Mark and Derek had been working on the car all afternoon and Mark could tell Derek got more and more anxious as time went on knowing it was closer to time for Meredith to get there. Mark was glad she had finally called him; just talking to her earlier seemed to calm Derek down tremendously. He was able to concentrate on the race once he talked to her. Before Izzie, Mark didn't understand this . . . how someone could feel this way. But, now, he completely understood it. He just hoped he didn't do anything quite as stupid as Derek did to have to make up for it. He knew there would come a day though because they all screwed up at some point.

They were done with everything they needed to do and had some down time, neither sure exactly what to say but both had the same thing on their mind, "Is she coming tonight do you think?" Derek asked Mark, not sure exactly what to say.

"Izzie went over there to get ready, so I am pretty sure she will be here. They were going to come together tonight." Mark said.

They both looked at each other and laughed at the same time, "That sounded vaguely dirty." Mark added.

"Yeah." Derek said, laughing a much needed laugh.

After a few more seconds of laughing, Mark said, "The anger . . . it has been a while." He hated to discuss this now, but he knew it was on Derek's mind and would be until he talked about it. He knew his brother well.

"Mark, I was a real ass . . . she was with her niece who needs her right now and I know that . . . I said things, I yelled at her and slammed my beer bottle down. I think that is what scarred her the most." Derek said running his hand through his hair.

"More than just yelling . . . that is different. Shep . . . she is something special. What you two have . . . it is unique. Don't fuck it up by letting your emotions become too strong. It is you, Derek . . . you get angry to the extreme and you get happy . . . to the extreme. You have to keep it in check. You have been doing really well since we have been here for Med school."

"I know . . . Mark. I just got so upset. I wanted to spend time with her so much. I know we are about to be really busy and she doesn't realize that. She loves her family . . . well, Alex, Bryant, and his kids and I got mad for no reason . . . that is why I did everything I did for her today."

"And again, you went overboard, emotions Shep. I get it . . . you wanted to make sure she forgave you, but every hour on the hour . . . and the other presents . . . It is a lot." Mark said knowing he needed to hear this.

"The flowers were your idea."

"Not every hour . . . on the hour . . . and the other gifts—not my idea."

Derek sighed, he knew Mark was right, but he had to make sure . . . she was ok. "I know Mark. I just, I do love her more than anyone ever. She is . . . I can't lose her and I might. . . I mean . . . sometimes I don't even realize it. . . So, I might need your . . . help." Derek said continuing to look down. This was hard for him. . . asking for help, but Mark was his brother.

"Shep, you know you don't even have to ask, but if I need to, I will kick your ass. Meredith . . . she is pretty great from the time I have spent with her and she deserves something great . . . you are good for her, but you have to learn." Mark said watching Derek look up.

"Thanks for . . . you are a real good friend . . . my brother." Derek said.

"Ok . . . we don't have to hug or anything, do we because this conversation . . . is bordering on those lines." Mark said laughing.

"Definitely no hugging, but Mark, Thanks . . . really." Derek said relieved.

"I will need you someday. . . I don't know how to do this dating thing . . . and not looking at other woman and not wanting to fuck anything with legs. . . I am really happy with Izz, but the girls . . . and sex with a different girl every week . . . it isn't an easy habit to break, you know."

Derek looked up right in time to see the blonde walking towards them and cleared his throat, "Hello, Izzie."

Mark flipped his head around and smiled seeing her walk up, thankful she didn't a few seconds earlier. He gave Derek a quick glance that both of them knew meant, thanks. He stood up to meet her with a hug, "Hey there beautiful!"

Izzie smiled, "Hello to you." She said finding his lips to give him a kiss.

"Mark. . ." Izzie breathed into his mouth after she found the kiss deepen a little.

"You look . . . great tonight." Mark said pulling back, looking at her with amazement. He really was astounded how much he liked this woman . . . he was pretty sure he loved her. This was something he needed help about from Derek, but Izzie walked up before he could talk to him about it.

Derek was looking around, knowing Meredith had to be here somewhere. Mark said her and Izzie were coming together, "Um. . . Izzie, Meredith. . . Did she come with you?" He asked the second her and Mark pulled away from each other.

Izzie looked at him, trying to read his eyes. She couldn't believe how much he had done for her during the day. She still didn't know exactly what he had done wrong, but knew it was bad, "Derek, she went . . . over to Alex's pit. She wanted me to tell you she wishes you good luck." Izzie said knowing this was hard for both of them.

Derek sighed; he was a little disappointed, but understood. Alex's pit was at least a few down, so he knew it would be hard to see her, but as long as she was there . . . that was good enough for him, "Thanks Izzie. Is she . . . never mind?" He said knowing he shouldn't ask.

Izzie knew exactly what Derek wanted to know, "She is better. You have good taste. . . She loves you and you love her. I think you will be fine. She did want to pass along that she would be at The Temple tonight." She knew this would brighten Derek's spirits.

He looked up at her to make sure she wasn't joking, but quickly saw her smiling, knowing she was serious, "Thanks Izzie." Derek turned to Mark, "I am going to get some things ready . . . 5 minutes, I need you in 5 minutes. We have a race to win." Derek said smiling . . . he was really happy that Meredith . . . his Meredith had relayed those messaged through Izzie.

Mark spent his five minutes with Izzie and came back in time to do the last minute checks with Derek. The racers lined up and right before the green light turned, Mark made his famous last words, "It's a beautiful night to win a race, so let's have some fun."

The race was pretty uneventful. Alex and Derek stayed 1st and 2nd most of the race. There was a few times that Derek fell back to 3rd and once he went back to 4th, but was able to regain 3rd.

Meredith and Izzie had made small talk during the race, but Meredith was more nervous than she had ever been. She was always nervous for Alex before races . . . but, now, there were two of them for her to worry about . . . to think about . . . to cheer for. She knew Derek needed at least 3rd to win and if he didn't get it, he needed Alex to not win. This was a strange position for her to be in. Before the race, Alex told her that he understands her position and it was ok to cheer on Derek . . . he had really come around where Derek was concerned. He told her he could see how much they cared for each other.

With the last few laps together, everyone was on their feet. . . Meredith's stomach was becoming more and more nervous for what was to come. She didn't want to be the reason, or feel like the reason Derek didn't win the over all this season. Alex was pretty far ahead and Derek didn't seem to be trying to even catch him. . . He was just trying to hold 2nd or 3rd, but was even having difficulty with that.

"Come on, Derek . . . you have to take at least 3rd." Meredith said under her breath.

"3rd?" Izzie asked.

"Yeah . . . he won't win this race, Alex has a good lead, but Derek has to get at least 3rd to win the all around . . . if not, then Alex wins." Meredith said.

"He will do it. . .He is Derek." Izzie said, cheerfully.

"SHIT. . . DON'T LET HIM DO THAT!!!!" Meredith yelled loudly, watching the 4th place guy try to pass on the inside of Derek. Derek was able to cut him off and keep his position.

The checkered flag was waving and this was it. . .the entire season for Derek was riding on this last lap. Meredith had been nervous for Alex before . . . but, this was different . . . this was . . . it was strange because she wanted nothing more than Derek to take the all-around. The weird thing is if he didn't come in at least 3rd, Alex won. She immediately feels guilty for wanting Derek to win the all around. . .

She watched Derek try to maneuver to keep at least 3rd, having a difficult time holding his position. He was also trying to go after 2nd, but hopes of that was fading more and more. It looked to her he was really just trying to hold off the car behind him, which was probably a good idea at this point, probably something she would recommend if she were directing him.

As they were nearing the finish line, Meredith and Izzie were yelling along with everyone else. . . Alex crossed first . . . then, the 2nd place winner crossed. . .

"Oh my god." Meredith said as she watched both cars just a few inches apart coming to the finish line.

The two cars crossed at what looked to be a tie. . . Meredith was freaking out with most of the stadium. People did really like Derek Shepherd, the race car driver . . . he was one of the good guys as they called him.

The announcer said the judges were busy reviewing the call on the track . . . still unclear what the call on the track had been.

Meredith ran down from the stands onto the grass, unable to remain calm in the stands with everyone else. She wanted to go down to his pit, but she didn't want to distract him anymore . . . she knew he would be nervous enough. Maybe she should have talked to him earlier in the day, or gone to see him . . . or something. She knew this was not his best race . . . in fact; it may have been one of his worse races.

She just couldn't stand there though, so she took off running because win or lose, he was going to need her and she needed him. They still hadn't announced anything when she reached his pit. . .

She abruptly stopped when she saw him . . . he had just gotten out of the car. . .

The minute he saw her, time stood still for him and he momentarily forgot that his racing season depended on hundredths of a second that the judges were trying to decide upon.

They both smiled at each other, forgetting everything that had been said or anything that needed to be said between them. She went up to him and hugged him, looking deeply into his eyes, "I love you!"

In this moment, he could have cared less what the decision was . . . this was all he wanted to hear, anything more would be an added bonus, but, it was that minute that he heard the announcement. . .

"And third place goes to Derek Shepherd." The crowd erupted into cheers, knowing what this meant for him. The guys were already popping open the champagne in the pit. . . but, all Derek cared about was the woman in front of him. . . he picked her up, swung her around, causing both of them to giggle. He put her down and looked into her eyes, with the cheers going on around him, he took her face into his hands, "I love you Meredith Grey." He leaned in and kissed her. A kiss that said everything he needed to say. He then wrapped her up in his arms as tight as he could. They were the only two people at the track in this moment.

In his ear, Meredith said, "I am so proud of you."

Derek and Meredith stayed in this tight embrace, not caring about everyone around them who was celebrating. Mark had come down from upstairs, where they called the race from to celebrate. Izzie had found her way to the pit as well which caused Mark and Izzie to celebrate together . . . they were all happy and celebrating. Alex had even come down to join in . . . a few months ago, he would have been fuming about this, but now, he was happy . . . for Derek and his sister because she was truly happy, he even figured one day they would be brother's by marriage. At least he didn't know about what happened last night. . .