Meredith: Der- Wake up, your pager is going off. (She kisses him.)
Derek: Damn-it. I haven't even been back 6 hours!
Meredith: Well, someone needs you.
Derek: I'll be back as soon as I can.
Meredith: OK.
Meredith didn't fall back asleep. Between the nerves of going home, and Derek not being in the bed, she knew it wasn't even worth the try. She turned on her bedside lamp and started reading one of the many magazines that had been brought to her. She pulled out the House and Home magazine. She started flipping through the pages. She wanted her dream home. Her house, the one she is in now, wasn't her. She didn't really want to let it go, but she didn't want to stay there either. She looked at the various pictures of houses. She loved the timber framed houses. She started thinking about her dream house. It was too soon. She loved Derek, but at this point, he was her boyfriend. She didn't want to say anything about it. It was his land. 40 acres, right by the water. She loved the property. She closed the magazine. Someday they would be to that point. At least she hoped they would. It was 4 am, the interns would be doing pre-rounds soon. She jumped out of bed and ran to the shower. She got dressed, she was ready to get the hell out of there. She was sitting in her bed when Cristina came in.
Cristina: You know, I could have rounded on someone who is going to need to be cut open today. I was nice, I picked you.
Meredith: Oh, thanks.
Cristina: Are you ready to go? You're freaking dressed. Everyone else is sleeping.
Meredith: I have to get out of here. I've been awake for hours. Can you get Bailey to round on me first?
Cristina: What's in it for me?
Meredith: I'm sure you'll think of something.
Cristina: I'm sure I will. (She laughs.) So how are you feeling and all of that shit.
Meredith: Good. Fine. Super. Whatever.
Cristina: Okay, we should be back in an hour.
Meredith: Thanks!
Meredith packed all of her things up in bags and had them all sitting next to the door. She sat there impatiently. She felt like she had to move, she had to get out. No wonder people go crazy, get cabin fever. She watched the clock, it was moving so slowly. Tick, tick, tick. She wanted to smash it. She closed her eyes. It seemed like forever, but finally they came in.
Bailey: I'd say you are ready to go.
Meredith: Yes, I am.
Izzie: You packed your bags?
George: You're dressed?
Meredith: And showered. I feel great. I feel wonderful. Everything is wonderful.
Bailey: Maybe we should do a few more tests.
Meredith: No, no more tests. I want to leave. I want to leave NOW.
Bailey: Everything looks good. I'll have them get your discharge papers ready.
Meredith: Thank you. (They begin to walk out.) Izzie.
Izzie: Yeah?
Meredith: Can you see what's going on with Derek when you get a chance? He's supposed to be off today.
Izzie: Yep, I can do that...
Meredith waited about an hour. Izzie came back and let Meredith know that Derek was pulled into emergency surgery. Meredith pouted for a minute, but she didn't care. She was getting out. Finally Bailey came back in with her papers. Alex brought a wheelchair in.
Alex: You ready?
Meredith: Hell, yeah. Let's go. (She jumped in the chair and grabbed her bags. He pushed her in the elevator and they made it to the front entrance.)
Alex: Do you have a ride?
Meredith: I don't know.
Alex: You don't know?
Meredith: I'll call for a cab. Wait, there's my Jeep. I think I have a spare key. Lois must have left it here before she left. (She jumps out of the chair.) See you later.
Alex: Bye.
Meredith: If you see Derek, let him know I left.
Alex: Okay. (He watches her tear away like she is no fire, carrying all of her belongings. He just laughs.)
Meredith never felt so good to be in her own car. She adjusted the seat and sighed. She was free, she could do whatever she wanted. She could go where ever she wanted. She decided to stop at the coffee shop. She grabbed a venti mocha latte and a chocolate chip muffin. She proceeded home. She couldn't wait to get there. She pulled into the garage and practically ran into the house. It was immaculate. Lynn had cleaned the place up. She ran her things up to her room. She jumped belly down on her bed and let out a big sigh. She was so happy to be home. She went back downstairs and and arranged her flowers in a vase. She had no idea what to do. This is just like the hospital. She looked outside, it was a nice day. A perfect day to take a walk. She walked down to the park that was down the road. She felt great, she loved being out in the fresh air. She realized just how weak she was when she finally made it to the park. She sat down on the bench and watched the squirrels. After a while she was ready to go back home. When she got back, Derek met her at the door with a stern look on his face.
Derek: Where the hell have you been?
Meredith: I went for a walk. What's the problem?
Derek: You were in the hospital for a week. You had surgery. You need to rest.
Meredith: That's why I was in the goddamn hospital! (She was already edgy. Now she was getting mad.) I rested.
Derek: Calm down. I'm just worried about you.
Meredith: I'm fine, Derek. I just need to do something. I can't sit around another day.
Derek: Well, what do you want to do?
Meredith: Let's go to the zoo.
Derek: The zoo?
Meredith: Yes, you know, the place with the animals. I love the zoo.
Derek: Okay, if that's what you want...
Meredith: Yep.
Meredith smiled all the way to the zoo. Derek was happy to be with Meredith, it didn't matter where they were going. They walked around and looked at all of the different animals. Some were pacing and acting stressed out. At that point Meredith comments on how she hated the zoo. Derek laughed at her. She said that she guessed the zoo was okay, because it did help out the endangered animals. He chuckled at her. Meredith filled up on junk food. Every time she sees something she has to get one.
Derek: You eat so much junk food. I have never seen anyone eat like you.
Meredith: Are you saying I'm a pig?
Derek: Oh, yeah, how was the cheesecake? (He busted out laughing.)
Meredith: (Her face turns green, like she feels.) It was good. Thank you. (He continues to laugh.) What?
Derek; I know.
Meredith: You know?
Derek: Everyone was talking about it. Mainly Karev. You ate the whole thing?
Meredith: I was sad. I don't even know how I did it. (She begins to sway, loosing her balance. She almost falls.)
Derek: You're tired, aren't you? I knew this would be too much. You have been sitting in bed for a long time.
Meredith: (Innocently.) No...I'm fine.
Derek: Yeah you are. (He says unconvinced.) Here, sit down. I'll be right back. (He comes back with a wagon.)
Meredith: You have got to be kidding me!
Derek: Unless you want to go home, get in!
Meredith: Fine! But I want cotton candy.
Derek: Alright. (He starts pulling her toward the cotton candy stand.) You're checking out my ass, aren't you.
Meredith: Maybe...
Derek: It is a nice ass.
Meredith: I know it is. I haven't seen enough of it lately. Especially in the flesh.
Derek: A visit could be arranged.
Meredith: I could deal with that!
Derek pulled Meredith all through the zoo. They had their pictures taken. Their head were in the faces of penguins. Meredith told Derek he was her penguin. She had learned that some penguins mate for life. He smiled. They both knew it was true. They were each other's mate for life. They decided to stop for dinner before heading home. They went to a new Irish pub restaurant. Derek had a beer, Meredith didn't have any alcohol. Alcohol wasn't the problem, tequila was. She used it as a cover, Instead of dealing with something she drank herself into a tequila coma. She didn't need to do that anymore. She has Derek now.
Derek: You don't want a beer?
Meredith: Nope. I'm taking a break. Especially from tequila.
Derek: That's good.
Meredith: Besides, I'm the designated driver. I need to get you drunk so I can take advantage of you.
Derek: You don't need to get me drunk to do that!
By the time they got in the door, they couldn't keep their hands off each other. They barely made it to the sofa before they began stripping off each other's clothes. Derek begins unbuttoning her top, she does the same. The buttons wouldn't undo fast enough. In the heat of passion she ripped his shirt off, buttons flying everywhere. His eyes widen. He can see the look of need on her face. He begins to kiss her bare flesh. His tender lips felt so right her skin, he pulls of her bra. His lips caressed her nipples, which quickly become erect. He makes his way back up and kisses her lips. Meredith peels of her jeans and panties in one more. She straddles Derek, placing him inside her. He looks into her eyes. Eyes that he wants to look into for the rest of his life. She begins to rock slowly, her pace quickening. Her body begins to tense up, she tightens around him. Derek begins kissing her, searching her mouth with his tongue. He kisses her neck and tickles her with his tongue. She moans. She feels herself at the edge. She has to go there, her body wills it. She lets out a scream, Derek looks into her eyes and smiles at her pleasure. Her body begins to quiver. Derek climaxes with a moan. They both collapse.
Derek: Welcome home.
Meredith: It's good to be home.
Derek spent the next few days with Meredith. There were not interruptions. They had a good time, but they were both wanting to work. The hospital was their lives, well, besides each other. Meredith had to work tomorrow. Derek had a plan. He knew what he was going to do. Tomorrow would be the biggest day of his life. He was excited and nervous. He couldn't wait. They both went to bed early. He knew Meredith was going to need the sleep after all they had done today. The first half of the day was spent in their bed. Meredith woke right up when the alarm went off. She hurried into the shower and shut the door before Derek could join her. The last thing she needed to was to be late on her first day back.
Derek and Meredith drove to the hospital together. He was happy to see her so excited. She was going to make an excellent surgeon. She had the fire and the passion. At least they shared that. Being a doctor's significant other can be difficult. It can test a relationship. The long hours. They would be fine, there was no doubt about it. He was sure. Meredith happily bounced into the locker room, changing into her scrubs.
Izzie: What the hell happened to your shoulder?
Alex: Rough sex.
Cristina: I didn't peg McDreamy as a biter.
Meredith: He is now. Damn, it hurts too. (She rubs it.) I don't know what came over him.
Alex: He's marking his territory. (Izzie shoots him a look.) What? Don't think we don't do that shit!
Izzie: Seriously?
Bailey: Nice to see you back, Thompson. You are going to run labs and chart. Izzie you're with Shepherd, O'Malley you get Sloan, Yang your lucky day you get Montgomery-Sloan (She moans.) I don't want to hear it. Karev you get Burke. Let's go.
Meredith was working away running labs. Usually she would complain, but she was just happy to be back. She was even happier to see someone other than herself inhabiting the room that she had been in. She was busy doing charts when Bailey walked up.
Bailey: Let's go.
Meredith: Where?
Bailey: Mercy West. We're getting liver.
Meredith: Why are we going to get it?
Bailey: Cause I said so. VIP patient. If you don't want to go...
Meredith: No, no. I want to go.
Bailey: Good. Let's go.
Miranda and Meredith ran up to the helicopter. Meredith hadn't gone before. She was slightly nervous about getting on. She wasn't going to let Dr. Bailey know it. The ride to Mercy West was uneventful. She liked Seattle Grace much better. Something about Mercy West gave her the creeps. It was dark and dismal there. She didn't like it and she couldn't wait to get out. She was very happy to get back on the chopper. Neither she nor Bailey spoke on the way back. They were nearing Seattle Grace. Bailey looked out the window and her eyes widened.
Bailey: Thompson?
Meredith: Yes.
Bailey: I think you better take a look at this...