Warning: Pending. Rated T.

A/N: Sorry for the delay. It's been a busy weekend.

I want to take a moment - since I am an American to thank our soldiers on this Memorial Day. To anyone who has family serving or who had served and gave their life for our freedoms...thank you. Your debt could never be repaid...but I will try and be the American worth fighting for. :)

Chapter 12

Mark

He didn't know what had come over him.

Everything Lexie had said out in the open when she tried to put distance between them was true. It was everything that went through his mind when Addison had drone on and on in his living room about an alliance and joining forces—on top of her trying to tell him that she was in love with him.

He knew that Addison Montgomery was not in love with him. She was in love with his position. She was in love with his power and what he could do for her if she had become his wife and partner in business. Addison had always been hungry in wanting more and wanting to be the best. She recognized to put her crime organization at the top of the game, getting close to him was her best bet.

She was the only female leader of illegal crime here in Seattle, and just like the Russian's and many of the others, she had her sights set on more. She wanted to become bigger and more powerful. She was attracted to his confidence and looks and the ability to try and mark him as hers like he was some kind of animal.

Yet, he was experiencing that same primal feeling with Lexie Grey. He wanted to mark her everywhere that she was his so that if anyone laid eyes on her they would know that she was taken. That she was his. Never in his life—current operation included—had he ever felt a feeling so strong as he had with this one.

When she had come running down the stairs, her faced determined to bolt from his home and bolt from his life, his whole focus became to stop her from doing either. He knew that he had constantly been sending her the mixed signals that he wanted her, but couldn't have her. That he wanted to kiss her, but shouldn't kiss her. For someone as innocent and even as self-conscious as Lexie was, it was bound to make her want to run instead of fighting for this.

He could see the ask in her eyes, and something snapped inside of himself. All those push-pull fights ceased in that moment. She was asking him not to go forward with this—to possibly hurt her if he was going to walk away—once he was unable to handle those internal struggles inside about her danger and his inability to let go his rule of no personal attachments.

His words in the last few days had done him an injustice. It was why she was in her own head and trying to leave out that door before they even got started. He had to do the only thing he knew he could do, to prove to her that he was in this—that he wanted this—even against the fears in his head and gut, by kissing her and telling her with his mouth.

For now, he could breathe that he still had her. He could sense her walls were still up though, but he would spend every last waking minute to make sure that he would tear everyone of them down until he was rooted firmly next to her side and she was going to stay.

It was why he pulled back. Not letting anything further happen other than that kiss that was already bringing him to his knees. This was a new feeling for the both of him, and he didn't want her to run by feeling too much too fast. She was already trying to do that as it was.

After she left, her scent still followed him around his home. He found himself absentmindedly walking around the place, knowing that even though she wasn't there, that if he rounded the corner, maybe she might pop out with that smile on her lips, that innocence in her expression, her eyes beckoning him to want to do wicked things to her. Things he so desperately wanted to do.

He walked into his bedroom, her smell the strongest here thanks to her hiding out while he had to deal with Addison Montgomery. He swallowed, his thoughts on her and his eyes moved over to his bed. Stopping the kiss from going any farther had been the toughest thing he had ever had to do.

As he looked at his bed right now in front of him, all he could think about was holstering her up by her ass, marching her into his room, and throwing her onto his bed so he could pin her with his body and have his way with her. The sexy little moans she gave him just by him kissing her, made him already know deep in his mind that she was going to be incredible when they finally had sex.

The way her hands would grip at him. The way she would melt her body into his without needing the coaxing from him—her much smaller and lithe frame—into his much stronger and harder one. No matter how much touching and colliding of tongues, it never seemed enough.

Her panting into his mouth, the friction of her rubbing against his chest, legs, and his crotch, was all too much for him to bear. He only had so much self-control—even if he was the master of self-control—and she was becoming the one thing he was unable to fight against.

He had to get himself under control as well as his situation down stairs. Addison Montgomery had put two and two together that there was someone in his life even if he was trying to keep it a secret. Addison was competitive and ruthless, and the concern was back that if she found out about Lexie, if she tried to do something to make sure Lexie was out of his life—he would make her pay.

He went into the bathroom and turned on the water, walking back into his bedroom, pulling out the phone from his pocket.

"Hey. I need you over here as soon as you can. Addison Montgomery just paid me a visit." He paused. "Lexie was here."

A short while later, Derek had showed back up at the mansion.

"Everything will be just fine," Derek said.

Mark turned on him with a glare. "Addison Montgomery, Derek. You know she will not let this go. She has not let this go. She's using the Russians as a push to means to want to form an alliance."

"That doesn't mean you have too."

His hand came to his forehead, his other on his hip. "Command is going to push this. They have been wanting to push this, thinking it would give us that bigger advantage they are hoping for."

"So, we tell them no like we have in the past. That it's too risky."

"Except they aren't going to buy that much anymore. They don't want the breadcrumbs they want something bigger," he said in frustration.

Derek sighed. "Mark, I don't know anyone who is more convincing and good at making people understand what the right call is. This operation doesn't work without you. You are the biggest crime boss in Seattle. They will have to listen to you."

He let out a long sigh. "And Lexie? Even if we get command off our back, Addison will not let this rest. She's been trying to sink her teeth into me ever since her father passed away."

Derek smirked. "Maybe even before then. I don't think she ever got over that you picked Katherine over her," he said.

"And you can see why."

Derek shrugged. "Woman don't like being passed over. Bound to happen."

He groaned. "Not helping…"

"Are you planning on keeping Lexie a secret?"

His mind started to think about the mean and ruthless things that Addison might do to her if she found out about her. Try and threaten her with telling her that Lexie should never see him again, or Addison would threaten bodily harm or worse against her. He knew this because he had heard some of the ways her past relationships ended. How some of her past boyfriends just disappeared to never be heard from again.

Part of him wanted to keep Lexie a secret. Keep her to him just a little longer. Part of him still had that deep reaction like before that he wanted to mark her for both his world and her world. That feeling—that need—to protect her slammed into him again, making him stop in his tracks and face his best friend.

"I have too. I can't let Addison scare her off."

Derek smirked. "Something tells me these Grey sisters aren't so easily to scare off, my friend."

He arched a brow. "So, you are still seeing Big Grey?"

"I don't plan on stopping." He confirmed. He looked up at Mark. "I don't think you plan to either. So, we can sit here and focus on the bad, or we can focus on ensuring she doesn't fade into the night and you finally get what you want."

"And what's that?" he asked.

He patted him on the shoulder. "Your shot at being happy."

That thought made his heart beat just a little faster. "She's got the power to destroy me, Derek," he whispered. He didn't know if he was warning himself or his friend with that knowledge.

Derek whistled, studying his friend for a long moment. "Oh, that's love my friend."

He growled. "Shut up."

Derek was teasing him, but Mark could already sense this feeling he had about Lexie wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. Never had he wanted to make any sacrifices for the job, but for her he would. He would do whatever it took to keep her and make her happy.

They talked through their plan with the Russian's, extra eyes on Addison, and their next steps for their operation before they called it a night.

Even after a very long and cold shower, Mark couldn't seem to quiet his mind. All of his thoughts about Lexie and how they were going to make this work.

You will find a way.

He would. Because Mark Sloan didn't know how to fail, and he didn't know how to ever let her go.

He finally gave up in the early hours of trying to sleep. He was restless. Every time he closed his eyes, her brown eyes and swollen lips were looking back at him, making him hot and bothered all over again, needing a release that he only wanted from Lexie. He wasn't some lustful teenager anymore, and if he was going to get this turned on by thinking about her kissing him, he wanted to go all the way with her.

Which brought him to the fact at how much she was already changing him. He didn't do this kind of thing. He didn't wait. He didn't take his time with a woman. Most woman didn't have the patience to want to wait. They took one look at him, saw what they wanted, and they both got mutual pleasure out of the encounter.

With Lexie, he didn't want just some quick romp in the sack, or a quickie against the wall. Although, he would take that, he wanted the first time that he was with her to be one where he had hours to explore and nothing getting in between them from enjoying each other.

He groaned, turning and punching his pillow, before he threw the covers off, giving up on resting all together and getting out of bed. Lexie would be furious with him if she knew how little sleep he was getting and how little he was taking care of his injuries.

Even during their date, he sensed her hesitation on pulling back from anything other than kissing was because she was worried about his injuries and physical stamina after what happened. As he brushed his teeth, he smirked to himself, thinking she had no idea what she was in store for when it came for the time that they would be together in that way. He was just hoping it was sooner rather than later.

You'd wait. You'd wait as long as it takes.

Shit. He would. He would do anything, give her anything, to make her feel safe and comfortable as long as it meant that she wouldn't run away from him. He would give her a few more days to think that she was running the show when it came to her being the doctor on his injuries, and then after that, he wouldn't let her use that excuse anymore if that was something holding her back.

He pulled out one of his expensive suits, dark blue, with a clean crisp white shirt, vest, and tie, and dressed looking in the mirror. It was strange that when he looked at the reflection in the mirror, he didn't just see the crime boss was he was portraying to be, but he was seeing Mark Sloan, the man that joined the academy. The man that believed he was doing what was right in saving those that didn't have the ability to save themselves.

It was because of her.

His eyes fell on the phone on his dresser, starring at it like it would jump up and smack him in the face. It was four in the morning, and he sat there contemplating about texting her. He wanted to hear from her, know she was safe, even if it was just through a text message and not over the phone.

He picked it up in his hand, it hardly weighing anything, but suddenly feeling so heavy. He scrolled through his contacts, until he stopped at her name. He stared at her name for a while, debating whether to text her. She had mentioned she was starting the early shift, so he no doubt knew she was already up and getting dressed, or already at the hospital to start her day.

He opened his messenger app, his thumb and fingers typing, deleting, and then typing again.

Mark: I really enjoyed last night. When are you off again?

He really enjoyed last night? When the hell did, he become the freaking girl? If Derek, or even if any of his men in his crew saw the way he was pinning over a woman, they would go damn near apeshit. They would call into question whether he was mentally strong enough to do what need to be done. They would question whether what happened with Sergei was because he was no longer fit to be a leader.

The three dots appeared, making him sigh inwardly awaiting her response.

Lexie: Me too. :) I work today and tomorrow. Free Friday.

He exited out of his messenger. He didn't have any set appointments on his calendar. If he was going in to work now early, he was sure he could wrap up a few more things, so he could make sure that Friday was free for him and they could have the whole day together.

Mark: Good. You're spending it with me.

Lexie: Are you asking me, or telling me?

He smirked at her reply, especially when a moment later she sent him a winking face. He never would have pictured her to be someone that used emoji's but it was endearing.

Mark: I'm telling. You're mine.

The three dots appeared again, disappeared, and then appeared again. He wished so badly she was standing in front of him instead of typing on the phone, because right now he wanted to know what she had been typing before she deleted it, and then did it again. It was a couple of minutes and she hadn't responded.

Was his last reply a little too forward? Did he just mess things up now by what he had done? They had only had one date. One kiss. Even though he knew deep inside that she was his, voicing that out loud to her might be a lot to hear so soon.

Lexie: Okay. I'm yours.

He growled. He groaned in frustration. He shoved the phone in his pocket, and tried to keep his breathing normal. Tried to keep himself from wanting to march right over to Seattle Grace Hospital, pull her into a supply closet, drop her scrub bottoms and show her exactly what it meant when she said she was his.

He needed something to do to keep his mind off her. Other than being driven around like most crime leaders did, so he opted for driving himself to his club this morning. Driving usually gave him the opportunity to think about what his next steps would be objectively. He needed to clear his head, and make sure his territory was still intact after a few days of his absence.

The club was quiet. Last call had been over two hours ago, so the only remaining staff here was those cleaning up the front end of the club—the front of his operation—while his men and him got to work in the back.

For the most part, most of his crew would spend their time here. Making sure the operation ran smoothly, and seeing to anything that needed to be done at a moment's notice. Most of his men had not seen him since that day—earlier in the evening after he reamed out Ronin—and then been taken hostage by Sergei.

He watched some of his crew stop what they were doing, or lounging around no doubt after taking some down time to party themselves, their eyes looking stunned and puzzled to see him walking in the place as if they never expected it. It wasn't a good sign that his own men lacked the faith that he was something to be feared. Apparently, he needed to remedy that as soon as possible.

Her barked quick short orders to those that were around to remind them that it didn't matter if they were tired and wanted to sleep, that he expected more. Even if they were half-drunk and falling on their asses, they snapped to attention and took to his orders.

He made his way to his office, reviewing what was needed of him, and what decisions had to be made. Being the leader of the crime organization meant that he had to keep up on what was coming in and out of his city. There was no taking a day off, in case he needed to deal with something immediately. Like the Russian's trying to traffic women into his city.

About two hours into being there, he sat back in his big leather chair, rolling his neck left and right. The lack of sleep in the last couple of days was catching up with him. He still had a long day ahead of him. He had to check in with each of his men that had daily responsibilities. Men that checked on their businesses to make sure nothing nefarious was going on. Men that would do their runs into the other organizations making sure they felt his presence in everything they did.

Half of the time, the decision and strategy weren't the hard part of playing this role, it was the having to constantly put the effort into being the scary crime boss he was. Lowering his voice, leaning into them, threatening to always be right in their face—watching and waiting for them to screw up—so he had a reason demote someone or use their face as a punching bag. It was the part he hated the most.

The problems he was having professionally with Addison and keeping the Russian in line, as well as trying to ensure that he could have what he wanted with Lexie while maintain her safety, was wearing on him. Couple that with little sleep; he was getting grouchier by the hour with how much he would need to check-in on, especially if he wanted to have all of Friday with Lexie. And that was going to happen. Come hell or high water.

Derek picked that moment to come striding into his office. He had wished it was to tease him about Lexie, or even tell him about the fact that he had most likely scored with Big Grey, but his news was neither of those things. His news was to tell him that one of Addison's prominent restaurants—a seafood place on the docks—had been vandalized and practically destroyed.

Addison was hot—rightfully so—but she called Derek to give him the courtesy that she believed this was done at the Russian's hands and that she wanted vengeance for what had happened. He grumbled; because that meant it was going to be another day of dealing with the Russian's and another day in Addison's presence.

Mark slammed his hand down on his desk. He was getting really tired of his people thinking they could take matters into their own hands and not face the consequences. He apparently was going to need to call a meeting with all of them sooner than later.

"Where is Addison now?" he asked Derek.

"She's at her shop, but not for long. She made it clear she was on the move," he replied.

He grabbed his phone from his pocket and immediately dialed Addison's number. His message was short and clear into the phone to her. She was to stand down and wait at her shop until he got there. He added for good measure that she did not want to cross him today.

"What's gotten into you?" Derek asked once he hung up the phone. "We've dealt with worse than this before."

Mark stood, grabbing his jacket from behind his chair. "I'm tired of those thinking they don't need to be checked. That they can do what they want. Call a meeting. It's time we remind everyone who's boss," he muttered.

"I'll call on the way."

He lifted the jacket over his shoulders. "I can take care of this. I need you here to make sure our men don't get any boneheaded ideas."

"Yeah, not going to happen…"

He growled. "Derek…"

"Your men have their orders. For now, they are dealt with. There is no way I am letting you go there when you look like a damn bear that just came out hibernation needing a snack. You need to calm down and get back to being the Mark Sloan that's calm and collected," he pointed out.

Mark let out an exasperated sigh. He was right. He needed to get back into his character and not act as if this was the first time on the job. If he was being tested, if they were trying to see if he was no longer fit to handle everything, showing up acting like a damn rookie wasn't going to do him any favors.

He nodded at Derek. They took off, Derek calling Paul to have the car ready to take him over to Addison's territory. Her day job was the front of her operation in the fashion industry, while her business mostly came from drugs and weapons. She had a rather large and expensive boutique, working with famous designers such as Versace, Armani, and Prada.

When they had reached her boutique, it was complete and utter chaos. She had groups of her men who were standing, armed and waiting for her direction. She was stomping back and forth in her place shouting in between Italian and English. She still managed to look impeccably dressed as she always did.

Her men knew enough to respect to nod, clearing a path for both him and Derek as they made their way through. Addison's number two, Gianni Russo, noticed Mark walking in, his nod at his presence, before he stood and grabbed Addison to alert her of their presence.

"They will pay for this, Mark," she threatened.

Mark removed his sunglasses, still standing there as if he owned this place, because that was how it was when he stepped into any of his crime bosses' organizations. They were devoted to their bosses, but they still had to answer to him.

"Show me what you have?" he demanded.

Addison's eyes narrowed a bit. She didn't like being asked for evidence or having to have his permission to retaliate for anything done to her organization, but that was why he was there to begin with. If any of his bosses did something that could bring down a war because their feelings got hurt, or they made the wrong assumption about what exactly they had to further their evidence—it was his job to stop it.

Gianni stepped up and provided him what evidence they had regarding video surveillance, photo's, and evidence left at the scene. Mark took a look at it, before passing it off to Derek for a secondary review. This is where his real job—being a Special Agent—came into play. He had seen enough crime scenes and information to know when something would make the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

"That wasn't the Russian's," Mark said pointedly.

Addison sneered. "Of course, it was the Russian's. They left their calling card all over it," she empathized, pointing specifically to the picture where graffiti of words in Russian were sprayed all over the smashed windows and wood of the dock of her restaurant.

His job now was to calm the situation and ensure turf wars didn't start right underneath his own nose.

"Addie, think about this. The Russian's might be bold and presumptuous, but they aren't this stupid. They wouldn't leave their mark so sloppy," he answered.

"They did this because I am loyal to you. They know I would never turn against you," she exclaimed.

"Is there something you haven't told us?" Derek asked.

Addison's eyes glared at him. She tolerated answering to Mark because she not only had too, but because she also wanted Mark, but none of the other bosses liked having to answer to his number two. Mark didn't really give a shit what they liked. Derek was his confident, and if he asked for something or needed information, they were to respond.

"I've told you everything," she replied with a bit of hostility. "You aren't the only one that the Russian's think they can intimidate to threaten to take over."

"Everyone out," Mark ordered.

The only ones that remained were Addison, Gianni, Derek, and himself. The last thing Mark needed was Addison's emotions getting the best of her and fanning the flames to her crew, who might do something stupid in taking action into their own hands in an attempt to try and impress her.

Mark spent the rest of the time, presenting his reasoning for why he didn't feel this was directly by the Russian's but by someone else who wanted them to think it was the Russian's. Everyone at this point knew what they had done to Mark specifically, and as Addison had said, if they are aware of her loyalty to him, she would likely be the next target.

It took Mark a bit to calm her down, but he assured that he and Derek would look into and make sure that those that did this were apprehended and paid for what they had done to her business. Her seafood restaurant was a staple landmark here in Seattle and important to those who have lived here a long time. Addison would need to get things up and running as soon as she could.

"Thank you," she cried, walking over and dipping her head into his chest, her arms huddled into herself.

The last thing he wanted to do was offer her any physical comfort. Derek smirking at him from his peripheral vision only made it worse. Addison played her emotions well, turning on the waterworks. He brought his arms up and around her, it being the most uncomfortable moment for him.

He tried not to pull away instantly when she nuzzled into him, her cheek flattening against his chest, her hands coming around his waist to squeeze tightly. He gritted his teeth, and when he couldn't take it any longer, gently pushed her away so he could pull back.

She wiped a tear away from her eye. "Thank you for always being here for me," she murmured.

"I am always here for my people," he said carefully, so she wouldn't take it the wrong way.

The sound of someone clearing their throat behind them was a welcoming interruption.

"Sir," said Derek, "We need to get going. You have other items that are needing your attention."

Addison shook her head. "No. You're needed here."

Mark turned to her, giving her arm a gentle squeeze. "Addison, I promise we will take care of this. Focus on leading your organization and I will take care of the rest. You can reach Derek if you need anything from me in the meantime," he said.

She pouted, but knew better than to question his directives. As Derek and Mark got back into their SUV, Derek turned him.

"What do you want to do?"

Mark drew in a long breath. "It's time we pay the Russian's a visit."

A/N: I know this wasn't a big Slexie Chapter...but I promise the next couple will more than make up for it. ;)