Looking at you side ways

47

Derek and Meredith just made it to the locker room when Dr. Bailey came in and gave out the assignments. They were going to be on opposite ends of the hospital today. Meredith made a quick visit to Ellis's room and found the Chief in there going over her chart with Tyler.

Meredith says hesitantly, "I can come back."

Ellis waves her in and says, "Come in. This is a teaching hospital."

The Chief nods his head at her and she steps in.

He says, "Looks like you'll be able to go home today Ellis."

She replies, "But I still have patients to see."

He says, "No. No more patients. I'll be back to check on you later."

The Chief hands Tyler the chart and they start walking out.

Ellis looks at Meredith confused and asks, "Are you my Doctor? You seem awfully young."

The Chief and Tyler turn around and Ellis says, "You should know I'm thinking of leaving Thatcher. I should never have married him. I'll leave him. You leave Adele. And then when our residency is over, we can both get jobs at the same hospital."

Meredith is stunned.[i] She always thought that they were good friends. Nothing more. They were lovers! Is that why her dad left? She has a momentary flashback of being on carousal and seeing her mother and Richard fighting. Her mother had said things before about Richard but...now she was saying them when she had moments of lucidity[/i] She starts slowly backing out of the room and finally just runs.

The Chief sighs[i] and realizes he has a new problem. [/i]He tells Tyler, "Why don't you get her meds ready for her discharge nurse."

Tyler nods and leaves the room.

Richard sits down on the bed and takes Ellis's hand and talk's softy to her.

Meredith is running down a corridor and almost runs smack into Dr. Bailey.

Dr. Bailey says, "Hey slow down. Where's the fire? I didn't page you."

Meredith stops and catches her breath. Dr. Bailey looks at her carefully.

"Grey. Your mother is getting discharged this evening if her labs come back clean, which I expect they will. You've made arrangements or do you need more time?"

Meredith says softy, "The nursing home is coming at eight."

"All right then. Get back to work."

Meredith nods and wishes she could find Derek.

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Derek and Meredith walk slowly to Ellis's room. They weren't able to see each other all day.

"Meredith? Are you okay? You seem....sad."

As they get to the doorway she says hesitantly, "Don't leave me alone with him."

Confused Derek asks, "Who?"

As they enter the room she whispers, "The Chief."

An orderly from the nursing home is helping Ellis get into a wheelchair.

The Chief looks up as Meredith and Derek enter and sighs and says, "Goodbye Ellis."

Meredith says softy to her mom, "I'm going to come see you tomorrow. Okay?"

Ellis looks between Richard and Derek and back to Meredith and grabs her arm.

Ellis says, "Meredith. He doesn't love her. He can't. But he'll stay with her anyway. She's his wife."

"Mom?" Meredith crouches down to get closer and Ellis cups Meredith's check with her hand and says surprised, "You grew up?"

"I did."

Ellis says, "Hmm...It's a shame. Its awful being a grown up. But the carousel never stops turning. You can't get off."

Ellis looks confused again and asks, "Are you the doctor?"

Meredith stands up and says, "I'll see you tomorrow." The orderly leaves the room pushing the wheelchair.

Richard coughs and says, "Meredith. We should talk."

Meredith chews her lower lip and twists her watch. "I can't. Not now."

Richard nods and says, "Maybe later."

Richard leaves the room and closes the door behind him.

Confused Derek asks, "What just happened here Meredith?"

Meredith says pleadingly, "Please Derek. Just hold me. And please tell me we are off tomorrow."

Derek held her tightly and rubbed her back softly and said, "We are off tomorrow and its date night."

Meredith sighed and said, "Um...date night." [i]She was trying to replace the bad images in her head of her mother and the Chief with her and Derek.[/i]

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Meredith woke up the next day refreshed and she stretched in bed. She thought [i]back to last night. Derek had been great. He hadn't pushed her to talk and when they got home he had told her to take a long hot shower while he made dinner. Mark was out and had left a message on the chalkboard that he would be home around ten. When she had come back downstairs Derek had pulled the sofa close to the fireplace and had lit candles. She saw wine and bowls of chicken fettuccini alfredo and crusty bread. They sat in front of the fire for hours and Meredith told him about the Chief and her suspicions. He held her and stroked her and they had both fallen asleep in each other's arms in front of the fire.[/i] Mark had come in and cleaned up and then woke them both up and they all went to bed.

There was a knock on her door and Meredith sat up and pulled the sheet up to her neck. "Come in."

Derek opened the door clumsily with two mugs of coffee in his hands. He walked over and sat one down on her nightstand.

"Good morning beautiful."

"You might want to get your eyes checked Derek. I have no makeup on and my hair is a tangled mess."

He gave her a quick kiss and said, "You're my mess and you are beautiful Meredith. Especially first thing in the morning."

She blushed as she took a sip of coffee.

"Thanks for the coffee."

Derek took a sip of his and said, "There is more of that. I am making pancakes and sausages."

Meredith moaned and said, "I don't think I have ever eaten so well since, well never. You are going to make me fat Derek Shepherd."

Derek scanned her body lustfully and said, "Um...you'll never get fat with your metabolism. Besides, I know lots of calorie burning activities."

She giggled and said, "I bet you do."

Derek walked back to her door and said, "It should be ready in about twenty minutes."

"Okay."

Mark stepped out into the hall as Derek shut Meredith's door.

He raised an eyebrow and said, "Coffee delivery?"

As Derek walked by, Mark went to reach for his mug.

Derek said, "Get your ass downstairs. I guess you want to be fed too?"

Mark followed Derek down and said, "You know Shep. I am not feeling the love between us anymore. What does she give you that I don't?"

Derek laughed as Mark went into his bathroom.

"Are you drunk? Or hung over? Or just stupid?"

Mark chuckled and said, "At least I got laid last night. Your semen is so far backed up, it's probably going to start coming out your ears." He shut the door and Derek shook his head as he went into the kitchen. [i]It had been awhile. A long time actually. The longest he had ever gone without sex since he started having sex. Derek smiled to himself and thought hopefully tonight is the night.[/i]