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Beautiful Mess

Chapter 14: Better Days

Bailey watched as her chief of surgery zipped out of her physical therapy session and sped down the hall. She tried to contain her laughter as the man of the hour, Derek Shepherd, limped painfully out of the session room.

"Ran ya over didn't she?" Bailey asked, highly amused.

"Actually, she kissed me, then ran me over." He corrected, a scowl on his still very handsome face.

Bailey shook her head. "This isn't the way to get her back Shepherd. You know that. Forcing her to stay longer in physical therapy is not going to make her fall in love with you." She continued, falling into step next to him.

"Yeah? Well then tell me Bailey. What do I do?" He asked as they came to a stop while waiting for the elevator.

"Hey, I'm just calling it like I see it, I didn't say I knew how to fix it. That's on you. You're McDreamy." She pointed out as she got on and left him speechless as the doors closed.

IAN AND CLAIRE

Claire's breath caught in her throat as Ian's mouth came down on hers. His lips were warm and soft and she felt herself melting under his touch. His hands were on her hips, holding her to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pushing herself closer to him, if that was possible.

After several intense moments, he pulled back a bit. "That…. That was definitely worth coming over for." He whispered softly after a few seconds.

She laughed at his light hearted comment.

"So we're kissing now?" She asked, pulling herself together and trying to put some distance between them.

"Yes, yes we are. And soon, we may even be dating!" He exclaimed sarcastically.

If there were ever two people who more like their respective fathers, it'd be them.

"Dating huh? Seriously? You wanna date the product of a Grey and a Shepherd?" She asked teasingly.

"Sure. It'll make things interesting. If I wanted a boring girlfriend, I'd date George's daughter." He shot back jokingly.

George and Callie had one daughter, Lana, before they separated 3 years after they got married. Unfortunately, despite Callie's hand in the conception of the child, she was very much George's daughter.

"Be nice. She's a sweet girl. Painfully shy and socially inept, but still very sweet." Claire reminded him.

"Right, if she ever speaks." Ian he muttered, his father very much coming through.

"So does this mean you want to take me out again?" She asked coyly.

"If you'll let me." He returned with a slightly shy smile. Just like that, he slipped right back into the softer personality that was his mother's.

"That can be arranged." She said with a laugh. She glanced at the clock. "But now, I have to pick my mother up at therapy, so I'll talk to you later?" She asked.

He smiled. "I'll call? If that's OK?" He questioned. She smiled brightly at him. "I think I can deal with that." She quipped as he walked with her to the door.

His kissed her on the cheek. "See ya." He said and bounded down the steps to his car.

She couldn't keep the grin off her face as she drove to the hospital to retrieve her mother. She intentionally got there a little early, she wanted to speak with Derek about her mother's treatment… She'd stuck to calling him Derek because well… 'dad' didn't seem to fit just yet.

She found him sitting in the doctor's lounge drinking coffee and watching the news. She studied him for a minute, taking in the features that her mother had fallen in love with. He might've been 70, but his physique and looks, he could pass for 15 years younger. He kept himself in shape, that was obvious. But then, her mother had too. They did make a good looking pair, it was hard to deny that.

"Claire, you're staring at me." Derek said to his daughter, yanking her out of her daydream. She started and stepped into the room.

"Sorry. Lost in thought. How's mom?" She asked as she sat down across from him at the table.

He turned to face her. "She ran me over today." He said with a straight face.

"What?" She questioned, confused by his statement.

"With her wheelchair. She wanted to leave therapy. I wasn't done with her yet, so I blocked her chair. She kissed me to get me to let go of the chair, then ran over my foot." He elaborated.

She found herself choking back giggles. "I'm sorry, it's not funny, but you, you should know better than to try to stop my mother." She said through stifled giggles.

He nodded his agreement. "Good point. Otherwise, she's coming along well. At this rate, she'll be back behind her desk within 6 weeks." He reported.

She nodded, glad to hear that her mother was recovering well. Their relationship might be strained, but she wanted her mother well. Seeing her helpless…. It was like watching a puppy with three legs try to run… It was almost too painful to watch.

"Have you decided if you're going to stick around after that?" He asked softly. He knew she'd been deciding between staying and going, and he knew that she was somewhat touchy about it.

"Nope. Have you decided what you're to do about your feelings for my mother?" She shot back. She knew he'd been having issues with whether he should pursue it or let it be, and she knew HE was touchy about that.

"Touché. No one can't say you don't belong to me." He said with a laugh.

Both of them had been so wrapped up in their conversation that neither had noticed Meredith's presence in the doorway.

She knew Derek still cared about her and wanted the best for her, but to hear it being talked about, that was different, that meant she couldn't avoid it… That meant she now had to face it.

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