The Fight for Chief

Chapter 6

Needing a friend

"Dr Grey, I don't believe we've met" The blonde man leaned up against the scrub sinks and outstretched his hand. "Meredith Grey, Neuro" she smiled kindly at the man and shook his hand. "Mark Sloan, Head of Plastics"

"You're beautifully young for a neurosurgeon" he observed. Meredith eyed him sceptically and playfully. "I'm 32" she smiled nervously. Mark laughed with her. "What do you say to a drin-" Mark started to flirt but was interrupted by the scrub room door swinging open.

Derek looked at the two in their close proximity before rolling his eyes and pushing between the two, starting to scrub in. Mark still glanced at Meredith, both sharing a knowing look. They joined him in scrubbing in as Meredith and Mark engaged in friendly conversation.

"So Dr Grey, have you met Derek?" he asked. Derek glared at him. "Y-yeah. We met yesterday" Meredith smiled before looking at Derek. "So you've heard what a legendary neurosurgeon he is?" Mark beamed proudly. "Mark, cut it out. Not now." Derek warned him. "What? Can't I be proud of my boy?!" Mark asked.

Derek shook his hands of the water and turned to him. "No, you can't. Not after-" he quickly looked at Meredith. "Meredith doesn't need to know," Derek said before walking away. They both quickly followed behind him, Mark only winding him up more.

"Meredith? You two are on a first-name basis?" Mark smirked. "I-we-we worked together yesterday" Meredith mumbled as she took her position to the left of Derek. He glanced at her, appreciative of her response.

Mark noted the look between the two, growing more excited. "You slept with her man?" mark asked Derek. Derek grew bright red. Not from embarrassment, but from anger. "Mark-" Derek warned but Meredith interrupted. "Dr Sloan, there's a 2-month-old on Dr Shepherd's OR table, let's focus on that" Meredith said sternly before looking to Derek.

"Say it, Shepherd" she said. He nodded. "Alright everybody, it's a beautiful night to save lives" he said before taking the scalpel from Bokkee and making the incision on the young baby.

The 3 of them got I work in comfortable silence as they focused on their tasks. Mark observed as Derek and Meredith worked together like clockwork, a dream team. "You two work well together" Mark noted. Meredith looked at him, awkwardly smiling. Derek watched her carefully. "Mark, drop it" he mumbled.

Mark frowned at him. "No. I'm not even doing anything wrong" he snapped back. "You're bringing up people's personal lives in a professional environment. You're trying I do something." Derek mumbled as he carried on with the surgery.

Mark was pissed off now. Derek was acting like a completely different person around Meredith. He was always so happy, optimistic and talkative. And now he was giving him the hard shoulder.

"Meredith, did you know that Derek was married?" Mark asked as they began closing up the patient- this was sure to get Derek talking.

Instead, they heard the sudden clatter of the metal instruments and Derek stepping back from the table as he ripped off his gown and gloves. He walked out of the room without another word, making sure to slam the door behind him.

"You're an asshole, you know that right?" Meredith said as she looked at Mark. He only laughed at his friend's outburst.

Meredith rolled her eyes and stepped away from the table. "I need to go" she said quickly as she pulled off her gloves and mask, no longer wanting to stay in the room with this jackass. "What?! You're leaving me to close up?" Mark whined. Meredith nodded before leaving.

She went and found an on-call room to go take a breather and eat her dinner. When she unlocked the door, she was met by Derek sitting on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. "Oh- hey-" she smiled awkwardly as she placed her food on the desk.

He sniffled and wiped his eyes, only at that moment did she realise he was crying. "Are- are you okay?" she asked nervously as she stood in front of him.

He shook his head and looked away. "I hate him so much" he sighed. She frowned as she sat next to him on the bed, giving his arm a gentle stroke. "Who? Dr Sloan?" she asked quietly. He nodded. "Addison, my ex-wife I was telling you about? Married 12 years only for her to sleep with Mark, my best friend since we were kids" Derek said sadly before tugging on his hair.

"I'm so sorry Derek," she said as she gently stroked his back in an effort to comfort him. "It's fine. It was 6 months ago. I just-" he sighed in frustration. "It's hard to see them every day?" Meredith guessed. He nodded. "He walks into my OR so confident and happy, Addison's just been made Head of Obstetrics, and I just feel like I'm here: sad and miserable whilst they're getting on with life. Not only did I lose my best friend and wife, but they stole my happiness too." he explained "And I know everyone in this damn hospital talks about me. I went from being every resident's favourite attending to now being their worst nightmare" he continued to ramble on. "And now I'm sat here crying to you who is the only person in this hospital that has been nice to me since it happened and I've been a jackass to you too"

"You're not a jackass" she reassured him. "You're hurt. I would be too. But you're not a jackass. You just need to find the things that make you happy." Meredith smiled. "And for what it's worth, Derek, I find you very sweet" she said.

He laughed weakly as she stood up and grabbed her dinner. "Apple?" she asked, ready to pass it to him. He smiled as she threw it, catching it in his hands before she came back to the bed as she ate a pop tart.

"I'm sorry for how I acted earlier. I haven't-" he paused for a moment. "I haven't slept with anyone since the divorce..." Derek said before looking away from her. "I freaked out because it was the first thing that felt right in months. But I think you deserve better than that. I- I don't think I was ready to feel that." Derek explained. Meredith nodded understandingly before gently stroking his cheek.

"It's okay Derek, really. We were very drunk and- look, I get it, you're not ready. But that doesn't mean you don't deserve some love, even if it's a one-night stand. You're not a bad person, Derek. And I'd still like to be friends if you want. You seem like you could do with a friend" she smiled at him. He nodded. "Yeah, I could do with a friend" he smiled sadly at her. She grinned at him.

"So friends it is."