Holiday in Handcuffs

Chapter 10

There was a short knock against the bedroom door. Derek's head shot up as Meredith raced to the door and cracked it open. Whoever it was behind the door pushed it open and forced their way past Meredith, nearly knocking her over in the process. Derek was surprised to see that it was a thin Asian woman that had just made Meredith nearly tumble over.

"OK, what was so freaking important that I had to miss 'Life and Traumas of the E.R.' for? You know how much I love that show. I was having a very bloody Christmas until you called and... Ohhh... helllooo." She said as she spotted Derek sitting on the bed. "Who are you?" She asked.

Derek opened his mouth to speak, but the Asian woman cut him off. "Wait! Don't tell me." She said quickly. "You're hot. And hot men seem a lot less hot when they start to speak. Don't you think so, Meredith?" She joked, turning to face her friend who was leaning against the closed door, her face scrunched up in a wince. "So, who is he? And what happened to Brian?"

"Cristina." Meredith said with a warning tone.

"Oh! Is this my Christmas present? Meredith, you shouldn't have!" Cristina said as she advanced towards Derek. "He's a little too dreamy for my taste, but he'll do." She laughed as she gave Derek the once over. "OK. Seriously, Meredith. You didn't have to cuff him to the bed already. You're already ruining the enjoyment."

"Cristina." Meredith said again.

"What? I'm just curious as to where you found this one." Cristina laughed.

"She kidnapped me." Derek deadpanned, glaring at Meredith, who's jaw had dropped to the floor.

"Oh, look. He's funny, too." Cristina commented.

"No, really... she kidnapped me. With a gun and everything." Derek said, sneering at Meredith as he spoke.

Cristina rolled her eyes. "See? I told you. He was a lot hotter when he wasn't talking." She said as she turned to face Meredith again.

"I'm serious!" Derek said with a raised voice.

"OK. Whatever. Meredith's a crazy person. Ha. Ha." Cristina said. "What is with this guy? Is he mentally handicapped, or something?" She asked Meredith.

"No, that would be Meredith." Derek muttered.

Cristina turned to glare at him. "Seriously! Shut up! Meredith, what on earth is he talking about?" She asked as she whipped around to see Meredith slinking away from the door, an apprehensive look on her face. "Meredith. Stop it. You have that look."

"What look?" Meredith asked.

"That look that you get when you've done something bad. You've done something bad. Oh, God! Meredith, what did you do?" Cristina asked as her shoulders dropped.

"I just told you! She kidnapped me and pointed a gun at my head!" Derek shouted. "Geez... what else do I have to say to make you believe me? Isn't the fact that I'm handcuffed to the bed enough?"

"Please tell me this is a joke." Cristina pleaded. "Or that I'm dreaming or something.... because if what he says is true...." She trailed off as she looked at Meredith and prayed for her to start laughing.

Only, Meredith was far from laughing. In fact, she looked like she might cry. Or completely flip out. Cristina wasn't prepared for either, but Meredith was her person... and there was obviously something going on here.

"Dammit." Meredith whispered as she slid down the far wall and rested her head on her drawn up knees.

"Oh, Meredith... you didn't." Cristina sighed as she plopped down on the foot of the bed.