Easy Silence

16.

"Shep, I owe you one," Mark laughed walking into his room. "Or well, I guess three as it is. Definitely owe you three."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Derek groaned.

He wasn't in the mood to put up with Mark. He wasn't in the mood to put up with anyone unless they had a way to make his arms and back feel better. According to Meredith he had pushed himself too hard by insisting they take the extra block. According to him crutches were a stupid invention.

"You're in a crap mood for someone that finally got some."

"I didn't get some," Derek rolled his eyes.

"Well I guess that explains the crap mood," Mark laughed. "What the hell did you two do for that long?"

"We went for a walk."

"A walk?"

"Yes, Mark...you know, put one foot in front of the other, take steps and travel in a certain direction. A walk."

"I know what a walk is, Shep. It's just lame."

"It wasn't lame," Derek smiled softly. "It was really nice. We walked and I bought her a coffee. It's really nice out today so it was...nice."

"What the hell did you even do on this talk?"

"Talked."

"Talked?" Mark asked and then frowned. "If you even think of making a wise ass comment I'm kicking your already broken ass."

"We talked," Derek grinned. "We talked about everything. Life growing up, the family, what it's like being a surgeon and it was...we couldn't stop talking. If she hadn't had to work, we'd probably still be talking."

"Okay, so it as lame as I thought."

"It wasn't lame," Derek laughed. "And why do you owe me?"

"Three times, Shep. Just standing here to make sure your sorry ass didn't get caught, I got action three times. Didn't even have to try."

"You slept with three nurses in two hours?"

"Nah," Mark shrugged and then smirked. "Katie's a doctor."

"What was she doing in my room?" Derek frowned slightly.

"Oh she wasn't," Mark smiled. "She was just walking by and things...happened. She couldn't say no. Actually...it was more of I couldn't say no. The chick jumped me. It was insanely hot."

"Of course," Derek rolled his eyes. "Does anybody know I was gone?"

"No, you're in the clear," Mark sighed. "I told them you were just gone for a walk around the hospital and then kept them to distracted to think."

"Why are we friends again?"

"Because your dad wanted to build you the biggest rink possible so he needed my backyard as well as yours," Mark shrugged.

"Stupid shared rink."

"You'd be lost without me, man."

"Keep telling yourself that."

The door opened suddenly and Meredith stood there, smiling with a paper bag in her hands. "Oh...I...lunch but I'll just leave it and I can...I can go. Since...I can go."

"Don't go," Derek said quickly. "It's just an idiot."

"Thanks, man," Mark groaned. "I'll remember that the next time you two need me to cover your ass."

"We appreciate it," Derek laughed.

"We do," Meredith giggled, walking across the room to place the bag on Derek's lap. "I thought...you seemed so relieved to get good coffee so I thought...you needed a break from this food so sandwich. From the deli in the market, the one you said you liked."

"That...that was completely out of your way."

"I...no," she shook her head quickly. "It was...I was craving a beavertail and it's the closest place to get one so not out of my way."

"A beavertail?" he laughed.

"What?" she frowned slightly. "It's a good lunch."

"Sure," Derek laughed. "Thanks for the sandwich."

"No problem," Meredith smiled as her pager went off. "Crap."

"Got to go?"

"Yeah."

"Come back later?"

"Definitely," she nodded, rocking gently on the ball of her feet. "But now...going, I have a patient and he needs me so going." She sighed and chewed on her bottom lip." And I'll be back." She hesitated some more, before bending over and kissing his cheek. "Bye."

"She brought you lunch?" Mark asked as she left the room.

"Apparently."

"Kind of lame, Shep."

"How is a hot girl bringing me food lame?"

"The fact that the hot girl that's bringing you food still isn't letting you get any action."

"You have a point."