Thanks for the reviews.

And only FYI, as long as I don't put the words 'The end' under a chapter I'm not done with the story. I still have some ideas for this story so there are still some chapters left. :-) Enjoy!


Chapter 4: Thai food

The last time he'd seen Lexie was six months ago, the last time he'd spoken to her was six months ago. Dr. Torres had told him that she'd gone to a clinic after she'd recovered from surgery but that she'd refused to take any more money from him. Not that he was in the slightest surprised. She was a fighter. He should stop worrying about her, she would find her way. But as hard as he tried to convince himself that she was out of his life forever he couldn't stop thinking about her.

Addison had given birth to their daughter Kate five months ago and even though they had an agreement that he could see her as much as he wanted to it just wasn't the same as if they were living in the same city. She still lived on the other side of the country because after Derek and she got divorced she decided to join the private practice of her friend Naomi in Los Angeles.

It took a toll on him, being apart from his daughter for such long times. He only managed to see her once a month and he missed her terribly the rest of the time. What made it worse was the fact that he caught himself over and over again thinking about how Lexie was doing and what she would have to say to this whole Addison situation. He missed their talks, he missed her humor. If he was honest with himself he missed everything about her. But she lived her own life now and he should stop living in the past, missing something he would never get back.

Suddenly a knock at his door interrupted his thoughts and when he opened it he stared with utter disbelief at the person that was standing in front of him, certain that she had to be a ghost.

"What are you doing here? How do you even know where I live?" Mark asked completely taken aback.

"Derek." Lexie replied without any greeting. "He really hates you. He thought giving me your address would annoy you."

"Why are you here?"

"I don't know. To thank you?" Lexie said, looking him directly in the eyes, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Can I come in?"

"Sure." Mark stepped back to let her in, still confused by her presence. "You came over 2000 miles to see me. The least I can do is offer you a coffee."

"Always the gentleman. Don't you get tired of it sometimes?" Lexie asked jokingly, looking him up and down. He looked good. As handsome as five months ago though she could see new wrinkles around his eyes and she would bet that Addison was the reason why sadness clouded his eyes.

"So we are back at being sarcastic and obnoxious?" When Mark saw the brief flash of hurt that flickered over her face, he cursed inwardly. She didn't deserve such a harsh behavior. "I'm sorry. I'm just in a bad mood today. How have you been? Everything okay?"

"I'm fine and before you ask. I didn't take anything since you found me on the street."

"That's good." Mark watched her while she was strolling through his apartment. She got rid of the dreadlocks and all visible piercings had disappeared. Her hair shimmered in a dark brown and the only thing that reminded of her past was the tattoo that was visible above the hem of her shirt.

"I like your apartment. It's so you." Lexie said nonchalantly, trying to break through the awkwardness by choosing a safe subject.

"You don't know me."

"True. But it suits you. Can you say that about an apartment? It sounds a little weird." Lexie rambled before she turned around to him and put her hands on her hips, stating provocatively. "Anyway, what were you thinking?"

"Excuse me?" Mark asked baffled.

"Disappearing without saying good bye." Lexie clarified, raising her eye brows questioningly.

"I wrote you a letter." Mark replied though he didn't even know why he defended himself. He still believed that it had been the right choice. "Didn't you get it?"

"Sure. Dr. Torres gave it to me the moment I woke up." Lexie said dryly.

"So I said good bye." Mark stated in a quiet voice. But judging by the expression on Lexie's face she hadn't been pleased by his good bye note.

"With a letter, Mark!" Lexie huffed, confirming his suspicion.

"Are you angry with me?" Mark asked carefully.

"Of course I'm angry with you." Lexie said exasperatedly. "Though it's been five months since the last time I saw you. So I'll abstain from getting violent."

"Getting violent?" Mark asked surprised, slightly stunned by her anger.

"Don't you think that saying good bye with a letter after all we've been through together deserves a slap in the face?"

"Okay, I get it. You were mad."

"I still am." Lexie replied quietly. "I thought we were friends and not that you would disappear the moment you've thought that you've fulfilled your duties."

"I thought it would be better for both of us." Mark tried to explain.

"Why?"

"I just needed to get away from Seattle." Mark answered, not willing to get into all the reasons why he'd left Seattle.

"I've missed you." Lexie said softly, catching him completely off-guard.

"What?" Mark locked eyes with her, not certain if he'd heard correctly.

"I've missed you, Mark." Lexie smiled when she saw the surprised look on his face. "I loved our talks. It's been a long time since I had a friend to talk to and it was really nice for a change."

"I liked talking to you too." Mark smiled back.

"So ... I'm actually here for a week. Maybe we can grab some diner together sometime?"

"Actually I was thinking about ordering some take out. Do you want to join me?" Mark surprised himself by asking her but he didn't want her to leave just yet.

"Thai?"

"Sure. We can order Thai."

"I love Thai! So yeah, I would like to join you."

~M&L~

When the food arrived they sat down on the couch table to eat, spreading the several boxes over the whole table. Mark asked about the rehabilitation facility and Lexie wanted to know what had happened with Addison. She was clearly not approving how he'd handled the whole situation. He could see it in her eyes. But at least Addison and he came to the agreement that he had unrestricted visiting rights without going through court and Lexie could understand that a better arrangement would have been hard to achieve as they both lived on opposite ends of America.

Lexie asked him about his practice and about his operations, eager to learn more about plastics. She'd always been fascinated by this specialty while she was going through med school. She convinced Mark that he would take her with him to his next operation on Monday so that she could watch the operation from the gallery after she'd told him that she'd decided to do an internship, continuing her medical career.

Mark felt extremely comfortable with her in his apartment. She was the first woman after Addison who wasn't only here because he wanted to sleep with her. He enjoyed talking to her, watching her while she explained to him what she wanted to see while she was in New York, smiling slightly when he saw how excited she was about going sight-seeing.

Lexie felt safe with him. It was just so easy to talk to him. She loved to banter with him, teasing him until his eye brows furrowed when she'd overdone it. She'd really missed talking to him. Maybe it had been the right decision to come to New York after all. She would really love to have Mark as her friend. Maybe she could even intern at a hospital in New York.

When they both grabbed for the box with meecrob their hands collided and suddenly the whole room seemed to be charged with sexual tension when they locked eyes. Just a few seconds ago they were laughing and chatting like old friends but with only one touch of her hand Mark realized that being friends wasn't enough for him. Judging by the expression in her eyes, he wasn't the only one who felt the tension and he brushed with his thumb over the back of her hand, watching her closely for any reaction.

But suddenly she pulled her hand back and stood up quickly. Grabbing her purse, she rushed towards the door, turning around with her hand on the door knob.

"Thanks for the diner but I have to go now. I'll get in touch with you tomorrow."

"Sure. Give me a call. You have my number?" Lexie only nodded and before Mark could say anything else she had left, leaving him behind with mixed emotions. He wasn't sure if he should feel happy that she was here or if the fact that she would be in New York for a whole week should terrify him.

~M&L~

Mark woke up with a start when he heard an insisting pounding on his door. Looking at the clock, he realized that it was already three o'clock in the morning and he wondered who could be at the other side of the door. Not bothering to put on some clothes he walked towards the door in only his boxer briefs and looked through the peep-hole, surprised to see Lexie standing in front of it. When he opened the door he saw the scared look on her face. She had her arms wrapped tightly around her torso as if she needed to hold herself together and he immediately pulled her into his apartment.

"What happened?" Mark asked urgently.

"I was so close to get another fix, Mark." Lexie said barely above a whisper, fighting with the tears that welled up in her eyes. "So damn close. I … I don't know if I can make it."

"Come here." Mark pulled her into his embrace and pressed her against his body, rubbing his hands soothingly over her back.

"I just …" Lexie shuddered in his arms. "You are the only one I can go to. I don't have anyone else."

"You are shaking." Mark replied softly. "Maybe you should take a bath."

"I don't want to take a bath." Lexie said.

"But it might warm you up." Mark reasoned.

"I don't want to take a bath." Lexie whispered before she raised herself on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his.

"Lex, what are you doing?" Mark pushed her away and looked down into her face.

"Have I already told you that I really like it when you call me Lex?" Lexie replied, slipping her hands around his neck.

"Stop it, Lexie." Mark pulled at her hands, trying to get out of her embrace.

"Don't fool yourself, Mark." Lexie said, pressing her body into his. "You want me. I know it. I can feel it."

"Yes, I want you." Mark admitted. He didn't see a point in lying when his body clearly stated that he wanted her. "But not like this."

"Like what?" Lexie asked, smiling slightly when Mark's hands dropped to her waist. "Like you are only a distraction for me so that I don't think about a fix for a few minutes?"

"Minutes?" Mark replied slightly affronted, his hands tightening around her waist. "I think you are underestimating me."

"What's wrong with getting distracted for a little while?" Lexie asked, licking her lips provocatively. He'd stopped trying to push her away, she would take that as a good sign.

"I've done enough of that. I'm just sick of it." Mark said honestly.

"Then let's do it one last time. Sort of a good bye to your old life?"

"I don't think this is a good idea."

"Geez, Mark." Lexie pressed her hands in his chest and leaned back against his hands that were still wrapped around her waist. "Drop your pants! Or are you afraid that you can't handle me, old man?"

"You are trying to bait me, aren't you?"

"Is it working?" Lexie asked smugly. She'd seen the brief flash of desire in his eyes when she'd pressed her lower body further into his. She was fairly certain that he wouldn't resist her for much longer.

"Yes, it's working." Mark admitted before he bent down to kiss the smug grin of her face. "Let me show you what an old man can do to you."

"I'm looking ..." But Mark didn't let Lexie finish the sentence before he crushed his lips on hers. Burying one hand in her hair, he pulled her with the other one further into him. He kissed her demandingly, trailing his tongue along her bottom lip until she opened her lips with a sigh and kissed him back.

The moment their tongues met it was as if a shot of electricity rushed through their bodies and Lexie wrapped her hands around his neck, pushing her hips forward in the desperate need to get even closer to him.

When they needed to come up for air, Mark leaned back to look into her eyes. "Don't forget that you were the one who've asked for it?"

"Are you afraid that I will regret it?" Lexie asked breathlessly before she smiled mischievously. "Don't worry. I don't think that you will disappoint me."

"You little minx." Mark suddenly bent down and lifted her up and Lexie shrieked surprised, wrapping her legs around his waist so that they wouldn't lose their balance. "Yeah, that's much better. Just so you know who is in control."

"You think you are in control?" Lexie asked him, licking her lips suggestively. "I wouldn't be so sure about that."

"Want to find out?"

"Didn't I make myself clear the first time I've kissed you? I'm dying to find out what Mark Sloan is like between the sheets."

"And you will." Mark replied, carrying her towards his bedroom.

Every thought of backing out had vanished. He wanted her, she wanted him. They would deal with the implications and their complicated lives tomorrow. Right now he was determined to make her scream, to give her exactly what she wanted, to let them forget how screwed up life was for a few precious hours, to let them forget that their lives were anything but easy.


Have a nice weekend! See you hopefully all next week.