Seven – 'Nervous Giggles'

Meredith pulled the car into a space on the parking lot, as close to the door to the vets as she could get it. It had been a long day, she thought, wishing that she could be curled up in bed with a cup of cocoa. Well, maybe not cocoa, her mind springing back to Addison and the whole 'juju' episode. She got out of the car, and found herself smoothing her hair before she walked through the door. Did she look okay? She hadn't left the hospital for the past 12 hours and hadn't even given her appearance a thought until now. After deciding her hair was fully smoothed, Meredith opened the door to the vet's surgery, and she was met with the shriek of a cat being held slightly too tightly by it's owner. A little nervous, Meredith jumped out of her skin at the sound. Gee what an entrance, she thought as she took a seat in the waiting room, smiling at the receptionist who had given her some knitting advice the previous day. She thought back to where them needles were now – strewn across her bedroom floor. A sign? No, she didn't believe in them. Looking around the room at the various posters for animal vaccinations, she felt the small family of butterflies that seem to have resided in her stomach return home. This was bad, she thought. She looked across the room to where a door had opened, and Finn popped his head out, signalling to the receptionist that he was ready for the next patient. His eyes found Meredith's and he smiled broadly. She found herself smiling too; he's certainly got that earthy quality to him, she thought, looking at him from head to toe. Again, she liked what she saw. "Hey Meredith," she heard him say, still standing by the door to his office. "You're last on my list, won't be long."

"M'kay…" was all she managed before he shot back into his room.

Meredith was the only person left sitting in the waiting room now, apart from the friendly receptionist who was typing away at her desk. "No needles today?" she said with a smile, snapping Meredith out of her own thoughts.

"Not today, no," replied Meredith. "Think I'm going to try baking now," she said with a giggle thinking back to her last attempt in the kitchen. Kinda makes knitting look easy! After a few more minutes of perusing the walls of the waiting room, the owner of the very vocal cat came out of the examination room, closely followed by Finn.

"Okay Mrs Patterson, I'll see you in three days…" Finn said as he opened the door for the elderly woman. He then walked over to Meredith, already grinning. "So I have someone who's been waiting for you all day in my office."

"Well you better get me in there then!" Meredith followed Finn into the room and found Doc already in there, sitting down, tail going ten to the dozen. Doc went crazy at the sight of Meredith, immediately running towards her, crashing into her legs. She knelt down to Doc's level and he continued to greet her as if he hadn't seen her for years. "Hey boy, you're looking better!"

"Y'know, you've certainly got a loyal dog there. He followed me around all day when I said you were coming in this afternoon."

"Really?" Meredith continues to address Doc directly. "Were you annoying the vet all day Doc?" Meredith could help but giggle when Doc licked her right on the nose.

"Oh he was far from annoying Meredith, he kept reminding me it was you coming to pick him up and not your boyfriend." She looked up at Finn. Is he flirting with me?

"Oh, he's not my boyfriend," Meredith quickly said, "he's just co-owner. Y'see he has all this land, and well, I don't."

"Oh. That's fantastic! Er, the land I mean, for Doc"

Meredith got up and looked at Finn who was once again smiling at her. Did he ever stop grinning? "So um, thanks for all you've done for Doc," she said. She didn't want to leave Finn so soon, but there was nothing else to say.

"My pleasure Meredith, he's a great dog." A wave of awkwardness swept over Meredith, she hated situations like this. It seemed the only thing left to do was leave the room, and so that is what she did. Taking Doc's leash in her hands, she led him towards the door.

"I guess I'll see you around Finn," she said to him, who was now opening the door for Meredith.

"Yeah." Finn stopped. "Meredith…"

"Yeah?" She spun around, hoping Finn needed to get something else for Doc, anything to stay in his company a little longer. He paused, and there was a twinkle in his eye.

"I, um, was wondering, are you free tonight? Maybe we could get something to eat, celebrate Doc's good health?" Meredith had wished he would say something like this, but still was a little surprised when she heard him say it out loud.

"Y'know, that sounds great. An' to be honest, I thought you were never going to ask!" She said, giving him a little wink. By now Doc was pulling hard on the leash, obviously wanting to get out into the fresh air and Meredith was forced to break moment. He was now dragging her to the door, and all Meredith could do was smile and let him.

"I'll pick you up later, say 9 o'clock," Finn yelled as Meredith was nearly out of the door.

"Sounds great!" was all he got back. Doc was already halfway to Meredith's car. Jumping in the back seat, he seemed at home Meredith thought. "That wasn't bad for a day's work was it boy?" Doc replied with a soft woof. Not bad at all…