Here we go...things are going to be blown open in this chapter - it's kind of a rollercoaster ride. I will warn you, Jack's reaction is not good, and there is a violent scene coming up. But I have toned it down from what I originally planned, since I know we all love Meredith and don't want anything to happen to her! Keep in mind, things will only get better after this. Let me know what you think!

Chapter Ten - Leaving

The party was in full swing at Jack's Malibu home, in celebration of his business success, and the impending wedding. That's what he was telling his friends, and the Hollywood luminaries that crowded into his house, all of them intent on having a good time. Jack kept his arm around Meredith possessively, as they greeted the incoming guests, until she felt her cheeks would crack from the smile she kept plastered on her face. It seemed the guests would never stop arriving – from Will and Jada, to Sheryl Crow and Jennifer Aniston, it was a star studded event.

It was another warm California evening, and she was wearing a white satin sheath, with delicate spaghetti straps fastened with diamond buckles. Her feet were in dangerous three-inch stiletto Manolo Blahnik sandals; her long hair swept into a deceptively simple updo that emphasized her features. As the last guest arrived, she extricated herself from Jack's grasp with a little smile. "Let me check on the caterer's, okay? I know how you like things to be perfect…"

"Check the wait staff too, honey. You know how they like to steal the best stuff."

"Of course…" Meredith murmured, heading towards the kitchen, as he disappeared into the crowd, shaking hands and exchanging air kisses with the women. She snagged a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, downing it in a gulp, and handing it off to another waiter collecting glassware. It was going to be a long evening at this rate, and she twisted her engagement ring unconsciously. By the time the night was over, she would be free. She shouldn't have agreed to be here, but she needed to have him think she still cared, until the end of the evening.

The kitchen was a scene of controlled mayhem, filled wall to wall with catering staff and waiters. One of them pushed by her with a steaming dish, and she moved out of the way quickly to let him by. "Oh…there you are, Miss Grey," Olaf, the head caterer said thankfully. "The bartender needs more wine, would you be a love and open the wine cellar?"

"No problem," Meredith assured him, grabbing the key from the cabinet and heading towards the wrought-iron gate that was partially hidden from view at the back of the kitchen. Jack had it specially installed when he bought the house, with climate control features, and a special wine tasting area. The vaults were lined with oak, the shelves filled with only the best California and French wines. Humming softly to herself, Meredith opened the gate and stepped down the few steps into the cool, calm air, which was redolent with the scent of oak. As she reached for the light switch, she felt a warm, solid presence behind her, and she half turned. "I can help you find the wine…" she started to say, expecting to find the caterer there, when a hand covered hers and prevented her from turning the lights on. "Oh…"

She found herself against a hard male chest, and she gave a little gasp of surprise. "Shh…" the warm voice was low and intimate in the semi-darkness of the cellar. Her breath caught, and her palms slid over his shoulders, smoothing crisp linen, as his mouth skimmed against her temple. His hands came to rest on her hips as she swayed a little in her high heels. The scent of oak and wine filled her senses, along with something else…the scent of male flesh, warm and spicy, like ginger. She lifted her face slightly, meeting his lips, finding softness and heat, the tang of champagne on her lips melting into the intimate taste of him.

One of his hands travelled up along her spine, coaxing a slight shiver from her as his warm hand made contact with the bare skin exposed by the low cut of the dress. Then his hand was at the nape of her neck, tilting her head back further, his touch sure and knowing. His mouth grazed hers again, teasing her with the promise of more. She felt a wash of heat, as he parted her lips gently, his tongue sliding against her, more deeply with each passing second.

Meredith felt the heat spiraling through her, as the kisses continued, slow and searching. Her hands slid along the shirt, feeling the lean muscle flex as he moved against her. Part of her felt like this was total insanity, and yet she was unable to stop. They moved backwards, somehow, finally bumping into the wine tasting table, the cool marble edge digging into her flesh. Then she was lifted up onto it, as he took her mouth longer, deeper, as she wound her fingers into his hair. Thick, lustrous hair, and her mind registered it was Derek kissing her with such unrestrained abandon.

"Derek…" she moaned softly against his mouth, consumed with languorous passion. He continued to kiss her throat, his lips finding the pounding pulse, without saying a word. "Derek…"

He caught her wrist then, and kissed the palm of her hand, and dragged his mouth across her fingers. "Meredith…" His voice was low and deep with desire as his eyes met hers in the darkness. She could feel the ragged breathing as he fought for control; her own chest felt like it was going to explode.

"This is insane…I don't…we shouldn't be here like this…" she whispered, as he cradled her against his chest.

"No…?"

She shook her head, unable to move, feeling strangely comforted by the feel of his arms around her, the soothing touch of his hand along her back. "No…" Part of her brain was still functioning rationally, urging her to pull away from Derek, that if Jack discovered them like this, it would be hell. The sounds of the kitchen seemed distant, a faint hum in the background, as she tried to pull her thoughts together. One of Derek's hands cupped her face, his thumb gliding along her bottom lip. "We should get out of here…" she managed to say.

"I know…"

Neither of them moved.

Then both of his hands were on her face with a tenderness that made her throat tight. His mouth sought hers again, like hot silk and sweetness, but beneath the gentleness was a raw passion that made them both want more. A small whimper escaped her, as their tongues met and danced, and the insistent flex of his hips against her made it evident how much he wanted her. And she wanted him, at a level that surprised her. It had been too long since she felt so alive and desirable, like an equal partner in passion, rather than a passive shell. The kiss the other night had only been a prelude to this heat that sparked between them.

His mouth moved to her ear, and his moist breath fanned her skin. "God, I'm so sorry, honey. I saw you coming in here, and I couldn't stop myself. I've been in hell since I kissed you…wanting more…"

"Derek…I can't do this now …" Meredith protested, trying to put some distance between them. "It's crazy…"

"Morgan is out of my life, I should have told you that before," Derek said quietly, pressing little kisses along her temple, her cheek, and the edge of her mouth. The mouth he wanted to taste again, and he slanted his lips against her insistently.

"It's still all wrong…" Meredith murmured, shaken by her emotional response to him. "Not until I'm free of Jack…"

"I know…I know…" Derek sighed, raking a hand through his hair, after letting her back away.

Meredith shoved off the table then, landing on shaky legs, and he grabbed her to steady her. "Please be patient, Derek…"

"I don't like it, it's dangerous," he muttered, as she pulled away from him further. "What do you want me to do?"

"Nothing…just be my friend for now…" Meredith whispered sadly. Her whole body ached for him, more than she imagined, and she gave him a sad little smile. Derek groaned, and pulled her closer again for one last kiss. A kiss that seemed endless and sweet and hot, until a sob caught in her throat and she tore away from him, her heels tapping away in the darkness, leaving him alone.

Meredith escaped into the kitchen, and bumped headlong into Alex. "Meredith! You look like you've been making out," Alex commented, spearing a few shrimp from a platter. "Your makeup is all mussed. Was Jack getting amorous?" His eyebrows waggled suggestively.

"No…" Meredith dragged Alex away from the counter, and towards the back stairs leading up to the bedrooms. "Help me fix this."

"What's going on, Mer? And why are you hiding?"

They scooted into the bathroom where Meredith had her makeup, the air still damp from her earlier shower. "Spill, girl," Alex commanded, watching Meredith peer into the mirror. "If you weren't with Jack, who was kissing you in the wine cellar? And does this mean you're not marrying the asshole? Please say yes…"

"I don't know…"

"You don't know who you were kissing? Just when I think you're boring, you rise," Alex laughed.

"I know who I was kissing…it was Derek," Meredith sighed, still feeling how good it had been to be in his arms.

"Derek…as in Derek Shepherd? I had no idea you had gone from touching to kissing…"

Meredith could only nod, dabbing at her eyeliner with a tissue, before looking for her lipstick.

"Was he good? He looks like he would be good…"

"Alex! Focus!"

"Sorry, lost my train of thought for a moment. Just dump Jack - give him that stupid rock back, and tell him to shove it up his…"

Meredith glared at her friend. "I am, later tonight - I can't just walk up to Jack and announce we're done, not with all his friends, and all the guests watching."

"Hmph…be good for his inflated ego, if you ask me," Alex snorted, coming to help Meredith fix her hair. "The sooner you're free, you can be with Derek, and get back to being the Meredith you used to be."

"What are you talking about?" Meredith asked. "Tell me, Alex…"

Alex met her eyes in the mirror. "Fine – he's been taking advantage of your goodness. I can see what he does to you, and how you try to make like it's your entire fault. It's not your fault, Mer. He's been using you…and you think he's going to take rejection calmly?"

A silent tear slid down Meredith's cheek. "He said he loved me, but he was cheating on me, for god knows how long…"

"That no good bastard…" Alex swore, giving her a hug. "You need the other brother, sweet cakes, the one who looks like a smoldering sex god."

Meredith giggled despite herself. "It'll be over soon enough. I want my life back."

"Good, just don't do it alone. Jack gives me shivers, and not in a good way, if you know what I mean."

"Don't worry…"

The party finally began winding down, and Alex managed to get a moment with Meredith again. "Look, I don't want to leave you alone with Jack, but Eric just called. He wasn't feeling great, and now he's convinced he's got that flu that's going around. He wants chicken noodle soup, of all things…"

"Go, I'm fine." Meredith squeezed his arm.

"Well so long as Derek is still here," Alex said, casting a worried eye around the room.

"Don't worry – I'll call you tomorrow."

"Okay, babe." Alex headed for the door, and Meredith sighed. It had been a long evening and she knew Jack had been simmering with tightly controlled anger after her reappearance from her unexpected rendezvous. Her thoughts had been completely scattered, party on Derek's kisses and partly on just how to tell Jack they were done. Every time she passed the bar, she could feel Derek's warm gaze on her, and while it made her feel better, she tried not to give anything away in her expression.

Now, as Jack was busy with the last guests, she edged closer to where Derek was cleaning up the bottles and glassware. "Derek…you have to leave, just as if there's nothing going on."

Derek frowned. "No…I can't…"

"You can. I'll be fine."

"I don't like this plan, Meredith," he said quietly, keeping an eye on Jack's broad back.

"Please do this for me. I promise to call you as soon as I'm at home." Meredith's wide eyes beseeched him again to listen and he nodded shortly.

"Fine." He made a quick brush along her fingers with his, before pulling back. She gave him a small smile, then hurried away. His gut tightened in worry. This couldn't be over soon enough to suit him.

Meredith sat out in the dark on the deck, listening to the waves crash on the shore. She clenched her purse in her hands, intending to leave as soon as they finished talking. Then she heard the scrape of the door opening, and a ripple of apprehension feathered her spine. Jack's voice was cold when he spoke. "Well, Meredith...I hope you're happy with yourself. You made a fool out of me tonight." Cold and just a little slurred - a lethal combination.

"What do you mean?" she asked quietly, not turning around, her heart thudding in her chest.

Then he was behind her, his hand heavy on her shoulder. "You made it very obvious you couldn't stand to be beside me. You little bitch..."

Meredith sucked her breath in. "I'm sorry, Jack...I just..."

"Just what?" His breath at her ear was hot and smelled sour from alcohol, as he gripped her shoulder tighter.

"We need to talk..."

"Oh, I love it when women want to TALK..." he sneered, forcing her around to face him. "Get your feelings out in the open, is that it? Tell me your problems?"

Meredith could barely look at him. His face was twisted into an angry mask, and he looked far removed from the usual urbane man he presented to the world. Far removed from the man she thought she was in love with. She twisted away, but his hand clamped on her upper arm more fiercely. Sharp fear made her stomach lurch, as she searched for something to calm him down. "Jack...please...don't be like this..."

"Like what? I'm your fiancée, Meredith, you should be more considerate of me, darling. You belong to me."

"I don't belong to anyone!" Meredith shouted, trying to back away. "We're through, Jack, it's over...I know you've been cheating on me. Don't try to deny it."

"Oh, that's what this is about." Jack shrugged negligently. "What's a little fuck on the side?" Jack forced her closer, and she whimpered softly, hating herself for being so weak. "Now I think you need to make it up to me for being so bitchy tonight. Get on your knees..." He shoved her roughly to the ground, his hand twisting savagely in her hair, yanking the pins out of it.

"No..." Meredith edged backwards, but he pulled her hand again, his free hand fumbling at the zipper on his pants. "Please don't make me..."

"You can…."

"Go to hell," she spit out, scrambling to her feet. Before she could get away, he grabbed her dress, splitting the delicate fabric in one rip. The diamond buckle popped off one side, and the dress slithered down her body, leaving her half undressed in the damp night air. Though her heart was pounding, Meredith faced him defiantly. "You bastard...go ahead then...hit me..."

The words were barely out of her mouth, and Jack backhanded her hard, sending her reeling. Tears came to her eyes, as she put her hand to her mouth, tasting blood. He hit her again, until she was dizzy and disoriented. Before she could get her bearings, Jack had her spun around and pinned against the railing around the deck. The rough cedar planking bit into her skin, and she could hear him breathing heavily at her neck. "Mine, Meredith... you are all mine..."

"Don't touch me..." Meredith hissed, shoving her elbow into his ribs, and twisting around, desperate to get away from him. Without thinking, she swiftly raised her knee and made contact with his crotch, so that he let her go and doubled over in pain. She backed away carefully, grabbing her purse and heading off the deck before he could move. Her heart was pounding like a mad drum in her chest, as she hurried along the lawn, and towards the garage where her car was parked. It took her two tries to unlock the door, and she knew she was running on pure adrenaline. Her hands shook as she started the engine, and pushed the remote to open the garage door. Thankfully, Jack was nowhere in sight as she roared down the driveway, and out the gate that seemed to take forever to open as well. With a strangled laugh, she opened her car window and flung the remote outside, along with her engagement ring. It gave her a small sense of satisfaction to hear it hit the pavement.

It wasn't until she was in her own driveway that she broke down, sobbing, over her steering wheel. She always knew that Jack could be rough, and demanding, but never in her wildest dreams did she believe he was capable of hurting her that badly. She reached blindly for her purse and snagged her cell phone to call Derek…

Derek sighed and ran his hand over his already messed hair, as he walked into his house after the party. He was tired, and felt an odd sense of depression, not being able to do anything to help Meredith. Not to mention, his feelings for here were in a complete knot. When she had left him in the wine cellar, he wanted to run after her, but what could he say? That he thought he was falling in love with her? That she was constantly in his dreams? It was bad enough that he had given in and kissed her again. His body tightened again, remembering how good she felt in his arms, how she seemed to fit perfectly against his body, and how soft her lips were. He imagined he could still smell that light fragrance of her, clinging to his shirt. Lavender...that was her scent, pure and sweet, not like the cloying perfumes that Morgan used to use.

He grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat on the couch, staring at the blank TV screen. Seeing Meredith with Jack all evening had been pure torture, watching how possessive his brother was with her, his hands on her. Just be my friend, Derek. Her words to him were stuck in his mind. If that was what she needed, he would damn well be there for her no matter what. He glanced at the phone, willing it to ring, but it was stubbornly silent.

With another sigh, he finished the beer and headed towards the bathroom. Maybe a quick shower would help, so long as he didn't have any more mental images of Meredith there with him. His libido jumped into action, and he shook his head. Make that a very cold shower instead...

He had the water running, and he was beginning to strip his clothes off - his shirt hit the floor, and he kicked his pants off, when he heard the phone begin to ring in his bedroom. He bolted over to answer it, just as the machine picked up.

"Derek? God...are you there?"

"Meredith...I'm here..."

"Oh...thank god..." she whispered, and he could hear the tears in her voice.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt?" he asked quickly.

"I'm....not sure..." A sob caught in her throat, and he clutched the phone tightly, as if it would help to calm her down.

"Are you at home? Do you need me to come over?"

"Yes..."

"Okay, honey, stay calm. I'm only a few minutes away, okay?" Derek hurried into the bathroom as he talked to her, snatching his clothes back up and tucking the phone under his ear. "Hang in there....I'm coming..."

"I'm sorry..."

"What are you sorry for, Meredith?" he asked softly, struggling to get his shirt on without dropping the phone.

"For being silly, and not listening to you or Alex…and it's late…and…"

"Hey, don't cry…" he soothed her. "Be right there, kay?"

"Just hurry...."