I tried to submit this yesterday...but the site wouldn't let me...hope you all like it...all of my stories are also posted on my site...the link is in my profile..updates are always posted there first.

Meredith shifts somewhat nervously as she sits on the couch in their suite. She had watched the game. She had seen him score in the final minutes, giving the United States the win and the point in the World Cup Standings. He had lifted his jersey, exposing his finely chiseled abdomen as he ran halfway around the field before being tackled by his team. That is when her heart swelled with an overwhelming pride and she felt the beginnings of tears form in her eyes. She had no idea where these extreme emotions had come from.

Had. She had no idea. The problem is that know she thinks she knows. She thinks she knows why she reacted the way she did. She thinks she knows and that knowledge scares the shit out of her. Her first instinct had been to run. To run away from the feelings swelling inside of her at an uncontrollable pace in order to avoid the pain that she sees as inevitable.

She hears his bag scrape against the door as he probably digs for his key card. She flinches as is her natural instinct, the instinct instilled by years of constant pain and hurt. But she doesn't move. She remains seated on the couch, legs crossed and pulled up to her chest as she gnaws on her bottom lip.

She hears the door click as it unlocks. The butterflies in her stomach transform into a large flock of birds as their wings beat wildly as the door begins to open. She stares straight ahead at the television, afraid that he will read her feelings the second he looks at her as if they are written there in large print.

"Hey," he says somewhat breathless and she can tell that he is smiling.

"Hey," she responds as she forces herself to look at him.

He hasn't showered. He is still covered in dirt and sweat. She can see several scratches on his arms and can smell the grass from his several grass stains.

"You didn't change?" she finally asks, desperate to break the silence as well as the penetrating look he is sending her way.

He chuckles as he drops his bag to the floor with a thud. "Nah," he says with a shrug, "I was too excited to get back here."

The serious tone of his voice gets her attention and causes her to appraise him more closely. She can see that his eyes are excited, but not just from the game. There is something else there.

"Why?" she asks as she arches his eyebrow.

"You," he answers simply with a smirk.

She blushes furiously as she notices the sincerity in his voice. "I…I've been thinking," she says as she begins to wring her hands nervously.

Derek watches her closely as he notices her gradually grow more nervous. "Yeah?" he finally asks, encouraging her to continue.

It takes all of her courage to look him in the eyes as she prepares to bare her soul to him. "I…I think I'm ready…to be with you…to try this…us…and…" she pauses and takes a deep breath, "to have sex with you," she finishes in a whisper.

Derek smiles warmly at her. Just as he opens his mouth to answer, her cell phone begins to ring a familiar tune. She sighs as she rolls her eyes. "My father," she says as she answers the phone.

Derek chuckles as he sits down in a nearby chair. He tries not to listen to her conversation, but he can't help it.

"Yeah, Dad, I was there. I saw him kick ass," she says with a roll of her eyes.

She stands up and begins to walk around the suite as her dad begins to talk business with her. Derek begins to think that now is the perfect time for a shower, so he stands up and begins to walk towards his bathroom. Just as he reaches his doorway, the phone to the hotel rings. Not thinking anything of it, he walks to the nearest phone and answers it.

"Hello?" he says casually as he kicks off his tennis shoes. He had changed out of his cleats right after the game.

"Hi," a masculine voice says. "You must be Derek Shepherd."

The man's voice is accusing and causes Derek to wrinkle his brow in confusion. "Yeah," he answers slowly, unsure of where the conversation is going.

"So, that means you must be the man who is fucking my girlfriend," the guy says. "Well, ex-girlfriend."

Derek grows even more confused as the stranger continues to talk.

"Is she there?" he asks.

"She is on the phone," Derek responds simply.

"Ah, I see. So," the guy continues, "has she spread her legs for you yet?"

Derek feels his anger begin to grow. "That is none of your business," he answers curtly.

The stranger chuckles. "So, I see that she hasn't put out yet. Well, let me give you some advice with regard to Meredith Grey. All you have to do is slap her around a bit and she will do anything."

Derek's hands shake with anger as he thinks about this piece of shit laying his hands on Meredith. He notices Meredith looking at him curiously as she stands several feet in front of him, her cell phone no longer in her hands.

Derek moves the receiver closer to his mouth. "If you ever, EVER, fucking touch her again, if you ever even THINK of touching her again, I will personally rip off your balls and shove them down your throat. Then we will see how much of a man you think you are!" he whispers harshly before hanging up the phone.

"Who was that?" Meredith asks confused as she takes a couple of steps towards Derek.

Derek sighs as he runs his hand through his hair. He can't lie to her. He can't. "I think we need to talk," he says seriously.

Meredith feels her heart begin to beat wildly against the wall of her chest as she fears a rejection coming her way. He notices her blanch and instantly understands why. He closes the distance between them and places his hands on her shoulders. "I want to try this too. Us, I mean," he whispers before leaning down and placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "But there is something I need to ask you, something that I need to know," he says over the lump in his throat.

Meredith knits her brow in confusion as the happiness of him wanting to be with her is quickly quelled by the serious tone if his voice. "O..okay," she answers as uncertainty and fear cause her to tremble slightly.

Derek pulls back, hating that this question will probably hurt her. Fearing the answer he might hear. He closes his eyes as he takes a deep breath, nausea already beginning to cause his stomach to churn. "You said that you had only had sex once," he begins slowly as he opens his eyes and stares deep into her widened greenish grey eyes.

She nods silently, afraid of the question that she knows is on the tip of his tongue. Even more afraid of the way he will look at her after she answers.

"I want to know…I need to know…did your ex-boyfriend rape you?"