The Seventh Sense is Love

Derek's Fan Club

Meredith sits in the gallery listening to Derek give a lecture on Minimally Invasive Cranial Surgery. She is sitting on the edge of her seat hanging on every word he's saying. And if she'd been able to tear her attention away from him she'd notice that every other person in the gallery is just as attuned to his lecture. Meredith knows Derek yearns to hold a scalpel and actually be able to cut. Hell, he's a surgeon, of course he feels that way but he is an absolutely amazing teacher.

Yes, he gave lectures but they never felt boring or tedious. In fact, he'd be busy for an hour or two after the lecture answering questions, giving opinions and going over technique. He was in his element and Meredith was thrilled. So far, so good. At the end of the lecture she got up with everyone else and started to leave the gallery.

"Your husband makes Neuro seem like the hottest specialty to choose from," Cristina says by way of a greeting.

"Hello to you too," Meredith giggles.

"Seriously," Cristina says, pointing to the interns and Residents waiting to talk to him. "He has a fan club."

"Seriously," Meredith grins, "shut up."

"Fine. I really just want to know if I should bring anything other than alcohol on Christmas Eve."

"We're good. We - Derek actually, but I'm completely fine with it - decided to have it catered."

"Oh," Cristina grins, "thank God."

"You don't have to sound quite so relieved."

"Why? You are."

"True."

"So," Cristina begins, "did you really give Sloan a piece of your mind this morning?"

Meredith gives her a bit of a horrified look and Cristina laughs. Then continues, "Don't look so upset. You're a hero around here right now. I just want to know why you were pissed at him."

"Crap," Meredith grumbles and quickly fills Cristina in on the details.

Naturally, Cristina finds it funny. At Meredith's glare she says, "Hey, Dr. McDreamy isn't hurt so I can laugh at Sloan and the brother-in-law turning your house into Santa's Village."

"Shut up. Now."

"Are you going to tell Derek about it."

"I wasn't going to but I have to now."

"Good luck with that," Cristina says and leaves Meredith near the surgical board.
*

An hour later Meredith goes back to the O.R. and Bailey is there with Derek. Along with one lingering female intern. Meredith holds up a tray with two coffees and a tea, Bailey motions her to come inside. She walks toward the little group and Derek immediately turns his head in her direction and smiles. "Hi Mer," he says, not even aware that his voice changes, becomes just a bit more seductive toward her. The little intern makes a quick and stuttering exit.

Bailey erupts in laughter and accepts the tray of hot drinks. Meredith takes one coffee for Derek and places it in his hand. Then she says, "Cristina's right, you do have a fan club."

"Meredith," he begins.

"She's right," Bailey interrupts, "but we all know you only want to sniff your wife. Meredith, don't you notice how he immediately knows when you're in a room?"

"Of course, and I'm not worried. I'm just saying Cristina's right."

Derek clears his throat, sounding slightly uncomfortable. Meredith and Bailey smile at one another.

"I have a meeting with the Chief," Bailey says and takes her tea, leaving Meredith and Derek alone. Meredith looks up into the gallery and since no one is around she leans over to kiss her husband.

"Are you coming on to me in an empty O.R. Dr. Shepherd?"

"You wish," she laughs and wraps her arms around him for a quick and tight hug.

"Hey, what's up?"

Meredith tells Derek about her run-in with Mark. He listens intently. When she's finished he chuckles. "You're laughing?" she asks, a little surprised.

"Yes," he answers with a nod of his head.

"What they did was so -" she begins indignantly but is cut off when he pulls her to him for another quick kiss.

When the kiss breaks he says, "They just didn't think. I'm not excusing their behavior," he qualifies at her angry, indrawn breath. "They won't do anything like it again."

"They better not," she mutters.

"It's a turn-on to have you be a warrior woman for me," he says and slides his hand under her scrub top.

She laughs - which was, of course, his intention. "I'm not having sex with you in the O.R."

"Fine," he sighs dramatically. "How long before you're off work?"

"An hour," she answers, taking his hand to walk out of the O.R.

"Okay. Can you find me an intern to dictate my paperwork to?"

"I'll get one of your groupies," she teases.

"Funny Mer, very funny," he says as she giggles and they walk toward the nurse's station together.