Looking at you side ways

22

Derek slowly changed clothes and Addison and Mark walked in. Addison walked over to Derek and lightly touched her arm.

"Hi there handsome. Let's have drinks over at Joe's. We can dish the new Chief. He is a real asshole. He made me look like such a fool today and now DePalma is pissed at me."

Derek shrugged her hand away and looked at Mark for help.

"No thanks Addie. I should get home."

"Why Derek? Come on! I need to drink. I have had an awful day. The little bitch Grey didn't back me up today either. She actually made things worse. You can make me feel better. Please?" she whined.

Mark looked over at Derek strangely. "A drink sounds good Derek. I could use one. My day sucked too. Just one and we will go home. I will be ready in a sec."

"No." said Derek firmly and again gave Mark the look. [i]Their look. The look that said just be my wingman, don't ask questions and back my ass up. Derek wanted to be home when Meredith got there. He sensed something was wrong.[/i]

Mark got it this time and shut his locker and told Addie, "Sorry Addie. Derek and I do need to get home. We rode in together too. Some other time."

"Fine! There are lots of guys at Joe's that will drink with me. Thanks so much for helping a girl out!" Addison was pissed.[i] She was having sex with DePalma and he was mad at her about the incident with the Chief.. The whole point of having sex with him was to get ahead and make her life easier. And she really wanted to be having sex with Derek again. She could not believe that he had used her for a one night stand. No one had ever done that to her before. He didn't even want to be friends with her and grab a drink. .She had told him about her trust fund worth millions, and he hadn't cared. He still didn't realize what a fabulous catch she was. She was so frustrated. Intern year was hell![/i]

Derek and Mark walked swiftly out the door and Addison said loudly, "Thanks Assholes!" Mark laughed and they went out to the car.

Mark tried to engage Derek in conversation on the way home,[i] but Derek was in a dark and sullen mood and only gave one word answers to his questions. Mark knew his friend enough to back off. Derek would tell him when the time was right. [/i] They stopped off and got takeout before getting home. They had finished eating and were in the living room watching TV and having some beers when Meredith came in the house.

She glanced at them and said softly "Hi."

"Hi there princess. Come on in and have some beers with us. Did you eat yet?" [i]Maybe Meredith could cheer Derek up[/i] thought Mark.

Derek was watching Meredith intently. He watched her set her bag down wearily.

She stayed in the foyer and glanced at them and said, "Um...I am not hungry. I think I am just going to bed."

"Bed?" scoffed Mark. "Do you know what time it is? What are you? Five years old?"

Meredith wasn't making much eye contact with them, but Derek could tell her eyes were red and puffy, like she had been crying.

Derek asked, "Meredith. Are you sick?" He put his beer down and stood up.

Meredith quickly started up the stairs when Derek got up. [i]She didn't want him to see her in this condition. God she was a weak, fragile mess.[/i] Derek walked over to the bottom of the stairs and looked up at her retreating back.

"Meredith?"

She turned around at the landing and didn't make eye contact with him.

"I um..I think I might be coming down with something. I am just going to take some Tylenol PM and go to sleep. Goodnight."

"Are you sure Meredith?" Derek started walking up the first step.

"Yes! Please. Just let me go to bed." She said helplessly. She ran to her room and shut the door and locked it. [i]God,[/i] she thought. [i]Don't let him follow me.[/i]

Derek stood on the stairs and looked up.[i] He wasn't sure what to do. She was obviously upset, but obviously wanted to be alone.[/i]

Mark had gotten up during this exchange and patted Derek on the back.

"Come on man. She's a chick. She probably had a fight with the boyfriend and doesn't want to talk about it. She probably is texting Yang all about it now. Let's get some more beer."

Reluctantly Derek followed Mark into the kitchen. [i]All he wanted to do was comfort her. To make sure she was okay.Yeah right,[/i] he thought to himself.[i] He wanted to do a lot more than just comfort her.[/i]