Chapter 8: Intensifying Feelings

Meredith falls onto the little bed in the on-call room - expecting to fall asleep immediately. Ten minutes later she sighs loudly, adjusts the pillow and rolls to her side. She is too exhausted to risk driving herself home, but her mind isn't allowing her to sleep.

Meredith closes her eyes and allows her mind to wander to thoughts of Derek. It has been seven hours since she left his house so abruptly. She'd gone straight into surgery when she arrived at the hospital. Her patient was okay, and it appears that he is going to make it. Since the emergency surgery, one thing after another had needed her attention. Now, she's been awake for thirty-six hours straight. She has the next thirty hours off - and she has to be at Laura's birthday party in five hours, so she really needs some sleep first. The thing is she keeps feeling Derek's touch on her hair. She has already admitted to herself that she is very attracted to him, but she is amazed at how comfortable she has become with him in such a tiny amount of time. It's true that she likes his sense of humor, his intelligence, and his confident arrogance. And obviously she's physically attracted to him - she remembers their hot and heavy make out session. It's Derek's acceptance of his own vulnerability that really reaches inside Meredith and touches her heart - making her feel things she can't define. When he'd run his hand down her hair the night before and really examined it through touch, she had felt close to tears. It had felt like an important moment to her.

She wants to call and talk to Derek but it's too early in the morning. She sets the alarm on her phone to go off in four hours then closes her eyes again. Finally, she feels herself drifting toward sleep.


Mark Sloan looks at the man who has been his best friend for nearly all his life, and wonders what is going on with him. This man fishing with him is relaxed in a way he hasn't been for far too long. Finally, Mark says to Derek, "You seem different this morning."

"Different?" Derek asks, laughing.

"Yes, different," Mark says, sounding a little embarrassed. "Don't make me sound like an ass doing psycho-babble. Just tell me what's up with you."

Derek grins in his friend's direction and states, "I had a date last night."

Mark's head jerks in Derek's direction. He knows that having a date is a big thing for Derek. He keeps the surprise out of his voice as he says, "Yeah right, I didn't set you up with anyone."

"I don't recall ever needing your assistance with women," Derek laughs.

"Oh yeah? What about Carly Bishop?"

"I said 'women,' not my first crush in sixth grade."

"You still needed my help with her. I asked her to the movies for you," Mark insisted.

"True," Derek states, "But I seem to recall that you liked her best friend, Denise Branson and I asked her out for you."

"That's true," Mark laughs. "So, who was your date?"

"Actually," Derek grins, "She knows you."

"Really?" Mark asks, intrigued and puzzled at the same time.

"Yeah, she works at the hospital. I met her a couple of weeks ago when I went for my meeting with Richard. Meredith came here for dinner last night."

"Meredith?" Mark asks in surprise. "Grey? You met Meredith Grey at the hospital? And she agreed to come here for a date with you?"

Derek reels in his line, sets his fishing pole on the ground and turns to Mark with a frown on his face. He sounds irritated when he states, "You don't have to sound so surprised. Unless she's one of your conquests." The last statement makes Derek's stomach twist in a knot.

"No! No, it's nothing like that," Mark states emphatically. "I'm just surprised because the image I have of Grey is 'all work and no play.' She's a Neurology Resident and she's tough-as-nails. She's an amazing doctor and really beautiful but she's also a bit cold."

"What do you mean cold?" Derek asks as his body remembers the feel of her pressed against him - hot and pliant.

"She's a bit stand-offish. She doesn't flirt or get personal with anyone at the hospital, as far as I know."

"That sounds professional, not cold," Derek defends.

"Maybe," Mark relents. Then he says speculatively, "You like her."

"Yes, I do," Derek says with a smile as he picks up his fishing pole and casts the line back into the water. "She's smart, funny and not put-off by me being blind. I hope I'll be spending a lot more time with her."

Mark decides that he needs to be nicer to Meredith Grey. He doesn't know this woman Derek is describing, but since she's making his best friend smile and talk about dating - she's okay by him.


All Meredith wants to do is go home. She wants to go to her small apartment, crawl into her warm bed and call Derek. She's had more than enough of screaming, running children at Chuck E. Cheese's.

"Meredith," Molly says as she sits down next to her sister. "You did great with the Dora scooter."

"I did," she grins.

Lexie sits down on the other side of Meredith and groans, "Molly, when are they going to settle down?"

"When they fall asleep in the car, on the way home," she laughs in response.

"Oh god," Lexie groans again. "Meredith, how was your date with Derek?"

"It was great," Meredith smiles and feels her cheeks warm a little.

"Oh my god, you're blushing," Molly states excitedly. "I've never seen you blush over a guy. Did you have sex with him?"

"Molly!" Meredith and Lexie chide simultaneously.

"Oh, come on… I'm the oldest, Lex, you're in the middle, and Mer is the baby. Now, I have a four-year-old and a one-year-old. How often do you think I get to jump my husband? I'm going to live vicariously through my sisters for a bit."

"Okay, that's just wrong," Meredith says sadly. "Shouldn't a perk of marriage be lots of sex?"

"You'd think," Molly laughs. "It's kind of hard to make sex happen when you throw in night time feedings, wet beds, teething, bad dreams and a husband who is asleep or playing on the computer by the time I'm in the mood and the kids are settled."

"You two need a weekend away." Lexie states.

"That's a nice daydream," Molly says.

"No, it's not," Meredith says. "You guys go away for a weekend; Lexie and I will keep Laura and Ethan."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes" Meredith and Lexie answer.

"Okay… where are my sisters?"

"Right here!" Meredith answers. "You need this, Molly."

"You really do!" Lexie agrees.

"Okay." Molly smiles with tears in her eyes. "Okay, thank you!"

Laura comes up and pulls her Mommy to play with her. Molly looks at Meredith before walking off with Laura and says, "I still want details about your date with Derek."

Meredith laughs and Lexie says, "Me too. So, did you… have sex with him?"

"No," Meredith sighs. "I think it's too soon." She chews her lip and continues, "Maybe. I don't know. I thought it was too soon, but then we were kissing and touching, and I think I was about to change my mind, but I got paged back to the hospital."

"You should see your face!" Molly laughs.

"What?" Meredith asks, confused.

"You look dreamy."

"Lexie, we're doctors. Could you be any lamer?"

"Meredith, you're sighing and blushing over a date with a hot guy. Who you just admitted you were thinking about having sex with on a first date?"

"Actually, there wasn't a lot of thinking going on, Lex. Just a lot of really great feeling," Meredith says.

"I am officially jealous," Lexie states. "Derek is definitely McDreamy."

"McDreamy?" Meredith laughs.

"Yes, McDreamy."

Meredith shakes her head and smiles. "Do you think we can leave yet?"

"I think we're safe considering Laura has opened her gifts and eaten cake."

"Let's say goodbye and get the hell out of here than."

They did just that and Meredith went home while Lexie went to work. Once Meredith was in her bed under the covers, she dialed Derek's number. She was surprised to feel her heartbeat speed up with nerves.

"Hi Meredith," he answers.

"Hi Derek," she smiles. "How has your day been?"

"Good. Mark was here fishing, but he left a while ago. How was Laura's party?'

"Chaotic but good, I guess. I mean, I think it's hard to screw up a birthday party for a four-year-old."

Derek laughs and asks, "Have you had any sleep?"

"A few hours. I'm in bed now, actually."

Derek laughs and says, "There are things I could say in reply to that statement, but I won't."

"Really?" Meredith flirts, "Like what?"

"I am not answering that. Get some sleep."

"Okay," Meredith laughs, "If you don't have plans.. Can I bring pizza over later tonight?"

"Won't you sleep for hours?"

"No, I can only sleep for about five or six hours before I automatically wake up."

"Okay then, I'll see you later for pizza," Derek grins.

"Bye, " Meredith says happily.

They hang up their phones both feeling excited about seeing one another later. Meredith falls asleep quickly, and Derek goes to let his dog out for a run.