Derek pulled the note from his locker door, it read:

Meet you at the bar, Izzie is having a moment…M

Leaning over his shoulder and reading the note George interrupted his thoughts, "So are you and Mer back together yet or are you still claiming to be friends?" He asked.

"Just friends," Derek replied, "Hang on…she told you, we were friends?"

"No, but it is kind of obvious…you hang out together around here all day then she goes to the movies every Tuesday night and goes for walks near your house every morning," George replied with a smirk as he changed out of his scrubs.

"Oh…I guess," replied Derek, more to himself than George- it was true that he and Meredith had been hanging out more and more, the fact that she was looking at specializing in neurosurgery helped, but even still…Derek thought. Truth was he hadn't really considered him and Meredith being more than friends, he didn't think she would consider it- he had his chance and had blown it.

"You coming?" called George from the door, once again pulling Derek from his thoughts.

"Yeah…umm, sure I'm ready," he stuttered.

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"Izzie you did the right thing…" Meredith comforted, as she wrapped her arm around Izzie and laid her head on her shoulder. "You will get through this…and we will help you," she continued as Christina rolled her eyes and finished her drink.

"Why would you want to help me?" Izzie questioned, mumbling into the bar surface she was resting her head on. "Christina told me not to go out with him the first time and I was horrible to you with the whole George thing…"

"Seriously Izzie, its fine…you don't think I didn't deserve what you said…anyway that doesn't matter now- tonight is about you. It is about getting you drunk, letting you cry and carrying you home afterwards." Meredith restated, motioning for Joe to bring another round for them all.

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Derek walked into the bar and caught sight of Meredith, she had her head resting on a slumped over Izzie and was mindlessly patting her back, "Ahh, why don't we sit over here?" he said to George and Burke, "It looks like that is strictly girl time over there."

After George excused himself to go and sit with Kathy, Burke looked over his beer at Derek, "Your watching her again," he said with an eyebrow raised.

Turning to his friend Derek sighed, "George asked me if we were dating…"

"And…" Burke prompted "Are you…"

"No…" Derek continued, "It just got me thinking about things I haven't been letting myself think about."

"Ddo you want her back?" Burke asked, feeling sorry for the man sitting opposite to him who was obviously confused.

"I don't know, " Derek replied truthfully, "I mean what we have as friends now, it much closer than anything we had when we were…doing whatever we were doing last year."

"You could have both…" stated Burke.

"You think?" Questioned Derek, noticing Meredith look over to their table.

Meredith had looked up from her position with Izzie and saw Derek watching her; 'sorry' she mouthed giving him a small wave. He just smiled and nodded in response, knowing she was needed by her friend and thankful for the time he had with his thoughts.

Meredith and Christina sat with Izzie for an hour or so until she got up and said she was taking herself home to bed, she insisted they stayed- stating that she would really like some alone time to think everything through.

After getting Izzie safely into a cab, Meredith and Christina went to sit with Burke and Derek. "That was hell…" groaned Christina as she sat down on Burkes lap and took a gulp of his beer; Derek stood offering Meredith his chair, which she gratefully accepted.

"You did very well," Burke replied gently, kissing her on the forehead and wrapping his arm around her.

"Hey so I heard you lost your last patient today, sorry," Meredith stated trying her best to block out Christina and Burkes mushy-moment.

"Yeah…" Derek replied nodding his head slowly, seemingly distracted.

A while later Meredith got up to get another round of drinks, dragging Christina with her under the premises of needing extra hands to carry them back. When they reached the bar she asked, "Is it just me or is Derek being weird?"

"Weird how?" Christina asked, not having noticed anything.

"I don't know…he kind of seems quiet, distant…" Meredith rambled, searching for the right word.

"Weird?" Christina offered.

"Yeah…weird…" she replied before asking Joe for another round.

"Can I get those for you?" a voice beside Meredith asked, as Joe put two drinks down in front the friends.

Meredith didn't have a chance to answer before Christina cut in, "Well my boyfriend is paying for mine, but I'm sure you can buy Meredith a drink…" she said before getting up and balancing three drinks.

"Sam." The man introduced himself, offering his hand to a slightly bewildered Meredith.

"Meredith," she stuttered, her eyes quickly raking over his blue rugby jumper and jeans before scanning his face.

"So can I get you that drink?" he asked again, motioning to the untouched drink in front of her.

"Sure." She replied with a smile, subconsciously running a hand through her hair.

"So…I guess that gut isn't your boyfriend over there then?" Sam asked hopefully.

"Who…Derek?" she questioned.

"The other guy you and your friend were sitting with,"

"Oh…no," she answered, "Just a friend."

"Good, I hadn't seen you kiss or anything, so I was hopeful," he smiled

"Have you been watching me?" she asked with an eyebrow raised and a smile.

"Maybe…" he blushed.

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Meanwhile at the table, Christina set down the drinks, "Where is Meredith?" Derek asked, noticing Christina had only set down three glasses.

"Oh, some guy is chatting her up at the bar…cute too," she replied before Burke could kick her under the table.

"Oh," replied Derek, this was a development he had not expected, or prepared himself for.

"I'm sure they are just chatting," Burke stated as he saw Derek swivel in his chair, swiveling to get a look at Meredith and the mystery guy.

When Christina caught the look in Derek's eyes she finally caught on, "Oh…" she stated quietly, realization crossing her face. Looking over at Meredith she saw the typical female flirt signs, laughing face, interested look, idle hair flicking…and this being Meredith, Christina knew she was interested in him. By the look on Dereks face, he knew it as well.

Moments later they all watched as Meredith wrote something down on a piece of paper, handed it to the man, got up, waved goodbye to him and walked back over to the table; she was totally oblivious to the anxiety which was swelling between her group of friends.

"Hey, sorry about that," she smiled, resting her drink on the table.

"He was cute…" Christina replied, knowing it wouldn't be normal if she didn't make some comment about the guy.

"Yeah, he was nice," Meredith replied with a grin.

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George came over later saying that he was heading home if Meredith wanted a lift, "That would be great," replied Meredith, "But can I quickly pee first?"

"Sure…Kathy and I will meet you in the car."

"I'll come to," stated Christina, jumping up and following Meredith to the ladies room.

After they were out of earshot Burke asked, "You ok man?"

"I'll live," Derek replied draining his beer and standing up, "I'm going to go, say bye to the girls for me."

Burke just shook his head and watched his friend walk dejectedly out the door.

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Meanwhile in the bathroom, "So…what was that all about?" Christina asked over the wall.

"What was what about?" Meredith asked innocently.

"Umm, you and Mr. Hot-Stuff…in front of Derek."

"What? We are just friends; I'm aloud to see other people…" she replied, "Why?" she questioned coming out of her stall.

"No reason." Christina replied as Meredith followed her out the door.

"Where is Derek?" Meredith asked as they approached Burke sitting alone at the table.

"Said something about an early surgery," Burke replied, unable to meet Merediths eye, "He said to say he would see you tomorrow."

"Oh, ok then," she replied.

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"Thanks for waiting George," Meredith smiled as she got into the car, "Hi Kathy."

"Good night?" George asked as he started to drive.

"Parts," Meredith replied, Dereks sudden departure playing on her mind.

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