Chapter 32: Getting Ready

"Come on Mer… we need to get going." Her roommate yelled.

"Give me ten minutes." She yelled, wanting to look hot, not for the dinner, but for the after-dinner plans.

"We are going to be late; we have a 20-minute drive and we are meeting them there at 7." The person reminded Meredith.

Meredith looked at the clock and saw it was 6:35, "Why don't you go ahead. I should probably take the Hummer anyway. I need to get back here relatively early."

"Why?"

"Oh… well, I have some things I need to do before tomorrow." Meredith's stomach instantly felt nervous, knowing she wanted to stay with Derek all night. How would she explain this to him… her roommate and best friend.

"Seriously, two vehicles. I figured I would just go with you with the fucking gas prices. We will be doing some serious drinking tonight especially since the flights aren't scheduled until the afternoon. I figured you would be knocking them back with the best of us." He said standing at her door now talking with her.

"First off, no drinking and driving. Secondly, I am sure any one of the other female officers would love to sink their teeth into you." Meredith smirked while continuing to fix her hair in loose curls. She knew he was responsible as they all were with drinking and driving. It was just too much of a risk for them to be caught.

"I keep thinking you will." He chuckled.

"Ass. You are an ass." She smiled looking back at him.

"You have always loved this ass… since the day we met." He smiled that cocky smile he had.

"True, but that ass is my best friend and I prefer to keep it that way." Meredith laughed.

"Yeah, yeah… I will always say you are hot though; you live up to being the temptress." He loved his roommate, not in a sexual way, but she was his best friend and had been for some years now. They had been stationed together a few years back and flew together then. They never had crossed the line with each other; their relationship was never that, most speculated they were sleeping together though.

"You live up to being slobber knocker."

"Always babe." Alex winked at her walking and sitting on her bed. "So, you were out late last night. Everything okay?" He asked curiously. He knew his best friend long enough to know there was something going on with her, but he had no idea what.

"Yeah… I just went for a walk on the beach." Meredith stiffened a little bit.

"Not with Viper. You know he was asking the other day why you were being so stand offish with him. I think he assumes we are fucking." Alex smirked.

"Yeah, did you tell him in your dreams that I would be fucking you?" Meredith looked to him able to relax a bit from his other line of questioning, but still on guard about Viper.

"You know you secretly want me; all girls do."

"Well, that clears it up because I am a woman… women do not want you." Meredith retorted quickly with a smart ass look on her face. She really did love Alex in a brotherly way.

"Ahh… that is where you are wrong, all women want me. You're . . . definitely a mysterious woman of late. What is up with you? You haven't had a boy in your bed in a few weeks at least." Alex watched her carefully, searching for some answers.

"Nothing is up." Meredith quickly answered.

"You cut Viper off rather quick. Usually, you amuse them for at least a few weeks. You only had him a few days." Alex pushed. It was what they did for each other, they pressed for answers when things weren't adding up.

"You know I stay away from guys in the squadron." She shrugged but quickly realized the enormity of that statement. It was true; she stayed away from fucking guys in her own squadron so it didn't jeopardize flying and working together. She noticed Alex looking at her somewhat panicked face. She took a deep breath, smirked and added quickly, "Also, small cock." She whispered and laughed hoping he wouldn't see through it.

Alex decided he had to take this for now but knew better. He didn't miss her flash of worry or realization about something. "Well, that would explain it… you like 'em big and juicy. I have one you know… a big and juicy one."

"Yeah, that is what Montgomery and Stevens tend to say. How they would know, I have no idea. They think I am the expert." They didn't spread around they lived together, but some had figured it out. They were old friends and when Meredith found out she was transferring to Oak Harbor, the place he lived, it only made sense for her to move in for now. Addison had recently figured out they lived together and immediately speculated they were sleeping together, but that was so far from the truth. Alex and Meredith had a lot in common and just got each other. Meredith knew she would need to find her own place when they got back from their 6-month deployment.

"You could be an expert."

"What is up with you? You usually aren't so much like this with me." Meredith asked in a somewhat annoyed voice. She had a feeling about what he was doing.

"I am trying to figure out what is going on with you." Alex sighed, knowing she wasn't talking.

"Alex." She looked at him with pleading eyes to just drop this.

Alex knew there was something, but she wasn't going there and for now, he had to deal with that, "As long as you aren't in any trouble or danger. But, Meredith… you can always trust me."

"I know. I appreciate it. I definitely can trust you more than any family member I have."

"Yeah… mommy hasn't come checking up on us yet, not since your promotion. I expected her to be here by now."

"Ellis knows to stay away." Meredith went back to doing her hair.

Alex watched her and knew he was one of the only people to really know her. She was a hard ass at work and even outside of work around most everyone; however, around Alex, she was herself. He was glad to be one of the only ones to really know her. "You know Meredith… you are my family. You are all I have." He said nonchalantly.

"Yeah, I have the bitch that claims to be my mom… I have a dad who is so wrapped up in his family to even really know I exist… you are it." Meredith said seriously to him as she finished with her hair and walked within a few steps of Alex.

"You promise you are okay?" Alex asked.

Meredith sighed. Honestly, in this moment, she didn't know what the hell she was doing or if she was really okay. She longed to see him anytime they weren't together and since last night, she couldn't wait to see him again and couldn't get him out of her brain no matter how hard she tried. There were feelings put out on the line last night and there was no taking them back. He felt the same way which made her smile a bit. She had never done that with anyone. She knew Alex didn't need the pressure of knowing something so huge at this point although she was pretty sure he wouldn't judge. "I promise I am ok."

"Then let's head out." Alex stood up to lead her out of her bedroom having to trust that she is really okay.

"Wait... I really am coming back to Oak Harbor after dinner." Meredith said as they headed out of the door.

Alex stopped and just looked at Meredith and said jokingly, "What, do you have a hot date you aren't telling me about?"

Meredith had to turn on her "face" …the one that was strong and confident and didn't waiver under pressure, something she was good at, "No hot date… who would I have a hot date with? It wouldn't be a hot date anyway seeing as how I am going to dinner with you guys." The words pricked her heart ever so slightly. She wished it was Derek she was going with tonight, to hug and kiss each other without the fear of someone seeing or watching. Would she ever get that?

"Okay, let's go. I'll drive the Hummer and I am sure I will have a plethora of girls interested in bringing me back home." Alex said grabbing the keys out of her hand. He loved driving the Hummer when he had a chance. He had an Audi TT that was fun for them to take up to the mountain, but at times he liked driving "the beast" as they called it. He knew it was a power play for Meredith to have that vehicle because when she did drive the Audi, she liked it as much, maybe even more.

"What makes you think you get to drive? You know I like to be in control." She let out a quick laugh trying to get her keys back thankful he didn't recognize the nervousness she was feeling about him asking questions.

"Get in the damn truck and stop." Alex laughed, opening the door for her.

"So, where are we going anyway in Anacortes for dinner?" Meredith asked the second Alex got in the driver's seat.

"The Rockfish Grill." Alex replied.

"Great, never been there. I have heard it is really good. I have heard the nachos with the green sauce is a must for an appetizer." Meredith smiled.

"You would know about the best foods to get." Alex laughed and added, "They brew their own beer; really a great place and the bars down the street are good as well. We just hop between them most of the time."

"Cruising no doubt." Meredith rolled her eyes.

"You know us well." Alex raised an eyebrow with an equally matched smile.

Meredith looked at her window and thought for a bit. She wanted desperately to be able to bring Derek to things like this. There would be other officers there with their significant others, but she would not have that… not unless… She couldn't think about the "unless" because it would never happen. She wondered how they would do this... have a real relationship. They would be on a boat together, seeing each other daily, but not being able to do more than exchange pleasantries. Even if he were an officer, it would be frowned upon. She thought it would be easier to just not see him than to see him daily and not be able to do anything. She never thought in a million years she would find someone she wanted more than for just casual sex. When she finally does… she finds the prohibited one. Just her luck…

She wondered what the forces would do...