Chapter 26: Dark Heart

As they neared the final stretch of their internships all interns would be assigned to attendings for more than a few days. Also their schedules would mostly mirror their attending's, which was why Aelwyne and Addison only saw each other in the hospital. They spent meals and as many breaks as possible together. Addison had Meredith assigned to her which did not bother her much. Meredith was exceptionally smart and quick on her feet. She had had some chances to work with her before but since now they were spending more time together she was able to witness her skill more closely. She could see the reason why along with Aelwyne and Cristina she was regarded as one of the top interns in their year.

"Good job in there." Addison praised her as they scrubbed out of their surgery.

"Really? I thought I made you angry there." Meredith replied sheepishly.

"Angry? Not at all Meredith. I'm your teacher though, so I won't be holding your hand. I need to make sure you know your stuff. You are a surgeon and you need to always maintain yourself calm. Even in bad situations. Even when someone is questioning you every step of the way." Addison explained and smiled as the blonde finally turned to face her with understanding in her eyes.

"Can I say something and you promise you won't get upset? Like as Addison and not my attending?" Meredith said nervously biting her lip. Addison eyed her suspiciously but gave in.

"Sure. Go ahead, as Addison." She replied.

"The attending… Dr. Montgomery… she's pushy and strict and sometimes…" Meredith seemed to want to say something else but held back.

"Sometimes she can be a bitch." Addison finished for her with a chuckle.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have said that." Meredith apologized.

"You didn't. I did." Addison chuckled once more. "The attending needs to make sure her intern knows her crap so she can begin to trust her in the O.R." She continued. "You can't tell me the intern hasn't learned." Meredith looked at her for a moment and gave what she said some thought.

"I think the intern has learned and maybe gained some more confidence. So I guess having Satan as a teacher is pretty… great." Meredith nodded with a smile.

"I guess the attending can be satisfied with herself now." Addison laughed. "Now why doesn't the intern go to lunch?" She offered with a smile. "The attending heard the gurgling noises."

"Oh god, I'm so sorry." Meredith said quickly.

"It's quite alright. I'm starving as well. Go on. I'm going to see if I can catch Ael." Addison said with a smile.

"Ok. See you after lunch Addison." Meredith said as she walked happily out of the scrub room.

"See ya, Meredith." Addison said walking the opposite way.

Addison checked her phone just in case Aelwyne had sent her a message but she had not so she headed towards her office. As she rounded the corner she saw the brunette standing in front of her door on her phone. After a minute she felt the familiar buzz on her pocket. She had no need to look at her phone since she knew who it was already.

"Looking for someone?" Addison called out causing Aelwyne to jump slightly.

"Addison." Aelwyne protested.

"Oh I'm sorry Ael." Addison said with a little pout.

"Oh fine. Hi there." Aelwyne said as she moved towards her gently kissing her cheek.

"Hi." Addison replied with a smile.

"So… lunch?" Aelwyne asked in a cheery tone.

"Yep. Let me just grab a chart I have in there." Addison said unlocking her office door to get said chart. They then headed over to the cafeteria for lunch.

The room filled with doctors, nurses, and other staff was buzzing as they walked in. It had been about a week since the incident when everyone found out they were together. So some of the whispers had died out by now. People still looked at them but they did not pointedly make comments anymore. They went to get food and find a table to sit and eat peacefully. Addison sat to eat her usual chicken Caesar salad while Aelwyne got a burger for a change, with her usual tray of fries of course. They sat and ate while making small talk until Aelwyne got a bit quiet. Her eyes glazed over for a bit and Addison knew something was up. She had been like this most of the week. One moment everything was fine and the next she was off thinking about who knew what.

"You're doing it again." Addison snapped Aelwyne out of her head and the intern smiled as there clouds in her eyes dissipated. "Is something the matter?"

"Nope. Everything is fine." Aelwyne replied the same way she had replied every other time Addison had asked.

"Fine." Addison sighed softly and Aelwyne just smiled and grabbed a fry.

"Mark is annoying." Aelwyne said as she saw the attending waltzing about the cafeteria with Callie.

"He kinda is." Addison chuckled.

"I think he enjoys making me mad." Aelwyne said as she grabbed a fry.

"I'm glad I have my friend back though." Addison said with a smile.

"I get that. But he's so insufferable." Aelwyne said as they heard his laugh echo around the room.

"He told me it's refreshing and that he's just vetting you. He enjoys it." Addison said as she giggled.

"I bet." The brunette replied. "Vetting me... he's an ass. But at least I get him back every time." Aelwyne said triumphantly.

"Unless Bailey is around." Addison said with a grin.

"Unless Bailey is around." Aelwyne agreed with a defeated tone.

"Aw it's alright." Addison said, patting her hand as the brunette gave her a small pout.

"So since we are a couple and all of that. Can you kiss it better?" Aelwyne said softly, pout still in place.

"Oh, I definitely can kiss it better." Addison said leaning into her, giving her a gentle peck.

"Very cute." Addison heard Burke say. She backed away from Aelwyne and looked at him with a smile.

"Hello, Preston. How are you?" She said smiling.

"Addison hi. I'm good. Just need a word with Neirhem." He said shifting his gaze to Aelwyne.

Addison did the same and noticed the shift in her eyes once more. This worried her but Aelwyne noticed her looking at her so she shifted back and looked at Burke.

"What can I do for you Dr. Burke?" Aelwyne said looking up at him.

"Did you check Mr. Prater's EKG like I asked?" Burke said.

"Yes. Everything looked normal so I booked the OR for this afternoon. We should be all set to operate." Aelwyne said rather coldly, which did not go unnoticed by Addison.

"Perfect. Then I expect you'll prep him soon?" Burke said.

"Yes sir. He'll be ready to go." Aelwyne responded.

"Good. Enjoy the rest of your break." He said before walking away to his own table.

Aelwyne's gaze followed him all the way over which made Addison curious. It was not jealousy, she knew Aelwyne would never, but still she was curious and a bit concerned with the brunette's attitude towards him. She placed her hand on top of Aelwyne's once he sat down and she turned back to face her.

"You still don't want to tell me what's wrong?" Addison asked.

"You're beautiful. Oh and Cristina says this weekend is our little get together for my birthday thing." Aelwyne smiled and kissed her softly on the lips.

"I know what you're doing. I do enjoy the kisses though. But can you tell me what's wrong? Can I help?" Addison smiled as she took both of her hands.

"Busted?" Aelwyne chuckled a bit. "It's nothing I can't handle. Promise."

"Hmm fine." Addison said with a tiny pout. It seemed like that was their thing, the pouting and the kissing it better.

"Let's fix that." Aelwyne grinned and pecked her as Addison had earlier.

"Get a room girls." They heard Mark say as he plopped down in the chair opposite to Aelwyne and next to Addison.

Aelwyne groaned displeased at his sudden appearance but he just chuckled and Addison shook her head with a smile.

"Hello kid. Hi Red." Mark greeted happily.

"Hi Mark. Don't you have things to do?" Addison chuckled.

"Nah I'm ok. My slave… I mean my intern is keeping a lookout." Mark said cheekily.

"Are you even teaching Karev? He looks up to you." Addison said, frowning at him.

"That's a mistake." Aelwyne said as she dipped a fry in ketchup and ate it.

"C'mon kid. You know I'm the best teacher here. And pretty easy on the eyes. It's a win to be assigned to me." Mark remarked.

"I have the nagging feeling that the whole being easy on the eyes and the sleeping around is gonna catch up with you. I wouldn't put it past the nurse to boycott you." Aelwyne said nonchalantly.

"You accepted I'm easy on the eyes." Mark smirked, raising a brow.

"Yeah I guess you could be Barbie's Ken but I don't really look at toys that way. It might be considered a mental illness. I also don't like Kens like that much." Aelwyne said and leaned closer to Addison who just kept on watching their bickering with a smile.

"Mental illness to look at me? C'mon kid admit it. You adore me. Right, Red?" Mark said tilting his head towards Addison.

"Nope. Do not involve me in your squabble. I'm just here for the entertainment." Addison said resting her head on her hand.

"Did you enjoy the discount Dr. Sloan?" Aelwyne asked more seriously.

"There's a discount?" Mark said looking behind him eying the cashier menacingly.

"Yeah didn't you hear? The senior citizens discount." Aelwyne said with her sweetest smile. At that Addison's erupted in laughter and Mark just scowled a bit at her.

"You left your juice box at the kids table." Mark countered once Addison settled.

"Oh it's 'cause I was getting your walker." Aelwyne shot back.

Addison started chuckling once more and before Mark could make a comeback Aelwyne's pager went off. Aelwyne let out a sigh as she looked at the page. Her demeanor changed a bit but as she looked at Addison, who was intently watching her, it changed back.

"Alright kid, time to get to work and make us teachers look good." Mark said with a smirk.

"Are you sure you don't need my help?" Addison asked the brunette yet again.

"It's alright. I've got it." Aelwyne said as she leaned in and softly pecked her lips.

"Bye, Dad!" Aelwyne called out to Mark as she walked away. "Hi Derek." She said as she passed the neurosurgeon.

"Hey." Addison said looking at Derek who seemed to be in the process of making a choice.

"Sit, man. You don't have to forgive me yet. But sit with us." Mark said reading his mind. Addison looked between the both of them shifting nervously.

"I don't forgive you yet but I can sit." Derek said, making up his mind and sitting where Aelwyne had been.

"Good." Addison said, releasing a breath she was not aware she was holding.

"So umm how do you like it Mark?" Derek asked, trying to make some conversation.

"It's good. It has perks. This whole being a teacher thing." Mark smiled.

"You have the slaves you've always wanted right?" Derek guessed correctly and Mark nodded.

"And then there's the ladies." He added smirking.

"You never change, do you?" Derek said, shaking his head.

Addison missed the whole conversation after that as she stared at the double doors Aelwyne had left through a few minutes before. Derek being Derek and of course Mark being Mark noticed her quiet concern.

"Alright, what's up?" Derek waved his hand in front of her face.

"Huh?" Addison looked at him confused.

"Spill it, Red. Something is bugging you. What is it?" Mark looked at her.

"There's something going on with Aelwyne but she won't give me any details. Though I think I may know what or rather who is affecting her. I'm just worried about her." Addison revealed.

"So who is it? Who do I have to beat up for her?" Mark said protectively, which surprised Addison. "What?" He questioned noticing the shock in her face. "I vetted her and I like her so… who is it?"

"Him." Addison said softly so that only Mark and Derek could hear.

"Burke?" Mark whispered and Addison nodded.

"She got weird and cold earlier when he came by. I thought about going to watch the surgery this afternoon but I have my own." Addison said bitterly.

"I have surgery soon too. If not I'd go take a peek." Derek said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I'll do it. I'll also have one of the scrub nurses turn on their speaker so I can hear what's being said up in the gallery." Mark said and got up.

"Thanks Mark. Please tell me what happens." Addison asked.

"I got you Red." Mark smiled and left.

Aelwyne scrubbed in as quickly as possible in order to go into the O.R. where Burke was already working on the patient. Right before the surgery Burke had asked her to get the lastest images and bring them in for him. She had absolutely no idea why he would need them but she did not question him and got them as he ordered. She walked in hands raised in front of her, ready to be gloved and gowned.

"There's our lovely dyke. Sorry, intern." He winked at the nurse handing him the instruments. The nurse shot an apologetic look over at Aelwyne who nodded in response.

"I brought what you asked for Dr. Burke." Aelwyne said as she waited for him to call her closer to the operating table.

First and most important rule he had set for her was for her to wait until he commanded her to step closer. She hated his arrogance and need to control everything. Even things which did not concern him. Finally he looked up at her jerking his head towards the table.

Quietly Aelwyne made her way over, careful not to touch any trays or the patient or their robe. That was the second rule and one she had broken only once to start CPR. Burke had berated her almost an hour about how she was not to touch and just observe. He went on and on about her hands being dirty.

"Well, Neirhem, what shall be the topic for today?" He asked with a wicked grin she could see through his mask. She merely looked at him and then back down on the open field.

"We could talk about the procedure?" Aelwyne asked quietly.

"I guess we could. I'm about to do a stitch. Why wouldn't I just clamp?" Burke inquired.

"A clamp would stop the blood flow but this is an easy repair so you have time to do the stitch and fix it all in one go." Aelwyne said as he did the stitch.

"Perfect. You really are little Miss Perfect. One of our golden children. Well aside from the fact that you enjoy fucking women." Burke tacked on.

Aelwyne remained silent. This had been happening the whole week he would praise and then feel the need to trash her because she was with Addison. The first time she had been quite shocked and almost fought back. Then she thought it would only be a week's rotation and she would be done so she dealt with it quietly.

"Did you use polypropylene or nylon?" Aelwyne tried to bring his train of thought back to teaching.

"Polypropylene. Irrigation please." Burke said and quickly Aelwyne poured the saline over the heart. "So Neirhem, I want you to know it makes me a bit jealous." She began to shift slightly as he went on. "I would've loved to go down on her. Addison sure does have a nice ass. I mean I thought I'd have a chance since Shepherd wasn't doing it for her. I know a woman needs release and I was up to doing it for her. How is it? Is she loud or squirmy?" He asked looking up at her expectantly.

Aelwyne almost dropped the syringe she was holding on to. She was beyond angry now. Him talking about her was one thing but talking about Addison was making her seethe.

"Dr. Burke, I'd appreciate it if you restrain from asking about my personal life. Also you shouldn't be speaking about your colleagues that way. It doesn't sound very professional." Aelwyne said as calmly as possible. The rest of the staff in the O.R. remained silent as Burke chuckled.

"In my O.R. I get to do whatever and say whatever I want. You are an intern. Dirt beneath my shoe. And now even worse, don't you feel dirty? You disgust me." Burke said back to her as he looked up from the patient to her.

"I think you're the disgusting one. Burke, was it?" Aelwyne looked up to the gallery startled as she heard Mark's voice. "It's sad to watch a full grown man acting like a pig in front of a lady. There is such a thing as manners but it seems you weren't taught those. Or maybe you were but you didn't let them stick. Also if you ever talk about Dr. Montgomery or Dr. Neirhem again there'll be consequences. Colleagues and students should be treated with respect."

Mark met Aelwyne's eyes after that and she tried hard to convey how grateful she was. It was funny, him talking about respect with how he treated Alex but Addison had said it was because he could tell Alex was not a plastics guy so why bother. Mark smiled at her for a bit and turned his attention back to Burke, who remained unnaturally quiet.

"Now since you are done with your surgery I'll be taking that intern. Neirhem let's go." Mark nodded at her and she nodded back.

"Do you need anything before I go?" Aelwyne asked.

"Get out of my O.R. I don't need you here." Burke spat.

Aelwyne scrubbed out quickly and met Mark in the hallway. She was quiet for a while as he looked at her and smiled a genuine smile.

"Thanks." Aelwyne said softly.

"No problem kid." He replied. "You know I have to tell Addison, right?"

"Mark please." Aelwyne begged.

"No ma'am. What he was doing in there wasn't teaching. There's no way I'm gonna let it go and I let a lot of things go." Mark said in a more serious manner than she had seen him.

"But…" Aelwyne tried again.

"No buts about it, Aelwyne." He replied. "Let's go. I need to tell Bailey I took you. She'll have my head and yours if I don't." He said as he began walking away. She followed and chuckled slightly. "What's so funny?"

"You used my name. You're all protective of me. It's unexpected." Aelwyne said with a smile.

"I guess... I like you a little bit." Mark said reluctantly.

"Aww, Dad." Aelwyne replied with a smirk.

"Shut up with that. I think some of the nurses believed you." He frowned as she laughed.

"You're not too bad either, Mark." Aelwyne said as she sobered up with a gentle smile.

And then there were 26! Phew I'm glad I worked on this one early because my butt is moving this weekend. What I do for you guys :) Now onto business. I hope I didn't make anyone mad by making Preston be such a d*ck but it was for the story. Also I'm enjoying writing Mark in both this story and the meddison one, he's fun so you'll most likely see more of him. On another note I want to thank each and everyone of you reading and voting and commenting. I really really really appreciate you all. Keep all the feedback coming. It lets me know if the story is entertaining enough for me to keep going. Now enough rambling for me. Love you guys! Until next time ;)