officailly yours

Part 6

Tess looked from one to the other as they rode the elevator. Meredith had a worried expression and Derek was smiling broadly, somehow the roles had changed.

"It's really nice out" Tess pointed out. It was so uncomfortable being there, in between the two of them as they walked down the street. The expressions on their faces hadn't changed, he was still smiling and she was still worried.

Derek looked down at her and nodded with a smile. He saw Meredith's expression then and decided to push it a little further, changing places with Tess he moved to walk in the middle of both females and took their arms in his.

Meredith smiled nervously at him but to his satisfaction she didn't pull back, not at first at least. At his other side Tess just observed them with amusement. After a moment Meredith changed her briefcase from hands, effectively pulling away from him.

Derek released his sister's arm and took Meredith's briefcase from her. He knew Meredith was reluctant to have him touch her, so instead of taking her hand in his as he so much desired to he simply let his hand loose.

As they walked the back of their hands touched continuously. For much her face didn't show it he knew she liked it, proof of that was the fact that she wasn't moving away from him. He was enjoying it too, but he wanted more, so much more than that simple touch but he would take whatever he could get. It wasn't for more than a second but their hands entangled just before they arrived at court.

He watched her go into lawyer mode with a radiant smile, he was so proud of her, of who she was. He sat back and just watched her get ready for action. As minutes passed by her confident face changed to worry, she checked her wrist watch at least 20 times in only 10 minutes and looked back at Tess even more times, something was wrong. Derek leaned in to ask Tess what was happening.

"Her client is late, he should have been here 30 minutes ago"

Everyone on the room became really impatient at one point, specially the judge. Meredith tried to calm everyone, saying Jeremy was on his way and that he would be there in a few minutes even though she wasn't sure of it.

She tried to call a dozen times but there was no answer, right when she was about to give up her cell phone started vibrating on the table, with a quick excuse to the judge she picked it up. Derek watched as the color on her face changed to match the white on the walls, tears welled up on her beautiful emerald eyes.

"Well Miss Grey?" the scary looking judge insisted yet once again

Meredith ended the call before she stood up slowly. She opened her mouth to speak, to say whatever was the problem but her voice failed her. Derek looked at Tess with worry but she simply shrugged, she had no idea what was going on either.

"Ther- The-" Meredith tried with a shaky voice "I... I'm afraid..."

"What's going on Miss Grey?" the judge insisted, he wasn't the least bit worried about Meredith's pale face and tears, in fact he looked more annoyed than anything. He just needed this case to be over.

"They... They've just found..." she trailed off as she changed her focus to the lady sitting at the far end of the desk right next to hers "Jeremy is dead"

There was a loud scream followed by sobs, Jeremy's mother was inconsolable.

Derek looked at Meredith with worry, she was staring at the poor crying woman but she wasn't blinking, her face was still pale and tears streamed down her face like a fountain. Not even the loud thump of the gavel made her blink, yes she jumped with the loud noise as the judge said with sadness on his voice "I guess we're adjourned then" but she never reacted.