"So, today's the big day?" Preston Burke inquired of Addison's ultrasound, as he and Derek sat in the break room enjoying a few minutes of peace. Derek sat, legs spread, on the worn out sofa, and his counter-part on an orange plastic chair, legs crossed, sipping a cup of tea as the two discussed Derek's current situation.It was an issue that the two had argued on for the better part of two weeks—on and off—and they were both at opposite ends of the poll, so to speak.
"You're going, then?"
The two surgeons had become good friends in the past few months and now had the privilege of inserting opinions, whether good or bad, welcome or unwelcome, into what they thought about each others lives. They argued, they debated, sometimes fought, but had a solid friendship that was built on mutual respect for each other—and some would say that they were undoubtedly best friends—and it showed in every way, as it did the moment they began to argue over the current demise.
"It would appear so." Derek answered tightly. He took a sip of his coffee and winced as the hot liquid seared down his throat. "She wants me there and I can't really say no."
"Why would you say no?"
"I didn't say no."
"But you don't want to go."
"Didn't you just hear me say that I wanted to go?"
"No." He corrected mildly. "You said it like you didn't want to go but that you had to go—therefore—you're going."
"What are you? My shrink now?"
"Not even I can attempt to unravel this mess." He held up his mug of tea and grinned at his friend. "I have to hand it to you, Shepherd—when you do something you really go all the way."
Derek rolled his eyes, annoyed. "Thanks a lot."
"Hey, I call it like I see it." Preston answered, not one to mince words. Derek wanted to know what he thought—he'd tell him. No holds barred, no beating around the bush. "And you have really got to evaluate your priorities."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Offended, Derek drank down the last of the awful coffee and threw the Styrofoam cup across the room towards the trash can and missed.
"It is your kid, man." Preston said pointedly. "Why the hell wouldn't you be there?"
" I know that." He cocked his head to the side. "You don't have to tell me that, Pres."
Unaffected, Preston waved his hand dismissively. "So, what's your problem?"
"I don't have a problem." Derek answered—a bit testily—" I just think that having a baby with my ex-wife and my fiancé—" He held up his hand to demonstrate the significance of the moment. "is not exactly what I had planned for my new life with Meredith."
"So what? Get over it already." Preston snapped impatiently—truthfully, he was tried of watching Derek treat Addsion like she didn't exist—and tired of listening about how Addison's pregnancy was an albatross around Derek's neck. The man needed to grow up and take responsibility for his actions. Preston Burke was a man of action—and if he had been careless to get two women pregnant at the same time then he would act like an adult and deal—not run around and pretend that all was well in the schoolyard. In short, he was tired of Derek messing up what good things he had. At least he'd finally asked Meredith to marry him—and things were great between them—but the way he was treating the woman he had shared twelve years with—was just plain wrong.
Annoyed, Derek did a double take and clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth. "Thanks for the advice, pal. You're really hittin home with the whole—" He raised his hands in caption—"friendly chat here. You're really making me feel better. Thanks." He said sarcastically.
Burke leaned forward and balanced his elbows on his knees. "Making you feel better?" He snorted. "You still don't get it do you? This isn't about you, pal. It's about Addison and Meredith and the fact that they are both having you child—this is way past you and what you want."
Derek's eyes widened. "Don't you think I know that?"
"I don't know."
He narrowed his eyes. "You really think that I don't know that this isn't about me anymore?"
"Do you act like it?"
"What?"
"Have you stopped acting like it's about you?"
"Wait a minute—" His eyes darkened and heated. "Don't sit here and lecture me about this—we're supposed to be friends here–and whatever this little chat is—certainly isn't very friendly!"
"This is me being your friend." Preston argued. "That's why I'm spending the one break I've had in four hours listening to you—and trying to get you to see what's really going on here!"
"Give me a freakin break!" He stood and plowed his hands through his dark hair. "For the past four months all I've thought about was these two babies and the two women who are carrying my children! How can you say such a shitty thing to me?"
"How can you be so shitty to Addison?" Preston countered. "Derek, you are my friend—" He shook his head sadly. "And as your friend I have to tell you that you're being a real ass to her and toward this pregnancy. Everyone sees it—"
"Everyone who?" Derek snapped. "Everyone of the busy bodies? Gossips? Who are we talking about here?"
"Everyone who works in this hospital."
"Bullshit!" Angry now, he stood and pointed toward the door. "Bullshit!" He repeated.
Burke shrugged. "Sorry. It's true. You don't even ask her how she's feeling, Derek—how do you think she feels when she sees how happy you and Meredith are? Talking about your baby and how great it's going to be—and then you walk past her and act like she's nothing?"
"I don't do that—" He defended. "I just don't know what to say to her----" he looked up angrily. "What would you say? Tell me—what would you say if you got two women pregnant at the same time, huh? Tell them that you love them both? Tell them that we'll all just live together? One big happy family?" he pointed at Preston again, harassed to the point of breaking. "You're wrong—I don't act like she's nothing!"
"Yes. You do." Preston held up his hand, knowing when enough was enough and backed off. "It makes me sad for you—for her—and for this child that you really don't seem to be interested in. I'm your friend and I think that you're doing this the wrong way. You need to be supportive of her and at least let her know that you give a damn about her and this child." His voice had lost it's judging tone and was replaced by genuine concern.
"Well, thanks for your concern."
'It is concern whether or not you recognize it."
They were interrupted by a light knocking on the door. Francey Yeo, the red-headed nurse peeked in. "Sorry to interrupt, but Dr. Shepherd, Dr. Montgomery wants to see you in her office." She shut the door softly.
Derek turned to Preston. "Well, I guess I know what I have to do."
Preston rose from his seat and threw his empty cup in the garbage and succeeded. "Yep." He agreed. "You gotta deal."