Looking at you side ways

23

Derek walked into the kitchen and saw that the coffee was already on. He poured himself a cup and glanced over at the chalkboard.[i] Meredith had already left.[/i]

Mark shuffled in and poured himself a cup, grabbed some power bars, and sat down. They had time for breakfast today.

Derek sat down with his cereal and asked, "Where do you think she goes before work at this hour?"

"Don't know. Maybe the vet's?"

"I don't think so. And she was doing it before she even met the guy. And you know, sometimes after work when she won't drive with us?"

"Why don't you just ask her if you are so curious?"

Derek replied, "Well, I am trying to respect her privacy. I figure she'll tell when she is ready."

"She is kinda secretive. She didn't want us to know who her mom was."

"Or her age."

Mark said, "She is getting better. Remember her freak out about her mother's things? I have been unpacking slowly and she doesn't seem to mind."

Derek laughed. "Yeah. A frame here and a rug there."

"Well, Sherlock. We could follow her one day."

Derek replied,"And if she catches us...do you want to get kicked out of the house?"

"Between working a hundred hours a week and fucking Aussie boy, I don't think she would notice if we had porn on the walls."

Derek scowled and stood up.[i] He didn't want to think about Meredith and Jaake that way.[/i] He put his dishes in the dish washer and said sharply, "I am going to get in the shower. Be ready to go in fifteen."

Mark watched as Derek stomped off. [i]What the fuck is his problem [/i]thought Mark.[i] Derek's moods were getting as bad as a chicks.[/i]

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A week later Derek and Mark were at Joe's having a drink. They had all driven separately that day. Meredith was working a later shift with Cristina.[i] Derek sensed that Meredith was avoiding him a little and he was a little hurt. She hardly talked to him and tended not to look at him when she did. He didn't think he had done anything to offend her, but she was definitely avoiding him. He missed their banter and their friendship. If she didn't change soon, he was going to talk to her about it.[/i]

Derek asked Mark, "So is Meredith avoiding you too?"

"I haven't seen much of her this week. I know she has been at the hospital a lot."

Derek persisted, "I know. But when you do see her...does she talk to you?"

Mark looked at him strangely, "Yeah. I guess so. She's normal. You are the one who is acting a little bizarre."

Derek narrowed his eyes at his best friend and put his drink down. "What do you mean?"

"Well, for starters, you are being a moody fuck. One minute you are fine and the next you are acting all dark and sullen."

"I am not dark and sullen!"

Mark shrugged his shoulders, "You asked."

Derek picked up his drink and drained it. "Go on."

"You normally are a happy go lucky kind of guy. I would even say kind and considerate. Oh, that makes me vomit in my mouth a little. Anyway, lately you are short with people and kinda an asshole."

Derek signaled Joe for more drinks as Mark watched a striking blonde across the room.

Joe sat drinks in front of them and Derek said, "You think I am being an asshole? Give me an example."

"Okay. Last week you snapped at Olivia when she misplaced your charts. It was an accident."

Derek ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. "Yeah I did. I apologized later to her."

"Good to know. But that is very unlike you to do that in the first place. And yesterday you were hurtful to Meredith."

Derek thought back to that exchange. [i]They had all been at lunch and she was avoiding him and he was a little upset about that. He had made a comment to her about keeping secrets and probably keeping secret lovers. It had started off as kind of banter, but ending up being mean and sarcastic. She had gotten up from the table quickly and walked away hurt. Yang had given him a WTF look and followed after her.[/i]

"Yeah. I don't know what the fuck is wrong with me." Derek sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

Mark put his hand on Derek's back and stood up.

"When is the last time you got laid?"

"I don't know."

"Seriously! You don't remember? What the fuck Derek? That is your problem! See that blonde over there."

Derek turned around and said, "Yeah."

"Is she our girl? I have been checking her out. I will give you first crack at her."

"No. You go ahead Mark. Sex isn't going to fix me." Derek thought [i]he knew what his problem was.[/i]

"You sure? You are starting to scare me a little. God man...look at her........"

"Yeah. You go for it. Good luck and thanks."

As Mark walked away towards the blonde he said confidently, "Don't need any luck when you have the Sloan method going for you."

Derek shook his head and signaled Joe for another. Mark's stool was quickly replaced with another person. Derek looked over and was surprised to see Jaake sit down.[i] Fuck! He sure as hell didn't want to see Meredith's boyfriend.[/i]