Where You Belong

104

Glad to finally be back in his hospital after spending five days across the country in another hospital, Derek frowned as his eyes immediately caught sight of his wife's name on the OR board. She was scrubbed in with Callie, and would be for at least another hour. Likely closer to two.

His disappointment at having to wait longer to see her was made a little better by the sight of the name that made him smile every time he spotted it on the board.

Grey-Shepherd, M.

Her decision had surprised him. After several weeks of indecision from his wife, Derek had believed she had wanted to remain Meredith Grey. And he hadn't been the least bit upset by that. He truly believed that her name was entirely her choice and wouldn't make a difference to him. But she had surprised him by announcing her choice six weeks into their marriage. Grey-Shepherd. It had quite the ring to it.

She had taken care of the paperwork, with the hospital, the American Board of Surgery and the government, without an ounce of hesitation. And he couldn't help but notice the soft smile that had captured her lips for the first week after her lab coat had been updated.

It had made him smile too. As much as he respected her right to make her own decision, he was more than happy with the one she had made. That she would choose to take his name made his heart swell. She was associating herself with him officially and forever.

He had originally expected to land in Seattle early that morning, but his flight had been delayed. He hadn't arrived in time to have breakfast with his wife, like they had planned. Instead his plane had landed hours later than expected and Derek had taken a cab home to shower and change. He didn't have anything scheduled that day, but he always had paperwork to do, so he thought it best to come in for a few hours. If nothing more, he could take Meredith out for dinner after her shift.

It had only been five days, but it had also been the first time he and Meredith had been apart for any real amount of time since they had gotten married. And the fact that she had obviously been struggling during his absence only made him miss his wife even more.

She had seemed okay after their middle of the night phone call several days earlier, but he still wanted desperately to hold her in his arms and look into her eyes and know she really was okay. Unfortunately, the OR Board's schedule was getting in the way of Derek's plan.

"You're back."

Derek turned his head at Mark's voice and nodded.

"How was Atlanta?"

"Good. I got to scrub in with Charleston twice."

"I still can't believe anyone trusts that man with a scalpel."

Derek chuckled. He and Mark had gone to medical school with Charleston and had more memories of the man at the bar than in class.

"Funny. He said the same thing about you."

Mark huffed. "I wasn't nearly as bad as him."

"Just keep telling yourself that."

"Whatever, man. Did you want to grab a drink tonight?"

Things with Mark had been improving steadily for months now. Derek definitely didn't consider him his best friend again yet, but Mark was definitely getting back into the friend category. They'd been out for drinks a few times.

"Maybe tomorrow. I have plans tonight." His plan for that evening was very simple. Take his wife out for dinner, make sure she really was okay and then take her home and make up for the days they'd been apart.

"Sounds good. Did you want to grab a coffee now?"

"I'd love to. It'll give me more time before I have to confront the Chief." He'd been angry at Richard since Meredith had told him about the conversation she had shared with the man who was supposed to be impartial. He wasn't looking forward to the conversation that he knew he had to have because he wasn't sure he'd be able to hold his temper in check.