Chapter 3: Bump in the Night

Meredith loved her life in Rachel. Not that she hated it before, but in this little charming town of Nevada, it took completely different colors. Who would have thought? She was a child of big cities. She was born in Seattle, grew up in Boston, her career skyrocketed in New York, where also she had her heart broken.

Many of her friends and colleagues didn't understand her decision when she quit Mount Sinai. Presumably, she had had everything. She had an amazing career. By many she was considered a medical genius. She was the youngest fellow ever, the youngest surgeon ever to be awarded a Harper-Avery. Money was never an issue to afford the illustrious life she led since being widely recognized in the medical field. She even had a special someone with whom she was going to spend the rest of her life with. Until she was stabbed in the back where it hurt the most. Leaving her with practically zero trust in people and an unbearable hatred to what was her passion and profession.

After that, she just couldn't find herself, she couldn't redefine herself. Her half-sister convinced her to go on a wild trip to Vegas to cheer her up. Little did she know her older sibling would choose to stay in Nevada for good. No, not in Vegas. The city was spectacular in itself, without a doubt. But it was not what her heart started beating for once again. Lexie, a great enthusiast of tourist attractions, dragged her to Rachel, a well-known alien spot close to the mysterious Area 51 were Uncle Sam was rumored to hide extraterrestrial beings and their spacecrafts.

Meredith fell in love with the place at first sight. Not necessarily with the alien hype, though it definitely added to its charm. She loved the serenity, slow pace with which the sun governed the life in this desert region. She loved the people. They were straightforward. Not in the way Derek claimed. They were real, no make believe. If they were flawed, they were honest about it.

Lexie popped in to one of the souvenir shops, hunting for perfect alien memorabilia, whereas Meredith sat down on a bench and soaked everything in. She wanted to sit there forever, to stay there forever. She felt it in her heart, it was reborn, her strength of will, her spark. She was brand new. The vacancy in the local practice was what ultimately convinced her to act on her insane urge. She signed the contract with Dr. William Shepherd the exact same day buying off half of the practice that was threatened with financial ruin, to Lexie's utter horror. But no rationalizations, arguments, threats, or tears made her change her mind.

It wasn't easy at the beginning. She was an outsider, and not falling into the category of tourists who were cherished as they came, spent their money, and left without fuss. She was here to stay which aroused suspicions. She didn't let that discourage her. She thrived on it. She lived to overcome the impossible. It wasn't long until she warmed her way into the hearts of Rachel folk. Everyone noticed the coarse streak of hers that made her fit right in. Plus, she was an excellent doctor who never denied extending her care to anyone.

Did she ever miss her previous life? She didn't have much time for it. Even for a town of nearly two hundred inhabitants, situations regarding medical attention were numerous, especially in the tourist season. Sometimes, in moments of idleness, she missed the closeness to her half-sisters and the hustle of the big hospital. But every second of her new life was worth it, every second of the last three years she spent in Rachel.

Meredith smiled over a cup of coffee. She was completely relaxed now thanks to the last few hours she spent with her patients. Derek the asshole was slowly fading into the background. He had irked her, brought bad memories to the surface, reminded her of the people she was once surrounded by. He was persistent too, the way he wanted to get back at her… unsuccessfully.

What was he doing in Rachel? She pondered on that question curiously stirring the contents of her coffee cup. She knew he was a New Yorker and was here for a closer unspecified business activity. That was weird. Cristina's inn was practically the alien center, and he clearly didn't arrive for her. And he seemed somehow familiar with Rachel.

She had to stop thinking about him. Which would be hard… she remarked sourly seeing the man enter the small coffee shop. She squinted scrutinizing his form. He looked nothing like this morning. He was freshly showered, freshly shaved, in freshly ironed clothes. How? Cristina's inn was the only place offering rooms before the season peak and she knew solidarity meant solidarity. Impossible that anyone from the locals would have helped him, certainly not after the scene in front of the inn.

Damn asshole spotted her. He had a new spring in his step, a new wave of confidence. What the hell was wrong with this picture?

"Ah, Meredith," he graced her with a wide grin that showed almost the entire set of teeth. She could hear the coffee girl's heart pounding out of her chest. And the drool falling to the floor with a loud splash. Seriously, he wasn't that good-looking…

The smell of his aftershave reached her as he halted beside her table. "Long time no see!"

"Can't say I share your enthusiasm," she muttered indifferently.

"Oh, come on, Mer," he frowned affectedly. "We both know you're not nearly this frigid."

"I'm not your Mer," she gritted out.

"Whose Mer are you then?" he asked curiously placing one of the chairs backwards and sitting down. He didn't see a ring on her slender finger and frankly, it would have to be some man to keep her in check.

"I'm not anyone's Mer. I don't belong to anyone."

"Right," he mocked her. "Like wildfire or something."

"Get lost, why won't you?"

"I don't really know anyone else in here. You're my frenemy soul."

"What the fuck are you doing in Rachel?" she spat abandoning all pretenses, her temper getting the better of her again. "Are you here to annoy me?"

"Self-involved much?" he quipped. She didn't even suspect why he was here, nor that his plans concerned her greatly.

"You're wearing a different shirt," she remarked changing her tactics, her voice as calm as the air before the storm.

"You noticed, I'm touched."

"I wonder how many shirts you packed with you because," she grinned, "you might want to go back to NY immediately to buy some more," with the speed of light she spilled the remaining coffee straight onto his shirt. She hoped it was another Versace, Armani or whatever snobbish brand he chose to wear. Another point for her, another one of her triumphal exits that left him flabbergasted and open-mouthed.

Derek ate his reheated burger in a state of nonplussed resignation. His laptop had thoroughly soaked in the downpour and could now only serve as a huge beer coaster. Apparently, Uncle Bill didn't think much of modern inventions as there was no TV set or even a radio in the whole house, for that was where Derek was staying.

When he was denied the place at the inn, the only logical solution was to find his uncle's home, correction, his house now. As a rightful owner, he was given the key. He was more than astounded when he actually saw it. He had expected a neglected ruin, not a neat recently renovated household. Electricity and running water weren't cut off yet, so far so good. If only he didn't feel so cut off from the world...

He lifted his head up with surprise hearing his cell phone ring. It wasn't working all day. He hurried to pick it up.

"Shep! Finally! Where the fuck have you been? We've been worried sick that you're lying dead somewhere in a sewer."

"Aw, nice to know you care, Markie," he quipped to his best friend since childhood. "Well, I have hit a little snag."

"Are you okay?" Sloan's voice was genuinely concerned.

"Yeah," chuckled Derek. "But I had a night from hell. I got lost, got stuck in a storm, abandoned on a gas station in the middle of nowhere-"

"Say again?"

"A woman that was driving me up to Rachel kicked me out. It took me the whole night of wandering and a voyage on the back of a truck in the cold desert night."

Mark's booming laughter exploded on the other side of the line. "What did you do to her?"

"Er, nothing, yet…"

"So, you hit on her and the chick left your sorry ass behind!" he chortled. "Was she even worth it?"

"Ten out of ten," whistled Derek. "And that story's just getting more and more entertaining. I'm pretty positive we'll meet again…"

"Oh, I know that determined tone. She's a goner."

Derek smiled satisfactorily. There wasn't a more infuriating creature in the whole wide world than Meredith Grey. Their every encounter meant some kind of disaster for him, usually involving his clothes. But that made him lust for her even more. He could feel in his body that sex with her would be doubly satisfying, for his desire and drive for vengeance. And damn, one way or the other he would make it happen.

"How are things at the hospital?"

"It's still standing, you know. Although, there might be nothing for you to come back to. I don't want to brag, but I've made a considerable progress with the redhead."

"Damn, Mark. You're playing dirty. You know well enough, I would have beat you if I were in New York."

"Yeah, right," snorted Mark. "Tells me a guy who just had his ass kicked by a chick."

"She'll be mine before I board the plane back. She'll be screaming my-" he trailed off hearing suspicious noises at the door. "I've gotta go. Tell Ma not to freak out, okay?"

Meredith carried the takeout dinner into the kitchen and was locked the door of the practice, which contained also the loft she lived in, when her cell phone rang.

"Meredith Grey."

"Evening, Meredith," sounded the voice of one of her friends.

"Hey, Miranda. What's up? I haven't seen you in town lately."

"It's been a crazy few days, Tuck is very fussy. Teething takes all life out of him," she sighed.

"Poor little guy," said Meredith. She adored Miranda's little son being his godmother and the one who delivered him. "I can pop in to check up on him."

"That would be great but… listen, are you done with patients for today?" she asked with a hint of anxiousness.

"I… yes, I am. What's wrong?"

"I don't want to worry you… but someone's in the old doctor's house."

"What?" gasped Meredith and grabbed her car keys. "Someone's robbing the house? I can't believe it!"

"It… doesn't look like it," muttered Miranda peering through the blinds. "Whoever it is, they don't shy away. There's light in the kitchen and on the porch."

"What the hell!" Meredith was already on her way, a trail of dust flying behind her tires.

"I would send Tucker to check but he's in Vegas for the new truck."

"I'm on my way, thanks for the call, Miranda."

"You're welcome, I'll get the shotgun ready."

Ten minutes later she was at the place, joined by Miranda, a short plump woman in her thirties.

"Tuck's thankfully asleep so I'm here."

Meredith nodded at her, strode confidently towards the house, and yanked at the doorknob.

"Locked," she muttered with a frown. She pulled her key from the pocket and opened the door cautiously. She would not let anyone steal from William's place. She would protect the house of the first person that welcomed her in Rachel and the one she almost regarded as her father.

Meredith cleared her throat and shouted. "This is a private home. Whoever you are come out here slowly, with your hands up. We have a gun and we are not afraid to use it!"

The mysterious intruder appeared in the hallway, not with his hands raised but occupied with a food plate, vocalizing what was going through her head.

"No way! No freaking way!"

Meredith's jaw muscles slacked and tightened all at once at the sight of the man that seemed to be the bane of her existence since yesterday night. "You! What the hell are you doing here?"

"You know each other?" asked Miranda curiously, her eyebrows raised, lowering the shotgun.

"It's…it's Derek the asshole!" spat Meredith provoking a loud contemptuous snort on his part.

"And who's Derek the asshole, if I may ask?" Miranda's eyes pierced Derek.

"An agent of hell sent to make my life miserable!"

"You know I withdraw what I said earlier," argued Derek. "You're not a bit self-involved. You're the most self-involved person I've ever had the displeasure to meet. And it's me who gets to question what you are doing here."

"Oh, that's a good one," jeered Meredith. "You're going down for this, prissy. The Sheriff will have lots of fun with you. It's called breaking and entering."

"Duh, fine, let's go call the Sheriff," shrugged Derek, completely relaxed. At least this time he could be absolutely sure that from this battle he would come victorious. "I'll let you know that I'm the only person entitled to be in this house. I don't need to break in to enter, I have the key!" He triumphantly lifted the little piece of metal from the table in the hall.

"What?" frowned Meredith. "How did you get that?"

"From my lawyer," explained Derek with an air of superiority. He would prefer to reveal his identity to her in slightly different circumstances where he could squeeze more fun at her expense, but this worked too. "I'm Derek Shepherd. According to my uncle's will, his only heir."

For the first time, Meredith seemed temporarily mute. The grin on Derek's face widened.

"You're… you…" she stammered, a deep frown that said "I'm screwed" on her forehead. "You were supposed to be here next month! I've argued with your damn lawyer for weeks that I wanted to get this business done with quickly, but you were supposed to be here next month!"

"Well, I'm a busy man," he answered arrogantly. "My schedule is very dynamic, my presence in New York is necessary next month, so I'm here now. We can... get the business done with quickly. That's what you want, right?"

It didn't escape her when his tongue darted to moisten his lower lip, strengthening the innuendo.

"You want to buy my share of the practice right?" he chuckled at her unresponsiveness.

"Right," she whispered weakly. "The house as well."

Great, he was holding all the cards. She needed to be the sole owner of the practice. She needed to hire another doctor as she was swamped with workload. And right now, Derek the asshole had the power to make her life hell, permanently. If he dared to sell the practice to someone else… to a stranger…

"We'll have so much fun discussing the terms," he said with an exaggerated excitement. The only response he got was her clenched jaw and the color rising on her cheeks. He had her pinned now. She wouldn't do anything against him in fear of losing the chance for the practice.

"So, if we have this little issue of my presence here cleared up, I suggest you leave," the apparently polite smile never left his features, it might have become more satisfied at the humiliation Meredith was experiencing being thrown out. "Or… you can stay. I've just finished dinner, but we can think of a dessert…" he flashed her a suggestive look.

With a disgusted roll of her eyes she turned around to stalk out, followed by Miranda who was avidly watching the dispute.

"By the way," he called after her. "I guess you were the one taking care of my uncle's house? Paying the bills, dusting off? I'm truly grateful! I really needed a comfortable place to stay after last night. You're an angel!"

Meredith's mouth opened to bite back but Miranda pushed her out of the house.

"I'll see you later?" the cocky goodbye was the last thing they heard before the door closed behind them.

"So, he's the real deal, huh?" said Miranda propping her shotgun on the ground as they stopped beside Meredith's car.

"I guess so," sighed Meredith, pacing up and down in powerless anger. "He has the key, he knows the details. And I don't have the strength to call Wayne to check up the story. It will only aggravate him further. He can really mess this up for me. And he will!"

"And it doesn't help he was practically undressing you with his eyes," Miranda remarked shrewdly.

"He didn't!"

"I know what I saw," shrugged Miranda. "Admit that's the main reason he pissed you off so much. You can't stand male attention."

"I can stand male attention!" argued Meredith hotly.

"Sorry, can't agree with that. You see the man who hurt you in every guy that takes interest in you."

"I've been out with Jackson!"

"Pray, tell me when was the last time?" snickered her friend. "You've got cold feet."

"I did not! I've… we've both been busy!"

"Keep telling yourself that," went on Miranda though her expression softened. "I know it's hard to shake off after what you've been through but… not every guy is out there to break your heart."

Meredith swallowed hard and stared at the ground beneath her feet. "I don't want to talk about this," she let out a shaky breath. "And I don't want you to insinuate anything about me and this… this big ape!"

"Duh," snorted Miranda. "Trust me, I have no intention of playing matchmaker for you and him. He's just an idiot with a lot of gel in his hair."

"I don't want you to play matchmaker for me at all!" protested Meredith, her arms folded tightly.

"Oh, that wouldn't be only me," Miranda couldn't help smiling. "That's the community's feeling. You're the benevolent single doctor. Rachel won't rest until we dance at your wedding."

"I should have known it couldn't be all roses in here…" she snorted gloomily. "You know that animals don't mate in captivity, right?"

"If you say so," Miranda patted her back. "I need to get back to Tuck, are you gonna step in for a coffee or tea?"

"No, I need to get back to the practice. It's all on my head. Izzie's an incredible help but there's only so much she can do as a nurse."

"Fair enough, if you want to avoid further discussion. Just remember you can call me any time."

"Thanks, Miranda. For everything."

After her friend departed, she stayed a moment propped against her car, looking at William's house. Initially after his death she only intended to buy the practice. But later she came to the conclusion that she could easily live in that house. Sure, she had a comfortable, newly refurbished place at the practice, but this was a real house, a home. It carried the traces of generations, of family life, it had the soothing atmosphere of tradition. She came to want this house. Now, the arrogant dickhead from New York was so close to ruining her plans. She turned on her heel and kicked the tire of her jeep with all her might.

Inside the said house, Derek Shepherd was in a different mood altogether. He was relishing the victory. It was the best feeling in the world. He put his hands behind his head with a deep unperturbed sigh as he heard Meredith Grey's irritated shriek from outside. Yup, best feeling in the world.