Author's Note: Hey y'all. So sorry for the hiatus. My brain has had such writers block lately, along with not having a day off in three months. I hope y'all enjoy this chapter. I, again, appreciate all the support and reviews given thus far. Enjoy xx

Meredith held Mark's swollen ankle up by his calf, frowning. "Mark, you realize playing on a sprain can cause more damage, right?" She pulled off her gloves, rolling back in her chair. "You've been playing football for what? Twenty years? I'm sure someone had to have told you this."

"You look refreshed, doc. How was vacation?"

"Mark," Meredith frowned, "We're going to the hospital."

"Meredith, I'm fine," Mark jumped down, almost buckling from the pain in the back of his foot. "Alright, we should get this over with, right?"

"We should. The sooner you get it corrected, the sooner you're back on the field. And, since you're going to ask, it'll be six to eight weeks. I talk to my… the Chief at Temple and it looks like there's an OR open in two hours."

He frowned, grabbing the pair of crutches he had come accustomed to in the past day. "You know he really likes you, right? I've never seen him so freaking giddy."

Meredith looked up, "I can't keep a professional relationship with anyone, can I?"

"Derek and I are like a packaged deal," He chuckled. "I thought you'd get that one at least."

"Kind of," She smiled. "Well, I'll see you at the hospital at two." Mark gave a half response before hobbling away. Meredith pulled out her phone, dialing a number she was starting to slowly memorize.

"What's up?"

"Hey, uh, I'm bring Mark into surgery soon. I thought you might want to know."

"Alright," Derek answered, somewhat blankly. Meredith was caught off guard. She didn't exactly know how to continue. "I have to go."

"Derek, is everything okay?" She frowned.

He let out an exasperated sigh. "I'm fine."

"You don't sound very fine."

"I'm kind of in the middle of something, Meredith. I'll see you after the surgery." When he abruptly hung up Meredith tucked her phone back in her pocket. Letting out a sigh, Meredith tried not to let the brief conversation get to her.

Before she knew it, Meredith had already slipped into her scrubs, sitting in the attending's lounge. She enjoyed the silence, lying on the couch and staring at the ceiling tiles. "You look like you're in a shrink's office." Cristina collapsed at the opposite end of the couch.

"This is my mental preparation for surgery," She yawned.

"You're famous again," Cristina flipped through the channels on the television seeing a picture from last night. Of course, it was the one of Derek talking to the police officer, with her in the background.

"Maybe that's why he's pissed." Meredith said out loud by mistake. "It's nothing." She didn't even have to look at her best friend to see her raised eyebrow. "I'm sure it's nothing," She repeated.

Cristina didn't press the issue. Instead, like a good best friend, she changed the subject. "Burke asked me to move in with him."

"What? What did you say?" Meredith immediately looked over, sitting up.

"Nothing."

"What do you mean?"

"I didn't say anything. I was paged 911, so I ran to my patient's room." She shrugged her shoulders. "Then, I came here."

Meredith went to open her mouth, but her pager started going off. "Looks like Mark is prepped. We will continue this conversation later," She sighed. "Shall we hit the local watering hole?"

"It's long past due. I'm done in a few hours."

x.x.x

Derek was sitting in the waiting room of the hospital. His hands were shaking with sweaty palms. The paper he held in his hands almost ripped in half from how much he was shaking. When his phone rang, he immediately picked it up, walking towards a private conference room. "What the hell is this?"

"You know what it is, Derek. Are you honestly surprised?" Addison responded dryly.

"You really think I'm unfit to care for my own daughter? What the hell is wrong with you? You're not going to take her away from me."

"I'm not taking her away from you. I'm asking for reconsideration for our custody agreement. You will have her every other weekend." Addison started. "I'm not comfortable with dropping her off to you and your little… what? Fuck buddy? You knew for damn sure I was bringing her over that day. You've taken her out of school to do god knows what. I'm not allowing this anymore. You'll have her every other weekend, as long as the judge agrees with me. And I'm sure he will since apparently you had a run in with the cops this weekend."

"You know that's fucking bullshit, Addison!" He couldn't contain his anger any longer. "If that were the case, I'd never see her. You'll be hearing from my lawyers as well." Derek slammed his phone on the table, only seeing red. His heart was racing and he didn't know what to do or think.

He heard the door open behind him, but he couldn't manage to move. "Derek." He held his head down. When Meredith reached to gently touch his upper arm, Derek jerked away. "2108. He'll be up in thirty minutes, or sooner. Do you want to talk about it?"

He finally turned around slowly, bringing his gaze up to meet hers. "Not right now. I can't."

Meredith frowned. The look in his eyes was just sad. His dark blue eyes completely changed. Meredith grabbed his hand, dropping a kiss against his cheek. "Whatever it is, I'm here."

Derek sighed, collapsing into the nearest chair. He pulled Meredith on his lap, burrowing his head against her. They stayed like that for sometime, Meredith playing with the hair at the nape of his neck.

Meredith was sure they would have stayed in that position for much longer if her pager wasn't ringing through the room. She jumped up, reading the 911 page. "It's Mark."

She started running, already aware that Derek was on her heel. When they both entered the room, Mark was obviously flirting with a nurse, who was sitting at the edge of his bed, giggling. "911? You're kidding me, right?"

The timid nurse jumped up, "D-Doctor Grey. The patient… said it… was an emergency. I just thought-"

"I just though you should leave. Now," She narrowed her eyes at this woman. "Thank you, Olivia. I'll be sure to take note of that."

"Doc, you just killed my game," Mark frowned.

"Well, did you expect me to not get here as quickly as I could with a 911 page? That means you're dying. Which you obviously are not." Meredith grabbed ahold of his chart. "What's so dire? You just woke up."

"Damn, Meredith. Who knew you were so feisty," Mark chuckled. "Alright, can I go home now?"

Meredith placed the chart back at the end of the bed. She was happy to finally see Derek cracking a smile. "Like I said, you just woke up. I need you here for a few hours."

"An hour?" He shot back.

"Dude, relax," Derek shook his head, sitting on the couch against the wall.

"How's your pain?" Meredith looked at Mark, who shrugged. "On a scale of one to ten?"

"Probably a five," He sat up, slowly. "Doc, I'll be at Shep's house recovering. I'll be just fine."

"I'll sign your discharge papers in an hour, but only if you behave for the next sixty minutes. I'll come check in with you."

Derek followed Meredith outside the room. He grabbed her waist gently. "Thank you."

"Oh, Derek, the surgery was routine. It-"

"Baby, no. I meant thank you for before."

Meredith saw the same look coming back to his eyes. He started avoiding eye contact with her. "I didn't… do much." She frowned.

"You did," He kissed the top of her head, holding her against him. "You really did. Is there somewhere private we can go talk?"

"Of course."