Chapter 20: Under the Night Sky

The alarm blared off, loud and clear. Meredith untangled herself from the ivy-like grip of Derek's arms and legs and scurried to the bathroom. She was back fifteen minutes later, damp from the shower and wrapped up in her towel.

"Hey! Get your ass up!" she slapped his buttock and he groaned.

"It's six a.m.," he almost whimpered nuzzling his face into the pillow. She bit her lip. Derek did the nuzzling thing, beside the fucking thing and the cuddling and the humming and the leaning. Oh, and the smiling, and a thousand of other things that drove her crazy. Good crazy. Every day surprised her a little more how everything she initially hated about him changed in her eyes to his advantage.

"It's not six a.m. It's seventeen past six. You tell me you save lives in the OR when you don't even get the sense of passing time?" she quipped.

"I wanna sleep," he murmured disregarding her jab. "Sleep…"

"Where's your inner surgeon clock? Doing forty-eight hour shifts? Pre-rounds? Do you even remember those?"

"Ohhh," he groaned. "Don't remind me. The sole idea is painful at this hour."

"Oh, you are gonna have so much trouble getting back on the horse," she quipped dropping her towel and reaching for her clothes that he had insisted to put into the wardrobe instead of throwing them in a heap on the armchair. Cleaning freak…

His head went up immediately at the sight of her naked body. "Depends on the horse…"

She turned to him otherwise listless, one of her legs in her jeans. "Did you just call me a horse?"

He only grinned, his indigo orbs glued at the level of her bare breasts which bounced up and down as she put on her jeans.

"What if I give you more incentive to get up than just saving lives?" she quirked her eyebrow.

"You think we're going to be saving lives?" he snorted with sheer amusement. "On the Intergalactic March or something?"

"Everything can happen on the Intergalactic March," she shrugged. "It brings out all the crazies. Better than Halloween."

"You were saying something about an incentive…?"

She sent him a full smile as she clasped her bra. "I'm healed…"

"You're healed?" his own smile turned wicked and he was out of bed faster than a lightning.

"Ha, one innuendo and you're up! All up," she commented at his hardening length that was pointing straight at her. Did she mention already that she liked the naked sleeping too?

"I'm all up," he snickered closing on her like a predator on its prey. "Isn't that what you wanted from me?"

"Yeah, now go take your shower," she steered around him pushing on his shoulder blades. She lost the sight of little Derek but still could admire his very shapely ass. "You should probably make it a cold one."

"Oh, come on! You tease!"

"Oh, come on!" she mimicked him. "I gave you an incentive for later. We don't have time now! Get a move on."

"A quickie," he pleaded.

"No time for a quickie. If you had got up with me, we might have had nice time in the shower. Now you'll have to wait for the night. Late night. Because we'll be on our feet all day. Busy busy day."

"Exactly!" he argued. "A long and busy day and you're holding out on sex?"

"I'm not holding out on anything! We just don't have time!"

"I'm gonna sing The Clash in the shower if you don't give me sex," he threatened.

She couldn't help laughing. They didn't have sex for the whole week following the poison oak incident. She had been a little worried that their relations would get awkward. What would they do? What would they talk about? However, much to her surprise, the awkward moments happened very rarely.

They talked, they bantered, joked around. She learnt a lot about him, his chattiness had no limits, hence The Clash teasing. His sunny disposition surprisingly helped to overcome her own barriers, sometimes without her noticing.

"Sing away," she shrugged. "I'm gonna be doing breakfast anyway."

"Breakfast?" a sudden fear marred his face and he broke into a run to the bathroom. "I'll be right back. Start the coffee and nothing else."

She giggled going downstairs. It was her infallible way of getting the things done like she wanted without sex. Since the morning when she attempted to make pancakes, attempted being the operative word, Derek would do anything to prevent her from cooking again.

"Looks like we're going to make a grand entrance," Meredith remarked pointing at the open door of Cristina inn back room. It was clearly full of people already, the most important people in Rachel.

"Are you bothered by this?" Derek gave her a worried look. "Because I can wait in the car-"

"No, you're not going to wait in the car, Derek. I'm not ashamed of you," she gave his hand a little squeeze. "And I'm not going to waste time later repeating everything that was said."

"Good morning!" she greeted the gathering walking inside with Derek. Every pair of eyes fixed on them curiously. There was Cristina, the majority of her staff, sheriff Rigsby and his deputies, Izzie, Charlotte King from the tourist office, the town's mayor and his secretary, two military men and numerous volunteers.

"Finally," Cristina smirked at her across the room. "We've started without you. Saving shower water backfired on you two?"

Meredith narrowed her eyes at her as several snorts and chuckles rang across the room.

"No, we could barely drive through there's so much crowd everywhere," she replied sourly and cleared her throat, "Those who haven't met him yet, this is Dr. Shepherd. He's going to help us today."

"We're going to need every help we can get," nodded Charlotte King. "According to our estimations there are nearly four hundred people here already and it's only early morning. We can expect a real invasion during the day."

"Let's go through the program one more time, peeps," ordered the mayor. "Grand opening here in the center, lasts about an hour. Then we slowly, I repeat slowly, make our way south. Remember that no cars are allowed with the exception of Rigsby's and Dr. Grey's…"

"So, what's the latest Rachel news?" Meredith asked casually approaching her best friend when the meeting was over.

"Oh, you mean dirty gossip about you and Dr. McDreamy?" she arched her eyebrow knowingly.

"No!" she frowned. "Yes. There's a lot of gossip? Is it dirty?"

"You bet."

"So?"

"So?"

"Don't screw with me, Cristina. I had poison oak rash on my girl parts."

"That's what you get when you're a dirty dirty stripper."

"That's what people say?" Meredith gasped in horror.

"No, they don't know the details. They just… think it was a sort of vague sex injury."

"Oh, okay… I mean, no! Not okay! I'm a town whore now?"

"Mer, relax. No one is judging you. They actually think you're a victim here."

"A victim? How come?"

"Well, you're this beautiful single naïve woman who's fallen prey to the suave Dr. Shepherd. He seduced you for fun and he's gonna throw you away like a used rag in a few weeks leaving you heartbroken and pregnant," Cristina rattled off with a yawn.

Meredith cackled with laughter. "Seriously? Does that sound like me?"

"I don't know," Cristina shrugged innocently. "I'd say being all doe-eyed smitten with a guy didn't sound like you and there you go."

"You were the one to encourage me to jump into bed with him," Meredith gasped with disbelief.

"Exactly, I didn't encourage you to fall head over heels though."

"I didn't. I just like sex," argued Meredith.

"You sure it's just sex?" Cristina gave her a piercing look. "He's going to be gone in over a month. You know that, don't you?"

"Of course, I do! I told you, my heart is not in my vagina. I don't… I don't even know if my heart is still there… anywhere. I wouldn't be able to sustain a long-term relationship even if I wanted. And I don't want it."

"So, you're still going to look for a doctor for the practice?" asked Cristina, trying to appear casual.

"Yeah, sure. Come to think of it, I should already put up an announcement in the paper."

"Oh, you might not need to do that… Remember... I told you there was a guy?"

"Yes?" Meredith raised her eyebrows questioningly.

"Well, he might…. Turn out to be something more than just a fuck buddy. And a… he wants to move here…"

"For you?" Meredith wiggled her eyebrows, not missing a chance to tease her best friend. "How romantic…"

"Shut up," Cristina said grumpily.

"So he's a doctor?"

"Yeah. He's a trauma surgeon. Been in Afghanistan, Iraq, in Nellis base for the last six month. And now he wants to settle… He wants to settle down…"

"And you want him to settle down with you," smiled Meredith.

"I… don't mind… I think?" she glanced up at Meredith as though looking for approval.

"Oh, I'm so proud of you, Cristina Yang."

"So I was thinking if you could talk to him, maybe-"

"'Course, I'll be more than happy if you found me a doctor. You like him and that's the best recommendation. When can I meet him?"

"He's here," sighed Cristina.

"Oh? Which one?"

"My guy is talking to your guy."

"Dr. Shepherd!" the man Derek recognized as Major Hunt who bought him a drink the memorable night shook his hand. "You're still in Rachel! Alive and well. And you won the woman," Owen remarked approvingly.

"Yeah, I've never been so grateful for a black eye in my life," he chuckled.

"Major Hunt, good to see you here. You're gonna help us out today?"

"I intend to. I'm a doctor so thought I can lend you a hand."

"Well, if you do, you need to get some civilian clothes. Some of the weirdos think you guys torture their family in the base," quipped Cristina, appearing at his side with Meredith.

"Family?" frowned Derek.

"Yeah, the green relatives from Mars, bulging eyes, antennas sticking out of the head," Meredith explained with a smile.

"Ah!" Derek laughed. "You weren't joking about the crazies, were you?"

"So you're Cristina's boyfriend?" Meredith eyed Owen curiously.

"No-" Cristina started to protest.

"I hope so," he chuckled at her reluctance. "Owen Hunt, pleasure to meet you."

"A man who sneaks from the base to have sex with me is not my boyfriend."

"That's why I'm retiring," Owen hurried to explain and turned to Meredith. "Dr. Grey, I hear you'll have an open position to fill at the practice in a couple of weeks? I'd be grateful for considering me. I have served-"

"Yes, I know, Cristina's told me. There are certain… specificities to working in Rachel."

"I've heard from Cris," he assured with a laugh. "I am up for the challenge."

"All right then" Meredith reciprocated the smile. "I'll see how you do today but I'm pretty sure we'll become coworkers soon enough."

Derek cleared his throat conspicuously. "We should head to the practice, Mer. Lots of work."

"Oh, right," she said frowning slightly at his suddenly sullen look. "We should probably take the necessary equipment to the car before the working hours. We never know how much time we'll have later."

"I can come with you two," Owen offered helpfully. "Help out with whatever is to be done."

"We'll manage," Derek threw curtly and strutted out to the jeep without a second glance.

"What's wrong with him?" shrugged Cristina.

"He's just… sex deprived," Meredith said the first thing that came to her mind, her eyes narrowing dangerously as she stared at the back of his black-haired head. It was going to be a long day, even longer if Derek chose to behave like a sulky child. "I'll catch up with you later."

"Derek, what's wrong?" she asked him catching up with him at the car.

"Oh, nothing," he snorted sarcastically. "Just good to finally know how much you want to get rid of me. Already taking care of a replacement, right in front of me."

"Seriously?" Meredith gasped angrily. "Seriously? You need to pull your hypocritical head out of your hypocritical ass! You came here and you thought the world stopped spinning, oh great Derek Shepherd? No, it didn't."

"Mer-"

"Shut up! You're going to be back in NY in over a month and I have to have another pair of hands on deck. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a good, I repeat, a good doctor who'd agree to work here? So, no, you don't get to be mad at me for doing my job. And great thinking by the way, I want to get rid of you so much that I sleep with you every night in hope of you leaving." She scowled at and sidestepped him to driver's seat.

"It's just-" he stated defeatedly.

"Yeah, it's always 'it's just' with you. I don't wanna hear this, I just want to get through the day."

Meredith was behaving like a bitch. She knew that. She felt bad for it. But it was just easier this way. They were keeping it commitment free and it was working for her. She hadn't had that much fun for ages.

He couldn't just break the rules and start bitching and moaning, going all possessive and what not. He would be gone and she would have to deal with everything alone so he didn't have a right to pout. Certainly, not when it came to her.

The atmosphere in the car she shared with Derek and Owen was unbearable. The people walking in the March all around them were laughing, having fun and they were… awkward. Owen tried to strike some conversation but his attempts went in vain. Derek seemed to be still mad at him and Meredith was fed up with Derek's attitude.

However, against herself, she felt her anger ebbing away. She glanced in the rear view mirror as Derek had been vengefully delegated to the backseat with Owen taking his place at the front. He sported that beaten up puppy look again. And his eyes were shining like those of a little boy in Santa's workshop as he stared at the crowd all around. There surely was a lot to be stared at. The March resembled a carnival. The majority of participants wore costumes, from Star Wars memorabilia to their own creations.

"Derek," sighed Meredith. "You want to go with everyone?"

"No, it's okay," he grumbled.

"Seriously, we can go mingle. Owen will drive," she rolled her eyes at Derek's stubbornness. He certainly had a thing for being broody and moody.

"Fine."

"We're taking a medical kit, if anything happens we'll be right there," she said to Owen while he moved to take the place behind the steering wheel. "We're having our cells on, so just call if you need us."

She pushed the medical kit in one of Derek's hands, grabbed the other one so as not to lose him, and led him through the crowd.

"I'm sorry." She heard him sigh after a few minutes of walking in silence.

"Mhm."

"You were right. I was out of line."

"Damn right you were."

"It's just that… I like it here. I love spending time with you. For the past week I practically forgot there was such a place called New York."

"Well, you shouldn't forget about it. Because you live there," she said firmly. "And you will be back there sooner than you realize."

"I know… I think it's going to be hard to leave it all behind…"

Meredith felt tingles of unease going through her body. In her mind's eye she saw Derek driving away in some sort of a shiny car while she stood listless on the threshold of the practice. She shook the image off swiftly. She should not get overly attached to him.

"I don't want to get rid of you," she said uneasily. "But I don't lose sight of the realities. I will need to hire a doctor, I have a chance now and I'm not going to throw it away."

"Okay, I'm… going to be adult about this," he sighed and looked at her hopefully, his fingers squeezing hers. "Are we calling it a truce?"

"Yeah, we're calling it a truce," she rolled her eyes but a smile playing on her lips. "Anyway, enjoying the parade?"

"It's fantastic!" he chuckled, his eyes sweeping around. "It wasn't like this when I was a kid. I remember there were some fifty people tops and I had to sneak out with Nancy because Mom didn't want to let us go."

"The event's growing every year but it's still a long time before we can compete with Roswell."

"You plan on seeing that happen?" he asked curiously. "You never think of… moving? Leaving Rachel?"

"Why would I?" she shrugged. "This is my place, my home. I don't have another."

Derek's grip on her hand tightened. "What about your childhood home?"

"That… was never my home. I didn't have the happiest childhood."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It wasn't… horrid. I just have no sentiment for Seattle."

He quietly digested the new information she let slip. She was from Seattle. But she was to New York as well at some point. He wanted to know more about her, he wanted to know everything. He wondered if she'd ever let him. Ever… They didn't have forever. They only had weeks… Those thoughts were pushed out of his mind, however, when he spotted a man in his fifties, sitting on a big rock and wiping the sweat off his face.

"Sir, are you alright?" Derek hurried to ask.

"No, I'm not alright!" he growled and Derek backed off somewhat. "I'm tired."

"I'm Dr. Shepherd and this is Dr. Grey. Do you want us to take you away from here? To the town? Do you have-"

"I'll be fine!" the man roared importantly. "I'm an interstellar emissary from the planet Draconis. I've been through worse things!"

"Ugh…" Derek looked at Meredith seeking help.

"Leave him be," she mouthed to him and nudged him forward. "He'll be okay."

"Really?" Derek raised his eyebrow skeptically, glancing back at the man who just stood up to continue his walk. "He sounds like had sustained trauma to his head."

Meredith giggled. "I used to thinks so about every other tourist I've overheard talking in Cristina's inn."

"I think he needs a psych consult," insisted Derek.

"Don't we all," she replied with a chuckle and led him forward to the air force base's high fence that was the march's destination.

"Aren't you tired?" Meredith's giggle carried through the desert as Derek dragged her over to a place sheltered from view. It was late night, or very early morning, and the after parade party was winding down. Owen was back in the base with the promise of being hired at the practice in over a month while Meredith and Derek were finally free from their duties. According to Derek, it was also the time to put into life Meredith's promise from the morning yesterday.

"I'm never too tired for this," he assured her hotly. His hands ran all over her body wherever he could reach, undecided where to start.

"Me neither," she breathed out, her lips searching for his frantically. They were a whirlwind of hands trying to feel as much as possible, to caress, to grope, to tear all the clothing that was in the way of their desire… A whole week without this, it was too much…

"I want us naked," he panted, carelessly tugging her jeans down. "Naked… I want you naked and pressed close to me…"

She let out a sweet giggle. "Are you sure there's no poison oak in the vicinity? Our last outdoor adventure didn't end up so well for me."

They didn't have blanket, anything. Well, except a condom which somehow Derek didn't forget to take with him in the morning. Derek lay her down delicately on his clothes he threw haphazardly to the ground. There was only their naked raw desire that propelled them further with an almost animalistic need.

Meredith was slightly surprised with the intensity of Derek's actions. He was always a passionate attentive lover but what he was doing now was blowing her mind. He hovered over her like a predator feasting on his prey. No place on her body was left untouched, not pampered with the pads of his fingers or the moist kiss of his lips and tongue.

Suddenly, he stilled above her, seconds before he was about to enter her, and stared into his eyes. She shivered, his gaze was so deep as though he was trying to peer into her very soul.

"Are you gonna fuck me or what?" she chuckled breathlessly, trying to turn everything into playfulness.

"Not exactly," he murmured, his lips engaging hers with a lasting kiss. Then, he looked back into her eyes with serious concern, "Do you want to be back up?"

She stilled, her eyes going wide in surprise. She didn't notice, she didn't have a care in the world she was lying under him until he brought it up himself. He remembered she preferred to be on top. And he willingly offered to gave her the control over their lovemak- no, over the sex they were having.

And she didn't notice. She was so caught up in the pleasure and anticipation and the wondrous feel of him against her that she didn't have a care in the world.

"So…?" he asked awaiting her answer.

She blinked a few times, her heart beating wildly. Her eyes slid over his head… and felt the calmness seep back into her heart. She was safe here, under the beautiful night sky of Nevada. Nothing and no one was going to harm her. Certainly not Derek. He was waking her up, pulling her up from the dead. Every touch, every caress of his was cleansing her. She had felt so used, so dirty after Mitch, like her body would be impure forever. Derek Shepherd healed her…

"It's… okay…" she let out a barely audible sigh while her legs tightened around his waist.

His blue pools of eyes widened in surprise but she reassured him with a smile, and a nudge against the small of his back. He slipped inside her slowly, feeling every ridge of her moist channel.

She gasped. Her world felt strangely complete. She felt complete. She was home. That sense mounted with every withdrawal and thrust of his until her world exploded and she could no longer tell if the lights she was seeing were really burning up in the heavens or just in her head.