Chapter 10: I Miss You
Derek misses Meredith.
It was kind of crazy considering he'd only met her three weeks ago, but it was the truth. He misses her and it has only been three nights since she'd last been over. They'd spoken last night before she met her friend Cristina at Joe's and she was working today. He was supposed to be offering her moral support - in the form of distraction - while she did her Fellowship applications. That wasn't really happening though, considering she was about done with the application for Seattle Grace and he hasn't distracted her once. He smiles to himself as he thinks about all the ways he'd like to distract her from her responsibilities.
"You have a foolish look on your face," Miranda Bailey's voice interrupts Derek's thoughts. "Do I even want to know what you're thinking about?"
Derek laughs and replies, "Probably not the exact details, but I'm thinking about Meredith."
"Meredith?" Miranda questions and she pauses in dishing Pad Thai onto two plates for her and Derek to have for their weekly lunch date. "Meredith Grey that the Chief wants you to work with at the hospital?"
Derek doesn't miss the hopeful tone in Miranda's voice. He sighs and answers, "Yes, that Meredith, but I'm not thinking about working with her. I told you I'm not taking the Chief's offer Miranda. Please don't hassle me about it."
"You're being ridiculously stubborn about not accepting his offer," she snaps. "And selfish!"
"Selfish? How the hell am I being selfish?"
"Your being selfish because you are keeping your brilliance and medical knowledge to yourself when you should be teaching!"
"You know," Derek grumbles, "I was in a good mood until you got here."
"You're fine and you know I'm right. You just have to wrap your stubborn mind around the fact that you can teach and be happy doing it," Miranda states with a small trace of annoyance in her voice.
They eat quietly for a few minutes. The silence is broken by Derek's cell phone ringing with a call from Meredith.
"Meredith Grey is calling you?" Miranda asks in surprise.
"Yes," Derek says with a grin as he gets up from the table. "I'll be right back," he says as he leaves the room to take her call.
"Hi Meredith," Derek answers once he's in his bedroom with the door shut.
"Hi Derek," Meredith says with a smile as she slips into an empty on call room to talk to him. "How are you?"
"I was in a great mood and thinking about you. Now, I'm annoyed because Miranda is hassling me about the job at the hospital."
"Is Bailey there?"
"Yes. I left her in the kitchen to wonder why I'm talking to you. I was going to tell her that we're dating but I think I'll let her just wonder now."
"That's mean," Meredith giggles. "And are we?"
"Are we what?"
"Dating?"
"What would you call us having meals together, talking about our lives, and making out on my couch?"
"Don't forget the foyer," Meredith giggles again.
"Yes, the foyer holds fond memories for me."
Meredith giggles again then states, "We're dating."
"Yes, and I'm not saying anything to Bailey yet."
"So, Derek - since we are definitely dating…" she trails off - hesitating.
"What Mer?"
"Well, my friend Cristina was asking me about you last night. She's a surgeon - and I just… well, I don't want to say the wrong thing…" she trails of again.
"About me being blind?"
"Yes," she answers then quickly adds, "there's nothing negative or awkward on my part, Derek. I just don't know who you want to know what. Does that make sense?"
"Definitely. Thank you for your discretion but you don't have to worry, Meredith. I'm private, but I'm not trying to hide anything."
"Okay. That's not why I was calling though."
"Were you calling to tell me you miss me?"
"No," she giggles again.
"Oh, I'm hurt because I miss you," he laughs.
Meredith is surprised at his admission. She can't remember anyone ever admitting to missing her. She replies, "I was calling to see if I can come over a little later. According to the Chief - in three hours - I'll have worked my maximum number of allotted hours this week and he's making me leave."
"See - you do miss me."
"Apparently I do," she says - rolling her eyes but smiling.
"How about if I have Bailey bring me to the hospital when she leaves. Then, we can do something from there?"
"You're okay with that?" Meredith asks in surprise.
"Yes," Derek states. "I know this is an odd situation Meredith, but you don't always have to come to me."
"I just want you to be comfortable…"
"I'm fine," he interrupts.
"Okay. Call me when you get here."
"I will, bye."
"Bye."
They hang up and Derek goes back to finish lunch with a very curious Miranda. "Why are you talking to Meredith Grey?"
"I'm going to meet her at the hospital - if you don't mind driving me in," he answers evasively.
"Of course, I don't mind," she answers immediately. When Derek says nothing else, she asks, "Why are you meeting her?"
Derek just laughs.
"You are annoying me," Miranda says. "If you don't tell me why you're meeting her - I won't drive you to the hospital."
"That's mean," Derek whines.
"Too bad," she snaps.
"Okay," Derek says with a sigh. Then he grins and continues, "Meredith and I are dating. Which I know sounds kind of juvenile… 'dating,' but it's true."
Miranda is momentarily surprised but then smiles and says, "It doesn't sound juvenile. It sounds great!"
"Okay, don't get sisterly and emotional on me. I already had Kathleen crying on my shoulder the other day."
"You are an ass Derek Shepherd."
"That's my Miranda," he says with a grin.
"We just want you to be happy."
"I know. And for the first time in… well, too long - I really am."
Chief Webber is busy doing paperwork when he hears a quick knock on his door. He looks up as the door opens and Miranda Bailey and Derek Shepherd walk inside. Bailey guides Derek to a chair across from Webber.
The Chief happily stops what he's doing and says, "Hi Bailey. Hi Shep, have you decided to take me up on my offer, after all?"
"No," Derek states emphatically. "I'm here to say hi to you while I'm waiting for Meredith."
"Meredith?" Webber asks and looks to Bailey for confirmation, but she's just smiling. "Meredith Grey?"
"I have surgery," Bailey interrupts. She touches Derek's arm and says, "The kids and I will see you on Saturday at Kayla's birthday party."
"Okay," Derek answers. He then turns back to Webber to answer his question, "Yes, Meredith Grey."
"You're meeting Dr. Grey, but not taking me up on my job offer?" Webber is frowning and has a very puzzled tone of voice.
Derek can't help but chuckle and answer vaguely, "That's right."
Webber shakes his head and replies, "I'm confused."
"Meredith and I are dating," Derek states simply.
"What?"
"Meredith and I are dating," Derek says again.
"Yeah, I heard you," Webber snaps. "I want you to work with Dr. Grey, Derek. I want you to teach her - not date her! She's incredibly smart and talented and can benefit from your expertise. So, can many of the other newer Doctor's here now. Not to mention, she is my goddaughter."
Derek answers calmly but with just a touch of steel in his voice, "We don't always get what we want."
Webber is about to reply when there's another knock on his door. He snaps out, "Come in!"
Meredith opens the door and steps in as she says, "Hi Chief." Then her eyes fall on Derek and a bright smile covers her face as she walks over to him and says softly, "Hi Derek."
"Hi Meredith."
"Am I interrupting?"
"No," Derek states as he gets up from his chair and starts to move toward the door on his own.
"Okay," Meredith says with a quick questioning glance at the Chief. She moves toward Derek to take his arm. She looks back over her shoulder and says bye to Chief Webber.
Once they're out of the Chief's office and waiting for the elevator Meredith asks, "What's wrong, Derek? I obviously did interrupt something between you and the Chief."
Derek answers, "He was bitching at me about working here."
"Oh," she says as they step on the elevator and she pushes the button for the lobby. "We're the only two on the elevator."
Derek turns his head toward Meredith and says a bit angrily, "He said he wants me teaching you - not dating you. What an ass."
Meredith giggles, causing Derek to smile and ask her what's funny.
As they step off the elevator Meredith leans into him and says quietly and flirtatiously, "I was just thinking that there's probably plenty you can teach me."
"Really?" Derek grins - the Chief completely forgotten. "Like what?"
"I don't know. You make the lesson plan, Professor Shepherd. I'm a very obedient student."
"Meredith," Derek says, his throat suddenly dry and his voice husky. "You said 'not yet' to sex."
Meredith opens the passenger door of her car and Derek gets in carefully. Once Meredith is in the driver's seat she leans over, touches Derek on the cheek and they kiss softly. Pulling back a little, Meredith says, "All teasing aside Derek… I want you."
A very happy, horny-male smile appears on Derek's face. He gestures impatiently and says, "Let's go."
Meredith giggles, starts the car and drives them toward her apartment.
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