Chapter 30: Work it Out

Meredith pondered for a minute, staying wrapped up in Derek… feeling the safest she had ever felt in his arms. She wished she could walk away, but this felt like nothing before, "honestly, I have no idea."

"We need plans… some ground rules or something. We go on... we will be on det for the next month. We will see each other, but not able to show any… anything." Derek closed his eyes, thinking about having to see her every day for a month and not able to touch her.

Meredith started, realizing the depth of this situation, "What happened today, in the hallway with your dad cannot happen. We got lucky he nor Bailey suspected anything; you were way out of line."

Derek had no idea what to say. He had to tell her, "Meredith, I am not so sure dad didn't suspect."

"WHAT? William Shepherd." Meredith quickly sat up off of Derek and flipped her head around her, "No, Derek, tell me no."

Derek wanted to, but he also had to reassure her, "I wish I could tell you no, but I can't. I can tell you; he knows I can take care of things. He did tell me that. He didn't try to talk me out of anything. He knows me… I will do what I do."

Meredith knew William well. She thought about it for a second. "Did he directly come out and tell you anything?"

"No, he warned me, as I would do to someone in my situation. I think he talked to mark though." Derek knew if someone was doing this and he knew, he would have thought they were a fool. Now… he completely understands.

"Your dad is a good man."

"He is the best man. The reason I enlisted and the reason I strive to be the best." Derek smiled, thinking about the man he hoped to one day become, not thinking it was possible he could be that man already.

"He won't say anything. I know him; he would call me first and talk to me before he did anything." Meredith knew the way William operated. He believed in facing things head on and not hiding behind them.

Derek let out a laugh, "He would. He is funny about that. He would force us to come clean ourselves. That is him, a very respectable quality."

"Very much so. He has many respectable qualities, much like his son."

"I didn't respect you today." Derek said looking out to the ocean as Meredith had positioned herself one leg tucked into her body flush on the ground and the other leg straight out beside her sitting at a 45-degree angle between Derek and the ocean.

"You didn't. That is something that can't happen. One thing we have not been successful at is being professional at work. Derek. I am over your division. I have to make sure everything is running smoothly especially with the condition it was in when you got here. You have to allow me to do my job and until I can trust you…" Meredith saw Derek's head snap towards her.

"You can trust me." He said quickly.

Meredith did not want to say this… but she had to, "Derek, I haven't worked with you that long. Yes, you are one of the best I have ever worked with which is why I am sure you will make Chief this time up. However, can you tell me you don't check behind your guys all the time? You are the best Derek, you make sure your guys do what they are supposed to until you know, 100% with a doubt they will do the job right. I would be willing to bet you haven't found one person yet that you can't say that for."

"That is true. I need you to trust me though. At work, you will always be over me. Even if or when I make Chief, though you won't be my department head, you will still be higher ranking and that will never change." Derek moved in closer to her, letting his hand start at her ankle and move slowly up her jean covered leg. He leaned over to whisper in her ear, "Trust me."

"I will… try." Meredith breathed out, filling his hand move slowly up her leg, to her abdomen.

"Good. Now that is settled. Not being able to… do this for a month will be hell." Derek continued to whisper into her ear, letting his breathe be the only thing she could feel on them, his hand still traveling up her body, skipping over all of the obvious spots.

"Work… professional. That is the rule." Meredith breathed out.

"We have to. There is too much at stake." Derek continued to move his hand which had made its way up to his shoulder where she had a light sweatshirt on. Summer nights at the ocean usually required a light long sleeved shirt.

She moaned slightly when his hand touched her flesh on her neck causing the hairs to immediately stand up from the electricity running through.

"Come back here, Sadie!" They heard someone yell off in the distance the second they felt something invade their space.

"What the fuck?" Derek said frustrated about this creature walking all over them, licking them.

"A dog Derek. It is a dog. Hello… you are a pretty doggie." Meredith immediately petted the black lab, not even thinking about the owners about to encroach on them.

"I am going to… um, Meredith, we don't know who is coming. I am going to walk back in the bushes a bit." Derek thought fast.

"Oh, yes, good idea." Meredith said, instantly getting nervous as she watched Derek quickly walk off.

Meredith greeted the couple that walked up. They quickly apologized and got Sadie and walked down the beach together.

Derek came back the second he noticed the couple down the beach and saw Meredith standing up, dusting the sand off her and the blanket.

"I'm back." He wrapped his arms firmly around her from behind.

Meredith relaxed in his arms, closing her eyes wishing... they would just be able to go out like normal couples and have dinner, go to the movies… just normal couply things. None of the military stuff mattered to feel like this... completely perfect in his arms. "I have to go. I have an early flight in the morning, and we fly out to the boat… Friday." The planes always leaves out a few days before the crew for a variety for reasons.

"So, we could have tomorrow night before you leave?" Derek asked.

Meredith sighed, "We have something scheduled… the officers, but I think I can work it out."

"Work it out." He breathed in her ear, letting her go gently.

She grabbed her blanket and headed to her car as Derek stood there watching her. As she was no longer able to be seen, he slowly sat back down on the sand to think. He had so many questions and what ifs running through his head. They both knew there was no way they could walk away, but could this really be done? Could he go as much as a few months being so close to her yet so far away on the boat? Is it possible for them to really have a future together?

The forces… fall where they may.