So my New Year's resolution is to publish at least ONE chapter of fanfic each week. Now, it may not necessarily be for this fic in particular, but I am hoping it will keep the juices flowing so that yes, I will be updating this fic more regularly! Happy New Year!
The doctors of Seattle Grace worked so many hours in a day, so many days in a week; it was easy for them to forget what day of the week it was and completely lose their bearing on life. It was for this reason that on her rare second day off in a row, Lexie found herself in church.
Finding herself to be completely at peace for the first time in a long time, even since before the shooting, she was reluctant to leave the sanctuary even after the benediction. She remained in her seat, watching the congregation mill about and chat with each other as they made their way out. It was difficult to make out the details of their conversations as the organ filled every corner of the room with its postlude.
Even after the postlude had ended Lexie stayed. She closed her eyes and absorbed the silence reverberating through the place. She soon heard footsteps and felt the weight of someone sitting in the pew next to her. She opened her eyes and smiled. "Reverend Mitchell."
"Little Lexie Grey," the pastor chuckled joyfully, opening his arms to embrace her. Lexie readily accepted the hug. "Why I can't remember the last time I saw you here. It must have been your mother's services."
Lexie tried to hide the pang in her heart at the mention of her mother. Instead, she lamely explained, "My work at the hospital… I'm lucky to have a day off at all much less it be a Sunday."
Reverend Mitchell nodded. "I understand. You're doing God's work, healing the sick as it were. What hospital are you at again?"
"Seattle Grace."
"Not the hospital they had that shooting at."
"Uh, yeah, actually…"
Reverend Mitchell clasped her hands tightly. "Are you alright? You weren't hurt, were you?"
Lexie smiled, "I'm fine."
"Were you close with any of the victims?"
Lexie shifted away from him. His intentions were good, but she had come here to get away from that awful day, not relive it.
"The organ sounds so much better than the last time I was here. You were finally able to raise the funds to fix it?"
Catching on, the reverend took her cue. "About a year ago. Good as new!"
"Dad!"
They both turned to the voice behind them.
"Dad," a handsome young man approached them. "Oh, hi," he nodded to Lexie. "Dad, Mrs. Delafield and Mrs. Winston are bickering over the floral arrangement again. I think the 'split the baby in two' story is in order."
Reverend Mitchell audibly groaned. "Oh! Lexie, you remember my son, Robert."
"Of course," Lexie smiled.
"If you two will excuse me…" the preacher took off for the courtyard at a mad dash, leaving the two youngsters to catch up.
"Lexie … Grey?"
"That's me," she nodded.
"Wow, look at you! You look great. What are you up to these days?"
"I'm completing my surgical residency."
"A doctor, eh? I always knew you were too smart for your own good." He winked. "Well, I've got to get going, but I hope we can catch up again soon."
"Uh, sure…"
Robert took off, leaving Lexie alone. She took another minute to herself before leaving. She felt safe here. But even as she left the safety of the church, somehow Lexie knew that everything was going to be okay.
Mark had been sitting in his car outside Lexie's apartment complex for the better part of an hour.
What is wrong with me? he asked himself. I am Mark Sloan. Men want to be me and women want to be with me. Why am I afraid to go talk to one woman?
Because this woman matters, that nagging voice in his head that was usually right and always sounded like Callie chimed in.
Mark grumbled, "Stupid conscience." He grabbed the bouquet of flowers in the passenger seat. "Screw this. I'm going in."
Grebo was a special cat. He hadn't been much to look at in the shelter. He was blind in his left eye, which was clouded over with a scar. His fur had been so matted, he now had a buzz cut, as it was the only way Lexie was able to groom him. Still, she found him beautiful, scars and all.
She was reading a medical journal, Grebo cuddled up to her, purring away, when she heard a knock at the door. She sighed.
"Who is it?"
"Mark Sloan."
Her pulse immediately quickened. She opened the door. "Mark. Hi… Come in…"
At those words Mark practically stormed into her apartment. "I can't not be with you, Lex. I've tried. Before that day, I tried. I couldn't handle it. I need to be with you. I know you think you need to do all this 'getting better' on your own, but you don't. I can help you. You put me back together; now let me put you back together."
"I don't need to be put back together by anyone, Mark! And even if I did, how long until I'm living by your schedule and your standards and losing myself piece by piece by piece? I'm not doing this because of the shooting, Mark. I went from living with my parents to living with roommates in college and med. School, living at Meredith's, living with you… I've never had a place to call my own, never been free to do what I want to do, the way I want to do it! But I was so scared of being alone, I never did it. In a sick, twisted way I'm thankful for that day, 'cause it helped me get my priorities straight and you know what came out on top? Me. I did, Mark."
Mark pursed his lips and huffed through his nose a few times. Then he thrust his fist forward. "I brought flowers," he stated lamely. "You know, for the apartment."
Lexie bit her lip to keep from giggling. He was so cute when he was flustered. "Thanks," she gently took the flowers.
"I just don't understand, Lex," Mark began again, softly this time. "I don't understand why you don't want to be with me anymore. I know I messed up last year with Sloane and … everything. But through it all, I always knew… you're it for me."
Lexie's heart swelled. She took his hand and leaned in. "I'm going to let you in on a secret. You're it for me too," she smiled.
Mark's grin nearly split his face. He leaned in to kiss Lexie… but instead he sneezed in her face.
"Oh!" Lexie closed her eyes and covered her face with the flowers.
"I'm sorry," Mark started. "I don't know what… Achoo!"
"Maybe it's the flowers," Lexie ran to the opposite side of the apartment to get the potential threat away from him.
Mark's gaze followed Lexie. "No, it's…" His eyes fell on Grebo. He glared. "It's that."
"Grebo? You're allergic to cats?"
Mark sneezed in response.
"Omigod," Lexie set the flowers on the kitchenette counter and grabbed her jacket. "Come on, let's get out of here."
Lexie brought two cups of coffee to a cozy corner table. They'd fled from her apartment to the local coffee shop across the street.
Mark grumbled a thank you. His eyes were still bloodshot and a bit puffy.
Lexie bit back a giggle as she took her seat.
"S'not funny," Mark sulked, his nose a bit stuffy.
"I'm sorry," she giggled. "It's just, you seem invincible. How was I supposed to know you were allergic to cats? It's never come up."
"I never thought you'd get a cat."
"Why? I love cats. We had a cat, Grizabella, when I was growing up. CATS was my mom's favorite musical. Then I went to college where you can't have cats, not that my friends and I didn't try…"
Mark smirked as he listened to Lexie layout her life-history of cat interactions. He could listen to her go on for days about sweat socks if it meant spending time with her.
"…and I know Grebo isn't much to look ay when you first see him, but I think he's beautiful." She finally finished.
"Let me take you out," Mark stated.
"What?"
"We don't have to rush into anything. We have all the time in the world and I want to do it right this time. I didn't do it right the first time, but you deserve to have it done right. So… let me take you out sometime."
"I… okay."
"When are you off tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow's not good. Pulling a double shift."
"Tuesday then."
"Seven."
"Great, I'll pick you up in the lobby at 8:00." He gulped the rest of his coffee and stood up. "Thanks for the coffee, Little Grey." He winked and walked out of the coffee shop.
Lexie blushed. Her heart was pounding in her chest. Has she just agreed to a date with Mark? It was like she'd just had an out of body experience. She'd just sat there and watched while she agreed to go out with him, despite all her preaching lately about doing things on her own. Still, she smiled and enjoyed the butterflies in her stomach. She had a date with Mark, and that was all that mattered.
Please R&R!
