Chance Encountered

Chapter 36

Much later that night Derek sat on a bar stool slowly nursing a glass of scotch. He was in a bar that he had been to only once or twice since he had moved to Seattle years ago but no one from the hospital would show up here and he needed that tonight. He had no inclination to run into Mark, Addison, Burke, Bailey or even one of the nurses or a custodian.

Derek needed a night to think and to truly process everything that he had learned in the past forty-eight or so hours. He needed to process the fact that Addison had a husband that she never mentioned to him. She had just lied or had she omitted it? Was there a difference?

Derek took a long drink and set the glass back down on the counter and stared at the amber colored liquid.

He wasn't sure whether or not he was happy he had caught their conversation this morning. It only left him more confused. Did it makes things easier to understand or harder? He wasn't quite sure.

But he was sure about one thing, hearing it had thrown him for yet another emotional loop.

He had been a mixture of emotions and feelings. He felt confused, angry, hurt and betrayed.

He lifted the glass to his lips and took another drink.

Derek knew Addison though. He knew her almost as well as he knew himself. And he had heard in her voice all of her guilt and sadness about what was happening to them. She was hurt and apparently just as shocked about Mark's appearance as he had been but…why?

Why hadn't she told him? What reason could there possibly be for not mentioning it? Especially when her husband was a bastard that screwed her friends. Why not tell him that she had been married and was planning on a divorce? What was so hard about that?

And there was no way she had forgotten about it. Derek had never been married but he knew that it was a memory that would be hard to misplace. So that wasn't why. But what was so hard about being honest with him? Honesty wasn't difficult.

Derek sighed and took another drink of his scotch and as he finished off the last of the alcohol and set the glass back down a beautiful brunette sat down next to him.

"Can I buy you another?" She purred and ran hand over his forearm.

"Can't, I have a girlfriend—" He said and before the word left his mouth his mind began to spin.

Did he have a girlfriend? He had a girlfriend but he had not spoken to her since yesterday morning.

They hadn't spoken since she went into that surgery and when she came out, Mark was there. Did that mean they were automatically broken up? Were they together but not talking? Fighting? What did it mean?

"Too bad. You're cute, really cute." The brunette said and turned away before Derek could say another word.

He shook his head and stood up. Derek ran a hand over his face before fishing his wallet out of his back pocket and placed a few bills on the counter and headed for the door.

His heart ached a little but he had a determined mindset. He had to sort things out. He had to at least get some answers to his questions. He deserved them and she had better have a damn good explanation.

Addison breathed in the scent of Derek's musky cologne that was imprinted on one of his favorite shirts. It was a long sleeve black one that was a little big on her but it was comfortable and it was perfect for sleeping in but there was a coffee stain on the front. She had put it there a few months back and had almost burnt his skin when she accidentally spilt her cup on him one morning. But he had been really sweet about the whole thing.

And a pain settled back in her as she envisioned a bright grin on his face.

Derek.

She so desperately wanted to speak to him. Addison wanted to see him and talk about anything and everything. She would hold nothing back. If he wanted to know something she would tell him. She would tell him all about her past. All about Mark, hell she would tell him about the time in the fourth grade when she broke her friend's noodle picture on purpose.

She wanted a chance to tell him all he wanted and needed to know. She wanted a chance to explain to him everything that had happened and why she had done the things she had. It might not be the best explanation but she wanted the chance to try. Addison wanted a chance to get over this.

They would get over this. Derek was upset but it was understandable. She left him to be blindsided and she had not been up front about a few very important details. He had the right to be upset and angry and she would understand if he did not want to talk for a while.

However, eventually he would see that what they had they could not give up, right?

And when there was a knock at the door her heart nearly jumped into her throat. Addison stopped her nervous pacing and walked toward the door. She had a nervous trepidation in her chest as she put a hand on the knob and pulled it open.

She let out a sigh of disappointment that was mixed with frustration when she met the blue eyes of the person on the other side.

"Mark."

"Hey." He said quietly and shuffled his feet.

"What do you want?" She snapped.

"To talk,' He asked and stepped past her and walked in to the apartment. She let the door go and it came to an almost close as Mark wandered around her home. She sighed and put a hand on her hip.

"I don't want you here." She said with a forceful tone.

"So you have a boyfriend huh? When were you going to tell me about him?" Mark asked as he turned around to face her. He had a smile on his face but a soft questioning look in his eyes like she had been the one to hurt him.

"I was hoping to just oh I don't know to let you know after the divorce was finalized." Addison snapped.

Mark chuckled, "A divorce? You and me… never. We're Mark and Addison."

Addison shook her head and released a heavy sigh. "Not anymore, we're not. I want a divorce."

"Well why don't you and I talk about it over dinner? Sunday sound good to you?" Mark said with a nice smile.

"I say…you should leave." Addison said and moved a hand behind her and opened the door again for him to vacate her home. She never took her eyes off of him to show him she was serious.

"Well, what do we have here?" Mark asked with a smirk and crossed his arms over his chest. He was looking over her shoulder at something.

And when she followed his gaze her heart nearly exploded.

"Derek."

He stood there with his hand raised in the air as if he had been about to knock. Derek wore a shocked heartbroken expression on his handsome face as he just stared at Mark.

Then it dawned on her what he was thinking.

"No. He was just about to leave. Derek—" Addison said and she went to grab his hand but he pulled it out of her reach and backed away from her and went back down the hall.

Addison scrambled after him and almost tripped once on her sock but she managed to keep up pretty good pace with him.

"I didn't invite him Derek. He just showed up."

"He seems to have a habit of that." Derek scoffed as he picked up his stride and walked faster and faster.

"I did not want him here. I did not ask him to come over please you have to believe me!" She pleaded as they reached the elevator doors and he punched the button.

He turned on her and his eyes were shining from the moisture accumulated there. His beautiful eyes were so heartbroken and hurt that a fresh round of tears came to her eyes.

She went to grab him again but he stepped out of her hands.

"I don't know what to believe anymore Addison. Please just, don't." He whispered. The elevator dinged as the door opened and he turned and boarded it. He turned around to face her one more time and he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"It's done, we're done."

End of Chapter 36.

Please Review.