The Seventh Sense is Love

Friendly Advice

"Hey," Mark said as he ran into Derek outside the Chief's office. "How are you?"

"Great."

"How's Ian?"

"Great."

"And Meredith?"

"Great," Derek snapped again and punched the call button for the elevator.

"Okay," Mark said and suppressed a grin. For some reason, he always found his friend's foul moods entertaining. "Well, whatever this brand of greatness is - don't pass it around."

There were a few people on the elevator when the two men stepped on and by silent agreement, they halted speaking. Everyone got off on the next floor and surprisingly, no one else got on. When the doors slid closed, Derek said, "Richard is riding my ass about cutting again."

"You don't want to?"

"I don't know," Derek sighed, and they got off the elevator and stopped at the nurse's station for Mark to get a patient's chart.

"What does Meredith think?"

Derek couldn't help but grin as he said, "She thinks, and has said, in very colorful ways, that Richard ought to mind his own business."

"True, but don't forget that Seattle Grace is the Chief's business. He almost lost Adele over this place. And here you are - one of the best Neurosurgeons in the country -"

"At one time," Derek interrupted with another sigh.

"At any time," Mark interjected, "ever. Do you really blame Richard for wanting you to cut again?"

"No," Derek answered, "but he needs to back off and let me decide if that's what I want."

"Do you really not want to cut again, Derek? Or are you just nervous because it's been so long?"

"I don't know, damn it," he said in growing frustration. "And I can't think clearly about it. There are other, more important things going on in my life right now. Meredith's freaked out about leaving Ian to come back to work. And honestly, so am I. If he's awake, he wants to be held and if he's not being held, he screams until someone picks him up. Is that normal?"

"Umm, I don't know," Mark mumbled uncomfortably.

"I feel like an ass even asking if my ten-week-old son's behavior is normal, but Meredith is beside herself and can't even relax."

"Must make sex hell," Mark said jokingly. When Derek just grunted a response, Mark's jaw dropped in shock. Quietly, he said, "Don't even tell me you and Meredith aren't having sex."

"Okay, I won't," Derek grumbled.

"Christ," Mark said, "You're not. I do not want to know details but I will say you better change that fast."

"We've tried," Derek said and laughed when Mark held up his hand in disgust.

"I told you I don't want to know. I don't claim to understand marriage and family life but sex," Mark grinned. "Sex - I get. You need to drop Ian straight into your sister's open arms and take Meredith off for wild monkey sex. I guarantee - once you and Meredith are back in the saddle again - everything else will fall into place and be crystal."

"You might be right," Derek laughed.

"I am right," Mark grinned again. "Drop Ian off and have some time with Mer," he said and smacked Derek in the shoulder before walking toward his patient's room.

Derek thought about what Mark said for a few moments and then pulled out his phone. He got Kathleen's voicemail - which didn't really surprise him. She was having lunch with Meredith, Ian, Molly and Lexie. He left her a message to call him as soon as she got a chance. Feeling better knowing that he was going to have some alone time with Meredith - Derek went to prepare for his afternoon lecture.