Whatever It Takes

Chapter 44

You probably think I've lose my mind..
Taking this chance, crossin' that line.
--Deana Carter



"Have you seen Meredith yet?" Derek asks as he sees Mark getting off the elevator the next morning...

Mark looks at him precariously through tired eyes seeing him already looking like he's been at work for hours while Mark stands there barely awake in his street clothing.

"You're here early this morning." He grumbled...

"Yeah, whatever." He sighed "Have you seen Meredith?"

This time he asked a little more urgently, Mark cocked his brow up curiously..

"I haven't, but unless you've signed those divorce papers yet I don't think she's going to be happy to see you."

"Look if you see her tell her I'm looking for her."

"Why are you so hell bent on seeing her, thought you weren't here for her." He said with a smirk..

"I'm not I-" he frowned "Look Meredith and I are... sorta friends."

Mark reared his head back in surprise as his mouth propped open and he let out a snort..

"Right, and I'm your Irish uncle."

"You're not Irish, and both my parents are only children." He retorted "Just let her know I'm looking for-"

The elevator doors opened at that moment causing both men to look over.. Meredith came barreling off in a hurry, hair wet from the rain, clothes wrinkled and mismatched and in a rush.. she stopped suddenly almost colliding with Derek as he put his hands out catching her...

"Hi." She said out of breath...

"Hi." He said with a relieved smile... "I've been looking for you."

"Oh." She replied "Well here I am."

"How are you.. are you ok?" he asked concerned "I wanted to find you but... I don't have your number."

"Oh." She said with a shake of her head "Yeah that thing.. I'm fine.. everything is ok... Finn... he understands."

"Oh." Derek said both feeling relieved as well as disappointed, "Well... good."

"Yeah... good."

They both stared at each other not sure of what to say next, feeling the urge to get lost into one another's eyes and starting to feel the world around them begin to fade...

"So I have to go.. I'm uh... late." She said shaking herself out of the bubble...

"Right.. um.. hey maybe we can meet up for lunch?"

"Huh?" she asked a little off guard...

"Well I mean its what friends do... eat lunch together."

"Oh, right um... maybe.. if I'm not busy... I don't know."

He gave her a nod with a slight smile as she returned a small smile and walked off quickly... Derek let out a somewhat relieved sigh as he stood there watching her disappear forgetting that Mark had been standing there the entire time...

"Wow... you two really are friends." He said amazed...

"Mmm-what?" Derek asked breaking out of his trance and turning to see a shocked look on Mark's face.. "Oh yeah.. we... uh.. friends."

"So what comes next?" he grinned "Matching BFF necklaces, painting each other's fingernails, or my all time favorite.. the slumber parties."

Derek rolled his eyes as he rocked back on his heels and started down the hallway shaking his head.. he didn't expect Mark to understand... but a smile crossed his face at the thought of something he mentioned.