Chapter 4-So Far Away

The tension in the air was overwhelming. The airplane was completely silent. None of them knew what to say. What could they say really? Obviously the Chief had been serious about working out their problems because in their current situation, they would most likely be forced to get along. They would really have to make an effort; otherwise, this week would be total hell.

Addison smiled uncomfortably at Alex, trying not to show how incredibly nervous all of this made. She didn't want things to be awkward with him during the trip, but now, she couldn't see that not happening. It was bad enough that she turned into a pile of jelly every time she saw him, but now, she was going to be in a hotel room with him for seven days, seven nights. It amazed her how he could easily take away all of her self-control by just looking at her. She would seriously have to work on that. Although she didn't actually see when she'd have the time to do that seeing as she was sitting next to her right now and she wanted nothing more than to just lean over and kiss him.

Alex smiled back, trying to mimic her expression as best as he could, but realizing he probably just looked like he really had to go to the bathroom, he stopped. He had an entirely different take on this new and interesting twist. He knew he should feel weird. He knew everyone else was feeling weird. But he just couldn't feel weird. In fact, he felt insanely happy at this moment.

Over the last few months, he had grown to really like Addison. He thought she was breathtaking in every way. Even with them butting heads every once in a while, he found she was the closest thing to perfect he'd ever seen. Sure, he had said he wasn't interested, but he had lied. He had lied to protect himself. He could tell she was going to say that it had been another weird week and he refused to take that. He knew she wanted him, but she didn't want to admit it. And so, he had lied. Honestly, he had said it more for himself than for her. He thought that if he convinced her that he wasn't interested, maybe he could convince himself, and maybe that dull aching feeling in his heart would go away.

But it hadn't. And for some reason, he wasn't sure he wanted it to anymore. Sure, it hurt when she would push him away. But on those rare occasions she would let him in, and talk to him like they were great friends, he felt like he was on cloud nine.

And so now, looking at her, knowing that he would be sharing a room with her for an entire week, he couldn't feel weird or awkward at all. He could only feel deliriously happy and oh so lucky. He would have to remember to thank the Chief for this.

Recovering from the initial shock of the flight attendant's announcement, Izzie took in a deep breath. She could not believe this was happening to her. Not only did she have to sit with Callie, but she had to share a room with her too now?! Seriously. This sucked.

Callie's mouth was tight. She could have yelled. She really could have. Yet she didn't because she knew Izzie would just have looked at her like she was insane. She cursed Izzie Stevens for being able to make her feel stupid. She was Calliope Tores O'Malley, and she smashed bones for a living. Why was this blonde intern able to make her feel completely incompetent? She decided it wouldn't be that way anymore. She was going to take charge, because she could.

They looked at each other, both seeming to want to say something. However, they didn't. They knew that if they started talking, they would break out into another argument, and right now, there was nowhere to turn to if things got to heated. And so they decided, wordlessly, that they would save this for later.

Derek's face was contorted in anger. He wanted so much to go yell at the little perky flight attendant, but he knew it wasn't her fault. It was Richard's. Or maybe it wasn't. No, really, it was Mark's. It seemed that all of his life problems revolved around Mark.

He knew Mark was looking at him right now, but he just couldn't look back up. He knew Mark to well and he could only imagine the smirk that was on his face right now. He probably thought it was hilarious that they'd be in a small space together for an entire week. Derek tried to calm himself by thinking of Meredith. He'd just sleep in that room and spend the rest of his time with Meredith. Maybe things would be okay. Maybe he could strangle Mark in his sleep…

Mark could not believe that he and Derek would be roommates, just like old times. It made him feel a little emotional, not that he'd ever admit it. He loved to taunt Derek just to see the reaction he'd get, but it was always just a joke. He wasn't a softy. No. He was an ass. But he wasn't a total ass like everyone made him out to be. He cared about Derek, a lot. He just didn't know how to show him anymore. Every time he made an attempt at sincerity, Derek would push him further away. It killed him to not have his best friend anymore. So he decided that if he made fun of him, at least he could still talk to him, see him, and that was better than not seeing him at all.

However, Mark couldn't bring himself to be an ass right now. He watched Derek try and regain his composure. He felt bad. He felt bad that Derek was going to have to share a room with him because he knew he didn't want to. Mark didn't mind. He was kind of looking forward to it. But it was painfully obvious that Derek was not excited at the prospect of all this. He stared at him with understanding, now that Derek was looking back at him, but it made him feel like they were best friends again. It reminded him of those times Derek would be upset, and Mark would just be there for him.

'I'm sorry,' Mark said very quietly. It was barely a whisper but Derek heard it. He was slightly confused, but then he got it. He and Mark had been best friends for a long time, and Mark knew him oh so well. He sighed and nodded still avoiding eye contact. Maybe Mark wasn't so horrible after all.

Cristina could have slapped someone. She was grateful the Chief wasn't there right now, because had he been, she would have been yelling things that would surely have gotten her fired. She was going to be rooming with Bambi. George, whatever. It's not that she and George were arch enemies or something. No. It's just that George was whiny and annoying and he got on her nerves. Plus, things had been a bit uneasy between them since the whole thing with Burke's hand and George's dad. But Cristina had put that behind her. The question was: had George? And even if he did, Cristina could clearly remember when he had lived with she and Burke, and she did not want to go back there.

George looked up asking why. Why would someone do this to him? He had tried many times to be close to Cristina but it just didn't work. The only person who could get really close to her was Meredith…oh and Burke. But Cristina didn't like George. She didn't even try and hide the fact that she didn't like him. In fact, she made it obvious by telling him straight out, like she had done earlier. He tried not to show that it bothered him but it did. It hurt him when she'd bluntly tell him that he annoyed her. He was still sore about the whole thing with Burke. Yet she seemed to have completely gotten over it and that made him mad. How could she just go on with him like nothing had gone on? Something had happened and her ignorance bothered him. Thinking about it now, he didn't like her very much. She annoyed him.

'I'm not happy about this either you know,' he said suddenly. She was surprised.

'What are you talking about, Bambi?' she replied tiredly.

'You're not easy to live with either.' His voice was getting stronger and more confident.

'Whatever,' she said confused and she turned away, putting earphones in her ears to shut him out.

George also turned away, fuming. He had finally worked up the courage to tell her off and call her on her crap and she turned away. Classic Cristina. She was always running away from her problems. He'd have to tell her that too. But later.

Preston Burke cleared his throat a little. He was definitely not expecting this one. It's not that he didn't like Meredith. She was Cristina's best friend after all, they would probably get along. Probably. But they did not know each other very well which would make sharing a hotel room quite bizarre. But there was something else bothering him about all of this. Meredith was…Ah, no. He was just being silly. He had no reason to complain. No reason at all.

Meredith forced a smile as she looked at Burke. They talked sometimes, but not much. If it weren't for Cristina, they probably wouldn't talk at all, except maybe for medical related issues. She didn't mind him, but he was always so calm. How was it possible for someone to never freak out? He was also a little intimidating. It was going to be really strange to sleep in a bed next to his. She felt like she couldn't quite be herself with him.

'Looks like we were the lucky ones,' she said nervously.

'Yes. I guess we are,' he responded a little uneasily. She definitely noticed.

'Is something wrong Dr. Burke?' she asked.

'Please, Preston. And no, nothing is wrong,' he answered calmly.

'Okay, Preston,' she replied. She dropped it. But she knew there was something more to this. She couldn't help but like something was wrong. However, she had no idea what. Was it her? She sure hoped not, because if it was, it would be even more awkward in their hotel room.

The airplane started rolling down the track and soon, they were off. There was no turning back now. If any of them had thought about running away, it was too late now. Their destination was only a few hours away. Their goal, however, that of solving their problems, was still so far away.