Outside of Fear

Chapter Twenty-Six

"I have a meeting with Richard in two days."

Meredith stands in the kitchen, smirking at Derek. She just read the email from the Cheif of Surgery requesting her to come in for the final interviews securing her job position.

Derek stops in the doorway, Bella running in happily from her walk outside. He makes eye contact with Meredith and frowns. "A meeting for what?"

She bites her lip. "My job."

His jaw drops. "You're staying permanently in Seattle? You decided?"

Up until now, Meredith hasn't really had anything tying her down to Seattle. The question of what she was going to do with the rest of her life when she finished recovering was constantly hanging over both of their heads.

While the last meeting she had provided some reassurance that she was considering staying, it was nothing official, just something for her to consider.

With her name a reputation, Meredith could get a job at any hospital in the country for any salary she wanted. She'd been doing research and making phone calls on her days alone at the house while Derek was at work.

However, no other hospitals in the nation have her best friends and her boyfriend- her family. "I mean, if you'll have me."

"Yes!" Derek laughs, closing the space between them to hug her, "I wouldn't have you anywhere else."

They kiss passionately for a long minute, and when they pull back, Derek demands details.

Meredith describes what Richard had discussed with her at their last meeting, weeks ago. "He told me there's an attending position available in General, but the Head of Trauma is open as well. I have to pick. This meeting is for contracts and all that."

"Which are you going to choose?"

"Trauma, I think. I get to head the department, I'll have Hunt and Kepner working under me again, and we'll make a hell of a team."

He nods, smiling largely. "I'm glad you can finally get back to work."

"Ah, you haven't cleared me to operate yet, Dr. Shepherd," she teases, then another thought enters her head and she sighs longingly. "My God, I can't remember the last time I was in a real OR."

"I seem to recall multiple surgeries a few months ago," Derek raises an eyebrow, leaning on the counter. She's standing a foot or two away from him.

"Not on the table. I mean operating. It's been far too long since I've been able to do what I love."

"Besides me," Derek smirks.

Meredith laughs and shakes her head. "Get your head out of the gutter." They kiss again, more passionately this time.

Sex jokes have been becoming increasingly common between the two.

Although, they both know her body's not ready for it...yet.

"I'm really happy for you. This is so exciting. I knew you'd want to stay here." Derek doesn't leave the embrace they've been holding since their kiss.

"I am, too. Megan says she thinks I'm ready to get back to work. Obviously, hospital jobs aren't nearly as strenuous as field missions in Afghanistan."

"How do you feel?"

"I need to cut. Desperately."

He rolls his eyes. "I mean physically."

"Like I'm ready to cut."

He kisses her lightly, cutting off their banter, knowing that if he continues this conversation, they'll get nowhere. Stubborn woman.