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Derek couldn't seem to get his head in the game today. Well, in the practice, today. He couldn't hit one receiver and it was getting to him. He went back into the shotgun position. When the ball hit his hand, he danced around the pocket. He saw Mark down the field. Cocking his arm back, he went to sling the ball, only being brought down by one of his defensive teammates.
Derek laid on the ground and stared at the clear sky. "Shep, you good?" Mark held his hand out. Derek was helped to his feet before ripping his helmet off and walking towards the bench.
"She throws him pussy for what? One night and he can't even complete a pass."
Derek knew he wasn't supposed to hear the comment from his Outside Linebacker, but he did. "What the fuck did you just say?" Standing a five foot ten, he was nothing compared to this six foot three man. He also didn't care.
"You heard me. Is a little pussy worth this? I mean, shit, she's hot, but come on, dude."
Derek saw red. He didn't realize he'd punched his teammate in the jaw until his offensive coordinator pulled him back. "What the fuck are you doing?" He yelled. Derek shook him off, storming towards the locker room.
Meredith stood in shock. Half the field was staring at her. She shifted awkwardly, fidgeting with the paperwork in her hand. "Dr. Grey. Can you please make sure my all-star dumbass quarterback didn't break his hand."
"Y-Yes, coach." Meredith nodded, pretty relieved that she could run off the field as well. She opened the double doors to see Derek violently hit a locker door. "Derek, stop!"
"I'm fine," He started pulling off his jersey and equipment underneath. Derek grabbed a sweatshirt and winced when he settled into that.
"Can you please let me give you an x-ray?" She frowned. Derek barely answered audibly, but followed her down the hall to her office. "What happened?"
"Nothing. It's not important." Derek mumbled as Meredith set him up to take a few pictures of his wrist.
"You probably just bruised your bone," Meredith sat in her swivel chair in front of him. "I'm going to wrap you up in an ace bandage for now, until those films develop," She frowned. "You can talk to me, you know?"
"I know," He sighed as Coach Westcott walked into the exam room, closing the door. Meredith just focused on doing her job at this moment. "Coach, I-"
"Don't. You're going to pull this shit on the field, during practice? With the media watching? Tell me how Roger Goodell was already on the phone with me! You just got hit with a seventy-five thousand dollar fine and a week suspension. I don't give a shit what he said to you. You need to keep your personal life outside these walls. Do you understand me?"
"Really? I'm suspended?"
"What the fuck did you expect to happen, Derek? Finish up here and I'll see you in a week," He shook his head, "Dr. Grey, please notify me on the results."
"Yes, Coach," She sighed as he walked out of the room. "What did he say about me?"
"Meredith," He frowned, "It's not important. It was stupid locker room talk. I wasn't going to let anyone talk about my girl like that."
She couldn't help but blush. "You still shouldn't have punched him." She grabbed the films from the printer, taking a better look at them. "As much as I appreciate the chivalry of the situation, you don't need a fractured wrist within the first two months of regular season."
"Talk doctor to me," He winked at her.
"You are entirely too much," She shook her head. Derek found the moment to grab her gently and kiss her slowly.
"I'm sorry."
She sighed, "You're not broken, by the way."
He chuckled, "Well that's good, then. Meredith, what's the rest of your weekend look like?"
"Well, I'll be here until probably five. Then the next three days, I'm just doing research on the team, seeing what PT Alex and I can force you guys into doing. Then I'll be here Sunday, unlike you."
He shook his head. "How about coming to New York with me?"
"What's in New York?" She looked up, as he just laughed. "Oh, your family? Do you… think that's a good idea?"
He smiled. "It's really cute how nervous you get. Meredith, it's nothing crazy, but I'd like it if you meet them. I'm going to call Addison and see if I can pick up Kyla for the weekend. You don't have to."
"No," She shook her head. "I definitely want to go, Derek."
"Perfect," He beamed. "Well, I'm going to get yelled at again, make a bullshit apology, and go pack. I'll pick you up at six thirty?"
"You're crazy," She giggled as he kissed her quickly.
"Only sometimes!"
x.x.x
Meredith rushed into her apartment to see Cristina lying on the couch fiddling with her pager. "You're home? I thought you were going to be in the hospital for a few more days."
"She kept yelling at the nurses," Preston peeked his head out from the kitchen, adorned in a cooking apron. "I convinced your mother to let her leave if I stayed with her."
"Why am I not surprised," Meredith sat down on the opposite couch. "You're watching sportscenter?"
"His idea," Cristina rolled her eyes, tossing her silent pager on the table. "I heard Derek punched out his teammate."
"Yeah," She shook her head. "He was protecting my name or whatever."
Cristina laughed, "I'm not surprised at all. With that being said, I wish I could throw away seventy-five thousand dollars like it was nothing."
"Tell me about it," She shook her head. "I have to go pack, because Derek's going to be here in like, twenty minutes."
"Pack?"
"Oh. We're uh, going up to New York. That's where he's from and we figured since he can't be at work and I don't have to be there until Sunday, we'd go visit his family and whatever else there is to do in New York." Meredith rambled on so much that she was almost out of breath when she finished her run-on sentence.
"You're meeting the family? Oh, god, how was it? The sex must have been amazing if you're meeting the family already."
Meredith blushed, pushing her hair from her face. "I uh… I don't know… I just…"
"Meredith, relax," Cristina shook her head, sitting up, "I'm busting your balls. Who gives a shit how long you've known him. I haven't seen you this happy in a very long time."
"Yeah," She couldn't help but smile like an idiot. She walked towards the door, revealing Derek and Kyla, who immediately jumped in her arms. "Hey, sweetie! How are you?"
"I'm so happy you're coming with us!" Kyla beamed.
"I'm sorry, I'm early. I couldn't keep this one still," Derek shook his head. "Hey, Cristina. How are you?"
"Ah, What's up, Mayweather?"
Derek frowned. "I'm that popular, huh?"
Preston emerged from the kitchen, "Most popular man in Philadelphia. It's a pleasure. Preston Burke."
"Ah, Dr. Burke, Nice to meet you."
"So, I'm going to let you get interrogated while Kyla helps me pack. How's that sound?" Meredith smiled at the girl who nodded quickly. "Don't worry. It'll only take a few minutes."
"Did you break your hand, Pacquiao?" Cristina laughed as Derek took Meredith's previous seat.
"Meredith just said it was bruised, but she assured me I'll be back next week," Derek explained.
"As long as you don't go all Muhammad Ali on someone else, right?" Cristina raised an eyebrow at him.
"Cristina, I think you've used up all of your boxing references for a night," Preston shook his head.
"That's all I know," She shrugged. "Take care of my friend, Derek."
"I plan to."