Chapter 4

Meredith Grey was getting dressed Friday morning. Derrick's arms came up behind her, pulling her to him. He nuzzled her neck, growling lightly. She smiled, lifting her hands to his head. "Good morning," she purred.

Derrick kissed her shoulder, swaying her side to side. "Are you ready to go?"

She turned to face him, putting her arms around his waist. "With you? Always."

They went down stairs to meet an expecting George and Izzie. George and Derrick dragged the women's bags to the car. They had planned to all drive to the airport together. "What do you have in these bags?" George asked, hidden under Izzie's suitcase on his back.

She sighed. "We're going to be in Las Angeles for a week, George. I need something to wear."

"The Gap's entire inventory is just not something to wear." George whined. Meredith and Derrick chuckled at the scene. They were all relieved that Izzie was starting to heal from Denny's death. She had come back to work about three months ago. The Chief had allowed it, but gave her stipulations. For the longest time, Izzie was just functioning, so it was good to see her laugh and tease George.

………………………………

Foreman, Chase, and Cameron drove together to the airport. They checked their bags and waited for Wilson and House to show up.

"You asked her out?" Wilson asked animatedly.

House didn't want to talk about it. "Yes," he replied, exhaling a long breath. "I made reservations for dinner. That's it."

Wilson raced to keep up with House, who had persuaded him into carrying both their bags because of his leg. "Why now?"

House limped steadily toward the bag check. "Because dinner with Cameron means two hours less of the surgeons from hell."

"Right," Wilson said dryly, "that's all it is. You like her. And you've finally, somehow, grown up enough to tell her."

Wilson and House finally walked up to the other three. Barely acknowledging them, House kept walking. "Let's get this over with."

As luck would have it, House and Cameron sat on the plane together. House had the window seat. He looked out the window. Cameron took a deep breath as she stared at him. "Is this a date?"

His head swung around to Cameron. Acting glib, he glanced around the plane. "No. It's a flight." Conspiratorially, he leaned closer and whispered, "But if you want, we could join the Mile High Club."

Cameron didn't budge. Frowning, she said, "You know I meant dinner."

House looked down. "Yes. I was hoping that it was."

Confusion clouded her green eyes. "What's changed since our last date? Do you think I no longer have the need to nurse you back to health or have your standards lowered?

House shook his head, a small, frustrated smile on his lips. She wasn't going to let this go. "You're not the one who's changed. Wilson told me I like to be miserable. I don't want him to be right."

He looked deeply in her eyes. His glowed warmly, full of meaning. Then he turned his head back around and stared out the window. Cameron didn't push it further for once.

She rested her head and tried to take a nap.

Meanwhile, Foreman, Chase, and Wilson sat together in the middle aisle. "Drs. Preston Burke and Derrick Shepherd," Chase said, shaking his head in awe. "I can't wait."

Foreman gave him a sideways glance. He smirked, "I'd rather see the female doctors. Have you heard about Addison Shepherd? House said she's a twelve year-old's dream doctor. "

Wilson sighed. "Sorry, Foreman. She's married."

Foreman's brow furrowed. "No, she's not. They got separated about six months ago."

Wilson shifted back in his chair with a smile. Addison was a Montgomery again. That was good news.

TBC