Derek frowned as he looked down at his phone. No new messages. He'd just finished rounding on the patients on his floor, and figured it was round about time to get lunch. Maybe I'll see her there, he hoped.

Upon seeing no one he knew so far, that wasn't a resident, or intern, he took his lunch to go and decided to go and eat in his office. He had paperwork to start on and, unless there were any emergent cases, he would probably spend the rest of his afternoon holed away, so he may as well get a head start.

A few hours passed, his lunch long gone, he heard his phone go off. The distinct ringer to indicate he was being paged, and it was a 911. Leaving the paperwork behind he set off to where he was needed, one of his patients' rooms. "What's going on? Speak to me," he ordered of the resident there, grabbing the digitalised chart.

"She had another seizure," the resident explained, "I'm just about to take her for her pre-op scans ready for the morning."

Derek checked his watch. 17:45. After examining the patient and checking through the charts, Derek turned to the resident, "When you get back, prep her for surgery, we're going to have to operate on this tumour tonight it seems."

"Yes, Dr. Shepherd, I'll book an OR and page you when we're ready," the resident confirmed.

"Thanks, Dr…." he looked over at the resident, remembering her from earlier in the day, "Dr. Edwards." He smiled with gratitude and left the patient's room, leaving Dr Edwards to prep her for surgery.

Stifling a yawn, he made his way to the coffee cart outside. Coffee and fresh air should help. After his early wake up call, he'd need this to get through this surgery, and then he could head home. Coffee in hand, he made his way to Chief Webber's office, only to find it empty. Hm, that's not like Richard Webber. Derek knew Richard to be the kind of doctor who started when the sun rose but didn't leave until hours after it had gone dark again. He shrugged it off, Richard probably had a surgery, or a patient.

Having finished his coffee, he was ready to go prep himself for the upcoming surgery. Making his way back to the operating room floor, he stopped in front of the OR board. Checking his patient's chart, he figured his surgery would be ready to start any moment now. Looking up at the board he could see he was scheduled to begin in just fifteen minutes time. He took a moment to look over the rest of the board. Dr. Grey definitely kept herself busy today… He shook off the thought. He had to focus. Handing the tablet back to the nurse he made his way to the scrub room, looking through at the patient who had arrived, just about ready to start.

After scrubbing in for the appropriate amount of time, Derek made his way into the operating room, gown on and gloves on, "Let's get started then, shall we? It's a beautiful night to save lives…"

Around the three-hour mark, Derek had a feeling that he was being watched. This would've been normal, there is a gallery above him and residents watching his every move, learning from him. The person he felt watching him, however, wasn't there to learn. They weren't watching his hands work. They were watching him.

His eyes looked up to the gallery and his suspicions were confirmed. There she was. His eyes caught hers and she looked away, busying herself with her phone. A small laugh escaped his lips and he returned to the work at hand.

Why was she there? She didn't know. She was supposed to go check on her mother. She was supposed to be getting herself home. But she'd seen his name on the OR board, he was still here. And she was curious. She knew he was good with his hands; she knew that. But knowing now that he's a neurosurgeon? That explains everything. The next thing she knew, she was in the gallery, stood at the glass. There were a couple residents sat there, watching. They knew not to question, and she didn't have to worry about being questioned about her presence there. She watched him work. She didn't know how much time had passed when his eyes looked up, straight into hers. She immediately went into flight mode, looking down at the phone in her hands. She found herself looking at the message he'd sent her earlier in the day.

Hey, you got ready quick – Derek.

She sighed softly and she walked out of the gallery. She couldn't just ignore him, could she? No, she couldn't. She typed up a quick reply. Sorry, busy day. How was your first day? She hesitated a moment before pressing send, following up her message by adding his number into her contacts. Moments after putting her phone away she felt it buzz in her pocket. Confused, she checked it. Not Derek. He's still in surgery, obviously. Bailey.

She put her phone away and made her way to her mother's room, where Bailey and Maggie stood outside waiting for her, "What's the problem?" It had to be something; Maggie's face gave it away if anything.

"We did a CT, but there's a mass on her liver, we're going to take her now to get a biopsy," Bailey told her, "I need you to sign this form so we can go ahead…" Bailey handed her the clipboard as she took out a pen, signing away, then handed the board back to Bailey with a sigh, "do you want to see her before we take her?"

Given her mother's agitated state earlier, Meredith shook her head. It was better if she didn't, her mother would probably just cause more problems, "it's okay, do what you need to do." She gave Bailey a week smile, and Bailey placed a hand on Meredith's shoulder, "I'm okay, Bailey, it's fine," Meredith assured the woman.

Bailey went back inside her mother's room and Meredith leaned against the wall, beside the door, looking at Maggie, who knew not to say anything. Maggie took her sister's arm and gently dragged her in the direction of the cafeteria, "You need to eat, Meredith, you've barely stopped all day."

Meredith laughed softly as she followed Maggie, feeling slightly comforted at her sister's concern, "I'm too tired to argue with you on that right now."

They sat opposite one another, eating the lasagne that boasted as today's special. "So," Maggie started, "Dr, Derek Shepherd…" she grinned slyly at her sister, looking to gain some sort of insight into the other side of today's drama.

Meredith choked a little on her food as soon as his name was mentioned, looking up at her sister and rolling her eyes, "Really, Mags?" Her sister only nodded in response, not willing to let this go. Meredith gave in, realising she couldn't put this off any longer. "We went back to his, drank some more, and I'm sure you don't need specifics on what happened after that…" Maggie laughed a little, "and then it was morning, and I couldn't even remember his name, I don't even remember asking his name. Honestly, I had no idea he was even a doctor, a surgeon at that, and I definitely didn't know he would be starting here today. If I'd known that I wouldn't have even left the bar with him!" She laughed at Maggie's expression, looking almost as if she were proud of her sister, "What?"

"I've seen him look at you. It may have only been once or twice, but I think you should definitely go there. He'll be good for you. You spend too much time worrying about me, about Mom, about everyone else, except yourself!" Maggie was not going to let this go. Not without Meredith at least trying. She let out a sigh.

"I never said I wouldn't try, but maybe now isn't the best time. You just went through a break-up, Maggie, and Mom is in the hospital. For all we know, she has liver cancer," Maggie gave her a sad look as she spoke, "maybe when things settle down a bit."

"Well, Mer, you'd probably be best telling him that," her eyes looked pointedly towards Meredith's phone on the table as it buzzed and lit up, Derek's name showing, "Speak of the Devil…" Maggie laughed as her sister picked up her phone.

"I will, I will, I'll sort it, Maggie, don't I always?" They laughed together and Meredith put her phone away, not willing to open the message with her sister sat right there. Now it was Maggie's turn for her phone to go off.

"Results are back, let's go."

He turned a corner. There she stood. Laughing, joking with the paediatric guy... Karev. That's it. He kept his distance, distracting himself with the tablet he was holding. Post-op scans look good… He just had a few notes to leave and then he could head home. This had definitely been a good first day and he was glad he was able to get back in the OR. Two weeks was definitely too long for him to go without operating.

He needed to get her alone. He checked his phone again. She hadn't responded to his reply yet. That yes, he'd had a surprising first day. Emphasis on surprise. Looking up again, the hallway was cleared, he hadn't noticed them leaving. He put the tablet in the charging dock at the nurses' station and made his way to his patient's room for one final check before he headed home.

After leaving post-op care instructions with Dr Edwards, he headed back to his office, to change out of his scrubs and grab his things. Headed for the elevator, he caught it just before the doors were due to close, and rushed in, not noticing at first whom he was sharing the elevator with.

The scent of lavender hit him first and then he actually looked up. There she was. He'd finally got her alone, completely by accident. He grinned at her, "Hi, Doctor Grey."

She laughed a little and rolled her eyes, "Hi, Doctor Shepherd," hoping her eyes didn't betray the slight panic she felt inside. She did not expect this to be happening right now. She'd read his message earlier after leaving the cafeteria with Maggie but hadn't had the chance to reply.

"So, you work here?" He questioned, "It's nice here, very welcoming," he laughed a little, still grinning at her.

She shrugged, "I'm glad you think so," her eyes shifted to look at the floor indicator, almost where she needed to be. Out the elevator, to her car, and back in her own bed.

"Can we talk?" He asked. He wanted to know more about her, no, he needed to know more about her.

The elevator reached the ground floor and she rested her hand on his shoulder for a moment, "not today," she shook her head slightly. Too soon, she thought, and the doors to the elevator opened. Her escape. "See you tomorrow, Dr. Shepherd."

He shook his head with a small laugh, attempting to ignore the electricity rushing through him as she touched his shoulder, "Good night, Dr Grey," he said after her, watching as she walked away. She really was an enigma. Almost a moment too late, he realised he needed to get off the elevator as well. He stepped out as she disappeared into the parking lot, and he followed to make his way to his own car.

There was always tomorrow.