a man's life. Without you showing me where to connect the wire, he would have died. Can't you just take the compliment."

"I'm just flawed that way."

"You've said that before. I think it's nice to know ones flaws and limitations and to admit them to one's self."

"So what are your flaws, Dr. Shepard?"

"Call me Derek. Were friends right. Friends call each other by their first names."

"Okay Derek, what are your flaws."

"Well, like most surgeons, I have no flaws," Derek joked. "I'm as perfect as perfect can be."

Rose laughed. "And conceded as can be?"

"No, you must be thinking of Mark," he retorted.

They both laughed, but it led to an awkward silence.

Derek tapped his fork rhythmic against the table. He wracked his brain for something to talk about, anything, but he drew a complete blank. He never had this problem with Meredith.

"So... Do you like ferryboats?" He abruptly spoke.

"What?"

"Do you like ferryboats?" Derek repeated his question.

"I absolutely hate them. I get sea sick awfully fast and avoid riding them at all costs. I will drive to a bridge just to avoid them..."

Derek frowned. How can she not like ferryboats? They were safe, and reliable.

"I mean look what happen during the crash..."

"The crash from a couple months ago wasn't the ferry's fault, it was the container ships," Derek thought to himself. "It was the day I spent an hour breathing for her..." Derek pushed that thought far from his mind.

"Why do you ask?" Rose asked interrupting Derek's thoughts.

"Just wondering..." Derek forced himself to smile.

The waiter returned and set down the appropriate plates down in front of the two. Derek had a grilled chicken salad, while Rose had something fried, covered in cheese. Derek was now convinced that she never ate anything that resembled real healthy food. She on the other hand, didn't hesitate to dig right in.

"You have a healthy appetite," He teased.

"I'm just hungry. I have a fast metabolism." Rose said.

Rose continued to shovel her food, until she noticed that Derek was staring at her.

"What?"

"On your face..." On the corner of her mouth hung a piece of cheese. He motioned towards the spot, but Rose kept missing it with her napkin.

Derek reached over the table with his napkin and attempted to wipe it off, but his elbow bumped the glass of wine onto her lap.

Rose abruptly jumped up in surprise. The liquid began to seep into her clothing, but she knocked her chair into a waiter, who was trying get past at that very moment with a tray full of food. The waiter fell backwards onto the floor, but the tray he carried flew forward all over Rose.

Rose stood there in shock.

"Oh my god. Are you okay? I'm so, so sorry. It's my fault. It's my first day. Please don't yell. I'm sorry. Let me help you clean that up." The Waiter jumped up quickly. He began to picking food off of her.

Derek stood up and used his napkin to wipe food off of her also.

"I'm sorry, sorry, sorry. I'm gonna get fired. Its my first day. I need to pay for school and rent. I'm just so clumsy. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. I'm so sorry. Sorry. Sorry..." The Waiter stammered on.

Rose groaned loudly. There were noodles everywhere. They were in her pocket, in her hair, and in her bra. She could even feel them slide downward into her slacks. She was even convinced that there were noodles in her socks. And the marinara sauce would never come out of her new white blouse.

"Let me help you..." The waiter rushed to grabbed a napkin off the table. In his haste he also grabbed a handful of tablecloth, which pulled all the plates, utensils and everything else off the table. Each item hit the floor with a loud crash. Everyone in the restaurant turned to see what the commotion was.

"Oh my god. I'm so sorry. Crap..."

The waiter glanced around. All eyes were on him, watching his every move, staring and scrutinizing. He began to feel light headed and began to shake uncontrollably, his skin flushed and he began to gasp for air.

Derek grabbed the waiter by the arm and led him to a chair. He crouched down and put his hand on the young man's shoulder. "Breath. Slow, even breaths."

The young man nodded, but continued to shake.

"Breath. Slowly. Breath." He said soothingly.

"What the hell is going on here? Marcus what did you do?" A big man in an expensive suit stomped towards the table.

"Don't yell at him. Let him calm down for a bit." Derek snapped.

"I'm the owner. Who are you?" The man growled.

"I'm a doctor, he's having a panic attack, and a friend of the woman he split the tray on. It was an accident. Just give him a few minutes. My friend isn't mad, right Rose?" Derek said.

"Yeah. Not really." Rose replied unenthusiastically.

The Owner glared at Marcus, then turned to Rose smiling politely. "I'm sorry, about any inconvenience this may have caused. And you can have anything on the menu free of charge. And please, ma'am send us the cleaning bill. "

"Relax." Derek turned back to Marcus. "Do you need to go to the hospital?"

Marcus shook his head. "I can't afford it anyway..."

"Okay. Go outside. Get yourself some air. Relax. The symptoms will subside." Derek pulled a card out of his wallet and handed it to Marcus. "Take this, my card. If the symptoms come back or get worse call me. I'll prescribe something for you. Okay?"

"Thanks..." Marcus nodded. He rose from his chair and headed outside the restaurant as the doctor ordered. The Owner followed.

Derek sat back down and watched Rose. She looked absolutely miserable.

"Well..." Derek began.

"So much for dinner. Let's just go back to my place." Rose interrupted. "I need a shower."

"Okay. Let's go."