Chapter 17: A Concerned Brother

Derek laid on the couch flipping the TV channels. He wasn't sure why he was still awake and watching TV. This was very unlike him, but lying in his room trying to sleep wasn't working for him… his mind couldn't fathom what exactly had happened tonight with Meredith. They fucked… and it was mind-blowing. He had his fair share of women, but Meredith… it was something he couldn't even describe.

He was pretty sure Meredith felt something by the way she started rambling after their first round… the first of three. They attempted to talk in between the second and third, but it basically evolved into the third round. On her way out, there was a very quick conversation that consisted of a long kiss with Meredith saying, "We are fucked. But, work… professional at work. Maybe now we can work together and not have the… whatever it was between us." Derek replied with a simply, "Professional, I can do professional and this… yes, we are fucked, but the fucking was good, wasn't it?" He had smirked which caused a similar look on Meredith's face before she walked out.

Derek heard the door opening, knowing it was Mark; he had no idea what he was going to say to him… if he was going to say anything at this point. He knew he could trust Mark, but this couldn't get out, both careers were at stake.

"Shep… you are laying on the couch watching TV at 1am? Are you ok?" Mark asked, knowing this was not typical Derek behavior.

"I am great." He grumbled, not wanting to talk or answer a lot of questions. Mark had waves when it came to Derek, and he didn't want those waves to show throgh.

Mark turned the light on. He knew Meredith had been there, he saw her drive up and something big happened. He wasn't sure what to do or say about seeing her, but he would push in a "Mark" way, "Well, you should have been with me… it was a fun night. The usual crew was there." He smiled thinking momentarily about Lexie and the little bit he got to talk to her as she was there with George and some of the lower ranking sailors. He sat around with Cristina, Callie, and a few other guys from their shops.

"I was busy here." Derek winced knowing this would elicit questions.

Mark walked into the kitchen seeing the dishes in the sink, a little surprised Derek didn't clean them up, not that he minded, but that was unlike Derek, "Busy doing what? It looked like you cooked tonight?"

Shit. Derek thought, knowing he had forgotten to put the dishes in the dishwasher, obviously someone was over. "I did." He just wanted to answer with simple answers.

"The usual officer crew was there also… Montgomery, Karev, Viper, Hahn, Stevens, but strange… Grey wasn't with them." Mark raised an eyebrow as he grabbed a beer out of the refrigerator before settling in for the night.

"Okay… and that means something to me because…" Derek had no idea what to say. He knew she wouldn't have been with them… she was too busy giving him the ride of his life… and that worked both ways.

Mark sat down in one of the black leather chairs and put his feet up on the ottoman deciding to ignore Derek's last comment. It was obvious he didn't want to talk about stuff. "So, did you lay here all night… after you ate your dinner that you cooked for yourself?" Mark said, knowing he had cooked for more than himself being there were two plates… two forks… two of everything as well as two wine glasses.

"Something like that. I think I am going to head to bed. I will talk to you later." Derek said, getting up off the couch in a t-shirt and boxers.

"I will see you in the morning… maybe you will have your head cleared by then." Mark said almost in a warning tone.

Derek turned back, "What the hell did you say?"

"Nothing man, but you seem preoccupied and before going to work, you need to figure your shit out." Mark warned.

"I am fine … I am not preoccupied." Derek tried to refute.

"Shep… I know you and I know you don't stay up watching TV until 1am for no reason, but I will accept you are fine for now, but as always… your brother is always here… and has always been someone you can trust." Mark said carefully, wanting Derek to know he was there for him.

Derek sighed, "Thanks Mark. I will talk soon. I just have some things to figure out in my head. But, soonish."

"Soonish? Is that even a word?" Mark laughed.

Derek laughed thankful the mood was lightened, "Yeah… it is a great word."

"Ok, I am going to go to bed soonish myself." Mark put special emphasis on the word soonish.

"Thanks Mark… for not pushing tonight. I just need to think." Derek said softly, knowing he would talk to Mark. He was pretty sure he would need him because it was evident tonight that this situation wasn't going to fix itself or change in the near future.

"No need to thank me, but maybe I should record it… the great Derek Shepherd thanking lil ole Markie." Mark laughed as he said it.

"You are hopeless, but for some reason, I keep you around." Derek chuckled a bit, turning around heading to his room, where he could still smell Meredith and the flowery scent that exuded from her body.

"More like I am keeping you around, I had this place first." Mark yelled as Derek shut the door laughing.

"You love me." Derek yelled sleepily, shutting his door.

"I do… but am worried about you… playing with fire is dangerous." Mark said under his breath as he sat, taking the last few sips of his beer thinking about his best friend… his brother.

Would Mark ever understand the forces?