"Thanks for picking us up from the hospital," Derek sighed as Beth helped Meredith up the stairs. The downfall of their beautiful apartment that neither of them had noticed until was the lack of an elevator. And Derek's one good arm wasn't enough to assist Meredith up the stairs on one good leg.

"It's what we're here for," Nathan said as he set Meredith's bag down on the ground in front of their apartment. He unlocked the door and opened it for Derek to walk in. He stepped into the apartment, frowning when he saw a bed in the corner of the living room.

"There's a bed in a living room," Derek stated as he turned to look at Nathan.

Nathan laughed as he stepped forward to stand beside him. "We figured Mer's leg wouldn't like the stairs all the time," he said. "I know she's off the crutches but she's still in physical therapy so it's still going to hurt a lot, so…we figured for now this would be best for you."

"Thanks," Derek said with a smile. "Mer, look…" he turned to his wife, frowning when he saw her standing in the doorway, her eyes wide as she stared into the apartment. "Oh, Mer."

"Derek," she whispered, shaking her head. "He was here. He was here, and he was able to get in and…what if someone else can get in?"

"That won't happen," Derek shook his head. "We'll get a better lock for the door. A code lock, if that's what it takes, so that way even if someone manages to get the keys we guard with our lives, then only we'll know the code and be able to get in."

"Oh," Meredith nodded. "Yeah, that works."

"Oh, Mer," Derek sighed, pulling her close into a one armed hug. "I know you're scared."

"I just…Derek, what if something happens?" she whispered, leaning her weight into him.

"Nothing will happen," Derek whispered. "He's gone, Mer."

"I know," she whispered. "I know that, but still…"

"Come on," Derek said softly. "I won't leave your side, if that's what it takes to feel safe."

Meredith giggled as she limped into the apartment with him. She took a deep shaky breath, her fingers tightening around his shirt.

"Just breath," Derek whispered. "And we don't even have to go up to the bedroom yet."

Meredith giggled as she looked at Beth and Nathan. "You guys are amazing," she sighed. "Really, I have no idea what we would have done without you these past couple days."

"It's what friends are for," Beth smiled. "I know you'd be doing the same thing for us."

Nathan smiled as well as he stepped back to Beth. "And let us know if you need anything at all."

"Thanks," Meredith whispered. She leaned into Derek's strong arm as Beth and Nathan stepped out of the apartment. She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes tightly, smiling when she felt Derek lean down to breathe in the scent of her hair. No matter what was happening in her life, she was always comforted by the thought that Derek could calm herself down by simply being close to her.

"You okay?" he whispered.

"Hmm," Meredith sighed. "Can we sit?"

"Sure," Derek nodded, allowing her to lean on him as they made their way to the new bed in the corner. She sank onto the mattress and ran a hand along her leg, her eyes wide and slightly frightened.

"I'm sorry I'm so skittish," Meredith whispered. "I'm going to try to be normal again."

"Oh, Mer," Derek whispered, sinking down onto the bed beside her. "Take as long as you need to get over this. It's not going to be easy."

"You're okay," she whispered.

"No, I'm not," Derek sighed. "I was shot. And my shoulder…it's going to take a long time for it to get better. And even worse than that, I never want to come that close to losing you again."

Tears filled Meredith's eyes as she reached for Derek's sling. She gently eased it off his shoulder, followed by his shirt, trying not to move his arm too much. "Does it hurt a lot?" she whispered.

"Not as much as at first," Derek whispered. "But it will hurt for a little while." He paused for a moment, smiling down at Meredith as she moved her fingers gently over the bandages, then moved her lips to gently trail around the outside of the wound. "That feels good," he murmured.

"Hmmm," Meredith sighed, shifting to push him onto his back. "You know, Derek," she whispered. "When you were high…you told your mother some very interesting things about our sex life. Things even I didn't know."

"I did not," Derek rolled his eyes.

"Hmmm…." Meredith nodded, sucking gently on his neck. "You did. You told me that I could be on top, because you like when I'm bossy. Which I already knew. But then…" she smiled seductively as she ground her hips against him. "You decided to go on for a good fifteen minutes about how much you'd like to be tied up."

"Oh," Derek gasped.

"But…" Meredith continued as she reached for his belt buckle. "I think that's going to have to wait until we're both a little more healed."

"Mer…" Derek groaned as she pulled his pants off. "Are you sure? Because pretty soon there won't be any turning back…"

"I'm sure," she purred, sliding her body along his clothed one. "My leg doesn't hurt right now."

"Oh…" Derek breathed, watching as she pulled her shirt over her head. "God, Mer…"

Meredith watched him as she carefully pulled off her clothes, trying to focus on Derek and having sex with her husband, and not think about how the last time they'd done this, someone had been watching them.

"Meredith…" Derek's voice pulled her out of her trance, and she turned to look at him. "It's okay if you're not ready," he whispered.

"No," Meredith shook her head. "I am, I want to, I just….I don't know."

"Hey," Derek frowned as he struggled to sit up, reaching for her. "Talk to me."

Tears filled Meredith's eyes as she pushed him back onto the bed, curling into his right side. "Last time we had sex he was watching us," she whispered. "And now…" she inhaled deeply as she traced the sensitive skin around the bandage covering Derek's shoulder. "Now you have a bullet wound. And I know it's not my fault. But those pictures…I can't get them out of my head, Derek. We have amazing sex, really amazing sex. And I love it. But it used to be something that only the two of us had ever shared. Well, except when we lived with Mark and Addie, but that's a completely different story. But it feels different now, like someone else knows about something that only we should be aware of. I know it sounds stupid, but those pictures won't go away. As much as I want them to, they're always there, just…plaguing me.

"Me too," Derek breathed into her ear.

"It doesn't seem like it," Meredith whispered.

"Maybe not," Derek agreed. "But you know me, Mer. I just let everything pent up until I can't take it anymore."

"And that's never been a good thing," Meredith said softly. "Maybe you should deal with it now and avoid the giant fights and motorcycle crashes."

Derek laughed slightly. "You're right," he said. "And I want you to take all the time in the world you need to do this. Don't think you'll disappoint me, or that I won't wait. I'll wait forever for you, Mer, and you know that. It's hard for me too."

"I do," she whispered. "Thank you."

"It's my job," Derek smiled. "Can you do one thing for me though?"

"Of course."

"When you're all better and ready to have sex again," Derek smirked. "Will you promise that we can act out some of those fantasies you now know about?"

Meredith giggled as she leaned forward to kiss him. "I had no idea I married such a dirty man," she purred. "You could have told me, you know. You should know by now that I'm up for anything."

Derek groaned as he stared down at his lap. "You're mean," he said. "You're just a mean person who turns people on and then refuses to have sex with them. Mean."

Meredith giggled as she slid into the button down Derek had been wearing. "Good thing your right hand still works," she said as she slid off the bed, slowly limping towards the kitchen.

"Where are you going?" Derek frowned.

"Making dinner," Meredith shrugged.

Derek rolled his eyes. "I know you're a little scared of this place, but that does not give you permission to burn the entire building down," he said.

"Haha," Meredith rolled her eyes. "You like my cooking. And you can't exactly cook with one good hand."

"You can cook pancakes," Derek agreed. "And I could. It would just take a lot longer."

"Whatever," Meredith said as she leaned over the island to meet his eyes across the room. "I'm making pancakes."

"It's three in the afternoon."

"So? It's breakfast for dinner or whatever," Meredith shrugged as she turned on the stove. "And we've been eating that crappy hospital food forever."

Derek laughed as he sat up, frowning as he looked down at his limp arm and his pants. "Mer?" he asked.

"Hmm?"

"How am I supposed to get dressed?"

"What are you talking…." She trailed off as she turned to look at him, suddenly understanding what he meant. "Oh. I guess…I have to help you."

Derek sighed as he raised his good hand up to his hair. "I'm sorry, Mer," he whispered. "I hate feeling so useless."

Meredith smirked as she made her way over to him. "Don't be sorry," she whispered as she reached for his pants. "I like taking care of you. And besides…bullet wounds can be very sexy."

Derek laughed as she pulled his pants up and buttoned them quickly, leaning forward to press a kiss to his lips. "How's your leg?" he asked.

"It hurts," Meredith admitted softly. "But I can put pressure on it now, which is good. Hopefully it will be better soon."

Derek nodded in agreement as he followed her into the kitchen. "Only you," he smiled as he saw the pancake batter sitting next to the frying pan.

"What?" Meredith asked, pouring the batter into the pan.

"Breakfast at three in the afternoon," Derek laughed, wrapping his arm around her from behind and pressing a kiss to the back of her head. "It's why I love you so much."

"Because I make breakfast at weird times during the day?" Meredith giggled, leaning back into his embrace.

"No," Derek rolled his eyes. "Because no matter how well I know you, you never stop surprising me. And I like that."

"Like it?" Meredith asked, turning to look at him with raised eyebrows.

"Love it," Derek quickly corrected himself. "I love it and I love you."

Meredith smiled as she kissed him quickly. "I love you too," she whispered.

"Alright, make me some pancakes," Derek laughed as he pulled away from her, moving to the fridge.

"You're an idiot," Meredith rolled her eyes.

"Why am I an idiot?" Derek asked as he poured a glass of orange juice and a glass of apple juice.

"Because you think I have to make you food just because I'm a woman," Meredith said.

"Meredith, I love you," Derek said as he handed her the apple juice. "But I would never in a million years ask you to cook for me. In fact, I would beg you not to before I did that."

"I'm not that bad," Meredith frowned as she pointed to the stove. "Look, pancakes."

"And what about the summer after sophomore year when you tried to make chocolate chip cookies and put half the bottle of salt in?" Derek asked.

"That…was a fluke."

"Or the time you tried to make lasagna and the fire department had to come to clear out the smoke?"

"Shut up."

"Oh, and my favorite," Derek laughed as he leaned against the counter. "The time the meat that was supposed to be meatballs just happened to end up on the ceiling."

"I hate you," Meredith frowned as she flipped some pancakes onto the stove. "You and your stupid arm can go make your own food."

"I'm kidding Mer," Derek laughed as he reached for the pancakes.

"No you're not."

Derek paused for a moment. "Okay, well, I'm not," he said. "But…I love you anyways."

Meredith rolled her eyes. "Go get the syrup."

"You're making me work?" Derek asked. "I was just shot."

"Don't play that card," Meredith rolled her eyes. "I was stabbed."

"We make quite the pair," Derek sighed.

"Yeah," Meredith whispered, turning back to the pancakes. "We really do." She focused on making the rest of the pancakes as she thought that maybe being back in the apartment wouldn't be as bad as she'd originally thought.