Chapter 20: Not Paying Attention

Derek was supposed to be paying attention. However, what the Chief was talking about, he wouldn't know because he wasn't listening. The only thing running through his mind was Meredith and how he was going to see her after work, just like they did almost every night. He kept going to her house and they kept kissing and having sex but there was no relationship.

This wasn't something Derek ever experienced before. He was used to being in a relationship, having a girlfriend, and going on dates. He didn't want to pressure Meredith. She barely talked to him about what they were, and he didn't want to make her define it. He liked spending time with her too much. If this was all he could get for now, he was going to take it.

Derek was supposed to be paying attention to the meeting. It was about new interns coming and some change in policies. He barely noticed that everybody was getting up and leaving.

"Derek." The Chief of Surgery called his name, approaching him as the board room cleared out, leaving them alone.

"Yeah?" Derek turned around, looking down at his Blackberry as he texted Meredith instead of looking at the Chief.

"You're my top Neuro attending."

"Right..." He said, finishing the message, finally looking up.

"You are Derek Shepherd." Dr. Richard Webber continued. "We played golf together two weeks ago. You saved my childhood friend from a brain tumor."

"Okay...I'm not following you." Derek sighed.

"I just presented our monthly report to the board, and you looked like you weren't even here." Webber raised his voice.

"I was here."

"As your boss, I would like to ask for more respect." The Chief announced. "I ask that you don't make me look like a complete idiot."

"I'm sorry. I'm...distracted." Derek sighed.

"As your friend I would like to ask if you're okay."

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"You've been staring at that phone for quite a while."

"I'm waiting for a call."

"Was that call why you were distracted when the head of the board, Leon Herron tried to ask you about your latest trial?"

"Yeah." Derek replied, as the phone buzzed with a text message.

"As your friend, I want to be nosy." The Chief nodded. "Who is she?"

"It's...What makes you think it's a she?" Derek asked, smiling as he read the message.

"You're the top neurosurgeon in the country." Richard said louder. "You don't get distracted by a text from one of your sisters."

"She's just a friend." Derek replied, typing a message back.

"Bullshit." Richard, snapped the phone, looking at the text with his eyes growing wide. "Oh...that's definitely not from your sister."

"She probably didn't want you to see that." Derek smirked, taking the phone back.

"So who is she?"

"A friend of mine."

"A friend who wants to be under you?"

"Is that what she said?" Derek smirked.

"I believe her exact words were She wanted to be under you, with you in her." The Chief chuckled. "Oh to be young and...well is it love?"

"It's...sex." Derek sighed.

"Sex?"

"Sex."

"Just sex?"

"That's all she wants."

"So, she's a mystery girl?" Richard leaned against the long table. "Sex and go?"

"It's...more than that...I think." Derek replied, smiling as he read another message.

"You think?"

"It's complicated."

"I see." The older man nodded, rubbing the fuzz on his chin. "Explain."

"For one thing, she has a eleven-year-old daughter." Derek replied, sitting his phone on the table.

"Just sex and you know she has a eleven-year-old?"

"We met...and then I met her daughter...and then we started having sex." Derek explained, realizing how mixed up it all sounded.

"And that's all?"

"She spent the day with me yesterday."

"I see...yes."

"That's it."

"So all you do is have sex?" He repeated. "Okay do you ever talk? How does she act around you? Do you actually sleep or do you go home after? Fill me in...it's a slow day."

"I've slept at her house almost every night for the past two weeks." Derek replied. "And then I leave in the morning before her daughter gets up."

"Hmm..." The man looked up at his friend and fellow surgeon.

"I don't know what to do."

"Well, if you think it's just sex to her and it's bothering you...let it go. Get over her." The Chief replied. "If for some reason she's acting like it's more and just won't talk about it, then give her a chance."

"I want it to be more..." Derek breathed.

"Well, that comes down to how she acts around you." He continued, standing back up. "Does she completely ignore you when you're not doing the deed, or does she act different?"

"We talk...She tried to make me cookies." Derek smiled, laughing as he remembered the cookies that were burnt and raw at the same time.

"She tried to make you cookies?"

"Yeah...They were...awful."

"But she tried to cook for you?"

"Yeah."

"How do you think she feels?"

"She says she doesn't want a relationship.' Derek sighed.

"I didn't ask what she says. I asked how do you think she feels."

"I feel like I'm in the principals office."

"You shouldn't have picked your boss as a best friend."

"I like her."

"How do you think she really feels?"

"I don't know...I think she's scared. She's got a kid and then there's me...and...I don't know."

"Maybe she does like you." Richard shrugged, pouring himself a cup of coffee from the side bar. "I mean maybe if she's acting like she likes you but won't admit it because she's scared."

"She said she likes me..." Derek sighed. "She doesn't want anything...no relationship. Nothing."

"Do you believe her?"

"Yeah...I do."

"Which opinion do you want? The Chief or the friend?"

"Both."

"As the Chief, I say give her up." He explained, taking a sip of the coffee. "You shouldn't waste your time. As your friend, I say she may like you back. Wait it out, see if she treats you more like someone she's just sleeping with or her boyfriend."

"I don't know if I could just give her up." Derek breathed.

"You can't give her up?"

"I don't think I can."

"Then wait it out." The man shrugged.

"She's just...She's Meredith."

"So, you don't want to wait it out?"

"I want it to be something."

"And how are you going to get that?" Richard asked.

"I don't know." Derek sighed."

"You do realize this girl is very new in your life right?"

"Yeah."

"Then be a grown man." The older man chuckled.

"I'd say I'm doing that by having sex with her every night." Derek laughed.

"Well, I'll give you a little advice my father gave to me when I first met Adele."

"Oh gosh..."

"No...I'm serious." The man sat up straight before clearing his throat. "If you meet the woman you're proud of..the woman you want your entire family to meet and love...then she's worth sticking to. If you would never want her to meet your family...if you're embarrassed by her...end it."

"She's...I'm unbelievably proud of her." Derek smiled.

"Then, take the time to see where it goes Derek. You'll regret it if you don't give her time."

"I'm going to see her tonight."

"Going to see her...or going to really see her?"

"Both." Derek smiled.

"I don't know why I even ask."

"You read the text message...You shouldn't have to ask."

"Yeah...yeah yeah..."

"Speaking of..." Derek smiled, as his phone went off again.

"On that note...I should leave you and that phone alone."

"Okay." Derek laughed. "Thanks Richard."

"Beers at Joes soon?"

"You got it."

"Good luck." Derek's Chief of Surgery and good friend left the room as his phone began to vibrate.

"Hey you." Derek smiled, as he answered the phone.

"Hi..." Meredith spoke on the other end.

"What's up?"

"Lunch break."

"Hmm...I miss you..."

"Oh..." He could tell she was smiling. He knew that smile and even if he couldn't see her, he knew it was there. "What are you doing?"

"Just finished talking with the Chief of Surgery."

"That sounds...fun."

"Yeah...I got in trouble."

"No you didn't."

"Yes I did."

"Derek...why?"

"For texting you during a meeting." He laughed.

"Oh..."

"It's okay."

"We probably shouldn't be texting...those things."

"Probably not..." He smiled.

"Hmm...so I was thinking about tonight."

"And..."

"I was thinking about how I want you...right now."

"I want you too."

"I hate work." She said quietly. "And I have a favor to ask you...one favor and I'll never ask you for one ever again."

"Name it and you got it." He replied.

"My car is making a weird noise and I need to get it checked out...but I need to get home from work on Friday night."

"I'll come get you."

"I could ask Izzie but she's taking Dawsyn to a movie...she's the intern." Meredith explained. "I'm alone that night so I thought I could thank you."

"I think it sounds like a plan." Derek smiled.

"Okay." Meredith giggled.

"I want to see you."

"What time do you get off?"

"Three hours."

"Hmm...I get off in two." Meredith said into the phone. "And Dawsyn's going to a friend after school...she won't be home until six."

"Are you inviting me over?" Derek smiled.

"I'm saying I'll be naked and waiting for you."

"Can you leave now?"

"No." Meredith giggled.

"Bummer." Derek laughed.

"Big bummer."

"I'll be there as soon as I get off work."

"I'll be on the couch."

"How does dinner sound afterwards?"

"Dinner?"

"Dinner. As in food."

"Yeah, but Dawsyn's going to be home for dinner."

"I could take both of you out."

"Hmm...okay."

"Can't wait."

"Me either." Meredith giggled, "Bye Derek."

"Bye Meredith." Derek laughed.