Derek could hardly perform his surgery. He had absolutely no idea what had happened between them. Sure, they had fought before she left. It wasn't a big fight. It wasn't an end-our-relationship fight. She didn't want to confront her problems, he called her out. People don't end things because of that. If that was the worst fight they ever had they would be very lucky. Something had to have happened. The surgery didn't take very long. He sent the patient to recovery, now he could see Meredith. He was sure she was still in recovery. As he walked up he smiled. She looked peaceful. Even after surgery, she was radiant. He stood there for a long time, just watching and stroking her hair. He had to find out what happened. He didn't even notice Dr. Bailey walk up.

Bailey: Why the hell are you in here?

Derek: Miranda-

Bailey: (Clears her throat.) It's Dr. Bailey...

Derek: Dr. Bailey, what is going on?

Bailey: You tell me. Yang said she didn't want you to know anything about her case.

Derek: Cristina, er, Yang said that? I need to find her.

Bailey: She's scrubbed in with Burke right now.

Derek: Shit! We were fine. She was going to Boston. I didn't even know she was back. If she even left at all.

Bailey: I don't need to hear your problems. Now leave the patient alone!

Derek went to his office and paced. He didn't know what to do. How the hell long can a valve replacement take? He was going to propose to her, he was going to get the ring next week. He was going to make the step, take the plunge. Had he been that wrong. No. She is perfect. Something happened. It had to have been a misunderstanding. Why does she do this? Why does she shut everyone out? Derek decided to wait in the gallery. He had to talk to Cristina. She knew what was going on. She was supposed to be Meredith's person. Hopefully she would talk to him. Derek saw Burke and Cristina heading towards the scrub room. He practically fell down the stairs trying to hurry. He swings the door wide open.

Derek: Dr. Burke. (He nods.) Dr. Yang, would you mind telling me what the hell is going on?

Cristina: Excuse me?

Derek: Dr. Bailey won't tell me anything. What is going on? (He raises his voice.)

Cristina: She's pissed. She saw you. We saw you.

Derek: Saw me what?

Cristina: Last night, at the bar. With the tall, leggy blonde.

Derek: What? I was not with a blonde last night.

Cristina: Yeah, you were. We walked in, you were with her at the pool table.

Burke: Cristina, I think you have the wrong idea.

Cristina: Well, I don't. (She walks out, followed by Derek and Burke.)

Derek: Dr. Yang! (He shouts.)

Cristina: What?!

Derek: Let me explain.

Cristina: No! I don't want to hear it. (She raises her voice loudly.) My friend is screwed up, OK? She has lost her husband, a child, and her mom. She has lost everything. She is under stress. You pressure her into moving things along, which she is not ready to do. She does what you say, because she wants to make you happy. Then she comes home to surprise you, only to see you bent over a pool table with some slut! As far as I'm concerned, it's your fault that she's in here! She was already damaged, now she is destroyed! (Derek is silent. He wants to scream, but several doctors and nurses are all watching them.)

Burke: Cristina! (He grabs her and pulls her into the stairwell.)

Cristina: What!

Burke: I was there, with Shepherd. It's not what you think.

Cristina: What do you mean?

Burke: That was Dr. Phelps' wife. We were there celebrating with them. He is the new oncologist. Derek and I are both friends with Craig. Craig convinced Derek to help his wife play pool. Derek wanted to leave, we kept pressuring him to stay. He didn't even want to be there. All he talked about was Thompson, all night. So maybe you should find out what's going on before you throw stones and jump down someone's throat.

Cristina: Oh shit. (She walks into the hall, where Derek is standing.) Sorry or whatever.

Derek: Thanks, I guess. (She walks away. Burke walks up.) These woman...

Burke: No kidding.

Derek: So instead of confronting me, she slashes my tires.

Burke: What?

Derek: It had to have been her. (Laughs.) What the hell am I getting myself into?

Burke: I'm asking myself the same thing.

Derek: At least we're in it together. Those two are obviously a package.

Burke: Yes, they are. (Shakes his head.) See you later.

Derek: Thanks, for talking to her.

Burke: No problem.

Derek went into Meredith's room. She was still asleep. The room as dark and quiet. It was a cloudy, rainy day. He just watched her chest rise and fall. He loved her so much. He wasn't going to let her push him away. The rest of his day was empty. He was going to be there when she woke up.

Meredith was dreaming. She saw her and Derek. They were so happy. They were laying in the hammock, by the water. She loved his land. She even loved his trailer. She loved him. She loved anything that he loved. She slowly felt herself waking up. She was so tired, but she had to open her eyes. She panicked. It was Derek. She didn't have the fight in her right now. He was sitting there, reading. She saw him start to turn his head to look at her. She shut her eyes, falling back asleep. Derek was startled when Dr. Bailey walked in.

Bailey: How many times do I have to tell you?

Derek: I didn't look at her chart. I am not looking at anything 'confidential'. I am just sitting here with her.

Bailey: She doesn't want anything to do with you! She told Dr. Yang to keep you away. (Cristina walks up.)

Cristina: I lied.

Bailey: What?

Cristina: I lied. She never said that. In fact she wanted him to know everything. I lied.

Bailey: Why. Never mind. SCUT. NOW! (Cristina dropped her head and glanced at Derek. He mouthed thank you.) I need to check on her. Can you leave for a moment?

Derek: Of course. (Derek jogged up to Cristina.) Thanks.

Cristina: Yeah, whatever.

Derek: I wish she would have confronted me.

Cristina: Well, she didn't. We're not friends, you and I. I am friends with your girlfriend. She is my person, that's why I can say this. You are an ass. An arrogant ass. But for some reason, she seems to love you. If you are what makes her happy, so be it. But as her friend, I am also saying that if you hurt her, ever, I will kill you. But not before making you suffer the worst pain in the world. Do you understand?

Derek: (Shocked.) Yes.

Cristina: Good. Now I have to do SCUT, for my friend.

Derek returned to Meredith's room. She was still asleep. She was in a lot of pain, and her body had been through a lot. He decided to grab her chart. He couldn't believe her blood alcohol content. It was dangerous, reckless even. John said she only drank when it was bad. If that's true, he had to make sure it was never bad again. He sat with her all night. He postponed his surgeries for the next few days. He wanted to be there with her. The next day he got paged for an emergency surgery. He was upset, but that was the job. Cristina agreed to come in and sit with her. The surgery took several hours. Meredith woke up shortly after Cristina came in.

Cristina: Hey.

Meredith: Hey. What happened?

Cristina: Your spleen ruptured.

Meredith: Seriously?

Cristina: Yeah.

Meredith: I feel good! (She starts to get up.)

Cristina: Whoa, what are you doing. Stop.

Meredith: I need to get out of this bed.

Cristina: You just had surgery. It was bad. Sit your ass down. You still have a catheter in.

Meredith: Fine. (rolls her eyes.) Who are the flowers from?

Cristina: Oh, your Mom and the Chief, George and Izzie, Derek (She rushes his name.), and Burke and I. You know me, I didn't want to get them

Meredith: I do know you. Wait, did you say Derek? (She is getting upset.)

Cristina: Yeah, about that...

Meredith: What the hell? That nervy... (The door opens and Derek starts to walk in.) You son-of-a-bitch! Get out.

Derek: Mer- (She throws a vase across the room. He shuts the door right before, and it crashes into the door.)

Cristina: Great. I better not have to clean that up!

Meredith: Damn-it. (He cracks opens the door.)

Derek: Meredith, let me explain.

Meredith: Explain? Explain? Get out!

Derek: Mer- (She throws the remote control at him, hitting him square in the forehead.)

Cristina: Nice shot!

Meredith: Thanks.

Derek: I need to talk to you.

Cristina: I think you need to leave for a minute. (He looks at her, and does.)

Meredith: He cheated. What the hell is he thinking?

Cristina: Yeah, about that...

Meredith: What? WHAT?

Cristina: We screwed up.