Chapter 9 – I'm a very good friend
Meredith spun around on the bar stool, and her eyes met his deep, mesmerizing blue pools at once.
'It doesn't call, it doesn't write, it's not nearly as much fun to wake up to…'
'Dr Shepherd...'
'It's Derek, especially away from the hospital...Meredith?'
'Ok Derek and I'll have you know tequila is incredibly medicinal'
'Oh really...said who...'
'Me...I'm living proof...' she replied, with sadness in her voice
He heard the change in tone as he sat himself down on the stool next to her and called Joe over
'Tequila though, really? You're going to be sorry in the morning!'
'Hey Dr Shepherd, good to see you again, usual?' Joe interrupted
'Yeah thanks Joe, make it a double please'
'Coming right up double single malt scotch'
'Double single malt scotch, that's no good for you' Meredith mimicked at the side of the bar. 'It doesn't call, it doesn't write…
'I'll have you know scotch is incredibly medicinal'
'Oh really...said who...'
'Me...I'm living proof...' he sighed.
'Oh' Meredith looked up and let her eyes meet his again, a few minutes passed, and nothing was said, was he hurting too?
'So what's your story? Derek asked as he took the first sip of the amber liquor in front of him and broke the silence
'Story? I don't have a story' Meredith responded as she threw her tequila back in one 'I'm just a girl in a bar...' she placed the glass back on the bar as Joe arrived to refill her,
'Last one then I'm cutting you off. Doctors orders.' he said apologetically
'Urgh Cristina!' Meredith cried as she sipped at the new tequila in front of her 'better make it last then'
'So what's your story Dr Shepherd...Derek?'
'I don't have a story...I'm just a guy in a bar!'
Meredith watched as he ran his fingers through his dark hair, as he replied and again she could see the hurt and pain on his face, he definitely had a story to tell, but she wouldn't push it, she had one too and she wasn't willing to share hers, so she wouldn't force him.
'Do you want some nachos, they are just sitting her going cold, I've had enough, and Cristina said I need to eat, but it's silly to eat if you're not hungry right? So they are just sitting here waiting to be ate, have you eaten? You should definitely eat some? They are just going to waste...'
'Whoa, what was that? He asked, as he took another sip of his drink
'What?'
'That, the 100 words a second, the ramble...wow!'
Meredith felt her cheeks blush over 'sorry' and she let her head fall down onto her chest
'Hey don't be sorry I was just fooling around, it's adorable actually, the ramble and yes id love some nachos, thank you. I haven't eaten since lunch'
'I had a big lunch; I'm still full...so here, please, help yourself'
Derek looked up in surprise, he had definitely seen Meredith at lunch, and not one bite of food had passed her lips, but he couldn't tell her that, she would think he was stalking her or something...but he couldn't help but think how hard she had worked today, how empty her stomach must be...It wasn't his place to say anything more, not at the moment at least so he reached over for the plate took a handful before passing the plate to Meredith to offer her more.
'Oh no thanks, I've had enough, I'm done!'
He didn't say anything as he tucked in, but he made a mental note to himself to make sure she ate breakfast the next time they shared a shift, she was tiny, too tiny but he couldn't help but think there was a justifiable reason for it, he just wished he knew what
Meredith and Derek sat for another few minutes chatting and talking about the hospital, obviously both avoiding any kind of personal conversation, always bringing the chat back to the hospital and in particular Meredith's love of neuro and before they knew it Joe was coming over to tell them it was kicking out time
'Already' they said at the same time.
'Yeah its gone 12, I left you as long as I could, sorry guys'
'No worries Joe we will be out of your way in 2 minutes'
'That's great, thanks, and I am sorry to ruin your fun Dr Shepherd, especially so soon after... Derek looked up with a start, almost pleading with Joe to stop talking, a look that didn't go unnoticed by Meredith but she let it pass for now, but made a promise to herself to ask cristina, or even better to ask chatty Alex what was going on. 'It's just good to see you happy again...'
Derek walked Meredith to a waiting taxi cab outside of Joes. 'Would you like to share it? You could get it to continue onto your place?' Meredith asked.
'no its fine, I live far out I'll just go crash at the hospital tonight, I've got to be there early anyway, this way I can grab a few extra minutes asleep'
'Oh ok, well if you are sure, thanks, for tonight, thanks I needed a friend and some company...so thanks'. Meredith spoke softly and Derek could tell she genuinely meant it
'My pleasure' he said as he opened the car door for Meredith to slip in.
'I know you have Yang and Karev, but, I could be your friend Meredith, we could be friends...'
As he closed the door, their eyes met through the glass and Derek felt an ache in his heart that took him by surprise as the taxi started to pull away. And from inside the taxi cab Meredith looked behind at her at the tall dark figure she was pulling away from
'Friends' she whispered to herself...
