The chief and Alex desperately tried to pull the grown men away from each other. The brawl had advanced since Mark had started to hit back. It was déjà vu all over again for everyone, except this time they were fighting for the other sister. Mark's fist hit Derek's eye for the second time in the last five minutes. No one could interfere because of the fear of getting too involved would cause them battle wounds.
"Son of a bitch" Mark seethed as he hooked his right arm around Derek's waist, pinning him to the ground. He started to continuously attack every available side of Derek's body. It only enraged Derek more. Derek used it to his advantage and grabbed Mark's arm and threw him onto the floor heavily. Mark panted breathlessly and grabbed Derek's foot. He was too fast for the tired, pained surgeon.
"Careful Mark" He growled, kicking him down to the floor. He carefully stood up and towered over him like a giant. "No one likes a sore loser." He said venom apparent in his voice. He kicked Mark's gut over and over again until Alex threw him against the wall.
Alex was finally able to drag Derek away as the chief pulled Mark against the wall. Mark wiped the blood from his lip angrily as Derek fought his way towards him again. Alex wouldn't have it; he pushed him roughly against the wall as the chief had done to Mark. Derek snarled at the contact and winced because bruises were going to form.
"Get them fixed up Karev." The chief ordered angrily, acting as a fence between the two enraged men. "What are all of you standing around for?!" He yelled at the bystanders. Meredith ran to Mark's side and the chief immediately understood. Bailey saw her resident and looked for the Neuro attending in haste so he didn't have to see the exchange.
Meredith's hand locked on Mark's cheek, her concern-filled eyes searched for more wounds. She quickly helped him up from his current position which caused him to groan in pain. She put her shoulder underneath his arms to act as a support for him. He limped while walking with her to the nearest exam room.
Derek saw everything and growled when Bailey touched his arm. Bailey just scoffed and helped him up; it wasn't the tender gesture but instead rough and angry. She dragged him to the opposite hall and shut him inside a room where Alex would later on assist him.
"I'm guessing he knows." Mark said as Meredith prepared the sutures for him. His eye and his lip were cut badly and he probably had bruises all around his body.
"Stop moving" Meredith snapped angrily, letting Mark sit down on the chair carefully. She stood in front of him and gently cleaned his eye. Her anger at Derek was obvious to anyone in the room. Tension was radiating off her body and Mark was oddly calm at the moment. It continued to puzzle Meredith to no end. The confusion on her face didn't go unnoticed. Mark smiled at her and continued to watch her do her work.
"I think he still loves you" Mark said breaking the silence and wincing as Meredith stitched his face. He cradled his hand against his chest, trying to focus on that pain instead of the cut under his eye.
"Hold still." She demanded, pushing his shoulder much to Mark's dismay. He let out a muttered curse and looked back up at her.
"I'm serious. I think he still loves you." He said quietly. Meredith could hear the worry in his voice but was too outraged to analyze it further.
"He still had no right." She fumed angrily, as she stitched up with perfect precision. "I told you though" She began, her voice softer. "He never loved me; he loved the idea of me. Two different things." She muttered under her breath.
"Do you think he knows about the baby?" He asked quietly.
"I don't know." She answered. Her eyes met his and they shared a look of fear. "I doubt it." She said, snapping both of them out of their daze. Mark nodded and no one spoke.
He thought about the looks Derek and Meredith used to share. He thought about how he encouraged him to send those looks. His stomach turned when his memory shifted to Derek's hands on Meredith, his lips on hers… "I think I'm going to throw up." He said nauseously, clutching his stomach. Meredith kicked the trash can in his direction and he eyed it, weighing the possibility of Meredith running out the door while he spewed. "Maybe not." He said decidedly.
Mark bit his lip and regretted it, trying not to focus on the pain he looked up at her. He was now aware to how close they were to each other. Meredith's petite body was standing in the middle of his legs since he was seated and his hands on her waist. She didn't seem to mind. He could feel the heat radiating off her body, probably because of anxiety he decided. He looked up at her again and her face was filled with anger, at Derek, and whenever he seemed to smile at her, her face grew softer, more gentle.
"Who do you think told him?" Mark said, now staring straight ahead. This was a wrong move because now he was staring directly at her chest. Meredith blushed and Mark felt himself chuckle. He looked at the side to put her at ease.
Meredith finished her last stitch and looked down at him. "I'm not going to assume anything." She said quietly yet truthfully. When she was finished, Mark nodded. She sat down in the chair beside him and started bandaging his hand.
"But it's safe to say the source was Lexie." He said and she nodded silently. His gaze traveled down to her stomach and then to her small hand. Every touch was electrifying.
"I'm sorry." She finally said, breaking the silence. He looked at her questioningly, urging her to continue. "It's my fault. I should have told him earlier."
Mark let out a booming laugh that surprised Meredith. She looked up at him with sincere eyes, wondering why he was laughing at such a serious topic as this. "Only you would blame yourself." He laughed as an explanation.
Meredith still didn't see the hilarity in the situation. "What's that supposed to mean?" She pouted yet still continuing to bandage his hand.
"You didn't tell your ex you slept with his ex-best friend who happens to be the same man that slept with his wife?" He laughed. "You won't be the only one to keep it a secret, Mer." He nodded, Meredith didn't laugh but glared at him.
"How are you not mad?!" She said roughly which only caused Mark to grin more. He faced her and smiled.
"Someone once told me that whining wouldn't get me anywhere." He smiled. "I'd have nothing to lose if Derek beat me up. I'd have everything to gain if I kept my head and didn't look for revenge." He said softly.
"What's that?" She whispered.
"You." He replied quietly.
Meredith didn't look back at him and tapped his hand, signaling that she was done. They both stood up and Meredith opened her mouth to speak. "It shouldn't have to be this painful." She said, indicating his new bruises. "There shouldn't have to be scuffles and fights to see who gets the girl." She said weakly.
She surprised him again by leaning into his chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. He laid his hands on her hips and didn't pull her any closer because of the existent bruises. He winced at the contact when her hand pressed against his shoulder.
"Mark?" She asked worriedly, looking up at him.
Mark groaned as she untangled herself from him and searched, as she did before, for wounds. "It's just a bruise Meredith."
"Bruises don't cause you that much pain." She said knowingly. "You should get checked out by Callie." She said quietly. As she walked away she felt him clutch her hand weakly.
"Don't leave." He said, mirroring her only weeks ago.
"I'll come back. I promise." She replied.
0000000
Meredith's calm and gentle demeanor was lost the moment she walked out that door. She stomped her way to an open exam room where she eyed her best friend. On her way there, she received worried stares from nurses who should mind their own business. Somehow, she could care less. She walked inside the room and slammed the door with all the possible force she could muster. Derek scowled at her and Alex just looked worried.
"Give us a moment Alex." She demanded. Except Alex stayed put, he didn't move from his position which was bandaging Derek's two million dollar—maybe more—a year hands. "Alex, give us a moment." She said with stronger force.
Alex didn't move but instead looked at her. "I'm not leaving you with him." He said stiffly, looking between the two ex-lovers. "You wish Meredith." He said.
Once Meredith knew that he was just worried about her, she began to calm down. "Alex." She said warningly, causing Derek to jump in shock. He wasn't used to seeing this side of Meredith, the fierce angry side.
"Fine, but don't close the door." Alex muttered. He walked out the door and stayed in front of it, blocking anyone's view in and vice versa. He was uncomfortable with leaving Meredith alone in there because Derek seemed very, very unstable at the moment.
Derek made a move to speak but Meredith snapped her finger on his lips. "You don't get to talk." She said fiercely. "You don't get to do anything right now!" She yelled. She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to fight the urge to hit him. She noticed the discoloration on his eye and what would form as a bruise. She just smirked wickedly but her face came to a frown when Derek began speaking.
"You slept with Mark!" He said furiously between gritted teeth.
"You had no right! You had no right to do that to Mark—especially right in front of me." She seethed. "What happened between me and Mark—or what you think happened between me and Mark couldn't be any less of your business." She fumed. When he opened his mouth she hit his arm with so much force he tumbled back in pain. "You crossed the line Derek." She hissed, shaking her head.
"You slept with my friend! The same best friend that ruined my marriage." He seethed. "You of all people should know I wouldn't take it lying down. I would never take something as big as this lying down." He glared, daring her to continue.
"God Derek, do you really want to bring Addison in to this?" She asked sarcastically.
"I kissed her! You sleptwith Mark." He said as if he made it any better.
"I slept with himafterwe were broken up." She retorted. "I didn't do anything to you." Her face was red with anger and so was his. Meredith had revenge in her eyes, something Derek was very afraid of.
"Meredith, honestly, at some point you were thinking of how much it would kill me when you were fucking around with him." He said angrily. If glares could kill, Meredith would definitely be dead right now. She put on a brave face and stomped up to him.
"Not everything I do is to spite you, Derek." She said angrily. "Is your fucking ego that big?" She said, sarcasm laced in her voice. "I didn't tell you because you didn't have to know! I didn't owe you anything." She said fiercely. She dared him to continue his side of the fight, doing that only made him angrier.
"You were the love of my life!" He yelled at her, walking closer. "I lovedyou! I had every right to know if you were screwing my best friend. I had the right to know if you were screwing the best friend that was seeing your sister! Your own sister, Meredith!" He said disbelievingly. Meredith had no response to that. She could hear Alex shuffling nervously outside the door, debating on whether to go in or not. She looked into his rage-filled eyes and saw fear. "I don't even know you anymore! How could you stoop that low?!"
"I was drunk! It never meant to happen!" She screamed at him.
"You didn't mean for it to happen like I never meant to hurt you?" He said. "And now you're thinking, damn he has a point. What now, Meredith? What then?" He demanded.
Meredith bit back the tears forming in her eyes, knowing the truth in every word he was saying. "You better stay out of it Derek." She hissed. "This is my life; I don't want you in it!"
Derek just shook his head at her and felt his eyes sting. "Did it really mean nothing after that display earlier?" He fumed. He crossed his arms over his chest and locked his eyes on hers. His jaw clenched when she opened her mouth to speak.
She closed it again and Derek nodded, she remained speechless with the newfound information that she was so caught up with Mark she forgot everyone was probably watching. "That's what I thought." Derek said soberly.
"He's different." Meredith said quickly yet quietly.
"Are you actually thinking about starting something with him?" Derek asked spite evident in his voice. "You are, aren't you?" He chuckled. It was a dark, humorless sound that made Meredith's stomach churn. She felt like shrinking and disappearing, anywhere other than here sounded better by the minute.
"Just leave us alone Derek." She said warningly. Derek didn't take the bait, her voice was breaking and her face was nervous. He dared her to continue and he hoped she actually would so he could try and understand their twisted connection. "Leave us alone." She repeated, yet now it was softer and had a hint of desperation.
Derek's eyes went wide and his breath hitched. She loved him and she knew it. "He's going to hurt you Meredith."
That caused Meredith's eyes to bulge out of their sockets. "You seriously, seriously want to go there?" She demanded, stepping back from him out of disbelief. Of all things, he wanted to bring this up with her. He wanted to show her that Mark Sloan would hurt her. The same Mark that protected and defended her from him.
"He's going to hurt you and someone's going to have to pick up the pieces." He continued on bravely. The weight of Meredith's glare was enough to hurt him severely. "I'm not going to pick up the pieces."
"I never asked you to!" Meredith exclaimed, her voice was loud and was able to be heard from across the hall, where Mark was. "Why does everyone say he's going to hurt me? Why can't I choose?" Her face was hot with tears that were fighting to break free. Meredith wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
"Because that's who he is! Because that's what he does." Derek said, finding realization that everyone was staring at them. "That's what he does Meredith, I'm just protecting you." He whispered, lowering his voice for only her to hear.
"Derek, everyone thought that you were reliable, everyone thought that you were honest. You proved to me the exact opposite." She seethed. "And actually? Everyone is going to eventually hurt you. That's the lesson you, my mom and my dad taught me. Everyone is going to eventually hurt you." She said, turning around to walk to the door.
"You don't know anything about him Meredith." He said.
She looked back at him and said something that made his heart ache and his head throb: "You're just going to have to decide who's worth the pain. Mark? He's definitely worth the pain, that's all I have to know."
00000000
Simultaneously across the hall, another intervention was taking place between two ex-lovers. "She's using you and you're letting her." The voice was raspy and desperate but Mark couldn't listen. It hurt him to hear people talk about her like that. It hurt him to know that Meredith was being battered and bruised by people he called his friends.
His heart was heavy and his head painful. His body ached and he just wished every buzzing sound in his head would just stop. He looked at her with broken eyes but she held no sympathy for the man. "Just let me go Callie." He said, trying to control the temper that was on the verge of bursting.
"You don't get it! I just don't want to see you get hurt!" The Ortho surgeon said angrily. He was blind sighted by the little blonde doctor. He was charmed and it was her job to stop him from going any farther. She closed her eyes, trying to control her temper just like he had done.
"Why the fuck would she use me? Please, by all means, enlighten me with your theories." Mark said sarcastically. His voice was heavy and he had no energy to speak to her, especially about his attraction to Meredith.
Callie looked shocked at annoyed, she shook her head at Mark and continued with her points. "This is revenge for her, for both Lexie and Shepherd." She said strategically. "She's using you to hurt them." Callie said.
Mark narrowed his eyes at his best friend. "Do you ever think that besides all of that, she just likes me?" He said, rolling his eyes.
"Meredith hurt her own sister. No one is that low." Callie fumed. "Either way, it makes her a bitch." She shrugged angrily.
He felt himself frown at her statement, there was no way she was calling Meredith—pregnant and vulnerable Meredith—a bitch. "You seem to have forgotten that I was involved too? Are you going to call me names now?" He said, sarcasm laced in his voice.
"Don't be difficult Mark." She exhaled, almost hissing. "She's all over you, everyone sees it." She crossed her arms over her chest bravely.
Mark felt his jaw tighten at her accusation. "You should know the story before you judge."
"Please, by all means enlighten me." She said in mock repetition. He glared at her and pursed his lips. He didn't speak after that.
His eyes practically popped out of his head. "I don't owe you anything!" He yelled, moving closer to her. She stepped back out of fear.
She hesitated before she spoke again but she gathered enough strength to continue. "You owe me an explanation Mark." She pleaded.
"I'll come to you when I have one! Do you think I understand any of this?! Do you think I'm sure about any of this?!" He shouted.
"You seemed pretty sure with your display with Meredith! You seemed pretty damn sure when humiliated Lexie with your love show." She fumed. "I'm your best friend Mark! As my best friend, you're not going to hide things from me."
"I know that!" It was an outburst that surprised both of them. "I know perfectly well that you're my best friend. It's you who I think needs that fucking memory boost." He said fiercely.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Callie asked angrily.
"As my best friend you support me!As my best friend you are on my side, no one else's. As my best friend you don't questionme." He said angrily, his voice getting dangerously high. "Because, fuck, Callie. I am so confused and what you're doing isn't helping at all."
"Mark…" She started to say, but Mark cut her off.
"Don't you dare, Torres. You have no idea what's going on. When you do, that still doesn't give you a right to judge Meredith. You got me?" He hissed.
Callie gaped at him open-mouthed as he walked away.
00000
"Sloan. Shepherd. Meredith and Lexie Grey to my office NOW!" The chief's voice boomed through the hall. He slammed the door to his office, impatiently waiting inside.
The four looked at each other, some eyes filled with longing and others rage directed towards another. They walked, first Lexie then Mark and Meredith and lastly, the pained Derek. They didn't dare utter a word when Patricia led them inside the office. They didn't dare glance at each other.
"Sit down." The chief demanded.
Within seconds, everyone was seated. He towered over them like a predator. Meredith and Lexie were terrified but the two older men had been in this situation before. "What makes you think I have time for this?!" The chief's voice was rough and cold but all together demanding an answer. "What makes you think I have any time to dissolve your childish squabbles?! I am old. I am tired. I am worn-out. What makes you think I want to waste my time trying to fix you people!?"
His rage only continued further. "Your personal lives belong outside this hospital. I have turned a blind eye over and over again but that stops today. That stops now because you know why?" He said furiously. Meredith shook her head tentatively and Lexie shot her a glare. Lexie's attention was pulled back when the chief's voice only got louder.
"Because three families came up to me and asked—no, demanded!--why my head of Neuro was punching out a guest at this hospital. They asked me why I allowed my hospital to be used as a boxing ring!" He seethed. "This is my hospital, my surgical program. I will not allow you to make a fool out of me."
At the corner of his eye, Mark looked at Meredith. She seemed nervous and scared. He understood completely, this man was the only father figure she's ever had. She couldn't disappoint him. Both Lexie and Derek scowled which only enraged the chief more.
"When you pull off a stunt like this, I am called into question. Not you, me." He said, his ears steaming. "And in the end, I have to deal with these things anyway. That is why I demand you to keep your personal lives to yourself." He fumes. "If you can't do that, I won't hesitate to forcefully remove you from my program." He directed to Meredith.
"Richard…" Derek started to say slowly.
The chief whipped his head around to face Derek. "That includes you Derek." He glared. "As for the two of you, I don't care what you do just don't involve me or my hospital. Believe me, I still have influential power." He threatened.
Just at that moment, the door creaked open and everyone looked behind. They were all relieved for something else to occupy their attentions. Except the moment they saw the person, all of them groaned inwardly. "Chief you had me paged…" The form of Miranda Bailey said nervously. She understood that the chief was beyond angry. Doing anything to worsen that was definitely a bad idea.
"You are going to talk some sense into these morons." He demanded. "None of you—I repeat, none of you are leaving until you get over these issues of yours." He said.
That left everyone shocked and surprised, especially Dr. Bailey. Except a few minutes later, she regained the smug look on her face. "Are you handling this Dr. Bailey?" He said, superior mode intact.
"Yes, sir." She said, narrowing her eyes at the four. "I have everything under control." She shot all of them death glares and her eyes met Richard's.
"Do your worst Bailey, do your worst." He muttered. He opened the door with a relieved sigh and left the five to themselves.
"You all might as well quiver in fear." Bailey said angrily. "Because what you did today was unacceptable." Her voice had distinct fierceness to it that was all Bailey. Simultaneously, everyone looked down at their hands, trying to block her glare.
"Listen, I better get out of here." Mark said daringly.
Wrong move. Everyone thought automatically. Bailey moved in front of him and even though she was a little more than half his height, Mark was pushed back into the chair. "You listen to me. When I speak, no one does unless I ask you to." She said. "Got it?"
Mark merely nodded and Bailey smirked. "You all think that you are the center of the world don't you?" She said with her devilish grin. "You all think you're soo high and mighty you get to disregard everything and everyone." She chanted.
This was all too familiar for Meredith so she knew the right moves. She didn't look Bailey in the eye. She didn't move. She didn't speak.
"Watching you is like watching a bad soap." She said, disgust apparent on her face. "You're so caught up in your own lives, you forget you're here for a reason." She said, her voice more human and less sarcastic. "You forget you are doctors for a reason." She had gained volume that made Lexie nervously shifted in her seats. "You forget that I don't want to hear about your lives the moment I walk in or any other moment for that matter."
Derek opened his mouth and Bailey shushed him. "I don't care who started what. I don't care about your petty little excuses, don't you forget that." She glared. "I would be at home, with my son, who needs me more if it weren't for you four morons and your drama. I would be at home, with my son, who needs me more if it weren't for you four morons and your failure to stay discreet. Didn't any of you learn how to deal with your issues in any other way than punching each other and screaming?!" She seethed. "Shame on your parents for not teaching their children. Shame on youfor not trying to learn."
Meredith evidently grimaced. Bailey snapped her head at her and sighed. "I know about you more than I need to, more than I want to." She said with sincere eyes. "I know enough to understand that all of you have your issues, my job now is to let you talk about it."
That caused everyone break into laughter or look at her disbelievingly. "Seriously?" Meredith said, eyes wide with panic.
"Yes seriously." Bailey nodded. "I'm under orders to fix you. This apparently is the most effective way."
"According to who?" Derek scoffed, the only thing he received was a glare directed at him.
"According to ME." She snapped. "And if you have a problem with that, you can all find new jobs that don't include practicing medicine because I swear to Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the chief can and will ruin you if you don't get your act together." That made everyone shut up and Bailey's smug smirk appeared again. "So who's first?" She said cheerily.
The awkward silence throbbed Meredith's ears as she glanced from one to another. No one dared defy Dr. Miranda Bailey but this was too big a deal. Little by little, Bailey's smile faded and was replaced by a dark frown that scared everyone.
"I'll go?" Mark finally said above the silence. Bailey nodded at him and kicked Derek in the shin for glaring so hard. "Lexie I cheated on you with your sister. I'm sorry that I only told you now. I never intended it to happen. We both were drunk…out of our minds. Hurting you was the last thing I wanted to do." He said robotically.
Lexie rolled her eyes. "Then why did you do it again and again?" She snapped causing Bailey to frown. "Why did you pretend you loved me when it was always Meredith?" She demanded.
Everyone's eyes grew wide and Meredith's face flushed red.
"I'm sorry." Mark muttered, staring at her. Bailey nodded at him, signaling him to continue "It just wasn't something I couldn't control." He shrugged, unashamed.
"You couldn't control yourself?" Derek scoffed. "She spread her legs wide open for you and you just had to put in, didn't you?" He said bitterly, his face obviously filled with distaste.
Neither Bailey nor Meredith made a move to intervene. Meredith didn't defend herself but looked at her sister who slightly felt forgotten. "What is your problem?" Mark said searching Derek's eyes for an answer.
"My problem?" He asked, his eyes dark and his eyes narrowed. "She was my girlfriend!"
"Ex-girlfriend." Meredith muttered but her protest went ignored.
"But everyone knows Meredith puts out for everyone. How could anyone be surprised?" Lexie said angrily, which caused Bailey to close her eyes out of frustration. "She either screws you or screws you over." She shot.
Imitating Bailey, Meredith closed her eyes and tried to block out the noise. Lexie rolls her eyes at the gesture. "Do you know that she's pregnant?" She asked Derek. She crossed her arms over her chest and Mark eyed her angrily. He wondered why she would even think of dropping this on them now of all times. Bailey and Derek froze, this being the first time they heard the not-so-happy news Lexie had just revealed.
Everyone didn't speak. No one could believe Lexie had dropped the baby bomb. "Is she keeping it?" Derek hissed, acting as if she wasn't there. "Is she?" He questioned.
"Enough" Bailey muttered, trying to calm everyone down unsuccessfully. "Enough." Her eyes were closed at her heart aching for her poor resident. She was being battered by people she called—or used to call—her family.
But Derek was beyond reason. He looked from Meredith to Mark and his eyes widened. "How could she even think of keeping it?!" He said disbelievingly.
Mark was furious. "Derek, just because it's my child doesn't mean she's going to abort it!" He yelled, standing up from his seat, causing Bailey to jump in surprise. She sent Meredith an 'are-you-okay' look and Meredith couldn't let her eyes meet hers. "She's not going to abort anyone's child!" He defended.
"Really Meredith?" Lexie chided. "You haven't aborted a baby before? Surprising if you ask me." The bitterness in her voice was echoing across the room. Meredith winced at her accusation. Meredith was determined not to cry but as second passed, it seemed harder.
"You're really a lot dumber than I thought." Derek directed at Meredith, lifting an eyebrow questioningly. Meredith didn't reproach. It took all her energy not to fight back and get mad and Bailey was not as thankful for it as she should have been.
No one spoke, but the weight of their glares was painful enough. Derek's eyes searched for Meredith's, Mark's looked at Derek's, Lexie's eyes painfully watched Mark and Meredith's never left the floor. It felt like years until Mark stood up angrily, causing Meredith to jump in surprise.
"Enough! I've had enough of your bitching and whining." He said furiously. "I don't give a shit about what you say to me, call me a whore or a bastard or whatever you like. Just don't thrash her." He said angrily. "Neither of you have any right to blame her and call her names, as much as you think you do. If you're trying to convince yourself that neither of us feels anything about each other, grow up. What you're doing is a pathetic attempt to look strong. Do you hear me? Pathetic. I cannot believe that I almost felt pity for the both of you because you're so pathetic. You're doing this to get back at us or get attention? Just stop because it's not working. Both of you! Have some pride and move on." He growled. "Derek? You call her a whore or any other thing for that matter, I will break your face. Lexie, your excuse is that we hurt you? Deal with it, act mature for once. Stop bitching about it and go on with your life." He stomped off and left them all in their own shock. He slammed the door so hard, the painting next to it fell from the force.
No one looked at each other, but Bailey was smiling a triumphant smile. "Go after him, Grey." She whispered, causing Derek and Meredith's head to shoot up. "He obviously cares about you, go after him." She said pointedly.
Meredith nodded and stood up. She knew where he would go and made her way down the stairs in master time. She ran out the door and into the rain. The slippery surface, caused her to collide with his muscular back. Mark turned around and grabbed her waist, hauling her up from the ground to make her find balance. She sent him a soft smile with a hint of longing. Only then did she notice that his eyes were prickled with tears.
The cold rain slid down her face and all she could do was stare, stare at the masterpiece of a man before her. Mark sighed and put her down on her feet. Meredith started shivering at the loss of contact and searched his eyes for any regret. She looked at him questioningly and he just raised his left eyebrow. "You should go inside." He said, his voice still shaking from his outburst only a few minutes ago. "You're freezing."
Meredith shook her head and stayed put, afraid of what he would do if he left. "I'm not leaving you." She said. Not now, not ever.Her mind told her to say but she just couldn't bring the words to her lips. "Please stay."
He avoided her gaze but eventually looked back down at her. "What do you want from me, Meredith? All I cause you is pain." He sighed.
"You." She said breathlessly. "I want you." Her eyes were wide and sincere and he could even see a hint of love. "I want you. Only you." She pleaded again. She tiptoed and kissed him softly. Mark didn't move.
She felt something tug her heart. She stepped back and looked at his closed eyes. She felt tears of her own fall and she didn't wipe them away. She silently begged him to stay. He finally opened his eyes but had a grim look on his face. "You should go inside Meredith. You're going to get sick."
"So are you." She whispered stubbornly, trying to ignore the ache her heart was feeling. She dropped her hands from his arms, her arms dangled loosely on her sides. Her face was wet with rain and her own tears and she couldn't care less. She was looked like a mess but she knew that Mark wouldn't judge her. She felt Mark intake a breath and she did the same. He looked at her, a smile gracing his lips for a moment.
Mark shook his head and cupped his hands around her cheeks and she felt herself jump in surprise for the second time that hour. Her hair was soaked and tangled up but if it was even possible, the rain made her look even more beautiful. He drew her closer and for a second, she thought he was going to kiss her back.
He kissed her forehead. It was tender and sweet but not what she hoped for. He wiped away the tear that slid down her face, he pulled her closer to him and he wrapped his arms around her waist. She could feel his hot breath on his forehead and closed her eyes. "You don't want me." She said quietly.
Mark didn't pull away and for a moment there, she was worried he would leave. "You said that you don't want to start this—us—the wrong way. Us like this, fumed up after a fight would be the wrong way Meredith."
Damn myself for even opening my mouth.She thought. "Can you say it just once, just for me?" She said, she inwardly cursed for sounding so desperate but felt the ends of his lips curve into a smile.
"I want you Meredith Grey."