Somewhere Only We Know

By: TMG/Date: 8-25-05/Characters: Derek & Izzie

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I do not own these characters. This is done out of total fandom only. No infringement intended.

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CHAPTER THREE

INDESCRETIONS

The thrill of winning soon wore thin as Izzie and Derek stood facing one another. Hands in his pockets, while Izzie's gleaming smile faded, Derek suggested, "Wanna grab a seat?"

"Sure. Just what I had in mind…" Izzie paused as if to say something further but the words couldn't come out. In another life, she would have completely ignored guys like Derek whose good looks only spelled trouble; guys who obviously remained in the game playing the field. Yet, this was different. She bought into the act of his do-no-wrong image as much as Meredith. Izzie started to consider him a friend up until she realized his lies, and she had to know why he screwed up.

"So when did you get be a regular here?" Izzie asked simply, trying to make light of their circumstances as she found them a booth apart from the crowd.

Derek raised an eyebrow, "Why? Surprised to see me actually have a life?" He responded amid the noise of grunted cheers gathered by the sports bar, and toe-tapping heels of sorority girls hurrying in groups to the bathroom.

"No," Izzie began as they sat down, "Just trying to estimate the amount of playtime you've been getting between rounds." She paused and then looked up at the waitress who finally arrived, "Men. You can't change them, huh?" She laughed slightly as Derek looked away.

"Okay…I'll come back later." She responded softly before leaving the booth.

Turning up to Izzie, "Speak for yourself, you're not exactly innocent either." He shot back, voice hinted with amusement and begging for an argument. Derek was good for that.

"Uh-uh. This doesn't count for me, Dr.McDreamy. You're the one juggling a wife, a mistress, and god knows what else!"

"I prefer ex- wife!" Derek raised his voice but whether it was frustration or trying to get his point across, Izzie ignored it.

"You know if this were a side show? You'd be the main act, Derek. Besides, I thought you said the two of you were separated!" Izzie responded while leaning in; her hands gripped in fists.

"Spying is low. Honestly, I thought you had better ways of wasting your time." His words drew her to a halt, and in that moment, Derek regretted saying anything at all. He didn't want to take it out on her, and he should have known better. Emphasis on the "should", since it was all the woulda-coulda-shoulda that got him to that very point tonight.

Lucky for him, Bailey's rapid day to day verbal assaults made Izzie immune to most forms of insult; although his words didn't leave her feeling unscathed. "It's not the point. You betrayed Meredith in one of the worst possible ways."

"Yeah, about that, Izzie, when did you get to start to give damn?" Derek's voice piqued, as she stared him down.

" She's my friend. Simple as that." Izzie leaned back into her seat, continuing to look at him, searching for a reaction.

"C'mon, you expect me to believe that Meredith Grey is your best friend?"

"We live in the same house! I see her everyday and it's not just about clocking in, and doing work. She's opened her home to me."

"Doesn't matter, Izzie, she's still your competition. By the time the internship is almost finished, you'll begin to wonder how you two even started a conversation much less friendship." He had seen it all, best of friends turned enemies. It's a wonder Derek didn't lose faith at all in people. In fact, looking at Izzie it became clear to him that she was the only one, apart from Meredith, whom he'd spoken to for more than ten minutes where work wasn't concerned…well, kind of.

"Speaking from experience, are we?" She didn't buy his tough guy approach, and the fact he spoke to her like a child fueled her frustration. He didn't know her, and whether he was worthy of knowing her at all was in question. Originally, she looked up to him, and his successful surgeries. If he had ever been on a pedestal, tonight he was knocked right off of it. True, it took time to adjust to his relationship with Meredith, but she only supported it because Meredith seemed so happy. God, if anyone was going to get some and look happy in the house, might as well have been Meredith than none at all. Yet, tonight was confusing. He had come to her aid, and put on the charm; something that was really disarming and she could understand why Meredith cared so much for him. But the guilt of talking to the man who broke her friend's heart was difficult to ignore.

"No, Izzie. I'm speaking as a fact. Seattle Grace isn't the only hospital I've been in, okay? You think you know someone and over time that'll change and you'll come to a crossroads. Them or Work."

"Let me see, I don't have to guess which one you chose right?" she nodded slightly, as she released her hands from its tight fists; blood circulating, tingling up her arm, and drawing out a shiver. The beers had begun to hit her, and Izzie felt the calm that alcohol brings when it settles; a soothing wave that urged towards sleep…but not yet, not for Izzie. "Why aren't you the wise sage? Tell me does that kind of bitterness usually work?"

Slowly, Derek drew a sigh, "It's the truth, sooner or later it'll happen…." His voice turned low as his gaze fixed on Izzie, "I just wish someone had been as clear cut with me about it…life as a surgeon." Was he confiding in her a bit? The concept felt odd and surreal, as Derek took a moment, and shook his head.

"You're talking to the girl who worked as a pin-up model to survive and pay for med school! You don't have to tell me about crossroads and choices, Derek." Izzie looked past him and to an opened window where the dark streets began to sprinkle with rain, "But Meredith is not just a friend but my roommate, and what happens between you two does affects me." Bringing back her gaze, deep green eyes focused on his, Izzie held a deadpan expression, "I'm the one who's going to see her frustration when she picks up the pieces you left behind , and then bring hell on earth for us all in the house when she realizes you made her play the fool. Honestly? I seen enough of that in my life, okay? "

Silence. The presence of it was ironic but all the more intense as she held his gaze, piercing through the anger, and bringing out the guilt in him. Derek wasn't impervious to the gossip and small talk, hell his whole life at the moment was small talk! But he heard the whispers about her looks. Dr. Model they mumbled as she passed by, tearing a shred of her credibility; questioning her position as a surgical intern.

"How did a state school playmate wannabe make it as an intern at Seattle Grace? Is there a new quota, I don't know about?" Daniel Fennimore, newest attending and brazen chauvinist, joked repeatedly; Often enough to make Derek want to deck him.

Now, staring at her, Derek suddenly realized why she fought so hard about his relationship with Meredith.

"We're not just talking about Meredith anymore, are we?" he asked pointedly as the waitress made her way back to the booth; staring at Derek, who appeared awkward, looking across the table at Izzie. The waitress made a soft cough to get their attention.

Taking out a pad and pen from her side pocket, she prepared to write, "Um…you two ready to order?"

"Yeah," Izzie jumped first to speak; she turned and smiled up again, "Four shots of your best whisky. It's gonna be a long night."

(TO BE CONTINUED….IN CHAPTER FOUR)