"Oh my god, Mark," Addison rubbed her temples, "You are like a hangover that just won't go away."
Mark grinned, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the wall, "I'm here to work, Addison. I have no interest in anything romantic."
"You can't be here," Addison took a step away from him, afraid of the instinctive pull she felt every time he flashed that smile.
"Yes, I can," He pushed himself off of the wall and leaned in closer, "I'm here to work."
Addison opened her mouth to retort, but promptly shut it without a sound escaping when she glanced over Mark's shoulder. Her eyes landed on the nurse's station and she drew in a sharp, pained breath at what she saw causing Mark to turn around and watch the scene with her.
Derek sidled up to the nurse's station next to where Meredith was standing. She instinctively turned her face toward his so their lips were nearly touching. Derek grinned and locked eyes with her.
"Dating," He whispered softly.
"Dating," She repeated, inching her lips closer to his.
"I was thinking dinner and a movie," He suggested, "Pick you up at 8?"
"Eight is nice," Meredith agreed with a delirious half-grin.
Derek lightly brushed his lips against hers quickly as he grabbed a chart from behind her, "Eight it is."
He promptly turned and confidently walked away, not paying any attention to his soon-to-be-ex-wife and ex-best friend standing in the hallway.
A few moments of silence passed between Addison and Mark after Derek's departure before Mark finally spoke, "Addie…"
"Don't," She lifted her hand to silence him, "Don't say anything sweet or comforting because you'll just be too wonderful, an I'll have to cry. I don't need that."
It would have been easy to argue; easy to tell her that she'd married an asshole. It would have been even easier to assure her that she's a million times sexier that Meredith, the truth. It would have been easiest to take her in his arms, kiss her and make the world fall away. But Mark listens and does none of these things.
He flashes her a grin and adopts the air of their earlier conversation, "I'm going to do work. I certainly hope I don't see you in the cafeteria around one."
Addison chuckles, grateful for his reaction, and watches him walk away. She glances down at the chart in her hand and starts in the direction of room 336. As she walks she realizes that the image of Derek and Meredith isn't nearly as vivid as she would have expected and that she's much more concerned about making sure her schedule allows her to make it to the cafeteria at one.