Hello!
Merder are off to California in this chapter, so prepare yourself to soon meet Jen. She's an interesting character, but you'll love her.
Enjoy! :)
"Shirt...one, two, three, four. Trousers...one, two, three. Jeans...one, two. Socks...one, two, thr-"
"What are you doing?"
Derek looked round instantly at the question. "What?"
"What are you doing?" She repeated as she walked in, and sat down on the bed.
"Hey, hey-" He called the second that she settled. "That's my t-shirt-pile"
"You've covered literally the entire bed, where else am I supposed to sit?"
"Just...not, there."
"Are you...okay?" She asked slowly. He was so enveloped with anxiety that she could almost physically see it radiating from him.
"I don't like..."
"Packing? Airplanes? Weddings? Leaving the state?"
"Um-" He swallowed. "E: All of the above."
"Oh." She breathed. Normally people just disliked one or two aspects of a holiday, but that clearly wasn't the case for him. She didn't often see him this stressed, and he was stressed rather frequently.
"Packing is stressful." He sighed. "I just...there's so much to remember. And I...what if I forget something?"
"There are clothes shops in California. If you forget something, you can just buy a new one."
"I'm more concerned about running out of my meds. I'm not sure you particularly want me to die on this trip because I...get pnemonia which spreads in five minutes, right?"
"Right. Yes. Forgot this whole...drug addiction thing you've got going on."
"Two things. Firstly, it doesn't count as drug addiction if you need them to live. And secondly...I'm glad you forgot about that, even for a second."
She smiled, just a little. "Can I do something? Count your pills? Stuff this into the suitcase? Brush your shoes? Find...uh...I can't think of any other things, but you get my point. Instruct me in what to do so you do not explode with worry."
"How about...just- um-" He muttered, looking around. Even he didn't know what to suggest.
She stepped towards him, and grasped his hand, lifting it from his lap. She held it tight with a small smile. "This good?"
He sighed out a long breathe as he clutched onto her hand, letting her ground him. "Mmm."
"Just breathe. It's okay."
He smiled. Maybe he could breathe afterall. Maybe it was okay afterall. Maybe all he needed was a second of Meredith to soothe him. "Hug next?"
Like she'd say no to a cuddle. "Always."
"Hey, look- there are huge towels in here. I'm not sure I've ever seen a towel this massive." Meredith called out to do Derek. "Oh- and fancy soap! You'll be okay if you did forget some stuff after all, there's more stuff in here than in your bathroom!"
She continued to explore the hotel bathroom, as well as the table just outside where some basics were sat, not caring about Derek's lack of response.
"Would you like me to make you something to drink?" She called out.
He didn't answer.
"Derek?"
She dropped the kettle onto the table, and walked round the corner into the bedroom space, only to smile.
Oh, she loved him.
"Derek, are you okay?"
"Me sleepy." He muttered, his voice slurred from the way he was led against the pillow.
Her grin expanded, and she laughed. "I can tell."
"Me nap now."
She slipped her shoes off, and sat down on the edge of the bed. She placed her hand on him, and rubbed his back. He had somehow went face-first into the pillow, which she thought was pretty impressive considering his mobility. "You jet lagged or something? I thought California to Seattle had no jet lag. Because...we're travelling South? Something like that."
"Memory foam." Derek muttered, ignoring her.
She couldn't stop her grin. He was absolutely mad. But she found it kind of adorable, if she was honest. "I don't think you're supposed to nap after a flight of literally just resting- but- I'm going to join you. We can snuggle."
He smiled. "Me like snuggles. And bed. And sleep time."
"Mmm. I think I gathered."
"Hello, sleepy head. I just popped down for more towels, sorry I was gone."
He smiled as she sat next to him on the bed. "That's okay."
"You feeling rested now?"
"Definitely. Sorry about that."
"You okay? You're not sick, are you?" She asked with a creased brow, clearly concerned.
"Stress makes me tired. And, as we've discussed-"
"All of this is stressful. Literally...every single part of leaving a place you dislike." She finished for him.
"Mmm." He agreed.
"But we're here now." She replied optimistically. "All that stress about flying and packing is gone."
"Right. Now I just have to worry about the fact that I don't know where is accessible."
"Oh, god." She sighed, her hand wiping her face for a brief second. "I really can't take you anywhere, can I?"
"I like the hospital, I like my home, and I...uh-" He paused. "Oh, I like Seattle Zoo. And I like Starlight Plaza. And...yeah that's about it. Ah- and ferries but I'm not sure that's really a place. Now that's it."
"That's it? Really? That can't be it. What else do you like?" She asked. "Where else is enjoyable to you?"
"How about...when...I'm in your arms?"
She giggled. God, this man. "Derek-"
"What?"
"That's cute but I'm trying to get to know you here. Focus." She berated.
"I don't know, I just...when you're me and you get stressed out a lot, and airports wear you out, and you have to worry where you can find food because you don't know about the frequency of stairs in a location...it's just- it's nice to just stay in the same place, you know?"
"Should I not have dragged you here?" She asked, worry in her eyes.
"No- Mer, it's okay. I'm happy I'm here. I'm happy I'm with you. Just-" He paused when she hugged him. "Uh-"
"You like being in my arms, don't you? Isn't that what you said?"
He smiled. She was so sweet. "Mmm-" He wrapped his hands around her, and placed a kiss on her. "Yes, this is my favourite place in the entire world."
"On a scale of one to ten, how much do you hate pants?" She couldn't help but ask as she watched him. She was sat on the side of the bed, pulling curlers out of her hair while watching...whatever the hell he was doing.
"Twelve. Twelve out of ten." He muttered. "Sometimes I actually think I'd be completely fine with being paralyzed if it wasn't for the freaking pants- but- okay- done now. What do you think?"
She smiled. "Very nice."
"Better than the other one? I thought about packing the grey one-"
"How many times, Derek? Blue is just...it's always blue. Every time."
He smiled. "Mmm. Just wanted to check."
"She's not judging you on the colour and design of your suit, you know?"
"She's judging me in a hundred other ways, Meredith. I'm just trying to remove as many...judgements as possible."
"I think you are amazing, and I told her how amazing you are so...she shouldn't have any judgments to make at all. Unless you're going to be talking about your self-esteem."
"I'm trying though." He promised. "I'm really trying."
"I know. And I'm so freaking proud of you." She smiled, and kissed him. "I know this is extra stressful- new place, new people, new...new everything, but you're doing great. I promise."
"Not everything is new."
"No?" She asked, confused.
"I have you. You're my constant. And you can get me through everything."
She smiled, understanding now before adding, "Barring stairs."
He smiled back. "Barring stairs...and trousers, as we've discussed."
She reached out to him from where she was sat on the bed, and started to unbutton his shirt.
"That wasn't me asking for help getting ready, you know?" He said, surprised by the offer, as well as the fact that she was undoing his buttons, rather than doing them up.
She kissed the skin she had exposed before moving to his mouth. Her hands continued to move further and further down through the kisses, until she was done with the shirt and moved his belt. She pulled away and beamed before agreeing, "I know."
"Oh. Sex." He breathed.
She kissed him again as she grinned again, "Yes, Sex."