Title: Blame it on the changes
Pairing(s): Meredith/Derek, Meredith/Alex, Addison/Mark, Callie/Owen, Callie/Arizona, Owen/Cristina, April/Charles, Mark/Lexie, Jackson/Lexie, Ellis/Richard
Summary: This is a continuation of If/Then (S08E13). What happens now? It's an ensemble piece that has a little bit of everyone in it. Part one of the Alter the ending series. I have an idea of where I am taking this…down the rabbit hole, follow me.
Chapter 1: Tomorrow is another day
Meredith woke up in a strange place. She opened her eyes and was horrified to realize that she had no idea where she was, what she had done or with whom she had done it. She could hear a shower. She sat up on the bed and looked around.
"I am naked," she said. "Fan-freaking-tastic." She was in a trailer….a trailer…."A trailer…McDreary…Oh no…."
"Meredith," Derek said from the doorway pulling her attention to him. He was naked except for a white, fluffy towel wrapped around his waist.
"Oh no, "Meredith said. She pulled the bed sheet tightly around her thin body."Do you…do you realize how not good this is?"
"I do," Derek said slowly entering the room.
"I mean…you're married…you're my dad's friend….I'm…."Meredith groaned."Oh no."
Derek grabbed a red shirt and a pair of khaki slacks out of a small dresser drawer. He slipped them exposing as little as possible. Meredith knew she should get dressed and leave as quickly as possible but she couldn't move. "Look Meredith," Derek started. "This isn't the worst thing that ever happened, you know?"
"It isn't?"Meredith asked looking at him like he was crazy."You're married, you have baby on the way. My mom and dad are going to kill me." She covered her face with her hand letting her blonde hair fall forward.
"For the record the baby that's coming isn't mine," Derek said coolly. He sat down on the bed and handed Meredith her pink shirt off the floor.
"It's not?"Meredith asked, shock written all over her pretty face.
Derek shook his head, "Nope," he told her.
"Whose is it?" Meredith asked realizing she was being insensitive but not much caring. She was too curious and hangover to care about being polite.
Derek groaned, "Mark Sloan," he answered her quietly.
"Mark…" Meredith whispered, "You mean Sloan, the plastics guy?"
Derek nodded not trusting himself to speak.
"Wasn't he your partner in New York?" Meredith asked.
"Not my partner, no." Derek explained. "We worked together sometimes…He was my oldest friend…my best friend."
"Wow that sucks."Meredith sighed. "I kind of know how that feels…I mean not really obviously, Alex wasn't my husband and we haven't been together as long as you and - Shepherd. But it still stings."
"Betrayal is betrayal, right?" Derek said with a shrug.
"I suppose, "Meredith whispered. She slipped her shirt on and then found the rest of her clothes. "I should go," she told him.
The two stared at one another for a moment. "Should we….talk?" Derek asked. "About this...us…I mean."
"I don't see why," Meredith mused. "This…us… was a mistake, right?"
"I guess," Derek agreed."It didn't feel like at the time though."
"Because we were drunk," Meredith countered. "I'm not this kind of girl…the drunken girl who has sex with inappropriate men. This can't happen again, ok? We have a lot to deal with and …" she felt like she was going to cry but she choked it back. "We won't talk about it again and we won't tell anyone."
Derek nodded,"Ok, bye Meredith.''
Meredith grabbed her bag and headed for the door. She couldn't believe she did this and she wasn't sure what to do next.
"Richard!" Ellis yelled as she flew down the stairs into the kitchen.
Richard put his coffee cup down and jumped to his feet. "Ellis, are you ok?"
"I'm fine," she snapped. "But Meredith….I don't think she slept her last night."
"No, she didn't" Richard replied.
"Did you hear from her?" Ellis asked.
"She just called me," Richard explained. "She told me she slept at the hospital."
"Oh," Ellis breathed relief on her face. "Thank goodness." She poured herself a cup of coffee."Did she get a surgery?"
Richard sighed, "I don't know," he said."I more concerned about her mental state then surgeries."
"Mental state," Ellis echoed. "Is she still upset about Yang?"
"No," Richard said wearily. "She was never upset about that…I mean she was obviously anyone would be but there is more."
"More?" Ellis asked. "What more?"
Richard sighed, "Well, Cristina Yang announced that Alex and April Kepner were having an affair in front of Meredith and some of her friends."
"What?" Ellis demanded slamming her coffee cup down. "He did what?"
"Yes, so along with Meredith being hurt and heartbroken she was also humiliated and then you…" he shook his head.
"I didn't know." Ellis told him.
"You didn't ask," Richard snapped. He hung his head, "I'm sorry…I know you didn't know but…"
"Well, Karev is an ass, I always thought so. I told Meredith so," Ellis replied. "She can do better. He can't. He is stupid. I mean Meredith is beautiful and brilliant…and Kepner is weak and not even that pretty. Meredith is better off," Ellis concluded.
"You told her so," Richard said. "That is what you have to say, "He shook his head.
"Well, I did but I see what you're saying. I told you so isn't very sensitive, I realize that. I won't say it to her." Ellis assured him.
"Good," Richard said.
"In fact I won't mention it all to Meredith," Ellis told him. "But Karev…he is in trouble."
"Ellis…" Richard warned. "You can't do that."
"I can't do what?" Ellis asked with a devious smile."I can't blackball him for surgeries? I think I can. I can't watch his every move and wait for him to make a mistake, which he will? Yes, I can."
"And when your disapproval and scrutiny gets to him and makes him crazy and he drops the ball too many times you will replace him as chief resident." Richard surmised.
"If he allows that to happen it is no one's fault but his own." Ellis snapped. She looked at her watch. "I have to go…" she paused. "Take care of Meredith?"
"Always," Richard sighed and kissed Ellis on the cheek. He watched her leaving feeling sad and not sure why?
"I can't believe you lied to me," Mark yelled.
"I didn't lie," Addison started.
Mark glared at her, "Don't so that Addie, "Mark snarled. "You made me believe this child was Derek's."
Addison shrunk down and looked at the floor, "Ok, you're right." Addison agreed.
"Why Addie?" Mark asked quietly.
"You know why," Addison replied sounding exhausted. "I wanted so badly to keep my marriage intact that I would do anything. Even if it was wrong and hateful, I would do anything to keep Derek and I together."
Mark shook his head, "How is that working out for you?" he asked.
"Not so much," Addison replied honestly. "This is why I told him."
"So, where do we go from here?" Mark asked.
Addison shrugged, "I really have no clue and it scares the hell out of me."
"I should talk to Derek," Mark asserted. "Man up and talk to him."
"No," Addison said, "I should. I have called him and he isn't answering, surprise." She stood. "He is probably at the trailer; I will go there and make him talk to me."
"Is it over Addie?" Mark asked. "Are you done?"
Addison nodded, "I am and I am sure he is too."
"What does that mean for us?"Mark asked.
Addison threw her hands in the air," There is no us Mark, there never was, not really."
Mark rolled his eyes, "You never loved me, is that it? It was just sex."
"No," Addison said calmly."I won't say that, it isn't fair and isn't true. I cared for you Mark, I still do but you and me…it isn't real. I'm sorry. But this is your child and I won't keep you from her."
"Are you staying in Seattle or going home?"Mark asked.
"I don't know yet. I have to go Mark; we will talk later, ok?" Addison said and she walked away.
Mark stood there and sighed. He didn't know what to do now. He decided to go and check on the girl he brought to the hospital last night. He found the nurses' station and smiled at the young nurse behind the counter. "Hi, I am Sloan. I am here to check on a patient."
"Are you a doctor here?" the girl asked.
Mark could see the affect he had on this young nurse and he liked it. "No, I brought the girl in last night; I just want to check on her."
"Are you her doctor?" the nurse asked.
"No," Mark admitted. "Just interested in her recovery."
"Well, I don't know if I can release any patient information. I'm sorry. I'm new here." The girl apologized.
"It's fine," Ellis Grey said as she approached the desk, "I will assist Dr. Sloan."
"Hello Ellis," Mark smiled and shook her hand.
"Hello Mark," Ellis replied. "Nice to see you again. I was just on my way to check on her, want to accompany me?"
"Yes, please?" Mark said.
They walked next to each other silently for a moment. Ellis finally asked, "What are you doing in Seattle? Visiting the Shepherds?"
"Mmmhmm," Mark said.
"That's nice," Ellis told him not sounding very interested then she looked at him with her eyes shining, "Maybe you would reconsider my offer?"
Mark shrugged, "I don't know." He teased, "Maybe, we will see."
"Ok, but I'm not done with you." Ellis warned.
"I look forward to it," Mark laughed.
"This is her room," Ellis said.
"What's your interest in this girl?"Mark asked. "I bet you have bigger fish to fry, chief."
Ellis smiled, "Well, I guess I do but my daughter, Meredith was involved in this case."
"Ahh, checking on the kid?" Mark said.
"It's what I do," Ellis admitted. "I shouldn't, I know. I can't help it."
"You care," Mark suggested, "It's normal, I think."
Ellis nodded and opened the door. Mark saw a young girl lying in the bed. She was thin and pale. She was beautiful in a broken kind of way. She mesmerized him."Hello…Miss Ball?" Ellis said."How are you feeling today?"
"Fine," the girl mumbled. "When can I leave?"
"I'm not sure, let's see how today goes and we can readdress that in a day or so when you have recovered more fully." Ellis looked at the chart. "Is there anyone we can call for you? There are no contacts listed here."
"I have no one," Lexie said.
"Ok," Ellis said. "We will need some financial information…insurance cards, you know."
"No insurance," Lexie sighed.
"That won't be a problem Ellis," Mark said. "I will take care of any and all medical bills."
"That's very generous Dr. Sloan," Ellis muttered.
Lexie narrowed her eyes, "Why would you do that?" she asked.
"Because…I want to." Mark answered matter of factly.
"I wonder what you would want in return." Lexie sneered.
"Nothing," Mark assured her.
Lexie looked away and seemed to be thinking of something, she looked back at Ellis, "You're Dr. Ellis Grey?" she asked, her eyes darkening.
"I am." Ellis said. "Do I know you?"
"Not really," Lexie growled."You knew my dad, Thatcher Grey."
Ellis cleared her throat and looked at the chart, "So, your name isn't Lucy Ball, huh?"
Mark chuckled. "I love her," he said quietly.
"You're Lexie Grey, right?" Ellis asked. "I will change your chart." She looked at Mark, "I have to go, please see me before you leave and if you intend to pay Ms. Grey's hospital bills please contact admissions."
"I will, I will do both," Mark acknowledged. "Goodbye Ellis."
"You don't have to pay my bill," Lexie said after Ellis left.
"But what if I want to?" Mark asked.
"Why would you?" Lexie asked raising her voice. She grimaced in pain.
"I have money, I can't take it to my grave and you seem like you need a break or two." Mark answered calmly.
Lexie shook her head, "I don't need your pity. I don't want it."
"No pity, not really. You want to slowly kill yourself; you want to die…that's fine. That's your business. I can't save you. You have to save yourself. But if you choose to save yourself, I can sleep better knowing I cut you a break, ok?" Mark told her.
Lexie eyed him, sizing him up. "Fine, I guess that makes sense." She looked away, "Thanks."
"Not a problem," he said. He took a card out of his wallet and put it on the table by her bed."I will be in town a day or two at least, maybe more. Call me if you need me, but I will stop by and see you again before I go." He walked to the door. "It was nice to meet you Lexie."