Chance Encountered

Chapter 24

Derek and Preston were sitting at a table in the outdoor cafeteria. The day had been rather slow and Derek was enjoying the nice fall breeze.

However, his thoughts wandered to a certain redhead and a small smile spread across his face. She had been all he could think about since their date. He had been so comfortable with her…had been since they first met.

"So," Preston began ripping Derek from his musings. Derek directed his gaze on his friend and he noticed that Preston hadn't touched his lunch.

Instantly, he knew that something was off. Preston's shoulders were tense and he looked very tired. Derek sat up in his chair and leaned in knowing that Burke had something on his mind.

"How was your weekend?" Preston asked.

Derek blinked a little, not expecting that.

Yet, he could still not help smiling as Addison floated back into his thoughts. Their date had been so amazing. He had never been so honest and open with someone after such little time.

It surprised him that he was so comfortable talking about his father with her like that. And she had been so great, just being there, just being her.

"My weekend was great."

"Just great," Preston asked with disbelief.

"Well, it was a little better than great." Derek admitted as he smile grew.

"Good. I'm glad for you Derek," Preston said seriously.

The tone of voice Preston used made Derek put his sandwich down and focus his attention on him. They had known each other for years now and Derek knew that something was bothering his friend something that was hard to say out loud.

"Is everything all right?" Derek asked quietly.

Preston looked over at him and took his spectacles off of his nose and fiddled with them in his hands, "Can I tell you something?"

"Yeah, is there anything wrong?"

"Derek, I met someone." Preston sighed, "And she is amazing, incredible really."

"You met someone amazing... "Derek said slowly, "Help me out here, because I am not seeing a problem."

"She's an intern."

Derek just stared at Burke. The words did not process right away.

The words hardly made any sense. He was stunned. Preston was not the sort of person that did something like this. The Preston Burke he knew was one for rules and regulations.

He must of heard wrong.

"She's an intern?"

"Yeah," Preston said simply.

Derek shook his head and leaned even closer, "You're sleeping with an intern."

Derek shook his head again, trying to process the words. It was simply unbelievable. Preston was never this irresponsible. He—he could barely process the words at the moment.

Derek had to get details facts.

"How did this happen?" Derek said, "When?"

Preston looked down at his glasses and answered softly, "A while, it just, I don't even know how it happened really, and it just did."

"What do you mean you don't know? Preston, how could you let this happen?" Derek asked harshly, "You are her boss. Do you understand that? Do you get what that means? They are here to learn how to be doctors, how to save lives and learn how to practice medicine in real time. You are supposed to teach them. Not screw them."

"I don't need this from you." Preston said.

"Apparently you need it from someone if you are risking your career for some intern that is using you to get into surgeries."

"Christina is not using me!" Preston said raising his voice.

Derek slumped back into his chair, "Preston-"

"Hello gentlemen!" Addison greeted as she sat down at the table next to Derek. Derek looked at Addison briefly before returning his gaze to Preston who was now standing. And if Derek did not know him any better, he would think that he wasn't upset.

Derek did know better and Preston was upset.

"Hey, Addison, I am sorry I can't stay. I have things to do." He said and then swiftly left the room.

"Damn it." Derek mumbled under his breath as guilt washed over him.

He should not have yelled at Preston like that.

He just could not wrap his mind around the fact that Preston was sleeping with an intern. It was beyond bad it could mean so many bad things. It could end so badly for Preston.

Sleeping with an intern, well was not exactly against the rules but was a little more than frowned upon.

But Preston did not need that lecture, at least not from him. Derek knew that Preston knew how bad it was to sleep with an intern. The last thing he needed was to hear it from his best friend.

Addison gently put her hand on Derek's arm and he looked down at her hand then at her.

"Are you okay?" She asked with concern in his eyes.

Derek gave her a reassuring smile, "Yeah, I'm fine."

"You could talk to me you know." She said softly.

Derek smirked and pushed Preston to the back of his mind then he slid his chair next to hers.

He gently placed a hand on the smooth, bare skin of her knee. He watched as her cheeks flushed a deep crimson as he trailed his fingers along the inside of her leg.

"I know I could talk to you but it is between Preston and myself, I don't think he would appreciate me telling you." He told her as his fingers continued to caress her skin, "But thank you."

"Anytime but you really need to stop doing that…" She whispered harshly, and then her hand ducked beneath the table to entwine her fingers with his. Derek's fingers then began to trace along her knuckles as their hands rested on her knee.

He faked a pout as he fought to keep a smile off of his face.

"Uh—okay but then you have to give me a kiss." He smirked.

Addison met his gaze in amusement, "I thought that we agreed to stay professional at the hospital."

Derek leaned in close enough that his breath would hit her face but they were still a couple of inches apart.

"We did but you look so kissable right now." He said, "You know, some say that rules were meant to be broken?"

Addison laughed at him a little before placing her forehead against his, "Well, how can I argue with that?"

Before Derek could reply, Addison put her lips on his in a soft, sensual kiss. Her tongue slipped past his lips and sucked on his tongue…but then it was over just as fast.

Derek slowly opened his eyes to see Addison smirking at him.

"Oh, you are such a tease." Derek said, "Actually, you are evil. You know that."

"Just wait until we can be alone then you will see how evil I can be." She said with a wicked grin on her face and a glint in her eyes.

"I can't wait." Derek said with a smile before pulling back but as they finished their lunch their hands stayed clasped together underneath the table.

Later that day, Derek stalked through the hallways. He had been looking for Preston all over the place but couldn't find him.

He needed to apologize to him for acting that way earlier. Derek knew he had no right to pass judgment on Preston no matter what.

They were friends and Derek would support him. He just hoped that it turned out okay for everyone involved.

And just as he was about to head toward Preston's office, he spotted him talking to Meredith Grey.

"Hey!" Derek said, as he got closer to them.

Preston looked at him with an annoyed expression on his face and crossed his arms over his chest. Meredith looked at him and smiled as she tried to control the stack of charts in her arms.

"Dr. Grey." He said in acknowledgement and she looked at him with a grin.

"Yes, Dr. Shepherd?"

Derek crossed his arms over his chest mimicking Burke and without glancing at Meredith he spoke.

"Could you excuse us?"

Meredith looked between them before flashing a smile and she scrambled off down the hallway.

"Derek, I don't have time." Preston said, "What do you want?"

"Umm, I wanted to say I'm sorry." Derek sighed, "You did not need that lecture. I should not have said that—it was uncalled for. I apologize. I'm sorry, man."

Preston smiled a little, "Thanks, I appreciate that."

"And if you ever need to talk about it, I'm here." Derek said honestly.

"I know." Preston said, "Maybe some other time, soon, we can talk. Just not now, I gotta go."

"Sure." Derek offered him one last smile before he watched Preston jog down the hall in the same direction as Meredith Grey had just taken.

Derek sighed.

At least now, Preston knew that Derek was there, willing to listen to him talk about I whenever. And he knew that Derek would not judge him so that was all Derek could do for right now.

Be there when his friend needed to talk. He just hoped that this did not cost Preston dearly.

End of Chapter 24