Meredith took a step back, Derek's eyes flashing. "I'm not that half-ass man who sleeps with someone else just because I've never done it before! I'm not that guy, Meredith. I'm married, and I'm your boss. Go do your job before I decide you're not worth what I'm paying you!" Meredith slammed the door, feeling the sting of the cold mingling with tears. Derek turned, and leaned over the banister. Damn regret… Derek watched the snow swirling beneath the balcony, and his mind took him back to that day- that night…
The sun shone through the window, Derek sleepily waking up to see Addison dressing for work. "Get up honey", Addison called. Derek punched the alarm and groaned. "I'm on call tonight, so I'll see you tomorrow". Addison watched him walk down the hall, feeling the same empty feeling that had been following her recently. Every night Derek was on call, putting in unnecessary hours at the hospital. When Addison had married him, Derek had been charming. They always made time for each other, even during the hectic studying for medical school. Addison would come and surprise him, sliding her long legs across his lap and kissing him till she effectively distracted him from studying. They'd lie in bed together; the only sound their closely beating hearts. For Addison it was heaven, but for Derek it wasn't enough. Derek and Addison graduated with special recognition from their old teacher Richard Webber. That same day, the Chief offered them a position with the New York hospital. Addison delighted in her new job, finding out that while hers was more flexible, being a resident in the neurology department demanded hours. She'd sit down on the bench outside the hospital waiting for Derek to finally emerge. Derek would come out breathless and excited, telling Addison to go home, he'd see her tomorrow. It was always tomorrow, or the next day. Eventually, Derek spent the majority of his nights and days un call and inattentive to Addison's desires. Derek was having regrets with marriage, maybe it hadn't been practical of him. Derek never believed in divorce and he always criticized those weak ass men who merely fell out of love. But for Derek, other things were falling. His career was falling into place, the money providing every thing he ever desired. He balanced his needs below the hospital's and the Chief took notice. Derek won the promotion for head of neurology the day he had told Addison he wouldn't be home. Excited, Derek rushed home to tell her. Taking a step into the house, something felt wrong. Addison wasn't rushing down to tell him how much she missed him. Derek picked up the jacket on the table, it wasn't his. He would recognize that jacket anywhere though; it belonged to his best friend, Mark. Derek felt the world cease, his mind blurring. Images flickered before his eyes of what he soon would see. He forced himself to retain his balance, gripping unto the banister for support. He could hear her moans from the hallway, Derek forcing himself to continue. This isn't happening, this isn't happening… "Addison." Addison looked up from kissing Mark's stomach. Mark turned over, facing Addison with Derek. "I can't believe you." "GET OUT NOW!" Derek shoved Mark down the stairs, Addison was crying now, the tears mingling with her mascara. Derek grabbed the sheets and threw Addison's clothes in the pile. "Derek! Derek! I can explain, Derek what are you doing with my clothes?!?" Derek clenched his jaw, and threw the clothes out into the street. "Derek you're never home"- "Get out of my house, now". "Mark was here, and"- Addison sat down on the bottom step, wearing Derek's old shirt. "You fuck my best friend and all you can say he was just HERE?!?" "No- No Derek we don't quit, we can get through this!" "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE NOW!" Derek grabbed Addison's arm and flung her outside. Addison pounded on the glass door, Derek pressing his entire frame against the door to keep her out. Derek looked up at the ceiling, of the house in which Addison had committed the ultimate betrayal. She had slept openly with his best friend, Mark. Right in this house, right here! Derek felt the sudden urge to throw her down the steps, and cease the banging on the door- she was crying. Derek fought the urge, and it passed, an overwhelming wave of nausea sweeping over him. Derek opened the door, Addison pushing her way in, her hands bruised from banging on the door. Her face and hair was drenched from the rain pouring down. There goes my life… "We can get through this, Derek." Derek firmly shook his head, she was playing the victim. He had remained faithful all this time while she was fucking Mark, what a waste of five years… "I look at you and I feel sick. I can't look at you." Addison collapsed, crying. Derek slammed the door, walking into the rain…