Chapter 62: Trying to Fix Things

When Derek opened his eyes the following day, he was momentarily disoriented. It took him a moment to process what was going on and where he was. He blinked sleepily a couple of times, unsure whether he was still in the middle of one of his dreams or really in the house whose ownership he shared with Meredith, in the bedroom where he shared many nights with her.

The events of the previous day slowly unfolded in his consciousness, the flight to Vegas, the car journey to Rachel, seeing Meredith for the first time for months, being bombarded with tomatoes, being arrested… and finally being slapped by none other than Meredith. He could still feel her hand on his cheek, the sting going straight to his heart.

However, nothing that happened yesterday made him feel down. Quite the opposite, it might have been the effect of a good night's sleep, but he was hopeful, and even optimistic. He didn't even bother to change the sheets last night; he went to sleep enveloped in her sweet scent. Maybe that semblance of closeness with her was what had worked wonders for his mood.

Derek was startled from his musings by muffled footsteps and hushed voices coming from the corridor.

"Let him sleep a little longer. I'm sure he's got a hell of a day ahead before him."

"Okay, let's go downstairs. Ma's making breakfast."

Even before Mia and Addison's voices died down, he jerked his head sideways to check the time. It was half past eight already, he overslept! He had half an hour before Meredith started seeing patients and it would be drastically hard to get ahold of her during work hours, he knew all the excuses well enough.

He was not deceiving himself; he knew that he'd be lucky to get a minute alone with her, let alone actually get her to listen to him or change her mind. But he was patient. He wasn't sure what made him this patient, the love for Meredith or the clinical trial (and the latter undeniably resulted from the former), but he would not back down until he proved her wrong. It wasn't just for the satisfaction of proving her wrong, he told his mother the truth last night. He didn't want to punish Meredith or make her feel bad because he was hurting too. He couldn't even bring himself to feel mad at her and he was grateful to Meredith precisely for that. He loved her too much, he had felt the pain she bore every day, he had seen it in her eyes. She had warned him he might get burned; she had warned him many times. He had been in too deep already, probably since day one.

Cutting a long story short, he wasn't seeking revenge. He was trying to move on from the point they were currently stuck in to the happily ever after he knew was well within their reach.

He decided he didn't exactly have time to shave, he hastily got dressed and practically ran down the steps.

"Morning," he threw at his family as he whizzed past the open door to the kitchen.

"Morning, sweetie," his mother called back. "I didn't know you were up. I've just made breakfast… or attempted to make it. There's barely any food, except Pedigree Pal."

"That doesn't surprise me," Derek chuckled as he balanced on one leg putting his shoe on. "Meredith is a terrible cook; she usually gets out."

"You're not gonna sit down?" Mia asked as she swung on her chair to peek at him from the kitchen.

"Nope, sorry!"

"Geez, man, you're a sucker for punishment," Mark commented with pity.

"Nah, he's just in a hurry for the lice check-up," quipped Mia making everyone burst into a fit of giggles. "I'd say we'll all benefit from that."

Derek ran back to the kitchen and scowled at his sister while grabbing the car keys. "I will get back at you!"

"Is that a threat?" she snorted.

"Yes, that's exactly what it is. To be executed when I'm done with a much more important issue!"

"He forgot we're in possession of his childhood photos, didn't he?" Mia asked when he had already left.

"Yeah."


Derek pulled up his car to a rolling stop in front of the practice with a mix of emotions in his heart. It was certainly good to be back, he missed the place, but he couldn't dismiss a sudden nagging worry about his personal safety. He could stake his own life that Meredith wouldn't be happy to see him. What he was slightly apprehensive about though now was the audience. The news of his return must have already reached every pair of ears in the vicinity and there was a real risk of him getting lynched upon entering.

He took a deep breath, remembering to take an issue of the medical magazine with his interview from the passenger compartment, and walked in. It was a role reversal of sorts. The previous day Meredith turned up suddenly in the house, surprising him and his family. Today he was the one at the receiving end of the stares.

Meredith quickly looked the other way as she opened her planner to check what was in the schedule, but not fast enough to hide her puffy eyes from him. This only strengthened Derek's determination; he needed to solve this situation for her own good more than anything else.

"Good morning," he spoke up, his greeting cutting the silence like a knife.

Unsurprisingly, it fell on deaf ears. Meredith was busy pretending there was an empty space where he was currently standing. So was Izzie, apparently. Or maybe not. The blonde nurse wasn't able to hold an impassive face, she looked as though someone peed in her coffee and even though Derek wasn't the culprit, he felt like one.

Owen was the only one that acknowledged his appearance. He opened his mouth to reply but hesitated, and after a surreptitious glance at his female co-workers, decided against it. Derek couldn't really blame him. If he didn't exhibit solidarity, he would be in the doghouse not only with his boss but also his girlfriend.

"So, how is everybody doing?" Derek plodded on courageously.

Again, it didn't bring any response other than Owen looking both nervous and apologetic.

"Well, then I take it everyone's fine," he went on, walking up through the lobby but halting at a safe distance from the cup of coffee that stood innocently on the counter. He had an inkling it might end up on his shirt or even worse, over his hair, if he got any closer. "How are things at the practice? No problems with that new supplier?"

"Everything's…" Owen cleared his throat, stepping from foot to foot. "Everything's in order."

"Good to hear that," Derek smiled in response. That was progress. "So, is it looking like a busy day? I'm ready to help out."

The snort that came out of Meredith's throat was unmistakable. Derek knew well enough that his popularity had hit rock bottom, but he was doing his best to keep the conversation flowing, if one could call that a conversation.

"I… think we've got everything covered," Owen said diplomatically. "Meredith's heading out to the field and so far, I've got only one appointment in the schedule. We're good."

"Speaking of heading out," Meredith interjected, grabbing her denim jacket from the hanger. "I'd better get going."

"Oh, I'll go with you," Izzie leapt from her chair behind the counter and took off her lab coat. "Owen will be fine on his own."

"Mer, Mer…" Derek blocked her way quickly, touching her upper arm only to throw his hands up in the air under the full force of her glare. "Can you at least give me a few minutes of your time? Not now necessarily, maybe when you're back… We need to talk, you know that."

"All the talking is done," she snapped.

"No, it's not. We've got lots of talking to do," he insisted and after a moment of hesitation he pushed the medical journal her way. "Look, why don't we start with this. I'd really like you to read that, page 9. Please, just have a look."

"What makes you think that I'd want to read that?" she rolled her eyes.

"Nothing. At all," he admitted. "We need to find some common ground, and I think this could be a good start."

"Oh, we could easily find that," Meredith shrugged. "Or our lawyers could. Over a real estate purchase agreement."

"Now, where would I live?" he smiled gently. "And you don't seem willing to be roommates at the moment…"

"Excuse me?" she questioningly narrowed her eyes at him.

"Meredith," he sighed deeply, passing a hand through his hair. "It might not be the best moment to tell you this… but I'm moving here, for good."

She shook her head in disbelief, Izzie's gasp of surprise sounded in the background.

"What?" she asked weakly and he could swear there was fear in her eyes rather than anger even though she held up her façade. "What do you mean by moving here?"

"I quit NY Pres, I let my apartment…"

"Why would you do a stupid thing like that?" she asked, trying not to lose her head.

"I was hoping you'd ask me that," he grinned and reached out for her hand but she flinched it back.

"Iz, let's go!" She whirled away and marched out without another word, Izzie at her heels.

"Well, that went better than I expected," Derek muttered to himself and turned back to Owen who was still in the lobby. "You sure I can't help out with anything? I know how to run this place, I've worked here."

"I… ah… I'm sorry," Owen stuttered slightly.

"Oh, come on, man. Not you too!"

"What did you expect?" Owen hissed at him. "Meredith is my friend. I like her, she's a good person. And she's also my girlfriend's sister. So yes, me too."

"Honestly, why is everybody assuming I cheated on Meredith?" Derek let out a deep frustrated sigh.

"You should know the answer to that question better than anyone," Owen replied suggestively, avoiding his eyes.

"Well, it so happens that I don't," Derek answered back, a definite edge in his voice. "I would be grateful if someone enlightened me!"

A half-chuckle, half-snort escaped Owen. "This is really not-"

"Look, I haven't as much as looked at another woman since I met Meredith! For the last few months, I've been doing everything in my power to have a real shot at life with her! I quit my job, I left my family behind in New York, and I did this all for her." Derek threw the medical journal open in front of Owen who took it with a sigh to peruse it briefly. His expression changed in the course of reading from wary and skeptical to baffled.

"I… don't understand…"

"Me neither," shrugged Derek.

"Meredith told Cristina that she saw you with… a woman," Owen finished lamely.

"Yeah, I don't know what she saw or what she thinks she saw but I never cheated on her nor do I intend to. Besides, that woman is practically my sister-in-law."

Owen nodded slowly, acknowledging his words.

"Does this mean you're going to help me?"

"I… I can try. But don't expect immediate results."

"Trust me, I'm not," chuckled Derek.

"I could ask Meredith to read it… or at least get Cristina to read it…"

"Yeah, having Cristina on my side rather than against me would help."

"True, until then, keep a low profile. And don't go anywhere alone."


Meredith barely had the time to drive out of Rachel when her cell rang inside her bag.

"Can you get that for me? I forgot to switch on the hands-free set and I don't like driving with one hand."

"Sure," Izzie nodded and dug out the phone putting it on speaker. "It's Cristina."

"Do you need me?" the innkeeper's frantic voice filled the car.

"For testing Mr. Herrera's piglets for infectious diseases?" Meredith played dumb.

"Please," Cristina snorted out. "The closest I ever get to a pig is while making pork chops. Don't insult my intelligence, one of my waiters saw Shepherd's car parked in front of the practice."

"Yeah, he came by."

"Oh, he came by, what are you friends again? Just so you know I sharpened some knives yesterday, do you want me to use them in any particular way?"

"No, I want you not to talk about him!"

"So he did something? What did he do?" Cristina was almost shouting now.

"Nothing, and what part of 'not talking about him' don't you understand?"

"He-" Izzie began but went instantly silent seeing Meredith's scowl.

"Go on, Barbie!" Cristina urged her on.

"He… He said he was moving to Rachel…"

"He what?" There was a loud clunk on the other side of the line as though Cristina had dropped something heavy.

"Ugh, can't anything in my private life actually stay private?" Meredith rolled her eyes, tapping her thumbs against the steering wheel.

"Nope, I don't think so," sighed Izzie. "It's not like you could hide the fact that he's gonna live in Rachel from anybody."

"Touché…"

Cristina was finally back. "I've just wasted what would have been today's main course."

"You've got what you asked for."

"I've clearly just imagined you telling me that Shepherd's moving here!"

"You didn't," said Izzie.

"But that doesn't make sense!"

"I agree, you're having hallucinations all the time," quipped Meredith.

"And you're distracting all the time!"

"Thank you, Dr. Freud. Do you get paid by the hour?"

"Guys!" Izzie raised her voice. "I don't think we should be arguing about this."

"I agree, we shouldn't be talking about it at all," Meredith backed her up.

"That doesn't mean he's gonna disappear," Cristina grumbled soberly. "But… we could make him disappear for the night?"

"I don't know what you're planning but I don't like the sound of that…" Meredith said suspiciously.

"I promise you I have no criminal intent. You want to pretend he doesn't exist, I can make that happen for one night, as long as you're ready for a monster headache in the morning."

"Seriously? You think binge drinking is the answer?"

"You should loosen up or you'll end up on an operating table yourself with an ulcer in your stomach."

"I think maybe Cristina's right?" Izzie prodded gently. "And Derek is not going to pester you when you are in a bar full of people…"

"Fine," Meredith conceded despite all her misgivings. "But I'm not gonna get drunk."

"Suit yourself. Be here at eight, and don't be late!"