Disclaimer: Grey's Anatomy does not belong to me.
Seriously? 2 reviews? It's the holiday season…the season for giving. And what I want is reviews. Feed me.
The last week had been hell and quite possibly the longest of Meredith's life. Her mom had been admitted to the hospital because of a fall, leading to the news about the infamous Ellis Grey having Alzheimer's spreading like wildfire around Seattle Grace. And then there was Derek and Addison. Back together, and walking around the hospital like newlyweds, at least Addison was.
"Maybe I should get a dog," Meredith said drunkenly, sprawled on the sofa in the living room.
"A dog is the last thing you need," Cristina pointed out.
"Why? A dog doesn't have a wife to leave you for. A dog doesn't neglect you and then get Alzheimer's."
"It's a dog, Mer."
"Exactly. Man's best friend."
"Okay," Cristina said grabbing the bottle of Jose Cuervo from Meredith's hands, "You've had enough when you start comparing dogs to people."
"Seriously? You're going to take away my liquor? My life is crap. My boyfriend left me. My mother is…my mother. And you're you. All happy and engaged. Give me that," she said, reaching for the bottle.
"Let's get this straight," Cristina sat up, "I'm not all happy and engaged. Burke wants this huge wedding. White dress, bridesmaids, caterers. I'm totally screwed."
"At least your boyfriend doesn't already have a wife." Meredith shot back.
"You're right. You win." Cristina gave in and handed the bottle back to Meredith.
A dog. How hard could it be to take care of a dog? She would feed it and walk it. And it would take her mind off of Derek. At least for a little while.
"How's Meredith doing?" Derek asked, handing George his patients chart.
He had managed to get her mother into a special trial for a new medication that could possibly allow her mother more lucid days. And therefore, more better days for Meredith. But that was the only thing they talked about. He didn't dare try to talk about "them" because the second he brought it up, she shut down.
"You do realize that you've asked me that every day for the past week?" George pointed out.
"Yes. And each day, you refuse to answer me." Derek replied.
"Then ask her yourself."
"O'Malley. I know your mad at me for what happened. But this isn't about me, this is about a man with brain injury whose life we have to save," Derek stated.
"Whatever you say…Dr. Shepherd" George mumbled.
He was still getting the cold shoulder from the rest of the interns, especially Meredith's roommates. Usually, the interns were interested in neuro cases. They fought over neuro cases. But when a patient had come into the ER that morning with nails in his head, nobody wanted anything to do with it and Derek had an overwhelming feeling that had something to do with his and Meredith's relationship, or the end of his and Meredith's relationship. Now George, who seemed to be the most protective of Meredith's friends, had unwillingly been put on Derek's service for the day.
"I've never had so many interns interested in cardio. Guess I can thank you for that?" Burke joked, clapping Derek on the back.
"Yeah, very funny," Derek mocked.
He was getting teased by his colleagues and snubbed by the people who worked below him. It seemed like the only person who currently liked him was Addison. And now he had to go see spend time in surgery with George, the person who was giving him the most hell.
"Have you even tried to talk to her?" George asked as they sat waiting for the CT to come up.
"We talk about her mother. The trial. But she won't really listen to me," Derek sighed, surprised that George even brought up the subject.
"Can you blame her? She's a mess. You and her mother. She can't take it. And now, she's getting a dog." George said, obviously unhappy.
"A dog?" Derek smirked.
"To replace you. And guess who's going to be the one picking up the poop?"
At least George was talking to him. He hadn't been able to get any information out of any of Meredith's friends and now finally one of them was updating him on what was going on. Even if it was to reprimand him for how he had hurt her.
All Derek wanted to do was help her. Take away her pain. The pain that he had caused. He knew that he couldn't give her what she wanted, or even what she needed. But there had to be something. Something to help her, something to make her feel better. Something to ease the pain that he had inflicted on her. There was only one way to get to her: use the elevator.
"So, I hear you're getting a dog," Derek pressed the close button before Meredith could protest.
"Cristina and I talked…and I'm getting a dog." Meredith explained.
"I love dogs," he grinned.
"I never had a dog. My mom wouldn't let me. She said it was too much work."
"I could help you. Pick one out I mean. Take care of it even. I had a lot of dogs as a kid."
"Derek…you can't…
"Meredith, please. Let me do this for you. It's the least I can do after…"
"What about Addison?" Meredith questioned.
"It's just a dog," he shrugged.
"Just a dog," Meredith repeated.
No matter what Meredith attempted to convince herself of, she was still in love him and that wasn't just going to go away. Not anytime soon anyway. And now he wanted to help her pick out a dog. He was being McDreamy. The man she had planned on spending the rest of her life with. But helping pick out a dog didn't change that he was still married. Maybe this would be more painful than she thought. Maybe agreeing to let him help had been a mistake.
I'm caught up and I'm hanging on
I'm gonna love you, even if it's wrong
Forgot to mention, in my mind, Cristina and Burke are engaged. I don't know why, but it just fit with the plans I have for this story. Don't throw rocks at me. Throw reviews at me! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
