Chapter Four
Derek did not need to wait until Monday to see her again as she came out of the local coffee shop while he was on his morning run on Sunday. After wiping his face on his shirt and running a hand through his hair he called out to her "Well well well what do we have here? Miss Meredith Grey" Slowing down and walking beside her.
"God! Dr Sheppard!" she jumped "You scared the life out of me!" she laughed, trying to mop up the coffee she had spilt
"Sorry" he laughed "Seems I owe you a coffee"
"I'll hold you to that" she smiled "So what on earth are you doing out at this time of the day?" she asked, hoping he would stay and chat a bit more
"Morning run" he stated "I try and go at least once a week and Sunday is usually the only morning I actually get out"
"More of a bike person myself" she said, as they turned the corner on their way home
"You should come out with me some time, it would be great to have someone to talk to-I always get a bit bored by myself"
"Yeah sounds like a plan" she smiled, hoping she didn't sound too eager, it was only a morning run-not a full blown date, she reminded herself.
"See you tomorrow!" he called as they parted ways at the end of her driveway
"Bye" she replied, running inside.
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She was a little disappointed when nothing was mentioned about their run on Monday or Tuesday, it was not until Wednesday night that he brought it up. He was giving her a lift home from the hospital as Izzie, George and Christina had gotten off early "So our run" he started, pulling out of the hospital
"What about it" she replied, trying to sound off the cuff
"It's on, this Sunday" he said "Unless you have something else on, of course"
"No, that sounds great!" she replied, letting her enthusiasm slip through. In all honesty she had already decided to go for a ride on Sunday morning, just incase she bumped into him. "Meet you out the front at about 8"
"It's a date" he smiled, as her heart raced,
"Ok" was all she could muster in return, then when she noticed he was pulling into her place she continued "You could have just parked at yours-it's not really that far"
"It's ok, no problem. Besides I hear there is an old lady that lives next door-you never know when they will turn on you" he joked, she just raised an eyebrow in reply.
"Good night Derek" she added, getting out of the car
"Good night Miss Meredith Grey" he smiled.
She noticed that he waited until she was inside before pulling out of her driveway, a real gentleman she thought to herself.
The rest of the evening she was bombarded with questions from Izzie and Christina about Sunday, she regretted telling them that he had said it was a date as even after re-explaining the context they were still carrying on about that one phrase.
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By Friday every student in the program knew about their 'date' as did most of the interns, Izzie and Christina had both denied whispering a word to anyone, but Meredith knew one of them had let it slip. She hated everyone knowing as well, especially as it was being called a 'date' when she didn't even know if it was a real one. Having this on the back of her mind made her more guarded and short with Derek, as she was preying he had not heard the gossip.
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"Are you sure she likes me?" Derek asked Burke as they sat watching a surgery
"Trust me!" he replied, "I've never heard one mans name mentioned by three girls more in the past week as yours has been, just relax" he reassured his friend.
"It's just that she is being so…I don't know…cold-I guess, today" Derek replied, remembering how she had offered to run labs all afternoon, instead of watching this surgery
"She is probably just nervous…everyone is talking about you two-think how she is feeling"
"I guess" he sighed
"By the way" Burke added "Is it a real date?"
"I have no idea" Derek answered, "I want it to be" he said under his breath
Burke smiled, knowing he had done some good snooping for Christina.
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"So what did he say?" Christina asked as soon as Burke walked in the door
"He said he wasn't sure" Burke replied, watching the slightest disappointment wash over Meredith's face "But he then said that he hoped it was" Burke added as Meredith threw her arms around him, followed by Izzie and Christina.
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The time between Friday night and Sunday morning seemed to take years to come, now Meredith was laying in bed, her back to the clock, waiting for the alarm to go off after promising herself that she would not get up any earlier than the prescribed 7am.
"Get out there already!" Christina yelled from her room, as she heard Meredith pace past her door for the ump-teenth time in the last 20 minutes.
"Isn't it too early?" Meredith called back
"No!" replied Izzie who was already up and backing in the kitchen "By the time you get your bike out it will be time…Now go!"
"Ok. Bye. Wish me luck!" She called, slamming the door behind her.
When she got to the road she noticed Derek already sitting on her letterbox, patiently waiting "Just grab my bike" she called, disappearing into the shed.
"Morning. Ready to go?" he asked when she made her way down to him
"Sure am" she smiled
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Meanwhile back at Meredith's house…
"How long had he been out there?" Izzie asked, as George came down the stairs
"He was out the front of his at about 7.30, then came over to ours about 15minutes later" he replied
"I wonder how much longer those two are going to dance around each other and annoy the hell out of us until they finally get it together?" Izzie then asked, as George only shrugged in reply
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So far the run/ride was going well, they had talked nonstop for the first kilometer or so, but then Derek started to get puffed so they continued in silence, only speaking to greet others who they passed. Each lost in their own thoughts.
Meredith riding at a steady rate as Derek ran along beside her. They had completed the 5 kilometre route that was marked out around the local pond when Meredith turned to go home, only to find Derek running in the opposite direction.
"Where are you going?" she called out, after stopping her bike
"This way" he called, when she didn't reply he turned jogging backwards, calling out "I owe you a coffee" before turning and continuing on his way.
A smile lit up Meredith's face as she rode to catch up to him, this time riding slightly behind him so he couldn't see her wide grin.
"Why don't you grab a table and I'll get the coffee" he said when they arrived at the coffee shop
"Ok" she replied, getting off her bike and leaning it up against some others which were already there.
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Neither were thinking of the passing time until Derek looked down at his watch, "Oh my!" he exclaimed "It's like quarter to twelve"
"Serious?" she asked, starting to get up "Izzie is going to kill me, I promised I'd help her get lunch together, we are making it our weekly housemate thing" she explained
"We better get going then" he said, grabbing her bike
"No way" she laughed, seeing him get on her bike "There is no way I'm running back"
"I know" he simply stated, then seeing her confused face he continued, "I'll give you a lift. Jump on" indicating the handlebars
"You sure" she said, raising an eyebrow
"Certainly" he reassured her, watching as she stood in font of him and hoisted herself up "Trust me" he whispered into her ear as she settled her back against his chest.
She sat slightly sideways, her legs dangling over the handlebars with her back resting in the crook of Derek's shoulder, their faces inches apart as they rode.
They laughed the entire way home, Derek doubling over when Meredith turned and bowed after jumping off the bike as he pulled up in her driveway. He wheeled her bike into the shed and was about to bid her good-bye when she turned abruptly and asked "Want to come in for lunch?"
"Isn't it a housemate's thing" he said, hoping she would invite him anyway
"Burkes here so your allowed to" she replied, after some consideration
"Ok then" he smiled, following her into the house. "Izzie I'm back" she called out as they entered
"That was one heck of a long date!" Izzie called from the kitchen
"Going red and avoiding eye-contact with Derek she called back "Maybe I should say we are back"
"Oh Hi Dr Sheppard!" Izzie exclaimed as he followed Meredith around into the kitchen, giving Meredith an apologetic look
"Do you mind if he stays" Meredith asked handing Derek a glass of water
"That's fine. Alex, Sarah and Burke are here to"
"Quite a gathering then" Meredith said
"Yeah well Burke practically lives here, George haven't seen each other all week and Alex doesn't know many people from this area so I took pity on him" she explained
"So do you need some help?" Meredith asked
"No what I need is for you to go and take a shower" Izzie replied "No offence Mer but you smell!"
"Hey we were exorcizing!" she exclaimed, grinning
"I better go home and have a shower to then, how long have I got" Derek asked
"Ok, bout half an hour" Izzie replied
Meredith followed Meredith to the door, holding it open for him, "I'll leave the door unlocked so just let yourself back in" she called
"Ok. See you in a bit" he called over his shoulder
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When Derek returned twenty minutes later he let himself in, as instructed, and headed towards the kitchen, where he found Izzie putting the final bits of food on the table.
"Hey good timing" she smiled when she saw him come in
"Anything I can do?" he asked
"No we are pretty much set here…actually if I go and get the rest of them can you grab Meredith, she is still in her room-up the stairs, last room on the right" she instructed
When Derek reached the landing he called out Meredith's name, not getting any reply however, he tried knocking on her door-still no reply, but he could hear music coming from her room so he tried a bit knocking a bit harder. After still not getting any reply he opened the door a tiny bit, knocking again
"Oh Izzie, can you tie this up for me?" Meredith asked, back turned to the door, straps in hand.
Without saying a word Derek stepped into the room, took the straps from her and tied them behind her neck. "How's that?" he questioned, making her jump.
"Perfect ta" she replied, spinning around smiling
Getting slightly embarrassed Derek stuttered "Um…Izzie sent me up to get you…lunch is ready"
"Great! I'm starving" she said, leading him out of her room, he followed her-taking one last look before shutting the door behind him.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed lunch, swapping stories from their week and just generally catching up. Meredith couldn't help but watch Derek, who was sitting opposite her, he was so relaxed and obviously having a great time as when he caught her eye, he would grin madly.
"I'll wash up Iz" Meredith offered, as everyone moved into the lounge "You cooked, go and relax" she ordered, pointing for Izzie to follow the others. Derek hung back, clearing plates, and then grabbed a tea towel to start drying the dishes she was washing. "Don't worry, they can drip dry" She offered
"Its ok, I'd rather be in with you" he said matter-of-factually "But I think we should swap-I have no idea where these go" he said indicating the dish's he was drying
They chattered while they worked until she made a joke about his running technique and he splashed her with water in retaliation "Derek!" she exclaimed flicking him with the tea-towel
"What" he asked, innocence spreading across his face-until he splashed her again. When she went to hit him with the tea-towel again he caught it in one hand and pulled her towards him, his other hand landing on her hip.
With their faces inches apart Meredith could feel his hot breaths against her skin, as he gripped her tighter, she leant in to meet his lips half way as they shared a sweet kiss, before pulling apart.
"Hi" she breathed, not knowing what else to say
"Hi" he smiled "Do you mind if I…" he asked, indicating her lips
"No…not at all" she smiled, leaning in for another kiss.
The kiss grew more and more passionate as the minutes ticked by, his arms securely around her back while hers had snacked around his neck, until they sprung apart when Christina's shrill voice cut through the silence "Bring in some popcorn, when you're done Mer" she called "We are going to watch a movie"
"Popcorn" Meredith whispered, looking Derek in the eye as he grinned
"Popcorn" he replied
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"Man you could cut the angst in that room with a scalpel" Izzie said as she and George headed upstairs to bed a few hours later
"I know" he replied "I wish they would just jump each other already" he replied
Meredith and Derek had entered the room soon after Christina's request for popcorn, neither looking at each other directly as they sat on opposite ends of the couch. At the end of the movie Izzie and George had headed upstairs after bidding Sarah and Alex good-night, while Burke and Christina had gone back to his house. As the credits rolled Meredith got up "Want to watch another?" she asked, not wanting Derek to go home just yet
"Depends" he replied
"On what?"
"Where you sit"
"And where would you like me to sit?" she asked after pressing play on the DVD
"Here" he replied, indicating his lap
"I think I could be persuaded" she smiled, settling herself against his chest
He breathed her in, as the movie started, not wanting to forget one second of this moment.
After watching the two star-crossed lovers share their first kiss onscreen Derek announced "I don't think they did that right"
"Did what right" Meredith asked, turning her head to face him
"This" he replied, leaning down to kiss her lightly on the lips
"That wasn't bad" she stated as their lips broke apart "But I think it should have been more like this" she continued, leaning in for another kiss, this time deepening it and turning her body to face Derek. He only murmured in agreement as the movie was forgotten.
It was late when she finally lead him to the door "Don't tell anyone about this yet" she whispered, not wanting to wake her roommates
"Why?" he asked
"Because I kind of hypothetically asked Bailey what would happen if a student started dating her intern"
"You did did you?" he asked, smiling "What did she say"
"Apparently not such a great idea" she replied "Not…not aloud as such…just looked down upon"
"And I would have to swap students with someone else" he added
"How did you know that?" she questioned, taking her head off his shoulder and looking him in the eye
"I kind of hypothetically asked the chief what would happen if an intern wanted to date their student" he grinned, leaning in for another kiss
After breaking apart she added "So no telling anyone, I'm sure it was one of my housemates who started the gossip about us in the first place"
"Ok. Not a word" he breathed kissing her on the neck, before turning and heading down her driveway "But can I tell you a secret?" he asked when he reached the edge of the road
She nodded in reply.
"I think I started the gossip!" he called pretending to run away from her "I told Bob I had a hot date this morning not realizing Izzie had said we were already going running"
"So it was a date?" she called back
"Yeah but I think we will have to have another" he yelled from his porch
"Definitely!" was her quiet reply as she turned and walked inside, grinning to herself.
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A/N
Ok so there it is, hope you liked it! Please review me!
This is the warning:
LAST G RATED CHAPTER-NEXT ONE WILL BE M - so don'tforget to check for it!