Looking at you side ways

11

They settled in the following month into a friendly and efficient routine. Derek did the bulk of the shopping and cooked when he had time. He was an excellent cook and froze food when there was a surplus so Meredith and Mark could grab something out of the freezer to microwave. Mark was surprisingly a good cleaner and he kept the house up. It was like his body. He worked the body and he worked the house. Meredith handled the laundry. Everybody had a hamper in their bedroom. Each person took ownership of their bathroom. Meredith had the master, Derek the upstairs hall bath, and Mark had the lower bathroom with the shower.

Whoever got up first, started the coffee and checked the chalk board. That had been Derek's idea. He had found an old chalk board in the basement and brought it upstairs and hung it on a wall in the kitchen. He had suggested that they write their shift, hours and their whereabouts on it and it helped. Mother Shepherd called a lot, and Meredith could tell her when Derek or Mark was expected home. They rode together when they could. They usually took two cars because their shifts didn't always overlap. This way there was at least one car at home and one car or more at the hospital. They all had keys to each others vehicles.

They were working different shifts one day and Meredith was watching a surgery in the galley when Derek walked in.

"Meredith."

"Hi Derek."

"What are you watching?"

"It's a hemispherectomy, but it is almost over."

"That's a complicated surgery."

"I know. I can't believe we are the only one's here. I understand they haven't had one here in years."

"It's been going on for hours. I saw the first hour of it. I am going to the store after my shift. I got your note and money. Are you sure you don't need anything else?"

Ignoring him for the most part Meredith said, "No; I am good."

"Please don't take offense at this."

Meredith didn't waver from looking at the surgery. "At what?" she asked distracted only slightly. She leaned forward to get a better look.

Derek sighed a little. "Meredith, in college and med school there were girls in and out of Mark's room all the time. I have four girly girly sisters. I am used to buying Midol, tampons and condoms and such. It's no big deal."

"What!" Now he had her full attention.

Derek smiled at the horrified expression on her face.[i] She was actually blushing.[/i]

"Meredith; I know you stop and pick up your personal stuff. I am telling you not only do I not mind, but this was part of our deal. I shop. You do the laundry. I don't separate my underwear from my other clothes. So I am just saying; I don't care if you want me to pick up drugstore stuff for you."

"Derek; I am good." Meredith mumbled.[i] Like she was going to put tampons or Midol on her grocery list! Meredith liked both Mark and Derek, but they were still older men and she felt slightly uncomfortable around them at home. Mark walked around half naked half of the time and Derek. Well, Derek just had to look at her and she felt warm and mushy inside. She was fine with them at work. It was professional and she felt their equal. But at home? What the hell was wrong with her [/i]thought Meredith? [i]He was sitting too close to her and she was distracted. God! She should be watching the surgery![/i]

Derek cocked his head at her and watched as her face flushed.[i] She was too adorable,[/i] Derek thought.[i] He really just wanted to make her life easier and it was stupid for her to make an extra stop when he was going already.[/i]

"Meredith. Are you saying you don't use those products? You know we live together right? Mark and I can tell when you get your period. You get a little..."

She jumped up and interrupted him. "Derek! We are not having this conversation. I am good okay?"

Derek laughed at her and said "Okay. I will just go through your bathroom and buy the things you have in there already." He stood up and leaned in towards her, sniffing her hair. "That's lavender conditioner right?"

Meredith stepped back a little flustered. She pointed her finger at him and said, "You. You Derek Shepherd. Stop laughing. Stop laughing now! And don't even think about going into my bathroom. If you do, I will, I will...."

Derek interrupted her and said softly, "Meredith. Seriously. I am just trying to make your life easier. Let me get your stuff. Think of me like your older brother or something."

[i]Like a brother [/i]thought Meredith.[i] Not fucking likely. Derek made her feel uncomfortable and she wasn't sure why. But a brother? Um...No.[/i] Meredith started out the door when it opened from the other side and Mark stepped in.

"Hey guys? What's going on? Meredith baby, you look a little flushed." Mark put his hand on Meredith's forehead.

Meredith swatted Mark's hand away and said, "Stop calling me baby!" and she ran out of the galley.

Mark and Derek watched as she ran down the hall. Mark chuckled and said, "Man, our roomie has the sweetest ass in all of Seattle. I would so love to.."

Derek put his hand up and interrupted him. "You were the one to say don't go there because she is our landlord. You better not change your mind about that. Meredith is sweet and naïve. You had better not try to take advantage of her." He warned Mark. [i]Derek was a little pissed about Mark talking about Meredith's ass.[/i]

Mark raised his eyebrows at Derek and said, "What's wrong with you? Just because I can appreciate her knockout body doesn't mean I am going to go there. You know I think of Mer like my little kid sister. Just like you do."

[i]Derek was thinking that he didn't think of Meredith as his little sister. He didn't think of her at all like that. Sighing a little, Derek tried to tell himself that his feelings were just mixed up. She was young and seemed vulnerable. He was overprotective of her. Just like a big brother would be.[/i]

"Let's go," replied Derek as Mark looked at him quizzically. Mark knew something was going on with Derek.[i] And that something was Meredith. [/i]Mark shook his head and followed Derek out of the galley. Mark thought to himself, [i]this is going to get complicated.[/i]