Chapter 20: I Like Her!
"You really need to learn how to knock." Derek looked up from his desk as Mark walked into his office. Derek was finishing up some paperwork before he was supposed to meet Meredith for lunch. She had been at her new job for almost two weeks, and they had made it a habit of meeting for lunch whenever they could both get out at the same time. It was a nice routine for Meredith, and Derek certainly didn't object to spending time with her.
"I hate interns." Mark groaned, sitting back on the couch, sipping at his coffee. "If you want a cup of coffee you have to get it yourself."
"They're supposed to be your students. Not your slaves." Derek laughed, shaking his head.
"They're supposed to assist me when needed."
"And to you...that means getting you coffee."
"It means keeping myself fueled...I'm like a Mercedes."
"Oh yeah." Derek rolled his eyes.
"What are you working on?"
"Finishing up paperwork before I go meet Meredith." Derek answered, checking his cell phone.
"Again?"
"What do you mean again?"
"You're always having lunch with her."
"She's...a friend." Derek breathed.
"You sound so forced when you say it."
"Do you have a problem with me taking her out to lunch?"
"No."
"Okay then."
"I was just making an observation." Mark shrugged, leaning back.
"She's good company."
"I'm sure." Mark smirked.
"What?"
"I'm just saying...the other night you left here early to go buy a bottle of wine."
"And?"
"Just saying." Mark shrugged.
"Yeah, well don't say anything." Derek groaned.
"Fine...fine." Mark held up his hands in surrender, knowing his friend had a lot on his mind.
"She must still be with a patient." Derek breathed, checking his phone again and seeing that Meredith hadn't replied yet.
"Oh yeah...forgot she helped first graders talk."
"Shut up."
"What did I do?" Mark frowned.
"I...nothing." "What?" Mark laughed, leaning forward.
"I'm hungry."
"I'm sure she'll be here soon."
"She's doing really well."
"She's still as thin as a rail."
"But she's been sleeping a lot better."
"With the Melatonin?"
"I'm weaning her off of it."
"Yang mentioned she didn't look as tired."
"She's..."
"Huh?" Mark sighed, looking at his own phone as he received a text from Lexie.
"I'm so screwed." Derek sighed, sitting back in his chair.
"Why is that Mark chuckled.
"I don't know what to do."
"About?"
"Meredith."
"What about her?"
"You're going to make me say it?" He sighed.
"Say what?" Mark smirked.
"I like her! Okay?"
"Oh shit." Mark frowned.
"Yeah."
"That's...wrong
"You think I don't know that?"
"The woman is damaged...she just lost her husband five months ago!"
"I didn't ask to be interested in her!"
"I get that you haven't had sex in a while and I get the...checking her out thing, but even I know you shouldn't look at her that way." Mark argued.
"I'm not acting on it, Mark." Derek rolled his eyes.
"You're thinking about her."
"Yeah..."
"And you've probably checked out her ass..."
"Seriously?"
"So, you have." Mark nodded.
"Fine."
"Figured."
"And how many women's asses do you check out every day?"
"Just Lexie's...I'm a one ass man." Mark said proudly.
"Yeah right."
"And sometimes the nurse on four..."
"My point exactly."
"Neither one of them is a widow."
"I know that."
"But you still want her."
"I don't...want her."
"You think about her."
"Yeah...I do."
"Well stop."
"Yeah...thanks."
"Lexie would freak out and the last thing she needs is to get more upset over Meredith." Mark groaned.
"Then, don't tell her." Derek rolled his eyes. "It's not like Meredith knows and will tell her."
"I won't tell her."
"Good. Then there isn't anything to worry about."
"I guess not." Mark shrugged, leaning back.
"Gotta go." Derek smiled, as his phone buzzed.
"If you need to scratch the itch... there is a receptionist in Dermatology... she's same day service." Mark smirked.
"The fact that you know that..."
"Experience."
"I'm leaving."
"Yeah yeah..." Mark pushed himself up.
"See you later." Derek smiled, sending a quick text message back to Meredith to let her know he was on his way.
"Bye man." Mark sighed, leaving the office.
"Bye." Derek breathed, picking up his things and leaving the office right after Mark. He knew that Mark was right. This was wrong, completely wrong and he couldn't do anything to act on these feelings.