Summary: This is an homage to 'El Mundo Gira', an episode of 'The X-Files' written by John Shiban.
El Mundo Gira: As the world turns.:D
ThanX go out to A.E who is my brilliant beta.
Disclaimer: Well, maybe if it rains sleeping bags, you'll get lucky.
Special shout out goes out to the RAGERS, you know who you are, for still believing and searching for the truth everyday.:D:D
"You know this guy?" Pete asked dumbfounded.
"Yes. This is Derek, my ex-husband." Addison answered softly.
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Everyone held their breath as they saw Pete's face register what Addison had just said. They where broken out of their trance by Derek's voice.
"I'm fine Addie. I'm okay. What I want to know why this jackass punched me?" Derek asked incredulously, as he started to gather himself off the floor with the help of Addison and Sam.
"We'll talk about that later...come on, let's go to my office." Addison said as she pulled on his arm. Any shock, anger, or awkwardness were forgotten for the moment, as she lead him to her office.
Sam, Naomi and the rest watched them walk away together, nobody knew what to say. They all glanced in unison towards Pete.
Pete was glued to his spot, he couldn't move, he wasn't even sure if he was breathing. Suddenly he felt a hand on his arm.
"Pete you okay?" Violet asked with concern. She took his hand and examined it. "Let's go to the lounge so I can put some ice on this before it swells more." She offered, trying to distract him from staring after Addison and Derek.
"What the hell is going on?" Pete was finally able to stammer, as he dazedly followed Violet towards the lounge. "Did that really happen? Did I just punch my patient, who happens to be Addie's ex? Did she just run to his side?" He said stupendously, asking more to himself than he was to Violet.
"I don't know what's going on, but I don't think he knew she worked here. So I don't think he came here with the intention of seeing her, if that's what you're thinking." Violet softly explained as she open the freezer. "She went to his side to help him probably out of instinct, just because he was an asshole
to her, doesn't mean she wouldn't care if something happened to him." Violet told Pete reassuringly.
"Shit! Addison is gonna be pissed!" Pete exclaimed as he took a seat on one of the stools near the table.
"Pete, I'm sure she will understand...you thought he was hurting her. How were you supposed to know that was her ex-husband, it's not like you had a picture of him?" Violet stated supportively.
Pete smiled weakly at her with appreciation, but he knew his Addie, she would be pissed that he tried to be a hero. No matter how much of a thing she had for cowboys and gladiators,she still liked to take care of herself. He shook his head...her ex-husband being here was the least of his problems, or so he thought.
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"Here take a seat." Addison offered.
"Addie?" Derek began hesitantly as he tried to reach for her hand.
"Don't. Derek please don't." She pleaded as she quickly tried to put some distance between them.
"Addie it's so good to see you, I've missed you so much." He said as he stood up,moving over to where she was standing near the office window.
"I have a patient in about 10 minutes, so if you're okay, I think it's best if you leave." She firmly suggested.
"Addie, we need to talk. You left Seattle without even saying goodbye. I didn't even know where you moved to? I've been asking everyone I could think of so that I could find you, but with no avail." Derek expressed hurtfully.
Addison raised her eyebrow when she looked at him, "You have actually been trying to find me?" she asked, genuinely surprised. Then she shook those thoughts away, 'no Addie, stop this' she thought to herself. "Look I didn't say goodbye because I didn't think you'd care...you moved on and I did the same. So there's nothing to talk about Derek." She said definitively as she walked to open the door.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get ready for my patient." She said matter-of-factly.
"Addie?" Derek implored.
"Stop calling me that, you lost that right a long time ago. Now please go." She said more forcefully.
"Fine, I'll go for now, but I'm coming back. I need to speak to you, and Addie..." he continued as she glanced up to look at him, "...I'm not walking away this time without a fight." He spoke with self-assurance as he walked out, smiling at her.
Addison felt a bit shaky and dizzy, so she reached out to her desk to steady herself.
"Breathe Addison, breathe." She said softly as she tried to calm down.
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Naomi, who had been in the lobby voicing her concerns about Derek being in town to Sam,noticed Derek seamlessly exiting Addie's office and walking towards them. She seized the opportunity to rush to her friend's side.
"Hey Naomi" Derek greeted, as he started towards her, but she just waved a quick hello and kept walking towards Addison's office.
Derek frowned a bit then noticed Sam.
"Hey buddy, it's been a long time." Derek happily exclaimed, as he leaned in to hug his old friend.
"Yeah it has...I just wish it was under better circumstances. He got you good didn't he?" Sam chuckled uneasily as he patted his friend on the back and looked at the damage Pete had done.
"I know, I know, not exactly how I expected seeing Addie for the first time in over a year." Derek expressed as he rubbed his cheek."So are you gonna tell me why I just got punched out by my new doctor?" Derek questioned with bemusement.
Sam stayed quiet for a moment. Derek was his friend, but they hadn't spoken in years. On the other hand, Pete had become a great friend since he started working at the practice, and Addison, well she was Addison, she was like a sister to him. He had to set Derek straight.
"Pete? Well, he and Addison have been dating for a while now, so you can understand how seeing you with your hands on the woman he's with would make him react that way." Sam explained
"Are they serious?" Derek asked quickly, with unconcealed jealousy and concern.
"Look, I don't mean to cut this short, but I think it's better if you go for now. I don't want two of my colleagues to be upset by your presence here. Why don't we hang out later tonight?, you can over to my house and we can catch up then." Sam said without really thinking. After all he didn't want to completely leave his old friend out in the cold.
"It's okay, I get it. We'll talk later. I'm not familiar with the area...can you swing by to pick me up?" Derek asked as Sam nodded in response. "I'm staying at The Huntley Hotel near here." Derek said as he headed towards the elevator.
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As Naomi entered Addison's office, she was instantly struck by her friend's ashen face.
"Addie? Are you okay?" Naomi asked with immediate concern, as she walked up beside her
and grabbed her arm in support.
"I'm fine Nai. I just got a little dizzy that's all." Addison said trying to deflect Naomi's worries with a wave of her hand.
"Are you sure?, 'cause you don't look too hot?" Naomi began, still obviously troubled about her friend.
"I just need to sit down..." Addison started to say, as she made her way to her couch, when suddenly her legs gave out and she crumpled into Naomi's arms.
Naomi instinctively caught her as she simultaneously yelled for help.
"Sam! I need your help!" She pleaded at the top of her lungs.
Sam, who had just escorted Derek out, heard Naomi's desperate scream and took off running
towards her voice.
Cooper and Dell, who had been feigning work and just idling hanging around, looked up in
alarm and rushed after Sam.
Violet and Pete were also shocked into action at the terrified tone of Naomi's voice.
They all arrived at Addison's Office at the same time, with Sam leading the way. All were stunned at the sight before them. Pete burst into action first and shoved everyone out of the way to reach Addison.
He easily lifted her up from Naomi's arms and gently placed her on the couch. Violet had taken this opportunity to grab a cold compress and now handed it to Pete, who in turn placed it tenderly over Addison's forehead.
"Addie?" Pete asked with worry.
The others stood silently by while Pete tried to coax her awake.
Addison's eyes started to flutter and she began to stir on the couch.
"Addie? Are you okay?" Pete asked softly again.
"What happened?" Addison asked bewilderedly.
"Why is everyone staring at me?"
"Addie you fainted." Naomi replied gently.
"What? No, what? How? " Addison flusteredly spoke as she tried to sit up.
"Addie, don't sit up. Just try to relax." Pete said, trying to soothe her.
"I'm fine. It's okay everyone, nothing to make a fuss over. I didn't eat that well this morning and the added stress of Derek showing up unexpectedly just proved to be a bit much for me." Addison claimed as she slowly sat up.
"Are you sure?" Violet voiced unconvincedly.
"Yes, I'm sure. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go to the restroom." Addie started to get up.
Cooper, Dell, and Sam left to give her some room and privacy. While Pete, Naomi and Violet stayed behind with her.
"We'll come with you then." Naomi announced, as she eyed Violet.
"I don't need..." Addison began to say, but then she saw the stern look on Naomi's face.
"...fine come with me if you must."
"Addie?" Pete questioned again, as he reached out to touch her face.
"I'm fine, Pete. I promise, it's nothing." She put her hand over his reassuringly.
Pete just stood there, he was shocked into silence again. 'If it's nothing, how come she fainted at the sight of her ex-husband? No, don't think that way, she's with you, she cares about you, she might even love you. Nothing to worry about.' He placated himself.
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"Addie are you sure you're okay?" Violet and Naomi asked her again.
"For the umpteenth time, yes I'm fine." Addison replied with a little frustration.
"Sorry, we don't mean to coddle you, we just want to make sure. You scared the hell out of us." Naomi anxiously expressed.
"I know and I'm sorry. It's just that seeing Derek really freaked me out a little, okay? I mean, come on, what the hell is he doing here?" She wondered aloud, sounding a little more shaken than she wanted to.
"You didn't ask him?" Violet blurted out, but then regretted it when she saw Addison's face.
"Look, It's understandable that you would go into some sort of shock when you saw your ex-husband. I mean, here is a man who really did a number on you, and you thought you had finally left all of that behind. All of a sudden he's here in the city you've moved on in, in the place you work at. It's okay to feel overwhelmed." Violet tried to explain with reassurance and Addison's demeanor softened.
"Exactly, it's not a big deal, right?" she said, as she tried to straighten herself out a little. "See Nai, it's normal and I'm fine now. I just need to drink some juice and have a banana or something, then I can get back to work." Addison proclaimed as she started splashing some water on her face.
"What? No way! You are going home to rest. You are not practicing medicine in any way,
shape, or form today." Naomi said definitively.
Addison was about to argue but thought better of it.
"Fine, but who is going to see my patient that is probably already waiting for me?" she asked.
"What you think I can't do a regular check up? I'll have you know Miss Thing, that I am most
definitely qualified to see this patient." Naomi said jokingly, trying to lighten the mood.
The three women laughed as they walked out, then they bumped into Sam and Pete.
"Hey? do you want me to take you home?" Pete asked, as he stepped next to Addison.
"Yup, even if I didn't want to, Nai is not really giving me much of a choice." she chuckled goodnaturedly.
"We'll come and check on you later, okay? Please rest up Ad." Sam said as he leaned in to hug his friend. Naomi and Violet did the same.
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Pete held onto her hand tightly as they stepped onto the elevator. He couldn't stop thinking back to when he first saw her crumpled up in Naomi's arms, all he felt was panic and fear take over his body.
"Hey you okay?" she asked him.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I should be the one asking you. You really scared me back there babe." He said with genuine worry.
"I know and I'm sorry, but I feel better. I swear." She said in a comforting tone and leaned in to kiss him.
They reached the parking area and walked towards Addie's car. Pete was a bit distracted while staring at Addison, but he was suddenly brought out of his reverie when he heard her speak.
"Derek, what are you still doing here? I thought I asked you to leave?" she said in understandable frustration.
