Looking at you side ways

28

Somehow Derek and Meredith made it though their shifts.[i] He had looked for her a couple of times, but she managed to avoid him completely.[/i] He was alone in the locker room changing when Cristina walked in.

Derek glanced up hoping it was Meredith.

Cristina got right in his face and asked, "Did you call Meredith a whore?"

[i]Fuck [/i]thought Derek. [i]Meredith did hear and told Yang.[/i] He sighed and ran his hand over his head.

"It's not what you think Yang."

"It's a simple question, you simpleton. Yes or no? Did you call her a whore?"

"I ugh...I didn't mean..I..."

"I'll take that as a yes!" Just as the door opened, Cristina slapped Derek hard across the face.

Mark, Meredith, Burke, and Addison walked into the room.

Addison ran over to Derek and yelled at Cristina, "What the fuck are you doing Yang?"

Addison tried to cup Derek's face, but he roughly pushed her hand away.

"Derek. You need to put some ice on that. And you need to report this to the Chief and HR immediately!"

Derek said, "It's nothing Addie. Drop it."

"Drop it? She attacked you! And you have 4 eye witnesses." She swept her hand to indicate the others.

Derek looked at Meredith with sorrow and she just hung her head.[i] This is all my fault,[/i] Meredith thought to herself.[i] She should have never said anything to Cris. Now people were fighting and I can't look at him. I ache when I look at him. [/i]Meredith opened her locker so that her back was to the room.

Mark said, "I'll get some ice. Be right back." He hurried out of the locker room.

Burke was looking at Cristina strangely.[i] He wondered what would cause her to go all cage fighter on Shepherd.[/i]

Addison put her hands on her hips and said, "If you don't report this, I will."

Derek said, "I deserved it Addison and I'll deny it ever happened so forget about it."

Addison was so angry, she grabbed Cristina's arm and said, "I can't believe you did that! What is wrong with you?"

Mark walked back into the room as Cristina shrugged Addison hand off her. "You want a smack down too Montgomery? I am just in the mood for it."

Addison towered over Yang and said, "Scrawny little bitch! You don't scare me."

Cristina rocked back on her heels a little and squared her shoulders and said, "You should be scared!"

Cristina shot one hand out like a prize fighter and punched Addison's shoulder with the heel of palm, pushing her against a locker. Addison recovered quickly and grabbed a huge handful of Cristina's hair.

Derek immediately grabbed Addison and Mark dropped the ice pack and grabbed Yang. Burke stood there stupefied, doing nothing. Meredith had spun around after first hint of a fight and stood horrified and motionless, watching the scene unfold.

As Addison and Cristina struggled against the larger and more powerful men, Meredith yelled. "Stop! Stop fighting. I'm not worth it. It's not worth it!"

Everyone froze at the anguish in Meredith's voice. Cris and Addison stopped struggling and Mark picked up the ice pack and handed it to Derek. Mark went over to Meredith and put his hand on her shaky shoulder. Just at that time DePalma walked into the locker room.

He looked around and wondered what in the hell was going on.[i] Burke looked shocked, Grey looked like she was going to cry, Shepherd had an ice pack on his face, Sloan looked stunned, and Yang and Montgomery looked white hot angry. [/i]

"The Chief has requested a surgical intern to monitor a preemie overnight. Any volunteers?"

Meredith raised her hand and said softy, "I'll do it."

Mark said, "I don't think that is a good idea Mer."

DePalma raised his eyebrow and asked Sloan, "You volunteering?"[i] He knew that Sloan hated gynie and peds. [/i]

"Um no, but I don't think Mer has had enough sleep." Mark replied.[i] He couldn't be around preemies. They were so small, they scared him.[/i]

Derek said, "I'll do it."[i] He knew Meredith had to be exhausted and just volunteered so she wouldn't have to come home. To him.[/i]

"No. The senior neuro attending requested you for an early surgery tomorrow. You can't stay overnight."

Derek said, "That's okay. You can give that to someone else. I'll stay."

DePalma narrowed his eyes at Shepherd and said, "No. He specifically asked for you! You need to be on your best game tomorrow morning."

"But..."

"No buts Shepherd. What the hell happened to your face?"

"I ran into a cabinet."

Addison grumbled under her breath, "Yeah. That's why there is a handprint on your face."

Cris said, "I'll stay."

DePalma said, "You just went over the eighty hour limit today Yang. Nope. Anybody else?"

Cris said, "But Mer is one hour shy of the eighty hour limit. She is going to go over!"

"Yeah, but she is under now. Anybody else?"

Montgomery and Burke just looked away. They didn't want to stay overnight unless there was something in it for them. This wasn't surgical. This was babysitting.

"Okay then Grey. Follow me.

Meredith started to follow DePalma when he turned around and said, "Did I mention this thing is under three months and should be allowed to die? It has multiple complications and is hanging on by a thread. But the Chief has decided to fly some cowboy in from LA to perform miracle surgery on it. Your job is to make sure it makes it through the night. This baby better be alive in the morning or your ass is on the line Grey!"

The locker room door shut and everyone just looked at each other shocked at DePalma's insensitivity and crudeness. Meredith was so screwed.