Author's Note: Hey. I'm really sorry for not updating lately. I'm back in school now and I keep getting slammed with projects and not those small ones you could totally not do. These are the kind take up at least 50% of my overall grade, which sucks.
At least the semester will be over soon.
Anyway, I'll be getting back on a good writing flow very soon. My religious organization just changed our schedule so I have an extra 2 days of free time during the week. That should enough to finish this story and my HOUSE one.
This chapter will contain Mer/Der interaction, leading to more progress between them.
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: NOT MINE. REALLY. GET THOSE LAWYERS AWAY FROM ME!
He sat across from her and she glanced up from her laptop, inclining her head in acknowledgment.
He gave her a small smile back and began to eat his usual salad, both of them silent for the moment.
He was just happy to be near her and he didn't want to scare her off.
Derek knew that she wanted to take things very slow between them and he understood. She still didn't trust him. That simple fact saddened him but he had hope. She had begun to get rid of her 2 feet of space rule. Also, she let him touch her. Not in a completely intimate way but in small ways. A hand on the small of the back as they walked into rooms together, a light brush of fingers as she gave charts to him, and even a brief hug.
She had lost a young patient on the table and after telling the parents, she had walked over to him and buried her face in his chest. He had rubbed her back and let her tears wet his top. To feel Meredith against him again had been worth the gossiping nurses and staff later.
People were staring now, waiting for some more juicy gossip on The Quadrangle, as it was called. Derek hated being past of their entertainment and he could tell Meredith did too.
"What are you reading about?" he finally asked.
"Stuff on Plastics. I don't want to go to Mark for help. Not only does he suck at teaching, people would accuse me of favouritism." she replied with a sardonic smile.
"Who would be that low?"
His answer was given almost immediately as a nasty voice piped up from another table.
"Well, I see you've forgiven him for making you his whore, Grey. Have you let him in your pants yet?"
Derek glared hatefully at Yang and was about to give the woman a piece of his mind when a hand on his wrist stopped him.
Looking, he saw Meredith's tiny but strong hand on his skin and he barely suppressed his grin.
It was the first contact she had initiated between them since before Addison showed up.
He had forgotten just how soft her skin was until then.
"What Derek and I do is none of your business, Dr. Yang. Anyway, it's 3PM. Do you know where your boyfriend is?" she asked with a very cruel and knowing smirk.
The bitter woman's eyes widened and she hurried out, heading to check the on call rooms.
Derek watched her retreat and then looked at Meredith blandly.
"He's cheating on her, isn't he?"
"Mm-hm. I saw him with a nurse from Peds and they looked rather...cuddlesome. It's sad, really. Christina's actually a good person but you have to dig and dig and dig some more to see it. I guess Burke's shovel finally broke."
Derek snorted and said, "Your metaphors suck."
"And yours are corny. Coming up for fresh air? Seriously?" she returned fire, sobering him.
She noticed it and looked at him with wary sea green eyes.
"What?"
He turned her hand over and lightly traced the lines on her palm, delighting in her shivers.
"My metaphors may be corny but they're honest. I really feel that you saved me, Mere. And I'm just glad that you're trying to let me in again. I expected you to tell me to fuck off, really." he told her softly.
She chuckled and replied, "I certainly thought about it but I realized that it wouldn't have done any good. Whether I like it or not, I love you and no amount of anger and spite is going to change that. I just need a while before I can trust you enough to really be with you. You understand that, right?"
He stood up and approached her, putting their faces mere inches apart.
She was quivering slightly but she let him gently caress her cheek, leaning into the touch.
"I'll wait as long as you want me to. I love you, Meredith."
Her two front teeth sank into her lower lip and it was too much for him to resist.
A soft squeak escaped her as he pressed his lips to hers but she didn't push him away.
Slowly, her long and elegant fingers threaded through the curls at the base of his neck and she stood up, deepening the kiss.
Her tongue shyly sought his and he responded immediately, bringing her flush against his body.
God, this felt so good. So damn right. He had missed her so much...
The shrill tone of her pager made her abruptly move away and check it.
"Shit. I...I have to take this." she said breathlessly, quickly grabbing her laptop and water.
He nodded in understanding and licked his lips, savouring her unique sweetness and the strawberry of her lip gloss.
She moved to leave but then hesitated, turning back to him.
"You know, I still can't cook worth a damn but I know a really good Chinese place and George and Izzie and Mark should be out so I was wondering if you could come over. Not for sex but for talking but maybe it could lead to sex. I mean, you know how we get and...."
She cut herself off and looked at him beseechingly.
He smiled at her adorable rambling and said, "I'll be there. I heard you have sworn off tequila so I'll bring some wine."
A relieved sigh escaped her and she nodded eagerly before running back to work.
Derek grinned and got back to his lunch, ignoring the rapidly departing gossipers and the stares.
None of them mattered.
He had a date with the love of his life.