"So, you didn't come home last night." George said with a bit of sadness in his voice.

"Yeah." Meredith responded. "I stayed over."

"Oh." George said quietly, tucking his shirt into his scrubs.

"So where is Iz?" Meredith asked.

"She had something to do this morning. She will be in later." George told her.

Bailey came in and gave assignments. Meredith headed off to meet with Dr. Burke. She hadn't worked with him yet. She searched and finally found him in a patient's room.

"Dr. Grey. Nice of you to join us. This is Mrs. Jackson. She is in for a triple bypass. I need you to prep her for surgery and meet me in the operating room." Burke ordered.

"Right away, Sir." Meredith answered. He walked out of the room. Meredith prepped the patient, and made her way into the operating room.

Meredith watched as Dr. Burke performed the surgery. He was precise, he was perfect. Every move he made, was thought-out and purposeful. She could see why he was top-notch. She had heard a resident gossiping about how Dr. Burke and Dr. Carter couldn't stand each other. Rumor has it that they were very competitive. Both were great cardio-thoracic surgeons. Dr. Burke was professional, he didn't stammer. Not until now.

"So I'm surprised you didn't have Cristina Yang scrub in." Meredith said simply.

"Um, Cristina, uh. All interns should try out all fields." He finally said, after stammering his way through the first part of his sentence.

"I just meant, because she is so talented with cardio. It is her chosen specialty." Meredith said, trying to set things right.

"I know what you meant, Grey. She needs to try everything out. You should never be set on a field until you have tried everything, several times." He explained. It was then. She knew it. Cristina was sleeping with Burke. That little whore!

--------------------

Meredith was walking a straight path. She was on a mission. She was going to call her person out. She was walking up the back stairway, when an arm grabbed her. Chase pulled her into his office.

"Meredith." He said. "I've been looking for you."

"Oh, you have?" She said with a giggle

"I have." Chase pushes her against the wall and kissed her.

"You are bad!" She said.

"I know." He pulls up her scrub shirt. "I didn't get any last night. I think I may be addicted to you..." Her pager goes off.

"It's Bailey." She said with disappointment in her voice.

"Go." He said sadly. She starts to walk out. "Hey, Mer?"

"Yeah?" She said, turning around.

"I do, you know." He said. She knew exactly what he was talking about.

"I know you do." He loved her, and she couldn't return the favor. Not yet. "See you later."

Meredith ran to find Dr. Bailey. She and Cristina were both standing at the nurses station. Meredith walked up.

"I think we have a surgical case from the pit. I'm going to need you both to scrub in." Dr. Bailey ordered. "You two go run an MRI, and a CT. Page me when you're done." Cristina walked away with Meredith.

"He said 'I Love you'. My guy, he said it. I couldn't say it back. He knew I heard it. We were just going to bed, and he slipped it out. What do I do?" Meredith said nervously.

"I can't help you until I know who it is." Cristina said sarcastically.

"I can't. You don't understand. This is bad." Meredith responded quickly.

"It's a resident, isn't it?" Cristina laughed.

"No! It is much worse than that." Meredith said, as she bit her lip and looked down.

"It's an attending." Cristina answered with raised eyebrows.

"Worse." Meredith said with impending doom.

"What can be worse?" Cristina retorted sarcastically. "Holy shit! It's the Chief, isn't it?" Meredith nodded her head yes. "You are so screwed. Oh my God."

"Oh, like you aren't sleeping with your boss!" Meredith snapped.

"What? I'm not." Cristina defended herself.

"I know about you and Burke. Don't even try to deny it." Meredith told her.

"What I am doing is bad. But you? He's your boss', boss' boss!" He is the boss. The big one." Cristina said loudly.

"Shh! I know. He wasn't. I dated him before he was Chief. He was still at Seattle Presbyterian." Meredith quietly explained. "I tried to break up with him. He wouldn't."

"Well, now we know why it's a big secret. So he told you he loved you? And you didn't say anything? Crap. Not good, to leave the big boss hanging." She said laughing, approaching the patient's room.

"This is bad." Meredith moaned.

"Do you? Love him?" Cristina asked innocently.

"I don't know. I could, I guess. He's a great guy. Maybe, sometime, I could. I think..." Meredith said, unsure of herself.

"So how is he? In bed? Is he good, he looks like he would be good." Cristina said.

"He's okay. He's good. He's a seven, I guess. He gets the job done." Meredith explained.

"I have to say, I'm disappointed..." Answered Cristina.

--------------------

"Okay, so our house is a flower shop." Izzie said to George and Meredith.

"What?" George asked.

"Meredith, I don't know who this guy is, but we have hundreds of dollars worth of flowers in our house right now. He must really like you." Izzie said with a smile.

"Flowers, really?" Meredith asked. Cristina laughed.

"I didn't see him as the flower type!" Cristina said with a chuckle. "Yeah, maybe."

"Rewind." Alex said. "You know?"

"No. I'm screwing with you. Why would she tell me?" Cristina says, they all laugh.

"Seriously. I have never seen so many roses in my life." Izzie said, shoveling food into her mouth.

"Roses?" Meredith wrinkles her nose.

"Roses are beautiful. They are the flower of love." Izzie said sweetly.

"They are so, cliche." Meredith responded.

"Flowers suck." Cristina said loudly.

"You aren't normal, Yang." Alex said quickly.

"He's right." Said George.

"I know." Cristina responded happily. "Hey maybe he works at a flower shop!"

"Maybe..." Meredith answered.

---------------------

"So, Mer. Will your mystery man be coming by tonight?" Izzie said, jokingly.

"Iz. Just make our damn dinner." Meredith said, sitting on the stool.

"So you went to Stanford?" Izzie asked, as she chopped vegetables.

"No, why?" Meredith said, wrinkling her brow.

"Oh. They day we moved in, you were wearing a Stanford shirt. I just assumed." Izzie said innocently as she threw the vegetables into the pan. "Oh. That was the mystery man's shirt."

"I went to Oxford. Where did you go?" Meredith asked as she took a drink.

"Washington State. I grew up in a trailer. I modeled to pay for med school." Izzie explained.

"So, you did good. You pulled yourself out, you made something of yourself." Meredith said proudly.

"Yeah. I guess I did." Izzie stated. "So, do you not trust me? Is that why you can't tell me who the guy is?"

"No, Iz. It's just that-- No one can know. It's complicated. Eventually, eventually everyone will know." Meredith said.

"It's okay. I understand. I guess" She put their food on their plates. "You want to watch a surgery?"

"Sure." They both grab their food and head out to the sofa.

"Too bad George is on-call. He's going to hate that he missed this!" Izzie exclaimed.

Yeah, he is." Meredith agreed.

-------------------

"Chase. What time do you have to be in?" Meredith asked as she shook him.

"Uh, I'm not going in until eight." He moaned and covered his head with a pillow.

"Okay. Well I'm going to take a bath, you can leave after we do." She said, climbing out of bed.

"Okay." He said, closing his eyes.

Meredith climbed in the bathtub. She was tired. She could sleep another four hours. She slowly submerged herself under the water. It was peaceful there, quiet. She waited until the last moment. The moment before panic. The moment before it was too late. Then she came up for air. She didn't want to get out. She grabbed her towel, and wrapped it around her. She grabbed another and started drying her hair. She walked into her room to grab her clothes. Her bedroom door flung open.

"Meredith!" Izzie shouted. Izzie immediately looked over at Chase, who jerked at the noise. He was laying on her bed, his head was covered, but his bare ass was showing. Meredith threw her towel on him.

"Izzie! What is it?" Meredith said, grabbing her and walking into the hallway.

"Is that him? That's the guy. Hmm." Izzie pondered. "So close, yet so far..."

"Iz! What is it?" Meredith asked.

"Oh, the pipe broke in the kitchen." She said with a funny look. "It's leaking. Maybe your guy could fix it?" Izzie suggested.

"No, he can't. We can do this, we're capable." Meredith said, marching down the stairs in her towel. "Shit! Get me a wrench. We need to turn the water off!" Izzie comes back. Meredith shuts it off. "We need a new pipe. I will get one after work."

"Wow. I didn't think you were so capable!" Izzie stated.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Iz!" Meredith joked. She heard the doorbell ring. Of course, it was more flowers. She smiled.

"More? He's here. And he sent you flowers? Wow!" Izzie smiled. "Why can't I find a guy like that?"

---------------

Meredith avoided Chase all day. She didn't want Izzie to catch on. This morning was close. Way too freaking close. It was almost time to eat lunch. Meredith was starving, she didn't have time to eat breakfast after the pipe incident this morning. She was leaning on the nurses desk, writing post-op notes when Derek walked up.

"Well, hello there, Dr. Grey." He said happily, as he leaned next to her, silently breathing in her lavender scent.

"Dr. Shepherd." She said softly, not looking up. "Dr. Shepherd which pipe is better, plastic or metal?" Meredith asked.

"What? Pipes? Are you trying to suggest something?" He said, chuckling.

"No! My pipe broke under the sink in the kitchen. I need to replace it. I was going to stop and get the stuff after work. I was just wondering what your opinion was." She explained, looking up at him.

"You plan on doing this yourself?" He said in disbelief.

"Well, yeah. I am not paying to have a plumber come in and do something I can." Meredith said, rolling her eyes. "Besides, I don't want to see the crack. Plumber's crack."

"Would you like to see my crack?" He raised his eyebrows. "I will come fix it for you."

"You don't have to..." She said, surprised that he offered.

"I would love to." He said tilting his head to the side. " I can pick up the stuff and come over."

"Okay." She wrote her address down, and slid it over to him. "I can't wait to see your crack." She laughed as he walked away. Dr. Bailey walked up.

"You done with those yet?" She asked.

"Just finishing. Here you go." She hands her the files.

"Oh, the Chief wants to see you." Miranda said, looking up.

"The Chief. What did I do?" Meredith said, pretending to be nervous.

"I guess you will find out." She said with a huff. "Go!"

Damn him. He has got to stop doing this. If he need to see me, he needs to find me. Bailey is not stupid, she will figure this out. I am going to kill him. And Cristina, I swear, if she says anything... She won't I have Burke over her head. Plus, I am screwing the Chief, who happens to hate Burke. I am covered there... She walked into his office and shut the door.

"Yes, Chief..." Meredith said seductively.

"Unfortunately, this is business." Chase responded. She could see that he wasn't happy.

"Is everything okay? What did I do?" Meredith sat down, fidgeting nervously.

"There has been a complaint." Chase responded dryly.

"A complaint. What kind of complaint?" Meredith snapped. "I Have done nothing wrong!"

"Someone on the staff seems to think you are having sexual and personal relations with Dr. Shepherd." He said coldly.

"What?" She said loudly. "What the fuck? I barely know Der--I mean Dr. Shepherd!"

"This person is sure." Chase said. She could tell he was mad.

"Well, it's bullshit." Meredith responded boldly. Then it dawned on her. Holly. It was Holly. She knew it. "This person, should I say snitch? She wouldn't happen to be Seattle Grace's dietician, Holly Davison, would it?" Meredith chuckled. Chase looked surprised that she knew.

"You know I can't divulge that information." Chase said quietly.

"Wow. This is insane. She is full of shit. She thinks I am after Derek. I do not want him. God, I've talked to him at Joe's a few times. There is absolutely nothing going on. And you!" She yelled, staring into his eyes. "You believe her. You would have just written this off. You actually believe her! She is a liar. And you- you are an ass!" Meredith shouted and started to walk out. "I have to go. I think I have a meeting with Dr. Shepherd in an on-call room." She yelled, slamming his door.

What the fuck? That bitch. Next time I see her, she is so dead. She has screwed with the wrong person! She stormed down the hallway like she was on fire. She passed Izzie and George who looked at her like she was insane. She finally passed a nurse, and asked her if she has seen Dr. Shepherd. She said he was in his office. Meredith rushed right in the door. Derek looked at her in shock. She shut the door.

"Dr. Grey..." He said with a surprised voice. He walked around the desk, and stood in front of her, he could see the anger in her eyes. "What's wrong?" She walked over and shoved him against his desk, kissing him deeply. "What- what?" He stopped trying to talk and kissed her back. It was intense. She pulled away. "What was that?" He said breathlessly.

"I figured if we were going to be accused, we may as well do it. May as well have some fun, make it worthwhile." Meredith spat angrily. He tipped his head. "Your girlfriend is a fucking bitch."

"Why?" Derek said in shock.

"She went to the Chief, and said we are sleeping together." Meredith yelled.

"What? She wouldn't do that." He said in disbelief, and started pacing back and forth.

"She did. I asked him if it was her. He said he couldn't say, but there was a nod. I'm sure you will be called in next." She said, pacing with him.

"What's the big deal? It's not true. That's all that matters." He said quietly.

"She went to the Chief. This is my job. This is my-- Never mind. I have to go." She didn't wait for him to answer. She rushed out as quickly as she came. Derek looked down at the pager, it was the Chief. Derek made his way to Chase's office.

"You rang?" Derek said cheerfully.

"Please, shut the door. Sit down." Chase said, as he motioned to the chair.

"Is there a problem?" Derek said, hoping that Chase didn't know that Meredith had warned him.

"There has been a complaint by someone on the staff." Chase said boldly, looking up at Derek.

"A complaint? What kind of complaint?" Derek said smoothly.

"A member of our staff has claimed that you are having sexual relations with an intern. She has also claimed that you meet this intern at the bar across the street. As you know, this behavior is strictly prohibited." Chase said loudly, with purpose. He never took his eyes away from Derek.

"And who is this intern that I am allegedly sleeping with?" Derek asked, knowing the answer.

"Meredith Grey." Chase answered. He hated to say it.

"I can assure you, there is absolutely nothing going on between Dr. Grey and I. I have seen Dr. Grey at Joe's a few times. We have made friendly conversation. I have never bought her a drink, and I have never taken her home. Do you mind if I ask, was it Holly Davison who claimed this?" Derek asked, staring Chase down.

"I really can't say." Chase answered confidently. Derek wasn't sure if it really was her. "I know you realize that you can not have relations with interns."

"I do realize that, but I speak to Alex Karev almost every night at Joe's. Is that prohibited? And Drs. Stevens, Yang, O'Malley and Jones. Is that against the rules? I know I am not the only one!" Derek spat angrily.

"I think you know the difference between talking and crossing the line." Chase answered.

"Why Meredith Grey? Why are you so protective over her?" Derek asked innocently.

"Dr. Grey is our finest surgical intern. I want to keep it that way." Chase retorted.

"I think that you have taken a personal interest in Dr. Grey. I think you want me to stay away from her. This has nothing to do with rules."

"I think we have come to an understanding." Chase said, pulling paperwork out, reading it. "You can see your way out."

Derek stormed out. What the hell? He has a thing for Meredith. He has a thing for her, and he's afraid that I want her. He's afraid I will get to her first. It is not his freaking decision. Guess what, Mr. Chase? I am going over to Meredith Grey's house tonight, and I am going to fix her pipes!

-----------------

Meredith grabbed her food and sat down with a huff. She was mad. She wasn't in the mood to talk to her friends. They didn't say anything to her. At this point, they knew better. She took a huge bite of her sandwich, and started chewing. If her mouth was full. She didn't have to talk.

"Oh, here comes Chief Hottie." Izzie chuckled.

"Gag me." Alex choked.

"You mean Super McAsshole." Meredith spat. She took another bite of her sandwich.

"What is that about?" George asked innocently, getting a glare from Izzie.

"So, how are my prized surgical interns today?" Chase asked as he sat down. Everyone answered. Meredith rolled her eyes and kept eating. "You all are doing a great job." He said.

"Yeah." Meredith said sarcastically.

"You know, jealously is a bad thing." He looks over at Meredith. "It can ruin careers, and relationships. I was jealous once. It was bad. Totally foolish. I was jealous for no good reason, and I am sorry about it now." He notices Meredith's glance. "I was afraid that someone was trying to take something that was mine, but now I know I don't own it, no one can. I was just afraid I was losing it. So anyway, Jealousy is bad, and keep that in mind, as you move through the program." Chase got up, and gave Meredith a wink, going unnoticed by everyone else.

"That was odd." George said.

"That was so not for us." Cristina answered with a chuckle.

"What do you mean?" Izzie said.

"Nothing." Cristina answered, looking over at Meredith.

------------------

Meredith sat on the sofa, in her sleep pants and tee shirt, eating a big bowl of ice cream. Strawberry and expresso chip mixed. That was the way she liked it. Izzie was on call, and George was on a date with Olivia. She had forgiven Chase after his brave speech at lunch. She wasn't sure if he was coming over tonight or not. She looked out the the window and noticed Derek's car pull in the driveway. She stood up and met him at the door.

"You really didn't have to do this." She said, taking him in. He is good looking.

"It's no problem, really." He said, standing at the door.

"Well, come in, it's in here." He followed behind her, she knew he was checking her out.

"In your pajamas already?" He asked with a smile.

"Yeah. I like to be comfortable." Meredith responded with a smile.

"I think Holly sleeps with her heels and make-up on." He laughed. Meredith didn't, she cringed at her name. Derek got to work under the sink. It only took him a few minutes.

"Would you like a beer?" She asked, grabbing one for herself.

"Sure." He answered as her turned on the water and checked for leaks. She started finishing her ice cream. "That looks appetizing." He said with a scrunched face.

"It is. Espresso Chip and Strawberry. Here, try it." She shoved her spoon in his mouth. He swallowed it and laughed. She was the polar opposite of Holly, and he liked it.

"Not bad." He shook his head, and opened his beer. She threw her dish in the sink. "So, I met with the Chief."

"Yeah, I'm not surprised." She said quickly, taking a swig from her beer.

"He seems very concerned. I set his mind at ease." He answered, taking a sip, and looking at her.

"I gathered that." She answered quickly.

"You need to watch him. He has a real interest in your well being." Derek said protectively.

"It's because of my mother." She lied, and he knew better, but immediately dropped it.

"So the kiss..." He laughed.

"Yeah, sorry about that." She chuckled

"I'm not." He said simply. "I like the kissing. I'm all for the kissing, more kissing I say."

"You have a girlfriend. Who happens to be on my shit-list, and I have a guy." She answered quickly. What did he mean? Is he interested?

"Yeah, well, I'm not sure it was her." He said quickly.

"Yeah, well I am. Besides, who else would spew that shit?" She said loudly at first, then quieted down.

"I try not to persecute someone until I have Proof." He said honestly.

"Well, I have my proof." She said, emptying her beer bottle. He took his last drink. "Well, thanks for coming over." She said. She wanted him to leave, she was close to yelling, and she didn't want to yell at him.

"Kicking me out already?" He chuckled.

"Honestly, yes. Because, I am ready to yell at you. You are a blind moron, who can't see that your girlfriend has horns. She crawled up from hell. But if you are into having your menu planned, working out and wearing what she wants you to, have at it!" Meredith raised her voice and looked at him.

"I am a man. I make my own decisions!" He said loudly.

"You keep telling yourself that." She laughed at him.

"I will. Good night, Meredith." He smiled and opened the door. He was impulsive, he turned and pulled her into a deep kiss. She raised her hands. He turned and walked out. What the hell was that?

--------------

Okay, long chapter. But ya know what? I hate splitting it. Splitting it is stupid. You either want to read it or not. Right? So soon you will find out more about Mer's past. Anyway, thanks for reading and please review!!