Avery's Anatomy

Eight

Charlie parked her car and soon after saw Meredith park in the space next to her. They had agreed to drive separately from the hospital to avoid any implications of it being a date.While Charlie was in agreement, while secretly hoping that over their drinks, she could make Meredith see that dating her would be fantastic. As she stepped out of her car with her phone and wallet in hand, she couldn't help but smile when she noticed Meredith still seated in her jeep. The car was larger than she had imagined, especially considering Meredith's height.

"I hope the fact that I think you look ridiculous while driving that doesn't make lower my chances ," Charlie said with a smile.

Meredith playfully glared at her, loving her car because of its size. Despite the dealer's attempts to sway her, she remained steadfast in her preference for Abby. "Just so you know, criticizing me and my Abby isn't a good move," she retorted.Charlie stifled a laugh "Abby?"

Meredith nodded with affection, patting her car fondly, "Yes, Abby is a big sweetheart." Charlie made a conscious effort to suppress her amusement, "Oh wow, I have so many things to say."

Meredith raised an eyebrow challengingly, "Will you share them?" Charlie raised her hands in a playful surrender, shaking her head. "No, I think I'll keep that to myself for now," she said. She gestured toward the plain building in front of them. "Recognize where we are?"

Looking over at the building, Meredith observed that it was sandwiched between two fast food restaurants and didn't stand out much. "I'm not sure. It doesn't seem like anything special."Charlie agreed with a shrug. "That's exactly what I thought when I first came across it, about a year ago."

Meredith noted, "It sounds like there's a story behind that discovery."

Charlie laughed and said, "To be honest, it's a short and unremarkable story. Come on, let's go inside." Leading the way, she made sure to keep her hands to herself, resisting the temptation to place her hand on Meredith's lower back.

Charlie, familiar with the place, took the lead as they approached the door, holding it open for Meredith who seemed surprised by the gesture.

"I don't have to act like a cavewoman just because this isn't a date," Charlie joked.

Stepping inside, Meredith noticed the stark contrast between the exterior and interior of the bar. Despite its plain façade, the inside was cozy and inviting, with dim lighting creating an intimate atmosphere. The first floor was adorned with round tables and high chairs, in a mix of calming dark colors. Charlie guided them to a free table and courteously pulled out a chair for Meredith.After taking her seat, the neurosurgeon glanced at her companion and remarked, "This isn't what you had in mind, is it?" Meredith disagreed by shaking her head and placed her purse on the table, saying, "Not at all, it's quite..."

"Intimate, datelike?" Charlie suggested playfully, "But trust me, I only recommended this place for its impressive liquor collection. As much as I enjoy Joe's like every other Seattle Grace Doctor, Joe prioritizes quantity over quality."

Meredith raised an eyebrow at Charlie, teasing, "So you're not just a food expert, but you know your liquor and wine too?"Shaking her head, Charlie replied, "I wouldn't call myself an expert."

Their server, Lily, greeted them and offered them menus with a selection of drinks.Charlie turned to Meredith and asked, "Do you mind if I order for us?" Meredith shook her head and replied, "Sure, just no wine for me, I'm not a fan."

Charlie agreed "That's okay," she looked at the menu and said "I'll have a bourbon, neat," indicating towards Meredith she added "And for her, bourbon with splash of water to start with." Lily went to get their drinks as Charlie turned her attention to Meredith.

"Do you like bourbon?" Charlie asked.

Meredith shrugged and scanned the bar with a few patrons, "It's fine with me. So, do you come here often?"Charlie made a so-so gesture with her hand, "When I want to avoid familiar faces, mostly."Meredith smirked, resting her chin on her hand, "How often is that?"

Charlie chuckled, "Oh, often." Lily brought their drinks as Charlie ordered nachos for the group. "How was your day?" Charlie inquired. Meredith sighed, taking a sip of her drink and finding it surprisingly smooth despite her worries. "Not great," she confided. Charlie furrowed her brow, "Because of Alison?"

Meredith nodded, "Yeah, but there's more." Feeling silly, she added, "It's stupid." Charlie shrugged, "So what? I want to hear about it anyway." Sipping her drink, she felt the warmth glide down her throat.Meredith let out a small sigh and shared with Charlie, "When she entered, the nurses updated me on what had happened, but as I looked at her, aside from the severe injuries, I couldn't help but notice her shoes."

Charlie, puzzled, asked again, "Her shoes?"Meredith nodded, taking another sip of her drink, "Yes, usually I avoid wearing them because they're uncomfortable, but this morning before coming in, I decided to put them on..."Charlie's face slowly showed understanding, "Ah, so your mind immediately jumped to the worst possibility... That it could have been you."

Meredith was slightly surprised that Charlie had reached the same conclusion as her. "You don't find it strange?"

Charlie disagreed "No, not really. I think there's a psychological explanation for why you jumped to that conclusion. You've probably been in bad situations before, and without making assumptions, you likely imagined the worst-case scenario." She tried to explain tactfully to Meredith.Meredith agreed, nodding more enthusiastically "Yes, that makes sense."

Charlie smiled slightly "I'm relieved I didn't offend you."Meredith brushed it off "No, you didn't. In fact, you're right. I've been through difficult times before, and given the way my life has unfolded, I'm always waiting for the other shoe to drop." She admitted with a wry smile.

Charlie toasted the evening with her glass, saying "Here's to that." They laughed together, and the conversation between Charlie and Meredith continued throughout the night, staying light and not delving into personal topics.

Despite Charlie's worries about Meredith driving, they each ordered two more drinks. Meredith, proving herself to not be a lightweight, casually mentioned her long-standing relationship with tequila. Charlie chuckled but didn't argue. As a kind gesture, Charlie saw Meredith to her car, although it wasn't much of a distance since their cars were parked next to each other. She insisted on paying the tab for the drinks, despite Meredith's objections.

"I had a good time."meredith said as she fiddled with her car keys "Really?" Charlie asked with interest. "Is this the part where I leave you with kiss that takes your breath away?"

With a chuckle, Meredith replied, "Not a date remember ?."Charlie shrugged. "A girl can dream," she grinned. "But I also had a good time. Apart from Miranda, I rarely socialize with colleagues outside of work."

Meredith mulled over, the great time she had with Charlie, it exceeded her expectations. The time spent with Charlie confirmed Meredith's feelings of having a crush on the surgeon, appreciating her sense of humor, beautiful smile, and intelligence. Despite Charlie's brilliance, she was humble in her interactions with Meredith and always explained things in a way that didn't make Meredith feel belittled.

"I'm flattered you picked me as the second choice," Meredith joked as she adjusted a stray hair behind her ear, "Maybe going on a date wouldn't be such a bad idea after all."

Charlie's eyes widened with hope, "Really?"

Meredith confirmed, "Yes, but if we do this, there are going to be some rules." Charlie readily agreed, knowing Miranda would not be pleased if she didn't establish some boundaries, "I understand," she replied softly. Stepping closer to Meredith, she lightly brushed her fingers against Meredith's cheek before placing a tender kiss on it, "So, how about dinner sometime?"

Meredith blushed slightly, not just from the chill in the air, "Yes, I'll have to double-check my schedule."

Charlie smiled, taking a step back, "Sounds good. Drive safe, Grey. See you at work.

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