Chapter 10

A/N: I've been thinking about all the reviews you've given me, about your opinions. I am trying to make this story fit with what it seems most of you want, but I'm also keeping my ideas in there too. Not all of you will be happy with what I have done this chapter, but I think some of you will. No way to please everyone, but enjoy anyway. Love you guys!

Meredith and Alex were still unsure of what was happening. Everyone had noticed the changes occurring between them. From the fact that they were no longer denying any rumors going around to how they no longer seemed as comfortable around each other. No one knew what it meant; not even them. But even Alex and Meredith had realised that things were different. Neither had said or done anything about it until Cristina brought it up.

"So, are you two in a fight or something? Because I am the grumpiest bitch in this place and the two of you have managed to bring the mood down even more than me."

They looked at each other, trying to have a quick conversation through the act of doing so to figure out what to say. Panicking, Alex spoke before Meredith had the chance. "There's nothing wrong. Besides, no one could ever bring the mood down more than you Yang."

Cristina rolled her eyes and continued poking at her salad, clearly no more interested in it than they were talking about whatever was going on. She had just gotten removed from a big cardio case so she was in a bad mod. They knew they needed to talk about whatever this was, but they were both afraid of what it would do to their friendship. So they avoided it for the next week, until there was no longer an option to do so.

Meredith and Alex were both assigned to a major neuro case, and were waiting for the results of the MRI to appear on the screen when Derek decided to talk; and not about the case. "You know, for interns who are always together, you sure don't talk much when you are around other people."

They looked at each other, and just as Alex was about to tell him to mind his own damn business, the results showed up. Derek leaned forward to get a closer look. "Subdural bleed, and a large one. We need to get in there before it gets any worse." He said, examining the scan.

"Dr. Grey, get Mr. Johansson to pre-op and let OR 1 know we're coming."

Without saying anything, Meredith left the small room to complete her orders. Just as Alex was about to follow her out, Derek stopped him. "A word, Dr. Karev…"

Alex sighed, but stayed. "Yes Dr. Shepard?" He wasn't really interested in anything Derek would throw at him today. He was already in a bit of a mood this morning, and Shepard would probably just make it worse.

"I want you to know that I'm grateful you've been here for Meredith. She hasn't exactly had it easy, which is mostly my fault, and you have been an amazing friend to her."

Alex nodded awkwardly, unsure why Derek felt the need to not only say this, but say it now. As though Derek had read his mind, he answered those questions. "I just mean that after everything I've done to her, I'm glad you're here for her. It appears you have a soft spot for Meredith, despite the anger you have towards almost everyone else. And I want you to know…" he trailed off and Alex was trying to guess what he was going to say, but he figured anything he came up with was wrong. When Derek continued, Alex had a hard time keeping his jaw from dropping. "You two are good together. And whether you see it or not, there is something between you guys. As much as I hate to admit it, I think that's why I said what I did, that day in the stairwell. You two stuck together when everyone else was against you. I think that when she moves on – if she hasn't already – I would feel comfortable knowing it was with you. You haven't had the best reputation around here, but something good in you comes out whenever she's around. I like that about you"

The look on Alex's face told Derek that he had said something he probably shouldn't have said. Rushing to fix it, he added "Just so you know that I wouldn't be mad if anything was going on with you and Meredith. Even though you said you were just friends." With that, Derek fled from the room.

Yup. He was definitely wrong.

During surgery, things were awkward for Derek and Alex. Meredith however, was totally oblivious to the fact that the guys kept exchanging odd glances – at least Alex hoped she was. Being interns, they didn't do much of anything in a neurological surgery unless you were Shepard's favourite or there was a different neuro surgeon. It wasn't like in cardio or general when the could close or hold clamps or even be able to perform a minor part of the procedure. It was too risky. They mainly just observed, which also meant they had nothing to distract them.

By the end of the surgery, Mr. Johansson had pulled through and would have a successful recovery. As Meredith and Alex were scrubbing out, he had a difficult time meeting her gaze. He couldn't stop thinking about what Derek said earlier. There wasn't anything going on with Meredith, but even Derek saw something. Then again, there was something different between them that they didn't recognize, which made things tense, and that was probably what he saw. But that didn't mean it was what he thought it was. Because it wasn't.

"ALEX!"

He whipped his head to look at her. Obviously, Meredith had been talking to him while he was lost in thought. "What?"

Meredith rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed that she had to repeat herself – and not necessarily for the first time. "I asked why you and Derek were so weird during the surgery. You both kept giving each other weird looks and wouldn't say a word to each other."

Alex nodded, not at all surprised that she had caught on to that. It was odd for Derek not to ask questions to test them. He thought he was being pretty discreet, but Shepard certainly wasn't. He couldn't help himself from glancing at the older man – who was still in the OR - wondering what he possibly could have been thinking when he said what he did earlier. Him and Meredith? The more people asked or talked about them the more annoyed he became. There was nothing going on, and he didn't know why people thought there was. Just because they were together a lot didn't mean anything. They were friends; JUST friends. And people needed to accept that.

But still, he couldn't help but wonder.

"Nothing. Just had a lot on my mind." He hoped he sounded convincing, but the look on Meredith's face told him she knew he was lying. "Something to do with Derek? Because otherwise I can't come up with a reason as to why you kept looking at him. And may I also point out that he happened to be looking at you too. Was there a lot on his mind?"

Alex didn't know what to say at this point. Meredith had caught him in a lie and he was not about to tell her what was really going on. Because then she'd want to know what Derek said and that simply was not a good idea. She would freak out more than him.

"Well?"

Opening his mouth to speak, though he didn't know what he would say, Alex was cut off by Derek coming in to the scrub room. Neither of them knew what he had been doing for so long after the surgery, but Alex was thankful he came out when he did. Giving them an odd look, Derek began to scrub out of the surgery.

His presence did not make Meredith want to drop this though. She brought her attention back to Alex and gave him a stern expression. "I'm sorry Mer. I don't have an answer." Technically he had told her the truth, because he really didn't know what to say. That just wasn't the whole truth.

Looking incredibly annoyed and having scrubbed out already, Meredith left the room. Alex groaned and ran his hands through his hair – he had scrubbed out too. Derek glanced over at him and Alex looked away. "I'm sorry, Karev. I shouldn't have said that earlier. I'm assuming that was probably something to do with me. I should have kept my mouth shut, I just- "

"Stop. I don't need to hear it. I need to fix what just happened and I doubt I will be able to do that without telling her the truth."

Not giving him a chance to answer, Alex left the scrub room with a head full of thoughts. He needed to tell Meredith something, give her some sort of explanation. The problem was she could almost always tell when he was lying, and there was no way he could tell her the truth. If she knew what Derek said it would make things even worse; hell, it already had. Regardless of what he would tell her, Alex knew he had to tell her something. He just didn't know what.

A/N: Thanks for reading. You guys seem to like the story so far. Reviews are appreciated so I can try and add in some of what you are looking for. I'll add a new chapter soon. Xx -S