Okay, so, two chapters ago, I give you a kiss. One measly kiss. And I get 18 reviews. THEN, last time, I gave you Addek sex. And I get 11 reviews. What's the deal with that, peeps?

Anyway, here it is. Sorry it took so long. I avoided this for like... a week. Whoops.

Ready, set, read.

Chapter 11
Goodbye, My Lover

Teagan and Mark had taken up residence in the living room when Addison walked through the door that night. Both heads turned at the unexpected sound.

"What are you doing here?" Teagan asked. "I thought you were going to call when you landed so I could come get you."

Addison shrugged. "Took a cab instead." She dragged her suitcase out of the way, threw her purse on the table, and took a seat in the chair across from where her sister and Mark were sitting, not actually looking at them. They glanced at each other, confused.

"Why would you pay for a cab when we're perfectly capable of picking you up?" Mark asked. "And where's Derek?"

"Don't know. Sam's. I think."

"Addison, what's going on?" Teagan asked worriedly.

"Nothing," Addison lied. "I'm tired. I've been on a plane all day, and I'm still on east coast time. That's it."

Mark gave her a look. "You also look like you haven't slept in two days."

"I'm fine," she insisted.

"So, how'd it go?" Teagan asked her, knowing Addison wasn't going to admit something was wrong. At least not yet.

Addison forced a smile and replied, "Good. Better than expected, actually. It was nice to see everyone again."

"Well, good. At least it wasn't a total bust then."

"Mmm," Addison mumbled.

"You did something naughty, didn't you?" Mark inquired with a smirk playing across his face.

"Believe it or not, Mark, some people are actually capable of keeping their pants on," she snapped, failing to mention that she was apparently not one of those people. She raised an eyebrow. "You didn't sleep with my sister, did you?"

"What? No!" Teagan exclaimed.

"I tried," Mark whined. "She wouldn't let me."

Addison shook her head. "Good for her. So, who did you sleep with, then?"

Mark tried to look offended. "Why do you automatically assume that I slept with someone? It's possible for me to come down here to visit some old friends and just have a good time. No sex involved."

"It's possible, just not probable," she pointed out. "What's her name?"

"No one."

"Mark."

"I know," Teagan interjected.

"Shut it, squirt," Mark threatened.

"Mark, please tell me it wasn't someone I work with. Please."

Teagan smirked, and Mark didn't say anything.

"I hate you," Addison stated. "I'm going to bed. Keep it in your pants for the night, please, if you could."

Addison trudged up the stairs and into her room, closing the door behind her. After changing into her pajamas, she grabbed her laptop and climbed into bed to check her e-mail.

To: Addison Montgomery
From: Callie Torres
Sent: December 23
Subject: (none)

Hey. I've been trying to call you, but your cell is either off or you let the battery die. Again. Anyway, I just wanted to make sure you're doing okay since I just found out that the ex and his trusty sidekick were in town. I would have called earlier, but no one tells me anything. Call me when you get a chance. If you need me to come down there and kick some ass, say the word and I'm on the next plane. Miss you. Merry Christmas.

Callie

Addison reached for her phone on the nightstand and quickly dialed the familiar number.

"Hello?" came the voice on the other end a few seconds later.

"Hey," Addison said softly.

"Where have you been?" Callie demanded. "I've been trying to get a hold of you for days."

Addison sighed. "Long story."

"I've got time."

- - - - - - - - - -

Derek walked out to the beach, shuffling his feet slowly through the sand. He looked over to the spot where he and Mark had been camping prior to Christmas and was grateful when he saw that Mark had already torn down camp and put the tent away. Just one less thing he'd have to do in the morning.

"Hey."

Derek turned at the voice coming from behind. Mark was standing a few feet away, his arms crossed and a concerned look on his face.

"Hey," Derek responded quietly.

"You okay, man?"

"Yeah. Fine. Why?"

Mark shrugged. "Something's off."

Derek sighed heavily but chose not to say anything.

Mark kept prodding. "Everything okay with you and Addison?"

"Fine."

Mark raised an eyebrow. "You're lying. What happened?"

Derek shrugged. "She can't trust me. Simple as that."

"Derek. C'mon man. You don't give up that easily."

"I'm not giving up," Derek replied sadly. "It's just time to… let go. No more playing around on the beach. It's time to go home and get back to our real lives."

Mark looked at him curiously. There was more to this than what Derek was telling him, but past experience had taught him that if Derek didn't want to tell you something, it was best not to push him.

"Okay. Then we'll leave in the morning, if that's what you want."

"Yeah. Okay," Derek agreed, even though that was the last thing he wanted.

"Okay."

- - - - - - - - - -

Teagan was walking down the hall to her room when she noticed Addison's light was still on. She knocked quietly on her sister's door before slowly opening it.

"Can I come in?"

Addison looked up from the book she was reading. "Yeah."

Teagan flopped down on the bed next to Addison and stared up at her sister.

"What's wrong, Add?"

"Everything," she finally admitted, setting her book aside and cuddling down into the soft blanket Derek had given her.

"Okay… think you can narrow that down a little bit?"

"I had sex with Derek," Addison blurted out.

Teagan's eyes widened. "What? When?"

"Two days ago."

"At his parents' house?"

Addison nodded.

"And?"

"I don't know. It seemed so… right. You know? But after everything we've been through… I can't deal with that again. I don't know how I can ever trust him again. He's saying all these perfect things, and the last time he promised me something remotely close to what he's been saying lately… well, we ended up divorced."

Teagan looked at her sympathetically and said gently, "People change, Addie."

Addison didn't reply. She pulled the blanket up further around her shoulders and stared aimlessly out the window.

"Christmas present?" Teagan asked, holding up a corner of the blanket.

Addison nodded.

"You didn't have sex near this blanket, did you? Because these things have to be dry-cleaned. "

Addison cracked a smile despite herself. "I'm really glad you're here, Teag," she said sincerely.

"That's kind of something I wanted to talk to you about…" Teagan said tentatively.

"What?"

She hesitated. "The real reason I went to Seattle last month was to check out the University of Washington. I talked to one of the counselors there… and the program they have is really great. And all of my credits from UConn will transfer."

Addison felt sick. "So you're telling me…"

"I'm moving to Seattle, Add. Classes start in two weeks."

- - - - - - - - - -

There was a sharp knock on the back door the next morning. Addison sat her coffee cup down and went to open the door.

Derek stared back at her with tired eyes. Clearly he didn't get much sleep last night, either.

"Hi," he said despondently.

"Hey."

"I, uh… I'm going home today."

"Yeah," Addison said. "Mark told me."

Derek nodded. "I wanted to come by and thank you again for coming home with me. And to say I'm sorry for barging in on you when I first got here. It's just… I really do miss you, Addie."

"Don't."

"And I still love you."

"Derek. Stop."

He didn't listen. "And because I love you, I will respect the fact that I've broken your trust, and I'll leave here and not bother you again."

Addison quickly wiped away the tears that were falling down her face.

"But there's one thing," he said.

"What?" she choked out.

"I can't leave without kissing you goodbye," Derek said quietly.

He closed the gap between them, placing a hand on her cheek and pulling her face to his. He gently kissed her, sucking on her bottom lip. A moment later, he slowly pulled away.

"I gotta go," he murmured.

- - - - - - - - - -

"They're gone." It was more of a statement than a question.

"Yeah," Teagan replied. "I just told them bye."

"Mmm."

"Are you sure you're okay to see patients today? I'm sure Naomi would understand if you took the day off."

"No," Addison said quickly. "I need to go to work today. I need to think about something else. Something that won't make me want to crawl in bed and never move."

"Okay," Teagan nodded.

An hour later, Addison walked off the elevator, through the lobby, and straight to Naomi's office, where she and Violet were already convened.

"Good morning," she greeted them, though not all that convincingly.

"Oh, really?" Violet asked cynically. "And what, might I ask, is so good about it?"

Naomi rolled her eyes. "You'll have to excuse her. She's full of bitterness and unrelenting rage today."

"Mark?" Addison asked.

Violet looked at her in surprise. "How did you…?"

"He's Mark," Addison said, as if that would be a sufficient explanation. They both looked at her, making it clear that they needed a little more information. "He's kind of a man-whore. I knew he wouldn't sleep with Naomi, so you were the next possible choice."

"Oh, well, thanks for the head's up," Violet scoffed. "He sleeps with me, then refuses to return any of my calls. And now, I hear he's gone back to Seattle. Without as much as a goodbye, I might add. Who does that?"

"Sorry," Addison mumbled, too tired to bother pointing out that Violet was a big girl and therefore responsible for keeping her own legs together.

"Okay, good start to the morning," Naomi quipped. "Now, Violet, out. I need to talk to Addison."

"Fine," she said, getting up and closing the door behind her.

Addison stared at Naomi. "What's up?"

"Well," she started, "remember when you started here, the contract you signed was just for 6 months."

Addison nodded, remembering this conversation from before.

"We do this for all of our employees. After 6 months, we evaluate their performance and decide whether or not to keep them on staff."

"What are you getting at, Nae?"

"Addison, you've been here for 6 months. Sam and I talked while you were back east." She paused and took a breath before continuing. "Your work is perfect, and all the patients love you."

Addison raised an eyebrow. "But…"

"But… there's something not… right."

"Are you saying you don't want me here anymore?"

"Addison, no. You know I love having you here. But I'm not convinced that you're happy in this kind of environment. I think you miss the hospital and the surgeries and the cutting."

"I do, but—"

Naomi cut her off. "If this is where you really want to be, I will put a contract together, and we'll have it signed before you know it. I promise. But first… I want you to take some time for yourself. Decide if this is what you want."

"It is," Addison insisted.

Naomi held up a hand to stop her. "Take some time and think about it, and then decide if this is really where you want to be. Okay?"

"Okay," she agreed.

- - - - - - - - - -

"So," Pete said, strolling into Addison's office later that day. "How was your Christmas?"

"It was alright," Addison replied vaguely. "Hey, listen… sorry I didn't call you when I got back. I was exhausted."

"You didn't call me until you were on the other side of the country, so I wasn't really expecting much," Pete said pointedly.

Addison sighed. "I know. And I'm sorry. Things were just a little hectic. That's all."

"Hmm… I don't think so."

"What are you talking about?"

"Derek," he said calmly.

"What? No. Derek has nothing to do with this. With us."

"Addison. There is no 'us,' as much as I wish there was."

"Pete…"

"Look. I'm giving you an out. Take it, okay?"

"Are you sure?" she questioned. "We can try this again. We…"

"I would take you up on that offer in a heartbeat if it weren't obvious to everyone except you that you're still in love with your ex-husband."

He walked out of her office and closed the door behind him, leaving Addison bewildered.

- - - - - - - - - -

"How was your day?" Teagan asked Addison when she got home that evening.

"Pete and I are done. And Naomi put me in a time out."

Teagan turned to look at her sister. "Excuse me?"

Addison sighed. "I am supposed to take some time and think about things."

"Like what?"

"Like if this is where I really want to be. As if I packed up my life and moved down here on a whim."

"Well, you kinda did…"

"Not the point."

"Well… is this where you want to be?"

Addison considered it for a minute. "I don't know. I think so…" She paused for a moment, seemingly thinking about it. "So," she said, changing the subject, "you're really moving to Seattle?"

"Yeah."

"I really love having you here, sis. Even if I haven't always acted like it."

"I know," Teagan said. "It's just something I need to do."

Addison flopped down on her sister's bed and stared up at the ceiling.

"Why is Seattle so appealing to you people? I just don't get it."

Teagan smiled to herself. "I think you liked it more than you admit."

"Well, if you insist on going, I'm coming with you," Addison said. "At least to help you move."

Teagan looked surprised. "Really?"

"Of course. I mean, what are half-sisters for?" she smiled. "Besides, I have to make sure you're not living in some crap hole above a whore-house."

"Really? A whore-house? Is there an abundance of those in Seattle?"

"I just need to make sure my baby sister has a safe place to live."

Teagan smiled at her. "I can live with that."

"So… when do we leave?"

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