Author's Note at the end.

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Set IV consists of: Cheerful, Chipper, Cold, Complacent, and Confused; and was written post "Blues For Sister Someone."

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Shades of Grey

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Cheerful:

You slam the driver's door shut, shaking your loose strands from your face as you cast the heavy bag over your shoulder. Right as you drop your keys into the bottomless pit of your shoulder bag, you hear the familiar chirping of your cell.

Rushing to the main entrance, you feel your way through the random papers, tubes of lipstick, and clothing littering your makeshift purse. Finally you feel your fingers graze the smooth plastic of your phone.

You flip open the cover, frantically before the final ring.

"Hello?"

"Hey," Finn's cheerful voice greets you. Immediately you find yourself smiling in response, grinning as you dodge the stray puddles peppering the lot. It's strange how something as simple as a phone call completely brightens your morning. You feel your head lifting to look at more than the space near your feet, and your pace quickens.

Listening to Finn give the latest report on Doc, you pause before breeze through the automatic doors, the clicking of your heels measuring your progress. "So he'll be fine?" you ask, hopeful he'll promise you the health of your dog.

"I don't know, Meredith," he confesses. "I still have to run some more tests—it may be more than a virus. But I promise to call you the minute I know."

"Minute?" you're amused.

"Second," he amends.

You laugh, scratch that, you giggle. Glancing at the ceiling, you bite your lip, wondering just why you have been giggling so much recently. Barely containing a smile as Finn's voice brings you back to your conversation, as you head off to the elevator:

"Meredith?"

"Sorry. I was just distracted. I mean, not distracted. I'm not saying that… that I-"

"Don't apologize," he tells you, sounding somewhere between bemused and interested in what caused you to space out. "So are we still on for dinner?"

Spotting the opening, you hurry to the closing steel doors. "Yeah, I'll come by when I get off to check on him first," you reply, rushing into the elevator.

"Then dinner?"

"Then dinner," you laugh.

"Great," Finn answers, "I have to go check on some papers before my 8:30 comes in, and you need to get to work."

"Yeah," you mumble, not wanting the conversation to end, but you punch the button and wait for the doors to close anyway. Glancing at the only other occupant of the lift, you offer a small smile to Derek. He looks at the floor.

"Bye Meredith," you hear through your phone.

Grinning despite your company you answer: "Bye Finn," flipping your phone closed, keeping it in your hand, trying to hold on to the best part of your day just a little longer. But once the phone call ends, you don a forced, tight smile.

"Morning Derek," you greet him.

He doesn't answer, doesn't look at you. His gaze simply moves from his shoes to the panel of buttons. Eyes cold and narrow, jaw clinched, he looks furious, and you know it. 'What the hell is your problem?' you think, wondering just how much righteous anger he actually feels entitled to. Some friend indeed!

The elevator slows, and as the doors slid open, you make a second attempt at being the bigger person as he walks in front of you, "Bye Derek."

He turns at halts you with his gaze. His eyes narrowed, piercing you with the most reproachful, loathing glare you've ever received. You release a long breath, defeated. Shrugging your shoulders at his retreating form, you tighten your grip on the closed phone in your hand.

This is where it all starts to go downhill for the day, you know. You stare at the silver cell once more, your silent witness to the one bright spot for the better part of your day before dropping it into your bag and heading towards the locker rooms.

-o-

Chipper:

Ah yes, this is where my day starts to suck.

"Here," Christina says, thrusting a Styrofoam cut of coffee into your hands.

Your confused look asks Christina everything. "I'm not going over there for the geek love fest," she explains, nodding her head in the direction of Burke and George, immersed in some intense conversation that involved wild gesturing and friendlier touching than you thought would be appropriate between two straight male friends.

"You know, I thought it'd be good once he was gone, but I tell you, Burke's even more depressed now that he's gone," Christina sips from her drink, leaning against the wall as she stares at the two. "How pathetic," she observes.

A stream of steaming, cheaply brewed hospital coffee slides down your throat. Bailey approaches the two of you and orders you both follow her. Marching after her down the hall, you and Christina fall back into the comfort of the daily pattern.

Addison is walking down the hall, and you immediately feel your stomach tighten. "We're really trying to have some decent sex…" You think she seems different today, and then you notice a faint red patch about 2 inches below her left ear.

"Dr. Bailey, Dr. Yang, Dr. Grey," she greets each of you, smiling when she says your name.

You smile back as you follow after Bailey.

McBitch.

Well clearly they accomplished that, and if the size of the hickey is any indication, he has gotten over his problem of being 'intimate' with his wife.

Friends my ass!

You quicken your pace to catch up with Bailey and Christina, about halfway down the hall now. "So…?" Christina inquires.

"I know you two are not gossiping during rounds," Bailey states. How does she do that?

"Absolutely not," Christina retorts back.

"Grey?" Bailey asks.

"I'm fine," you answer. "I'm great."

"Glad to hear it," Bailey smirks, lead both of you to the first patient's room.

-o-

Cold:

You glance up from your notes, trying not to collide into anyone as you walk down the hall.

Unfortunately, the person headed right at you chooses for just this minute to look up from the large file he was walking with.

"Dr. Shepherd," you address him, nervously. You can see the look on his face. That disdainful, angry, hurt look is still there. 'How can he possibly be hurt?' you wonder.

He doesn't say anything to you, he simply nods at you before turning his attention back to his notes, and with a quick condescending glance at you, continues down the hall.

Turning on your heel and rushing after him, you fall into step with him.

"Yes, Dr. Grey?" he asks, annoyed.

You look at him, stung by the harsh tone. "Derek, I—just thought you might want to hear how Doc was doing."

"No now, Dr. Grey," he seethes, brushing past you.

As he walks off, you stare, jaw hung low. What on earth is his problem? Well, fine. If he wants to act like he's five, then you certainly don't have to put up with it anymore.

Pursing your lips to a thin line, you suck in a slow, uneven breath. You see red. You're angry, but that's just for now. Before the day's over, you'll be perfectly happy around your friends, and act perfectly cold and aloof whenever he's around.

He'll be sorry.

-o-

Complacent:

He's been staring at you since the hallway, and you're satisfied and proud with yourself for not looking at him, not giving him the attention, or the chance to let him think that you care.

You casually leaf through the magazine while Christina continues her blow-by-blow of her morning's triple bypass surgery.

Eventually Christina trails off, seemingly distracted, she's looking at something across the lobby.

"Shepherd's totally staring at you," Christina whispers.

You smirk in satisfaction, "Good."

Christina looks at you, confused. "What happened?"

You deliberately avoid the answer, and instead flip the magazine page, hoping to sound as disinterested as possible. "What's he doing?" you ask.

She picks up a magazine from the coffee table, randomly selecting a page, and lowering her head. Watching her from the corner of your eye, you see that she's looking off into the distance and not at the page in front of her at all. "He's filling out forms, but he keeps looking over here. God, Mer, he looks upset."

"Well good, he deserves it."

"Did he find out about the vet?" she questions.

"Yeah," you admit. "He brought Doc over last night, and I was there with Finn."

"So…" Christina pauses, clearly confused, "Since he showed up, now you're ignoring him?"

"No!" you snap. "I'm not speaking with him because he's been rude about it ever since. He was already acting weird enough about the George thing; I don't need him acting like the jealous ex now that there's someone I actually kind of…"

"Kind of…?" Christina prompts.

"Never mind," you stop short.

Christina rolls her eyes, and you glance over to the station. You see Derek look down quickly at his notes. You caught him staring again. You turn back to your magazine, feeling him looking at you. Inwardly you smile, satisfied and content with ignoring him.

-o-

Confused:

You watch as she says something to him, placing her hand on his chest, and learning to whisper something in his ear. You try to quell the flare of jealousy, and look away, pretending to read a chart. Peering back, you see him move back, and say something to her. He runs a hand through his hear, and motions for her to stop. You try to understand what's going on, but you can't hear, despite their large gesturing. But, after the exchange, he storms off, angry, while she looks irritated. The Shepherds fighting, while not the most remarkable thing you see at the hospital is still a surprise. But, what surprises you the most is the thrill that races through you, seeing that he's unhappy with her.

You're not supposed to hope for that now. It's not fair to backtrack like that.

You've met someone. You've moved on. At least, that's what you tell yourself.

And he's nice, and sweet, and you could possibly, eventually like him one day. But he's not Derek.

And trying to sort out the myriad of feelings is confusing as hell!

-o-

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A/N: This felt like an off-week with this set. Between awkward words and finals, and stress with my internship, things just seemed… transitional. It's very Derek-centered, but since it seems like it's being set up for some major Mer/Der conflict, I felt the need to follow that. There wasn't much that happened in the way of completed Meredith actions that would affect her, and this week's episode seemed like a spring board for the final episodes. And speaking of which, oh dear God, I cannot wait for the upcoming explosion!