Little Shepherd

Chapter 18

"May I walk you to your car?" Derek asks Meredith politely. He's grinning from ear to ear, beyond excited that she's finally agreed to let him take her out. Not for the sake of the chase like she originally thought, but purely to get to her know the mystery that is Meredith Grey.

"I'm actually waiting for Izzie and George, we're carpooling. Thank you though." She replies with a bashful smile. His eyes graze her cheeks as they flush a gentle shade of pink.

"George 'Malley?" Josie asks, shocked that this new kind woman knows the big dummy that dumped her onto someone else the day her dad missed 'circles'. Derek questions himself how in the world his three year old knows Meredith's house mate. He recalls the day, weeks ago that he left the man in charge of taking her to daycare.

"Mhm." Meredith nods.

"Interns..." Josie groans. Derek can't help but laugh.

"Hey missy, Meredith here is an intern too and she's not so bad." He says.

"Yeah well 'Malley said screw you to the big mean intern with all the muscles and then left me with the pretty blonde lady. 'Zona found me and saved me." She tells them, crossing her arms. He looks to Meredith apologetically, but to his surprise she's laughing.

"Apparently when I left them with the simple task of dropping her off at the childcare center the whole world fell apart. That was back before you joined the program. She apparently knows how to hold a grudge." He explains to Meredith.

"I can't believe that they never thought to mention you had daughter. I mean it's not like we don't talk about you.." She stops herself.

"You talk about me?" He asks with a smirk. She rolls her eyes at him.

"Shut up." She teases.

"Hey Mer..." George shouts to her from across the lobby. He freezes when he see's that she's with Derek and Josie. He chuckles nervously as him and Izzie approach the three of them. Josie sighs audibly, causing Meredith to choke back a laugh.

"Hello Doctor Shepherd." Izzie says formally.

"Josie was just telling us all about your little babysitting incident." Meredith tells them. George turns bright red, knowing exactly what 'incident' they're referring to.

"I-" He chokes, unsure what to say. Derek chuckles. George shifts nervously.

"Relax O'Malley, it's fine." Derek says lightly. Meredith and Izzie can't help but snicker at his discomfort. Josie narrows her little blue eyes at him, making him squirm which makes it even funnier. "Don't worry, she doesn't bite." Derek teases.

"Do too." Josie grumbles.

"I like her already." Meredith says, finding her little grudge hilarious. Josie smiles at her proudly, before looking to George.

"Don't worry 'Malley I forgive you." She says sweetly, batting her eyelashes and flashing him a kind smile. She was immediately drawn to Meredith, and she can see the way her daddy looks at her, so she decides that it would be best to make friends with the people that matter to her. She doesn't want to drive her away by being a brat, even if Meredith finds it funny. She may be young but she's very aware of herself. She blames herself for what happened with her parents and doesn't want to be the reason this new, kind, beautiful lady distances herself from Derek. Besides George is 'just an intern' what could she expect.

"Thanks kid." he replies, sounding relieved. After all she is his boss's kid. If Bailey had a kid and they pulled what they did with Josie with them, she would have had their necks. He's grateful that Derek responded differently.