Chapter 26: Distractions and Driving
Meredith stares at the phone in her hand, after listening to the voicemail from Cristina. Biting her lip in concern, she groans silently. She traded emails, text messages and phone calls with her best friend over the weeks since arriving here. Meredith knows all about Izzie and George's burgeoning relationship after Izzie recovered, and she has learned about the trials of working with new OB attending, Dr. Montgomery. In turn, she has shared the enjoyment of discovering her father, and how different things are in London, but she has kept the whole vampire thing under wraps. How do you go about telling someone that? Or do you just avoid it? Not likely that is going to work with Cristina here in London.
Still deep in thought, she doesn't realize Derek is behind her until his lips are at her ear. "Problem?"
"Oh!" She holds the phone up in explanation.
"It's a cellphone, yes, I recognize that…"
"Smartass…" Meredith giggles, as he wraps his arms around her waist. Still damp from the bath, his strong body fits against her perfectly.
"I may be old, but I pride myself on keeping up with the innovations of the current century…" he smirks.
"Give it up, Derek."
"So, who called while I had you captive in the tub?"
"Cristina – she called from the airport in Seattle. Saying that she, wait, no, that 'we're on the way…'. So I have no idea who 'we' is. Cris and Richard? With Adele? Or…"
"Relax, you're rambling, honey." Derek takes the phone away from her gently. "We will deal with it when they arrive. Do you know when that is?"
"Cris was going to text the flight number…" Meredith takes the phone back, checking for the message. "It's here…" Showing him the flight information and arrival time.
"Good. It's before dawn – Richard is well aware of our time constraints."
Meredith turns to him, her eyes worried. "What do I tell her, Derek? She's my best friend, after all. I've avoided telling her too much, but how do I hide this?" She points to her fangs. "And how do I explain why I can't see her during the day?"
"She seems very levelheaded, from what I recall of her. Tell her the truth."
Meredith shakes her head. "I'm not sure…."
"She's going to know that something is up, you are aware of that." Derek watches her as she moves away from his embrace, towards the vanity. She picks up the brush, moving it through her hair. The lustrous strands shimmer in the lights, like honey gold flowing under the brush.
"I'll see how it goes."
Derek heads to the closet, to pull some clothes out, with a little shrug. "Sense her thoughts – see what she is feeling. It will help you decide." When he walks back, carrying a suit and shirt, she is rubbing lotion along her legs. She peeks over at him, realizing he is watching her intently. Something in the smoky indigo of his eyes burns into her. Almost leisurely, she continues along the length of her thigh, smoothing the fragrant cream with her fingertips.
"Where are you off to?" She nods at the clothing in his hands.
Derek studies her for a moment longer, before speaking. Admiring the sensual way her fingers glide along her skin, moving lightly from her legs, along her belly, and over the curve of her breasts. She gives him a sly smile, looking over her shoulder at him, noting his blatant desire, along with the scorching thoughts he can't keep from her. He drops the clothes on the bed, striding across the room to take the bottle of lotion from her. "I have a very boring appointment with my accountants over estate business…" he murmurs, dropping to his knees between her legs and pouring some of the lotion into his palm. "But this will give me something to think about when they get too dry and technical." His long, elegant fingers caress her body, along the curve of her waist, and over her breasts. Leaning closer, to kiss her, eager as always for more of her. Although, he has just been with her, in very mutually satisfying ways, he still aches for more. Hunger and need flare between them, as she winds her arms around his neck. The scent of the lotion surrounds him, her breasts crushing against his torso. She is warm and slick against him, meeting every touch of his tongue with her own.
Her hand slips lower, between them, taunting him along the firmness of his belly, feeling him clench beneath her touch. Then along the length of his cock, then over the tip. She feels a mischievous delight in how he growls a little, his kiss a little more fervent.
Tease…you are so bad, Meredith…
And before she can formulate a response, he sweeps her upwards, along his body, gripping her in his powerful arms. Settling her against the vanity, his hardness against her softness. Both of them seeking each other, knowing the yearning will only be fulfilled by their bodies joining.
I thought you have to go…
Soon enough…
In an instant, he moves into her, so fast and deep, her eyes widen. The delicate vanity shakes at the sudden shift of their bodies. Meredith's lithe body twists around his, her nails at his back. This time she yearns for his blood, nipping his shoulder. Bottles quiver, and crystal tinkles dangerously along the vanity, as they move faster, desperate for each other. She is tightening around him, using her hips to meet every push, reaching just as he is for the ever-deeper surge and connection.
Is this what you wanted, baby?
Always…hurry…
Derek grins wickedly at her, feeling how ready she is, just as burning as he is for release. Hurrying is not a problem at this point – he moves faster, his cock thickened and ready, until the feel of it overwhelms him with pure erotic instinct. He grips her harder, cumming in a crashing wave, so hot and fast, he is helpless with the intensity of it. Thrusting against her, as Meredith arches to meet him, holding on to him as the release takes her away into her own tidal wave of pleasure. For a long moment, they can only hold each other, gasping and laughing, their hearts beating wildly together.
"What time is your appointment?" Meredith finally manages to ask, checking the clock, and surveying the damage around them.
"Soon enough that I should be getting dressed, but you know that doesn't take me long," Derek grins at her, with a wink. "And you need to get ready as well, love. Alexei will pick you up in an hour to take you out in the new car. If you like it, it's yours." He helps her move away from the vanity, holding her hand, until she drops down onto the bed. She curls up, watching him dress, still marveling at the speed he is able to do so.
"Alexei is also willing to give you a driving lesson as well. I trust him to take care of you," Derek says, straightening his tie, winking at her.
Meredith rolls her eyes. "I can take care of myself, darling." She sprawls a little on the bed, looking warm and tousled, tempting to stay.
"Humor me. You haven't driven in London before – it's a lot different from Seattle."
"All right. Then we have to meet Cristina's flight."
"I'll catch up with you before then. Don't worry – I always know where you are. You are part of me now."
"Why don't you give me a driving lesson?"
"Not a good idea, love. You won't yell at Alexei…"
Meredith hurls one of the small pillows from the bed at him, which he easily dodges. "Go see the accountant honey. Just think about me while you're there." She moves up to her knees, letting her hair tumble over her shoulders. She blows him a little kiss, sending him her thoughts until he groans.
"You will be sorry later, you know that." He raises one eyebrow at her, buttoning his jacket. The fine material and crisp shirt only accentuate the potent masculinity, the blue of his eyes. The slight hint of stubble along his jaw makes him look dangerous, so much the opposite of the urbane image he projects.
"Go…I'll be fine…"
"Of course, you will. You have the spirit to carry you through anything," Derek says, crossing to her side again and touching her cheek. "To get this far, to take to our life so well, I know how much strength that takes." He kisses her gently. "I love you, Meredith Grey. And spending the rest of my immortal life with you is all that I want."
"That's all I want too, Derek," Meredith replies softly, leaning in to kiss him.
"Meredith…" Alexei grins, pulling over to the side of the road. "Do you like the car?"
"It's great…" The Mercedes S600 is elegant and luxurious, with all the comforts and state of the art features you can imagine. Built for protection, as Alexei had told her before, yet it looks like any other normal luxury car. Infrared headlights illuminate the night outside the car, not that they need that feature, as their eyes can see just as well as daylight.
Alexei opens his door, letting in a gust of cool damp air. "You can drive then." He springs out quickly, waiting for her to exchange places.
"Wait…I'm not sure I'm ready…"
"Of course, you are, Meredith," Alexei assures her. "Just remember, it's the opposite of what you're used to."
Meredith sighs a little, sliding into the plush driver's seat, inhaling the rich scent of the leather seats. Her own outfit of leather pants and short jacket, with a soft green sweater, and low-heeled boots, seems to match the car. She puts her hands on the steering wheel, looking over at Alexei lounging confidently in the passenger seat. "Are you sure about this?"
"You can't kill me, and the car is too well equipped for you to damage. The traffic is light enough not to cause a problem, so let's give it a go."
Meredith raises one eyebrow at him, before turning her attention to the controls. "This is so weird…" she murmurs, touching the gearshift with her left hand. "I'm going to mess this up, I just know it." The engine hums silently, as she revs it a little experimentally. "At least the pedals are in the same place – I'd hate to step on the gas instead of the brake. It's a little more powerful than what I'm used to driving, too," she confesses.
"What did you drive in Seattle?" His wintry blue eyes gleam in the dim light, as he watches her.
"Nothing like this – an old Jeep…"
"Well, for my sake, please do not treat this like a Jeep," he warns her wryly. "Now, step on the gas, and let's go. I don't like sitting still too long…"
Meredith eyes him carefully. "You sound like my friend, Cristina. She loves to speed on that bike of hers." She eases out into the roadway, feeling awkward and self-conscious. The car responds easily, surging forward, as she tries to settle into driving. But her eyes keep going automatically to the wrong side of the road to look for the signs, and she swears a little under her breath. At the first corner, she attempts to turn the signal light on, but finds the wipers beginning to swish back and forth instead. "Blast!" she murmurs, realizing the lever is on the opposite side.
"That sounded very British of you," Alexei smirks, earning a glare as she navigates the corner. Then she ignores him as she takes it slowly, getting used to the feel of it.
"Cristina is coming here, as we speak, so you should meet her," she comments finally, waiting at a stop light. "You might like her. I just wish I had more notice…"
"That troubles you…" Alexei notes, picking up the worry in her tone. Trying not to delve into her thoughts, realizing she isn't shielding as well as she could be. "Watch out for the traffic…" He winces as she straightens into her own lane after the light changed to green.
"I haven't told her about…well, you know…"
"Ah, I understand. It took me a long time to tell some of my family, and others. Some took it in stride, but some…" He shrugs negligently.
"Do you ever regret it?"
"I did not have much choice in the matter, but no…" His voice is cool again, and Meredith turns her attention back to the road, taking the hint, his thoughts shielding whatever memories her question may have dredged up. Again, she thinks there is a lot more to Alexei's attitude, but this isn't the time to probe into it. Another car roars by, and she flinches, pulling her thoughts back to what she is doing.
"Damn, Meredith, you're giving me a headache here…" he grumbles. "Take the next exit…"
She speeds up, shifting gears awkwardly, taking the curve in a careening slide. "Damn…"
"Pull over now, please…" Alexei growls, resisting the urge to put his hands on the steering wheel to help her. The car idles silently, as Meredith lays her head on the steering wheel in frustration.
"I'm usually much more focused than this…I think I'm too worried about Cristina. I'm sorry, Alexei."
"If she's the friend you think she is, she will accept you for what you are. You're still the same person…well, just a little different." Alexei pats her awkwardly on the shoulder. "Damn, I'm no good at giving advice."
Meredith peeks up at him, sensing there is a story behind his reticence, that someone has hurt him, but she knows he isn't about to share anything with her. "I'll give it another shot after I work this out with her."
"Good plan," he agrees, rubbing his fingers over his temples. "Now let me drive…"
Outside Savage Garden, Derek leans against the wall, chatting with Mark. The crowd is smaller tonight, just a few stragglers heading inside. He has just eased his hunger for blood, his body humming with renewed vitality. His hair looks thicker and more lustrous, his skin flushed from feeding. Some of the women heading inside cast flirtatious glances at him, that he acknowledges with a slight nod, but his attention is tuned elsewhere.
"My man, you are seriously changed," Mark grins, watching the women pass by as well. He winks at one of them, picking up the scent of blood he craves. Along with the sensual hungers that matches it.
"More for you. Meredith is all I need. I have to admit, I hope to see the day when you discover what it means to discover the other half of yourself in someone as sweet and loving as Meredith."
"Speaking of your beloved, where is she?" Mark asks, veering the topic away from himself.
"Driving with Alexei. They should be arriving shortly, or I'll go to them." Derek pauses, and looks over at his old friend. "I haven't seen you since you left with Veronique after Meredith's change." He raises one brow suggestively, managing to bring the topic back to Mark.
Mark folds his arms over his chest, deliberately keeping his thoughts to himself. "It was…interesting…" he admits wryly. "Veronique has a voracious appetite, in every respect. I found myself working to keep up with her, and I was physically exhausted in ways I never thought possible afterward."
Derek laughs. "Then you will be interested to know that she will be back soon to help Meredith with something."
"Help…in what way?"
"To deal with Kiera's restless spirit. Meredith is having visions of Kiera's life, my past life… they are related somehow, I feel it. The past and present are entwined in her, and we need to help Kiera's spirit to rest, if that is what is the cause of it. Unfortunately, one of Meredith's friends is flying in for a visit, along with Richard, and we need to delay the ritual."
Before Mark can reply, they both hear the sound of the approaching vehicle. The S600, sleek and gleaming under the street lights, purrs to a stop along the curb. Seeing that Alexei is driving, Derek hurries to open the passenger door for Meredith.
"Is everything all right?" he asks, looking at both of them, his lips quirking with amusement, picking up some of Meredith's thoughts. He holds his hand out to her, and she takes it, coming to stand beside him.
"It was less than successful," she admits ruefully, reaching up to kiss his cheek. "But I didn't yell at him…"
Derek hugs her close for a moment, before turning to look at Alexei, who emerges from the other side. "She will do better. I'm willing to take her out again, after she resolves the issue with her friend." He tosses the keys over the roof to Derek, who catches them easily. "Here, I have to go."
"Thanks, Alexei," Meredith says, giving him a small smile. "I'll think about what you said." He nods briefly, before disappearing in a swirl of cool air.
Derek tips her face up to him, looking into her soft green eyes. "Were you really that bad?"
"Oh…it's just so strange…and I'm unfocused…I used the wipers more times than I can count, instead of the signal lever…why does it have to be so damn different?" she sighs.
"I admit, it was much easier driving a horse and buggy," he smiles at her, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "No signal levers to worry about…"
"What did I say earlier about being a smartass?" she giggles, relaxing against him, as he slings his arm around her shoulder, leading towards the club.
"Hmm…I'm going to take it as a term of endearment…"
"I'm sure there must be other terms…" Meredith giggles, looking up at him. Mark has managed to disappear discreetly, leaving them alone outside for the moment. Derek eases her up against the wall, bracing one hand on either side of her, giving her a look that warms her straight to her toes.
"Ah, love…there are many terms of endearment I could use for you…" His mouth hovers close to hers, their eyes meeting in the darkness.
"Tell me…"
"Cushla macree." There is a slight inflection to his voice as the term rolls off his tongue. "That is an Irish term for 'pulse of my heart'."
"That's beautiful…" Meredith whispers, placing her hand on his chest, where his heart beats.
"It's very true, cara mia…" Derek says, his lips hovering over hers. Mesmerizing her with his eyes, sultry intent flaming into the indigo of his iris. "No matter what the language, querida, you are my heart. My pulse. My beloved. The one I waited for."
"I was waiting for you, too, even if I didn't realize it. Someone to match my emotions – someone who is my other half." Somehow Meredith knows there is a connection in her to Kiera, a connection between Derek and herself that has gone beyond the usual boundaries of time. And when he leans ever closer, kissing her with infinite tenderness, her love for him swells in her heart, more than ever. Rising to meet him, as his lips taunt her, her body fitting against the hard heat that emanates from him. The sweep of his tongue along hers is suddenly more aggressive, more possessive, as he senses her thoughts. His hands bury into the silk of her hair, both of them caught up in the fierce hunger for each other.
Finally, Derek makes himself pull away, smiling softly at their nearly uncontrollable need, leaning his forehead against hers. "We need to head to the airport – the flight will arrive soon, and parking can be a headache."
"I think I've become rather insatiable," Meredith whispers, still a little breathless. The hard evidence of his own arousal is still pressing against her, and she giggles. "Not that you aren't just as bad…"
Derek's mouth finds her ear. "I adore your insatiability."
"You can show me later just how much…"
"Oh, I intend to, sweetheart…"
There is a mad crush of people waiting for the flight to arrive, as Meredith and Derek mingle along the edge of the crowd. She feels a wash of nerves taking over yet again, like mad butterflies in her mid-section, and she chides herself for being silly. This is Cristina after all - the one person she had relied on to listen to her ramblings and bouts of insecurity, to share rants over Dr. Bailey with, long before Derek ever came into her life. Derek laces his fingers through hers, giving her a reassuring smile. Just go with whatever your heart tells you, Meredith.
I will...
Then she looks up and sees the familiar mass of black hair and a frantically waving hand in the throng of passengers coming wearily towards them. And behind that is the bulk of Richard, along with Adele, all of them looking rumpled and tired from the long flight. "Hey, Meredith!" Cristina shouts, covering the distance faster than the couple behind her. Meredith resists the urge to throw her arms around her, knowing how much Cristina hates hugging.
"You made it...it's so good to see you again..."
"Damn, you look amazing..." Cristina's knowing gaze sweeps over Meredith's outfit, and the new sheen to her hair and complexion. Even under the harsh fluorescent lights of the airport, Meredith looks almost startlingly beautiful. "If this is what London air does to you, I'm staying..." Her eyes slide over to Derek, and she gives him a small nod. "Or maybe it's the good sex..."
"Cristina!"
"I'm just sayin..."
By then, Richard and Adele have reached them as well, and they don't hesitate to envelop Meredith in a huge bearhug. "Good to see you - your new life obviously agrees with you," Richard murmurs softly, so that only she can hear him. "Thank god you're safe now that Michelangelo is gone. I'm so proud of you..."
Meredith blinks back a sudden dampness in her eyes, overwhelmed with emotion at seeing them all again. Adele takes a tissue out of her voluminous purse, wiping her eyes as well. "You are a sight for sore eyes, child. We've missed you, but we know you're happy." She manages to encompass Derek in a hug as well, as Cristina looks on in a little bit of surprise.
"Seriously, Mer, I had no idea they knew Derek that well..." she says, stifling a small yawn.
"It's a long story," Meredith admits. "So, tell me, what are you guys doing here anyway? How long are you staying?"
They begin to follow the swarm towards the baggage claim, Meredith and Cristina in the lead, with the rest following behind, talking quietly. "Well, it was a surprise to me too, but the Chief knows how interested I am in cardio, and this amazing chance came up here for a conference with the best cardio-thoracic surgeon in the world. He's lecturing this weekend only, for a select group of promising surgeons...and the Chief picked me to attend! It's the chance of a lifetime."
"You deserve it, Cristina - nobody works harder than you."
"Well, you did, but..."
Meredith shrugs. "My life is here now, with Derek, and my father. There may be a chance to use my surgical training in some way, but I'm happy. Really happy. Well, except for trying to drive here..." she giggles, telling Cristina about the disastrous driving lesson. By that time, they have found their luggage, and head towards the exit. The time is ticking away, and Derek feels the tug of the approaching dawn, and he knows he has to get Meredith home soon. With a little nod at Richard, he disappears to get the car. Cristina turns around, her eyes narrowing to see he is missing.
"I could've sworn Derek was just here..."
"He left..."
"To get the car..."
"Ohkayy..." She yawns again. "Damn I'm tired...this time change is going to kill me."
"We can all use a good sleep, before the conference starts," Richard tells her. "Then we can get together with Derek and Meredith in the evenings..."
Meredith flashes him a grateful look, but she knows that Cristina has already picked up on undercurrents and her suspicious thoughts on Derek's sudden disappearance. This is not going to be easy...