The Fight for Chief

Chapter 12

Reconciliation

They all walked into the bar as a group after their successful surgery. Once they'd found a large booth, Derek stood back up. "First round is on me" he smiled before everyone thanked him and took the order to the bar.

A little while later Derek came back to the group with a tray of drinks, everyone cheering and clapping as he placed it on the table. Everyone took their own and Derek raised his. "Today, we did something incredible, and I couldn't have done it without you all. The 3 of you? You're the finest surgical team I've ever worked with" he smiled as he raised his glass.

"To Dr Shepherd" Meredith cheered but Derek shook his head. "To all of us" he cheered before they all clinked glasses. Meredith swung her arm around Derek, squeezing him close and kissing his cheek. "It's been so great today" she said with a smile. He pulled away slightly, looking into her eyes, almost as if he was going to kiss her. "It really has" he said lowly, glancing at her lips.

They were broken apart by Lexie booting her sister's shin, glaring at the two. They only blushed before letting go of one another, taking a big gulp of their drink.

The night was filled with lots of laughs about Derek and Jo dropping the vein, or how Lexie was in charge of the doomsday sucker, all before the girls got up to dance, but Meredith stayed back with Derek. "Hey" she said quietly as she shuffled back closer to him before he wrapped his arm around her. "Thank you" he mumbled into her hair, before kissing the top of her head. "For what?" she frowned. "For giving me a chance. For standing up for me. For not hating me" he chuckled nervously. "I couldn't hate you, Der" she sighed happily, enjoy his tight hold around her.

They remained in silence a little longer, just enjoying each others presence before Meredith pulled away. "I'm going to go dance" she smiled at him before she looked to the bar where she saw Mark sat alone, nursing a scotch. "I think there's someone you should go speak to" she said knowingly.

Derek nodded and sighed. "You're right" he said quietly as they climbed out the booth. Although Derek wasn't a dancer, he spun Meredith under his arm as he crossed the dance floor, making her giggle as she joined Jo and Lexie.

"Scotch and soda? You've gone soft" Derek commented as he sat on the barstool, noting the bubbles in Mark's glass. "Yeah" he laughed, exasperated. Derek signalled a 2 at Joe, asking for another round for them both before Derek stole some of the pistachio nuts that Mark had been eating.

"So how've you been?" Derek said casually still not able to look at him. "Been better. You?" Mark sighed. "Been better" Derek countered with a smile. Mark frowned. "Y-you hate me, why are you talking to me now?" Mark asked. Derek focused was on the shell of his pistachio nut, not realising how awkward this was.

"I just thought I'd come over, seen as you're alone" Derek shrugged before thanking Joe for their drinks. Mark went to pay but Derek stopped him, handing Joe a $20 bill. "Thanks" Mark nodded his head towards Derek. He nodded back.

"I'm guessing Meredith told you to come over and talk to me"Mark chucked a little. "Meredith isn't my boss" he mumbled as he continued to eat the nuts. "But you value her opinion, you respect her" Mark said. Derek laughed to himself, taking a big gulp of his scotch. "Yeah" he sighed as he looked down at his hands. "Love in the air?" Mark asked as he spun the ice in his drink. Derek sighed, he needed his friend right now, because he was so confused.

"Yeah, big time" he nodded as he slammed his head onto the bar in defeat. "Derek" Mark said before swallowing the lump in his throat. "I know I took Addison from you, and so much more, but-" he sighed. "Meredith's the one I think" he said quietly as they both turned to watch the girls dancing. Derek groaned. "I'm so screwed"