Chapter 7
The Emerald City Bar was packed with hospital staff enjoying a few drinks after a long day at work. Kate looked around but sat down on one of the stool once she realized that neither Mark, Derek or Meredith were there yet.
"Hi… I don't think I ever saw you here before. I'm Joe, the owner of this humble bar. You're from the hospital?"
She smiled at the barman. "Yes. I'm the new spinal surgeon attending. I'm Kate, Kate Sanford. Nice to meet you."
"You're not from around here, right? You got a little hint of an accent."
She laughed. "I'm from New York. Upper East Side."
"Well that explains the shoes, the purse and the clothes. Manolo Blahnik, Louis Vuitton and Prada?"
"Oh my God! I plead guilty: I do my shopping on Fifth Avenue. How could you…?"
"My boyfriend Walter is into fashion. He read all those magazines: Vogue, Elle, Cosmopolitan…"
"I see… Could I have… Let's honor the Big Apple: a Cosmo please."
"One Cosmo for the lady!"
She took a look around and smiled at the vision. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been in a bar enjoying herself. When she was in Chicago it had been out of the question. Her pregnant state had put a stop at it. Thinking of it, her last visit to a bar must have been the night her baby had been conceived… A smile appeared on her lips at the memory of that nigh.
She never felt that nervous. Nursing a vodka martini at JFK airport, she was waiting for Mark's plane to land. He had spent the last three weeks in Toronto at SickKids working with several other specialists from all over the world on a little Afghan girl. Her schedule hadn't given her the opportunity to visit him – anyway it would have been difficult to hide it from their friends – so she had waited patiently for his daily phone call.
To make things worse she had leave for Oahu, Hawaii the next morning to attend the American Association of Teaching Hospitals annual seminar. Without counting the hours they would spend together until she board her plane they would spend five weeks apart. Of 'course they had spent longer time apart during their numerous break-up, but never that long while they were still together. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't realize someone had sat down next to her. She looked at the waiter and sighed.
"Waiting for someone?"
She nearly spilled her drink all over her little black dress.
""Did you suddenly became clumsy while I was away?" asked Mark with a chuckle.
"Mark! Oh my God! How I missed you baby!"
She got up and kissed him passionately.
"I missed you too baby." was his first words when their lips separated.
"Come on, I got us a room at the nearby Marriott."
"Why not your apartment or the Penthouse?" he asked.
"Don't tell me you forgot I have to leave for Hawaii first thing in the morning!"
He sighed loudly. "I guess it slipped my mind. I don't want to think about it. How long do we have?"
"It's a quarter past 8. I have to be at my gate at 6 so… Less than ten hours. Let's go."
She grabbed his carry-on bag, him the big suitcase and left for the taxi terminal. She had already checked-in so they went directly to the room. She had arranged to have the most beautiful room with the biggest Jacuzzi possible. When he opened the door Mark was stunned. Dozen, no hundred of candles, had been lit, creating a romantic atmosphere.
"You like it?" asked Kate, biting her lower lip.
"That's one hell of a homecoming, baby."
"I'm happy you approve. I know how much you like fireplace, but they didn't have one so it's the next best thing. Oh! It got a double Jacuzzi… After all these stressful weeks and the plane ride I thought you would love to relax in it."
"You could help me wash my back… and my front."
"You naughty boy!"
She went to the living room area and opened the bottle of champagne that she had asked the staff to put on ice. She turned to him and watched him slowly strip off his leather jacket and toss it over the back of the sofa.
"What are you doing?" she asked as he started to unbutton his shirt.
"I'm getting comfortable. We're not gonna have sex tonight Katie."
She suddenly looked disappointed, like a child to whom we told he wouldn't have any Christmas present.
"But…"
"We're not having sex," he cut her "because my darling little sexy Kate I'm going to make love to you…"
At this point his shirt had already joined the jacket and he was now unbuckling his pair of jeans. Her eyes were focused on his fabulous abs as he took off his pants.
"And it's going to be hot, long and slow… Just as you like it."
He was now wearing only his silk boxers. She put the bottle on the table and walked to him, licking her lips.
"But there is a little problem." said the plastic surgeon in a husky voice.
Her hands stroked his chest as she asked, in a voice she barely recognize "What?"
He bent down, kissed her and whispered "You are way too overdress."
He reprised his kiss and unzipped the little black dress. She was now only wearing her lacy black lingerie and her Louboutin stiletto.
"That's new… You went to Victoria's Secret without me?"
"That's part of your welcome home gift."
She hungrily ravaged his lips.
"You like it?"
"Best gift ever. And the other part?"
"You'll have to work hard to get it."
He took her in his arms, her legs locked around his hips, and carried her to the bed.
She smiled at herself at the memory of this night, this fabulous night she would never forget.
"And here's your Cosmo, Miss."
She searched her purse for cash but was stopped by the barman.
"This one's on the house. Your welcome gift to Seattle."
"Thank you Joe."
"Don't you dare hit on her Joe." said a voice behind her. "The girl is mine."
"As stunning as she is, doctor Sloan, she's not my type. Same as usual?"
He nodded before kissing the young woman's neck.
"Hi beautiful…"
"Hey handsome… I guess we won't have to make an official statement… You kinda made it clear…"
"I told you: new city, new hospital – no hiding anymore."
"I bet it'll break a lot of girls hearts."
"I'm yours, you're mine…"
Joe came back with Mark scotch. 'You'll have to get a room, 'cause this is a proper establishment…"
"Don't worry Joe, we'll behave ourselves." said Kate laughing.
"I'm not worried about you, young lady. It's him I'm worried about. With his reputation and everything…"
"Well Joe you got the new and improve Mark Sloan in front of you. This woman changed me. Because of her I want to be a better man."
"My God! You did the unthinkable: you tamed the man-whore! Well good thing for you McSteamy."
Kate burst into laughed. "Where does that McSteamy nickname come from? It's totally hilarious."
"It's Grey." sighed Mark. "She and her intern friends gave it to me. Shep is apparently McDreamy and Addison has been nicknamed Satan."
"I'm the one who nicknamed her that." said Derek joining them with Meredith.
"Satan's perfect for her. As for you Derek… You do are dreamy sometimes. But Meredith you got it right with Mark: McSteamy suits him like a glove."
"I thought you and Addie were friends Kay. How can…"
Mark stopped Derek. "Addison came to my room last night and she didn't took it so well when she realized…"
"She's being a spoiled brat!" Kate said. "She can't accept the fact that we love each other. She said he was nothing but a man-whore, wouldn't change, blah, blah, blah. So now we are over. I'm now looking for a new best friend. Meredith, if you're interest, be my guest!"
The blond intern smiled awkwardly. "I… Well I…"
"I'm joking! Can we go now: I'm hungry!"
"I got us reservation at an Italian by the bay." said Mark getting up and kissing the top of Kate's head. "What's the matter Shep? Is there something wrong?"
The neuro shocked his head. "It's just… Seeing the two of you together… I mean for me it's brand new. I need time to get use to it."
"What do you mean it's brand new to you Derek?" asked Meredith.
"He didn't told you Meredith? We've been hiding our relationship for the past ten years. Up until yesterday Der thought we hated each other. He's feeling like a complete idiot right now. So can we go?"
She grabbed her purse and left.
"What's wrong with her? She's… cranky!"
"Well Shep, let's say that this afternoon… we… were kinda interrupt. Now lets got!"
"You what?! At the hospital?! You really got no shame at all!"
Mark and Meredith both laughed.
"Like we never did it at the hospital Derek."
Kate walked back in the bar, irritated. "Are you coming?"
Author note: So that's chapter 7… Please, please I'm begging you… Leave a review!!! – Lara K.