Chapter 2: Two Strangers Meet

Derek Shepherd rarely had an afternoon off. It was amazing that today he had a whole day off. He was able to sleep late and drink his coffee and read the newspaper without rushing to get to the hospital. Today, there were no surgeries scheduled for him, and no responsibilities. Besides going to the bookstore to buy a gift.

He entered the small bookstore, the bell ringing as he opened the door, not quite sure what he was looking for. He just figured he would ask somebody what a good gift was for somebody who worked at a hospital. There was an older man at the register as he came in and what looked like an older woman doing the books at a small table. He headed farther into the store when his eye was caught by a woman, a petite blonde, replacing books on the shelf.

"Um...Excuse me?" Derek said, walking over to her and clearing his throat to get her attention.

"Yeah?" The blonde turned around quickly, a book in her hand.

"Hi..." He said, a smile spreading across his face.

"Hello..." She smiled in return.

"I'm sorry...Do you work here?"

"Oh...yeah...um is there anything I can help you with?" Meredith cleared her throat.

"Yeah...I'm um...I'm looking for a book." Derek replied, before realizing how stupid he sounded. He was obviously looking for a book.

"You realize you're in a bookstore, right?" Meredith let out a small giggle.

"Yeah...I'm...tired." Derek chuckled.

"Oh Okay." Meredith laughed.

"I really am looking for a book though." He smiled.

"Oh...I might be able to help you."

"Because you work here."

"I work here." She breathed, pushing a strand of hair behind her ears.

"I'm um...I'm looking for a gift." He said.

"Okay..."

"For my boss."

"Okay." Meredith breathed.

"It would probably help if I told you what he does." Derek chuckled.

"It might." Meredith giggled, looking away from the handsome set of blue eyes.

"Surgeon...Well he's the chief of surgery. I'm a surgeon. I don't know why I just told you that."

"You're a surgeon..." Meredith breathed.

"Yup." Derek nodded, not taking his eyes off her.

"I was in med school...I don't know why I told you that either."

"We're just good sharers I guess."

"Yeah...I'm not in med school anymore but..." Meredith stopped, letting out a light giggle. "I'm sharing a lot and you're a just a customer, so you probably think I'm weird and..."

"Definitely not weird." Derek smiled, loving her laugh.

"Oh."

"So...the gift..."

"Oh right...sorry." Meredith stepped back.

"No...Don't apologize. I don't know why...but...the gift." Derek laughed.

"Well, what kind of guy is he?"

"He's...I don't really know how to describe him. But I was thinking something medical..."

"Well we may have something in our Health and Medicine section." Meredith replied.

"Let's start there then." Derek smiled.

"There is a book...I just got done reading it and it puts a creative spin on the life of a doctor. I can't remember the name of it but...anyways it's great."

"That sounds really good."

"I'll know it when I see the cover." Meredith replied, "We have a few other books that I really enjoyed."

"I wish I had time to read." Derek sighed.

"Me too." Meredith giggled.

"Today was the first morning in about three weeks that I actually got to sit and read the paper." Derek smiled. "Nice change of pace."

"I can't actually remember a time when I sat and read a paper...the whole paper."

"I didn't say I read the whole paper." He laughed.

"Oh..."

"I'm not that nerdy."

"I didn't say you were nerdy." Meredith smiled coyly.

"You were thinking it...just a little bit. Am I right?" Derek laughed.

"Nerdy wasn't exactly what I was thinking."

"What exactly were you thinking?"

"So, we have these books..."

"That bad, huh?"

"No." Meredith giggled.

"That's good then." He smiled.

"Yeah." Meredith smiled.

"The books..." Derek breathed, completely taken by this woman, whose name he didn't even know.

"I don't normally get to read...I just read when I'm here, but I think we have a decent collection of medical books."

"Great...That's...Yeah."

"There is also one...it's a joke book and I know it's silly but my...I think they're funny."

"I think I can trust you on that."

"Hmm..."

"So where did you go to medical school?" Derek asked, as she lead them to the medical section.

"Dartmouth."

"Wow...That's a great school."

"It was...I mean it still is but when I was there it was great."

"Then why'd you leave? He questioned, removing a book from the shelf and examining it.

"Oh I um got...I just." Meredith stopped, taking a deep breath. "I dropped out."

"I would ask you why but...that would be prying." He smirked.

"Oh, I just...it's okay...I just didn't finish...personal things."

"Hmm...Now I'm intrigued."

"I work in a bookstore now."

"And I think you're doing a great job." Derek smiled.

"Thanks." Meredith whispered.

"I think...I'm going to take this one."

"Oh okay." Meredith smiled, pushing her hair back again. "Then I can let you finish shopping..."

"Oh no. You're not getting off that easy."

"What do you mean?" Meredith giggled.

"Where's this joke book you so highly recommend?" Derek grinned.

"Oh...right here." Meredith bent over. "It's all medicine themed and doctor jokes..."

"Hmm..." He smiled, his eyes glued to her.

"Here." Meredith stood, turning to face him.

"Thank you..."

"You're welcome." Meredith replied, turning away.

"I'm Derek." He blurted out.

"Derek, is it?" She replied, turning around quickly, a relieved breath escaping.

"Yeah...I just you know...we've been talking for twenty minutes, so I figured I'd introduce myself." He laughed.

"It's nice to meet you, Derek." Meredith smiled.

"It's nice to meet you too..."

"Meredith." She grinned, a slight blush overcoming her cheeks. "My name is Meredith."

"Meredith." He repeated, a smile spreading across his face.

"Hi." She smiled.

"Hi."

"I um..."

"Would you like to..." Derek began, before a beeping sound interrupted him. "Damnit."

"Your pager..." She frowned, watching as he looked at the beeper in his hands, noticing the tiny bit of hair that moved in his face.

"I have to go."

"Oh...right..."

"Thank you...for all your help, Meredith." He said, clipping his pager back onto his belt before looking up at her again.

"You're welcome."

"I'll um...I'll come back and get these."

"Oh...I can keep them up at the counter and then...if you come back later you can just go to the register and give the cashier your name." Meredith sighed.

"That would be great." Derek smiled. "I should go..."

"Oh yeah...sorry I shouldn't be keeping you."

"Thanks again...Meredith."
"Anytime Derek." Meredith whispered, her eyes glistening.

"Bye." He smiled.

"Bye." He smiled, completely fighting the urge to stay. He wasn't exactly sure what just happened. All he had been trying to do was buy a gift for the Chief and had ended up spending twenty minutes with an amazing woman, named Meredith, who apparently had dropped out of med school. Those weren't things you usually found out when you first met someone, and it wasn't enough for Derek. He wanted to know more about the blonde who had captivated him at first glance and had made it difficult for him to breathe.