So, what can I say about this chapter? It brings Meredith to the point of realizing she has to end things with Jack, and it brings Mer & Der together for a brief,sweet interlude. This is kind of a filler chapter, but it leads the way to the next one, which I promise will be time when the simmering emotions will all reach the boiling point. In some good ways, and in some bad...but I'm getting ahead of myself....

And again, I appreciate your patience and your thoughts on where this is going so far!

Chapter Nine

Meredith paused at the entrance of the lounge, scanning the crowd. Moonglow was busy as usual, but she didn't see Jack anywhere in the crush of people around the bar. Must be another kitchen crisis, she mused, slipping through the pre-dinner crowd. She waved at a couple women who were her clients, noticed Demi and Ashton cuddling by the fireplace, and several other famous faces as well. Jack should be happy – the in crowd was here.

Then Derek spotted her and smiled, waving towards an empty spot that was miraculously available. He had a glass of her favorite chardonnay in front of her quickly, giving her a wink as she sat down. "Hey, how are you?"

"Good. Tired – long day." She had been out of the salon all day for a photo shoot for InStyle magazine, doing the makeup for Kate Winslet's cover. "Have you seen Jack?"

"He's…in the kitchen, I think," Derek hedged, realizing Zara wasn't at her post either. "I'm sure he'll be right here. You okay?"

"Just a headache. I really feel like going home." She frowned, playing with the bangles on her slim wrist. Her hair was down tonight, framing her face, brushing her shoulders.

Despite the busy crowd, Derek took her hand in his. She did look tired, with mauve smudges below her eyes. "You work too hard, Meredith. If you want, I'll tell Jack you had to leave…"

Meredith brushed her hair back with her other hand, tucking it behind her ear. "I'll tell him." She sipped her wine briefly. "You're busy here, and I don't want you to get in trouble for leaving. I'll find him."

"Mer…"

But she was already slipping some money out of her purse for the drink, and pushing to her feet. "Derek, I appreciate you're trying to help, but I can handle Jack."

"You keep saying that…and then I see more bruises on you." He winced at the sight of what he could see, only hoping there weren't other marks hidden beneath the sleeveless black dress she wore.

Meredith held her hand up to stop him. "Not yet, Derek." She held his steady gaze, as if no one else was around them. Realizing the deep emotions that he was able to portray in just one look, she felt an unbidden surge of desire. What was she doing, continuing a charade with someone else when all she could think of was Derek? Even the weekend in Vegas, while Jack gambled at the tables, she lazed by the pool, envisioning Derek's soulful eyes and his tempting mouth. The fact that Jack lost heavily and was in a foul mood hadn't helped either.

But for now, she smiled briefly at him, and turned away. Making her way towards the kitchen, sure to hear Jack's distinctive voice cutting through the din. He ran a disciplined business, if nothing else. But she couldn't hear him, only the clatter of dishes and the patter of the cooks.

His office door was closed, and she hesitated for a moment before trying the handle. Odd, it was locked, and she knocked softly. There was a sound of footsteps, and muffled voices, and finally, Jack opened the door. "Meredith, darling…give me a moment…" He looked a little agitated, his eyes darting back over his shoulder before returning to her.

Meredith frowned. "Look, I'm not up to dinner. I feel like hell."

Jack relaxed visibly. "Of course, I understand. Do you need me to drive you home?"

She shook her head. "No." Her nose wrinkled, picking up a scent that wasn't his aftershave. She tried to peer around him, but Jack shifted his body, blocking the view. "Are you alone?"

"Just an employee situation, darling. Nothing to concern yourself with." He smiled easily, smoothing his hair back. "I'll call you later. Take some aspirin and get some rest." Kissing her cheek, before moving away, and Meredith was certain she caught a whiff of cheap perfume.

"Which employee are you counseling, Jack?"

"Just one of the girls. You know, they have so many problems." He shrugged, as if it were no big deal.

"I see, well then, don't let me keep you." She smiled as sweetly as she could, realizing suddenly that he was missing his tie. "And don't worry about calling me later. I'll have the phone turned off."

Holding her head high, she turned and walked away as fast as her Manolos would allow. He had a woman in there, that was certain, and it wasn't for counseling. Jack didn't give a shit about employee problems. He was cheating on her, and somehow it didn't hurt the way she thought.

At the end of his shift, Derek drove home, wondering how Meredith was. He had tried to catch her before she left the restaurant, but just missed her. Her car sped away from the parking lot in a rush, and he wondered if she'd seen something with Jack. He'd watched his brother emerge shortly after, looking smug and satisfied, as Zara hurried away to her post by the front doors. He couldn't understand it – how could Jack do something so callous? To have someone like Meredith and find someone else to fuck on the side was totally foreign to Derek.

He reached Venice Beach, and toured slowly down Meredith's street. The Corvette purred along the quiet street, and he noticed a light still on in her house. Without conscious thought, he eased to a stop along the curb. He just needed to know if she was all right, and he stepped out of the car before he changed his mind.

On the little wraparound veranda, he paused, and then rang the doorbell. A moment later, Meredith peeked out, a small smile on her lips at seeing him. She opened the door, wearing a short terrycloth robe, tied loosely over a bikini, and her hair was wet and slicked back. "Derek…what's wrong?"

"It's late, I know…" he admitted. "Just passing by."

"I was just out in the pool…obviously," she smiled, waving her hand at her robe.

"I can go…really, I'm intruding."

"No, come in. I just needed to do something. My headache went away, but I needed some air. Been thinking about things..." She took a deep breath as he joined her inside, and she led the way to the pool, waving her hand towards the deck chair. "Do you want a drink?"

"No, thanks," he murmured, realizing alcohol would not be a wise idea at this point. Moonlight glinted on the little pool, the water rippling dark. Meredith picked up her half empty wineglass, and finished it quickly.

"Are you okay…I mean…with Jack? I tried to catch you before you left..."

She dropped the robe, revealing the skimpy white bikini to his hungry gaze. Beads of water still clung to her smooth skin, and he groaned silently, tormented by the desire that jumped in his veins. "Am I okay? I'm not really sure, Derek. I think I'm just messed up…" Meredith's voice was a little sad, and she truly wondered how she had let herself get so conflicted.

Derek jumped to his feet, crossing the short distance to her. She leaned towards him, her eyes half-closed. "You're not messed up. Jack is the one with the problem." Her face lifted up to him, and she sighed a little.

"Are you going to kiss me…?"

Without a word, Derek took her face between his palms. More than anything, he wanted to do just that. Her lips parted, and he leaned even closer, unable to stop. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice a little rough. This wasn't the right time; she was obviously upset, a little drunk. He couldn't take advantage of that.

Meredith trembled. Just one kiss, she thought, just to know if he was as good as she dreamed. Enough to put it out of her system. "Please…" She pressed closer, the wet skin and damp bikini against his body sending electric shocks along his nerves.

With a suppressed groan, Derek pressed his mouth over hers, sending the electricity arcing into overdrive. Her lips parted, welcoming his tongue, kissing him with a sweet urgency. She felt almost dizzy, her blood pounding, her body aching in delight. Her hands slid along his back, willing him closer, melting against him. It felt so right, and more than she expected. But she finally moaned and pulled away. Her breathing ragged, she turned and dove into the pool, trying to escape the raging heat between them.

Derek dropped into the chair again, watching her churn through the water. When she finally surfaced, water gleaming along every part of her skin, she regarded him quietly from the edge of the pool. "He's cheating on me." Her voice was devoid of any emotion. "How could I be so blind?"

"Sometimes you just want to believe. I'm so sorry, Meredith." He handed her the towel as she eased out of the water. Again, the light played along her body, and he fought to keep from pulling her into his arms.

She leaned forward, water spattering him, little droplets chasing down her body. She kissed him softly, needing that contact again. "It was a mistake to keep going with him, when I knew it was a bad situation. I let him take advantage of me, too many times. I have to end it with him, before there can be anything between us…if there is anything…" she finished, a little breathless.

"I understand, honey. And you know there is something…" he added, touching her cheek, tracing her lip with his thumb.

Meredith stood up, wrapping the towel around her firmly. "He's having that big party tomorrow. I'll tell him when it's over that we're through."

"You shouldn't be alone with him. He's bben looking for someone else to help at the bar – I'll be there too." Derek had planned on working the party anyway, regardless of this new situation.

"I won't let you fight my battle, Derek. Despite everything, he's still your brother, and I don't want to come between you."

"Meredith, believe me…he's not going to care about me. He never has – it's always been Jack first, everyone else second."

"Let me do this my way, please, Derek. If I don't stand up to him, he's not going to get the idea it's really over."

Derek shook his head at her statement, as they walked slowly towards the house. Once inside, there was a little blur of moment, and Derek felt something bunting his leg. "What the…?" He looked down at the little cat winding around his ankles, rubbing along his jeans.

"Stormy…" Meredith chided, picking up the little bundle of fur. "He likes you. Jack always got the cold shoulder." They walked to the front door in silence, and he gave her another lingering kiss on the lips before he left, letting her try to figure out what she was going to do. Meredith watched the taillights of his car fade away into the darkness, as she cradled Stormy against her chest. "Yeah, I like him too, sweetie..."she whispered, as the purring intensified. "We'll get through this and it will all be over tomorrow..."