(I'm sorry it's taken so long between chapters. S4 kind of killed my interest in all things GA, but I'm slowly coming out of it. Can't watch any of the reruns, but I'm finding refuge in fanfic again. I don't own the show or the characters, but I thank God for fanfic!)
"So, O'Malley, no ball and chain tonight?" Alex flicked a peanut shell at George. They, along with Cristina and Izzie are at Joe's seated around a table waiting for Meredith and Derek to arrive.
George ducked the projectile. "She's on-call tonight."
"Cristina, do you know why Meredith wanted to meet you here?"
Cristina sat back and surveyed the night's after-shift crowd. Luckily the body count wasn't as high as last night's. "I'm not a mind reader, Izzie. Are you?"
"Well, its strange Meredith wants to come back here so soon after last night. I don't know if I could." Izzie turned to Alex. "What exactly did she say?"
Alex turned his peanut shooting attention on Izzie. " 'Tell Cristina to meet me at Joe's tonight.'"
"That's all she said? You're sure?" Izzie was disappointed. Maybe Alex forgot some of their conversation. She needed details.
Izzie deflected the incoming peanut, and grabbed a handful from the peanut dish Joe thoughtfully set out on every surface in the bar. Her throw nails Alex square in the forehead. Before long, the peanuts fly back and forth with force. George and Cristina scoot back to watch the slinging match, and bet who will miss their target the most.
As Alex starts his windup for his next peanut pitch, a hand grabs his wrist and deprives Alex of his ammo.
"Guys, these are for eating," Joe shook his head. "If you want to throw something at each other, go grab some darts."
"So Joe," Cristina holds out her hand for the rescued peanuts. "Did Callie really dump McDreamy's date on the ground?"
"Please understand I do not advocate violence against women," Joe dropped the nuts into Cristina's hand. "But yeah, Dr. O'Malley yanked the stool right out from under her."
An embarrassed George buried his face in his hands. "Oh Joe, why didn't you stop her?"
"She's your wife, Doc. Not mine." Joe wiped down the tabletop. "And Dr. Yang, she wasn't his 'date.'"
"Please Joe, I was there."
"And so was I. Young Dr. Grey may have misinterpreted a drunken smile or two…"
"And a lean," Cristina snickered.
"And maybe a lean," Joe agreed. "She tried pretty hard, but Dr. Grey was not Dr. Shepard's date."
"How was the look on McDreamy's face when you served him Meredith's drinks?"
"Not very pleasant, Dr. Yang." Derek interrupted.
Cristina, Izzie, George and Alex turned to see Meredith and Derek standing hand-in-hand near their table. Close enough to be within earshot but not seen. Derek motioned to Joe for their drinks before seating Meredith and himself at the table. When Meredith suggested drinks at Joe's, Derek hadn't expected they'd be joining her friends but he should have known better. It didn't matter, though. If she asked him to walk over hot coals, Derek would do it without a second thought.
Derek rested his arm along the back of Meredith's chair. She shared a smile with Derek and nestled against his side. After a breakfast of cold pizza for her, muesli for him, and pleasant non-'The Talk' conversation, Derek had returned to his trailer to clean up and for fresh clothing. He kept his promise to return for their evening at Joe's. Meredith hated that she was starting to inch back under her banner of avoidance. She mindlessly gravitated towards it. They had to talk at some point, but things were good right now, and that was the point of it all, wasn't it? Why upset things if things were good? Things were good, weren't they?
Cristina wasn't shy in staring incredulously at the drink Joe set in front of Derek. "More scotch? You're seriously having more scotch?"
"Speaking of drinks, I can use another beer. Anyone else?" George nervously stood up from the table. When no one responded, he made a beeline for the bar.
"Yes I am Dr. Yang." Derek grimaced as the sip of scotch hit the back of his throat.
Cristina looked at Meredith. "Seriously?"
Izzie nudged Alex, who had been sitting with great interest watching the developing storm between Yang and Shepard. "What?" Alex rubbed his side where Izzie's elbow made contact.
"Go throw darts with Derek," Izzie hissed at him. "Make sure he doesn't throw them at Cristina."
Cristina shifted in her chair so she was facing Derek. Meredith could easily tell by her posture and expression Cristina was preparing for battle. And she knew Derek wouldn't shy away from one, even if the other combatant was Cristina. Ten blades at twenty paces.
Derek coolly returned the look. Cristina recognized the challenge in the neurosurgeon's face. Pistols at dawn.
"Cristina, let him off the hook."
Cristina remained silent.
"Let Derek off the hook." Meredith repeated. "Last night was a huge mistake. He's well aware of that fact. We're working on things. But you have to let him off the hook."
"No, I don't." If it was possible to sharpen a glare, Cristina accomplished it.
Meredith turned to Derek. "Why don't you play a round of darts with Alex and George?"
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Derek whispered in Meredith's ear. "We can leave." His warm breath against her ear caused Meredith's body to goose bump in interesting places. She wasn't sure, but Meredith could have sworn his lips ever so lightly grazed the outer shell of her ear. The spot still tingled.
"We're ok," Meredith encouraged. "Go play." She rested her hand on Derek's denim-covered thigh. The muscle underneath her hand contracted as she gently squeezed it and rubbed the inseam with her finger. Derek shifted in his seat before covering Meredith's hand with his. Meeting Derek's darkening blue gaze, Meredith grinned.
Izzie nudged Alex again. Hard. "Yes, go play some darts."
"Ow! Damn it Izzie, watch your elbow." Alex rubbed his side again. Izzie managed to nail Alex in the same spot.
"I wouldn't have to watch it if you'd go play some damn darts!"
Chuckling, Derek placed a quick kiss on Meredith's mouth as he and Alex stood up. "After you, Dr. Karev." Derek gestured with his glass of scotch.
Meredith watched as Derek stopped by the bar to grab George as the three men made their way over to the dartboard. She found herself admiring how stonewashed denim complemented Derek's perfectly sculpted backside and muscular legs.
"Why should I?" Cristina groused.
"Hmmm?" Meredith continued studying Derek.
"Why should I let him off the hook?"
"Because I'm asking you to. Because this is on Derek and me. Because when I need you to help me drag his body away, I will call you. Please Cristina, I can't have you two at each other's throats all the time."
Cristina considered Meredith's words for a moment. Izzie and Meredith shared a worried look.
"It's not enough."
"What?"
"It's not enough," Cristina decided. "Because you're asking me to isn't enough. I've seen McDreamy put you through hell, and I've had to hear about it. And I'll hear more. It's not enough."
Meredith toyed with her shot glass. This is the longest she has sat with a glass of tequila untouched. "Because I love him enough to work through this. I can't do that if my family is ready to slit his throat. It was a very stupid circumstance. I believe him."
"You really do?" Izzie questioned.
Meredith nodded. "I do. I admit one reason I came back tonight was to talk to Joe. But Derek has never lied to me." She holds up a hand to silence Cristina, whose mouth closes as soon as it opens. "Yes, as Alex pointed out I do remember the name 'Addison.' But I am trusting him on this."
Cristina glanced over to the dartboard area before raising her glass in a toast. "In the Neurosurgery God we trust."
Raising their glasses, Meredith and Izzie mimicked Cristina and turned toward the dartboard area. They watched in surprised silence as the woman from last night stood off to the side, observing the men throw darts.
"Oh Mer, by the way, meet your sister Dr. Lexie Grey." Cristina motioned to Joe for another round.