Derek moves down the hallway with caution. His steps are light and slow. He doesn't want to seem too overly eager, so he tries to keep it casual. As he walks, he continues to smile, holding Meredith's gaze with his. He is delighted to see that she remains smiling at him, her aquamarine orbs still holding that sparkle that makes her look refreshed and happy. He still remains cautious, however, keeping his speed slow and steady as he advances. When he reaches her, they both stop. Meredith's patient, who is still clinging to her, looks up at Derek with a confused expression.

"Derek Shepherd," he introduces, pulling his hand out of his pocket as his eyes shift so that he is staring at the older woman. She continues to look at him strangely, her eyes bouncing back and forth between his smiling face and his outstretched hand.

"Mrs. Nelson, Dr. Shepherd is the head neurologist here at Seattle Grace." Meredith says gently, letting her patient know that he isn't just some strange, well-dressed man cornering them in the hallway. A calm expression falls upon the elderly woman's face and she nods as she shakes Derek's hand.

"Is that right?" She asks with slight amazement as she smiles up at Derek.

"Our goal is to make it past three more doors." Meredith tells him.

He nods his understanding at Meredith, and then turns back to her patient. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Nelson," Derek replies. "It looks as though you're moving pretty fast down this hallway." He gives her a slight wink and he's not sure, but he thinks Mrs. Nelson may be blushing. His eyes slide quickly to Meredith and he can't help but grin when she rolls her eyes at him.

Always the charmer, Meredith thinks to herself.

"Well," Mrs. Nelson states, "I don't know about my speed, but I do know that I wouldn't even be standing in this hallway if it wasn't for this young lady right here." She says, patting Meredith's hand in the process. "She's a wonderful doctor. And beautiful one, too." She adds, flashing Meredith a warm smile.

"I definitely can't argue with that." Derek says, his eyes connecting with Meredith's as he speaks. The expression on his face shifts from an amused look to a look of awe and amazement, like he's drinking in said beauty right in that moment and he just can't believe that he's seeing it.

Meredith blushes and dips her head down slightly, pretending to check that Mrs. Nelson's feet are still in the right place. He always does this; always finds a way to do or say something that makes her cheeks flush with a mixture of emotions. She tries not to let him know that she is affected by his warm eyes and his captivating smile, but she has a very strong feeling that she is failing miserably.

Derek takes a step closer and leans in a little bit. "I was wondering if you were free tonight." He whispers.

Meredith's posture straightens. "Tonight?"

He nods and smirks as his eyes shift to Mrs. Nelson, who is pretending not to listen, although there is a definite smirk on her lips, too. "Yes, tonight." He says softly. "I thought we could get some dinner." He suggests with a shrug. "It's supposed to be a cloudless night, which doesn't happen much in Seattle. We could go out to the clearing and eat."

Meredith stares up at him, her eyes searching his face. There is so much hope in his eyes that it's hard for her not to feel a burst of excitement pop inside of her chest. Visions of eating a nice, hot meal on a blanket with a glass of wine and stars overhead float in her mind. In her mind, she can see Derek there... sitting right beside her and smiling down at her like he's doing now. She wants nothing more than to end her evening feeling as though she is living a dream.

"Merdith!" A slurred voice from down the hallway sends her crashing down to reality.

Dread feels the void and she looks up at Derek with eyes wide with panic. She notices then that Derek's posture is no longer relaxed. He stands in front of her, ramrod straight and his teeth are clenched. Anger slides over his once smiling expression, and his jaw is rigid.

"Dr. Grey," he says evenly, using all of his strength to control his voice, "why don't you bring Mrs. Nelson back to her room."

"Dr. Shepherd, I..." Meredith pauses and her mouth opens and closes as she tries to find the words to argue with him.

"One of your interns can take over." He states. It is not a question, or a demand. It is an order, and she knows it.

"But, Derek-"

"Meredith." He cuts her off by saying her name softly, his eyes pleading with her to just do what he's telling her. "Please," he says gently, tilting his head to one side. "Take Mrs. Nelson back to her room. It's okay. I'll handle this. Just go."

With one final look into his deep blue eyes, Meredith nods silently and then moves to the other side of Mrs. Nelson. Taking her arm, Meredith leads her back down the hallway from which they came, all the while fielding the questions the Mrs. Nelson is firing at her. As Derek watches them go, he takes a few deep breaths to calm down. He doesn't want to have to yell, not in the middle of the busy hallway. When he is certain that he can control his voice, he pivots on his heels, faces the opposite direction, and comes face to face with the man who has been keeping him away from Meredith.