A/N: I'm re-writing this whole story. I'll have more chapters up tomorrow. Please read and review!
Summary: An alternative ending to "freedom". What if things didn't go as planned? What if Meredith's decision cause more trouble, for both her and her new found family? And what would she do if all the people she needed the most are miles away? Meredith and Mark work together to get through all those challenges they face and make the most of their lives while they still can.
Pairings: Mer/Mark, others are undecided.
A/N: PLEASE REVIEW!!
MEREDITH sighed a breath of relief; they had finally managed to save one patient, but all together killed twelve. She didn't want to live like that, like she didn't want to live seeing Derek and Rose everyday living in their happy dream land.
"Finally." She sighed to herself, she looked at the doe-eyed person beside her and formed a smug grin. When everyone thought that she wouldn't, no couldn't, be able to stay strong, she proved them all wrong. "I should go tell Derek." Meredith smiled politely, on the inside cheering on their victory.
Her companion was boiling inside, her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend was going to tell him about their medical breakthrough and she didn't know how he would react. Of course Rose trusted Derek, she just didn't trust him with Meredith.
"Actually, you should go rest. Maybe it's best that I tell Derek, he's my boyfriend after all." She smirked.
"Oh okay." She sighed clearly disappointed but she half agreed with Rose, she didn't know what would happen if they were alone together, celebrating.
Rose left the room but not without sending a subtle glare Meredith's way.
Meredith continued fixing the papers up in a neat order. She heard a loud knock on the door. "Come in" She said quietly.
Olivia hesitantly walked in the door. She nodded to the young doctor and offered a smile. She instantly felt guilty, the last thing she wanted was to ruin the petite doctor's good day but noticing the dark gray circles under her eyes, her day was far from good.
"Yes?" Meredith said, a bit impatiently.
"The chief would like to see you."
"Oh okay. Would you mind finishing this up for me? I would really appreciate it."
"Sure, no problem. Hey, just a little heads up. The chief was stressed when he asked for you, and he has some company."
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks Olivia." said Meredith
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Derek found out about their success through the nurses charts which was ssubmitted to him earlier on. He smiled and turned around to look for Meredith, instead he found an eager Rose smiling up at him.
"Hey sweetie, you know?" Rose smiled up at him.
"Yeah, I was just headed out to find Meredith." He said tiredly.
Rose couldn't believe it. What did Grey have that she didn't? She didn't know why men cared about her so much. She didn't know why everyone was so in love with her that they were so blinded about the other women in their lives. Sure she had looks, but Derek was anything but superficial.
"I just wanted to congratulate her." He said quickly.
"What for? She didn't do anything but assist you in your surgeries, an intern could do that." She complained.
"I guess so, but it was her idea. She should receive some credit too. Weren't you with her? Do you know where she might have gone?"
"She said she went home. She sounded incredibly tired." Rose quickly lied. She dreaded that Derek would chose Meredith over herself.
"I'll go check up on her, she didn't feel good today. I just want to make sure that she's doing okay."
"Unbelievable."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me, I'm your girlfriend! I know your still in love with her, but I want to make this relationship work, okay? Firstly, I don't want you thinking of Meredith Grey when your talking to me! Secondly, I don't want you to think of Meredith Grey when we're having sex! Much less moan about her, that is one thing that no woman wants to ever hear. Her boyfriend screaming out the wrong name while in mid-orgasm." She hissed.
"I-i didn't mean to..." He said apologetically.
"What is it with Meredith Grey? How come men can't even control themselves to get enough of her, even though they're obviously commited to another person!? She's not all that special anyways, she's just ORDINARY! Her looks aren't even to compare to Dr. Stevens, or the confidence of Dr. Yang. Why her? Why do all men end up falling in love with her? I heard from all the nurses that when you were still with your wife, she was with a different man every night! So is that what men look in a woman? She has to be a slut and cater to your every needs?"
"What did you just say?" Derek felt like hitting her, but he was raised to respect woman. But this monster, this beast was making it incredibly hard for him to stay calm.
"I said she was a slut and a home wrecker. In fact, once a dirty mistress, she'll always be a dirty mistress. Nothing you can do to change that, Derek. She'll always be attached to her own kind, like right now!" Rose's eyes were stinging, tears threatening to fall.
"Don't you dare Rose! You hardly know her! You don't even know the first thing about her, she's special because she's not clingy, or pushy. She's just there! She's not superficial or a golddigger! And much less a slut! I am to blame because of her damage. It's my fault."
"I've heard a lot about her. She's not the little perfect girl you think she is Derek." Rose glared.
"I'm not forcing her to change! She's perfect just the way she is! You have no right to treat her that way."
"No she's not. There's a lot of things you don't know about her Derek."
"Then we'll get back together and I'll learn! We have a lot of time Rose."
"What do you mean by that?" Rose said, confused.
"We're over Rose. Done. I don't want to see you anymore. You don't matter now."
"Fine. No girl wants to be seen dating a man obviously hung-up on his ex-girlfriend." She said rushing out. Tears already falling.
In fact, once a dirty mistress, she'll always be a dirty mistress. Nothing you can do to change that, Derek. She'll always be attached to her own kind, like right now Her words stayed inside his mind. He couldn't imagine what she meant by that, but he aimed to find out.
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Meredith walked into his office. True to her word, the chief was not alone. He had a sad expression on his face, but the rest had seriousness and no concern at all.
"You wanted to see me, chief?" Meredith asked observing the people around her.
"Dr. Grey, this is Mr. Cole" He pointed to a thin man in a suit sitting on his leather couch. He appeared to have no care for the doctor, but instead was looking at pictures in Richard's glass case. "And that's Mr. Gregory." He said pointing over to a sad, scary man standing up. He was tall and frail. He looked about 50 years old.
"Hello Dr. Grey. Under the circumstances, I don't think it's appropriate to say it's nice to meet you." Gregory said harshly.
Meredith nodded in reply and the chief motioned her to sit down.
They talked and the next thing she knew, her eyes brimmed with tears.
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She went home with him, with him of all people!
"Are you okay, Mer?" The man asked sadly caressing her cheek softly with his thumb.
"No. I'm not okay Mark." She screamed. She recalled all the things that happened earlier and she could still remember the pain in the chief's eyes, and the coldness in the others.
" You wanted to see me chief?" Meredith asked, her eyes filled with concern.
"Dr. Torres told me you performed an unauthorized surgery with Dr. Shepherd today."
"But we saved her life! Me and De- Dr. Shepherd pulled through! If anything you should be congratulating me." She protested. Richard looked at her with stern eyes, meaning to say her arrogance was enough.
"I know you saved her life, and her family is forever grateful" Cole said, finally speaking up. "But you were supposed to do one surgery, not two. Am I correct?"
"But Sir!" Meredith argued.
"Do not fight with me Dr. Grey! You have no power over me and my partner what so ever, do you understand me?" He said coldly.
Meredith felt her eyes sting. She looked up at him and frowned. It took willpower to control herself from not spitting in his face.
"Are we clear?" He said angrily once more.
"I am not arguing. I am just saying, wouldn't they have died either way?" She said with a strong expression.
"How many patients died, they could have had a few more months to live. How many died, ten?"
"Twelve." Meredith corrected with a gloomy expression.
"Exactly. This clinical trial was a mistake, did you know that what you were doing is considered an illegal surgery?"
"No sir. At least now we know that it works!" Meredith screamed.
"Dr. Grey." The chief demanded. She quickly quieted.
"I cannot believe this Richard. You have to demand the attention of this mere intern for her behavior?"
"Resident." Meredith corrected coldly.
"And you let her pass?!" He scoffed. "I cannot believe the horrible job you are doing here Richard. You aren't what you used to be."
Meredith knew what she had to do, but she couldn't bring herself to it.
"What do you suppose he do Jeffrey?" Gregory asked his partner smirking at Meredith.
"Let go of the trouble maker."
"WHAT?" Meredith exclaimed.
"Or we rethink your position as chief of this hospital, Richard."
"That's blackmail!" Meredith argued.
"Grey." He warned.
"It's compromise. He can't fire the child of his ex-lover, then he can't be a chief of the surgical floor of his hospital."
"This can't be happening." Meredith said, reasting her head in her hands.
"Both him and Dr. Shepherd, Grey. Decide right now."
"I'll quit!" Meredith muttured.
"What was that?"
"I give up, okay? You got me! I'll leave the next day."
"Thank yo Dr. Grey. Maybe you weren't such a bad chief after all. They smirked and left the room.
Meredith saw herself crying and strong arms trying to comfort her.
Meredith looked at the man beside her. He was clearly unshaken by these things, or maybe that was how he liked it to look like. She had got involved with him in the past two weeks. She was aware that he still was with Callie Torres at that moment, but she just used him for a reliever. He generously obliged. He tried not to care that she was Derek's ex-girlfriend, but everytime he would touch her, he believed it was all worth it. She couldn't believe that he agreed to their arrangement on ther drunken meeting a few weeks earlier at Joe's.
Maybe the Mark Sloan with Addison hasn't changed at all. He didn't care what others thought. He didn't listen to the gossip and rumors running around him. Meredith didn't know what she felt about him, but her heart beats faster and faster the moment she feels his breath on her warm skin.
"Mark?"
"Yes, Meredith?"
"Why are you doing this for me? Why are you giving everything up for me?"
"Don't think so ill of yourself Grey. I'm doing this because I know your going to be an extraordinary surgeon no matter who stops you, you just need a chance." Mark smiled.
"Oh. Thank you for everything."
"And their was another reason." He smirked.
"What was that?" Meredith smiled.
"Seattle babes are cute but not as much as New York ones." Meredith laughed at him and hit his arm lightly. He knew how to make her feel better.
"I went out to look for some people that could help you find a job in New York. Fortunately, Dr. Sloan has some distinct connections." Dr. Webber said sadly.
"Thanks Mark." Meredith smiled gratefully.
"It's no problem Grey." He said returning the same smile.
"Meredith?" The chief said sadly.
"Yes, chief?"
"Promise me one thing. Don't ever... EVER... do that again you hear me? Don't doubt what your superior says, because it all ends up to them."
"I promise."
"I'm incredibly sorry. I was looking forward to working with you this year. But Meredith? Don't stop working as hard as you do now just because you haven't adapted yet. Okay?"
"Yes."
"I believe in you Grey. But I can't help but say I am incredibly disappointed with you."
"I know. I'm disappointed in myself."
"Just pack a suitcase tonight, and come back next week to sign a few papers about your resignation."
"Yes, sir." She said. Mark wrapped his arms around the blonde intern. She rested her small head on his chest and let the tears fall swiftly.
Meredith invited Mark into her room. She was probably the first one home at the moment. Her suspicions were proven true when she saw that all the lights were off.
She kicked off her shoes and went into the bathroom. She sat in the corner of their shower and opened the faucet. Then, she felt every emotion rush through her. Anger, sadness, guilt, regret and a lot more. She felt thankful that someone was there to pick her up when she needed them the most.
She heard the door creak open but didn't look up, but she felt strong muscular arms carry her and slowly take of her clothes. He dried every inch of her body with the now wet towel and started to dress her once more. Meredith felt that she slowly floated in and out of conciousness until her head landed on the pillow.
Mark crept up beside her and burried his face in her lavender-scented hair and sighed. He too soon fell fast asleep.
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Derek pounded heavily on her door. He noticed her car and an unfamiliar car in their driveway. He knocked one two and three times. Still no answer, he decided to go and get the key under their mat. It was predictable for Meredith to do that. He slowly unlocked the door and peeked inside. Complete silence. He slipped off his shoes and made his way up to her room, a journey he memorized by heart.
He found her fast asleep and knelt down beside her. He gently stroked her cheek and started whispering in her ear.
She opened her eyes and found Derek beside her and he smiled. She would have returned the smile but a horrible memory had come into her mind.
Mark.
"Hey." Derek smiled at her.
"You have to leave." She said quickly.
"What? Why? Mer, I just wanted to congratulate you." He said reassuringly.
"No. I'm serious. You have to go Derek. Now." Her eyes were filled with panic, and his with concern.
"What's wrong?"
Suddenly the bathroom door opened and stepped out Mark, only in a towel. Of course, Derek jumped up and stared disbelievingly at both of them.
"Mer. Explain this to me, please." He said angrily, glaring at a half-naked Mark.
"I can't." Meredith said ashamed.
"Oh my God." Derek put his hands on his head and sighed. "I cannot believe you two! This is the worst form of betrayal."
"What?! You expected her to wait for you, once you felt that the time to leave the nurse was right? You're the one that's unbelievable Derek." Mark shouted, coming to Meredith's defense.
Derek couldn't answer him but of course he expected her to wait, he always imagined the two of them together. "I knew she would move on!" He lied. "I just didn't know it was going to be with the person that ruined my marriage!"
"So what? You expected her to come to you and tell you who she was sleeping with?" Mark glared.
"No! I just expected her to be smarter than that!"
"So what, are you calling me dumb?" Meredith said, finally speaking up.
"Well yeah, you know what his reputation is, Mer! He's just going to hurt you."
"He can't hurt me more than you did, Derek." She hissed. "Don't point fingers, you should know that three fingers are directed at yourself."
Derek had enough, he stepped forward and lunged at Mark. Meredith tried to get him off of Mark but her force was no good.
"DEREK!" She cried. She pulled his t-shirt so that he would get up. They both did, Mark wiped his lip and panted heavily as did Derek.
"Get out. Now." Meredith threatened, helping Mark to his feet. "Of my life, of his and of this house. Just leave."
"Gladly."
A/N: HERE YOU GO! FIRST CHAPTER! PLEASE REVIEEW. Sofia
