OMG I know I'm terrible, it has been far too long but hell university is kicking my ass...I have so much to do, I can't wait for the holidays when I can write :D Hope you can bare with me!

Derek strolled along the corridor of the surgical floor, a chart in hand which he had to read over briefly before seeing to his next patient. His day had been hectic today and he barely had a chance to grab a cup of coffee between the two traumas that rolled in and the six surgeries he had already lined up waiting for him. As he continued on further nearing the nurses station he heard a clutter of giggles. Tearing his eyes away from the chart he saw what he assumed he would see at some stage that day; Mark Sloan chatting up a handful of the female nurses. They had already succumbed to his charm and Derek shook his head with amusement. Mark was always a little man whore as a teenager and it looked like he was yet to grow out of it, in fact Derek doubted he ever would. As he neared the group he heard Mark's usual technique of boasting about his flawless talent as a plastic surgeon. He even threw in a bit of surgical humor for them every so often, hence the laughter. It wasn't long before Mark noticed Derek's presence just a few inches away from them and flashed him a gleaming smile and a mischievious wink.

"Excuse me ladies" Mark smiled as he moved away from the female nurses and towards Derek. Every nurse followed his movements with wanting eyes before going about their hospital business.

"Some people never change" Derek commented as he handed the chart he was reading in over the counter to the older nurse who was looking at Mark with disgust.

"It's a talent, what can I say" Mark stated proudly before patting his friend over the shoulder "It's not like you couldn't get them if you wanted them...being a world class neuro-surgeon and all"

The two men began walking down the corridor away from the nurses station and the nurse who was looking at them with loathing eyes. Derek couldn't take the staring anymore and so decided to direct Mark further down.

"I know I could...I just choose not to, whoring isn't really my thing" Derek teased. Him and Mark could always have a laugh without the other being offended. Their friendship was solid and old and they were more like brothers than friends at this stage even though it had a been a while since they had seen each other. After Derek's move to Seattle they seemed to just lose touch very quickly.

"Ouch..." Mark laughed "So any ladies on the scene then Shep or are you going to try and convince me that the single life is your thing cause I know that's a lie"

Before Derek could answer Meredith turned the corner and was approaching them. His eyes fell on her immediately, she was like a magnet; everytime he saw her he was drawn to her. She was a drug, a drug that he could not and would not escape.

"No...no one" Derek stated in a quite tone as he continued to be mesmorized by Meredith. She was laughing with one of the other interns, she seemed happier than she had been that morning. He loved seeing her smile and unknown to himself a huge smirk spread across his face.

"What?" Mark questioned a little puzzled with Derek's sudden behaviour change. Derek was pulled from his trance and his focus was back on Mark yet he was still very aware that Meredith was approaching them.

"Nothing" Derek shook his head to reinforce the nothingness. Mark looked at him suspiciously his eyebrow pinched a little indicating his skepticism. He knew Derek was hiding something.

"Dr. Shepherd" Meredith interrupted timidly. She flashed him a smile and then gave one to Mark who's eyes lit up at the sight of her. Derek could see him eying her up and down and hated it. He couldn't stand Mark being all 'Sleazey Sloan' to Meredith and he felt an instant urge to protect her from his friend.

"Dr. Sloan" Mark introduced himself before Derek could say anything to Meredith. He held out his hand and Meredith obliged instantly smiling once more at the strange man infront of her.

"Hi...I'm um...Meredith...well Dr. Grey" Derek could tell she was already being a little taken in by Mark's charm and he suddenly felt sick.

"Yes...Dr. Grey is one of Seattle's finest new interns" Derek interrupted doing his best to get in on the conversation before it turned, what he expected to be, dirty! "Is there something you need Dr. Grey?" Derek realized his tone sounded a little dismissive but he was willing to do it if it ended Mark and Meredith's acquaintence. Meredith looked at him a little confused remembering their conversation about being friends merely a few hours before.

"Um...no I was just...well I just wanted to say hi" she commented, her voice cracking a little with the embarassment she was now feeling. "I'm going"

Derek watched as she continued on down the corridor. He felt horrible but it was for the best, he was doing her a favor, all Mark would bring her is pain and humiliation, it was better this way, for all of them!

"Wow" Mark sighed, he too was watching Meredith walk away, his eyes practically bulging out of his socktets. "She's smokin hot" Mark made a fist and brought it up to his mouth in an attempt to pull back his arousal which Meredith had caused.

"Oh no no no...off limits Mark!" Derek barked as he pointed his finger towards Mark "Stay away from her understand"

"Why?...She yours?" Mark sounded a little gutted at the prospect of losing this girl to his best mate "Nice man!" but approved all the same.

"No she's not mine...but I'm treating her fiance...that's right Mark fiance!, she's engaged and she's a nice girl so back off...she doesn't need to be corrupted by a man whore who'll have his way with her and then kick her to the curb when he's done"

Mark stood looking at Derek as he ranted on about this girl he had just met, if he didn't know any better it seemed like Derek was being a bit territorial over her. He watched Derek take in a deep breath after his warning in an attempt to calm himself down, Derek really hadn't meant to get so worked up over it but then again Meredith was having such an impact on his behaviour these days, he was capable of anything.

"You okay man?" Mark finally questioned after Derek had returned to his normal self.

"Yeah...yeah I'm good" Derek assured "Listen I need to get going I have patients, I'll meet up with you later" Derek turned from Mark and practically ran down the corridor. He no longer trusted himself around anyone who had an opinion about Meredith.

Walking into the CT viewing room, Derek saw Meredith looking at the monitor. She hadn't noticed his presence yet so he just stood there staring. He felt bad about his dismissive behaviour towards her when he was with Mark, he would have to try and hide his emotions a little better from now on.

"Dr. Shepherd" Meredith stated when she saw him hovering in the doorway. "Um the patient's scans should be up any minute"

Derek moved into the room and took a seat beside her. His eyes were sympathetic and apologetic but she wasn't looking at him, instead her attention was on the monitor as she waited for the scans to come up.

"Dr. Bailey assigned me to your service...so I hope you don't mind"

"Why would I mind?" He asked.

"No reason"

"Look I'm sorry about before...I didn't mean to be so rude" he apologised bringing the chair closer to her side.

"No it's fine...I get it, we can only be friends when no one is around, but infront of other doctors, friends your my boss and I'm your intern"

She was being cold now with him. He knew she was upset, well maybe more annoyed with him. He hesitated to speak again but knew he had to say something more to her, he had been an ass!

"Meredith that's not how it is...I was just in a bad mood and I took it out on you and I'm sorry"

She smiled at him warmly, she was more forgiving than he thought.

"Scans are up" she stated still giving him a smile. She didn't have to say anything else, Derek knew they had moved past it.

"Do you want to go out for something to eat after work?...you look like you could do with a distraction for a while"

Meredith was a little shocked at his request but also extremely thankful. She hated having to sit in Adam's room every evening after work just staring at him, hoping he'd wake up. She knew an evening out with a friend was just what she needed and answered

"I'd love to"