I swear, Meredith and Alex are going to get together, eventually ... probably sooner than later. Thank you all so much for being patient!

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Chapter 11: "I Can't Help Myself"

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Testosterone was a strange thing. It was what made Alex challenge Mark Sloan to a game of darts, for no real reason at all. "The loser has to fetch coffee for a week," he challenged.

For all of the joking and teasing, Alex Karev had, in fact, been in a fraternity. He was a bona fide frat boy, which meant he could do darts. And he could do them well.

"You're on, Karev. A game of 501?" Mark proposed, already stripping himself of his heavy leather jacket.

Meredith sat, completely mystified by the events that had just unfolded in front of her. Alex nodded at her, "Mer, get us some beers, would you?" he asked.

"Oh, sure, because it's not like I want to play or anything," she told him, but nonetheless made her way to the bar as Alex threw a triple 20.

She heard Alex gloating as she walked way, and Mark Sloan grumbling something in return.

"Hey, Joe," Meredith greeted. She took a quick seat at the bar.

"Hey, Doc." Joe grabbed a rag and wiped the counter in front of her. "We doing tequila tonight?" he asked. Joe was a bit surprised by Meredith's presence. Not like she wasn't a regular, but she had been absent as of recently.

Meredith shook her head and nodded at her companions over by the dart board. "I'm playing the barmaid tonight. Three beers, please." Meredith thought a moment, and then added, " And put it on Alex's tab."

"This seat taken?" she heard. She knew by the voice, but Joe's reaction confirmed it. Derek.

Meredith jumped up and shook her head. "No, I was just leaving."

"Meredith," Derek whispered, in his McDreamy voice, coupled with his McDreamy smile. "Have a drink with me. We can be two friends, having a drink."

"No!" she said, forcefully. Perhaps a bit too forcefully.

Alex's head snapped in the direction from where Meredith's voice came. She was pushing Derek's hand off of her arm, which was all the reason Alex needed to intervene. He abandoned the game of darts mid-throw, with Mark Sloan right behind him.

Alex grabbed Derek's collar with both hands. "I told you to stay the fuck away from her," he threatened. Before Joe could voice any opposition to the two men having a brawl in his bar, Alex was already halfway out the door.

"Crap!" Meredith shrieked, running after them.

Mark Sloan seemed to be just along for the ride, as he followed the action wherever it went. Outside, Alex had Derek up against the wall of the building and was sprouting threat after threat. Meredith stood by helplessly. "You must be one hell of a lay," Mark joked, poking Meredith in the ribs.

"Hey!" Alex and Derek both yelled, looking at Mark.

"Alex!" Meredith yelled, seeing her opportunity to stop her friend from choking the hell out of her ex-boyfriend. She ran up and grabbed his arm, pulling Alex away from Derek. She pulled him inside with all of the strength she could muster and left Mark Sloan and Derek Shepherd outside.

"You can't blame the guy, I mean, you would have done the same thing. You did do the same thing," Mark tried to calm his former friend down.

Derek said nothing and, instead, straightened his collar and walked away.

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Alex and Meredith sat in his truck, both looking forward. Meredith abruptly turned in his direction and started to speak, but thought better of it and closed her mouth. She returned her gaze to the windshield.

"What?" Alex asked. His voice was dejected, as he sat awaiting punishment.

"You could have ended your career!" Meredith said finally. Her statement surprised Alex. He thought she was going to scold him for attacking Derek, for dragging him outside, for being childish. He turned to look at her with lost eyes. "Just, next time you want to be my knight in shining whatever, just make sure it's not your boss that you're trying to kill." She touched his hand gently. "I mean, I've kind of got an in with the Chief, but that'll only get you so far."

Tonight, it wasn't even a question where Meredith was headed. That night, they crawled into bed together, with no premise of it being for Meredith or because they were too drunk or it being too late. Tonight, it was for them.

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"Grey, you got one more day of the pit," Bailey told her, almost regretfully. "But do some charts first."

Meredith nodded. She wished she could be in surgeries with her fellow interns, but she was happy to not be in danger of running into Derek or Mark, for the morning at least. She and Alex had arrived early that morning, to escape any questions. She was sure, by now, that the hospital was rampant with gossip of how Alex tried to kill Derek, and she wanted no part in it. For now.

She grabbed some charts from the nurse's station, avoiding their curious glares, and set off in search of an empty gurney to do the charts.

"Meredith?" she heard. Meredith looked up to see a woman standing in front of her. "I'm sorry, Dr. Grey?" Meredith continued to look at her, but nodded. "I know, I would have known you anywhere. You look exactly like my Molly." Meredith struggled to breathe. "I'm Susan Grey," the woman finally introduced herself and stuck out her hand.

Meredith froze for a moment before she launched herself into the nearest door, shutting it behind her and dropping all of the charts in her arms.

She searched for a paper bag to control her breathing that was rapidly bordering on hyperventilating. The door to the supply closet and in walked Mark Sloan. "Are you okay?" he asked. He'd seen the scene unfold and knew Meredith was upset. He just didn't know what to do about it.

He stood in awkward silence as Meredith tried to speak. "I … I," was all that came out.

"Shhh," he told her, as he put an arm around her and brought her close to his chest. Mark Sloan had always been a sucker for crying girls.

"What the hell are you doing?" Derek erupted into the linen closet, after hearing mumblings about the previous moments.

"Oh, God!" Meredith said, almost laughing as she continued to uncontrollably cry.

"Meredith?" Derek asked. "Are you okay? Did he-"

The door slammed open once again and interrupted the scene. "Get away from her!" Alex growled at Derek, pushing past him. Mark Sloan graciously released Meredith from his grip and passed her onto her friend.

"Are you really with him now?" Derek asked, incredulously. "Will you really fuck anyone?" he asked.

By now half the hospital was watching through the open door. "Shepherd, my office. Now," the Chief's booming voice ordered. "The rest of you, get back to work!" Chief Webber closed the door behind him and nodded at Alex, who reluctantly let go of Meredith and left the linen closet.