Title: Won't Stop, Keeps Turning
Show: Grey's Anatomy
Pairing: Mark/Lexie
Summary: Sloan returns with her baby. All bets are off. (Post 6x18)
Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.
Author's notice: Title taken from: Wir sind Helden, Für nichts garantieren
When she sees Sloan Riley at the far end of the hall, all she wants to do is pretend she did not see her, and slip away. But somehow her eyes linger for about 0.3 seconds too long, and then she's trapped, for her legs won't do her bidding anymore. Damn her overactive brain for registering that cute baby seat in Sloan's hand.
She can't help it. She stares at it. It is turned backwards. It looks heavy. She is so screwed.
To make it perfect, Sloan is shouting "Hey Lexie" right across the hall, and thank you, dear looker-ons, for the attention. Witness the humiliation of Dr. Lexie Grey.
"Sloan," she musters all the badass coolness that she has been practicing recently, "how are you?" She won't look at that thing. Look straight at Sloan's face instead.
She's not so sure if this is the better choice, though, for Sloan really is Mark's daughter. The likeness is almost sickening. She feels queasy. Sloan looks much too tired for a girl of 18, and suspiciously close to tears. Still, the girl serves her an equally cool "Fine, thanks, and you?"
And this just sounds so wrong, it almost softens Lexie enough to relent. She may even put down that pen and look up from the file again. And if only to disperse that thick sticky feeling of embarrassment that envelops the two of them in uncomfortable silence. Three.
"Sorry you guys broke up," Sloan says softly. Lexie has never heard her use that tone of voice before. She shouldn't be surprised. Mark's daughter. More than meets the eye. She sees it, for heaven's sake. But she still has no answer.
Everything would be so much easier if Sloan just were some rival bitch that snatched Mark Sloan from her. By slutty means. She could handle that. She would fight back. She would hate her with a passion.
And then a little baby sound pierces the tense silence. A baby. And how could she not notice that? How could she possibly look away from that?
His eyes are open, and he's sucking on a pacifier. He is so tiny. So beautiful. Just a few light wisps. And really bright eyes as he focuses on her. As much as any newborn can focus.
And as much as she needs to turn on her heels and flee, she really needs to say something to him, or else her chest may explode.
"Hello there little darling look what we've got here sweetie" the words keep leaving her mouth on auto pilot, and he is gazing at her fingers that she is slowly waggling. As if they were all that mattered in the world.
She is already falling. And count on Sloan to make matters worse, for without a word, she sets the baby seat down and takes the baby out of it. In order to put him in Lexie's arms. Just like that.
And holding him is the most frightening thing ever. He is light, and warm, and easy, and his awesome baby scent fills her nose, and she brims over, showering him with soft baby talk. She is still aware that she so does not want this, of course, and what the hell is Sloan thinking, ambushing her all over again. She sniffs his head, though, and he looks at her, snuggling against her chest contentedly. How could she not adore him?
Her head is spinning, and she is cuddling Mark Sloan's grandson like what, an over-excited grandma? Please. Stop. Already. This is no situation to be caught in. And what is up with Sloan anyway, deer in headlights now or what?
Whoa, she can't believe her evil luck. Guess who has just entered on their little scene. Yeah, she feels sick, too.
Don't look at him.
Everything's fine. She was just having a close look at the baby. After all, Sloan is sort of an acquaintance. She's lived with her. And everybody knows she likes babies, don't they.
If only she were invisible. Why is she always the most visible when she is making a fool of herself? High time to dash off, clasp the baby securely in her arms and sprint.
Or she may shove the baby into his arms with some biting remark that would erase any possible misconceptions. But that won't do, no, she would have to do it gently, and this is just out of the question. Her face burns, and she is breaking a sweat. Please, someone save her.
It's the baby who starts crying. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, Sloan claims him back and holds him upright against her shoulder, where he calms down at once. Not so much natural to Lexie, she feels like losing balance, and she grabs hold of the counter as inconspicuously as she can manage. Pathetic.
She should have said it earlier, but better late than never, right? And despite her current state of distress, her "congratulations" and "good lucks" to Sloan come out warmer and friendlier than she hoped for. Like, heartfelt, or whatever. The influence that babies exert on her is kind of ridiculous really. She would suck at neonatology.
So she snaps her file shut, and moves to leave, looking at the baby for one last time (and of course it does not break her heart), and she knows better than to look at Mark, for what good would this be, but she just is that stupid alright?
She should not have done it, because it has only got her the scary memory of Mark scrutinizing her as if she were the only person present, and what the hell is he doing with that strange look on his face. She so hopes that this will not interfere with her memory of holding this adorable baby.
She needs to be gone right now, as fast as she can without breaking into a full run.
