The light shining through the drapes had Addison awoken a long time ago but she didn't want to wake Mark, who was still next to her. Last night had been comfortable, easy and a little comforting after the chaos of that day.
"Morning, gorgeous."
"Morning."
Mark pushed Addison's hair behind her ear and they shared a passionate kiss. Addison felt Marks hand on her breast but she stopped him before he could start something.
"I'm sorry Mark, I have to go to work."
"Oh come on Addie, can't you just stay in bed a little longer?"
"No, no Mark. And you should get going too. Don't you have to go to the hospital?"
"I've got the day off."
"Well I don't, Derek and Meredith expect me so .. I'm going to hop in the shower now okay?"
Addison closed the bathroom door behind her. She undressed and got in the shower. The water was a little too hot but she didn't care. Alex was still in her head and she still wanted to go for it. But Mark was already here and would obviously be the easier choice. But would he be the better choice?
It was already two in the afternoon when Addison finally arrived in the cafeteria. It had been a very busy morning for her. Richard had told her she'd only be on Meredith's case but he tempted her into doing a hysterectomy and a consult on another patient. She came in to eat together with Callie but Callie got paged to the ER so here she was, alone at a table. She felt like several people were talking about her but didn't care.
"Hey Doc."
"What are you doing?"
Alex Karev sat down and stole one of Addison's fries. Normally she would've said something about it. But this time it was oddly attractive.
"Dr. Montgomery, when are you planning to do Mer's surgery?"
"I was going to ask you to prep her after lunch. Why?"
"Well Sloan asked me to scrub in but I wouldn't want to miss Mer's surgery."
"Mark is here? This morning he said he had the day off?"
"This morning?"
Alex tried to hide a smile on his face and Addison now realized she had said too much. She picked up her tray, put her face next to Alex's and said: "Just prep her, Karev."
She walked away, knowing Alex was looking at her. And she loved it.
Addison had just walked outside of the cafeteria to the nurse's station when she walked into Mark.
"Mark?"
"Addie?", Mark said mockingly.
"I thought you had the day off? Why the hell are you here? And why do you ask him to scrub in with you? You know I need him on my case."
"If by him you mean Alex Karev, I asked him to scrub in because he's been scrubbing in on all of my surgeries lately."
Addison realized that things had changed a lot since she left, but Karev at plastics? He was so good with the kids.
"Anyway, stop stealing him from me as long as I'm here."
Alex Karev was already scrubbing in when Addison entered the scrub room. She still couldn't believe Alex had been working with Mark the whole time she was gone and couldn't bear to hold it in any longer.
"Why Mark Sloan?"
"I could ask the same to you."
"That's none of you business and I meant why plastics? Why are you wasting your great surgical hands on boob jobs and facelifts while you can treat sick children?"
"Look I just needed a freaking break okay? I needed a freaking break from the vagina squad."
"If you don't like the 'vagina squad' then why are you on this case?"
"Because it's Mer!"
"Whatever."
She heard Alex mumble something but went straight to the OR. She was disappointed. The least Alex could've said was that he did it for her.
When she entered the OR she saw that Meredith was still awake.
"Addison, I know you hate me but please don't kill me or the baby."
"I don't hate you."
Normally Addison had no problem with performing surgery but seeing Meredith's bare pregnant belly gave her a strange feeling. This surgery had to be successful.
