The Seventh Sense is Love

Derek's First Day Back

The next morning Meredith wakes up early - after having spent a restless night tossing and turning. She goes to the kitchen and makes a simple breakfast for her and Derek to share. Cereal, toast, fresh fruit and coffee. She puts it all on a tray and takes it to her husband in bed. She kisses him awake and he grins at her. "Good morning."

"Good morning Dr. Shepherd," she replies and puts a cup of coffee into his hand.

After taking a careful but long drink Derek jokingly says, "I must've done something right."

Meredith giggles and placing her hand on his cheek replies, "Too many things to list."

"You're nervous about today," Derek states.

"Yes, but I know you'll be fine."

"I will," he agrees with a nod of his hand. He hands her his coffee cup and says, "Come here."

After placing the coffee back on the tray Meredith snuggles into Derek's open arms. He hugs her tightly to him and plays with her hair. She tilts her head up and he leans down to kiss her on the lips. It's a sweet and gentle exploration. Meredith bites his bottom lip and he groans. When she puts her hands under his tee shirt and rakes her nails down his chest he asks, "Do we have time?"

"Yes," she giggles and he immediately pulls his shirt over his head and she replaces her hands with her tongue. Derek reaches down to pulls Meredith's tee shirt off of her, as well. He rolls so she's beneath him and then cups one soft breast in his hand. He flicks and rolls the nipple between his thumb and forefinger until it's a hard little nub and she's tingling with lovely sensation. He replaces his fingers with his mouth and she moans and arches into him. He pays the other nipple the same attention as she pushes his sleep pants and boxers off to explore his exquisite nakedness with eager hands. They love one another in a very leisurely fashion. Reveling in the fact that they so intuitively love. Afterward, they eat the breakfast Meredith had brought in - even the now soggy cereal - laughing and talking.

"That was a great way to deal with the nerves," Meredith giggles and then takes a sip of juice.

"The best way," Derek agrees.

They shower, get dressed for the day and go to the hospital. As they're walking up to the hospital Meredith hears Derek take a deep breath. She takes his hand in hers and laces their fingers together. She doesn't say anything but squeezes his hand tightly in hers. Derek lets out his breath slowly. Then, still holding his wife's hand, he states, "I'm good, let's go in."
_________________________________

Derek's brain feels like mush. How could he possibly have forgotten the drudgery and boredom of paperwork? Granted, he doesn't actually have to fill the offending paperwork out. He does, however, have to answer a million-and-one questions from the HR assistant: Full name, birth date, social security number, etc. He has to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from asking if she needs his blood type, too. He does ask, "Isn't all of this information in my file? I did work here for many years."

"Yes," the woman answers slowly - making Derek's spine stiffen in further irritation. "However, it's been many years since you've worked for Seattle Grace so your file needs updating."

"Well," Derek replies with a humorless smile, "while some things certainly have changed in my life - my name and birth date have not."

"Dr. Shepherd -"

"May I have the paperwork?" Derek asks, getting up from the chair and holding his hand out.

"This information is confidential -" she begins and he cuts her off again.

"And since I'm an adult in my 40's I know who to trust with my confidential information. The papers, please?"

Seeing the furious and insulted look on his face the woman hands Derek the papers and keeps her mouth shut as he leaves her office.