AN: Hey y'all. It's been a long hot second since the last time I posted on this story. Life has been insane the past 14 months and I honestly can't believe it's been that long since I posted. I've been reading a lot of contemporary romances in those last 14 months and for the past few weeks I couldn't stop thinking about this story and how I wanted to get back to it. So please bear with me on updating this story, I work over 40 hours at my job and also have a blog that I try to keep regularly updated too. Thank you for all the support you have given to me and this story so far!

It's been five weeks since Derek was discharged from the hospital and it has been the longest five weeks of his life. It has been difficult for Derek to sit on the sidelines and watch his friends and teammates get ready for the new season. The positive to this situation is that because he's been watching his teammates, he can see where their strengths lie and how they can use it to their advantage this season.

After a long day of practice, Derek and Mark decided to go to Rockafellas Sports Bar to grab a few drinks and catch the Yankees playing. Hobbling over to a hightop in the middle of the bar, Derek ordered a single malt scotch while trying to find a place to lean his crutches against.

"Man, how much longer do you have with those?" Mark asked as he ordered his drink with the server.

"I'm supposed to get them off next week and start therapy again the Monday after that," Derek answered. "Thank God, because it's honestly killing me watching you all getting ready for the season without me."

"It's still so early in the season that you really aren't missing much. It's mainly the rookie players getting more practice in than us."

"I know, but still I want to be ready to go when pre-season starts. This is going to be our year. I just feel it all the way to my gut." Derek said, leaning back in his seat as the server brings them their drinks.

"Don't even sweat it Derek. And don't over do it in therapy. The goal is to get you back on the field at a reasonable percentage for preseason, not to have you back at 100 percent right away or worst back in a cast," Mark replied, taking a sip of his drink.

"I know, I know. I promise I won't overdue it in therapy. I'm not trying to end my career early."

"I hear you man, but I also see you constantly doing those little exercises Meredith gave you on the sidelines."

"I'm just trying to make sure I'm looking good to have the cast off and in a good starting point when I begin going to physical therapy."

"Is it just for that or is it to impress a certain blonde physical therapist?" Mark asked with a smirk on his face.

Derek paused for a second, swirling his drink around in the glass, "I don't know what you're talking about. She's not my therapist anymore."

"Huh? That's interesting, because I seem to recall you finding out that she works in the outpatient clinic on Fridays. The same outpatient clinic that I recall is the one you're going to."

"I didn't choose it because of her. It just made sense because I was already doing therapy through that hospital."

"Derek, we have the means to any physical therapy clinic in the area, including the one that works for the team. You chose this one because of Meredith. You were so into her when you were in the hospital. You looked like you wanted to punch me in the face for flirting with her, which by the way you have never acted that way to any other girl before. Why are you acting this way now?

"Trust me, I still want to punch you for that," Derek paused a second before continuing, "I've never felt this way about someone. I can't stop thinking about her, but I also need to focus on the season and I don't need a distraction."

"Man's that's some messed up thinking right there. You can't put your life on hold to focus on your career. Look at Drew Brees and Tom Brady. They're married with children and you don't see them not giving 100% on the field every week. If you're serious about Meredith, don't let football stop you."

"I hear you, I hear you. Listen let's just get through this week and getting the cast off. If I see Meredith at at therapy on Friday, then I'll start working on getting her to agree to go out with me." Derek said, finishing his drink.

"Thank you. Talking to you about a girl is honestly getting too mushy for me. All i'm saying is it's still the off-season and you have ample free time. We'll worry about your social and romantic life during the season when that time comes. Have fun with Merideth right now. She's into you man. I mean she turned this down." Mark said, gesturing to himself.

"Keep going and you'll get that punch in the face sooner than you think." Derek said as a group of guys come up to their table.

"Hey aren't you Derek Shepherd and Mark Sloan of the Giants." one of the guys asked.

"Yeah, that's us. What's up?" Mark answered.

"Oh man, we're such big fans of you guys. Do you mind if we get a picture together?"

"Not at all," Derek replied.

That put an end to Derek and Mark's conversation as they started to get attention from other customers in the bar and asked for more pictures. While taking all these pictures, Derek couldn't stop thinking about Meredith and seeing her in therapy in two weeks. He just hopes she hasn't forgotten about him in these past few weeks and could get the nerves to ask her out.

AN 2: Thanks for reading this. This chapter was definitely a challenge to write trying to get back into the groove and I feel like I may have put Mark and Derek out of character, but I liked how the chapter turned out. Hope y'all enjoyed it!