Meredith is startled at the sound of the door of the supply room slam shut. She looks up from where she is sitting on the floor, organizing syringes and cotton packets.

"What are you doing here?"

Derek moves toward her, upset. She resumes her task.

"I've been looking for you all day. Are you avoiding me?"

"I am not avoiding you. I'm on punishment--why are you looking for me? You and I cannot be together, alone anymore…"

"Meredith…"

"No!"

She stands up.

"I can't keep doing this to myself and you make me stupid. Go talk to your wife"

She begins to walk away but he grabs her by the arm and pulls her back.

"Meredith, stop it"

"No, you stop it. I am sick of this. You want me then you don't want me. Then you want me again but you're still with your wife. You can't have both, Derek. You like to think you're this nice, decent guy, but you're a two-timer and you're hurting Addison. You're hurting me"

Tears well up in her eyes and Derek's demeanor softens.

"I'm sorry"

She pulls away from him.

"So am I"

He grabs her and pulls her to him. He kisses her before she has a chance to protest and she struggles to pull away, when she does, he holds her tightly by the arms so that she doesn't look away.

"I love you"

She stops for a minute and just looks at him in silence. Finally, not knowing what to say, she shrugs him off.

"You're a jackass"

She blurts out at him before exiting the small room. As she is leaving she hears him call out her name but she keeps walking, so angry that she doesn't see Addison stand about 20 feet away in the opposite direction in which she is walking.

She sees Meredith storm out of the supply room is immediately filled with curiosity. Not 5 seconds later, she sees Derek walk out of the same room. Suddenly, she just can't hold the tears in and so she quickly walks back down the hallway, away from Derek.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Doctor Bailey…"

Izzie slowly walks into the women's bathroom. She spots a pair of shoes from under the stall doors.

"Doctor Bailey?"

The toilet flushes and the door slowly creaks open. Doctor Bailey stands in the door frame, looking at Izzie as if she's giving her a five second head start before she hunts her down.

"I'm in the bathroom, Dr. Stevens"

"I know, I--sorry, I just…"

As Izzie stammers, Dr. Bailey moves on to wash her hands.

"Explain yourself. Quickly"

She rinses off and dries her hands with a paper towel before putting one hand on her hip, waiting for an explanation.

"I just wanted to say thanks, for…talking to the Chief about me"

"Oh. He told you about that?"

"Yeah. I wanted to talk to you earlier but…anyway, I was waiting for a moment alone with you--it always slows down at night so…thanks for everything…"

"You should thank Addison Shepherd"

"What?"

"Doctor Montgomery Shepherd practically threw punches at the Chief defending you. I just agreed with her"

Izzie seems shocked.

"Oh…I didn't know…"

"Yeah. Well…"

She begins, as she pulls the door to exit.

"She sees herself in you. You're a good Doctor, Izzie. You forget that"

She leaves and closes the door.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX