(The rest of the hiatus flew by…Ellen finished up her film and joined him in Europe for the last six weeks of the break. They had a wonderful time. Per his contract he would return to shoot enough material for the first four episodes of the new season and then he would return to Europe for a month to finish up the movie. To Ellen and Patrick's dismay by the time word was out about Brock joining the cast he had already been offered the part and signed the contract...Shonda and company didn't want to open themselves up to a huge lawsuit, and Patrick didn't want to give Brock the satisfaction of knowing that it bothered Patrick to work with him, so they had decided to let it drop after Shonda agreed to keep the storyline short…Meredith's new flame would fizzle out within 9 episodes, so Patrick would just have to grin and bear it until then. He thought he could ignore the man, but walking onto set the first day back they were face to face with Ellen's ex. She fidgeted nervously as she introduced them.)

Ellen: Well, it was nice to see you again Brock…we're late for the table read, so we should go. (she took Patrick's hand and started to walk off.)

Brock: Well, I'm headed there too…I'll join you.

Patrick: (fake smile, sarcastic) Great!

(They had been shooting for nearly a week before Brock and Ellen had a scene together…they met to rehearse…it was the first time she had gotten a chance alone to talk to him.)

Ellen: So…of all of the acting jobs out there Brock…why this job…what are you doing here?

Brock: It's the hottest show on television…maybe I just needed the money.

Ellen: Oh. (she felt a little foolish)

Brock: Or maybe I'm still in love with you. (she moved across the room to sit…feeling a little uncomfortable.)

Ellen: I'm married…happily married…you shouldn't say things like that.

Brock: Listen…if you're happy, then I'm happy for you…but I'm not going to lie and say I haven't thought about you…say that I didn't wish things could have been different. I heard rumors this summer that your marriage might be on the rocks, so I thought I'd come see for myself.

Ellen: You heard wrong…you wasted a trip…sorry to disappoint you ,but my marriage is not in trouble. (she stormed out)

Brock: Not yet anyway. (he smirked at the sight of her angry…he had always loved to see her feisty side come out…he had always loved that about her. He sighed, being near her reminding him of a time when they were really happy together.)

(Ellen came rushing around the corner, plowing into her husband.)

Patrick: Whoa…where's the fire?

Ellen: I was in a hurry…coming to see you. (she kissed him…which she normally didn't like to do on set…she always complained when his hands wandered in front of their co-stars.) Let's go back to the trailer…

Patrick: Baby, I'm on in 5 minutes…(he pulled away from her, she avoided his gaze) Are you ok?

Ellen: (frustrated) I'm fine…whatever…you have to work…I get it. (she headed back to the trailer alone…leaving him standing there wondering what had just happened…but he had to work, he'd have to find out later, but he had a sneaking suspension he knew who was behind Ellen's sudden mood change. Patrick eyed Brock as he came strolling down the hallway.)

Brock: Have you seen Ellen, we're supposed to be going over our scene?

Patrick: I think she's in her trailer. (Patrick watched as Brock shot him a smug look, and continued down the hall.)

(Ellen splashed cold water on her face…naturally she splashed it all over her shirt…frustrated she slipped it off and was rummaging for another when she heard a quick knock at the door and it opened…Brock stepped inside. She was caught off guard and dropped the shirt.)

Ellen: HELLO…since when do you just barge in uninvited? (she frantically grabbed for the shirt as he walked toward her.)

Brock: Sorry…I knocked…chill out…(he took the shirt and straightened it out for her)…it's not like I've never seen you naked.

Ellen: (she snatched the shirt from his hands) That was a long time ago.

Brock: (looking her up and down, his eyes pausing for a moment at the lace bra before his eyes moved up to meet hers…in a whisper) Yeah…it has been a long time. (her gaze held his for just a moment…she then rushed back into the bedroom to finish changing. He was sitting on the couch looking at the framed pictures of her and Patrick when she returned.)

Ellen: Listen, if we have to work together then you need to keep it professional….got it?

Brock: Yes maam…

Ellen: No suggestive comments…no reminiscing…no inappropriate touching…

Brock: Uh oh…apparently you haven't gotten to page 26 yet. (he laughed as she flipped to the page where his character "Dr. Mason" makes a move on Meredith in the on-call room…feeling her up before their first kiss. She smacked his arm before they both started laughing.)

Ellen: Dr. Mason can touch Meredith…that's our job…

Brock: (he leaned in, smirking at her) Why do I get the feeling it's going to take a lot of rehearsing before Dr. Mason and Meredith get that kiss just right.

(Patrick was distracted during his scene…he rushed through…his mind not in the scene, but across the lot in the trailer…THEIR trailer…where his wife was presumably in close proximity to her ex boyfriend. Finally they finished…he tried to casually make his way off set…it seemed everyone needed a minute of his time…finally he gave TR the slip and jumped in the golf cart on the way to find his wife…in the meantime back in the trailer Ellen and Brock read through their lines…he was actually a very funny and charming man…she was reminded of that as they rehearsed and actually thought maybe the two could be friends…as they rehearsed the on-call scene his hands slid up her back…his fingers touching her bare skin…she was caught a little off guard…he pulled her close…their faces nearly touching…his stare held hers for a moment…she broke away…turning her back to him)

Ellen: Brock, really, we've kissed hundreds of times, I don't think we need to rehearse…let's just wing it.

Brock: (He tried not to laugh, but was secretly pleased at the affect he clearly still had on her) Whatever you say.

(The door opened and Patrick rushed in…)

Ellen: HEY! (she kissed him…a little more passionately than he expected) Are you finished?

Patrick: Yeah, I was going to see if you wanted to get some lunch, but it looks like I'm interrupting.

Ellen: No…don't be silly…(she looked at Brock) We're finished. (she grabbed her husband's hand and headed out of the trailer.