Warning: Rated T for strong language

A/N: Enjoy the next chapter. Thanks for your continued reviews and support.

Chapter 16 – Out in The Open

Mark

As soon as I realized she was out the door and going to go right into the lion's den, everything came back into focus. I darted out the door and caught up with her in two steps.

I grabbed hold of her wrist, gently pulling her back so that she was facing me.

"Mark!"

"You don't have to go," I said. "You can ask the paramedics to bring him to the hospital. I don't want you going alone."

Her face softened as she could see that I was worried about her wellbeing. "The paramedics will be there. He won't do anything."

"And what happens when they leave and it's just the two of you?"

Her lips twisted into grimace. "He's hardly in any condition to try anything," she argued sounding less confident than before.

"Lex…we've already established that in a state that would have most down and out, your father is the exact opposite."

Her eyes looked down, but I could see the determination already set in her features. She was going to go anyway, because that is why she was. She cared about those that didn't even deserve her love and support. That meant that I was going to need to find a way to leave and go and support her.

"I have to go," she whispered softly.

"I know."

She looked up in surprised at what she must've seen on my face. Her mouth had opened to say something, but neither of us had ever expected to happen what happened next.

Out of my peripheral vision I saw a figure approaching and approaching fast. My hand that was still holding onto Lexie was wrenched free, two hands on my chest shoving me backwards—and hard.

"Don't touch her!"

"Jackson, stop!" Lexie shouted.

Jackson.

What the hell was going on? Why the hell was he pushing me and looking at me like he wanted to beat the ever-living crap out of me?

He was striding towards me again, but I had already recovered my balance. His features were murderous, his hands were balled into fists as each step brought him closer and closer towards me. Had he figured out that Lexie and I were together? Even if he did, what the hell would possess him to act like this? Was he interested in Lexie and was jealous?

"You bastard!" Jackson snapped again.

Now I was getting angry. I didn't care if Jackson liked the idea of Lexie and I being together or not, he had no right to touch or speak to me as his attending in the manner that he was. As it was, everyone that was in the vicinity was stopped in their tracks, gasping, eyes wide, and wondering—like me—what the hell was going on here.

Lexie inserted herself in between Jackson and I, making Jackson falter in his steps. "Stop! What the hell are you doing?"

Jackson's eyes were still on me, shooting daggers my way, only looking at Lexie for a split second. "Doing what you are too afraid to do."

It was my turn to look somewhat perplexed. "What are you talking about?"

Jackson's lip curled upwards. "You think you can use your position in this hospital to intimidate and hurt others, you sick bastard."

I growled, my chest hitting Lexie's back as I stepped forward slowly comprehending what he was now accusing me of having done.

Lexie's body stiffened. "Jackson, no…."

"You have no idea what is going on here," I said through clenched teeth.

The commotion had brought every available doctor and peer of ours now surrounding us. Owen, Callie, Meredith, Derek, Richard, George, Alex, Addie, April, and Jo were now rushing down the hall towards us.

"I know exactly what is going on here. Lexie comes home really late at night with injuries and bruises, but too afraid to even tell her friends why that is," he snapped.

"Jackson, stop!" Lexie pleaded.

"Bruises?"

The three of us turned and looked at Derek who was now stepping forward looking between the three of us. Derek looked back at me seeing that Lexie was standing in front of me, our bodies pressed so close together.

"It's nothing," Lexie said quickly. "Just a misunderstanding."

"What's going on, Lexie?" Meredith asked.

"I'll tell you what's going on…" Jackson interjected again.

"If you know what's good for you Avery, you will shut up," I said, understanding that it was not going to help my case.

Jackson turned back towards me his eyes narrowing before he tried to lunge again. Owen was already there before he could do any damage—especially since Lexie was standing in between us—pushing him back. Derek and Alex stepped forward as well, once I attempted to step forward and moved Lexie aside so she was no longer in danger. She knew what would happen if I did reach Jackson, planting her feet there in front of me, her hands on my chest, shoving me backwards.

"Don't!" she whispered towards me.

I looked from Jackson and back towards her, seeing the pleading in her eyes, and the anger evaporated out of me. I didn't care about what Jackson said about me, I could take the hits, but I knew what this would do to her. Didn't Jackson see what this was doing to Lexie?

"Will somebody tell me what the hell is going on!" Derek said looking between Jackson and us.

Lexie shook her head at her friend one more time. "Don't," she whispered again.

His expression hardened, before he turned to Derek. "I suspected that Lexie was involved with someone that wasn't good. Beating on her based on her injuries. She wouldn't talk about it and kept brushing all of us off every time we asked," Jackson answered.

Tears were rolling down Lexie's eyes now. "Stop!" she cried even though her cry fell only onto my ears.

I wanted to punch Jackson Avery in the face right now for what he was doing to her. Airing her personal laundry out in the open in front of everyone when it was something that he had no business being involved in.

"Jackson, if you care about Lexie at all, you will shut up right now," I said calmly.

Jackson looked as if he wanted to lunge at me again, but seeing that Owen and Derek were right in front of him, just narrowed his eyes instead.

"April and Jo can back me up here. They've seen it too," Jackson added.

Everyone turned to Jo and April, including Lexie who looked crushed that they were not being involved in the situation. Both looked uncomfortable now that everyone's gazes were focused on them.

"Dr. Kepner? Dr. Wilson?"

Both ladies tore the gaze away from Lexie and I and back at Derek. "I don't want to get involved," Jo said immediately.

"I…" April stammered, looking back at Lexie. "I don't believe Dr. Sloan has anything to do with this."

Derek turned towards me. "What are they talking about, Mark? What have you done?"

My whole face scrunched up in disbelief. "Me? I didn't do a damn thing."

"So, you and Lexie didn't just come out of an on-call room together? You didn't grab her? You both seemed to be in another disagreement. I'm just glad I got there before you could inflict anymore harm on her." Jackson flung back at me.

"Stop it! Just stop it!"

The room went quiet at the sound of Lexie's shouts as she closed her eyes and wiped some of the tears from her cheeks. I looked down at her, my gaze softening and breaking for her at the same time.

"You don't have to do this," I said, not caring who heard us anymore.

"Yes, I do," she said, looking up at me as if she was going to be sick, and throw up.

"I can take the hits."

She offered a sad smile. "I can't…and won't let you. Your…your everything…"

Meredith took another step forward, pulling her attention from me. "Lexie, what is going on?"

Lexie

My heart was thundering in my chest. My palms were sweating, and my vision was blurred with the constant tears in my eyes. This had to be some awful nightmare that I was experiencing and I was hoping that any minute I would wake up from this hell.

Jackson was supposed to be my friend. I tried to understand that his heart was in the right place, but the more he pushed and put everything out in the open, made the pit in the bottom of my stomach grow tighter and tighter until I felt like I was going to throw up.

I didn't care at this point if everyone found out about the truth when it came to Mark and I. We were both past the point of caring about that any longer, but I couldn't stand around and let them think that he would do anything to hurt or harm me. He had only been the opposite and protective of me. He had been the only one to see early on that something was going on, and the only one who made me feel safe enough to want to tell him. Now…now I was going to have to tell everyone what was going on and I felt sick. I felt like a failure.

I felt dizzy, like I was going to pass out, but the small gesture of Mark's hand on my upper back made me feel grounded again. It gave me the courage I needed to do what came next. My mouth opened to shout the words stop loud enough until all of the whispers ceased and now everyone's eyes were on me.

I felt the heavy weight of Mark's gaze on me. Begging me to not do it because he knew it was going to be another chink in my armor. His voice was so confident, his expression hardened that he would take the fall for me. He would allow everyone to think he was this horrible person if that meant that he could protect me from having to tell the truth in front of all of our colleagues and family.

Because above all else, Mark always wanted to protect and make sure I was ok. That was just the kind of wonderful man he was. I wanted to tell him the real reason why I couldn't let him take the fall for me, but the only words out of my mouth had been that he was everything. Because he was.

I saw Meredith take another step forward, making me turn away from Mark and back to all of my colleagues. "Lexie, what is going on?"

It was time to bare my soul.

I let out a long sigh, turned and faced the group. "Jackson has it all wrong. Dr. Sloan is innocent in all this. Just leave him out of this," I said.

"I know what I saw, Lexie. You don't have to take it anymore. You don't have to be afraid because he is your attending. I know your mad at me, but this is to protect you," Jackson said.

"Protect me?" I questioned sarcastically. "I asked you to stop. I told you that you didn't know what you were talking about."

Derek half-turned towards me, looking past me at his best friend and then back at me. "Lexie, if Mark hurt you—"

I turned some of my anger onto Derek now, because I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "What is the matter with you? How could you ever think he would lay a hand on me."

Derek winced at the judgement laced in my tone. I didn't feel sorry about it either. He was supposed to be Mark's best friend—his brother—and he was so quick to think that Mark would do the unspeakable. To me of all people, knowing that the likelihood I could become Derek's family.

"Why don't you tell us what is going on then." Meredith coaxed gently.

My eyes started to water at her voice, because she was looking at me and sounding just like the sister, I had always envisioned my big sister to be like. Unlike Derek or Jackson, she could sense that there was more here, more that was hard for me to have to talk about in the open in front of everyone.

"Leave Mark out of this. He's done nothing wrong," I said loud enough so everyone could hear.

"Then why were you two in the on-call room together?" Jackson asked.

Mark's growl was prominent behind me. "That's none of your business."

I turned back to Mark and I looked up at him. I could tell he could see what I wanted to do written all over my face.

"You don't have too," he said.

"I know," I replied. I didn't turn away from him as I said my next words, because I wanted him to see how much I meant them. "I was in the on-call room with Dr. Sloan, because he was helping me with a personal problem. And because we've been seeing each other from some time now. I trust him with my life." Mark held my gaze and the next words just flew out of me so easily. "And because I love him."

I was aware of the gasps and voices behind me, but they all seemed muted and far away compared to Mark and I standing there looking at each other. His eyes lifted up, and despite what he was being accused of in front of all of his peers, his lips turned upwards into a smile. His hand came up so his fingers traced my cheek, wiping away a fresh new stream of tears—this time a different kind of tears—from my cheek.

"Little Grey…" he breathed.

I reached up to grab hold of his hand, interlocking my fingers with his, before I squeezed his hand back to my side as I turned back to the group. To say that piece of news shocked our colleagues was an understatement.

"Jackson's right though. I have been…" my voice trailed off not sure I could do it. Mark's reassuring squeeze of my hand gave me that strength I needed. "The bruises and injuries…they're because of my dad." I turned back to my sister who looked visibly upset. "Our dad's an alcoholic."

Jackson had enough sense to look regretful as he looked back at Mark and I seeing that he just accused one of his attendings of being an abuser in front of the entire hospital. Owen was quick to get everything back under control and demand that everyone get back to work and treating patients until it was only Owen, Mark, Derek, Meredith, Jackson, and I remaining.

"Lexie, I'm so sorry," Jackson said, his head hanging as he said the words.

"Dr. Avery, why don't you go and see if Dr. Altman could use your assistance, and I will come and find you later," Owen said. Jackson took one last rueful look at Mark and I, before turning away. "As for you four, my office is open to you if you would like to take this conversation somewhere more privately."

"Thank you, Chief," Derek replied pointedly, his eyes squarely focused on his best friend.

Mark

Now that the cat was out of the bag as it related to our relationship, and about the fact that Lexie's father was a full fledge alcoholic, she called back the paramedics to indicate it was their decision. If they felt he needed to be hospitalized, that they could bring him to Seattle Grace, and if not, it would be at least another hour before she could make it over to the house.

I wanted to argue that we could go now, that everything else could wait, but I could see it in her eyes that she wanted this conversation with Derek and Meredith over just as much as I did.

"Why didn't you say something?" Meredith asked, once we were in Owen's office with the door shut.

Lexie sighed, my hand on her back to let her know that I was there and supported her. "What would I say? "Hey Mer, the guy that abandoned you long ago, the guy you don't ever want to hear anything about, is an alcoholic and when I attempt to help him, he beats me." He isn't your responsibility."

Meredith winced. "He's not yours either. Derek and I would have helped. I would never be ok with him hurting you," she said.

It was the first time I had really seen Big Grey take on the protective big sister role. She had a look that was a combination of being disgusted by what her father was doing, and upset that Lexie felt she had to deal with it all on her own.

"Why didn't you say something to us?" Derek asked me, the anger still evident on him.

"Because Mark didn't know," Lexie spoke up, before I could try to diffuse the situation.

"He was clued in at some point and didn't tell us," Derek shot back, glaring up at me.

"Because I asked him not too. As soon as I felt comfortable enough telling him what was happening, he stepped in. He made sure that my dad didn't hurt me again," Lexie replied.

"How long has this been going on?" Meredith asked.

"Since my mom died," she answered.

Derek cursed under his breath, and Meredith's face transformed to the same anger that I felt the moment Lexie had told me the truth. Realizing that Lexie had been taking the abuse and hits for month silently while life passed around her.

"I'll kill him," she muttered.

"I'm sorry," Lexie said. "After Molly left, I assured her that I could handle things. She didn't know that he was emotionally or physically abusive. I thought…I thought I could take care of it. I thought I could reason with him to seeing that he needed help."

"That's the personal issue you two were discussing in the on-call room?" Derek asked.

"Yes," Lexie replied. "He apparently passed out at the liquor store. The paramedics contacted me because they believed it to be alcohol poisoning; and, in their judgement, don't feel he should be left alone if he is refusing to come to the hospital."

Meredith took a step forward, her eyes glancing up at me for a moment, before she placed her hand on Lexie's shoulder. "You don't have to do this alone. I will help you in anyway that I can. I won't let him hurt you." She looked back up at me. "Thank you. Lexie trusted you, and I thank you for helping her."

"I'd do anything for her," I said.

"And how long has this been going on?" Derek asked, pointing between myself and Lexie.

"We've officially been together for a month now," I answered.

"A month? So, after I specifically asked you to stay away, you decided to do it anyway. You don't care about anyone but yourself or what is in your pants. Can't you see she is already in a vulnerable state? The fact that you would use that to get what you wanted, that's a new low, even for you," Derek said, the disgust in his tone.

"You don't get to dictate my life and who I see or don't see," I replied tersely.

"Yeah, I think you made that clear the day you slept with Addison."

That had done it. That had been the final thread that was holding my anger back at Derek. All the times and years of holding back some of the things that needed to be said, were scratching its way to the surface.

"Get off your high horse, Derek. Ever since we were kids, you always thought you were more superior than me. Why? Because I was that charity kid. The kid your parents had to take in because not even my own parents seemed to want me?"

His eyes went wide, a stunned expression creeping to his face. "That's ridiculous!"

"Is it?" I pressed. "Funny, considering that you seem to have a different set of rules between us. You can sleep with Meredith during her internship year—all while forgetting to tell her that you were still married—but yet I can't start a relationship with Lexie. The first time I have something good in my life…you want to somehow tear that down and tell me it's wrong. Maybe you hate the fact that your screwed up friend that you like to feel superior too, is tried of being your punching bag. Maybe your just jealous that you aren't the only person who can find someone they love more than anything."

"Love?"

I broke the eye contact from Derek, my anger still simmering at the surface, with the shocked expression in Meredith's features. I replayed the words again in my head and realized what I had said. Not that I regretted the fact that I had said what I did, but that it was how it had come out. That was the first time it had come out, and it was why I was yelling at Derek.

My eyes flickered up to Lexie, whose bottom lip was slightly open. Her big brown eyes looked up at me hopeful. They were so full of earnest. She was radiating with the same love I was feeling deep down inside.

I no longer cared that Derek or Meredith were standing in the room. All the anger I was feeling just left right out of me. I was aware that as I took a few steps forward, Lexie's eyes were clocking every movement I made. It was as if someone had paralyzed her movements keeping her rooted in place.

"Not the way I imagined telling you," I said, once I was right in front of her, my hand coming up to tuck a stray piece of hair from her face.

"You love me?" she asked in the same hopeful tone that was etched across her face.

My fingers traced down her cheek all the way to her jaw. "I do. And it scares the hell out of me," I admitted.

"Me too," she said softly.

Her admission made me grin. "How about we take it one day at a time."

She gave a decisive nod. A smile played around the corners of her mouth. "Okay."

I stared down at her, but my next words were aimed at Derek. "Are we done here?"

"No. I—"

"Derek…" Meredith cut in before he said anything further. Even through my peripheral vision I could see the slight shake of her head.

"Let's go. I know you want to settle things with your father," I said.

I reached down and grabbed hold of her hand, our fingers interlocking with each other as I motioned for the door. The slight tug on my hand as Lexie turned back to face Derek pulled us to a stop.

"I appreciate that you care about me, I really do. Mark's a good man, and I am lucky to have him," she said, looking up at me making me wish in that moment we were in a room and alone together.

Lexie had checked in with the paramedics after we left Derek and Meredith, who had indicated that after waiting another hour, his vitals had looked good. Since her father refused medical treatment, they had no choice but to have him sign the form and leave. Not before the head paramedic indicated that he had given something to Thatcher before leaving that would have him sleeping for the remainder of the night. Tomorrow, we could go by and check on him then.

Lexie and I were met with quite a few stares for the remainder of both of our shifts. It was bound to happen when people think you were possibly an abuser of a woman. Apparently, it wasn't a hard leap for some considering my past of womanizing ways. I made sure to stay clear of Derek, which was even harder since we were both supposed to be working together on Addison's brother's case.

"Wow…"

I didn't even bother looking up, knowing it was Addison that had stopped in front of me. As if this day could possibly get any worse.

"I'm not in the mood," I said, my tone laced with irritability.

"Drama like this almost makes me sometimes wish I never left," she continued on anyway.

"I'm busy, Addie."

She laughed. "Apparently." I looked up and glared at her. She just smiled. "I just thought you were sleeping together. You really love her?" she asked, studying me intently.

"Why do you care?"

She let out an exasperated snort. "You know, is it really that hard to believe that someone could actually care about you?"

I looked up and studied her again. "Our track record would tend to agree with me."

She grunted. "Just because you and I weren't right for each other that way, doesn't mean I don't want to see you happy."

I turned, arching my brow. "Really? Is that why you approached Lexie to warn her from me? That I wasn't the relationship kind of guy and that all I would do is break her heart?"

Her face paled. "You don't do relationships, Mark. I know you might think that you do, but I was trying to protect the both of you. I swear. I mean, you thought that about me and then you couldn't keep to the pact."

My jaw tightened. "That's interesting since it was you that broke it."

"You slept with someone too. You weren't ready for the commitment."

I leaned in, and shook my head. "That's where your wrong, Addie. I never broke the pact."

This time she turned greener. "Yes, you did. You even told me you slept with that nurse. That you…" her voice trailed off when she looked into my face challenging her. "You didn't break the pact?"

"No, Addie I didn't." I was glad that the truth was finally out there. What was even more telling was that I no longer held any anger or resentment about the situation. It was finally just good to have it in the past where it stayed. "I'm not mad about it or you anymore. We're better off as friends. I love you, Addie, but I am glad to be done with all of that history."

"What is it with these Grey's?" she repeated a little mystified.

"Oh, and Addie?" I turned back as she looked up at me. "You pull a stunt like that again with Lexie, and we will definitely have strong words together."

Lexie

By the time my shift was over, I was both exhausted and dreaded going home. What was worse, was by the time I opened the door to the apartment, all three of my roommates were there waiting for me, Jackson standing front and center looking sheepish.

"Hey Lexie," he said, his voice cracking.

"What is this, an intervention?"

"More like an apology," Jackson said.

"Now, your sorry?" I said my voice turning bitter.

"I was trying to protect you. I thought…I thought he was hurting and taking advantage of you."

"Even if that were the case, you didn't think to…I don't know…pull me aside to discuss that privately? No, you decided that in your quest to play hero that you not only embarrass me, but embarrass Mark too," I replied.

"I promise that was not my intention."

I let out a humorless laugh. "I begged you to stop. I pleaded with you to not push this and you did it anyway."

Jackson rubbed at his jaw. "Because I thought you were in an abusive relationship. You and I both know that most cases it's hard for woman to walk away. They make excuses and always stay so the guy will beat them again after he promises them it will never happen again."

I wanted to stay mad at him on that point, but it was hard too, because he was right. Statistics were on his side. Woman either stayed because they had been so broken down, they had no one left to turn too for help, or because they so bad wanted to believe that they could change. Then there was always the third option. A sense of duty. Whether it was because religion or marriage dictated, they should, or in my case the sense of duty that you felt because you didn't want to see your parent lose themselves after years and years of taking care and being there for you.

"He feels really bad about it, Lexie. He's been a wreck all day," April said, looking between Jackson and myself.

"I don't need your help, April," Jackson said.

"Don't do that!" I exclaimed, feeling a little of my anger return. "Don't dismiss her like you did to me today."

"I told you…I didn't do that because I was trying to hurt you…"

"But you did," I interjected. "You took something that was so private and extremely hard for me to have to talk about, and you forced me to have to tell the entire hospital about it out in the open. You not only shamed me in front of everyone, but you could have possibly put my job in jeopardy too."

His mouth twisted, as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry, Lexie. I'm sorry about how it happened, but I won't be sorry for doing what I thought was right in protecting you."

"I don't need you to protect me, Jackson."

"Yeah, I know…you got Mark Sloan for that," he replied sharply.

"Do you have a problem with Mark?"

"You can do better," he muttered.

"You don't even know a thing about him," I snapped. "None of you do."

"Hey, I like Dr. Sloan," April chimed in.

Jo shrugged. "I don't have any problems with McSteamy. He can be an ass sometimes, but what attending isn't."

"Yeah, that's because you have the hots for your resident too," Jackson said to Jo.

Jo narrowed her eyes at him. "What are you aiming for all of your roommates to hate you?"

"I don't hate him," I said out loud to everyone in the room. "But I need time. What you did today…it hurt Jackson. I'm just not ready to go there yet."

His face fell, but he resigned to the fact that it was better than the alternative. "Okay," he said.

I looked around the room, and even though deep down I could see they cared about me, I wasn't in the one place I wanted to be right now.

"I have to go…" I said, turning towards the door.

"Lexie, wait!"

I let the door shut behind me, and stopped at the one place that really felt like home.

"Hey," I said when the door opened.

Mark stood in front of me in a grey t-shirt and pajama's and he looked as sexy as hell.

His lips curved into a slow smile as he leaned against the door. "Hey."

"Can I stay the night?" I asked.

He opened the door all the way and stepped aside. "Always."

A/N: Hope you enjoyed.