Chapter Twenty-Three: Day Four, Night

Meredith did not know why she had let herself get into this mess…

But she was glad that she had…

Because she was having fun.

"Full suit. Lose the top luv."

Meredith just grinned at him and shook her head.

"No, I am not going to play strip poker inside a hospital." She said laughing.

Viper regarded her with a half-smile, "Fine. You stay and keep me company for another hour."

Smiling in agreement, Meredith nodded, "Sure, ok."

Leaning across the small table, Meredith collected the whole deck of cards and began shuffling them again with a finesse that not many knew existed.

The hours had flown by between their numerous card games, but during that time Viper had still relentlessly flirted with her and Meredith had just easily brushed it off with a smile or a witty reply.

But Viper had also surprised her by answering every question her curiosity made up and also at his blunt honestly he used when answering her.

Truth be told, she found it very appealing because it reminded her of herself and that she used that same honesty with him whenever he asked her something.

He told her about where he came from and his origins, must to his boredom but Meredith had loved him talking about England and how different it was compared to America and Seattle.

As he spoke of his life, Meredith found herself watching his eyes as they dazzled with spark and life as he remembered being a child and how he found his thrill of racing.

Why couldn't have Derek have been so open with her about his own past…and his secrets?

It had only been when talking to Derek during those precious months with him that Meredith felt truly free to be completely herself and say whatever she wanted, but when her delicate bubble of security had been shattered in that second of seeing Addison and realising what was Derek's secret, Meredith felt she had lost that ability.

But here now, talking to Viper, was making her realise that she was not as broken as she was before.

She could talk freely again.

A secret smile crept upon her face as she continued shuffling, but Viper was sharp enough to see it.

"What are you smiling at luv?"

Meredith looked at him and she shrugged slightly, "I just realised something."

He looked at her with eager curiosity and moved himself forward slightly on the bed towards her.

"Oh really? Enlighten me." He said, his voice oozing thickly with sugarness and flirt.

"It's not about you." She said with a grin.

Raising an eyebrow at her, Viper sighed and leant himself back against his pillows and just eyed her.

"The sooner luv you realise you are madly in love wiv' me, the sooner you can move on after your 'Hair Product' doctor."

Meredith laughed again and began dealing the cards, totally dismissing his comment as she asked, "Snap or Go-Fish?"

Grumbling slightly, Viper replied, "Go-Fish, as long as I win you will give me another kiss 'cause its only fair you owe me one after I smooched you last time."

His comment shocked her but Viper just laughed warmly.

"Relax luv, I wouldn't understand why you wouldn't wanna kiss me anyway because I am the man of your dreams."

Meredith just raised an eyebrow at him, "Oh yeah? How can you be so sure?"

He smiled and said simply, "You'r' still here aren't ya?"

Laughing again Meredith began to deal the cards.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you Viper but the man of my dreams is already married and I didn't even realise until she turned up here a few months ago."

Viper whistled low, "Ouch."

Meredith just shrugged her shoulders, "And it gets worse, I asked, no, begged him to pick me over her because I love him and he still picks her over me anyway."

Shaking his head in disappointment Viper grumbled, "What a pillock."

The word threw her off as she suddenly looked at him with a bemused expression and asked in confusion, "A what?"

Viper winked at her and grinned, "A stupid person luv."

Meredith snorted quietly as she agreed whole-heartedly at how stupid Derek was and at just how much pain he had caused her.

"Yeah he is." She agreed and smiled when she finished dealing the cards.

Instantly they both picked up their own individual small pile of cards that they had, but when Viper suddenly put down all pairs Meredith's mouth dropped open.

He just shrugged innocently, "I'm just lucky."

It took Meredith five minutes to figure out that he had cheated.

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Eventually Viper went to sleep and it allowed Meredith to go and fill out the paperwork for his file.

Much to her surprise when she went into an empty office and sat down, before she could begin writing, that she was interrupted when Derek stormed in and abruptly shut the door loudly.

Jumping in her seat at the sound, she looked up from her desk and her eyes widened in surprise when she saw him. Opening her mouth to talk she instantly shut it when she saw how Derek was looking at her.

He looked infuriated.

Meredith gulped slightly but she quickly realised that he had no right to be mad at her because she had done nothing wrong…

Well…not that I can think of anyway…

"Evening Dr Shepherd?" She said in a confused tone, unsure as to why he could be so mad at her.

Seeing her looking at him with that adorably cute expression of confusion, Derek felt his anger towards melt just a little bit but the memory of seeing Meredith walk out of Viper's room only a few minutes ago made the volcano in his stomach boil again.

"Dr Grey, am I to believe that you only just left Mr Viper's room just now?" he demanded.

Immediately she raised her eyebrows at him and blinked a few times in stunned silence.

As she stared at him, the atmosphere in the room shifted and began to fill with powerful tension.

She frowned at him slightly and replied, "Yes I did. He had finally fallen asleep as a matter of fact."

Derek looked at her in brief shock but he quickly masked it with a blank expression. "Did you finally tire him out?"

Now anger began to creep through Meredith. She looked at him accusingly and stood up and placed both hands on the desk and uttered, "And what the hell do you mean by that Derek?"

Derek stared hard at her and hurt spread through him at the thought of Meredith kissing Viper. Why the hell couldn't she just be honest with him?!

"Dr Grey, if you going to make out or cross the line with patients then…"

SMACK!

Her hand had moved on its own accord, but it was the sharp sting in her right hand that caused the reality of what she had done to immediately hit home.

She blinked and the world came back into focus and she saw Derek staring at her in hurt shock, his hand to his left cheek, and tears beginning to rise in his eyes.

Wordlessly Meredith took a step back from the desk and towards the wall.

"Oh my god, Derek…" she started, mortified and in shock at her own actions.

But he walked towards her, rubbing his cheek slowly and staring at her with a powerful expression that had her rooted to the spot.

He stopped right in front of her and Meredith felt her heart speed up as he gazed her with a hurt yet emotional expression.

"I seemed to have underestimated your tiny and ineffectual fists Meredith." He said quietly, removing his hand off his cheek and placing his arm back at his side.

Meredith could not help but moan quietly when she saw in the light the red handprint on his face and, before she could do anything to stop herself; she gently reached up and placed a hand on the side of his face.

"I didn't…" she whispered but Derek stopped her from saying another word when he placed his hand on top of hers and leant into her hand.

Looking up into his face, she saw he had shut his eyes and his expression looked like one that came close to emotional agony.

Tears began to suddenly rise in her eyes and Meredith suddenly felt his spare hand come to rest on her left cheek. Shutting her eyes, Meredith gave a small sniff and leant into his hand. Bowing her head slightly, she brought up her free hand and lay it on top of his hand on her cheek.

His hands were warm and the feel of them against her face and on top of her hands once more was making Meredith's body begin to melt.

Despite everything that had happened, despite the angst and emotional turmoil that they had suffered since Addison had walked into Seattle and Derek had chosen her, the broken pair had a moment of peace.

It was Meredith who broke it when the sadness, hurt and pain from knowing she would never have Derek and that she was going to leave seeing him forever in eight days finally hit home and tears finally began to fall.

She opened her eyes and saw through her blurred vision that Derek was staring at her with an expression that mirrored her own.

"Why?" he asked finally, his voice so quiet and questioning that Meredith felt her tears instantly dry up and clarity came back to her.

Why was she transferring? She was not going to answer to him about that, never.

"I am sorry for slapping you." She replied suddenly, breaking the moment and taking a step back from him.

Instantly he took a step towards her again, hands slowly reaching out to carefully grasp her arms.

But Meredith could not allow him to touch her.

"I am sorry Dr Shepherd." She said, quickly darting around him, grabbing her paperwork and exiting out of the door before he could move towards her again.

Derek turned around and watched through the open door Meredith run down the corridor and disappear behind a corner.

Sighing deeply he felt the tear slip out of his left eye and trail down his face and over his stinging cheek.

A/N: ANGST ANGST ANGST! I had to have angst in this chapter. More than 700 hits and only six reviews? scratches ll. Well thank you to the lovely six people who reviewed. :D This chapter is for you guys! :D Please review. :D

MerDer88: Lol, well I have finally updated for you. :) I feel the need to cover everyone else because it is only fair and I want it to be a more rounded story than just Meredith and Derek. Although it would be much more simpler sometimes if that way. LOL! Well thanks for the review and for kicking me back into gear with it. :D

TVHollywoodDiva: Thanks! :D And also thanks for the review and it's great to know you are still reading it. :D

sweetgreuy: I love Bailey and how she always gets Derek to feel guilty. :D Derek's stupidity in season four finally hit our shores where I live and my family was shocked and we have boycotted against liking him. But there will be others to knock him into gear. :D Thanks for the review! I appreciate it very much! :D

jlamb13: Thanks. :D I hope you will like what I have done and I hope that you'll continue reading it too. :D Thank you for the review! :D

InGreyEyes: Viper rocks hard! :D I LOVE all of the scenes with Bailey and Derek, but writing them I so much fun! :D I am happy to have made you smile and Viper making Meredith laugh was all thanks to my sister who suggested it when she read my latest chapter when I was still writing it. Bailey being a straight talker is what helps make her be the Bailey we love so much! :D Thank you so much for the review! :D

snv3: I miss Viper too. They could have easily brought him back for another episode! Ah well… Hope you like the latest update and thank you so much for the review! :D