[A/N: Many thanks for the kind comments. This is my first fic, and I'm glad it is being enjoyed. And as for the usual disclaimer, I have nothing to do with GA. Just royally ticked off over S3.

Cristina, Izzie and Alex walked Meredith across the parking lot.

Izzie reached for Meredith's purse. "Mer, where are your keys? You shouldn't be driving."

"I can't believe that sonofabitch!" Alex growled. "How in the hell could he do this?"

"Meredith?" Cristina stared at her person in concern. They were almost to the Jeep and Meredith hadn't spoken a word since exiting the building. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

The echo of rapid footsteps halted the group in their tracks. Alex, Cristina and Izzie looked at each other as Meredith stared blindly ahead. Alex and Cristina shared a look of understanding. "Izzie," Alex said. "Help me get Meredith to the Jeep."

"Give me the keys." Alex held out his hand to Izzie as he guided Meredith into the front passenger seat. Izzie climbed into the back seat.

"Alex, I'm fine. I can drive." Meredith murmured.

Alex ignored her protest. "Buckle up."

Meredith sighed as Alex closed her door and made his way around to the driver's side.

"Meredith." Meredith closed her eyes and fell back against the seat as Izzie laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. She wasn't in the mood for Izzie's words of hope, sunshine and happiness. She was tired. The numbness encasing her body earlier was starting to wear off. The pain seemed to radiate from her chest. Meredith wanted to crawl into a dark hole and hide.

"I'm fine Izzie…" Meredith turned to look out her window. Derek and Cristina were a few yards away. She was surprised to see Derek had followed them out of the bar.

Glancing over his shoulder as he started the car, Alex snorted as he spotted Derek and Cristina. "I almost pity Shepard."

Izzie watched Cristina's successful attempts at keeping Derek from reaching the car. "Shut up and drive Alex."

Cristina greeted the neurosurgeon, blocking the way as he moved to jog around her. "Don't move jackass."

"Dr. Yang, get out of my way," Derek stumbled as he came to a quick stop. Watching as Alex helped Meredith into the front passenger seat of her Jeep, he grimaced as Cristina roughly grabbed the front of his sweater. Her nose wrinkled at the strong smell of scotch wafting her way. She quickly released the handful of material. "God McDreamy, did you drink the place dry?"

Derek watched helplessly as Meredith's jeep left the parking lot. He knew he had to talk to her tonight.

Cristina shook her head in disgust. "How in the hell could you do that to her? After all the shit you put Meredith through this year, how-in-the-hell-could-you-do-that?" Her slim index finger forcibly jabbed Derek's chest in emphasis of each word.

Derek did his best to stay upright and survive the painful jabs. "I didn't do anything Dr. Yang."

"You didn't do anything? You're kidding right? You weren't sitting at the bar practically wearing that brunette?" Cristina turned sharply away from Derek and walked to the motorcycle parked a few cars away.

"Cristina," Derek yelled. "I had too much to drink, and nothing happened. I didn't do a god damn thing wrong."

"Keep telling yourself that Shepard," Cristina's motorcycle roared to life as she strapped on her helmet. The big bike rolled towards Derek, causing him to step backwards. It stopped, pinning Derek against a car. "I hope you realize that you've hurt Meredith for the last time." Cristina revved the engine. "Right now you're not my boss. Right now you are Meredith's drunken ass ex-boyfriend with a slutty bimbo on the side. You have hurt my person for the last time."

Derek frowned, trying to remember. "Bimbo…?"

The taillight of Cristina's bike blinked once as she exited the parking lot. She left Derek leaning against the car, running a tired hand down the length of his face as he groaned in frustration. All he wanted tonight was to sit, drink and think.

"Dr. Shepard…?"

Derek looked up into the concerned faces of Drs. George and Callie O'Malley.

"Are you okay, Dr. Shepard?"

With pain and regret, Derek slowly shook his head. "No, I'm not okay."