As she leaned over the desk of the nurse's station after what felt like the longest shift in her life Meredith began to run through the happenings of the month, or rather the lack of happenings. 'It's been far too quiet' she thought worriedly 'it's never been this quiet, me and Derek are fine- great even, no one's cheated on anyone, no one's been shot or admitted for any kind of injury who I love and know...something must be about to happen-'
"Thinking about me?" Mark asked with a wink as he approached the nurse's station.
"Ha, no, just considering the high probability that something awful is going to happen, it's been far too quiet lately" Meredith stretched her back as she spoke.
With a long baffled pause Mark looked at her with a raised eyebrow "you realise just how screwed up you are? Why can't you just accept things are chilled out?"
Meredith shrugged her shoulders and sighed. "Anyway I have to go"
"Mm go spread your joy elsewhere" Mark replied with a laugh to which Meredith offered a playful scowl.
As she walked down the corridor she noticed a fairly young woman glancing up at the signs. Her hair was a dark colour, almost back though holding a slight red to it and her skin a clear flawless pale.
"Are you okay?" Meredith asked curiously as she watched the girl continue to examine the signs.
Turning to face her, the girl offered Meredith a soft smile, which notably expressed warmth that couldn't be denied. "I imagine you can, I'm looking for Dr Sloan" she replied, her voice light though full of life and holding a slight New York twang to it.
"Oh he's just down the corridor, I'm Meredith Grey" Meredith replied, a smile forming on her face matching that of the girl before hers.
"Excellent, Lydia Dixon- call me Dixie, I'm the new Chief Resident in the ER" Lydia held her hand out for Meredith to shake.
"Nice to meet you, I'll be seeing you around then" Meredith replied as she shook the girl's hand and smiled.
"I'm sure you will" Dixie offered Meredith a warm smile before continuing down the corridor. As she walked away Meredith continued to glance back at Dixie until she reached the nurse's station, a smile still on her face.
"Dr Sloan" Lydia said with a sure smile as she approached nurse's bay.
Mark turned on his heel and looked to her with a bewildered though happy smile. "What the!" he exclaimed before running to her and lifting her into his arms.
"Put me down asshole!" she yelled with a laugh.
"Never heard that one have you Sloan" Callie laughed as she walked past looking curiously on the interaction.
"Hey Callie, this is Lydia" Mark laughed placing Dixie back on the ground.
"Nice to meet you" Lydia greeted her with a warm smile.
Callie couldn't help smiling with her "nice to meet you too, I'm Callie"
"What are you doing here?" Mark asked standing next to Callie, a big smile on his face.
"I'm chief resident at the E.R." Dixie replied with a bright smile.
"Chief?" Mark repeated astounded.
"Don't look so surprised jackass" Lydia gasped with a scowl, though it returned to her usual smile quickly. "Listen I better get back downstairs, what time are you off?"
"Eight, drinks?"
"Cool, I'll meet you at the entrance at eight, don't be late or I'll find someone else to go with" Lydia added as she began to walk away.
"Okay" Mark called after her "it's great to see you"
"Great to see you too Marky boy" she replied turning with a smile as she continued down the corridor.
Callie glanced to Mark "Marky boy?"
Mark looked back to her and smiled "she's an old friend"
"Old? She looks about 12" Callie replied with a raised eyebrow.
"She's twenty six, I went to school with her sister, Julia Dixon" Mark added with a nod.
"That's Julia Dixon's sister?" she asked slightly shocked.
"Yep! Just as bright and brilliant too by the looks of it" he replied admirably.
Callie rolled her eyes and walked away as he continued looking down the corridor where she had been.