Against the clock

3.

Tw: vomiting

Mer's pov

The door creaked open, revealing Dr. Montgomery and Dr. Shepherd on the other side. As he caught sight of us, he turned his back and directed his gaze toward the mirror. 'God,' he muttered, looking at the sink, shaking his head—undeniably filled with a sense of shame.

Right on cue, Cristina threw up into the toilet. I have an extreme aversion of vomit, so I quickly ran out of her bathroom stall and covered my mouth. Cristina was aware of my hate towards vomit, so she would likely understand my quick retreat.

'Derek, I'm taking a cab. I'm going home, don't sleep in the same room as me.' Addison seemed to completely disregard my presence, and I couldn't help but feel like an unintentional witness to their unfolding personal drama.

The door slammed shut, reverberating through the confined space of the bathroom. In that tense moment, Derek's eyes burned into mine through the mirror. 'Do you need the sink?' he asked, his tone calm but eyes intense, referring to the hand on my mouth. I hesitated for a brief second, then shook my head, lowering my hand. I felt the need to address the unexpected situation. 'I'm sorry for overhearing. We were in the toilet, and I didn't really know what to—'

'It's fine,' he interrupted, his voice cutting through my awkward attempt at an explanation.

The door swung open, and Alex barged in, his eyes darting between Derek and me before settling on Cristina, who lie on the bathroom floor. Without waiting for an explanation, I appealed to him, 'Alex, could you please drive Cristina home?'

He nodded, gently scooping Cristina up in his arms. Her face nestled against his shoulder as he prepared to carry her out. 'Cristina, call me in the morning, okay?' I requested, a note of concern in my voice. Turning to Alex, I added, 'Alex, text me when she's home.'

The bathroom door closed behind Alex and Cristina, leaving Derek and me in an awkward silence. Derek, still facing the mirror, seemed lost in thought.

'I didn't mean to eavesdrop,' I ventured, breaking the silence. 'It just happened. I hope things work out for you two.' He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

Derek turned around, and looked at his shoes before his gaze turned towards me. 'Why are you here?' he asked firmly, a little louder than his previous retorts.

'Uhm' I didn't really know what to answer. This is a bar, a public bar. Why wouldn't I be here. Derek's piercing blue eyes bore into mine, waiting for an explanation. I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, feeling a need to justify my presence in the midst of the unfolding drama.

'I just uhm... I was invited' I said awkwardly.

Derek's frustration was palpable, and I could sense an undercurrent of tension in the air. He crossed his arms, waiting for a more satisfactory explanation.

'I get that you were invited, Meredith, but this is a teacher's bar. You're not exactly a part of that circle,' he pointed out, his tone revealing a mix of frustration and curiosity. I took a deep breath, attempting to navigate through the unexpected confrontation. 'Look, I didn't know this was a teacher's bar, but Izzie invited me. She's a friend, and I thought it would be a casual night out,' I explained, trying to convey a sense of innocence.

'Maybe I should be friends with Izzie too?' he says, laughing sarcatically. I raised an eyebrow at Derek's sarcastic laugh, feeling a spark of irritation. 'Well, Dr. Shepherd, if you're looking for an invitation, I'm sure Izzie would be more than happy to include you in our social circle,' I retorted, my tone matching his sarcasm.

Derek's eyes narrowed at my response, and a surge of anger flashed in his gaze. 'This isn't about her. It's about you disregarding the rules, Meredith,' he snapped, his voice rising with frustration. The tension in the room escalated, and I could feel the weight of his accusation.