Derek watched as Meredith recited the names of the surgical instruments to herself, she had a surgery with Webber in a couple of hours and she was nervous. He was glad she had not yet seen him from his stance in the scrub in room.

He was silent as he stepped behind her and let his hands find their familiar place around her waist.

"Hi there" she said after a brief pause, finishing the recital of instruments in her head before replying

"You didn't jump" he said, commenting on how she didn't make the usual reaction of leaping into the air when he touched her in the hospital.

"I must be getting use to your antics" she said, remembering how he caught her out last time they were in the OR, when Izzie had seen.

"Nervous?" he questioned her already knowing the answer; she was assisting Webber, chief of surgery, and still thought she had to live up to her mothers reputation

"Hmm" she sighed leaning her head back on his chest

"I know a good way of getting over nerves" he stated, slightly moving his hand under her shirt

"Oh you do? Do you" she said wrapping her arms behind her and around him

"Hmm, it's really good at relieving built up tension" he whispered into her ear as he moved to the drawstring of her pants

"Derek we are in the OR…any one could walk in on us" she struggled to breathe out, as his hands slipped to intoxicate her inner thighs

"And I locked the door" he replied as she turned in his arms, staring deeply into his eyes

"I'm starting to think you planned this" she said, teasing him, pulling back from his kiss

"It's the only thing I've thought about all day" he mused, knowing deep down he was telling the truth

"I hope not" she said, finally giving into the lips which where pursuing her "You did have a surgery and a couple of consults this morning" she said cockily as his hands found their familiar path under her shirt

"Keeping tabs on me?" he questioned, feeling her hands surrender to him and moving from his chest to the hem of his shirt, he felt her tug at it as he smothered her lips with his own.

"Of course not" she panted, as he picked her up and placed her on the operating table, she arched reflexively when the cold of the table soaked through her lab coat and scrubs.

He took this opportunity to slip her pants over her hips, letting them settle around her ankles.

The thought of his sweetness flashed through her mind as he spread her lab coat beneath her, so her bare skin would not be in direct contact with her harshly cold metal. Sliding her hands down the sides of his scrubs she hooked her thumbs over the edge and pulled them down, feeling his growing erecting as he positioned himself on top of her.

He moaned feeling the tingled of her cold hands on him as she guided him towards her. Knowing they didn't have much time she wrapped her legs high around his back as he eased himself into her deeper, enjoying their heated kisses and long stares as he began to maneuver himself.

She moaned loudly as she came, clutching her hands around his back and pulling him closer, her mouth latching onto his neck in an attempt to stifle her delights.

Feeling her teeth bite into his neck he lost concentration and then himself, soon collapsing on top of her after pulling her mouth into his.

"Your right" she laughed, turning to see Derek's obvious 'sex-hair' as they stood tightening their scrubs after recovering and getting of the operating table "That really did help to relieve the tension"

"See I'm a genius" he said smiling as he ran his fingers through her hair

"You certainly are" she replied giving him a sinister smile and pulling him into a searing kiss

"Don't be nervous" he said, lightly massaging her shoulders as they walked towards the door "You will be great"

"Thanks Derek" she said honestly as he unlocked the door and held it open for Meredith

However neither of them expected Webber to be standing on the other side of the door, "Dr Webber", Meredith exclaimed

"Meredith…Sheppard…what are you doing in there" he questioned, seeing them walk out of the OR talking

"Oh…um…I was a bit nervous about the surgery this afternoon so I was just going over the procedure in my head…and …well that's the best place to do it"

"And I was looking for Dr Stevens" Derek added, "You haven't seen her have you?" he asked Webber

"No sorry" replied Webber still looking a little curious

"Don't worry, there she is" Derek replied, heading off down the hall "Good luck with the surgery Dr Grey" he replied turning around to blow Meredith a kiss behind Webbers back, which earnt him a scowl from her as she had been left to deal with Webbers questions.

When Derek caught up to Izzie he began discussing the case Izzie was helping him on, when they moved to part ways Izzie added "Next time close the gallery" with a serious face

"What" Derek stuttered as his face fell

"Don't worry" She continued "I was up there studying and left when you two started making out; as soon as I saw that look on Meredith's face I was outta there" she whispered to him, watching another intern scurry down the hall after Burke

"Was anyone else there" Derek asked, finally regaining his composure

"No and I locked it as I left" Izzie replied, loving seeing the good doctor processing the new information, knowing that his composure changed as soon as it concerned his relationship with Meredith in the hospital walls, as it could affect both of their careers severely if they were caught.

Izzie watched as the wave of relief passed over his face "Thanks Izzie" he said sincerely "But don't tell Meredith until after her surgery" he begged "She is nervous enough as it is"

"Ok" she replied, heading down the hall away from him "But I'm sure you helped with that, didn't you" she quipped before turning the corner, If she had looked back she would have noticed Derek's face turning a deep red in sheepish embarrassment as he remembered his and Meredith's little excursion.

---------------------------------------

Webber tried to recall other recent times when he had seen Grey and Sheppard together, he knew Meredith had been a big part of the reason Derek didn't move back to New York and try again with Addison, but he wasn't sure if Meredith reciprocated the feelings. However, after discovering them alone together he decided to get all the information on the couple that he could as he considered it part of his job to know the current gossip.

While discussing the post-op notes with Meredith he saw what looked like a faded hicky peeking out from her scrubs and later having a coffee with Derek he was sure their were fresh teeth marks on his neck. He continued to keep his eyes open all day, being careful not to stare at them but to just watch, trying to catch a touch of a hand, a smile or even a look.

He was successful in catching them in acts such as these with each other, but was unable to decipher if they were any different to how they acted when with any other member of staff; he had watched as Meredith had playfully punched George in the arm and as Derek had smiled brightly at Miranda and a nurse, obviously sharing a joke. This therefore left him indecisive-something as a surgeon he did not like.

Later that afternoon he decided to gain some definite evidence of the Sheppard/Grey romance so cornered George in a consult room he said "O'Malley, I need you to be the sponge"

"Yes Sir" George sighed

"Good all hospital gossip, don't leave anything out no matter how small" he replied, knowing George did indeed make a terrible investigative sponge, but also knowing he was a good friend.

As predicted as soon as George left the room he headed over towards Meredith, pulling her aside and whispering something to her, with a sudden look of urgency across her face she turned on her heel and walked away from him.

Webber stood at his post and watched the play unfold exactly as he had predicted as Meredith walked straight up to Derek, addressing him as "Dr Sheppard" before pulling him away from some nurses who were near the desk he was at.

------------------------------------------

"Dr Sheppard"

"Yes Dr Grey" Derek said looking up

"May I have a word?"

"Certainly" he replied, hoping they were going to pick up from where they had left off in the OR

After motioning for him to follow she walked into the X-ray display room, picking up a film she started to speak "George thinks…No Derek leave them open"

He looked up at her in surprise, as he untwisted the blinds.

"As I was saying" she continued "George thinks Webber is on a gossip hunt again, he asked him to be the sponge again"

"Oh" Derek replied, now understanding what Meredith was saying "But George won't say anything" he added stepping towards her and pretending to examine the film she was holding.

"Yes but if he has got George on the look out who is to say he hasn't got anyone else as well" she said in a whispered tone, pointing to something on the scan

He took his time before replying, pretending to focus on the film but looking at her out of the corner of his eye "Ok so no rendezvous, touching eye contact…nothing" he stated flatly

"Correct" she replied, putting the film down and turning to look at him but keeping a 'business-like' face

He simply nodded but added "Your place" as she headed out the door

"Yes Dr Sheppard…Thank you Dr Sheppard" she replied, not catching the small smile that slipped out her lips

Neither of them realized the older grey-haired man standing in the distance, silently watching them before turning away.

---------------------------------------------------

"Ahh…that was hell" Derek exclaimed, as he wrapped his arms around Meredith's waist and pulled her into a kiss. He had just arrived at her door after a very long day of being careful not to touch or talk to her for too long, he had even painfully asked Izzie to assist on a surgery when he would have usually chosen Meredith. The only humor his day had had was when he had seen Bailey having to rewrite the surgery notes on the board after automatically signing Meredith's after his own.

"Hmmm" Meredith agreed laying her head on his chest "I hate when Webber is in gossip mode…makes me edgy" she added guiding him towards the kitchen where Izzie and George were serving four plates of dinner up.

"Bailey knows…again" he announced as they entered the kitchen

"No she doesn't" Izzie replied, already knowing what they were talking about "She was nice-well as nice as Bailey gets- to Meredith all day"

"Mmm" Meredith agreed, nodding as she pulled a long piece of spaghetti through her lips "No hoops today…she definitely doesn't know"

"Yes she does" Derek replied

"She does" piped in George "She just about chocked when Derek chose Izzie for the surgery tomorrow instead of you" he said looking at Meredith

They sat in silence, all quietly contemplating how long Bailey had known, "She must be ok with it" Meredith finally stated, hoping that saying it out-loud would make it true

"Hmm" Derek added smiling at Meredith "Maybe she is"

-------------------------------------------------

At the hospital Webber leaned back in his chair pondering the gossip he had learned, George had informed him of two nurses who had played a joke on Alex and something else about one of the clerks wives having a baby, but the information swelling in his head was that of the relationship brewing between one of his attendings' and interns.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N

Hey Guys!

Sorry for the delay in updating but work has been soooo hectic lately and I'm trying to spread my story out so the Christmas chapter actually comes out near Christmas. Depending on my shifts I'm hoping to update at least once a week. Please continue to send me ideas and comments-I don't mind criticism so dish it out if its constructive!

Mwa