Earlier that day:

"Finn, I don't know what to say." Meredith said softly, as she pulled her hand away from his and ran it through her hair. "I really don't. She stared out the window, her stomach in knots. What the hell was he thinking? Well he obviously wasn't. She couldn't get it through her mind, much less put it into words. What he was asking was impossible—wasn't it?

"You don't have to decide anything today." He urged, hurt that she had pulled her hand away from his. It signified so much more than words could say. She was distancing herself from him already. In the back of his mind he'd known that it was quick—well, too quick—but he was following his heart. "I'm not asking for marriage or anything, but New York is the best city in the entire planet, Meredith. Think about the opportunity we'd have there."

"But what about my job? My life?" She turned to face him. "Have you thought about that?"

"What about it?"

"I live here. I like living here."

"You'll like living there too." He smiled at her, as if she were being silly. "Mer, you're making way too much out of this. Think about the adventures we'd have—the things we could see and do. Why would you want to stay here? You could get a job in New York."

"I like Seattle Grace. I intern there—did you forget that?"

"No. You can intern anywhere."

She shook her head. It all felt wrong. She felt as if she were caught in a current, unable to swim ashore. The water was too strong and she was too weak.

"I like where I work."

"It's not like you won't make new friends."

"How am I supposed to pack up my life and move to New York when my job is here? My friends and family are here—it's not something that I've ever considered." She implored, not liking his tone. In her opinion, it was selfish, not to mention that they'd only known each other for a couple of months. Something was holding her back—more than any of the other reasons.

Derek Shepherd.

" Consider it now." He popped a piece of gum into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. "Want some?"

"No. I don't want gum." She replied. "I should get going to the hospital."

He widened his eyes. "Why? Just because of what I asked?"

"Yes, Finn. Because of what you asked. I don't want to talk about this with you right now. I'm hungry and tired and my arm is killing me. This is too much for me."

"I'm just asking you to think about it." He countered, reaching over and taking her hand into his again. "Unless there's another reason why you don't want to move." He insinuated.

"We're not going there." She snapped, suddenly wishing that she'd said no when he'd called earlier—the entire conversation was one-sided—Finn's side----and she didn't like where it was headed.

"That's where you're wrong." He argued. "We need to talk about your doctor, Meredith. I know you aren't over him and I think getting away from him would be good for you."

"For me?" She asked. "Or for you?"

He blanched. "For you, of course. You're being silly here."

"No." She countered. "You're being silly and unrealistic. You expect me to move away with you when we've barely begun dating. That's silly."

He raised his hand. "Now, hang on----"

"No! You hang on." She snapped again, her blue eyes icy. "You don't want me to be at the same hospital as Derek. Am I right about that? You're afraid that every time I step into the hospital that I'm going to screw him, aren't you?"

"No—that's not what I said."

"You don't have to say it." She said wearily. "Please take me to work. I'll eat there."

"I want to talk about this."

"Well, I don't." She sighed. "Are you going to take me or do I have to call a cab?"

"I'll take you." He turned on the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot and back onto the road, glancing over at her every few seconds. His plan hadn't worked, but in the corner of his mind he knew that she was right. He didn't want her anywhere near Derek Shepherd. And he did think about the two of them together all the time. All of the damn time and no matter how much he wanted Meredith Grey he knew at that moment that he'd never have her.

"So, I guess I can take your answer as a 'no' then?"

"I'm sorry, Finn. I like you but I don't think this is fair to you. I'm not over Derek and I don't know when I will be and you're a wonderful man and I really like you, but this isn't going to work."

They didn't speak again until he pulled up to the hospital entrance. She unsnapped her seatbelt and leaned over and gave him a kiss.

One last kiss.

"I'm sorry, Finn." She whispered.

"Me too." She could tell that she hurt him, as he sat there staring at her, his blue eyes burning guilt into the inner most part of her soul. He was taking it so well, when just a few minutes ago he'd been practically begging her to move. But she understood why he had done so.

He'd forced her to admit the truth about Derek to him—and most of all----to herself.

She got out and shut the door and gave him a small wave. He turned down the window as she walked away.

"Meredith!"

She turned. "Ya?"

"If he doesn't treat you right or things don't work out----just give me a call."

She nodded, knowing that it was the last time she would ever see him. She turned and walked toward the entrance, her heart pounding.

She was going to find Derek. And this time they had a few things to get strait.