Ever wonder how the new residents found out about Seattle Grace's it-couple?

Chapter 11A: "After you."

Jackson wasn't really one for gossip. Reed, unfortunately, was all about it. He felt bad for her. Her best friend got fired, after all. And usually he could feign attention well enough for Reed to think he was actually listening, but this time was different.

"Wait, what did you say?" the man squeaked.

Reed rolled her eyes and emphasized every word. "I said they were holding pinkies."

"Dr. Shepherd? And Meredith?" he put on his coat that had been hanging in his cubby for two whole days. "Meredith, the girl in our year who just started yesterday? The one who recovered from surgery or whatever?"

Reed smirked. "Guess these Seattle Grace kids know just who to suck up to. Sneaking around with an attending, I respect. But she went for a department head too. That, I admire."

"You're gross," he rolled his green eyes at her. He was never her biggest fan. They were friends, sure, she would be like the annoying little sister he never asked for. "They held pinkies, not grabbed at each other's crotches. Could be innocent."

"Oh please, don't be naive. If they're holding pinkies, they're doing it. Think she'll share?" she giggled wickedly as they exited the resident's room to finally head out after an exhausting shift.

Reed respected the game. Played it even. Surgery was a rare commodity ever since the merger and they were residents– hungry for even a glance of the OR. And once upon a time, as an innocent undergrad, neurosurgery was high up on her list of consideration. Now that she was in the real world, it might not be a bad idea to play the cards that she had on a certain dark-haired, blue-eyed doctor.

The next morning, her target was acquired. There he was, leaning against the nurse's station filling out a chart. She made eye contact with Avery sitting behind the counter before smirking at him and nodded at the neurosurgeon's direction, ignoring the disdain in her friend's face.

She strutted towards him, getting her doe-eyes ready to be that perfect combination of adoring yet sultry.

That's what they all wanted anyway.

"Good morning, Dr. Shepherd," she lightly coughed before greeting him with a soft smile.

"Hm?" Derek gruffed without even looking up from his the papers in his hands, scribbling word after word. "What can I do for you?"

She chewed her lip at his wrynes. She couldn't even get him to look her in the eye.

"I, uh, wanted to say you did such a great job yesterday during that acoustic neuroma removal. That whole surgery was just incredibly flawless," she batted her lashes.

Derek's ears perked. He knew that tone. That type of ass-kissing, trashy, flirty note in the little pixie-cut haired woman's voice. He didn't want to be presumptuous, but the way her eyes leaned into him and had that whole doe-eyed look kinda confirmed it. He rolled his eyes inwardly before dismissing her, half-amused and grossed..

"Look," he wracked his brain for a name but failed. "...Doctor. I've got rounds in five. Do you have a question that needs answering or are you just trying to kiss your attending's ass?"

She faltered at his dry and annoyed tone, saving her bruised ego by convincing herself that maybe he just wasn't into brunettes. "I– No. No, sir," she replied firmly before moving aside to let him pass.

Her face simply flushed in embarrassment before sticking her middle finger at Avery's buoyant laughs.

She would've let that pass. Dr. Shepherd seemed cordial enough after that to pretend like it never happened. He treated her like every other resident. Boy, he was good. He even treated Meredith Grey like every other resident– when they were in public at least.

She caught him looking at her back once or twice, eyes wandering lower. She even saw her bring a lunch into his office before hearing a lock click.

She was going to let it be but a few days later…

"Dr. Shepherd's married?!" she gasped at the nurse after she had overheard his light conversation with the older woman. He chuckled after telling her that his wife's favorite thing for dinner was cereal, and that made life so much easier for him.

"Tall drink of water like that, what do you think?"

She bet his wife was blonde too.

"He's freakin married, Jackson," she slammed her tray lighty on the table as if she had a eureka moment, interrupting his lunch mid-bite.

"Huh?"

"Derek Shepherd is married. And sneaking around with resident. That," she picked up a french fry from his plate in popped it in her mouth. "Is crass."

"It's not crass, it's pedestrian. He sounds like every guy ever– has sex," he replied, pulling his plate closer to him defensively. "And Meredith Grey doesn't scrub in Neuro any more than I do. I counted."

"Seriously?" she laughed. "Okay but sometimes it's like they're trying to get caught!"

He couldn't deny that. An attending with a resident would at least try to hide it. It was, at the very least, iinapporpriate. But married attending? Christ.

"You got me wondering. Anyway, sounds like she's just getting some. Let her be."

He had a point. It wasn't any of their business. Still, she cringed at the thought. And the idea that someone as annoyingly talented as Meredith Grey was going to possibly mess up her career and reputation for what? A few nights of good sex with someone unavailable? For a man?

What a shame.

"So Meredith…," Reed called out in theb scarcely populated resident's lounge as they changed back into their street clothes.

The blonde simply looked at her waiting for her to go on. She was tired and a box of Cocoa Puffs was waiting for her at home.

"Know any good bars around here?"

"Joe's across the street," she said simply and picked up her tote, eyeing the open door.

"What's the rush?" the brunette called before she could even take a step. "Got a boyfriend, Meredith?"

Meredith's eyebrow shot up before eyeing the Jackson on the other side of the bench trying to discreetly shake his head no. This chick was annoying. Nonetheless, she appeased. "A boyfriend? No, I–"

"Hey, there you are," a voice none other than Dr. Shepherd's stepped into the lowly resident's room.

Meredith smiled as he walked closer to her, barely acknowledging the other two doctors in the room. "Hey, I said I was gonna meet you down in five."

She stepped over the bench and handed him her bag as she put on her coat.

"I forgot my phone, had to go back to the office. Figured I'd come get you. Ready?"

"Yeah," she smiled, readjusting her tote on her shoulder.

"After you," he gestured as she rolled her eyes with a smile and laced her fingers through his so they could start heading to the door together. But not before they bid their jaw-dropped peers a nice night.

A shellshocked Reed stood frozen. Jackson would've laughed his perfect ass off, but he was still processing what just happened too. "Well, that pretty much explains it."

And that's how the Mercy-Westers found out that Dr. Grey was Dr. Shepherd's wife.

This is a twist on mrdcrs's request on how the new interns find out MerDer is married. This one is on the short side since it's gonna be one of three on that request. Thank you mrdcrs! This and the next two chapters are for you.

I've been working on other older reqs too, but this whole snippet played out in my head as soon as I thought about it.

I'd la-la-love your reviews on this

Also, guest who asked for freaky MerDer is such a mood. Your wish is my command.