Meredith was discharged the next day from the hospital, having been kept overnight for observation: apparently, she'd hit her head hard when she'd fallen, so her physician wanted to make sure she didn't have any subdural bleeding. Once he'd signed off on her discharge papers she practically sprinted out of the room. She needed a shower in the privacy of her own home. Unfortunately, the guys decided to stay all night by her side. Normal women would swoon at such chivalry on their behalf, and Meredith wished wholeheartedly she could be like one of them. Instead, stress prohibited her from relaxing long enough to fall asleep, resulting in a sweaty, anxiety driven delirium that had nearly driven her insane. Not only was she mental, now she also stunk to high heaven and desperately needed to scrub her skin clean of the hospital smell.

She didn't go back to work until the next day. Her nose was still covered by a dressing, and her face was puffy and bruised, now mottling into ugly bluish-green blotches. Her eyes were red rimmed and swollen due to a fitful night of restless dreams.

Meredith knew she looked hideous, yet, the fridge needed to be stocked with food for the week, so she had to make at least one appearance at the office, if only to afford some ramen. Her clothes were wrinkled so badly an elephant wouldn't be caught dead wearing them, and her socks were blatantly mismatched. All in all, she was a walking textbook disaster of how not to appear in public.

"Oof!" She grunted, stumbling backward. She was so lost in her thoughts that she failed to notice the office door swinging out. It hit her in the arm, thankfully, not her face. However, the jolt was enough that she lost her footing and tumbled. A strong arm shot out and pulled her upright, the swiftness of the motion whipping hair from Meredith's messy bun.

"Mer!" Jet cried in astonishment. "Why didn't you answer my calls?" His voice sounded gruff and harsh, very unlike him.

"What calls?" Meredith stammered, thrown by his sudden personality change.

"I called you all day yesterday to make sure you were alright." He explained roughly, still holding her steady.

Meredith brought her trembling hands to her hair, using the excuse of fixing her wayward strands to distract them both from her nervousness. "I didn't see any missed calls." She assured, affixing her bun tightly on the top of her head. "See." Her hand, now a bit steadier, dove into her pocket to pull out an old cell. "No calls."

Jet sighed, tentatively slipping the phone from her grasp. "This isn't even on, Meredith." He tried to power the device up, face impassive. "It's dead." He grunted, thrusting it back in her palm.

Meredith's mouth formed a small, perceptible 'o'. Her eyes widened, a hint of fear fliting through them briefly. "I'm so sorry, Jet. I should have known." She gazed down in shame. "I know I'm late, and I forgot to call yesterday and-"

Her words were cut off by a calloused finger pressed firmly against her lips. "Don't." He shook his head, warding off her attempted apology. "You were exempt for yesterday. Don't apologize."

"But-"

"Had you asked, you would have known that I approved you a week off." Jet explained, bringing his hand down. The tip of his finger drew across her lip and she shivered.

"Why did you seem angry?" She asked, suddenly confused by the conversation, like she had missed a crucial piece of information.

Jet couldn't seem to meet her eyes. "I was worried about you, Meredith." He admitted slowly, still avoiding her gaze. "You weren't answering your phone, and as your boss it would be highly inappropriate for me to just show up at your apartment and check on you." He swallowed visibly, Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

"Thank you." Meredith managed to stammer. She had no idea why he would care, except that work needed to be done and there wasn't anyone else besides her to get it finished.

Jet finally turned his head and looked into her eyes. She was mesmerized by how long his black lashes were, thick and full, rimming his clear blue eyes. He also had amazing eyebrows for a man, devoid of wandering hairs and the typical male unibrow. His skin was on the paler side, but smooth and even without blemishes. "I'm glad you're alright."

Meredith's reply was caught in her throat. She managed a weak nod in response, which seemed to be enough. Jet's mouth hitched in a brilliant grin and he grabbed the door, propping it open for her to enter.

"Thank you." Meredith spoke softly, then groaned. She always seemed to be needing help.

Jet chucked, closing the door behind him. "Did you just growl?"

"No." She whipped back hotly, angry at herself. "I don't need help."

Jet froze, features hardening as he turned to her. "Really, Mer?"

Meredith stopped, body heating up in embarrassment. As socially inept as she was, she knew what she said probably hurt Jet, since he cared enough to even try with her. "Sorry." She hung her head, face hot, arms crawling with tingles. "I do need help. I just want to help myself."

"It's okay, Meredith." Jet assured. "I know you need to work some things out."

"How?" Meredith's pleading, desperate eyes pulled him in like a whirlpool. He was speaking before he knew what hit him.

"I have an idea. You want to help yourself? Go on a practice date with me."

"What?" Meredith balked at the idea; mouth parted in surprise.

"Please?" Jet persisted. "If you want to learn how to behave around all those guys at the club, you need to spend time in a more intimate, one-on-one setting with one." He explained, as if it was the most obvious choice she could have made. "Then you won't feel so uncomfortable around other men." She noticed he winced a little at that but had no clue what could cause that kind of reaction from him.

There was a very long pause, in which they both stood in the foyer of their building and watched each other awkwardly.

"Okay." Meredith breathed out; unaware she'd been holding her breath. "What do you have in mind?"

"Coffee." Jet smiled brilliantly. "Just a simple afternoon date at the café around the corner."

Meredith, past the point of sleep deprivation, agreed before her brain could properly process the request. "Yes please." She rushed, eager to get her caffeine fix.

"Let's go now." Jet offered quickly before she could change her mind, gesturing toward the sparkling glass windows of the foyer. "It's a beautiful day."

"Um, okay." Meredith hesitated briefly, forcing her feet to move onward. She desperately wanted to be normal, and she knew this is what normal people did; they went and sat in coffee bars and talked about books and politics.

She breathed deeply and stepped through the door Jet held open and reemerged into the brilliant light. A gentle breeze wafted around her like a caress, the scent of impending autumn on the air. Bright blue sky with soft, floaty clouds was the backdrop for the bustle of the lunchtime crowd, the streets packed with cars heading to their luncheon destinations.

Jet walked casually next to her, occasionally brushing against her arm when he swung his, long legs striding with ease. She managed to match his pace, though he was easily a half foot taller than she. He was a very handsome man. Meredith had caught herself staring far too many times when he was on conference calls or buried in piles of paperwork. Not only was he easy on the eyes, he was incredibly intelligent, from what she'd gleaned during their lengthy conversations throughout their time together. Jet Bianchi was a self-made prodigy, having originated from Italy as an orphan with a migrant family that spoke no English and considered him their son. Upon arriving in the States, he'd taught himself the language by reading vendor stand magazines by flashlight at night, while he worked in their small, homestyle restaurant by day. Once he demonstrated a propensity for learning, and could hold conversations well enough, they had enrolled him in public school.

He had excelled in every subject throughout grade school, his prodigy earning him a full ride to Harvard, where he studied corporate law and graduated with honors. Straight out of university he'd applied for a loan and with a handful of wunderkinds started the business where they worked. Built from the same caliber, they shared the same vision: a company that contracted out to small businesses to improve their effectiveness in the corporate world. The focus was to assist in the revision and drafting of their policies and procedures, particularly regarding each business' environmental footprint.

So far, their success in that endeavor hadn't been surpassed: small businesses sent in requests for counsel daily, and the ones they'd helped were far more profitable, sustainable, and flourishing marvelously. They were so busy that Jet had decided a secretary was necessary, though he always said he disliked the idea and considered Meredith a partner in the company and not just a 'living sorting device', as he put it.

True to his word, he treated her as such, frequently bouncing ideas off her and picking her brain. Everything he read, from articles to books to research, Meredith pored over as well, soaking in everything she could to help him while enriching her own knowledge database. Their working relationship was mutually beneficial.

"What are you thinking about?" Jet was looking at her pensively as he reached for the café door. Meredith hadn't realized their steps carried them that far already.

She didn't know how to reply, so settled on the truth. "You." Her face went bright red, and she was grateful for the sudden rush of cool air that escaped the shop as Jet opened the door for her.

"Me?" Jet's cheeks tinged a bit as well. "What about me?" He gestured to a nearby empty booth as they stepped through the doorway.

"How you started your company." Meredith replied shortly; she didn't want to reveal what else she'd been daydreaming about.

As they settled in, Meredith began to tense. This coffee shop wasn't her usual one. Normally she chose the same booth, same barista, the same drink. Always the same.

She jumped nervously as a waiter popped up unexpectedly, pen and pad in hand. He was kind of tall and lanky, dark black hair messily arrayed on his head. A smattering of freckles dotted his nose. Meredith surmised he was around her age. He met her eye and smiled warmly. "I'll start with the beautiful lady."

Meredith's heart hammered as he leaned closer to hear her. "My name's John." He offered. "What can I get you today?"

"Oh uh, I've never been here." Meredith muttered, attempting to hold his gaze so as not to be rude. He was cute, though, so she found it difficult to interact with him.

"That's okay. I'm prepared for that." He grinned, whipping a menu from somewhere and placing it open in front of her. "Almost everything here is good. However, I have a few favorites to recommend." He leaned even closer and pointed to a picture in the corner of the menu. "That one is excellent." His breath tickled her cheek and suddenly her arms were popping up in goosebumps, shivers of discomfort racing down her spine.

Jet scowled and cleared his throat. "I'll have the same." He growled, crossing his arms over his chest, biceps flexing visibly under his dress shirt. "Venti."

John swallowed, his eyes meeting Jet's and filling with some sort of realization. He nodded, easing back and scribbling furiously on the paper. "Two autumn spice lattes." He flashed a chance grin at Meredith, deepening Jet's soured expression. "Coming right up, beautiful. Don't want to keep a lady waiting."

"Her name is Meredith." Jet's retort was hostile.

Then he was off, leaving Meredith and Jet to themselves. Meredith couldn't speak. Now that they were out of the office setting and in a new environment, all the bravado she managed to muster during the workweek flew out the window. The result was a very pregnant silence as they watched each other awkwardly. Meredith folded and unfolded her hands repeatedly, Jet shifted in his seat uncomfortably. Finally, he blurted,

"You're so oblivious, Mer." He sighed, rumpling his hair in frustration.

"To what?" She questioned cautiously, eyeing the worn table beneath her twitching fingers. Jet eyed the offending appendages as they tapped obnoxiously.

"Everything." Jet grabbed her hands, stilling them from where they were picking at gouges in the wood. "That barista was flirting with you."

"Oh." She mumbled, afraid to look up. Jet's hands were warm on top of hers, so big they covered them completely. "I didn't know."

"I know." Jet's voice assured warmly. "That's why we are doing this."

"Right." Meredith muttered, detached. "So, what now?"

Jet stared at her incredulously. "Have you never been on a date?"

Meredith blushed, embarrassed. "I have." She defended, riling up. "They just don't usually go well." She admitted sadly.

"Usually we would talk about ourselves, to get to know one another better." Jet offered.

"I know that." Meredith snapped. Jet's jaw ticked.

"Are you always this bristly with your potential suitors?" He hissed, immediately regretting it: Meredith's head hung in dejection, eyes glistening with fresh moisture.

"I'm sorry." She whispered at the same time Jet blurted "Don't. It's my fault. I provoked you."

"Two lattes." A jovial voice chimed in, brushing between them to place the cups down. The server turned to Meredith. "Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you." His gaze lingered on her for a moment, eliciting another growl type noise from Jet, who shot him a glare.

The expression faded quickly, though, as Jet turned his attention back to Meredith. "Tell me something about you I don't know." He prompted, taking a gulp of his coffee.

Meredith rubbed her arms, pulling in on herself a bit for comfort. "I draw." She began slowly, focusing on the window. The café was fairly busy and very loud, clamorous voices fighting to be heard over all the others.

"Pretend we're at work and tell me again." Jet offered, attempting to ease her discomfort. "Visualize your computer and keyboard in front of you and look at me like I just bounced a policy reform pitch off you."

Meredith sucked in a deep breath and did just that. Her blue eyes met his and locked in an intense gaze. Jet looked at her like she was the most interesting thing in the world in that moment, sharp eyes taking it all in, but not in a scrutinizing way. It was a receptive stare, the one he wore when he learned something new, like a kid reading a fresh book or an artist opening a pristine set of pastels. She loved that stare.

"I draw." She spoke, clearly now, still looking at him, breathing evenly. Her body relaxed and her arms rested loosely at her sides, tension leaving her limbs in a slow, easy relief. "Well, I do all kinds of things, really. I paint too, though I'm not that great on a canvas. I prefer paper and charcoal or graphite."

Jet grinned genuinely, face lighting up in interest. "That is awesome, Meredith. I had no idea you did that!" He took another large swallow of his drink, reminding Meredith she needed to have hers before it went cold. After taking several languid sips she leaned forward in anticipation, waiting for Jet to reveal something about himself.

"I play the drums." He admitted, pretending to air-drum wildly, enticing a laugh from her. "I used to play in a garage band, but lately I haven't had much time, with the new contract we are putting together." His smile faltered a bit. "I'd love to see some of your artwork, if you'll allow me."

Meredith's face lifted in a smile. "I don't mind." She replied. "What about the drums? Could I hear you play one day?"

"Absolutely." Jet nodded in agreement, crossing his arms behind his head leisurely. "That would rock." His eyes sparkled in excitement.

As he kept her laughing with corny jokes, Meredith didn't even notice how easy it was to converse with Jet, or how effortlessly she had fun with him on that impromptu coffee date, but the memory would forever be in her heart.

*** So do we absolutely adore Meredith and her obviousness?***

**You know what I'm going to grovel and beg and plead for...ice cream please. J/k how about those votes??**