How We Operate - A MerDer Story

Chapter 2

Derek sighed as he made his way downstairs, running his hand through his hair. He hadn't gotten much sleep the night before. Between Mark's latest conquest screaming at the top of her lungs, and the completely permanent grin on his face after Meredith, he just hadn't been able to sleep. It didn't matter though. Sleep didn't matter anymore. He was still completely floating.

He couldn't believe how good he felt. He couldn't believe that he had woken up still smiling. He didn't even need coffee to wake him up today, he was already wide awake. Although going to Starbucks and waiting in that line again might not actually be a bad idea. Yesterday waiting in line had been a great idea. And he wanted to see her again. He needed to see her again.

He was forty years old but felt fifteen again. Felt like the prettiest girl in school had asked him to the Sadie Hawkins dance. The butterflies in his stomach weren't going away anytime soon. And neither was the grin on his face. The huge, stupid grin that he really did have to get rid of before Mark came downstairs. Which, by the sounds of it, was going to be soon. Judging by the immature giggling coming from upstairs.

But he couldn't stop it. His cheeks were actually hurting, which only made him figure that he must have slept with the grin on his face. It was the only way his cheeks would be hurting when he hadn't been up that long. He knew Mark was about to appear but it didn't matter. He was happy. He was beyond happy. Yesterday had been perfect, unexpectedly perfect.

He watched as a scantily clad girl ran past the kitchen doors, giggling as she pulled her shoes on. She went out the front door and Mark came into the kitchen a moment later in his boxers, his hair messy. "When the hell will these girls realize I took them home for a good fuck?" Mark sighed. "Not for breakfast in bed and sharing and caring."

"You're such a bastard," Derek rolled his eyes to his friend. "You do realize they're humans, right?"

"I realize that, Shep," Mark shook his head, filling the coffee pot with water. "Maybe I should go back to doing twenty year olds. They don't ask stupid ass questions or ask me out for dinner."

"One day you're going to meet someone who's going to knock you off your feet," Derek warned.

"Whatever, Shep," Mark smirked. "Right now I'm good with knocking girls off their feet and right into my bed."

"Of course you are," Derek sighed, still smiling.

"Dude, what's up with you?" Mark frowned.

"I met someone."

"So you finally got some," Mark grinned. "Bout damn time, Shep."

"Actually...no," Derek shook his head. "I..it wasn't like that."

"You didn't fuck her?"

"No, I didn't."

"She is a she right?"

"Of course she's a she, idiot," Derek groaned, hitting his friend in the head. "Meredith."

"Hey!" Mark frowned, rubbing his head. "You don't fuck anyone for a year, it raises questions, that's all I'm saying."

"There's been no one I've wanted to fuck in a year," Derek sighed. "Some people would rather sleep alone than with any slut that looks their way."

"Yeah, losers."

"You're not getting to me today," Derek shook his head. "I met someone and...I'm happy."

"So Meredith," Mark nodded, staring at the coffee maker. "Is she hot?"

"Yeah," Derek sighed. "She's gorgeous."

"And why didn't you fuck her?"

"I didn't even think of it," Derek shrugged. "Which I know is beyond your level of comprehension but...it wasn't like that. It wasn't about that."