Author's Note: Extremely sorry about the misspelling of Cristina (see? No 'h'.), I have made corrections to all of my chapters. Maybe it's because I live in England, but that's just how everyone spells it here. So if you see any other things that look weird, like extra 'u's (favourite) or 're' instead of 'er' (centimetre rather than centimetre), I'm really sorry, that is just how I've been taught to spell words. Don't hate me because of where I live!!! *Cowers*. Oh, and axe as opposed to ax. Not…quite sure where I'll ever use that, but just bear it in mind…
Lexie's ear was pressed against something warm, but it wasn't soft enough to be a pillow. It felt like…a body. Who's body? She was far too comfortable to open her eyes. As she lay there, whatever she was lying on rose up and down in a steady rhythm, and beneath her she could feel the steady thrum of what she supposed was a heartbeat. How could she not know whose heart that was? She knew who she wished it belonged to – or who she would have wished for, once.
Lexie forced her eyelids open. Of course, reality is never what you wish for. Last night hit her brain, and she repressed a groan. She felt so deeply embarrassed. And yet, she couldn't say she hated it at all. Sloan's blue eyes glinted at her, and she felt a blush creeping across her cheeks. Sloan raised his eyebrows at her.
'Little Miss Good has been awfully bad lately,' he teased her. 'Underground surgeries, sleeping with attendings – '
'I only slept with one attending!'
'If you say so.' He flashed his perfect teeth at her.
'You know, you're not as vile as you think you are.'
'Oh, believe me, I am. And you don't help me with that. You make me break my promises.' Two small lines appeared between his eyebrows as he considered this.
'What promises?'
'Well, promise. I swore to Derek that I wouldn't sleep with Little Grey,' Sloan looked pointedly at her, 'which automatically made me want to. But I was being good, until you wanted me to 'teach you'. Surprisingly, you are very hard to say 'no' to.' Lexie became more confused as he spoke.
'Why did Derek make you promise that?'
'I have no idea, maybe something to do with Meredith. But I thought she hated you.
Basically, we can't tell him about any of this.' He seemed worried, and Lexie didn't want him to feel that way. She placed her hand on his forehead, attempting to soothe him.
'We won't tell him.' She smiled at him. At first, Sloan seemed disconcerted by her hand,
but soon he relaxed, closing his eyes. Lexie placed her cheek on his chest and listened to his breathing, feeling his ribcage rise and fall in time. She kept herself relaxed as Mark laid his hand over hers, pushing his fingers into the gaps. He lifted it and placed her arm over him. His breathing quickened with what were seemingly nerves. But Mark Sloan was never nervous, it didn't make sense. Lexie remained perfectly calm. Eventually, Mark's breathing slowed and Lexie curled herself around him. She felt his arm twine around her back, holding her to him. She felt so safe, and this confused her. She barely knew Mark, and she certainly didn't love him as she did George. And yet, the warmth of his arm, the crook of his elbow, they were like a home to her.
***
Lexie could hear Mark cursing, and she felt him crashing around the room. She sat up, and watched him stumble about, searching for something to wear. Her eyes strayed to the clock, and she realised why he was so frantic. She leapt out of the bed and scrambled on the floor for the clothes she had worn yesterday.
'It's eleven o'clock,' her voice was shrill.
'I know!' Lexie hoped that nobody noticed what she was wearing, or that both she and Mark were monumentally late. They ran down the stairs, Mark jumping the last few, not bothering to wait for the elevator.
Just catching the train, they sank into adjacent seats. Thankfully, the carriage was mostly empty. Everyone else was already at work. When she regained enough breath to speak, Lexie asked,
'Aren't they going to notice if we come in together, at the same time?' Sloan stared incredulously at her.
'That is the least of your worries. Cristina is going to murder you, and I…well, I have no idea what I'm going to do.' Lexie let her head fall into her hands.
'This is exactly what I need right now.' Mark rubbed her back to quiet her. She lifted her head and placed it on his shoulder, and he put his arm around her waist. Mark exhaled loudly.
'It will be fine. They can't fire us for being late.' He seemed to be convincing himself as much as her as he kissed the top of her head. Lexie wondered, could she possibly have feelings for Mark? He certainly made her happy. And his arm around her waist was so comforting. She pushed the thought out of her head. Mark Sloan was a womaniser; she couldn't allow herself to become attached to him.
***
They parted as they rushed towards the hospital, attempting to avoid suspicion.
'Where the hell have you been?' Cristina shouted at her.
'Sorry, I overslept.'
'You overslept? Well, that's fantastic for you, you get to work in the clinic today.' Lexie didn't complain, it would only make the situation worse.
Mark stood in front of the surgery board. Thankfully, he hadn't missed any surgeries. Derek appeared beside him.
'You're late.'
'I overslept.'
'With who?' Mark didn't look at him, and gave no answer. Derek's brow furrowed. Mark should have laughed and given him a name. Maybe he…no, he wouldn't. Not with Little – Lexie. Derek watched Mark's profile suspiciously.
I even said elevator instead of lift. Admittedly, lift is a terrible word compared to elevator. But still, I try.
