A/N: Chapter 3 is up. Thank you much for all the reviews. Even though this is not a MerDer fit, Derek is not the bad guy in the story, i just can't.

I don't own Grey's Anatomy, or its characters. Please review.

"Mark's really awesome with you isn't he?" Asked Cristina.

"Yes, he is."

"Is it a brother- sister kind of relationship or a relationship relationship?"

"Neither. Okay, I was going to take Mark up to my apartment in Dartmouth for sex, but that didn't happen, so-"

"So, you're telling, that Mark Sloan, whose arrival today morning has the whole hospital gossiping about his sexual indiscretions, spent the entire weekend with you, in your apartment, and you didn't have sex?" Asked Alex bewildered.

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. We kiss, so obviously we are not brother- sister, but its more of a friendship with kissing."

"Yeah, as if that'll remain for long." Cristina remarked.

"Excuse me?"

"He is here for good. The both of you will be working together-"

Just then Meredith's pager buzzed indicating that she was summoned to the chief's office.

"Sorry, I need to go. The chief is calling. Bye."

"You called me, Chief?" Meredith asked opening the door of Richard's office.

"Yes, Meredith. Come in please."

Meredith could see that Mark was leaning on the book shelf opposite to the wall, hands folded across his chest looking angry but relieved and Derek was standing in front of the chief, hands on his waist, looking pissed.

"I hear that you are on Dr. Shepherd's service today, with the patient Jake?"

"Yes sir"

"Okay, I have permitted Dr. Sloan to operate on the kid's face as well, as long as he gets permission from his parents. You will be the only intern with the two of them."

"He wants you to make sure we don't fight in the OR." Mark interrupted.

"Yeah, well then maybe, he shouldn't allow you to do this." Derek seethed.

"Derek, have made my decision. Meredith, can you make sure the OR remains calms and these two maintain decorum?"

"Uh, yes sir. I think I can, hopefully."

"Well, there better not be any malpractice in the OR due to tensions between you two. Dr. Grey, for this case and this case only, I give you full rights to shout at these two and get them in place. You know them personally, and you can use any method deemed necessary to avoid conflict. Use any and leverage you have, but do not let the OR become a battle ground for these two."

"Don't worry Chief, I'll keep them on their best behaviour."

"You will be in OR 2, with the gallery, so that other doctors can intervene if things get out of hand."

"Richard, you know that the two of us are standing right here." Derek said.

"Yes, now go prepare for the surgery. Get out of here."

The OR gallery was full of people. The excitement was both about seeing the newest plastic surgeon as well as watching once in a lifetime procedure.

"You can cut the tension in there with a knife." Cristina stated.

"Mer's in-charge of making sure they down kill each with the scalpel." Alex mentioned.

"Man, I don't know whether to be jealous of her or relieve that I'm not in that room." Izzie remarked.

In the OR, Meredith was standing in between Derek and Mark. She was literally counting minutes to the end of the operation. She didn't want to be in this position, but she also knew that she was the only person, who could rein the both of them in. 'Suck up Meredith. No point in grovelling.'

"Dr. Grey, you see this? The way the tumour has placed itself between the two nodes."

"Yeah. That's…"

"A beautiful tumour. It indeed is."

Derek went about his job, and was able to move the arteries and nerves to prevent them from getting damaged.

"Dr. Grey, hold these in place while I extract the tumour. Steady hands Grey, alright?"

"Yes, Dr. Shepherd."

Derek expertly removed the tumour and was able to put the arteries and nerves in place.

"Wow!" Exclaimed Meredith.

"You closing, Dr. Shepherd?" asked Mark cordially.

"Yes."

"Then can I borrow Dr. Grey?"

Derek looked between the two. He wanted to tell no. But he knew that it would cause an unnecessary argument and he didn't exactly have authority to deny Mark the services of an intern.

"Sure." Derek replied flatly.

"Let's start by slicing the top layer along the lines drawn. I'll start on bottom you do the top. There is a lesser chance of mistakes there." Mark instructed Meredith.

"Sure, Dr. Sloan."

Mark and Meredith had quickly tended to the top layer. Derek observed that Mark and Meredith worked pretty well together, completely in sync. Then, Mark started the actual procedure and started dissecting and re-arranging the bones. He was able to give the face a proper structure. Soon, the surgery was over.

"You were good in there. It was a long procedure, but you held your ground." Derek complimented Meredith, giving her a smile.

"Thank you, Derek. The both of you work well together." Meredith voiced her observation.

"We have, but I don't see us getting back to where we were." Mark stated.

"Yeah, and whose fault is that?" Derek half- shouted, irritated.

"Okay.. Okay.. calm down, both of you. It was a successful operation. Be happy. Don't fight."

"Fine. Grey, how about the both of us now talk about you, a body cavity and a bomb?"

"Uhh, Mark, actually.. why don't you two.."

"You need to have this conversation. Whatever he means to you, you need to talk about it to someone. I'm not fighting with Mark just so that you can avoid this conversation"

"He is right. My shift is over. I'm guessing so is yours. Let's leave."

"Ughh. I'll meet you downstairs. We can then go to Joe's."

"As you say m'lady."

Mark met Meredith in the lobby and the both of them, headed to Joe's. They got a table in the back corner, so that they would be able to talk freely and not be disturbed. Mark was shocked when Derek mentioned the situation to him and was dying to know what exactly happened. He had a feeling that he and Meredith were down for a long conversation.

"What will you have?"

"I want to say tequila, but I think it is not conducive to a long a serious conversation. So, I'll have beer."

"Coming right up."

Mark went and ordered two beers and brought them to where Meredith was sitting.

"I'm really happy you're here, you know." Meredith smiled at Mark. She was really glad her best friend was finally in the same city and hospital as her.

"I know. And I'm happy I'm here too."

"So.. the bomb situation." Meredith began, dreading it.

"Yes, the bomb situation. Start talking, cause I'm imagining the worst here."

"There was a patient who came in after a paramedic came in with her hand inside the chest of a patient. He and his friend were reenacting world war two with a replica of an antitank weapon, a bazooka or something. They wanted to shoot the thing, the it wasn't working, the patient when and stood in front of the thing and the weapon went off. The rocket did not explode, but inserted itself in the chest cavity. The paramedic's hand prevented it from going off. I was in the OR with Dr. Burke. So, a code black was declared and the OR was vacated, the paramedic, the anaesthesiologist, me and Dr. Burke were there."

"Why were you there?" Mark interrupted.

"Because. So, anyway. Cristina was working with Derek on Dr. Bailey's husband, who was in a car crash. Even they didn't evacuate."

"How does all this lead to your hand in the patient's body?"

"Will you let me speak? No interruptions now. Cristina and I were in the corridor, when we saw Hannah shaking. Apparently the anaesthesiologist left, and she was pumping the breathing balloon. We saw that and carefully went to her. She was scared and shaking. Dr. Burke and of the bomb squad guys came in to calm her, but she didn't listen. My hand was on the arm, you know, which was inside the body. When she removed her hand, I don't know why, but my hand automatically took its place."

"What? Are you crazy Meredith. You know what? Don't answer that. You are crazy!" Mark was livid at her stupidity.

"I know.. I know alright. I should have ducked and prayed that I was safe like everyone else, but I didn't. And I don't know why!"

"You don't know why! That's convenient." Mark exclaimed in a raised voice.

"I'm sorry, alright. But I don't see the big deal."

"How is it not a big deal? You could have died!" Mark wasn't able to grasp the fact that Meredith was so careless with her life.

"So what?" Meredith blurted without thinking.

"Please tell me you did not just say, so what?!" Mark was getting angrier by the second.

"It wouldn't make a difference to anyone Mark. My mom doesn't even remember me. My dad has a perfect family and hasn't even bothered to check on me since I was five years old. Derek has Addison, my friends here have known me just for a year, so they wouldn't miss me."

"What about me? Huh? You think I wouldn't miss you? My best friend! The one person I could talk to about anything. Good to know I mean so little to you. Enjoy!" Saying that Mark left without turning back.

Meredith slumped on her chair. She didn't know how she managed to say such a thing. Mark meant a lot to her. She had to do something and soon, if she wanted to save her friendship.

She looked up to see many people who were form the hospital were staring at her. They might have become a tad too loud and attracted attention. She saw Derek and Addison come towards her.

Cristina came over, after she saw the entire spectacle unfold.

"Are you alright? He stormed out pretty angry." she asked, concerned for her friend.

"I just messed up the one good and constant thing in my life." Meredith said, disappointed in herself.

"What? What did you say to Mark?"

"Nothing.. I just don't want to talk about it." Meredith dismissed the topic.

"Mer…,"

Just then almost everyone's pagers rang indicating a major trauma. Half the bar rushed out towards the hospital.

Cristina and Meredith met with Dr. Bailey in the pit where ambulances arrive.

"What happened?" Asked Meredith, concerned.

"Fire at a hotel a few blocks from here." Dr. Bailey informed them.

The first ambulance arrived and Bailey told Meredith to tend to it. It was a young woman with severe burns on her abdominal area.

"Page the plastic surgeon on call now. And take her to the burn unit."

Meredith led the gurney to room 1 in the burn unit. She set an IV and asked the nurse to prepare for potential operation. Just then Mark burst into the room.

"Someone paged me? What's wrong?"

"Female, mid- twenties, severe burn in the abdominal area, BP stable. We need to check for internal injuries."

"Dr. Grey, get the equipment and start cleaning the wound. I cannot work on this alone."

"Of course, Mark." Meredith replied, hoping that she will be able to talk to him.

"Let's keep it professional, shall we, Dr. Grey."

"Of course, Dr. Sloan." Meredith said, disappointed.

"Do an ultrasound to check for damages inside." Mark ordered.

Meredith took the portable ultrasound machine and started the scan.

"Dr. Sloan, I think the liver might be partially damaged."

"Let me see." Mark went across the room to Meredith to take a better look. "You're right. Page Dr. Bailey."

"You called for me?" Bailey asked entering the room.

"Yes. Have a look at her liver." Meredith said.

"We need to operate and take out the damaged section, or the entire liver could get infected. Book an OR now." She ordered Meredith.

"While you do that, I'll also operate and make sure that the burns don't further penetrate and remain superficial in all the other areas."

In the scrub room, Meredith was about to wash her hands to enter the OR when Mark stopped her.

"I don't need an intern in this case. If Dr. Bailey doesn't need you, you can leave." Mark said.

"Dr. Bailey? May I scrub in?" Bailey eyed Meredith and Mark suspiciously. She just hoped it wouldn't be a repeat of the drama between Derek and Meredith.

"Sure, I wouldn't mind an extra set of hands in there. Dr. Sloan, is that okay with you?"

"Of course, Dr. Bailey." Mark replied flatly.

Meredith entered the OR behind Mark and Bailey. She went and stood behind Bailey, so that she wouldn't interfere with Mark's work. The last thing she wanted was for him to get angry at her in front of everyone.

"See that, Grey? This infected portion is glowing due to the chemical we inserted in the area. It makes dissecting the portion way easier."

They proceeded with their work and Mark never acknowledged Meredith.

"Dr. Sloan, I'm done here. Do you need any help? Dr. Grey is here."

"No Dr. Bailey. Don't need any help. I'm almost does too."

Soon, Mark was done with his part in the surgery as well. Just as Meredith was about to approach him to talk, he dashed out of the OR without a second glance. 'There goes my chance to talk to him.' Thought Meredith.

"Hey, you alright?" Derek asked Meredith as he found her by the elevator.

"Why? What's happened to me?"

"Uh, the nurses were talking about a fight between you and Mark. What happened?"

"I just said somethings that I shouldn't have, and now he wouldn't even look at me."

"What did you say that pissed him of so much?"

"Nothing.. just… stuff."

"You can talk to me, Meredith. As much as my relationship with Mark is strained, I do know him since childhood." Derek told Meredith as they entered the elevator.

"I might have said that if something happened to me during the bomb incident, no one's life would be that affected." Derek looked shocked at Meredith.

"Meredith, I saw how much you mean to Mark today. Punching me, at time he was asking for my forgiveness, it shows that much. He all the right to nee mad at you."

"I know that." Meredith sadly stated.

The elevator reached the lobby and Meredith was about to exit when Derek's voice stopped her.

"And Meredith, for the record, I would be deeply saddened and affected if you had died as well. Just because I'm with Addison, doesn't mean I don't care about you or I don't value you as a friend and person."

"Thanks Derek." Meredith smiled at him.