Author's Note: I do not own Grey's Anatomy, nor do I own any of the characters from the show. There isn't really a point to this story, and I am pro Mark/Lexie, but these days, who knows what's going to happen to that relationship. I was inspired by the song "Let Go" by Frou Frou, who is amazingly talented. I don't own the song either. Duh. Also, there will be a part two, containing only fluff, because fluff is my favorite thing to fill stories with.
Jackson Avery rested his chin on his fist as he leaned against the bar at Joe's, staring up at the neon lights above the shelves of glasses and alcohol. He took a drink from his bottle of beer and exhaled slowly, rubbing his forehead, as if it would wipe away the pounding headache. No such luck. Another drink of beer and the bottle was empty. He slid it across the bar to Joe and nodded appreciatively when the bartender replaced the empty bottle with a new beer.
Above the chatter that filled the bar rang a bell, signaling someone's arrival or departure. Jackson checked his watch and reached for his beer, wondering how he was going to make it home. His fingertips brushed the cool glass of the bottle as it slid to his left, just out of his reach. Jackson paused, frowning and closing his eye tightly for a moment. Four beers could not have made him that drunk. When he felt something brush against his arm, he opened his eyes and looked to the left.
Lexie Grey took a sip of Avery's beer and set it down on the bar between them, sighing loudly. "Thanks, I needed that."
"You're welcome…" Jackson replied, watching her as she shrugged off her jacket and laid it on the seat next to her. Her dark curls fell down the back of her white sweater as she shook them loose and accepted the beer that Joe placed in front of her. He smiled as she turned to him and lifted her beer towards him.
"To our stressful, sometimes crappy jobs." Lexie smiled & clinked her beer bottle against Jackson's before taking another swallow of the cool drink. Jackson laughed and took another drink. That was one they just had to drink to. Lexie arched her back and stretched, exhaling slowly and then relaxing a little, turning in her seat to face her friend and coworker. "How are you?"
"Glad to be out of the hospital. Sometimes I forget there's a world beyond that place." Jackson paused and glanced at the people around them. "For me, that world beyond the hospital is Joe's."
"Now that's just sad and pathetic." Lexie laughed, finishing off her beer and setting the empty bottle on the counter. Within seconds, Joe had replaced the empty bottle with a full one. Joe always seemed to know when his customers were having rough days, and his reliable service had made his bar the most popular in all of Seattle.
Feigning offense, Jackson turned away and picked up his beer. "I am not sad and pathetic." He bit back a smile when he felt her hand on his forearm. He took another drink and then turned to her, locking his eyes on hers and faking a pout.
Lexie giggled and patted Avery's forearm sympathetically. "You're a little bit sad and pathetic." She laughed at the scowl he made and shook her head, running her fingers back through her hair. She took another drink of her beer and then turned to look at him, resting her chin on her fist. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm a little sad and pathetic too."
Jackson shifted in his seat and frowned a little. "How do you mean?"
Lexie groaned and rubbed her temple. "It's just this whole Mark being a daddy again…thing. It's making me crazy. I think you might have to commit me to the psyche ward." She opened her eyes and looked at the man next to her, her dark eyes locking in on his brilliant green ones. The gentle smile that played on his lips comforted her, and she leaned a little closer.
Jackson ordered another beer and placed it in front of Lexie. "This one is on me." He smiled & lifted his bottle. "To our stressful, crappy relationships."
Lexie laughed and raised her beer. "I'll drink to that one."
Jackson passed his empty bottle of beer to Joe and reached over to steady Lexie, who was giggling uncontrollably. He couldn't help but laugh as Lexie tipped off her bar stool and fell against his chest, causing her to laugh harder. He could hardly remember what they were laughing about anymore, he just knew that she was finally letting go of her constant need to be in control, and he could tell that she loved the stress-free state she was in. He caught her elbow to keep her upright and glanced out the window, trying to spot the cab that Joe had called for them. They had lost count of how many beers they had consumed, but judging by their tipsy state, Jackson knew it was an unholy amount of alcohol. Thankfully it was a Friday night and neither of them had to work in the morning.
Dark clouds had rolled in and opened up over Seattle, spilling rain all across the state. Thunder rumbled as the storm clouds moved closer and closer. The bar was nearly empty now, except for a few people who were waiting by the door, hoping in vain that the rain would ease up a little, just enough for them to run out and crawl into the safety of their dry cars.
A pair of headlights cut through the darkness of the night, and the yellow cab pulled up next to the bar. Jackson reached for Lexie's coat and helped her put it on, looking into her eyes as he buttoned it up for her. He smiled when Lexie giggled a 'thank you' and quickly pulled on his own jacket, wrapping a scarf around his neck and setting cash on the bar for their bill. He turned to Lexie, who was still giggling a little and clinging to his arm for balance. "Ready?" Lexie nodded and he put his arm around her waist, pushing the door open and guiding her out into the driving rain. He opened the cab door for her and closed it as soon as she had scrambled inside. Running around to the other side of the car, Jackson pulled the door open and jumped into the cab, slamming the door behind himself. For a brief moment the only noise that could be heard was the rain that pounded against the hood of the cab. Jackson's eyes found Lexie's in the dim light, and they both dissolved into laughter as the cab pulled away from Joe's and headed in the direction of home.
