Continuation of If/Then

Part 5

(just to prefix this, sorry)

"You paged me here?" Derek asked as he strolled into Ellis's office.

"Yes I hear you have started a romantic relationship with me daughter."

"Um yes, I know why you are worried but I promise that I will take care of her."

"That's not our issue."

"Okay-"

"You need to break it off. Immediately."

"I am sorry but me and Meredith are both consenting adults and you have no-"

"This is my hospital. You are my employees. And if you do not break it off, I will fire you, both."

"Why? It hasn't affected our work."

"Actually. I have heard of two separate physical altercations, directly related to your relationship. That is reason enough to fire you, but I will let you off the hook if you break it off."

"You can't-" Derek yelled.

"Actually I can. And it is my responsibility to do so. Please leave."

Derek huffed and left the office. He had absolutely no idea what he was going to do. Meredith was in her last year of her residency and being a surgeon meant everything to her. If she got fired from her own mother's hospital, he doubted anyone would hire her.

As he was leaving Ellis's office he ran into Meredith, "Hey what's up?"

"Um uh nothing." Derek responded.

"Are you okay? Cause you seem not okay."

"I'm- I'm fine. Can we meet later?"

"Um sure, Joe's at 8 tonight"

"Sounds great." Derek said with a sad smile.

Later at the bar, Derek was sitting at a quiet table in the corner. He was playing with his fingers, dreading the conversation he was about to have.

Meredith sat down next to him with a big smile, "I have something to tell you." She said excitedly.

"Actually I-"

"I love you."

"I think we should end this."

"What?"

"I just- well-"

"No it's okay you don't need to explain. You aren't interested anymore. I said I love you too fast and I scared you off. It's fine." She said as she got up.

"Wait Meredi-"

"Bye Derek" She said dryly.

Derek ordered several more drinks until Joe cut him off. Derek stumbled out of the bar, called a cab and fell into his trailer.

The next day, Derek felt like absolute shit. He assumed from the gallon of gin he had drank the night before. He was running late for his shift, he heard the elevator ding and he shoved his hand between the closing doors. They opened to reveal Meredith in the corner. Derek walked in while Meredith stared at the floor. 

"Good morning." He said.

There was no reply.

"Meredith, I just don't think-"

"Oh shut up. Shut the fuck up. I don't want your excuses."

The elevator dings again and she steps out. Derek put his face in his hands.

"So did you do what we discussed?" Ellis asked 

"Yes." He responded dryly.

"Good. It's for the best."

Derek scoffed.

Meredith sat next to Cristina in the tunnels.

"So he ended it just like that."

"Yup"

"So you said-"

"Yep"

"And he said-"

"Yup"

"What an ass."

"Right! One week, the man is saying how I saved him from drowning, and the next week he's dumping me. Jackass!"

"I think what we need to do is go and get you laid."

"That actually sounds like fun, lets go to Joe's tonight."

Meredith and Cristina were sitting at the bar. 

"Heyyyy Joe." Cristina said a bit tipsily, "We are gonna get this girl laid."

Joe laughed, "Is Dr. Shepherd showing up later?"

"No. Dr. Shepherd turned out to be a bitch on a cracker. So we are looking for a new boy-toy for my crackerless bitch here."

Meredith laughed, "What is a crackerless bitch?"

"It's you baby girl! ooo look at that man candy over there" She pointed to a handsome blonde man across the bar.

"Joe, my man, send that gorgeous piece of ass a drink from Mer."

A minute later the handsome man came over to the girls, "Thanks for the drink."

"You are very welcome, I'm Meredith."

"Finn"

"Nice to meet you, wanna get out of here?"

Finn nodded and Meredith took his hand and started to walk out of the bar. Just as she was leaving Derek walked in.

He scoffed and said, "Of course."

"What do you mean of course?"

"You tell me you love me and the next day you are going home with this guy" He said pointing at Finn.

"Hey man back off." Finn said.

"You didn't want me. I said I love you and you said you wanted to end it. You don't have any right to tell me who I should or should not sleep with!"

"OF COURSE I WANT YOU!"

"Then why the hell did you break it off?"

"Cause I had to!"

"What, was there some invisible man with a gun to your head?!"

"No!"

"Yea that's what I thought." 

Meredith started to walk out.

"Your mother told me she would fire you!" He shouted after her.

"What?!" Meredith hissed.

"If I didn't end it, she said that she would fire us both."

"So you made the executive decision that I didn't need to know this?"

"I would have told you but you wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise." He shouted.

Meredith scoffed and left the bar.

Derek walked to the bar, "Lots of alcohol, Joe, lots."

Cristina whispered under her breath, "Bitch on a cracker." Then turned to leave.

"What did you say to me Yang?"

"You heard me jackass" 

Cristina left the bar and Derek drowned his sorrows.