Bark! Bark, bark!

"Chill out, Scar."

The wolf-like animal glances back at me, a long tree branch sticking out from either side of his mouth. I fill some water into the portable water bottle-bowl for him to drink.

"So, what made you want to come out here with me?"

Derek tugs down on the NorthFace jacket he has on, already grown accustomed to Seattle's unpredictable weather.

"I thought it'd be nice to have some human company while I walk my dog." I admit to him, a red tinge spreading across my cheeks. "And because I have a problem."

"A problem?" Both brows lift high on his forehead. "What kind of a problem?"

"Daddy issues."

"What?"

A wry chuckle fills the silent atmosphere of the trail. "It's about Lennox. And I just don't feel like talking to my friends about it."

"Although, we are friends."

"If that's what you want, doc."

"You come to me with a problem, I will give you an answer. And vice-versa."

"Don't think your wife's gonna like that."

He throws another stick for Scar, watching as the dog runs through the forest to fetch his all-natural chew toy.

"Did you want to talk about this problem?" He suggests kindly.

"Not particularly, no." I shake my head. "Did you have any problems you want to talk about?"

"At this moment in time. . .I don't have any problems. Not a single one."

"Of course you don't, Shepherd."

He takes a swig from his plastic water bottle before offering it to me. But I lift up my own reusable water bottle in response.

"Saving lives is one thing. Saving the planet is another."

"And she's a hippie."

I scoff lightly, nudging his arm. He laughs lightly before doing the same to me. The two of us begin chuckling amongst ourselves, all the while Scar chases a squirrel.

Back at the hospital, a romantic bond has formed between George and Meredith after going out on a date the night before. Dr. Bailey is finally back, although she has her infant with her.

"What do we got?"

Ray the paramedic wheels out the patient. "Tachycardic in the 140s. Systolic is in the 60s. Last was 72 over 40."

Will's cries increase in intensity and volume from the loud sirens of the ambulance, to which Bailey tells the other paramedic to turn them off.

"Uh, Dr. Bailey? Do you want me to —"

"Take him."

"What?"

"You're going to watch him."

"Well, actually, that's not what I was going to suggest — okay."

Before I can finish my sentence, the squirming child is in my unwilling arms, and the strap to a red diaper bag is thrown over my shoulder.

Sitting in the middle of an empty gallery, I reluctantly change my very first diaper of what could lead to many more.

"Dr. Phoenix."

My head snaps back to the door, eyes wide in startle, and I see the chief.

"Dr. Webber. What — can I help you, sir?"

"Are you. . .changing a diaper?" He questions with a scrunched nose, mostly from the smell. "In the middle of the O.R. gallery, Dr. Phoenix?"

"Yes, sir." I give him a firm nod of the head. "Dr. Bailey thought it would be best if I received first-hand experience with a-a baby."

"So you're interested in pediatrics?"

". . .yes, sir."

"Carry on, then."

By the time lunch hour begins, my eyes struggle to stay open, and Will is finally quiet in the carrier Bailey gave me.

"What are you staring at, kid?"

His little mouth opens, releasing a yawn.

"Okay, I guess you're kinda cute." The tip of my finger pads across his cheek. "Yeah, you're pretty cute, aren't you?"

"Looks like Leven's boarded the parenthood train." Cristina mimics a train whistle.

I lift a stern finger. "No. No, I haven't." My legs bounce at a gentle pace. "I might in the future, but I am a free-bird for the next few years."

"Maybe she'll have a McBaby with McDreamy." Izzie taunts while stuffing her face with another handful of fries.

"Oh, you guys are just full of. . ." I cower down at the baby. "S-H-I-T."

I storm away from the group while struggling to carry the bags. At the bridge — a long walkway adjacent to a window wall — I stand beside Derek.

"Split a sandwich?"

"I'm vegan."

"And I remembered. Which is why I give you. . .a dairy-free grilled cheese."

Patting the bottom of the baby carrier, I slowly shush under my breath as the baby's eyes close. I take half the sandwich out of his hand and start eating it.

"You don't have surgery today?"

"Bailey stuck me on babysitting duty, as you can see."

Derek glances down at the carrier, lightly smiling to himself at the sight of the sleeping infant. "I see you're good with kids."

"Well, I'm just trying to be a good guardian." I glance up at him. "Better than the one I had growing up."

"Leven. . ."

"I'm not mad at him anymore, Derek. Really, I'm not."

"You're sure?"

"Do you want me to swear in front of an innocent child?" My eyes narrow in a fake glare. "And besides, friends are supposed to trust each other."

"Friends also tell each other what's going on in their heads." He rests his elbows against the railing, his back turned to the window wall.

I roll my eyes. "Fine. Why don't you go first?"

"Vegan cheese is better than the real thing."

"Ha! I knew you'd like it."

He shakes his head in disbelief. "I do miss the pulled pork sandwich." His gaze falls onto his empty hand.

"There." I stuff the rest of my half of the sandwich into his hand. "And try canned jackfruit. You won't even miss meat."

He watches me walk away, the same look of innocence and joy on his face. Baby Bailey doesn't throw any more fusses after I mark the times of feeding and change his diapers on time.

Just as organized as his mother.

"You're not a demon child, are you?" I rock him from side to side. "You don't seem like Rosemary's baby."

"I see you've resorted to talking to babies." Cristina approaches from behind.

My lips tighten to a thin line. "It's not my fault I'm stuck with a child. But I'm not gonna lie, he's a pretty good listener."

"Wait until he learns how to talk."

"Oh, that's when I draw the line of babysitting."

Bailey soon arrives to pick up her son, who's soundly asleep in the carrier. She glances me up and down, noting my disheveled appearance.

"Motherhood. . .is painful."

"You got that right."

She leaves with a nod of her head after confirming I've been through enough. I leave the hospital for a bit, to pick up two cups of coffee and change into a dress.

"How'd the surgery go?"

Derek steps out of the scrub room, dressed out of the surgical gown but still wearing the cap. Once he spots me, his footsteps falter.

"We performed a double barrel brain bypass. . ." He tilts his head ever so slightly. "She's going to make a full recovery."

"That's great. Congrats on a successful surgery, doctor." I offer him a cup of coffee.

"Black coffee?"

"With one cream and one sugar."

"I've never told you my coffee order." He narrows his brows. "No one's ever figured out my coffee order, you know."

"Not even your wife?"

"Not even my wife."

I place the cup of coffee on the countertop space of the nurses' station before pulling out my buzzing cellphone.

"Finally off babysitting duty?" Sipping his beverage, Derek sighs in content.

"I am, yeah." I nod my head.

"Did you want to go out to Joe's bar?" He lifts his head up, a smile gracing his face. "Have a couple of drinks, throw some darts?"

"Oh, I can't." I shake my head. "I've got a date."

"A-A date?"

"I know, it's shocking."

Five and a half months since I moved to Seattle, and I finally have a date for the night. For some reason, though, I notice Derek force a smile.

"Raincheck for Joe's bar?"

"Huh? Oh, sure. We'll take a raincheck."

My fingers tug the fabric of the dress and attempt to lessen the gap caused by the slit running down to my ankles.

"Is it too much?" Fortunately, the dark sky masks the red glow emitting from my cheeks. "I don't usually wear dresses, so. . ."

"No. No, you look great." He assures quickly.

"Thank you, Derek."

"What are friends for, Leven?"