Chapter 29: Something's Off

Derek's Point-of-View

I pulled the comforter up to her chin. I then stood and looked at her. This was very reminiscent of the last time she had gotten drunk…without the phone camera out…and the vomit.

Speaking of which…time to take off the not so good looking…or smelling…shirt and throw it away…far, far away. Now I am a doctor and a good one at that, but I have never and will never get used to people yakking on me…no matter how beautiful and gorgeous they were.

I smoothed her hair off her head and walked out of the room, leaving the door cracked in case she fell out of the bed…or threw up again…or she wanted to sing some more.

Mariah Carey, she wasn't. William Hung, maybe.

I walked into the small utility room and grabbed a trash bag, shrugged off my shirt and threw it in the bag, tying it tightly. I then walked into the hallway and threw it into the garbage chute. I wish I had one of those.

I sat on the couch and turned on the TV, channel surfed…informercial, infomercial, Law and Order, movie with those damn vampires, doctor show with people sexing it up everywhere…seriously did people think that is all doctors did in a hospital? There were patients and traumas and hot doctors and lots of sex…okay maybe that show wasn't so far off, but really? I was watching a Post It wedding ceremony. I mean I didn't go to law school but was that even legal? Guy probably didn't want to be tied down so maybe that was something to think about later if things with Meredith worked out. I sighed and put down the remote, leaving it on that show with the overly moussed Neuro doctor dude. Seriously, tone down the hair products.

My thoughts strayed to Meredith. Did she have some sort of mental disorder? It seemed so lately. Hot and Cold. And I was wondering if she had a drinking problem. This was the second time in a little over a week, I had put her to bed…and not in a good way. She looked so sexy tonight, even if she was there with someone else. Even though it was the sexiest thing ever, I had almost been…jealous...of Yang. Wasn't that stupid? Yang kissed her and then had grinded against her in some Lesbian Lust Dance and I was jealous. That was every man's wet dream and it had almost pissed me off. Meredith had been graceful. She danced better then she sang, that was for sure.

"Oh My God! What is that smell?"

I looked over the back of the couch at my sister, whose nose was crinkled up with disgust.

"Vomit…or rather Meredith's vomit all over my shirt." I explained.

"Well get rid of it!"

"I did, the scent is just lingering."

"Ugh…wait, she threw up on you?" Amber asked.

"Yeah, totally my fault, I have to admit. I didn't have anything to do with the tequila she consumed tonight but I did hoist her over my shoulder like a demented firefighter and spin her back and forth so…" I shrugged.

"Okay what did I miss?" She asked, opening the cabinet under her sink and pulling out the Lysol, spraying it all over the room. When I started asphyxiating, she finally put it away.

I waved my hand in front of my face.

"Shit Amber!" I complained.

"It smells better than vomit." She said, kicking off her shoes and sitting down next to me.

"Put a shirt on."

"I don't have one here." I reminded her.

She got up and went to her room, returning shortly with a man's shirt. I raised an eyebrow.

"Don't ask if you don't want to know."

"Fair enough." I said, accepting the shirt and slipping it over my head.

"Watch are you watching?" She asked. "Ooh, Grey's. Ugh…I hate that damn Post it! It's not even fucking legal!" She yelled.

"Who are you yelling at? And I thought the same thing. Smart move on the guy's part though."

"I am yelling at the demented creator of the show and the guy wants to be committed. So, how is that smart?"

"It doesn't cost a thing to tear up a post it." I pointed out.

"True, but you don't go into a marriage thinking you are going to leave it."

"Maybe, maybe not." I said.

"It's not like you will ever have to worry about it." She said.

I looked at her.

"Why do you think that?" I asked.

"You are never going to settle down. You love playing the field too much."

"That is not true. I haven't slept with anyone since I met Meredith."

"Ooh, a whole week." She mocked.

"I don't want to…have sex with anyone else." I told her, being completely honest.

"Well, yeah, you will definitely lose the bet if she found out you fucked someone else." She pointed out.

"Exactly." I said, feeling something thinking about the bet.

"That's another reason I know you will never commit."

"What is?"

"You made a bet on someone you proclaim to have feelings for. I mean, come on DerBear…doesn't exactly make you marriage material, post it or otherwise."

"Maybe, maybe not." I repeated.

"Why are you still here?" She asked.

"I wanted to be here with Meredith…just in case she woke up or needed help."

"How very chivalrous of you." She teased.

"Something's off…with her." I told Amber, wanting a woman's insight. I was out of my element here. I just fucked women; I didn't listen to them.

"Off, how?" Amber asked, something in her expression making me suspicious.

"Well, one minute she is all happy and joking with me, the next she is flirting with Avery, making out with Yang and dancing on the bar."

Amber coughed, her lips pressed tightly together.

"Really?" She squeaked out. She cleared her throat. "Really?"

I narrowed my eyes.

"Yes, really? You know something." I accused.

"No! I don't know anything!"

I waited for it…there it was…that damn twitch in her left eye. Sure way to tell if she was lying.

"Amber…"

"I…she…damnit…" She stammered. Finally, she calmed down, her eyes lit up and she smiled. "I shouldn't tell you this, but she has a history of bipolar disorder…a very mild case and she is on a very low dose of meds to keep it under control."

"Well why didn't she just tell me that? That is not a very big deal. It certainly explains a lot." I said, slightly relieved. I could handle this, now that I knew the truth.

"Well, she is a doctor with a mental disorder. The patients wouldn't like that and I am not even sure anyone else knows. So, don't say anything." She demanded.

"No problem Amber." I looked at the clock. "I should really be going. It's late."

"Sleep on the couch. It is after midnight and you have to be at the hospital in five hours." She suggested.

"Yeah, okay."

She brought me a blanket and a pillow and went to bed.

I laid there thinking about Meredith, the bet and her mental disorder. Surprisingly, it didn't put me off. Maybe we could regulate her meds. I tossed and turned but no matter what I did, I couldn't shrink the two feet it would require for me to get comfortable. I sighed and stood up, walking to the bathroom. I urinated and washed my hands and headed back to the couch. However, I found myself peeking in to check on Meredith.

She had been up at one point, as her clothes were scattered on the floor. I looked longingly at the unused half of her queen size bed.

She would get so pissed, I mused.

Oh well. I eased myself beside her and got comfortable.

She would probably maim me but waking up next to her would be worth it.

I closed my eyes and instantly went to sleep.