4. Brother Dearest

"What's got you up and jumpy?" Emily asked, seeing Derek who had a wide smile spread across his face. "Your happiness is blinding me," She told him, signing off a chart.

"You're in a sour mood," He pointed out, pushing the elevator button. "I had a date," Turning to him, her eyebrows arched.

"Really? So old Shepherd still has game? Is it the intern you slept with?" She poked, as he let out a short laugh, looking down before glancing at the elevator buttons. It dinged as they passed another floor. "You need to tell me who it is,"

"Why? So you can tattle?"

"Like I'd tattle on you. No, so I can mock her endlessly," The doors opened. Stepping out with Derek, Emily kept pace with him, poking him with her finger. "Not even a hint?"

"No. And you won't get it out of me,"

"So what if I randomly guess? Cristina," He made a face. Laughing, she shook her head, "okay not Cristina. Izzie? No? Meredith?"

"This is completely against the rules," He protested, and she sighed.

"That didn't stop you before."

"I didn't know I was going to be working with her!"

"You know, you favor Meredith," She teased, knowing it was true. But it was fun to get a reaction as his blue eyes widened with shock.

"I do not!"

"She's been on most of your cases. Is she the one?"

"For the record," He started, placing a hand in his pocket, "we were both drunk and she took advantage of me."

"So, I am right!" She said smugly, pushing open a door to the cafeteria. Lining up, she peered at the options.

"Shouldn't you be working?" He asked pointedly, ordering a salad. Emily grinned as he grabbed a plastic fork, thanking the cashier.

"I had to run patient labs so I'm just waiting. Told them to page me when they're done. So are you guys a thing? Should I watch out?"

"Not yet," He finally caved, giving her the information. Scooping a piece of lettuce into his mouth, he stopped at a nurses' station.

"Not yet? You seem sure," She grinned. Her pager beeped and she scowled. Just as she was getting to the juicy bits. "Lab results. You aren't off the hook yet," She called, running down the hall.

.

The doors opened as Derek stood there. "Dr. Shepherd," Emily greeted, stepping out of the elevator as George and Meredith entered. "What a pleasant surprise,"

"See you later," He bid farewell to the blonde, bringing a piece of lettuce to his mouth. The doors closed and Emily let out a laugh at Derek's lost expression. "What?"

"Nothing. But this poor woman has something. Breast cancer." She waved the paper in her hands. "Derek, you look like you have something to say," The woman told him, flipping it over, rereading it.

"Is there something between O'Malley and Meredith?"

"Jealous?"

"I don't get jealous,"

"Really? 'Cause you face says otherwise," She sang, grabbing her patient's chart. "George might have a little crush on her, but it's nothing on her end. Don't worry, Derek, no one can compete with the hair," Were her parting words as she left, turning the corner.

.

"I'm worried about Meredith,"

"Are you now?" Emily hummed, from the head of the bed. She pushed the wheelchair along as the attending walked beside her. "Why?"

"She's distant, I feel like something happened during the CABG," Giving him a look, she continued pushing, hooking the IVs to the chemo. Saying goodbye to her patient, who smiled warmly at her, she left the Oncology wing as Derek continued to walk with her.

"You know I'm only an intern and you aren't suppose to hang out with interns. I'm busy with other cancer patients."

"But you're her friend."

"And I'm working. Ask her at the party,"

"I wasn't invited," That prompted a laugh from her.

"Poor you," She gave him a pouty face, walking into another room with a chart. She paused at the doorway, "Fine. But you owe me. I'll be right back," Clicking the pen, she continued deeper into the room, disappearing from sight to discharge a patient. "Congratulations, Mr. Jones," The sound of crying erupted in the room. "I'll leave you two alone," Exiting, she had a large smile that dropped to a smaller one as she spotted Derek waiting. "You're invited, blahblahblah. Okay? Even Bailey's invited so," She shrugged.

"That's not what I meant, but thanks," The neurosurgeon frowned, checking his watch. "It's nearly six, shouldn't you guys be getting ready for the party?"

"I might not go. Dinner date with brother dearest and his little baby on Skype seems way more interesting. Might as well make use of his break, he only takes those so often,"

"Mind if I join?"

"I just invited you to a party! Besides, Meredith will be there. You can come if the party's a total bust."

"Deal,"

"Gettem' Shepherd!" She called after him over her shoulder, walking towards the locker room. His laugh echoed down the hall.

.

"Hey, baby," She cooed again as she swallowed her takeout dinner. "What a cute baby you are," Her brother looked up from where he rocked his baby in his arms.

"Yeah, and more. Diaper changes and vomit. He's a real charmer." He said dryly before he laughed at her expression, "We have to take shifts and it's like my intern year all over again,"

"I'm exhausted," She told him, glancing around at her apartment, "I've never been so exhausted in my life. I'm being Derek's go to man, or, uh, woman. He's found someone," She lowered her voice to a whisper to add effect, waggling her eyebrows.

"Oh, really now? Who?"

"Can't tell," She winked, bringing another bite of food to her mouth, "maybe you can ask?" Noah's face split into a grin, before it faded. Settling his son somewhere out of the screen, he looked at his laptop camera.

"I know why Derek left now - Mark and Addie, they explained." He told her, letting his baby boy grab his index finger. "Are they getting a divorce?"

"I have no idea," She replied softly, stirring the pasta around in its bowl. "But he's happy here. With his ferryboats and his trailer. Noah, I don't think he's been happy in a long time," He hummed his agreement, glancing down at his fingers. Looking at the time, she was shocked. It was nearing twelve-twenty and they've been in a call for more than two hours. She held back a yawn, cracking her bones satisfyingly.

"Does lil' sis' need to go now? Night night time," He said in a hushed baby voice. Scowling, she threw her food into the trash.

"Yeah, got pre-rounds and I do not need you mocking me. I'm not a kid anymore, No',"

"You'll always be my little sister, Em,"

"I'm touched," She threw at him sarcastically, carrying her laptop into her bedroom and plugging it into the charger, which was basically right next to her.

"Reached real deep for that one," He returned easily, maneuvering his camera to focus on a sleeping Will in his cradle. "Isn't he the cutest?"

"Yeah, he really is," Emily mumbled, settling into her covers and placing her laptop on her thighs. "'Night, Noah. For real,"

"'Night, Em," The call ended and she shut her laptop, placing it on her bedside table.

A/N: Edited - March 13, 2018