Hello again, readers!
Another chapter after only a week! Proud of me? ;)
(Please don't expect this to be a regular thing, lol)

Enjoy!

Chapter 15

"Care to explain to me why my head of neurosurgery is now physically assaulting people on my surgical floor?

Meredith meekly crossed the small conference room to place an ice pack on Derek's bruising knuckles.

She had seen varying levels of the strained, seething look on her mother's face many times before. Right now it was right up there with the time Meredith had totaled her mother's car in 11th grade. Taking the chance at further pissing off her mother, she quietly took the office chair to Derek's right.

She half expected Ellis to send her out of the room, but soon relaxed a little when Richard gave her a small smile in greeting.

"That was Mark," Derek gruffly responded, repositioning the ice pack to cover the small gash between his second and third knuckle.

"Who's Mark?" Ellis questioned, shortly.

Derek was still in full pouting mode, staring intently at his swelling hand. So Meredith took a shot at speaking.

"He was Derek's friend from New York," she began, although the rest of her explanation caught in her throat when her mother glared her into silence.

"Until I found out he was the actual father of the child my wife was carrying." All eyes settled on Derek who seemed to refuse to meet their gaze.

Ellis was about to respond before Richard interrupted. "You put your weight behind it?"

"Richard!"

Derek looked up at his mentor as his mouth twitched in something akin to an amused grin. "Yes, sir."

"Well, all right then," Richard nodded, standing from the conference table.

"Richard, where are you going?! This is unacceptable! How does that excuse his behavior?"

"Ellis," her husband sighed, reaching for her arm. "Derek knows not to attack the patrons of the hospital and won't do it again. Right, Derek?" The look Richard was giving him clearly ordered him to do nothing but agree.

"Of course. Won't happen again."

Shooting daggers the whole way, Ellis allowed Richard to guide her out of the door, leaving Meredith and Derek sitting alone.

The faint click of the door echoed between them, only enhancing the silence.

"Derek…"

"Don't, Meredith."

She couldn't help but flinch at his tone. "Derek, you should talk-"

"What is there to talk about?"

"You punched him, Derek!"

"After what he did, you're saying he didn't deserve it?"

Taking a moment to keep her own emotions in check, she took a deep breath and counted to ten. "What he and Addison did was horrible. Believe me, I understand what that betrayal feels like. But this isn't the first time you've seen him since you found out so I'm just wondering where all this came from. Why now?"

Derek continued to frown at his hand and shift the ice pack over his wounds. In his silence, Meredith took the opportunity to study him. His expression didn't seem to hold much anger. It was almost more of a pout. Like a child unwilling to share his favorite toy.

And that's when it dawned on her.

"Are you jealous?"

Derek finally looked up at her. "Excuse me?"

"Oh my God, that's it."

"I don't get jealous."

"I didn't know it was Mark when he started talking to me, Derek, I swear. I even told him I had a boyfriend. You don't need to be jealous."

"I just told you, I don't get jealous!"

She had to stop herself from the smile threatening to show itself. Even bruised, scowling, and sulking, Meredith found she liked even this side of Derek Shepherd. Something about it was amusing.

"Derek," she began, leaning forward in her chair to pull his full attention. "You walked in on him naked with your wife. Actually in the throws and you turned around and walked away. And from what you told me, the same thing happened when you found out about their baby. But then you see him so much as talking to me and he's on the ground bleeding. Interesting, don't you think?"

"Are you gloating?" Thankfully, his voice was tinged with a hint of amusement.

"I'm just making some observations," she replied, raising her hands in defense. Although the slight smirk on her lips had yet to fade.

"You're actually enjoying this."

"Tell me I'm wrong," she challenged, leaning forward again. When Derek didn't respond, she grabbed the side of the conference table to pull her chair directly in front of Derek. "Der," she whispered, cocking her head in an attempt for eye contact. "You know you don't have anything to worry about, right?"

The tortured eyes that met hers broke her heart. Placing what she hoped was a comforting hand on his knee, she continued. "Look, I know it's only been a few weeks or whatever, but I am in this. Whatever this is or wherever this is going, I'm in it with you. I don't want there to be anyone else."

He didn't say anything but instead reached down with his good hand for the fingers she had resting on his knee.

"I don't know what came over me," he murmured after a few moments.

"Was it…Was it because it was Mark or just…? Cause you know you can't just punch every guy that talks to me, right?"

A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. "I know." He rubbed his thumb tenderly along his skin. "I just saw him and then when I noticed it was you he was talking to, I just…I saw red."

"Nothing was going to happen."

"I know that," he assured. "I rationally know that that is something you wouldn't do to me. But I wasn't being rational in that moment."

"Clearly," she quipped, earning a smile from Derek.

"Like you said, it's only been a few weeks, but I'm in this too. You already mean a lot to me, Meredith. I think that's why I reacted the way I did. I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize," she smiled. "You mean a lot to me, too."

Rising up slightly from her chair, she leaned over to tenderly kiss his lips. In the moment, Derek reached out to grasp her waist only to wince in pain.

"Mmmm," he grimaced into the kiss.

"Let me see your hand," Meredith requested, sitting back in her chair. She examined it for a minute, trailing her long fingers along his hurt knuckles. "You should be fine," she decided.

"Is that your professional opinion, Dr. Webber?" The sparkle in his eyes had returned and the grin he was sporting told her that they were going to be okay.

After reminding her that he was a very important neurosurgeon who was capable of taking care of some cuts and bruises, Derek finally conceded into being led into an empty exam room so Meredith could bandage him up.

"So," he began, watching Meredith gather the supplies she needed. "Should we talk about this?"

"This?"

"It seems to be what we're calling what's happening between us. I figured we should maybe define 'this'."

"You do?"

Derek flinched when she started cleaning out the cuts. "Mhm," he grunted.

"Well," She cleared her throat nervously. "When I was talking to Mark, or turning him down rather, I told him I had a boyfriend." She busied herself with reaching for the gauze she needed to wrap his hand. "I hadn't called you that before. Even in my head. But it seemed to…fit."

Derek smirked and allowed her to manipulate his hand as she wrapped the gauze around his palm. "So I'm your boyfriend?"

"Are you seriously mocking me right now? The person dressing your wounds?"

"I'm not mocking you." The teasing look in his eyes transformed into an almost loving one. It was enough to make her pause unexpectedly before looking away and reaching for the tape.

"Done," she announced, watching Derek flex his hand to test its mobility.

Noticing her embarrassed expression, he decided to remedy the situation. "Mer?" He grabbed for her arm to turn her to face him. When she still refused to look up, he tilted her chin until eye contact was made.

"Meredith…Do you want to be my girlfriend?"

The cocky grin on his face almost made her want to punch him.

"Are we in the 9th grade?"

"Now who's mocking? Answer the damn question," Derek chuckled, grin still in place.

Meredith stared at him, biting her lip to hide her amusement at making him wait for her answer.

"Meredith!"

"Fine! Yes! Yes, Derek, I will be your girlfriend. You happy?"

"Extremely."

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