Addison smiled thinly as she positioned Derek right across from Mark. Noticing the tension between the two made her feel very content and valued. They were fighting over her, and Addison always enjoyed a power play between her favorite men. Derek's jaw was clenched, and his grip on the steak knife was more than firm. Mark's watchful taunting eyes never left Derek's blue ones, a sight smirk forming on his face. Derek felt like a naughty spoiled child being punished for misbehaving, this was his house, his party! Mark moved his hand closer to Addison's, Addison's eyes never leaving Derek's. Naomi and Sam were too drunk to notice; instead they made inappropriate threesome jokes and urged Derek and Mark to go catch up. Derek and Mark smiled thinly and resumed their quiet game. Meredith wheeled in the steak, noticing the two men. She finished her task and wheeled the cart away. Instead of retiring to the kitchen, she chose to stay crouched behind the couch.
"So Derek- how's life at the hospital?" Derek thinly smiled never giving up his hold on the steak knife. "How are the face lifts, Mark?" Addison rolled her eyes, this wasn't why she had invited Mark out! "I'm sure everything is going great for Derek, Mark. It isn't that interesting anyway. How are you?" Derek recoiled in shock, when did plastics become more important than neuro in Addison's eyes?
"Actually my work is FASCINATING, unlike face lifts and liposuction". Addison hit Derek warningly. "What"- "Mark please go on", Addison urged. "Well I had this one patient I had to actually peel the face off of, it was quite a delicate operation". Addison grabbed his arm, "That's amazing!" "It turned out after I was done with her, that she was quite hot". Derek tensed, Mark hadn't changed a bit. "Unbelievable". Mark ignored Derek's sarcasm and continued. "I slept with her after, it was good". Sam and Naomi laughed, Addison looking away in shock. "Mark you are truly an ass". "But a lovable ass", Addison giggled. Mark winked at Derek, baiting him. Derek had heard, seen, and felt enough. Losing all rationality that came with his position and career, Derek lunged across the table. Addison shrieked as Derek pummeled Mark on the floor, Sam and Naomi still laughing.
"You son of a bitch! Crackwhore! Manwhore!" Derek struggled with Mark, his hands reaching for his throat.
I knew my medical training would one day be needed… I know exactly what artery to press to repay Mark for all the pain he's caused me…
Derek fought Mark as Addison tried in vain to pull him off. Addison screamed for Sam as Derek swung the wine bottle at Mark. Between Sam and Addison with help from Mark, they pulled Derek off him. Mark grimaced as he felt the black eye already bruising. "What the hell, Derek." Derek still furious, fought the urge to jump him again. Derek shook Sam and Addison off him and strode off. Mark got up and looked at Addison, shaking his head. "What happened to him?" Addison bit her lip, looking at the scene Derek had caused. "You, Mark. You happened to him". Mark looked in the direction Derek had left, but he was gone.
Derek was hiding, from the consequences of his actions. He had taken it too far, he had lost control. Derek heard the festivities returning, Addison's bubbly laughter echoing off the walls. Derek reached for the bottle, taking a swig. For now he was content to be alone and drink. The party was Addison's anyway, the friends all hers.
I don't have any friends- unless I count the Chief.
The thought didn't have much comfort as Derek grimaced looking at the label. This was hard stuff, really hard stuff. "I saw it all". Derek looked up to see Meredith walking down the steps. "I don't usually do that, I'm usually very calm. In my profession it's a requirement, but Mark"- "He hurt you." Derek nodded. Meredith sat next to him, Derek pouring her a drink. "I really shouldn't", Meredith protested. "Its okay". Meredith nodded, sipping. "I didn't know he was coming out here. If I never saw Mark again it would be too soon. I hate him, and here he is! And Addison? I have no idea what she was thinking! A tearful reunion? Never happening." Meredith nodded, her arm gently draped on Derek's.
"When someone hurts us the pain is unimaginable, you think you'll heal, but it continues. It continues until something breaks, and the wounds never heal. The scars fade, but the wounds never heal." Derek nodded. "How do you know?" "I know hurt Derek, I've experienced it myself. I've watched it, I've felt it. Hurt has been my constant companion all my life. Time doesn't mean anything to wounds". Derek met her eyes, her lips moist and slightly parted. "The world isn't all darkness Mer, there is some light". Derek reached over, her lips matching his, Meredith moving her hands to gently rest on his face. "Derek". "There is always light Meredith, even in the darkness". Meredith felt the memories of Thatcher and her mother exploding in her. "I love you, too". Meredith weakly smiled up at him, and then, and there, they fell in love.
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