Chapter Three

Derek woke up slowly the next morning with the tiny blonde asleep on his chest. Meredith, her named floated into his foggy brain. He thought she was gorgeous the first time he had seen her, and when he got closer a flowery scent filled his brain. Now looking at the bedside clock he was going to be late for Richard's surgery if he didn't hurry.

"Meredith." He said softly pushing her shoulders.

"Oh!" Meredith said popping up looking completely disoriented, "Is that the time?" Meredith questioned scrambling out of bed and wrapping the sheet around her body.

"Yeah." Derek said gravely.

"I got to get out of here." Meredith said as she quickly located her lost clothes, "I had fun um Derek." She said brightly.

"Maybe we could meet at Joes again?" Derek asked, "Say eight tonight?"

"We don't have to do the thing." Meredith told him, "I'm just a girl you met at a bar."

"Alright." Derek nodded, "I'll see you later Meredith." Meredith gave him a hasty smile as she hurried out the door. Derek watched her leave a small chuckle leaving his lips. He could do this single thing again.

Ω

She was late. Not to mention a total slut. She hadn't had a one-night stand since her senior year of college. Although in college she could remember slipping out of a guys room instead of standing their talking to him.

She had to admit he was a lot cuter then some of the guys she had taken home. The way he titled his head a smile on his face it was all so dreamy. She did not need to get involved with a guy half way across the country. She'd have plenty of time to get involved with someone after her fellowship, and of course getting her own place. There was no way she was going to be sneaking in and out of Seattle hotels.

"Meredith Grey right?" She turned surprised as a tall blonde stood next to her. When she walked into the locker room it had been pretty much empty, but looking around there was small group around her, "The chief's daughter?"

"Yes," Meredith smile, "and you are?"

"Oh right Izzie Stevens neo-natal fellow." She smiled back holding out her hand.

"It's nice to meet you Izzie." She told her honestly, "Are they with you?" She asked looking at the two other people standing around.

"Alex Karev plastic." An attractive guy held out his hand a leering smile on his face.

"We try not to hold it against him." An Asian woman appeared behind him, "Cristina Yang cardio." She said holding out her hand, "I've heard good things about you. Finally I'll have a bit of a challenge these past years have been a cake walk with these two." She said gesturing to the two people behind her.

"You guys where Bailey interns right?"

"The best interns." Izzie broke in, "Except for George but he had a tough year. His dad died and he married Callie. It's no ones fault that he needed a little alone time."

"Says the woman that he had an affair with." Alex broke in giving her a look.

"I thought we agreed to give a good first impression?" Izzie asked them, "At this rate Meredith is sure to run for the hills."

"No trust me a little dysfunction will not going to have me running for the hill." Meredith promised an amused smile on her face. It was going to be different to among people who acted so much like a family. The only close friend she had back in New York was, Hannah.

"Good because we have a lot of problems." Izzie said with nervous laugh, "Not a lot but…" She babbled nervously that had Meredith shaking her head.

"It's fine really." Meredith promised, "But if you'll excuse me I have somewhere to be." Meredith said preparing to leave.

"But all the fellow's have a meeting in the…"

"I'll make it time. Save me a seat please." She said hurrying away.

"Well that went while. I think she's going to be a great addition." Izzie promised them.

"That's if you didn't scare her off Barbie." Cristina sneered before moving past her, "Come on lets go get some snacks."

Ω

Meredith hated seeing her father like this. He wasn't the strong man she was used to seeing.

"I'm going to be fine." Richard promised his daughter giving her hand a squeeze, "I need you to watch out for your mother though. She's normally so strong but…"

"Don't worry dad." Meredith said kissing his forehead, "It's all going to be okay. I'll be right with her after the meeting."

"It's good that she's going to be busy." Richard told her, "Anyway I wanted to tell…" Before he could finish the door opened a smile fell across Richards face and frown on Meredith's.

"Derek." Richard said happily, "Meredith this is my doctor Derek Shepherd he was one of my students in New York." Richard explained, "Derek, Meredith is my daughter she's starting her fellowship here in a few days." He said proudly.

"It's nice to meet you Dr. Shepherd." Meredith said recovering from shock holding out her hand.

"It's Derek, and it's nice to met you as while. What's your specialty?"

Derek asked trying to forget the fact that he had seen her naked only a few hours ago.

"Neuro actually." Meredith said smiling. She inwardly breathed a sigh of relief as her mother entered the room.

"Derek, Meredith." Elise smiled coming in to kiss her husband softly, "Meredith we have to go down to conference room."

Elise told her as she set down on the bed.

"Will leave you guys alone for a minute." Derek told them opening the door leaving the couple alone for a few minutes.

"Stop it!" Meredith ordered as Derek smiled at her.

"What?" Derek questioned his arms crossed over his chest.

"Your looking at me like you've seen me naked." She told him.

"Ha." Derek laughed softly, "This is quite a coincidence?" Derek told her.

"Yes." Meredith agreed, "Which is way it's a good thing it didn't go any farther. Your operating on my dad that's would have be weird."

Meredith told him honestly as she opened the door. Her mother's head was close to her fathers face.

"I love you Richard." She told him kissing him softly again, "I'll see you as soon as you're out of surgery."

"Okay Ellis." Richard told her, "Good luck on your first day Meredith." Richard told her when he looked up at her.

"Thanks dad." Meredith said coming closer, "I love you." She said giving him a hug and a kiss.

"Love you too." He told her softly.

"Come on Mer we have a meeting to get to." Ellis said as she left the room.

"I'm going to do everything I can." Derek promised Meredith as she passed by him. A slow nod was the only confirmation that she had heard him.

Ω

Meredith had known about Derek Shepherd. He was one of the main reason's she went into neurosurgery. His published articles had been amazing. Sadly there wasn't a picture to go with his article. It would have increased the readership of the journal ten-fold.

"Meredith?" She looked over at her mother who it looked had been standing there for awhile, "The meeting is over." She said to which Meredith looked around and noticed that the room was indeed empty.

"Sorry about that mom." Meredith said apologetically, "You have enough to worry about without adding me to it."

"I'm never worried about you Meredith." Ellis said as they started to walk out of the conference room, "Your fighter Meredith you don't let anything hold you back. I admire that about you."

"Thanks mom." Meredith told her. After a few moments of silence she turned to Ellis, "What do you know about Dr. Shepherd?"

"Derek." Ellis shrugged, "Not much. He and Richard are friends, and Derek's just gone though a divorce." She answered her daughter, "I hear that it was all amicable."

A divorce. That was why he went home with her so willingly. He'd probably sleep with anything with breast that showed the littlest bit of interest. And the suggestion of a date was just though her off. She was now even more then ever happy that she hadn't gone out with him.

Author Note: Another chapter done.

Derek and Meredith have met each other at SGH. Richard is undergoing surgery. Ellis and Meredith had a nice little chat. The interns met Meredith.

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