Let It Go

42.

"You really do need to unpack," Derek stated, following Meredith through her large house as she turned on lights. "I'll get around to it eventually," she said. She dropped her purse into a nearby chair. "Make yourself comfortable. The kitchen is through there, there's a half bathroom down here, right around the corner there. If you want to shower, go upstairs, take a left at the top of the stairs, and you'll see another bathroom. I'm going put my dog out and order a pizza," she said, feeling nervous as the thought of Derek in her house, sleeping and possibly naked in her shower. "A shower would be good," Derek said with a grin. "Okay. There are towels, in the linen closet across the hall from the bathroom." With that, Meredith disappeared towards the kitchen.

Derek climbed the stairs, listening to her chirp to her dog. He heard the back door open and close and assumed she was outside. He took the chance to look around. Like her office at work, her home was no where near personalized. Not a picture one hung on the wall and boxes seemed to take up every spare bit of room. He knew she had a niece, sisters. He would have thought she'd have pictures of them, of her parents, especially as she lived across the country from them.

He found the bathroom easily enough and located a towel in the linen closet. He shut the door, not bothering to lock it, and undressed. He turned the water on and waited for it to get hot. He stepped into the stream, allowing the water to cascade over his tired muscles. He heard a soft tap on the door. "Derek?"

"Yeah?" Derek called over the shower. "Um, I have shampoo and soap. I don't think there's any in there. I've never... I haven't used that shower...," came Meredith's voice. Derek looked around and realized there was, in fact, no soap or shampoo. "Um, the door's unlocked. Just... Put it on the sink or something?" he called back. He heard the door open. He stuck his head around the shower curtain. "Thanks," he told her with his McDreamy grin. "You're um, welcome," she said, quickly hurrying out the bathroom. She shut the door behind her and leaned against it.

Derek was naked. In her shower. She could... But she wouldn't. She wouldn't because they were starting over. They were taking things slow and getting to know one another. As tempting as it was to strip off all of her clothes and join him, she would restrain herself. She could do that. She could not jump Derek while he was in the shower. She nodded to herself, convincing the voice that was urging her to get naked. She hadn't had sex in nearly four months. She could go another however long. She could. The Seattle Meredith couldn't but the new and improved Charlottesville Meredith could. She went into her bedroom to change her clothes.

Derek finished his shower and dried off. He neatly hung the towel on a rack and pulled on his shorts. As an after thought, he put his t-shirt back on, deciding to keep it modest. Sure, Meredith had seen him shirtless at his parents' cookout, but staying in her house... He'd keep it modest. He wandered down the stairs and looked for her. When he didn't find her, he weaved his way through the boxes and took a seat on her couch. He spotted a remote and turned on the TV. He was happy to see that while she didn't have anything unpacked, she had had her cable hooked up. He scanned the channels, settling on old sitcoms he'd seen dozens of times on Nick at Nite.

"I love this show," came Meredith's voice. Derek looked over his shoulder. She was standing behind the couch in cotton shorts and an old Dartmouth t-shirt. He smiled at her. "I don't watch a lot of TV - no time - so I usually stick to what I know," he said, nodding towards the TV. Meredith returned his smile and walked around to sit on the couch beside him.

"Thanks," he said, "for letting me stay here tonight." Meredith smiled broader. "You're welcome." Their eyes locked. Derek couldn't help himself. He reached out buried his hand in the back of her hair, pulling her to him. She didn't pull away but tilted her head up to recieve his kiss. Their lips met. Derek groaned. It felt good, kissing Meredith. Meredith deepened the kiss and parted her lips, allowing Derek's tongue to slid into her warmth. Their tongues danced a routine that was uniquely their own. Derek moved to lay Meredith down on the couch, throwing caution and modesty to the wind. The doorbell rang. Derek sprang away from Meredith, surprised by the interruption.