Bad Guys

can you come?

Meredith was walking down the stairs of the hospital surgical wing when she saw Derek sitting on the bottom two steps of the third floor. He had his elbows on his knees and his head was resting on his palms.

"Hey." Meredith said as she sat down next to him and put her hand on his back and started to rub gently.

"Hey," he removed his head from his hands and looked up at her with bloodshot eyes.

"What's wrong?" She asked even though she knew exactly what was wrong.

"What's wrong is the fact that I have a wife. A beautiful wonderful wife, but I can't get another woman out of my head. And I kissed this other woman. I just can't become this man, this man who cheats on his wife behind her back. Who goes around hurting everyone because he can't control himself. And I don't want to turn what I have with this other woman into a skeevy affair. Because we... because she deserves better. I don't want her to turn into a mistress, I don't want anything bad to happen to her ever."

Meredith gave him a pitiful look and grabbed his hand.

"And I could leave my wife, but I can't. I made a vow, for better or for worse, to love and cherish her. I don't know that I am in love with her. I am pretty sure I am not in fact, but I do love her as a person. She deserves better than to have me to leave her like this. Because she is funny, smart, powerful, and a really great person. And there must have been a reason I married her in the first place."

Meredith dropped his hand and turned her head away from him. Tears started to build in her eyes.

"But I can't be away from this woman." He said as he pulled her gaze back to him. "She is the most beautiful amazing woman I have ever met. No one has even ever compared to her. She lights up my life, makes all my worries seem moot. I can't stay away from her, even if I wanted to. But I don't. I just don't know what to do."

"I am so sorry Derek" 

"Don't be sorry for anything. Even if I am torn to shreds right now, every second I spend with you makes my life a million times better. I just don't know if I can be with you. I don't know if I could do that to Addison and I don't know if I would be able to look myself in the mirror if I do this. And my hair requires a lot of time in front of the mirror." He said and they both gave a small, pained laugh

"It's okay. We don't have to."

"Can we be friends. I don't want to be away from you. So can we be friends? Actual friends, without the kissing and other stuff?"

"Sure." Meredith said quietly. She wasn't actually sure if they could be friends, but it was something she was willing to try.

"And Meredith. Can we- it's just- would you be okay with-"

"Derek, anything. I will do anything for you."

"Addison is jealous." Derek paused and scoffed, "with good reason." He continued, "but I think it would be too painful to repeatedly try to tell her that there is nothing between us. Because there is something huge between us."

"So what do you want to do?"

"Would you go out with" he paused, "me and Addison. Both of us."

"Both of you?"

"I know it's a lot to ask, but I was thinking if she became friends with you, maybe she would stop being so jealous."

"I don't know Derek."

He gave her a sad look that made it impossible for her to say no.

"Fine Derek."

"Joes at 8." He grabbed her hand and kissed it gently, "I am so sorry"

He left the staircase and left Meredith thinking about what she had gotten herself into.

That night they all met up at Joes. Derek did his best to stay away from public displays of affection with either of the women, which ended up hurting both of them.

"So Meredith, where are you from?"

"She's from Boston." Derek interjected.

"Oh is your family there?"

"Um no." Meredith responded sheepishly. "I think I am going to use the restroom." 

Derek grabbed her hand and pulled her arm. 

"Are you okay?"

"Yea. Thanks" She said as she put her other hand over their hands. She slowly walked away.

"What was that about?" Addison asked dryly as she sipped her drink.

Derek was obviously worried. "I don't know, we have never talked about her family. I hope she is okay. Do you think I should go check on her?"

"No I will." Addison said as she got up. She didn't actually walk to the bathroom but Derek was too preoccupied to notice.

She walked out of the bar and dialed a number.

"Hey what's up?" The voice answered.

Addison at this point had tears building in her eyes, "Can you come?"

"Sure, what's going on?" The voice answered in a worried tone.

"Nothing. I don't know. Just come."

"Ok I'll be there tomorrow."

"Thanks." She said as she hung up the phone.

She walked back into the bar, getting ready to go to the bathroom to go and check on Meredith but by the time she returned Meredith had already returned and her husband was already staring at her with a huge dopey smile.

(Howdy, I need some feedback. How are you guys liking this so far, any critiques? I have been listening to a lot of Taylor Swift in the past couple days so I have been writing it with a lot of romantic angst.)