Disclaimer: Just over eight days until we get our Grey's back! I wanna know if there's MerDer or we get to go back to a show about Teddy/Cristina/Owen and Mark. If I owned the show…I'd know already. And, yes. There'd be MerDer… probably about 30 out of the 40 minutes would be MerDer. Hell, the whole 43 minutes would be MerDer.
***
Meredith woke up with a completely stiff back. Most likely from the night slept on the floor. Looking at Derek she found him still asleep so she took the time to get a wet washcloth and aspirin. She heard a moan escape his lips before his body jolted awake. His eyes opened and stared at her. They were bloodshot and empty.
"You feel like crap, don't you?" she taunted a little.
"What are you doing here?" he moaned.
"I told you I wasn't going to leave," shrugged Meredith, kneeling beside him.
"But…"
"But nothing Derek. You got stupidly drunk and then spewed hateful shit at me for ten minutes."
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry."
She sighed. "It's not okay."
Before he could answer Derek stood quickly, bending over until he reached the toilet, emptying the contents of his stomach. She crouched beside him, handing him a cup of water.
"You're right…it's not okay," he finally responded.
"It's not."
"I don't know what to say…you're my best friend and I swear I didn't mean it… "
"I've already forgiven you. But Der, you need to take the day, think with out alcohol and figure out if you really don't want to cut."
"Do I really have to do it with no alcohol?" Derek tried to joke.
Meredith nodded. "In fact, I'm taking all the alcohol in this place."
"I'm not n alcoholic Mer…I can, not drink."
"You're on the verge of it from what I saw last night," she said quietly. "Not taking chances."
"Okay," he sighed. He'd been so horrible to her the night before, he could give this to her. He didn't need the alcohol
Meredith opened her arms to him and he slipped his arms around her, giving her a good squeeze.
"I am sorry," he whispered.
"I know."
She let him go, standing and giving him one last smile before walking out the door. Stepping out into the crisp Seattle air, she sighed. He looked so broken and for the first time, there wasn't much she could do to help him. Derek had the tendency to curl into himself when bad things happened and he'd run away and just avoid. Sighing, she slipped into her jeep and pressed down on the gas.
After a very long night on the floor she had to go do three surgeries before she could think about napping in the on call room or going home to soak in a tub. Meredith heard her cell phone ring. Digging through her bag she found it and attached her headset to it so she could drive.
"Grey," she answered professionally.
"Hey Meredith," said Amelia Shepherd.
"Hey Amy."
"Where's my brother?" she asked. "I tried calling him a few times and now answer."
"At the trailer. He's been drunk off his ass for about a day."
"Golden child is getting drunk?" she asked, surprised.
Meredith let out a little giggle and explained the past two days to Amelia.
"He really said that?" she asked, astonished, after Meredith regaled her with stories of the previous night.
"Yeah."
"That doesn't sound like Derek."
"Seriously."
"Well, I was calling to say, I'm moving to LA."
"You're what?"
"Dr. Ginsberg fired me because I wanted to help a patient when we were consulting in LA so, I'm staying for a while. I've got some friends here and I'm gonna finish my fellowship at UCLA."
"That's great Amy."
"Yeah," she sighed. "It's nice and warm here."
"I can imagine."
"So, when are you going to tell him?" asked Amelia, changing the subject.
"Amy, he's not in a good place and-"
"And nothing!" she interrupted. "Mer, you're a better sister than the ones I have, and way better than my brother, so, I'm going to give you advice. Tell him."
"I will I just…not yet."
"When?"
"Soon…ish."
"Meredith Grey!" groaned Amelia. "You need to do it! Not soonish. Soon. You've wasted ten years already."
"Amy," she pleaded. "I'll do it. And you'll be the first to know."
"Fine," huffed Amelia. "And if you don't do it within… a month, I'll be there to kick your ass."
She sighed. "I know," said Meredith, pulling up to the docks. "I got to go. I'll loose you on the ferry. I'll tell your brother to call you."
"While you're at it… tell him you love him."
"Seriously Amelia!" she exclaimed.
"Bye Mer," said Amelia, hanging up. Meredith pulled her car onto the ferry and parked in the spot she was directed to. Usually she'd get out and walk around a bit but, she didn't feel like it. Sitting in the car, putting the seat back and closing her eyes seemed like a better idea.
She knew Amelia was relentless and wouldn't give up until she told Derek. And she would…eventually. Everyone made it seem so easy but, it wasn't. A best friend to in love was a big step that she didn't know he'd want to take with her. The ferry rattled as it pulled up to the dock and the cars disembarked. Meredith pulled her jeep off the ferry and drove the rest of the way to the hospital, her mind continuously on Derek.
Once she pulled into the parking lot she grabbed her bag and slipped out of the car walking towards the hospital. Almost immediately after stepping foot into the hospital she heard the chief calling her name.
"Yes chief?" she responded.
"Have you heard from Derek?" he asked frantically.
"Yes. He needs a day or two off."
"What? Why?"
"Chief," she sighed. "The man just found out he's killed more people than three of America's worst serial killers. Give him time."
"I need my head of neurosurgery back."
"I don't know what to say to you chief."
Dr. Webber sighed; running a hand over his buzz cut hair. "He has two days. No longer. I need him back. Tell him for me?"
Meredith nodded. "I'll see what I can do about getting him back."
"Thank you."
She nodded and turned away towards the attendings' lounge.
***
Meredith walked into the cafeteria and frowned. There was no one she recognized and since Derek wasn't there, she couldn't eat in his office, and eating alone would make her look like a loser. She sighed. Maybe it was time to make some friends. In the middle of the room she noticed three doctors in indigo scrubs sitting together with an empty chair at their table.
Meredith walked with her tray over to the table, feeling like she was in high school all over again. "Hi," she said, to the group. "Mind if I sit?"
"Whatever," an Asian woman shrugged.
"I'm Meredith Grey. Newish neuro attending."
"Cristina Yang. Cardio god," said the Asian one said.
"George O'Malley," said a man-boy looking one with wavy brown hair. He extended his hand for Meredith to shake. She did so, suddenly feeling awkward.
"Alex Karev," the last one introduced himself. "You're Shepherd's lap dog, aren't you?"
"I'm what?"
"You only talk to Shepherd and I've never seen you in the cafeteria before today. You two screwing or something?" asked Alex. "That's the rumor. Or the other one is that you're his adopted sister."
"I heard she blindly gave him a kidney and he gave her sex to repay," said Cristina.
"No…definitely no sex…he's just Derek. He's my best friend…there's no sex… at all…. ever."
"You totally want to screw him don't you!" accused Cristina.
"I…no…definitely no screwing…he's like my brother…no screwing. There can't be sex…. he has a girl friend." she rambled nervously.
"You're in love with him, aren't you?" asked Alex.
"I… um… no."
"Oh you so are. You poor poor girl," breathed Cristina. "In love with a taken man. Just when I start to think you're boring, your rise."
"Just so you know Grey, you're much hotter than that horse face I hear he's dating," Alex informed her. "I'd do you if there wasn't the whole messed up 'in love with my best friend thing' going on in your head."
"Thanks Alex," she rolled her eyes.
"No problem," he nodded, forking a bite of his salad.
"Seriously though. That horse face…how is he with her? Shepherd could have any girl he wants and he chooses a horse with a candy obsession?" scoffed Cristina.
"Seriously," agreed Meredith.
Just then a flash of dark brown hair dashed towards them. "Where the hell is my boyfriend?" demanded Rose.
"Not here," shrugged Meredith as her new friends watched intently.
"Where is he?" she demanded louder.
"I told you, not here."
Alex let out a chuckle.
"I'll go out to the trailer he's probably there," she huffed, turning away.
"He's at my house," she lied.
"Liar," accused Rose.
"I'm not lying."
"Fine then. Tell me where you live. My Dery needs me!" she insisted.
Meredith scoffed. "I'm not telling you where I live. It's personal information. And I've got the situation completely under control," she smiled sweetly.
Rose groaned loudly, almost shrieking and turned on her heel, walking away.
"Yeah, go, run back to your heard!" called Cristina after her. Alex made a loud whinny-like noise and the four cracked up to the point where milk shot out George's nose, which made them, laugh harder.
"You have milk dripping…" Cristina told him, motioning to his face. George waved goodbye before running towards the nearest restroom.
"Ok. You're officially one of us," told her Alex.
"What is this, baby catcher, a high school clique?"
"Pretty much," shrugged Cristina. "And you're in."
***
Meredith trudged exhaustedly towards the trailer. After three surgeries, she was completely worn out. Opening the door to the trailer, she found sitting, reading The Sun Also Rises, his favorite book, on his bed.
"You're not drunk," she noted.
Derek put the book down and smiled at her. "I know better than to face your wrath."
"So…"
"I don't know."
Meredith sighed and flopped down on the bed next to him. "I need you to come back Derek," she pleaded. "I just can't respect a man who gives up a great talent because he's scared and upset. You didn't kill all those people Derek. They just died. But, the people you did save, they got to go on and have a wonderful life. You gave that to them when other people only gave them a few months to live."
Derek sighed. "But I did kill the people."
"No, you just couldn't save them. But you tried. Think about the patient… Mr. Randal. He had six kids and a beautiful wife. He came to you, expecting you to tell him he had three months to live. But, you operated and two years later, you still get Christmas cards from him and his family. Can you really give that up?"
Derek let out a deep breath. "I don't think I can," he said quietly.
"Neither do I. So, you'll come back?"
"I will," he smiled a little at her. "I need a few days though…just to clear my head. I'll tell the chief."
"Good," she grinned. "Now that that's settled, movie?"
"Sure."
Meredith smiled as Derek got up to put a movie in and sat back down next to her. A simple night with her best friend, perfect.
***
A/N: You'll all love the next chapter ;D