Outside of Fear

Chapter Twenty-Three

The following evening, after work, Derek bursts into the house, causing Meredith to jump up from her spot on the couch where she had been sitting with Bella. The dog runs to greet Derek as Meredith braces herself on the cushions, heart pounding so hard she's afraid she might pass out.

"Sorry, it's just me." He says, moving to the kitchen, oblivious to her distress. His arms are full of brown paper bags. Meredith nods, giving herself a minute to calm down before entering the kitchen slowly.

"Is this all for tonight?" Her eyes widen when she looks at the counter, where he's unpacked everything he carried in.

"Don't underestimate how much the surgeons at Seattle Grace can drink." He replies, raising an eyebrow. On the counter sit a few six-packs of beer, as well as bottles of scotch, tequila, and whiskey. "I already had the scotch."

"Single-malt scotch, I remember." She smirks. He pushes the unopened bottle of tequila towards her.

"You and Yang are some of the only people I know who drink tequila."

She scoffs. "You only know because I've told you. You've never actually seen me drink it."

"Yang downs it like water."

"Where do you think she learned to do that?" Meredith gives him a pointed look, mischief in her eyes.

"Colonel Dr. Meredith Grey drinks tequila like it's water?" Derek pulls back with feigned shock. "I can't believe it."

"Oh, just you wait." She bites her lip and leans against the counter, ignoring the twinge in her stomach. She hasn't taken any painkillers in over a week because of alcohol from the ball, and it's showing. "What kind of games are we playing? I haven't seen any board games anywhere here. Not even a deck of cards."

The gleam in Derek's eye concerns her and he pulls out a stack of video games, causing her to burst out laughing.

She stops after a minute, wrapping an arm around her stomach and trying to keep the pain off her face. She recovers quickly though, before Derek can say anything. She covers with a teasing smile, "How old are you again?"

"Don't underestimate the competitiveness of video games either."

She nods, humming disbelievingly.

A few hours of preparation later, the door swings open, and Meredith jumps again. She's used to knocking, and always knowing who's on the other side, as they announce themself and wait for permission to enter.

Meredith sighs, frustrated at her inability to feel safe and stay calm. It's extremely embarrassing how her body refuses to relax.

"It's Mark." Derek touches her shoulder gently before getting up to greet his best friend. 

"Fair warning, I'm already a little tipsy!" Mark announces loudly as he walks into the living room. He and Derek shake hands and embrace quickly before the plastic surgeon collapses onto the couch next to Meredith.

"How's it going, GI Jane?" He asks Meredith next to him, and she can already smell the liquor on his breath.

"Great until you walked in, Mark." She pats his shoulder lightly, listening as Mark demands that Derek get the game set up.

She's been around both Mark Sloan and Derek Shepherd enough to understand the dynamic of their relationship, so she doesn't feel the need to play polite hostess.

Not long after, Cristina and Alex walk in together with a bottle of tequila.

"You can put that on the counter," Derek says as they walk in. Cristina smirks at him, bringing the glass to her lips and taking multiple gulps.