FIVE

Flowing Down River

A month later and Meredith was up early packing a bag for Luca. She had a 18 hour shift, starting at 9am, so wouldn't be home in time for Lucas. Instead he would be going to his babysitter, Meredith's friend Elaine, and staying overnight. Elaine was also a single mother with a 3 year old daughter called Amanda. Elaine was quite used to looking after Luca, and Luca was an easy going kid, happily staying overnight at her house when Meredith had to work late shifts.

Meredith put all she needed in the car and picked Luca from his high chair where he'd just finished his banana for breakfast. She took him out and put him in his car seat before locking up the house. She drove the short journey to Elaine's house where she dropped Luca off. Looking in the rear view mirror as she drove away she smiled as she saw Luca in Elaine's arms giggling and waving at her.

She arrived at the hospital with a smile on her face, set for another tough and grinding shift. Walking to the lifts she pressed the button and waited for the carriage to arrive. The doors opened with a ping and she walked in, her head in a folder of post op notes Bailey had asked her to go through. Without looking round she pressed the button for her floor, before feeling a hand on her shoulder and a persons breath tickling her ear.

"Do you ignore all your boyfriends?" a voice asked.

Meredith squealed and whirled round "Derek!" she grinned, hugging him tight. Baileys file dropped to the floor, as the two kissed. Coming up for air Derek panted "I've missed this."

The last week Derek had spent speaking at a Neurology Conference in Michigan. The weeks before he had gone, the pair had spent dating, taking Luca out to the ferries, and eating dinners at her home. Meredith didn't realise how she had missed him until she found herself in his arms hugging him. She lifted one of her arms from around his neck and pushed the emergency stop button.

"I missed you too." she said before once again reminding him what he had missed. After few minutes they pulled apart, sighing Meredith said "I have rounds" and the two straightened themselves out. She picked up the folder and he hit the button to let the lift resume its journey.

"So," he said trying to ignore the tension between them "How's Lucas?"

"He missed you." she said smiling at him. Her eyes telling him that she missed him too. "He's at Elaine's today and tonight cause I have a 18 hour shift."

"Aha! The life of a intern, I remember it well" he said glancing up at the illuminated numbers. "I have to check in with chief and one of my patients then I'll be back at 9pm to do a surgery." He picked his bag up from where he had left it at the back of the carriage. "Wana scrub in? We can go get food after. Breakfast."

She grinned at him as the door opened, walking backwards of the lift onto the surgical floor she asked "Breakfast at midnight?"

"Why not? I'll see you later Mer" he said winking as the doors closed. Meredith looked at her watch and realised she had 5 minutes to get to the locker room, change and meet Bailey. She turned and ran.

A/N: So! Another chap done. This one is quite short as the next will be a coverage of Mer's 18 hours on shift. I think I might do it like the pilot episode you know.. "Hour One..." or whatever.. I'm not sure. I just wanted to thank you all for such great and positive reviews. It's wonderful. Thanks! I know you lot mind find this a little wierd with the "lifts" but I'm English so we call them lifts, and carriages not cars.. I think. At least that is what I do. So.. Any mistakes in this are of course my own, please take into account artistic licence. I am not a Doctor so I have only TV shows to reference from. I work in a pet shop! Lol.

I think that's about all. Just. Thank you.

Keep reading and reviewing and I'll keep writing.

Oh, and MerDer have not had sex yet in my fic.. I don't know if I can actually write a sex scene.. but that won't be until chap 7 or 8 I think.

Anyway. That really is all.

Take Care and Be Zen