Ch 25
Mark entered the bar and headed for the table with four amused looking nurses, while noticing Joe's was unusually crowded for that night of the week.
"Having fun ladies?"
"Dr. Sloan… it's always a pleasure just watching you walk."
"All bark and no bite, Amy...?"
"There's plenty of bites… and nibbling… if… you're up to the challenge…"
"Just as I thought, no self control…so you brought reinforcements," he winked at the other 3 nurses, and all five of them laughed.
"You're lucky we're not supporting the NAMS club right now…and allowing us to join us."
"Tracy, you're just jealous you didn't agree to have drinks with me first."
"In your dreams," she teased with lighthearted banter.
"Well, we could arrange that…I've been known… "
"Oh, no," Steph interrupted, "look who is walking in and Dr. Grey is sitting at the other table."
"I don't know how Dr. Grey can remain so calm. I'd want to tear her hair out and wipe that smile off her face. That woman, just makes me son angry, she knew, we all did that Dr. Grey and Dr. Shepherd were together, and still… I tell you, I don't believe he kissed her at all."
"C'mon Lisette, Debbie & Tyler saw them."
"Well Tracy, I'm not so sure whose side they're on."
"You really have taken sides on this, haven't you?" Mark asked, "it's not just about the bet."
"No, it's not just the bet. Dr. Grey's had such a hard time this past year. I mean, when she first got here, and started dating an attending, most of us thought she was getting favored for sleeping with him."
"I agree with Tracy, and even though she's very private… well, other than the relationship with Dr. Shepherd, she is a genuinely nice person and very caring to her patients."
"How can that stupid woman interfere, seriously…when you see them together, they light up a room."
"Not only that, the way he looks at her with … that Mcdreamy smile… even when gossip's all over the hospital about their…what did they call it, sex and mockery, you just know they love each other."
"Well, mark my words," Steph commented, "that bitch is going to find out soon enough she doesn't have a chance in hell."
Mark burst out laughing, "of all the tables… I end up with the happily ever after foursome."
"We think there's a bit of a softie in you too…" Tracy winked at him, "we just have to wait and see what side of you Dr. Hahn is going to give in to."
Peaking his interest he asked, "so, you do think she's going to give in to me?"
"We'll just have to wait and see."
Unexpectedly, a tall handsome blonde haired man was by Amy's side and leaned down to kiss her. "Ready to go home honey?"
"Absolutely, gorgeous."
"So…you had no intention of going home with me I see…?"
"None at all…my husband's more than enough for me….just thought it would be fun to tease…the… man…"
"Manwhore…" Mark laughed, "don't worry, no offense taken."
"Stick around Amy, the fun's about to begin," Lisette said suddenly, as they saw Derek walking down the steps to Joe's."
Mark looked up, and formulated a plan of his own. Yes, he was going to have fun.
"Ladies, watch a master at work," Mark said as he grabbed his drink and rose to walk over to the table where Meredith was sitting.
Derek walked in and quickly glanced around looking for Meredith, then made his way to the bar asking for his usual double scotch single malt and a shot of tequila.
It could have been his imagination, but it suddenly seemed that the noise level dropped several decibels.
"My favorite dirty mistress….how about we give Shep a run for his money?"
"Dr. Sloan, I'm in no mood."
"Come on…Grey, let's have a little fun… make Shep jealous."
"I'm not interested in games right now."
"Well, you may not be, but the rest of the hospital … and this bar, certainly are."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"The bets, Grey… the bets."
The rest of the group at the table had been quiet, and now joined in.
"Really Mer, get that sad pathetic look of your face," Cristina told her.
"Dr. Yang…I don't think Mer needs any more comments like that."
"So, the little sister is a warrior…and taking on Yang," Mark quipped.
"I've had it… being talked about… and that's it, Lexie, move, let me get up."
"Grey," Mark said, "you're not going anywhere. Right now, you've got a whole bar watching you and Derek, and I'd bet money they're wondering where he's going to go to, who he's going to acknowledge. And I know he's been an ass, but I also know my friend, and I expect he's going to head right this way."
"Yeah, right," Cristina snorted, "he broke up with Mer and went out with the nurse last night and he's going to come here."
"That's a bit harsh Yang, even for you," Mark commented.
"Meredith, take that look of your face and flirt with me."
"What?"
"Told you, let's make Shep jealous..."
" I have no interest…. no interest… at all, in what he does anymore… or making him jealous…''
"Oh here we go, denial," Izzie muttered.
Mark leaned down very closely and whispered in her ear, "you care Meredith, and so does he."
Derek chose that moment to turn around, and looked over to her table, and saw Mark whispering in her ear. He could feel his temper rising, and wanted to go smack the smile of his face, but that would hardly accomplish his goal with Meredith, and he knew Mark was flirting with her purposely.
He walked towards her table and was briefly interrupted, "Derek, would you like to join us?"
Politely he responded and addressed the three women, "Thank you, but I have plans. Ladies, have a nice evening."
The dark haired scrub nurse was stunned by his curtness.
"Well, Rose, if that wasn't the 'cut direct'... don't know what would be."
"Oh, please, you're quoting regency romance novels."
"Rose, you're the one wearing that engagement ring around your neck, so if anyone would know about regency romances, we'd have to come to you," one of the women teased her.
Derek finally reached his destination, and immediately felt the mounting tension thick enough to be cut with a knife, in addition to the silent treatment.
"Shep old boy, good of you to join us."
Meredith attempted to get up, when she felt a strong hand on her shoulder and a whisper in her ear. "don't get up."
"Lexie, do you mind, if I sit next to Meredith?"
Everyone looked at him as though he'd suddenly grown two heads.
"Dr. Shepherd… I don't think… well, I don't think…that's what she wants."
"I brought you a drink," he said as he placed the glass of tequila in front of her.
"I already have one."
"One's never been enough."
"It is tonight, I don't your drink."
"Lexie," he said cocking his head just a bit and smiling, though a good observer would have seen the tension in his expression, "I thought we agreed to Derek."
"You know what… I don't want to sit next to you… in fact…I was just getting ready to leave… go ahead… flirt with her...flirt with my sister…it wouldn't be the first time."
Lexie gave him a warning look, but got up allowing Derek to sit next to Meredith, effectively keeping her from leaving.
"Listen to me, I know the last thing you want is to talk to me," he said, as he felt her becoming more rigid, "but, you're going to have to, at the very least listen to me."
She turned and glared at him, "seriously…"
"Yes, seriously."
The entire bar seemed to be focusing their attention on one table, rather two, as they also watched the reactions where the dark haired scrub nurse sat with her two friends.
Derek and Meredith glared at each other, and the rest of the group badly pretended to make small talk.
"I know," he said very softly, "and I understand that you don't want me sitting here or to listen to me. But right now, this entire bar and the God damn hospital is hell bent on bent on making us the center of their gossip and rumor mill, not to mention placing bets on us."
"I know," she acknowledged as she lowered her head, and her admission tore at his emotions.
"With the exception of Lexie," he continued, "and as of fifteen minutes ago, possibly Bailey, everyone, including those at this table, have already placed their money against me."
The group was talking with enough pauses between their conversation to ensure at least one of them kept track of what Meredith and Derek were saying to each other.
They heard a few throats clearing, before she surprised them all, "you're right, they already have, so tell me… each one of you… how much and what exactly did you bet on?"
"I didn't bet, Mer, I wouldn't bet…"
"Oh Bambi, you're such a wuzz."
"Cristina, go ahead, you tell me… what did you bet? And really, is that the best you can do? A wuzz, I haven't heard that since 'Friends'."
Derek watched her, perplexed by her mood change, but refrained from further comment.
"Mer, really, it's not important," Izzie commented.
"It's not important, seriously… all you so called friends are adding fuel to the fire by placing bets on Derek and I….and… you can't even own up to what you did?"
"I've no problems admitting I placed 50 bucks…on 23 days," Mark stated.
"Twenty-three days!" Derek and Meredith exclaimed simultaneously. They looked at each other and inexplicably burst out laughing. For the first time that day, and for a very fleeting moment you could see the first signs of hope in the reflection of their eyes.
"Sloan, dude are you nuts, these two won't be able to hold out, I bet 12 days."
"Yang, Stevens, cough it up what did you bet?" Alex insisted.
Cristina muttered, "17 days."
"Barbie, I've come clean," Cristina said.
"Fine…6 days…"
"Stevens, come on, that's not giving her a lot of credit," Mark interrupted.
"Maybe, Dr. Sloan, but you don't spend the night at our house in need of earplugs."
"You people have no faith in me…seriously…you think I'm going to succumb to his charm…well, if you want to win your bets, I'll tell you how long it's going to take…"
She realized what she had said as soon as she saw the amused expression on Derek's and Mark's faces.
"Yes, Grey, do tell us, how long is it going to take?"
"Oh…forget it…that's not what I meant… I just meant…"
"Mer," Derek interrupted, again, reaching out for her hand under the table. "How long? How long is it going to take…to forgive me?"
"I'm not… I'm not going to forgive you…if it's up to me, you'll never regain that stupid…mcdreamy…crap again," and even she recognized how unconvincing she sounded, while her hand remained in his.
Lexie sat watching the exchange, and noticing the relative calmness Meredith briefly experienced, she smiled. She knew she hadn't been wrong in letting him sit next to her.
"Meredith, leave with me."
"What? Are you crazy, haven't you heard anything I've said all day?"
"Meredith," he whispered for her to hear only, "walk out with me, that's all I ask. I didn't choose her, I'm choosing you…and no matter what they say, and what they bet, or what they think they saw…yesterday, tonight, I want everyone to know I'm choosing you…only you."
She felt her heart flutter and stop, and caught herself before she fell under his spell.
"But, you didn't... not last night, not when it mattered," she said accusingly.
"Tonight, just tonight, let's not give them any more bits for speculation. Walk out with me…please."
She took a deep breath and nodded. "O.K."
Mark patted him on the shoulder, "she may be walking out with you, but looks like you have your work cut out for you, my friend."
"Looks like I do."
Derek placed his hand at the small of her back, and led her towards the front door. The level of noise rose sharply upon their departure.
He reached for her hand as they climbed the stairs, and she did not pull away.
"I walked out with you, because what you said made sense. But, this does not change anything between us."
"I know, Meredith. I know."
"Thank you, though, it was thoughtful of you," she said looking at him intensely.
'I just wanted to make sure you were ok, and I didn't want you to be subjected to any more…"
She interrupted, "we've broken up Derek, that hasn't changed."
"I get it. Will you be ok, getting home?"
"Yes…I…didn't drink…I'm fine."
"Of course."
Their gazes locked, eyes glimmering as neither was able to hide their emotions.
"You're fine." He swallowed past the lump in his throat.
She took a deep breath, and without looking away, whispered softly…"I'm …I'm falling apart."
"So am I…" he admitted, as he gathered her in his arms and held her taking in the lavender of her hair and her own very unique scent that would later haunt him.
She allowed him to hold her briefly before pulling away.
"Good night Derek."
"Good night Meredith," he said as he watched her walk away, and remembered the tears in her eyes.