Chapter 9.

Derek walked through the door to find Izzie and Meredith staring at Shauna's back, noticing a large red mark on her back. ''What the Hell is that??'' He asked. Shauna jumped and turned around to see Derek's face. She couldn't tell if it was filled with shock, disgust or just plain disappointment.

''I..it's a tattoo..'' She told him, hoping on some level he wouldn't freak out.

''I can see that!! Where the Hell did you get it done?''

''A...a tattoo parlour across town.'' Shauna told him, taking a few steps back.

''And how exactly did you manage- Wait, you didn't use that $200 for this did you?''

''No..'' Shauna lied. ''I got the money from...a friend.''

''All your friends are in California.''

''My friend Katie lives with her aunty across town.''

''Really? And where about would that be??''

Shauna looked down at her feet. ''Above the tattoo parlour.''

''Great. Just wonderful. You know what? Just...just go. Go to your room.'' Derek told her, and she fled up the stairs, slamming the door behind her.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shauna slammed the back door shut, and violently dumped her back onto the table. She sighed loudly, and sat down on a stool, watching Izzy decorate the thrid batch of muffins she had made. ''He's not home you know. Der- Your dad, he got paged again.''

''Oh..'' Shauna replied. She liked Izzy, becuase she could talk to her like a sister, or a friend, rather than one of her Dad's colleagues. ''I don't see why me getting a tattoo was such a big deal. My mom didn't mind when i got my ankle done.''

Izzy handed her a tub of smarties to help decorate with. ''It's because he cares about you, he's just trying to make up for lost time. You have to give him a chance to get used to this.'' The room fell into silence for a few minutes. ''So, what is that tattoo on your back supposed to be?''

''It's a Heartagram. You know, like the H.I.M. sign?'' Izzy shook her head. ''Nevermind. I have a skull on my ankle though, it's pretty cool, i got it when i was 13.''

''Seriously?''

''Seriously..''

''Oh great, you've got her hooked on the whole 'seriously' catchphrase'' Meredith moaned, as she walked in from finishing her shift. ''Next you'll be getting her hooked on the Mcnaming things. How was your day?''

''Ok i suppose,'' Shauna said, taking a biteful of a muffin.''There's this guy in my class that has to sit next to me, he's soo hot!''

''McHot with the blonde hair?'' Izzy asked her.

''Oh yeah!''

''Seriously? We're you two seperated at birth?'' Meredith grabbed a muffin and sat down next to them. A few minutes later, Derek also returned from the hospital. As soon as Shauna saw Derek, she put her muffin down and left the room.

''Is she ever going to talk to me again?'' He asked Izzy and Meredith. The two women looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders.

''You might have to go and make the effort.'' Meredith told him. Derek sighed, and slowly walked up the stairs to Shauna's bedroom.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

''Hi,'' Derek said, as he popped his head around the door. ''Can i come in?''

''Tracey, i'm gonna have to call you back..'' Shauna said, ignoring her Father. She hung up the phone and fumbled with her pillowcase.

''Look, i'm sorry for shouting at you. We were both in the wrong. You should have asked permission first-''

''My mother has let me have tattoo's before, why can't you?'' She yelled.

''I'm not your mother, i will actually take care of you!''

''Good job of that. You're never here. Work is always more important.''

''That is not true. You are the most important thing in my life, so is Meredith, and her friends. We are a family. All of us, maybe not blood-related when it comes to some people, but i like to think that if you have a problem you don't have just me to go to. There's Izzy, and George, and Alex, and Meredith and-''

''My only problem is that you, all of you are continously at work. The last time i saw you was three days ago. How pathetic is that?'' She turned her back to him, so that he wouldn't notice her tears.

''Look, i'm sorry you feel that way, but i can't just gove up my job.'' Derek paused, trying to think a way around their problem. ''Listen, i'm on call on Friday night, why don't you invite a few friends around?''

Shauna wiped the tears from her eyes, and asked quietly. ''Can we orer pizza's?''

''Sure'' Derek laughed. He gave her a hug, and headed back downstairs. Shauna waited a few minutes before phoning her friend back.

''Tracey? It worked a treat...''

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well Supershipper and f4fan90 were right! It was a tattoo, and if you can guess that, you can prolly guess what's coming up next right! Right? Hehehehe, so funneh...R&R