Derek didn't sleep. He wasn't sure if it was the rain, pounding on the metal roof of his trailer, or if it was the thoughts looming in his head. He was lying to himself, and he knew it. He loved the rain. Meredith loved the rain. He was accustomed to the rain. Rain could never keep him awake. It was the thoughts that had him tossing and turning. Twisting the sheets into rope. Turning his pillow into a punching bag. He climbed out of bed and poured himself a scotch. He knew it was not going to help in the least. This was an issue that had to be faced head on. And he knew that when it was, someone was going to be hurt.

Meredith wasn't thinking. Thought had stopped after the sixth shot of tequila. Her brain had quit processing information. She and Drew had stumbled into the cab. Neither was sure who was worse off. But both were barely coherent. Drew dragged Meredith to his suite. He knew, full well, that he could take advantage of her. At this point of the night, she had no idea what was happening. Part of him had longed for it. There was something about her. An air, a presence, that had infatuated him from the beginning. He always watched her. The way she moved. The way her hair laid softly on her shoulders. The way she giggled. He wanted her. But then it hit him. She trusted him enough to pour her heart out to him. Enough to become completely vulnerable. And not even he could take advantage of that. Drew helped Meredith into his bed. He had fully planned on sleeping on the suite's sofa. He had to distance himself from her.

"Don't go." Meredith whispered. "Lay here with me."

"Okay." He said, reluctantly as she laid down on the bed next to her.

"You're a good guy." She said with a drunken giggle.

"I'm not so sure..." He muttered softly.

"Derek is a bad guy..." Meredith whimpered. "Damn him. Damn him for making me fall in love with him..." She trailed off as she closed her eyes.

"Yes, damn him..." Drew agreed as he closed his eyes.

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

Derek woke up in a cold, lonely trailer. He glanced out the window and looked at the house. It was standing there, the sun just coming up from behind it. He was so at war with himself. What to do. He could just sell it all. He could go back to New York. Be free and alone. Because even if he found someone, he would always be alone if it wasn't Meredith. Or he could apologize, and not even be sure if he meant it. He wasn't even sure what his true feelings were. He climbed out of his bed, running his fingers through his hair. He looked in the mirror. A tired, broken face stared back at him. He didn't have anything on the board today. He was free. He knew he needed to talk to someone. He had to get it off his chest. A call to Addison was unanswered. When he called her house, Stan said she was in surgery. Of course. She was the one that knew how to make it all better. It seemed both he and Meredith confided in her.

Derek mustered up all of his strength and climbed into his shower. His eyes rested on Meredith's shampoo and conditioner. He grabbed his own and began washing. Drew. Drew popped into his head. He was who he always went to for advice. Drew was always in New York, so he forgot about him. That's where he was going. He needed to confide in his cousin. He took one more glance at Meredith's conditioner. He slowly put his hand on the bottle. He had to do it. He opened the bottle and breathed it in. That scent was like a light breeze, bringing back his feelings, his love for her.

Derek laughed when he pulled up to the hotel. That was Drew. He was always all in with everything. Either the best, or not at all. He knew he was in the penthouse. He pressed the button and began his ride. He always loved elevator. Especially with Meredith. She made elevators fun. He made his way to the door and knocked. There was no answer. He knew Drew, so he banged louder. Finally the door opened.

"Wow." Derek said as he rocked back on his heels. "I haven't seen you look that bad in years!"

"Yeah, well..." Drew started as he yawned. He stood there in his jeans and shirt from last night. He ran his hand through his disheveled hair.

"Wild night?" Derek asked. Drew started walking into the suite. "I guess not too wild. Things aren't all over and you are still dressed." Derek finished with a laugh.

Drew walked over to his bag and poured out several aspirin into his hand. He chased it down with a warm bottle of water. He finally sat back in a chair and yawned again. Derek began walking around, checking the suite out.

"Nice." Derek stated. "So, no action last night?"

"Uh, no." Drew responded flatly.

Derek walked to the door leading to the bedroom. She slowly turned the handle. Drew's eyes got wide and he began to jump out of his seat. Derek had a look of shock on his face when he opened the door. There she was. She looked peaceful. His Meredith, laying in his cousin's bed. It immediately made him sick. He crossed the room toward Drew in several strides.

"What the fuck?" He yelled as he neared him. He walked up and shoved Drew down on the chair. "I turn around for a second and I find this?" He yelled.

"Don't touch me, Derek." Drew warned as he slumped in the chair. "I am way too hung over to put up with your shit."

"My shit? Drew, I swear..." He said loudly.

"You are being a dumb ass. Just like she said. You are really fucking stupid, Der." Drew spat. "You don't deserve her!"

"You fucker!" Derek said as his fist connected with Drew's jaw. Drew immediately punched Derek back in the eye. "You son-of-a-bitch!" Derek said as he grabbed his eye. They began wrestling around on the floor. Finally Drew pulled away and began yelling.

"If you had an ounce of sense you would realize that we are both fully clothed." Drew spat. Derek stopped hitting him and looked back and forth between Drew and Meredith lying in the bed. Drew was right. It was obvious that they did not have sex.

"Sorry." Derek muttered as he sat down and placed his hands in his head.

"God, Der. What the hell has gotten into you?" Drew said as he took his place on the chair. "You never used to be like this."

"I don't know." Derek muttered.

"If you think we had a good time..." Drew stated. "If I hadn't drank half of Joe's liquor, I wouldn't have gotten any sleep. Between the snoring and the drool..."

"What?" Derek said. "First, Mer doesn't drool..."

"Oh, yes, she does. Maybe it's a drunken thing." Drew said with a shrug. "My pillow was soaked."

"You slept with her?" Derek angrily said in disbelief.

"Nothing happened." Drew reiterated as he leaned back and rubbed his face.

"You could have slept on the sofa. You don't sleep with another man's girl." Derek said angrily.

"Well, from what I can gather, she isn't your girl anymore." Drew said. A hint of him was basking in Derek's jealousy.

"What do you mean?" Derek asked.

"She's pissed. You really screwed up this time. I don't remember much, but I do remember something about a human incubator." Drew stated. "And you being and ass."

"I guess I was harsh. But she--" Derek started.

"No, Derek. You need to worry about your relationship. Quit obsessing about kids. Did you ever stop and think that maybe that would come along on it's own? I mean, you aren't married. You have been together how long? I know I don't generally walk up to chicks in the bar and say I want kids." Drew stated.

"I guess you are right..." Derek moaned as he touched his eye with his fingertips.

"You need to step back and realize what you have here. Mer is perfect. She is great. You will never find anyone better. I guarantee it." Drew said with a bit of remorse. "If I were in the market..."

"Yeah." Derek said. "I guess you are right..."

"You guess? I am right." Drew said. "I have known you since I can remember. I lived with you guys when my parents went to Europe. I spent every minute hanging out with you and Mark."

"More like tagging along." Derek joked. "Three years is a world of difference when Mark and I were trolling for girls."

"Thanks." Drew laughed as he threw his feet up in the ottoman.

"Thanks, Drew." Derek said as he stood up. "Don't wake her up, she might kill you." Derek said as he walked to the door and opened it.

"See you later." Drew said.

"Yeah, see you around." Derek said as he walked out.

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

Meredith's head was splitting. It felt like someone had thrown her head up on a log, and taken a good whack at it with an ax. She moaned as she opened her eyes. She sat up slightly and looked around. Shit. She muttered to herself. This had happened far too many times. All was saved when she looked down at herself. She still had her clothes on. She sighed as she literally crawled out of bed. The walk to the bathroom was wobbly to say the least. Thank God for walls. She got down on her knees and assumed the position. There were only two times she regularly got on her knees, and this wasn't the fun one. Every time she retched, her head hurt more.

"Holy crap. You look like shit warmed over." Drew laughed as a very beaten down Meredith walked in.

"I feel like shit warmed over." She said as she sat down with him. "What did I drink?" She moaned.

"Oh, a plethora of liquors." Drew said with a smirk.

"Tequila doesn't get me this bad." She commented.

"You should eat..." Drew said.

"Are you kidding me?" She giggled.

"I think you're still a little drunk." Drew laughed.

"I think you are right!" Meredith answered. "Whoa, what the hell happened to your face?"

"Oh, it's nothing. So here, eat this." He said as he handed her a belgian waffle with strawberries and whipped cream.

"Oh God no." She said as she pushed it back towards him. She leaned back and closed her eyes. Then her eyes opened quickly and she shit up. "Holy shit! What time is it?" She squealed.

"Um, eleven." He answered nonchalantly.

"Eleven in the morning?" She said as she jumped up in shock.

"That it would be." He said as he took a bite of eggs.

"Oh my God! I am dead. I am so freaking dead!" She shouted. "Oh my God!"

"Calm down. What is the matter?" Drew asked as he stared at her. She was walking panic induced circles.

"Um, besides the fact that I had pre-rounds at four-thirty this morning! I have to go." She said as she grabbed her purse. "No wait..."

"Wow. You are just a little late..." He said with a shocked face. "Like six and a half hours."

"Oh my God. I can't just walk in. I didn't call. Okay. Um, slam the door on my leg..." She said in a frenzy.

"What?" He said in shock.

"I need you to break it." She said quickly.

"You need me to break your leg?" He asked in shock. She nodded. "No! That is insane. You can't break you leg, just because you might get in trouble."

"No. Not might. Bailey will break my neck. At least if my leg is broken, I can say I couldn't get up." She rationalized.

"You are crazy." Drew stated.

"Punch me in the face. I can say I was mugged." She said. "I was unconscious."

"Oh yeah, that will work. They will call the police, and most likely do a rape kit." Drew explained.

"You're right." She said with a sigh.

"I have an idea...Come on." He said as he pulled her along.

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

Drew explained the plan as they drove to Seattle Grace. She was nervous. She knew she was totally screwed. The both snuck in the hospital and up the back stairway. She snuck into the locker room, just as Drew had told her. She was sweating bullets as she slid her dirty scrub pants up. She tied them quickly and emerged through the door. Drew was waiting for her. They began walking down the hallway.

"GREY!" Meredith heard Miranda Bailey scream at her from behind.

"Dr. Bailey." Meredith answered with a smile as she turned on her heel.

"Where the hell have you been?" Miranda shouted as she approached.

"I, um--" Meredith started. Her nerves began to take over. Miranda was very intimidating.

"She was with me." Drew stated.

"With you, Dr. Monahan?" Miranda asked with a raised brow.

"That is what I said, Dr...Bailey is it?" Drew said with a smirk.

"Uh huh. And why weren't you around for rounds?" Miranda asked as she closed the space between she and Meredith in.

"Me again. You see, I saw her this morning. I snagged her before you even saw her. She had been doing my paperwork for me." Drew explained.

"You only have one patient, and he is going to be discharged today." Miranda retorted.

"She was doing the papers for my patients in New York." He said with a smile.

"Your patients in New York?" Miranda asked with a shocked voice. "Dr. Monahan, I am not sure who you think you are but-"

"Listen, Dr. Bailey. You are a resident. I am an attending. I may not be on this hospital's staff, but I could be. You see, your wonderful chief of surgery, Richard Webber, has been trying to snag me for awhile. How do you think he would feel if I told him his piss ant resident had a problem with the way I do things?" Drew said confidently. Meredith and Miranda's jaws dropped.

"Uh. okay. Grey, you are with me. We have a case coming in the pit." Miranda said as she began to walk away.

"Thank you." Meredith mouthed as she walked away. Drew just smiled.

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

Meredith could not believe how smoothly the plan had worked. Drew saved her ass. Not only that, but she got in on a bowel perforation repair. She was sure that she was going to be fired. In the least, she thought she would be in the pit for all eternity. But she was saved. She was so happy to go home. Working with a major hang over, was not her idea of fun. She hadn't seen Derek all day. She was secretly relieved. She stole one glance at the surgical board before she headed to the locker room. Derek wasn't on it. She sighed. She was hoping he would be.

The other interns questioned her about where she was. She stuck with she and Drew's story. They didn't believe her, but she didn't care. She threw on her jeans and sweater from the day before. They all took note. They didn't what she had done, but they knew she had done something.

She saw him the minute she walk out of the hospital's front entrance. He was sitting on the bench. He looked tired and warn. But he was still handsome in his deep red sweater and white button up shirt. She wanted to run and and jump in his arms, but she couldn't not yet. The wounds were still too fresh.

"You're avoiding me..." He stated as he watched her walk up.

"Actually, I;m not. For the first time, I am not." She said as she sat down. A faint smile crossed his face. "Oh my God. What happened to your eye?" She asked as she touched it lightly with her hand.

"It's nothing." He said as he brushed it off. She put two and two together, but didn't say anything. He put his hand over hers. "So-" He started. He was hopeful. Time had passed. They had both cooled off.

"So." She repeated as she stared at the ground.

"What do we do?" He asked as he looked over at her.

"Space. We need space." She answered as she glanced at him.

"Space?" He said in shock. That wasn't the answer he needed or wanted.

"Yes. Space. You stay at your trailer. I stay at my house. Space." Meredith explained. "I can't do this right now. I need to think. I need to figure out---"

"Space." He said again is disbelief.

"Things are- We need to figure things out." Meredith said as she looked into his sad, deep blue eyes.

"You need to figure out if you're going to end it. Don't you?" He asked.

"I didn't say that." She answered.

"But you were thinking it." He responded with a deep sadness in his voice.

Meredith dropped her hand onto Derek's thigh and smiled.

"Goodnight, Derek." She said as she patted his leg and stood up. His heart broke into pieces as he watched her walk away. He laid his head back and sighed as her figure quickly disappeared into the night.

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Okay, work sucks! I snuck my laptop to work. I tried to get this up yesterday, but the site wouldn't work.

BTW, has anyone notice that this is almost as long a LIAC? It's way fewer chapters, but they are longer...