Chapter 29: Derek's First Rebound Date
Meredith and Cristina decided to stop off at Joe's for a drink. They got seats at the bar and Cristina went to the restroom.
Meredith felt a light hand on her shoulder and turned around surprised, "Derek. I didn't see you here." Whenever he touched her, she felt a little electrical charge zing through her body.
"I'm in a booth in the back. By the way I'm on a date. Dinner and drinks."
Meredith grumbled, "That was quick."
He laughed and said, "I'm only doing this for you! You think I want to be here?"
Meredith groaned and asked, "Which one is she?"
"Last booth on the left. The brunette."
Meredith turned around to look and asked, "The brunette? The one that looks like a movie star?" Jeez! Did he only know extraordinary, beautiful woman?
Derek replied smugly, "Yeah well, remember this was your idea. Not mine! One down and one to go."
She mumbled, "I'll keep telling myself that!"
Joe came over and asked, "Hi. What can I get for you guys?"
Derek said, "I'm good. I just came over to say hello to Dr. Grey. See you at work tomorrow Dr. Grey. I have to get back to my date. I think our food is ready. Feel free to stop by and introduce yourself to her."
Meredith clenched her jaw tightly and hissed, "No sex on the first date Dr. Shepherd!"
Derek laughed and walked back to his date.
As he got back to the booth, Leslie said, "You know Derek. When I agreed to this fake date, I thought I'd be going to a fancy restaurant or something."
Derek laughed and said, "Hey. Don't dish the food until you've tried it. It's shockingly good. Besides, I needed her to see you here."
She turned her gaze to the girl at the bar that Derek had spoken to. "So, she's the one?"
"Yeah. And thanks again for doing this."
"Shit. I owe you so many times over. She's fucking hot! I see what the attraction is. She doesn't grab you right away like some, but damn. The more you look at her. What an unusual hair color. She's tiny but curvy. And she looks a little wild and dirty. Like she'd…"
Derek scowled and said, "Stop. Stop looking at her like that. And quit licking your lips, Les."
"Afraid of a little competition?"
"She's sweet, her personality and her eyes are her best qualities."
She laughed and said, "I'm just saying. Those are the ones. Get your fucking freak on Derek!"
He laughed and said, "I can't believe you're a lawyer."
"A damn good one at that. I'm the best real estate lawyer in Seattle. You are right. This burger is delicious."
He admitted, "That you are. So, I haven't talked to you in a while. Have you made partner yet?"
She said seriously, "No. I think they know. I mean Seattle is a very progressive town, but it's still a struggle in banking, law firms, and insurance companies for gays. I can't thank you enough for being my escort to all those events the last couple of years. So, tell me again why we're on a fake date?"
"Meredith says she doesn't want to be the rebound girl. She thinks I should date before starting a relationship with her. Because I'm recently out of one relationship and she thinks I'm not ready for another serious one. Crazy talk right?"
Leslie said, "Smart girl. I totally agree. I've been the rebound girl."
Derek sighed. It didn't matter how old he got. He would never understand women.
Joe asked, "Chardonnay right Meredith?"
"A beer for my friend and I'll have tequila. Straight."
Joe raised an eyebrow as Cristina sat down next to Meredith. He said, "Straight tequila? Really? You'll be sorry in the morning."
She replied, "I'm always sorry in the morning." He left to get their drinks.
"Who stepped on your puppy while I was gone?"
Meredith whined a little, "No one. It's all my own doing." No use crying, bitching, and moaning about something you did to yourself. Stupid, dumb lame ass loser! What had she been thinking?
Cristina asked, "Oh god! What did you do?"
"Do you really want to hear about my secret pain?"
Joe sat their drinks down and they clinked shot glass to bottle.
Cristina said hesitantly, "Um…"
Meredith glanced over at Derek and his date. She scowled and tipped the glass back in one big gulp. Did he always follow directions that efficiently and quickly?
She giggled and said sarcastically, "I love you Cristina Yang! You are so supportive!"
Cristina laughed and admitted, "Yeah. Not my best quality. I own it. If you need me to drag a corpse across the living room, I'm your girl."
Meredith laughed too and said, "Good to know. Joe…when you get a chance… another one please."
"Oh fuck! Look who's here."
Meredith turned to look at Derek again, but Cristina was talking about the two-woman headed in their direction. She mumbled, "Shit!"
Callie and Addison walked up to the bar and glanced around. All the tables and booths were full. They'd have to sit at the bar.
Derek cringed and said, "Oh fuck!"
Leslie said, "What's the matter?"
"It's the ex-sitting at the bar by the love of my life."
She laughed and said, "God you are a sap! You're not talking about the tall redhead, are you?"
Derek said, "Yeah."
"That's the ex?"
"Um… very attractive… but don't take offense. She's cold looking. I bet she was a cold fuck in bed."
Derek groaned as he signaled Joe for another round.
"You know Les. You're in the biggest law firm in the state. You're the best in your field.
"Real estate. Kinda boring. Like an appendectomy. Anybody can do it. Why not branch out. You'd be great in malpractice or criminal law You're playing it safe!"
She arched an eyebrow, "And you're not?"
Meredith gave them a small smile and said, "Hi Dr. Montgomery and Dr. Torres."
Cristina said, "Yeah hi."
Addison looked at them and said coolly, "Hello."
Callie said as she sat next to Meredith, "Hi Meredith. It's Cristina, right? I'm Callie and this is Addison." She'd only heard good things about Yang and Grey.
Cristina said surprised, "Yeah."
Joe sat their drinks down and Addison ordered a martini and Callie ordered a beer.
Cristina asked Joe, "Could I get a double order of onion rings and an order of cheese nachos to go?"
Joe said, "Sure. Right on it."
Callie laughed and said, "Interesting dinner there!"
Addison scrunched up her nose and said, "More like disgusting if you ask me."
Cristina bit her tongue instead of lashing out a snarky comment. Meredith was impressed. She knew how hard that was for Cristina. They both smirked at each other and Cristina asked, "So Meredith. You get all your flyers up today? Any takers?"
Meredith sighed and said, "More than I can handle. I had no idea so many people from the hospital were looking for a place to live."
Joe sat the drinks for Addison and Callie down. "Seattle is an expensive town."
Addison took a sip of her drink and said sweetly, "Especially on an intern salary."
Callie grumbled, "On anyone's salary." Her parents were paying all her bills and she still didn't know where her money went. Okay. There was the alcohol, the condoms, and the other things she didn't want her father to go over with a fine-tooth comb.
Meredith tossed back her shot and Callie said appreciatively, "Impressive!"
Meredith giggled and watched Addison frown a little. Meredith thought, I guess giggling and doing shots was not appropriate for a surgeon. Jeez. Montgomery just sucked the life out of the party.
Meredith glanced back at Derek and said to Cristina, "I should get going. Thanks for coming for a drink. I'll see you tomorrow." Meredith tossed some bills on the bar for her tab.
Cristina glared at her as if to say, you're leaving me with these two? She glanced around the room and saw Shepherd with an impressively built and attractive brunette. She wondered if it was that cold bitch Montgomery or Shepherd's date that made Mer want to get out of there so fast.
Meredith said goodbye quickly and hustled out of the bar.
Joe sat Cristina's to go box down and she said, "You know what? I changed my mind. I'll just eat here after all. And another beer please."
Addison sighed and said, "Don't you think you've had enough? Maybe you should take that to go." The smell of Yang's food was making her a little sick.
Cristina opened her box of food and inhaled the wonderful smell. "I live close by."
Addison finished her drink and said a little nastily, "Great!"
Cristina asked Callie, "Onion ring or nacho?"
Callie said appreciatively "Sure. Thanks."
Addison sighed and signaled Joe for another round. Residents didn't converse and eat with interns. What the hell was wrong with Callie?
Addison said lowly, "Callie!"
Confused Callie asked, "What?"
Cristina saw the look that Montgomery was trying to convey to Torres. As in what the fuck are you doing eating and drinking with an intern?
Cristina glanced back at Shepherd and said conspiratorially and with total innocence, "It looks like Dr. McDreamy is on a date! Wow. She is gorgeous! What a body! They look so good together!"
Addison's head whipped around, and Callie slowly turned her head, a little afraid of what she would see.
Cristina continued to eat her food as she could almost see the smoke coming out of Montgomery's ears.
She heard Montgomery say softy, "God damn it! That must be Mary!"
Cristina took her napkin and patted her lips. She pushed the container over to Callie. There were a couple of onion rings and a few nachos left.
"Help yourself. I should go home. Joe. Can I have my bill please?"
Joe handed her a bill with a zero on it. He said softy, "Meredith paid already for you. Said she is sorry." He shrugged his shoulders. Women. He didn't understand them at all.
Cristina hopped off the bar stool. Her work here was done.
"Nice to meet you Dr. Montgomery and Dr. Torres. See you at work! Looking forward to working with both of you!"