THE NEXT DAY
Roxie walked over to Skye who was stood at the nurses station the closer Roxie got to her friend the bigger the smile on Skye's face.
"Well hello" said Skye "How are you this morning?" she asked
"Is this what you're like when you get laid?" asked Roxie
"Some people are happy and glowing and others…like you…don't seem altered at all"
Roxie stood shocked for a moment as she realised her best friend knew about her night with Owen.
"What do you mean?"
"Roxie come on you weren't exactly discreet about it. You were giving Chan and I a run for our money" Roxie knew she'd been rumbled by her friend "So who was it?"
"Nobody"
"It was somebody. Was it Mark? Did you two…"
"No"
"It wasn't Mark? Roxie please tell me you're not doing this to get to Mark"
"Skye I didn't think 'you' knew. How am I doing this to get back at him? I just…I just needed somebody" Roxie looked at her friend and she could feel the judgement "And you think I'm a bad person"
"No, no Roxie I don't I just don't want you doing this as a quick fix"
"Mark and I are over he made that perfectly clear"
"But that doesn't mean you're ready for another relationship"
"Who said it's a relationship?"
"Ok just be careful not to get yourself hurt"
Skye then walked away leaving Roxie behind wondering when she would ever be able to make a right decision in her life.
ELSEWHERE
Ryan walked over to Karev who was doing research for a case he had.
"Hey babe" she said kissing him on the cheek
Karev looked over at Ryan and saw the pile of books in front of her.
"What's all that?"
Ryan gave him a bewildered look "To say you're a doctor you're not that bright. They're books"
Karev smiled at Ryan's sarcasm "What are they for?"
"They're for me to become a nurse"
"A nurse?" asked Nurse Olivia overhearing
"Yeah I just started at Seattle University"
"You're going to be a nurse?"
"Hopefully"
"Wow well…I still have all my stuff if you want it?"
"That would be great" replied Ryan with a smile
"Ok well you'll have to come over sometime"
"Definitely"
"Don't you have something else to do Olivia?" snarled Karev and Olivia walked away
"What was that about?" asked Ryan suddenly clicking "You slept with nurse Olivia didn't you?"
"Actually he gave her syphilis" said Izzie approaching the nurses station
"Are you kidding me?"
"Thank you Izzie" said Karev as Izzie smiled and walked away
"Dirty boy" smiled Ryan teasing Alex
"Yeah, why are you here?"
"Ok don't go crazy but I want you to take a look at these" she said handing him some papers
Karev looked at the papers and saw they were house brochures.
"What are you giving me these for?"
"You were the one complaining about living at Skye's and I'm ready to make this commitment with you"
"You don't have the money to buy a house with me"
"Well actually my settlement came through"
"It did? He just gave it up like that?"
"No his mistress got knocked up" she informed him
"So how much are we talking?"
"That's a little rude but its enough to buy a house"
Karev gave Ryan an interested look "Alright we'll look but right now I have to work so…" Karev kissed Ryan "…take these with you and we'll go through them later"
"Ok but how busy is your day because I really need to see you in the on call room" she asked with a devilish smile
"Babe I would love to but I have to do some research for this surgery I have later. I'm sorry" he said kissing her on the cheek
"No problem I'll just wait till you come home" she picked up her books and walked away not before giving him a kiss goodbye
LATER
Roxie walked out of Dr Wyatt's after another session and made her way down the corridor to the elevator. The elevator door opened and Mark stood at the back of the elevator with three other people in front of him she glanced at Mark and stepped into the elevator. The doors opened on the next floor and except for herself and Mark the elevator cleared. The doors closed and Mark stepped to the side of Roxie.
"So how are the sessions going?" asked Mark
Roxie stood a little dumbfounded that Mark was talking to her as though their argument the day before hadn't happened.
"They're going good"
"What things do you talk about?"
"Not you if that's what you're worried about"
"No I'm not worried about that I just thought that you probably spoke to her about your private life like who you've dated, how your relationships ended, the whole situation with me and Derek and the baby and stuff like who you were having sex with last night"
Roxie looked over at Mark she wondered to herself how he knew about Owen.
"What?"
"Would your therapist consider you having sex yesterday a healthy progression or a quick fix solution?"
"I don't remember my sex life being any of your business"
"No it isn't not even when you sleep with and get knocked up by my best friend. I just hope this guy is sane enough to leave it at just sex. At least you had the decency not to have sex in our bed…or did the party move after I collected my things?"
"What?" asked a confused Roxie wondering what he was talking about as she and Owen spent the night in her room.
The elevator door opened and Mark walked out first and Roxie slowly followed behind to watch him walk away. Skye approached Roxie.
"Hey how was your session?"
"I think I just told Mark about last night"
"You told him?"
"Not in so many words he said he knew I was having sex when he came to collect his things"
"Collect his things? Oh that explains it"
"Explains what?"
"We heard a crash and when we came out there was a photo of you and Mark smashed on the floor"
"He heard you two? And I just told him I had sex last night, great"
"Who was it?"
"It doesn't matter who it was Skye I'm going to the ER"
A Little While Later
Roxie and Hunt were tending to a patient and Hunt felt that she was being very hostile.
"What's wrong?" he whispered into her ear as she got supplies
"Nothing"
"Then stop treating me like I'm the spawn of the devil"
They turned back to the patient just in time to see Mark enter the room.
"What have we got?" asked Sloan
"Sixty percent burn victim due to a chemical explosion" replied Hunt
"Right well all but little Grey can leave I don't need anybody else's help to do this"
Roxie left the room first and Hunt followed feeling the tension between Roxie and Mark.
"Is he why you're in a mood with me?"
"No"
"Then what is wrong?"
"I told you nothing"
"There's something bothering you"
"He knows I was with someone last night. He doesn't know its you but he's not gonna stop till he finds out who it is"
"Well I'm not going to tell anybody"
Roxie looked over into the room where Mark tended to the patients burns.
"I know"
"Just relax" said Hunt as he walked away
Roxie stared at Mark for a lingering moment she then turned and began to walk away needing a break from the ER.
A Little While Later
Roxie stood on the walk over looking at the view and trying to figure things out in her head like should she tell Mark about Owen before he finds out.
"Hi" said a familiar voice
Roxie turned to see Derek stood before her.
"Hi you're back?"
"Yeah I'm back"
"Nobody told me"
"I didn't know until this morning I just woke up and decided it was time"
"And the chiefs ok with you coming back?"
"Yeah he wants me to see a psychiatrist to make sure I'm dealing with things"
"But you're back on the board?"
"Yeah when I get some patients anyway. I was surprised to hear you came back so soon"
"Yeah well I just needed to keep busy. How's Meredith?"
"She's good she came back this morning too"
"And how's things between you and Mark?"
"Better he apologised for hitting me. I'm guessing things aren't too good between you two?"
"He's trying to force me out of my home"
"Ahh ok, well apart from that how are things?"
"Ok I guess. I'm a little a frustrated I have to see a shrink too but I ain't on the board"
"How are you coping?"
"I'm coping just great Derek. I need to get back to the ER" Roxie then walked away wondering how her day could get worse
"Roxie" called Derek after her with concern "Roxie" but she continued to walk away
LATER
Mark walked out of the patients door filling in a chart he then caught a glimpse of Derek and handed the chart to the intern.
"You're back?" asked Mark as he approached Derek
"Yeah I am"
"Does she know?" asked Mark referring to Roxie
"Yeah I saw her. She was a little distant"
"Yeah well trust me she's recovering"
"What does that mean?"
Mark rubbed his forehead with frustration and ran his hand down the back of his head "Nothing"
"She's just lost her baby you can't tell me she's recovering and then say nothing. I need to know if she's ok"
"She's moved on. I went to collect my things from the apartment last night and she was there with a guy"
"Oh" replied Derek wondering to himself if she was doing that to get over Mark or to shield herself from the realisation that her child had just died.
LATER
Roxie sat at the kitchen counter with a bottle of vodka and a glass in her hand trying to drown away the day she'd just endured. Just then a knock came at the door and Roxie placed her glass down on the counter and walked over to answer the door. She smiled as she saw Hunt stood before her.
"No one followed me, I made sure your roommates light was on. I wiped my fingerprints off the elevator button and I'll burn my shoes the second I get home so people can't trace the footprints back to me" said Hunt sarcastically
"Haha" replied Roxie
"So can I come in?"
"Sure" she said walking away from the door and picking up her glass and walking over to the sofa.
Hunt walked inside and closed the door behind him he then spied the bottle of vodka and helped himself.
"Drowning your sorrows?"
"Just taking the edge off"
"I know another way we can take the edge off" he said placing down his drink and making his way over to Roxie taking off his jacket throwing it in the chair as he did. He leaned over and kissed Roxie softly on the lips but they were interrupted by a knock at the door.
"You need to go into the bedroom while I answer that"
Hunt sighed and shook his head before he walked into the bedroom. Roxie then stood up and walked over to the door and was surprised to find Derek stood there.
"I need to know that you're ok" he said walking into the apartment uninvited
"I'm fine Derek you can go"
"Mark tells me you're seeing somebody"
"Did he?"
"Well are you?"
"Not that it's any of your business but no I'm not"
"Then who does the coat belong to?" asked Derek sitting down on the arm of the chair next to the coat Hunt had seconds ago thrown down.
"It's Chan, he's back and he's staying with me"
"Mark said he walked in to find you and another guy?"
"No Mark walked in and heard Chan and Skye and assumed it was me. Derek I'm fine, I'm going to therapy sessions I'm talking it out, I'm keeping busy in the ER. I'm dealing with it and the only thing that's bothering me is people asking me if I'm ok so just stop"
"Ok you're fine" he said standing up and making his way to the door "Just don't be afraid to come and talk to me if you need to"
"Thanks" she replied
Derek smiled and left the apartment as the door closed Hunt appeared from the bedroom.
"Everything ok?"
"You left your coat here"
"So I heard" he said walking over to Roxie and wrapping his arms around her waist "Shall we go to bed?"
Roxie smiled and kissed Hunt who picked her up and carried her into the bedroom.
A FEW DAYS LATER
Derek was in the locker room getting ready when Hunt walked in.
"Morning" said Derek
"Morning" replied Hunt taking off his jacket
"Nice jacket" said Derek noticing it was the same as the one on Roxie's couch
"Thanks" replied Hunt giving Derek a strange look
Just then the door opened and Mark walked in. He walked past both men without saying anything and putting his things away in his locker he then sat down on the bench and rested his head in his hands as he took a deep breath filled with frustration. Hunt left the room and Derek turned to his friend.
"What's wrong?"
"She's screwing another guy and I can't get a woman"
"What?"
"I went to Joe's last night and three women turned me down. I've never had any problem getting women before she's screwed me up"
"Did you ever think it's because you don't want another woman?"
Mark looked at Derek and wondered if his words were right and if he really did still want Roxie after everything that had happened.
"No that's not it" he said standing up and walking out of the locker room
LATER
Skye approached Roxie in the cafeteria and sat down beside her staring at her waiting for her friend to snap and tell her who she was sleeping with.
"I'm not telling you"
"So it's someone I know? And seen as though you're never out of the hospital it means its somebody from the hospital. Is it Karev?"
"Karev?"
"Well watching him and Ryan is nauseating so I was kind of hoping"
"It's not Karev"
"Shame so who is it?"
"I'm not telling you"
"Ok this is just an observation but he doesn't seem to be making you very happy"
"Skye I have a million things going around in my head Faith, Mark, Derek and that's before I start thinking about work or lack of it. I enjoy it when he's there but the problem is that after he's gone I have to keep him a secret because I can't deal with everybody talking about me and judging me and my every move and decision"
"Roxie you need to talk to someone about this"
"I have a shrink for that"
"So what now we can't talk?"
"Are you seriously picking a fight with me because I won't girl talk with you?"
"Since Faith died you won't talk to anybody about anything and all anybody is trying to do is help you. Your family came to Seattle and you wished they'd go home before they unpacked their bags. Your friends are trying to help you even Derek who has every right to be furious at you is trying to be supportive and you're just throwing it all back in our faces and dealing with this on your own and eventually its going to eat away at you. And Roxie I can't sit back and watch you do that" said Skye standing up and getting ready to leave
"Hunt" said Roxie getting Skye's attention. She turned around and looked at her friend and returned to her seat.
"Hunt?"
"Hunt, I'm sleeping with Hunt. It just happened, we kissed and then…it just happened. And it keeps happening"
"Do you like him?" asked Skye
Roxie hesitated "I love Mark"
"Oh Rox" said her friend with sympathy as she realised Hunt was just a substitute for the man Roxie really wanted.