" I start my internship tomorrow, " Meredith told her mother. They were sitting in the visitors lounge in her mother's nursing home. She had wanted to come visit before starting work, knowing that she would be dead tired after she completed her first shift. Her mom seemed to be having an okay day, all things considered.
" I decided not to sell the house, too. It's home, you know? I've even got a roommate. Well, he's more of a boyfriend than a roommate, but he's helping with the bills. I think you'd like him. His name's Derek, " She watched carefully for a sign that even some of what she was telling her mother was sinking in. Ellis nervously twisted her watch on her wrist.
" Derek, huh? What's he do, " She ticket her gaze over to her daughter, as if she wasn't entirely sure that she was actually there and looking at her too long would make her disappear.
Meredith smiled and reached out, stopping her mother's nervous behavior. She took the older woman's hand in hers.
" He's a doctor. Like me, " She replied softly.
" I think I used to be a doctor once, " Ellis looked out the window, eyes scrunched as if she was concentrating hard on trying to remember.
" You were, Mom. You were a surgeon, " Meredith told her mother proudly.
" Right, " Ellis replied distractedly.
Pleased that she'd had at least a semi-successful visit with her mother, Meredith returned home hoping to find Derek waiting for her. She was disappointed to find that he wasn't. Deciding that her last night before work was ruined, she trudged up the stairs to her room. She'd left it in a state of disarray so she was more than perplexed to see that it was neat and tidy. The bed was turned down and there was an envelope laying across her pillow. Meredith opened it cautiously, uncertain of what to expect. Derek's familiar scrawl met her eyes and she smiled to herself.
Meredith,
I couldn't get tonight off due to surgeries that had been previously scheduled. I know that tomorrow is the beginning of a whole new life for you and with that life is going to come a ton of stress. So I took the liberty of trying to make your last night as a non working woman as stress free as possible. Dinner's in the oven and there's a surprise for you in the bathroom. Good luck on your first day as a doctor.
Derek
As a general rule, she didn't like surprises. Derek had gone to all the trouble though, so she figured checking it out couldn't hurt. Crossing the hall and pushing open the bathroom door, she spotted a huge gift basket resting precariously on the sink. On the toilet, there was a large folded up terrycloth robe. Moving closer, she got a better look at the fragrance. Lavender. Apparently, he knew her better than she suspected. Lavender was the fragrance in her conditioner. She'd never have guessed he actually paid attention to little things like that. Eagerly, she began to root through the basket, finding body wash, bath salts, lotions and anything else Derek had managed to throw in there.
Reaching on her side, she pulled her cell phone from it's clip and dialed his number. . It went to voicemail after two rings. She had suspected it would. It didn't bother her in the slightest though, because she'd never been good with expressing gratitude.
" Normally, I hate surprises. Bad surprises. This surprise though? It's a good one. Thank you. " She felt like a nervous little girl school, trying to talk to her crush for the very first time. Not wanting to make a bigger fool out of herself, she ended the call. Then, she gleefully dug into her basket of goodies.
" Did that clock do something to you in particular, Shep, " Richard's voice knowingly asked.
He whirled around to find his Chief of Surgery watching him, an amused expression on his face.
" Oh, uh no. I just...didn't eat this morning. Ready to get off so I can grab a bite to eat , " Derek turned back to face the surgery board.
" Uh-huh. Do you think I have stupid tattooed across my forehead, Derek? I know why you're in such a hurry to get out of here ," Richard stepped up beside him, checking the board over for himself.
" I don't have any idea what you're talking about, Richard , " He answered innocently.
Richard sighed and shook his head. Derek heard him mumble something under his breath.
" I'm probably really going to regret this and don't think I'm in anyway condoning your behavior, but get the hell out of here, Shepherd. I don't want you tinkering around in someone's brain if you aren't 100 focused . "
Derek turned to look at him, a hurt expression coming over his features.
" Let me clarify something for you. My personal life has no bearing on my capability as a surgeon. I resent that you think that, " He informed him defensively.
" Okay hold on a second. That didn't come out the way I intended it to. What I meant is that we can handle things here if you'd like to go home.. Anything serious comes up we'll page you. And I had better see you on your absolute best behavior come tomorrow. "
Derek hid a smile as he turned away and pulled his scrub cap off, hurrying towards the locker room.
Richard rolled his eyes as his head neurologist scurried off down the hall.
Arriving home, he heard the TV blaring. He dropped his briefcase on the floor beside the entrance to the living room. There was Meredith, clad in only the robe he had bought for her, with her feet propped up, painting her toenails and apparently engrossed in whatever was on the television. She smiled happily at him when she saw him and picked up the remote to pause the TV.
" Well, you certainly look nice and relaxed," He observed.
" I am. I soaked in a bath for about thirty minutes and I have pampered myself with these amazing gifts that I got today, " Meredith replied, giving him a sideways grin as she went back to painting her toes.
" Ah. Someone must really like you to have gone to all that trouble , " Derek called as he headed into the kitchen to grab a beer.
" I guess so, " She yelled back. Meredith could hear him laugh and then he was coming back into the living room, taking a seat beside her and throwing his arm behind her on the sofa.
" So what are we watching , " He asked as he swiped the remote from beside her and pressed play.
" Oh. Uh - " She didn't get to finish as the images flashed back up on the screen. Derek looked confused for a moment before it dawned on him what exactly she had been watching.
" Is that your mother? "
" I guess I thought it would be a good way to get prepared for tomorrow. "
His head cocked to the side and he watched the tv intently, trying to figure out exactly what kind of procedure her mother was performing. His eyes got wide when he realized she had just pulled the guys face off.
" Did she just really..." He looked to his girlfriend for confirmation of what he had just saw and couldn't help but laugh when he saw the look of giddiness on her face.
" She really did , " Meredith replied and situated herself to where she was curled up underneath his arm. Shaking his head, he put the remote down on the table and sat back to watch the rest of it with her.
" You, Meredith Grey, are going to do just fine as a surgeon. "
