Looking at you side ways

20

The following month was a good one for Meredith. Derek and Mark were keeping up with their chores around the house. Her mother wasn't causing too many problems. She was getting into lots of surgeries along with Cristina. She was seeing Jaake once a week or so. After the humiliating experience at her house, their sleep over's were always at his apartment. The only issue Meredith had was Derek. He was hot and cold towards her. She remembered one day last week as she came home to change clothes before work. She walked into the kitchen and saw Derek eating breakfast.

"Hi. Good morning."

Derek asked, "Where the fuck have you been Meredith? You left the hospital at five PM and it's almost seven AM."

"Excuse me? I was at Jaake's."

"You didn't let us know where you were or write it on the board! You could have been in an accident or drunk somewhere."

Meredith asked, "Have you ever seen me drunk?"

"That's not the point."

Meredith looked at Derek and didn't see concern, only anger.

"You are not my parent Derek Shepherd. Do you write your whereabouts on the board every time?"

"I do as a matter of fact. Or I let you know. What if your mother or father had called? Your cell was off. I wouldn't have known what to tell them."

"They won't!"

"Well what if they did?"

"In all the months we have been living together, have they ever called?"

"Well again, what if they did?"

Meredith sighed and said, "My father walked out of this house in a raging thunderstorm when I was five years old and I haven't seen or heard from him since. My mother barely knows me. So no Derek; those call are never going to come."

Derek was shocked.[i] They had assumed that her father was still in her life. She never said he was dead or anything. What kind of man walks out on a little kid? What did she mean by her mother barely knows her. Derek saw the rare exposed pain in her eyes before she quickly turned away and went into the foyer.[/i]

He ran after her and said, "Meredith. I am so sorry. I had no idea. I was so worried about you. Please, next time, just let me know. We are family Meredith. We watch each others back. I care about you. Mark and I care about you."

"You have a funny way of showing it. I am going to take a shower."

As Derek watched her retreating back go up the stairs, he said, "I'll make your favorite specialty coffee to take to work."

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Since that conversation, Derek went out of his way to be protective of Meredith and try to get her to open up about her parents. She was having no part of it. She just shut down when he tried to get information about them out of her.

She was running a few minutes late as she ran down the steps into the lobby. Jaake was picking up her for dinner. She saw him talking to Mark and Cris. She walked up and loosely put her arms around his waist.

"Sorry I am late. I am glad you had somebody to talk to."

Mark and Cris started laughing and Derek turned around and gave her a big smile.

Derek winked at her and said, "Baby, you can hug me anytime."

Meredith dropped her arms embarrassed by the fact she had mistaken Derek for Jaake. From the back, they kinda looked alike.

"Sorry. I thought you were someone else...obviously."

Mark said, "Hey princess. Where is my body hug?"

Meredith mumbled, "I thought you guys weren't going to call me baby or princess anymore." [i] Why was she hot and tingly all over?[/i]

"Yeah right. Come on Shep. We have a few more hours of work to do." He patted Meredith on the head.

Derek walked away with Mark and said, "Have a good time Meredith." He mumbled under his breath, "Or don't."[i] That hug felt good, even if it was meant to be for Jaake.[/i]

"Jeez. That was humiliating."

Cris stared at Mer for a moment and asked, "Are you going out with Jaake because he looks a little like Derek? I mean Derek is taller and much better built, but from the back they could be brothers. Tall, dark, handsome, blue eyes........."

"Um...No! Why would you say such a thing? Of course not! Why would you even...oh never mind. That is crazy."

Cris started to walk away and said, "Me thinks the lady protests too much."

Meredith slumped down in a chair and thought to herself,[i] she's not right is she?[/i]