Thanks for the reviews!
This is a little shorter than usual but I realized that it would get insanely long if I didn't break it up. Enjoy!
Chapter 10
They'd just won their third game against the San Jose Sharks and were leading 3-0 now. They were only one victory away from the Western Conference final, and Ryan was certain that they would make it. Wrapping the towel around his waist, he sat down on the bench and leaned back, watching Mark rubbing a towel through his hair. Now was as good a time as any to give him a pep talk.
"So just out of curiosity. What is going on between you and Lexie? You are spending quite some time with her. I really like her. So don't hurt her, okay?"
Mark lowered the towel and wrapped it around his neck. Propping up one foot on the bench, he leaned forward.
"Well, from what Chloe told me I should be the one interrogating you."
"Why? What did she say?"
"Not much, but if I'm correct you two are definitely sleeping together. I'm not sure how much more there is. Care to enlighten me?"
"I'm not sure myself." Ryan replied slowly. "We haven't really talked about it yet. But I can assure you that I have no problem with getting more serious with her."
"Good to know. But if you hurt her in any way ..." Mark raised an eye brow, telling him silently that he didn't want to mess with his sister.
"I get it. I won't. I promise." Ryan said sincerely. "But back to my question. You and Lexie?"
"What about me and Lexie?" Mark asked nonchalantly.
"How serious are you two? Somehow it looks as if you have something more than a hot affair."
"Well, I think Lexie and I agreed yesterday to call it a relationship." Mark told him.
"Seriously? Mark Sloan in a relationship?" Ryan almost laughed out loud. "We are talking about a real relationship here, right? With seeing only one woman? Sharing your life with her? Doing normal relationship stuff, like going out for dinner, having breakfast together, talking about your work day, such things?"
"Aehmm, we did talk about making it official." Mark squirmed uncomfortably, realizing that his definition of a relationship yesterday had probably not been appropriate. "But we actually didn't talk about the other stuff. I had some more pressing matters on my mind."
"Pheww, I already thought that you are possessed by an alien. At least your most pressing matter is still sex." Mark pulled the towel that had been hanging around his neck down and slapped Ryan on the shoulder with it. "Uhhh, what was that for?"
"Possessed by an alien?" Mark asked slightly annoyed.
"Come on, you have to admit that it sounds unbelievable that you're in a relationship." Ryan countered, rubbing his hand over his shoulder where Mark's towel had just hit him.
"It's not that we are all lovey-dovey now." Mark explained. "I just enjoy spending time with her and let me tell you she is a hand-full. In every aspect. I don't need another woman."
"So you are in love with her?" Ryan smirked, almost bursting out in laughter when he saw Mark's shocked face.
"What? No!" Mark exclaimed. "Geez, I'm not in love with her. I do love her body though. And the sex."
As Kevin McIntrye approached them, Mark turned his head and Kevin actually took a step backwards when he saw the expression on Mark's face. He turned around hurriedly, deciding that he could get his clothes later when Mark and Ryan were finished.
"Stop scaring the rookies, Mark."
"You are telling me over and over again I'm not twenty-one anymore." Mark smirked. "I'm the oldest here. I have the right to scare them."
"I hope you don't use your evil stare with Lexie, too."
"Wouldn't work." Mark told him. "She doesn't get scared that easily."
"So you actually found a woman you can respect?"
"Yeah, kind of." Mark looked up, furrowing his brows when he saw the knowing expression on Ryan's face. "Don't go there. That doesn't mean that I love her, can't live without her and all this crap."
"You might wanna think about it, Mark." Ryan replied quietly. "Women like Lexie are very rare. Maybe you are just too scared to admit that she means a lot more to you."
"I scared?" Mark huffed. "I'm never scared. Lexie is great. But love? No, I don't think I can even love somebody. Not the all consuming, head over heels love they are always showing in the movies. Not my style. I would never give up anything just to be with one woman."
"You sure about that?"
"Absolutely." Mark said firmly.
"You are missing out on something great, Mark." Ryan shook his head slightly, disappointed that not even Lexie was apparently able to convince him otherwise.
"Maybe. But I wouldn't want it any other way."
~M&L~
"Where have you been lately?" Abigail exclaimed when she finally found Lexie in an on call room. "It's easier to talk to the president than have a chat with you?"
"I'm extremely busy lately."
"Getting it on with Mark Sloan?"
"Actually, yes." Lexie stated bluntly. "I'm busy having sex with him as much as I can get. Anything wrong with that?"
"Are you sure you can handle it?" Abigail asked softly.
"Abs, I'm not made out of glass." Lexie replied exasperatedly. "I'm not gonna break because I have regularly sex."
"I'm not talking about the sex. I'm talking about the other thing."
"What other thing?"
"Your heart! Are you really able to keep your heart out of this?"
"We are in a relationship, Abigail."
"What?" Abigail said surprised. "Did he say so?"
"Yep, he told me he wants a relationship."
"Mark Sloan?" Abigail asked, complete disbelief evident in her voice.
"Yes, unless some alien took hold of his body and spoke through him, Mark Sloan and I are in a relationship." Lexie replied amused.
"Do you think it's wise to be in one with him?"
"I'm not sure, Abs. If I'm honest it kind of scares the crap out of me. He wants to make it official. Like 'dating openly' official."
"He wants to unleash the media? Wow, it really is kind of serious then."
"Yeah, it is. But I have no idea how serious." Lexie admitted.
"How serious do you want it to be?" Abigail asked and Lexie closed her eyes briefly, taking in a deep breath before she answered.
"Every time I'm with him I'm falling in love with him a little more."
"Oh, Lexie." Abigail sighed concerned.
"I can't help it, Abs. I'm in love with him and I know that he doesn't love me but I can't walk away. I ... I think I have it under control. As long as I don't hope for more I think I'm fine. I'm not willing to let him go yet. I know I'm probably gonna torture myself with seeing more of him, getting to know him better, but ..."
"But?"
"Oh my god, Abs!" Lexie clapped her hands over her face and whispered through her fingers. "The sex is fantastic. It's the best sex I've ever had in my whole life. I think he ruined me for any other man."
"That doesn't sound good." Abigail replied softly, pulling away Lexie's hands so that Lexie had to look up. "Don't you think it would be better to walk away now?"
"It would definitely be the wisest decision, but he's like a drug and I'm addicted to him." Lexie breathed before she added determined. "I'm not ready to go cold turkey. Not yet."
~M&L~
"Are you ready?" Mark asked softly.
"I don't know if you can prepare yourself for this. But yes, I'm as ready as I can get." Lexie said firmly, gripping his hand tighter.
"Are you sure we should do it like this? We can still sneak out through the back door."
"You told me it would be over sooner if we dive into the cold water head first." Lexie reasoned.
"In my experience it's better to satisfy their curiosity right away. They are only trying to dig up dirt if you refuse to talk to them."
Mark had told a reporter who he knew better that he had an announcement to make after tonight's game and that he should spread the word. Mark was certain that they needed to prepare for a flurry of camera flashes the moment he opened the door.
"So they won't dig into my life?" Lexie asked hopefully.
"Sorry, Lex. But no, they will still dig for juicy details. I can't tell them to stay away, but it's better to have them on your side. Believe me."
"Okay."
"Are you really okay?"
"Yes. Let's do this."
"Okay. Let's face the paparazzi."
As Mark opened the door Lexie had to screw up her eyes when what seemed to be thousand of flash lights blinded her and they got bombarded with a cacophony of questions. Mark raised his hand and waited until the crowd in front of them became silent before he pulled Lexie into his embrace and announced loudly.
"The new woman in my life, ladies and gentlemen. Dr. Alexandra Grey."
Mark smiled broadly as all hell broke loose and squeezed Lexie's shoulder encouragingly. When she looked up at him and saw the mischievous twinkle in his eyes, she had to smile back while the reporters snapped one picture after the other. The picture of them looking at each other with big smiles on their faces would adorn all the front pages of the tabloids the next day and almost every headline would ask if Mark 'Hot Shot' Sloan was forever off the market now.
Part Two of this chapter is almost finished and will be up tomorrow. Stay tuned!