Spanner in the Works Part 2 – Chapter 2

Lunch came quickly, and the three interns went to the canteen and grabbed their lunches. They ate quickly, hoping to call in on Christina before going back to their rounds. They got to her room, to see Doctor Burke sat on the bed, Christina's head on his shoulder, tears streaming. He was stroking her hair, looking to the foot of the bed. The three thought it was best not to interrupt, but as they were walking away, Meredith caught the eye of Doctor Burke, who immediately became conscious of the fact he was Yang's superior when it came to the hospital. He got up slowly and closed the blinds on the window, then returned to his position next to the teary Christina.

Doctor Derek Shepard had just finished a lengthy surgery and looked at his watch. 5pm. He was making his way to the locker room to change, when he saw Meredith. Since choosing his wife over her, Derek had the strangest feeling of insecurity. He'd picked the wrong girl, he knew he had, and since the incident in the intern hideaway, Derek knew for sure that he had done wrong.

"Meredith, we need to talk"

"Doctor Shepard"

"Meredith please"

"Doctor Shepard, please can we hurry up with this. I have patients to see before my shift ends"

"Meredith, I want you to know, I'm filing for divorce."

"Oh, really?" Meredith tried to contain her interest, trying to make it look like she was sarcastically pretending to be interested. She knew it had failed.

"Please, Meredith, look at me at least"

Meredith knew if she did, she would end up falling into his eyes and drowning. She couldn't let herself be captivated by his charms again, not after last time. She looked up. Their eyes met. She knew instantly she shouldn't have done it.

"Come for a drink with me tonight, please"

"Doctor Shepard…."

"Meredith, for God's sake, stop calling me Doctor Shepard!" he said it a little too loudly, and three dozing patients awoke with a start. Derek restarted his conversation with Meredith, this time whispering.

"Please Meredith, please, I'm begging you. All I want is for us to go for a drink." He was trying to make eye contact with her again, but she seemed enthralled by the details in a patients file. She took a pen out of her pocket and started to write.

"Fine, I'll see you when my shift finishes" She said, offhand and calmly.

"When is that?" Meredith put the pen back into her top coat pocket, closed the file and placed it back in the holder at the base of the bed.

"Six." She turned and walked off, leaving Derek stood there frozen for a moment. He turned and then walked off; his stride seemed to portray his inner rejoicing.

George could not believe that he had punched Alex. What was he thinking! In front of all those patients, it was so unprofessional of him. His thoughts were troubled by such thoughts all morning, until he went to the intern hideaway corridor during his break. Meredith and Izzie were there.

"Hey guys, I think I should apologise to Alex"

"What! Why George, it was his own fault for talking about you like that!" Izzie answered. She was now leaning on the trolley and talking in a very animated way.

"I heard all about it George, way to go" Meredith commented as she finished off her apple. Her beeper went off mid bite, "Aww, I so wanted to hear all the details, but I got to go. Can this wait till later?"

Meredith didn't wait for an answer; she jumped up and ran to the elevator. Izzie and George were left alone. George sat down beside Izzie on the trolley and leaned against the cool brick wall. The windows were dark as it was now well into the evening. The street lights sent an amber light on the corridor. George looked up to the ceiling. Izzie looked at him inquisitively before resting her head on his shoulder.

"George" Izzie said out to the darkness of the corridor

"Yeah"

"I think we should go out on a date. A real one."

"Erm…sure. Is this because of what Alex said?"

"No, but I want everyone to know about us, you know. That we are an item"

That comment took George by surprise. Never had he expected a girl like Izzie want to be a couple with a guy like him. They carried on discussing it, and decided to go to the bar for a drink, just the two of them, after work. Then at the weekend they could go for a meal or something. The two then went back to work, and waited for their shift to finish in an hours time.

Six fifteen. Meredith was making her way over the street to the bar where all the hospital staff seemed to go after their shifts. It was easiest really, as it was only just across the street. She walked into the packed bar, searching for his face. Her heart sank. She was only fifteen minutes late, but if she were him; she'd have gotten bored and left too.

"Meredith!"

She turned to her right, and saw Derek in a booth in a back corner, two drinks on the table. He'd ordered a drink for her. She sat beside him and they said little to each other to begin with. We are taken again to the door, to see George and Izzie walk in, Izzie first, gripping tightly to George's hand. She was gripping her handbag on her other shoulder with the other arm. She pulled him to the bar and she ordered for the both of them. They sat and drank their beers.

Bailey was sat at the other end of the bar, sat with Doctor Burke, who'd left his bedside vigil over Christina at Christina's own orders. He had nowhere else to go. He explained the situation to Bailey.

"Well, Doctor Burke, I'd have expected better from you of all people. I expected it from McDreamy over there, but not from you" Bailey gestured over to the booth, were Derek and Meredith were now deep in conversation.

"What do I do? I'm in love with her"

Bailey looked at Doctor Burke in disbelief. Christina had gotten to him. Never had she seen Burke in such a position. Burke was always a solitary character, kept his personal life personal, as far as she knew he'd never even looked at another member of hospital staff in a romantic way, and now here he was, having impregnated an intern. His problems were only just beginning.

Izzie and George left the bar, they pass our line of view and we see them leave the bar. Our focus is now on the booth, where Derek and Meredith are in deep conversation.

"Addison left. I kicked her out. I explained my feelings to her. She understands. She is getting on with her life; I hope we can get on with ours."

"Derek, I don't know. I can't trust you anymore. I don't know what I want."

"Tell me you want me!" He was getting irate. The alcohol was getting to him. He'd had four very large very strong liquors before Meredith had arrived, convincing himself that she would be coming, even if she was a little late.

Meredith and Derek continued talking for a while, and then Meredith left, alone. Derek stayed in the booth, in the same position he was in before Meredith left, leaning over an invisible person. He got up slowly, took the empty glasses to the bar, nodded an acknowledgement to Doctor Bailey and Doctor Burke, and then slowly walked out of the bar.