A/N: I know, I know. I've been severely lacking on the updates, but I just started a new job, so I'm pretty much always exhausted when I get home, however I had today off. I promise to work more on it tonight and hopefully have a new chapter up by the end of the week. And seriously Aubri? You disappeared on me, and it's hard to write without the other half of my brain! Come back, I beg of you!
It had been her idea for them to drive into work together. Derek was still freaking out over what he viewed as his 'dark streak'. Granted, they'd never really had sex that resulted from anger, but she most certainly wasn't complaining. It would probably never happen again, because it seemed to make Derek think he had these dark evil places inside of him. She wanted to tell him everyone had a little darkness inside of them, but she doubted that would help at all.
Meredith had even bent her own rules as they entered the hospital, looping her arm through his and trying to make light conversation. He nodded and responded in the appropriate places, but she knew he wasn't really paying attention. As they stepped onto the elevator, his gaze stayed firmly rooted anywhere but on her. Just as the doors were about to close, a breathless Addison stepped in. Suddenly, the elevator became a lot more awkward.
" Meredith, Derek, " Addison greeted as she moved to stand beside them.
" Good morning, Addison, " Meredith responded, knowing the woman's head was probably pounding as much as hers was from the amount of alcohol that had been consumed the previous night.
Derek didn't say anything, just ignored her.
" I see someone is in a foul mood, " Addison noted, giving him a once over.
" Put a lid on it, eh Satan, " He barked at her, enjoying the look of surprise that flashed across her features.
" Sorry. He's just not in a very good mood this morning, " Meredith told her, though her gaze stayed on her boyfriend.
" Don't make excuses for my behavior. I'm a grown man and if I want to behave like an asshole, I will. "
" Derek!"
" Don't worry, Meredith. We've been married for eleven years. I'm used to asshole Derek by now, " Addison assured her snidely.
Meredith looked surprised by Addison's rudeness briefly, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.
" Well, it's a funny thing, I'd never experienced asshole Derek up until you came around.. Isn't that just the weirdest coincidence?"
Meredith saw the corner of Derek's lips tug upwards into a smile. His arm moved from it's spot around her arm and draped loosely across her waist. The elevator dinged, signaling they had reached their desired floor and the couple stepped forward to get off. They stopped only for Derek to look over his shoulder at Addison, giving her a faux cheerful smile.
" Enjoy your stay in Seattle, Dr. Montgomery, " He said, purposely leaving the rest of her name off before he turned away.
Addison watched the two of them head down the hall, a hurt expression marring her features.
-x-
Cristina watched her friend closely as she pulled her hair up into a ponytail. She couldn't help but notice the bruises on her friend's hip as they were changing into their scrubs. Still, Cristina didn't say anything. She wasn't certain if McDreamy had spilled her secret to Meredith or not. Meredith hadn't mentioned it though, not that she was doing much talking anyways.
" Okay people, we've got a new attending visiting with us for a few days. She's to be treated with respect and you follow her orders as if she was here permanently. I don't want to hear anything about my interns not behaving properly because it makes me, your resident, look bad. And if you make me look bad, I'll make you beg for your mama, " Bailey's voice vibrated off the walls of the locker room.
Meredith groaned and followed Bailey and the rest of the interns out of the locker room, only to run right into Derek. Literally. His arms steadied her instinctively and she lingered in his brace a little longer than necessary. His eyes still held that haunted look, but he was at least smiling at her now.
" I'm looking for an intern. Know of any good ones? "
" So you're in a better mood, " Meredith noted.
" Well, who wants an asshole for a doctor? "
" Good question, although a lot of people do like Alex."
" Seriously, I do need an intern. What do you say? Spend the day working with your asshole boyfriend?"
" Probably not a good idea. Bailey's already in a foul mood."
" I need someone to keep me in line though. Please? "
" Only if you promise to behave."
Derek's face lit up at having gotten his way and he dropped a grateful kiss onto her mouth. Then he hurried away from her, calling over his shoulder he was letting Bailey know.
It took a moment for Meredith to realize they were being watched. A quick glance to the nurse's station showed three heads bent together like conspirators and she heard the word wife mentioned more than once. She scowled at them.
" Don't you people have anything better to do than to stand around gossiping""
-x-
"Imagine my surprise upon finding out that our new visiting attending was none other than your wife, " Derek heard Burke before he saw them.
" Yes, well imagine my surprise as well, " Derek replied tightly.
" You do know that she's requested Grey as her intern for the day, " Burke said conversationally.
"I'm well aware. It's unfortunate for her that Dr. Grey has already been assigned to someone else, " Derek tried to sound apologetic about the circumstances, but found he came no where near to it.
" Now, you wouldn't have had anything to do with that, would you Dr. Shepherd?"
" I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about. " Derek denied the implication, voice full of innocence. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Addison approaching and he stifled a groan.
" Dr. Shepherd, " Addison said evenly.
" Morning, Satan, " Derek drawled, looking down at a chart in his hand.
" Okay, seriously Derek? I am so not Satan. "
" You're right. That's giving you too much credit. You're just one his minions, sent to earth to rage death and destruction."
Derek swore he heard Burke laugh, but it was quickly covered by a cough.
" Did you know this entire hospital knows about your torrid affair with your little intern "
" I'm not having an affair with Meredith. We're in a relationship. An affair is you and my best friend."
" Still, Derek, not very discreet, " Addison said, a touch of sarcasm to her tone.
" I don't have to be discreet. Richard was well aware of my situation with Meredith before she ever began her internship. And it's absolutely laughable you'd think I'd take lessons in discretion from you. The wife I caught fucking my best friend in our own bed."
" I leave you alone for ten minutes and already you're misbehaving. You promised you'd behave if I worked with you today, Dr. Shepherd, " Meredith's voice drawled teasingly as she appeared behind Burke.
Derek spun to face her, guilt splashing across his face.
" Are you telling me the behaving thing applies to my ex wife? "
" Especially her. She's a visting attending and you're a professional. You don't want to make yourself look bad. "
" Aww isn't this sweet? Derek's getting a pep talk from his little intern, " Addison cut in, the insincerity dripping from her voice.
" Dr. Montgomery, I wasn't just telling him. I've heard what a wonderful surgeon you are all morning. Being petty takes away from that, " Meredith told her nicely.
Addison gave Meredith a once over before deciding that her husband's girlfriend was in fact being sincere.
" I suppose you're right, Dr. Grey. We should all try and be as professional as possible, " Addison agreed.
Derek snorted as he took Meredith by the arm to lead her away. The sound of a pager chirped and the group all checked their own.
" It's me," Meredith announced, obviously confused by the message she recieved.
" Alrght, just find me after you've taken care of it, " Derek said as he jogged down the hall in the direction of his patient.
Burke watched the group disperse with an amused smirk.
-x-
Derek had dropped in to check on Richard after seeing his patient. While everything was going alright, Derek wanted to double check on his recovery.
" So am I to assume there's been no bloodshed, " Richard asked upon seeing Derek enter the room.
" I pondered spilling yours after I found my girlfriend over at Joe's getting drunk with my wife, " Derek replied pleasantly.
" You can't be serious. "
"Oh I am in fact dead serious. "
Another person breezed into the room and Derek had to swallow a groan.
" Hello, Derek, " Adele Webber greeted pleasantly.
" Ah, Adele. How have you been?"
" My Richard tells me he brought Addison in on a case. You two will have to join us for dinner once all this is over with, " Adele told him.
" Addison being here is temporary, I assure you. I'm sure she'd be thrilled to have dinner with you before returning to New York, " Derek artfully dodged the invitation.
" Come on now Derek, you should give her a chance. "
" With all due respect, the state of my marriage is really none of your concern, " Derek tried to keep the annoyance out of his voice.
" Dr . Shepherd " A new voice asked timidly. Derek turned to see Olivia standing in the doorway.
" Yes? "
" Um, Dr. Yang thought I should come find you. She said it's about Meredith, "
" What seem to be the problem with Dr. Grey? "
" It's not really her, Dr. Shepherd. It's her mother, Ellis Grey. She was admitted about an hour ago."
Derek spared a glance at Richard, who looked pretty uncomfortable himself, before sprinting out of the room.
Adele Webber scowled.
-x-
After a brief talk with Bailey, Derek headed towards the locker room. For once, Bailey hadn't acted annoyed by him, though she most certainly had been earlier in the morning when he told her Meredith would be working with him for the day. No, that Bailey had almost seemed...soft. Not that he'd ever say that to her of course. Silently, he opened the door, only to see Meredith sitting up against the wall, knees drawn to her chest. She didn't even seem to notice his presence. Crossing the space between them and squatting down in front of her, he waited for her to respond, do something, but all he got was a blank stare.
" Meri, " Derek spoke softly, brushing his knuckle across her cheek.
It was then her eyes focused on him and a broken sob escaped her lips. Derek sat down cross legged in front of her and pulled her into his lap, cradling her against his warm body as she emptied out the tears. They stayed that way for a long time before the door opened up and a few interns came in to change and such. Some watched with fascination, while others chose wisely to mind their own buisness. Derek fixed them with a look that clearly meant if he heard about this through hospital gossip, their internship would become a lot harder.