" I think I did something stupid, " Meredith announced to Cristina the next afternoon.
The two women had decided the best way to get all the alcohol out of their system was to go to the gym Cristina was a member of and soak in the sauna.
" Oh, you mean besides getting drunk and falling on your face, " Cristina said after a moment when Meredith had looked at her, obviously wanting her friend to ask what.
" Besides that. I think I told Derek I loved him, " Meredith said dramatically.
" Well, duh. Anyone with eyes who watches you two can see you are totally in love with him, " Cristina replied.
" So not helping here."
" Well, do you?"
" Do I what? "
" Do you love him? "
" I don't know! "
" Did he say it back? "
" I don't know! I passed out right after I said it."
" I bet he did."
" I mean, I can't love him right? I haven't even known him long enough to be saying those words."
" Okay, seriously, Meredith. You two are like conjoined twins outside of that hospital."
" It's just that he always knows what to say and when to say it. Plus, when he gives me that look, I can't think straight. " Meredith continued on as if Cristina had never spoken, more talking to herself than to her friend.
" You are so in love with him, " Cristina responded as she got up and headed out of the steam room, Meredith trailing behind her silently, lost in her own thoughts. No one spoke until they got out of the showers and the blonde turned to look at her.
" You think? "
" I'm Cristina. I don't think. I know, " She gave her Meredith a look as if to say 'have you not learned this yet?'
" I'm so screwed, " Meredith muttered miserably as they gathered up their things and left the gym.
Returning home, the women both promptly passed out. Meredith fell into a dreamless sleep while Cristina dreamed of surgeries. The afternoon slowly turned into dusk and then night. It was dark when Meredith awoke to Cristina standing in the doorway of her bedroom. She blinked, wondering if she was seeing these before sitting up in the bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
" There's no food. I'm hungry, " Cristina stated in such a way Meredith wondered if her friend thought she could magically make food appear.
" Order a pizza or something, " Meredith told her as she swung her feet on to the floor.
" Do you guys live on take or something? "
" There's menus in the drawer next to the sink , " She mumbled as she headed past her and into the bathroom.
Seemingly satisfied, Cristina headed down the stairs into the kitchen in search of menu's. It was true, there was no food in the house. Meredith had been meaning to go grocery shopping this morning, but obviously the hangover had gotten in her way. Then there had been the gym and going shopping had slipped her mind. She scowled at the toothpaste container when she went to brush her teeth, realizing it was one more thing they were out of. That was apparently her sign that she needed to go. Plus, they were out of laundry detergent and most of her clothes were dirty. Cristina had used the last of it yesterday when trying to get the water out of her clothes to keep them from molding. It was really the last thing she wanted to do, but it had to get done.
Crossing back over into her room, she grabbed her last clean pair of jeans and a tank top and pulled them on. Then, she slung her bag over her shoulder and headed down the stairs. Cristina was parked in her usual spot on the couch, munching on a bag of chips she'd managed to find
" I'm going to the store. You wanna go? "
" Pizza's on it's way. I'll wait here , " Cristina declined, turning her attention back to the television.
Meredith shrugged and opened the door, digging around in her purse for her keys and ran right into Derek.
" Crap, " She said as she looked up at him.
" Crap, " He echoed.
" I have to go to the store, " Meredith said as she moved past him.
" Are you avoiding me? "
" No! It's just...well our house is severely lacking in certain things. Like everything. . "
" Well, I'll go with you, " He turned and fell in step beside her.
" You don't have too. I'm a big girl. "
" I know, but for the sake of argument let's just say I want too, " Derek smiled at her. She looked over at him and couldn't help but return the smile.
" Okay. "
Miranda Bailey was not pleased. Not even in the slightest. Her husband had called to tell her they were out of milk and instead of going to get it himself, he decided to bother his wife who had just got done with a forty eight hour shift. When she got home, she was going to give him his milk and tell him just exactly where to stick it. She was clear on the other side of town which meant she'd have to go to a grocery store she didn't really like to go to, because the one she did like to go to would involve having to turn around and she'd just be wasting gas.
It was meant to be a quick trip, but once she got in there she realized there were a few things she needed herself. Deciding that she could use the quiet time, she pushed her cart up and down aisles, searching for anything that jumped out at her. It was when she finally got to the dairy department something did jump out at her. She shook her head to make sure she was seeing things, but they were still there. She didn't say anything to them, certain she had just walked upon an accidental meeting in the grocery store, but as she got closer and could hear them talking, she knew this was meeting was not accidental.
" Fat free milk is gross, Derek. It has no flavor and it's not going on my cereal, " Meredith was saying to him.
" Fat free milk is better for you. Besides, you can't taste the difference when it's on cereal , " He countered.
" That's great then. You can put it on your cereal. "
" You're seriously going to buy two different types of milk? "
" Yes. I, unlike you, enjoy my fat. "
" You also eat leftover cold pizza for breakfast , " Derek teased her.
" I only did it that once! "
Letting her presence finally be known, Miranda Bailey cleared her throat. The pair spun around quickly and Meredith's eyes got wide.
" Dr. Shepherd. Dr. Grey " Bailey greeted them coolly.
It was Derek who found his voice first.
" Dr. Bailey." He responded.
" You two mind finishing your argument elsewhere? I need to get in that particular area." Bailey watched as the two quickly moved out of her way. Meredith mumbled something to Derek and then took off to other parts of the stood. Derek watched her go and shoved his hands in his pockets, before turning his gaze back to Bailey, who appeared to be ignoring him.
" I know this looks bad, " He started quietly.
" I think you passed bad a few steps back, Dr. Shepherd , "
" Miranda, look- ," She cut him off with a hand up, signaling she didn't want to hear anything from him.
" Don't 'Miranda' me. Look, I don't care what you do in your personal life as long it doesn't affect my professional life and you sleeping with my intern is definitely going to affect my professional life! "
" Has it so far, " Derek interrupted her tirade, shooting her a look.
" When people find out just what exactly it is you two do in your time off, it's going to affect my professional life , " Miranda told him angrily.
" So you're going to tell them, " Derek asked evenly, not going to be one to back down.
" If I see you favoring that girl in any way..." She warned him.
" Have you seen me favor her yet? "
The full extent of what he was trying to say without actually saying it dawned on her and she looked at him oddly, anger pushed to the side for the moment.
" You mean this isn't a recent development? "
Derek laughed uneasily, not certain of whether his answer would save him or damn him. He decided in this case honesty was the best policy.
" No, " He answered after a minute.
" How long? "
" Does it matter? "
" How long, Dr. Shepherd? "
" Since before she ever began her internship. "
She looked him over, trying to see if he was lying to her, and she decided after a moment he wasn't.
" I'm not going to go around advertising you two's business, but you keep in mind I'm going to be watching you , " Bailey told him after a moment of careful deliberation. She watched relief flood through his features and she wondered if it was for him or for Meredith.
" Thank you." Derek said as he took off in the direction Meredith had gone. Bailey watched him go before finally shaking her head in disgust.
" I hate this store. " She said outloud to no one in particular.