A/N: I couldn't wait to share this chapter with you all! Thank you once again for the continued support :)


When Derek had arrived home he had found Mark's car still in the driveway. Inside Addison was curled up on the sofa with a glass of wine in her hand, her legs draped over Mark who was sitting at the end of the sofa with a beer in his hand.

"Ah, he's alive!" Addison exclaimed as Derek entered the room, lifting her wine glass up above her head as a salute.

"This is very cosy," Derek replied, gesturing at the pair of them. "Hope I'm not disturbing anything."

"Mark was just keeping me company until you arrived back," Addison replied, sitting up and stretching. "It's four hours after your shift!"

"Yeah, well I had things to do," Derek replied, going through to the kitchen and lifting himself a beer out of the fridge. "Sorry."

"Well now that he has returned, I'll be off," Mark said, standing up and putting his coat on.

"How much have you had to drink?" Derek asked, returning from the kitchen. "Should you be driving?"

"I just had a few sips," Mark replied, shaking his half full bottle of beer in Derek's face. "I'll be fine."

Derek nodded and Mark took this as his signal to leave. He waved at the pair of them and left the house.

"So what things did you have to do?" Addison asked.

"I was behind with some paperwork," Derek replied. "I'm sorry, I should have told you."

"It's alright, it happens," Addison replied, smiling and standing up. She kissed Derek on the cheek. "I'm going to bed, see you up there"

Derek said goodnight and continued to sip on his beer. He couldn't help but wish he was still at the hospital.


It was a week after Meredith Grey had been discharged from the hospital. Derek arrived in the hospital early for his shift, because today was the day Meredith was due back for a check-up. Addison had been amused as Derek had got up early, and had heard him singing in the shower. He had hummed all the way to work in the car, and had a slight spring in his step.

"What's got you in such a good mood?" Addison asked, as Derek locked the car and they walked into the hospital.

"Can't a man just be in a good mood without a reason? It's a beautiful day," he concluded. "I'm just happy."

Addison smiled at him. This happy Derek made a change from the Derek she had been living with for the past two weeks - he had been moody, and acting strangely: talking to himself and being snappy when she asked what was wrong. They kissed as they did every morning and went their separate ways to work. Derek got himself his usual cup of coffee and sauntered to the board to check how his surgeries looked for the day.

"Morning Derek," the Chief called as he walked past him. "How are you today?"

"I am very well thank you Chief," Derek replied. "Very well indeed."

Derek spotted Cristina at the other side of the corridor, deep in conversation with her boyfriend Preston Burke. He walked towards her. "Dr Yang!" he called. Burke said goodbye and headed off. Cristina turned to face Derek. "Dr Shepherd?"

"Meredith Grey is due for a check up today, is that correct?" Derek asked, trying to sound casual.

Cristina nodded slowly. "That is correct, Dr Shepherd."

"When she arrives, page me. I'd like to do the consult myself if that's alright." Derek said.

"You're the boss," Cristina replied. "I'll page you when she arrives."

"Thank you, Dr Yang. Would you like to scrub in in another surgery with me today?" he asked.

Cristina's face lit up. "I'm already doing one with Burke, but if it's at a different time then yes please! Oh, two surgeries in one day - the others are going to be SO jealous…" she laughed to herself as she headed off.


"Everything is looking good here," Derek said to his patient, nodding his head as he finished reading the notes. He set them down as he felt his pager vibrate "Dr Stevens will be around shortly to discharge you".

As he left the room he looked at his pager and noticed it was Cristina. He slowed as he approached the intern as he saw her talking to Meredith. Cristina was telling Meredith something and she was listening intently, smiling and nodding. As he got closer to the two women Meredith noticed him first, and her smile widened as she looked up at him. The pang in his stomach returned as he remembered what her smile could do to him. As he reached them he held out his hand to Meredith.

"Hello, Meredith." he said, shaking it. She smiled directly at him.

"Good morning, Dr Shepherd. Where do you want me?" she asked.

Derek pointed towards an empty consult room and he followed her there, picking up her chart on the way. He closed the door and indicated to Meredith that she should sit on the bed. He studied the chart and as he did he said, "so no Finn today?"

Meredith shook her head. "He had vet stuff to do. Did I mention, he runs his own vet surgery?"

Derek laughed. "No, you didn't. That's very impressive. So, any headaches, black-outs, seizures the past week?"

"Nope, nothing at all. I've been feeling fine." Meredith replied. "Thanks to you!"

"I like your hair by the way." Derek added.

She had picked out a wig that was almost exactly like her old style.

Meredith flicked it mockingly and laughed. "Thank you. I meant to say, I liked your cap when you were performing my surgery."

"I have a thing for ferry boats," Derek said, almost proudly, his eyes twinkling. "One of the reasons I moved here."

Meredith laughed again. "You didn't mention that the other night…" she said.

"Didn't I?" Derek asked, remembering the night. They had discussed so much it all blurred into one. He removed a torch from his pocket. "Ok, can you close your right eye please, and I'm just going to rest my hand on your forehead, is that alright?"

"Yup," Meredith replied, nodding. Derek placed his hand carefully on her forehead, his skin tingling as it touched hers. He shone the light into her left eye and then repeated it for the right. His face was so close to hers, if he just leaned in slightly he could kiss her. At that thought he pulled away. She was a patient, he couldn't think these thoughts about her. He then took her temperature and checked her blood pressure.

"Well, I'm pleased to say everything looks great." Derek said, standing up. Meredith also stood up.

"Well, I'm very pleased to hear that!" Meredith replied. "So, will I need to come back for any more check ups?"

Derek shook his head. "We'll need you back at 6 months post surgery, but until then - unless you suffer any symptoms in the meantime, we'll not see you."

Derek noticed that Meredith looked slightly disappointed by this. A strand of her hair fell in front of her face again and he felt compelled to brush it away, as she didn't touch it. He reached out and gently brushed it away. She looked up at him expectantly. Derek felt like there were voices in his head chanting "kiss her, kiss her, kiss her". They were so close, he just had to lean down and their lips would be touching. She put a hand on his face. "Thank you for everything, Dr Shepherd. You saved my life." She leaned up to kiss his cheek, but at the last minute he turned his face so she caught his lips. She pulled away embarrassed.

"Oh, I'm so sorry…" she mumbled.

"Are you?" he asked, looking intently at her.

She paused for a minute before shaking her head, and they both slowly leaned in. This time their lips met intentionally and something shot through Derek's body. He felt alive, like kissing her was the most important thing in the world. Her body sank into his and his hands moved from her face, down her back, pulling her closer to him. When they finally pulled apart neither spoke.

"That was wrong, on so many levels," Derek said breaking the silence. He noticed Meredith's face drop. "But so right in every way."

"I'm sorry, you're married, I'm engaged, you're my doctor… oh my god, I kissed my doctor. Oh, you could get in a lot of trouble, I'm so sorry." Meredith started pulling on her coat and picking up her belongings, obviously flustered. She headed towards the door.

"Meredith…" Derek called after her. She stopped and turned round and both looked at each other for a split second, before Derek was pulling her towards him again, kissing her softly. He stopped when she pushed him away.

"We can't do this," she said, putting a hand on his chest to ensure he stayed away. "I love Finn, I barely know you. You're my doctor."

Derek sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry, but…"

Before he could finish his sentence Meredith had opened the door and she was looking at him, her eyes full of regret and confusion. She then turned and started to walk down the corridor. "Meredith, wait…"

She stopped in her tracks, sighing heavily and putting her hands in her pocket. She turned round to face him once again. Derek pulled a card from his pocket and extended his arm to give her it. "If you ever need me," he said, holding a hand up as she shook her head. "If you ever need me medically." She took the card, her fingers brushing with his as she did. She tucked it inside her bag and walked off as Derek stood watching her go. What had just happened?