Against All Odds:
Chapter 6: Ironic
Meredith drew in a steadying breath. She didn't quite know how to tell him. He waited, his hands in his coat pockets. "I… I wasn't at Joe's the other night for the Hell of it. I was there for a going away party." She said finally, looking up from beneath her lashes, waiting for what he was going to say.
His eyes searched her face. "Who's leaving?" He asked finally. She closed her eyes and lowered her head. He took several strides to her, until he was inches from her face and took her chin in his hand and raised her face to his. "Who's leaving?" He asked again, more insistently. She saw it in his eyes. He already knew. He just didn't want her to say it. "Me. The others were on call, and ended up with a 4 car pile up, couldn't get out." She said, her gaze holding his.
She's leaving! Why? Where? When!
He barely heard anything she said, his mind had been going a mile a minute. He swallowed and let go of her chin. "Why?" He questioned, still holding his position. For some reason, he wanted to be as close to her as she would allow. "That program you suggested my mother would be good for? They want her. And because of her advanced condition and her need to remain anonymous, the program director wants to observe her himself, and the study is being done in-" She started to explain. "New York. I know." He finished for her. Derek took a step back and his eyes strayed to the night sky.
She's leaving because of the program I suggested she enroll her mother in. Irony sure is a bitch.
"And of course you're going with her." He said, his fists resting on his hips as he turned his body away from her. She nodded. "She may not realize that she's my mother, but I know I'm her daughter. I can't let her go off to New York alone." She told him.
He knew that. "What about everything here?" He questioned after a moment. "Izzie and George got their own places. I got a transfer and they've found me an apartment out there." She replied.
Something dawned on him. Izzie and George already had their own places, that's not something that happens over night… He turned to face her suddenly. "How long have you known?" He asked, his voice low. "Well, I mean, long enough for the them, I mean, George and Izzie, to find places…" She replied, quickly picking up on the tidbit she'd given away. "How long?" He demanded. "A month." She replied quietly.
"A month… You really didn't want me to know did you?" He asked quietly. She didn't respond. (He knew she wouldn't) "When do you leave?" He questioned, his eyes probing her face. "Tomorrow." She answered finally.
His body went still. His heart stopped beating for a second. The woman he loved would be on the other side of the country in less than 24 hours. All of a sudden, he had a dozen different feelings go through him all at once. Pain, regret, love, loss, sadness, cowardice, frustration, confusion, concern, stupidity, heartache, anger. Unfortunately, it was the last emotion that took hold of his actions.
"Real mature Meredith! You knew it would bother me, that it would upset me, confuse me, hurt me. And you did it on purpose!" He yelled.
She held her temper at bay. "Congratulations, you now officially know how I've felt every single day since your wife came back." Meredith replied, her eyes never leaving his.
That's why she did this. She wanted me to feel her pain, to feel what she felt. She knew exactly what it would do to me.
He said nothing. (She knew he wouldn't) "All I ever wanted was for you to love me. Love me like I loved you. Love me so much it hurt, love me so much that whenever I wasn't around you felt like a part of you was missing. But you didn't. And I couldn't make you feel that. So you got to feel the pain instead. Cause the pain, that you feel ten times more than you feel the love. So I guess this is how it ends. Goodbye Derek." She said softly as she turned and walked into the house.
Am I really going to let it end like this? Am I really going to let her walk away and not say goodbye?
"No. That's not how this is going to go." He told himself. He gathered all his strength behind himself and approached the door.
Meredith hadn't even made it to the stairs and there was a knock on the door. There was no question as to who it was, just a question of what he wanted. She sighed and headed back to the door. "What do you want?" She asked, her eyes tired, her small frame seeming more fragile than ever.
"I did." He told her. She wrinkled her forehead. "You did what?" She asked, confused. "I did love you so much that it hurt, so much that when you weren't around I felt like a part of me was missing. I did, and I still do." He said and with that he stepped into the house, and in one swift movement, gathered her delicate body into his arms and kissed her.
Hope you likey! REVIEWS!
My thoughts on the events of last night's episode-
LOVING that Mark got to Addison. The way he talked to her, it totally got under her skin. The facial expressions, you could tell that he completely rattled her. (Sorry I have to give props to Kate on this, she does an excellent job playing Sunday night's most hated woman!)
I totally dug the part where Mark says "When Derek walked in on her and I, he just turned around and walked away, but when I just talk to you, I get punched." Or something to that effect, but regardless, it was an excellent line.
The scene where they were the elevator and when Derek got off, the two of them in the elevator together… Beautiful.
So, it's official, someone will be leaving this season. I'm thinking it's going to be Alex or Addison. More than likely, Alex, because of the whole plastic surgery thing and I'm thinking that they were maybe hinting at something. I dunno. Maybe Addison, but I don't see her leaving JUST yet.
I am so unhappy with Meredith right now. Great for George telling her how he felt and it was a great speech, but I can't believe she's taking advantage of him.
Wondering what Derek's going to say. Especially in the previews, he told her she wasn't going to lose him… I literally found myself saying "Don't be so sure" to the TV.