Chapter 36: A Visit From Richard

Derek poured himself a cup of the strongest coffee Meredith possessed. He stretched his tired limbs and yawned. Last night was a complete success, a double one. Mark didn't hold against him his secret relationship and then he and Meredith took a complete advantage of the fact that the house was empty.

Right now, she was taking a shower, unfortunately alone. They knew that she would undoubtedly be very late for work if they had stepped under the water together. He didn't have to arrive at Grace until later so he could blissfully slack around the house just in his boxers and with his hair tousled… well, no, not from sleep.

Derek saw a paperboy ride off on his bike and he decided to pick up the post. It was time for the latest edition of the journal of neurolinguistics. Despite the fact that it was early morning the air was hot and humid so hopefully he wouldn't cause a sensation walking out in front of the house half naked.

He bended to collect the press from the lawn when he saw a pair of shoes before him. He returned to his full height to face the newcomer, craving the ground to swallow him whole as he realized who it was.

"Richard," Derek breathed out enthusiastically. He decided to play the dumb card. How ironic, his teacher, mentor and former chief caught him in his underwear at his current boss's house… What was Webber doing here at this time of day? He lived across the city, much closer to Grace. "What a surprise, I haven't seen you in ages!"

"What a surprise indeed," said Richard dryly.

No, he apparently knew well enough it was Meredith's home. Derek tried to cover his exposed chest, but it was a futile effort. His hands were busy holding the coffee mug and newspapers. They stood in silence, Richard chewing his tongue and Derek covering in more and more crimson blush.

"I came to see Meredith," sighed Richard finally. "I… figured she might still be at home this early."

"She's… uhm," stammered Derek uncomfortably. "She's in the shower…"

"Right," Richard cleared his throat and balanced at his heels.

"Would you… would you like to come in?" Derek pointed at the house.

"No, I… I wouldn't like to… interrupt," refused the older man his eyes sweeping involuntarily over Derek's wardrobe, or strictly speaking, the lack of it.

"You wouldn't-"

"It's nothing important," cut him Richard.

"So, you and Meredith?" Richard's voice was now sharp and authoritative. "How did that happen? I've heard you're sworn enemies. She didn't pick for you the deputy job."

Derek felt defensive, how many times would he have to explain himself?

"We don't flaunt with our relationship," he explained patiently. "And… we had initial disagreements but it's all in the past."

Richard nodded his head and remarked, "She's young."

"Because I'm ancient," Derek bit back.

"She's your boss, Derek!" argued Richard openly.

"Trust me, I'm completely aware of this," the neurosurgeon gritted through his teeth. "But I don't see the problem."

"That's why you're hiding?" asked Richard sarcastically. "Because you don't see the problem?"

"Richard, we're both responsible people who don't need to explain their actions to anyone!" said Derek harshly.

"She's too young!"

"You're repeating yourself. Isn't her age partly why you chose her for the job?"

"I didn't choose her for an affair on the job," growled Richard. "She can only get hurt!"

"Are you insinuating I could hurt her?" asked Derek disbelievingly and continued callously. "By the way, how's Adele?"

Richard looked suddenly deflated, "I don't know… I…"

"I know, you've got divorced," he finished quietly, slightly ashamed for his outburst. He was Webbers' friend for years since his intern years. "I should have… I should have called when Meredith told me, but I was…" he raked a hand through his hair.

"I understand," shrugged Richard. "I was young and in love myself a long time ago. But I was a coward… and I let work come before anything."

"I won't make that mistake," assured Derek. "She's… my priority."

Richard nodded and turned to leave.

"You're not going to see her?" asked Derek.

"I'll catch up with her later," replied Webber and walked away to his car.

"Richard!" Derek shouted after him. "We can count on your discretion, can't we?"

"I know a thing or two about a romance in the workplace," he grumbled not turning back.

Derek let out a deep breath and returned to the house. Meredith was already in the kitchen, devouring leftovers from yesterday's dinner.

"Where have you been?" she asked through a full mouth. "Went for a jog barefoot and naked?"

"I went out to pick up the post," he smiled. "Jealous much?"

"Jealous?" she snorted and turned to the coffee machine. "I don't get jealous."

"You don't?" he smirked, put away his load on the table and pressed his body tightly against her back. "What would you do if one of your neighbors kidnapped me to be her sex slave?"

Meredith giggled, "There are only elderly ladies living around. The most they could do to you is cough at you. Provided they didn't die of a heart attack at the sight of you."

"That good, eh?" he nuzzled his nose into her neck.

"Nope," she swatted his arms away. "Get off. I'm all fresh and ironed whereas you're sweaty and smell like sex."

"Like sex and you," he quipped. "Anyway, Richard was here."

"Richard?" she exclaimed. "Richard Webber? He saw you?"

"Yeah, and he wasn't happy."

"What did he say?" asked Meredith nervously. "What do you mean by not happy? Angry, disappointed, scandalized? Why would he even care?"

"I got the impression that he was quite protective of you," answered Derek pensively.

"Why would he be protective?" Meredith scrunched her face. "What did he want?"

"He didn't tell. He said it was nothing important but…"

"But he troubled himself to come to my house…" she got lost in thought. "Maybe he heard that I want to say goodbye to Campbell?"

"You want to do it today?"

"I've waited long enough for her to hand in her resignation," shrugged Meredith. "She has to go, she's a dinosaur!"

"Meredith!" berated her Derek.

"What?" she shrugged innocently. "You know it's not ageism on my part. She botched a simple procedure."

"I don't think Richard came to stick up for her," Derek shook his head.

"Why not?" she argued. "Campbell was already working when he and my mother started their internship. I know that, I checked her files. Like I said, a dinosaur."

"You picked that dinosaur from Cristina, didn't you?" chuckled Derek.

"I don't know what you're getting at," shrugged Meredith. "She gave me a professional opinion many, including you, shied away from."

Derek only smiled. He was glad the doctors of Seattle Grace were finally warming up to heaving strong headed Meredith Grey as their chief. Her ardent defense of them against her mother was clearly decisive in the process. Meredith's relations with Cristina were surprisingly good considering Yang's earlier attitude.

"I don't think Richard was very scandalized," Derek returned to previous topic. "He said keeping a romance on the job quiet was nothing new to him."

"Seriously?" frowned Meredith and got lost in thought. "Who would have thought…"

"Shit, I need to go!" she realized looking at the kitchen clock. She ran out to the hall but a second later she was back in with a coy smile on her face.

"I forgot about something," she shot, threw her arms around his neck and kissed the living daylights out of him. "See you later?"

With that she really exited the house and drove off. Derek allowed himself a wide smile. He loved how he snaked his way into her daily routine. And there was a common fact that routines were hard to break.