A/N: this was originally supposed to be a one shot but I forgot how exhilarating it felt receiving reviews and knowing someone enjoyed something you created. So I decided to continue! It shouldn't be no more than 5-6 chapters.

I don't own Greys Anatomy, or have that much knowledge of medicine.

"What's up with you?" Christina asked around a mouthful of chips as she pulled out a chair and sat across from me.

"What? Nothing." Avoiding her eyes, i rubbed the spot behind my ear where I knew a mark would be.

"Uh huh" she rolled her eyes, obviously not believing me. "You're sitting here staring at mcvomit and mcdreamy , and you barley touched your food."

I adverted her eyes once again not really wanting to talk about it. I picked up my fork again shoving fork fulls of salad in my mouth trying to placate her. Maybe she'd leave me alone.

"Ill get it out of you eventually. So you've been in the OR yet or have you've been stalking mcdreamy all day?"

I scoffed but choose to ignore the mcdreamy comment. "No I haven't." I frowned. "Why have you?"

She nods grinning victoriously. "Heart valve replacement."

"Bitch." I muttered under my breath.

Cristina raised an eyebrow suddenly after a few minutes of silence between us, flailing her hand around like a lunatic as she tried to finish chewing. "My break just got more interesting." She smirked around a mouthful of chips.

I looked up at her questioning not getting what was so interesting about a bag of chips.

"Mcdreamy and Mcsteamy are heading towards us." She said quickly, causing my eyes to grow wide and dart around the court yard. Sure enough Derek and Mark were both heading in my direction from opposite ends of the yard, arriving at the same time both taking a seat.

"What?" I snapped after a whole five minutes of them just staring at me intently giving me their signature smiles.

"Dr. Grey." They both said at the same time causing them to glare at each other which caused Christina to roll her eyes and eat her damn chips, as if it was popcorn.

"Yes?" My voice was full of caution, whatever these two dimwits wanted I didn't want any part of. I don't care if it was the rarest surgery known to man, I was avoiding them both for a reason.

"Rose really wants to get to know you." Derek trailed off carefully, he paused for a minute letting his tongue dart out and trace his bottom lip.

My eyes couldn't help but follow the motion.

He gave me his stupid head tilt with amused eyes but continued with his odd request.

"She wants to have dinner with you Friday night, you could erm... bring a date if you'd like." He looked uncomfortable giving me the last part of the information almost like the request bothered him as much as it bothered me.

I grimaced not really thinking if I could stomach dinner with them, without actually loosing it. I looked over at Cristina for help, all she did was shrug enjoying the panic in my eyes.

I then stole a glance at Mark Sloan who only raised an eyebrow at me suggestively causing me to blush and look away from him quickly.

One look at him brought me back to our activities in the stairwell, my hand came up involuntary to my lips pressing lightly to relive his touch.

He cleared his throat causing me to drop my hand abruptly, avoiding all eye contact with everyone at the table. I knew they were all staring at me.

Cristina was probably curious, and would hound me for information the minute they were gone.

Derek's eyes would be full of suspicion and probably a hint of anger if he knew where my thoughts were.

I didn't dare guess what Mark was thinking , I doubt it was anything appropriate at all. All I knew was he probably had a cocky grin on his face.

"Can I let you know?" I asked Derek trying to get the attention off of me.

He nods. "Of course."

"Anyways Grey, I have surgery in a half hour, mind scrubbing in?" Mark asked.

I sighed heavily. Its not that I didn't want to be in the OR today, I just couldn't be around him, I've been avoiding him since the incident yesterday. I racked my brain for an excuse desperate to get out of this without him or anyone else suspecting anything.

"Thanks for the opportunity Dr. Sloan but I'm already in on a surgery."

Cristina snorted.

"Oh yeah, with who?" Mark challenged me, as if knowing I was lying to him.

I racked my brain once again trying to recall the names I've seen up on the OR board and which surgeon would allow me into their OR.

Dr. Bailey was doing a liver transplant I was sure of, but I doubt she'd take pity on me. She'd probably give me some snarky comment about sleeping with my bosses and the repercussions it had at work.

Dr. Torres was preforming a Bankart repair today, and I prayed to whoever was up there that she'd let me scrub in no questions asked.

Ortho it was.

"Callie. It should be starting soon so I should go find her. See you guys around." I stood up hastily grabbing my tray of trash, spilling it in a near by trash can before rushing off, feeling his stare follow me out of the room.

MGMS

"Callie, hey girl!" I cheered too enthusiastically for my usual self, causing her to raise her eyebrow and eye me warily.

"Um, hey Mere." She looked about ready to bring me up to psych. "What can I do for you?"

"Can you do me a small favour? I need you to let me scrub in on your surgery. Please."

"Why?"

"Im interested in Ortho?" It came out as a question.

An unladylike snort left her mouth. "Uh huh. Try again. Give me a good enough reason."

"Im avoiding Mark, who just asked me to scrub in with him but I said im already with you."

"And why are you avoiding him?"

I groaned, running my hand crazily through my hair pulling it slightly in aggravation. "Because he kissed me yesterday and I've been avoiding him ever since."

She nodded thoughtfully throwing her dark curls up into a messy bun. "I guess so, but you can't hide from him forever."

I smiled in gratitude. "Thanks Callie."

She nods walking away.

MGMS

"So how'd you like Ortho?" She asked her eyes still dazed from the high of the surgery.

I grabbed a soap pack before scrubbing my hands and arms with it along side her. "It's different." I conceded smiling slightly. "I don't think it's for me though."

She nodded agreeing with me. "So, you and Mark?"

I shook my head no, not allowing myself to think about it even for a second. If I did I'd get flashbacks. "No." I said trying to sound convincing, I don't know if I was trying to convince her or myself. "We're friends... sort of."

"Friends who kiss?" She questioned amused. This coming from the woman who actually slept with the man, and has a close friendship with him.

Pot meet kettle.

When I didn't reply she continued. "Look Mere, Mark has liked you for the longest time believe it or not he could probably love you. I know he's a notorious man whore but I believe you could be the one to change him."

"I ... we can't. Derek-"

"Is with the scrub nurse. He lost his chance. Meredith you're going to throw away what you and Mark could have all for a guy who made you run to therapy because he got a new girlfriend?" Her words were blunt and full of disbelief but she did have a point. I owed Derek nothing. I should be allowed to be happy.

But could I really do that to Derek. To Derek and Marks already fragile friendship? There wouldn't be any chance to rekindle if either of us went there.

MGMS

"You're avoiding me." He accused when I stepped foot in the elevator after my shift. I glanced up meeting his eyes, cursing to myself as the metal doors closed behind me. I watched in horror as he pulled the stop button , stopping us between floors.

I wasn't leaving this elevator until I talked to him, that much was clear.

He stepped closer to me, I moved away from him backing myself into a corner.

Despite what I may or may not have felt for the plastic surgeon , I knew I couldn't go there. His friendship to Derek was important to him, he even admitted once that he came back for him. Derek was the closest thing this man had for a family - one night of possibly mind blowing best I'll probably have sex isn't worth that.

"Mark" I breathed his name sadly, by the tone of my voice his face crumpled, pain flashed in his grey blue eyes causing my heart to constrict. "About yesterday, it shouldn't happen again. We can't do that to him. It would destroy him."

"But Meredith, Im willing to risk it." His voice was desperate and filled of hope, he stepped forward clutching my hand in his own.

I felt the familiar sting of tears in my eyes, knowing what I was about to say would ultimately destroy us. Our friendship or our potential to be something more.

"Im not." I said looking at him straight in the eye to get my point across. "Im sorry Mark, but I don't feel that way about you."

My words only twisted the knife further adding salt to the injury. So many emotions passed across his face for a fleeting moment.

Confusion.

Anger.

Rejection.

Heartache.

The light dimmed from his eyes, making his eyes hardened to the colour of a storm. His face contouring into a controlled mask. He let go of my hand as if my touch burned him and retreated back to his corner, starting the elevator back up again.

The rest of the ride was filled with tense awkward silence both of us leaving with heavy hearts in the opposite direction.

MGMS

"Tequila Joe." I requested sliding into the stool at the bar. "And keep them coming."

He slid me a shot, watching in amusement as I threw it back before requesting another.

"Rough day?"

I grimaced. "You have no idea." After my fourth shot I slumped forward resting my chin on my folded hands. He chuckled softly before walking away to take care of another customer.

Feeling the alcohol take effect I looked around the bar for something or perhaps someone to distract me for the night, but the sight I found made my eyes burn, and bile to rise in my throat.

There was Mark on the dance floor, practically dry humping some blonde bimbo with obvious work done to her breasts.

He looked up suddenly and our eyes met, hurt was evident in his before an avenge full smirk took over.

I watched brokenly as he captured the bimbos lips with his own. Feeling the tears stream down my cheek, I quickly payed for my drinks and left the bar.

A/N: poor mcsteamy! Dinner date with Derek and Rose? ... Awkward.

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