Help is Around the Corner
Addison and Derek's trailer catches fire, and Meredith offers them a place to stay for a while.
Several hours later, and it's date night for most of Meredith's household.
Cristina is out with Burke.
Izzie is out with Alex.
George is out with Callie.
And Derek is at the hospital, chatting with Mark.
"So, your lusty intern. She's sexy," says Mark.
"Don't talk to me about Meredith," Derek deadpans.
"So Addison-" says Mark.
"Don't talk to me about Addison," says Derek.
"Well then what are we going to talk about?" says Mark.
"We're not talking about anything. You slept with my wife. Go home, Mark!" says Derek.
"If I go home, it's going to be to your home, because Meredith offered for me to stay with you all," says Mark.
"What!?" says Derek.
"It's the truth," says Mark. "I can see why you like her."
"Can't you get a hotel?" says Derek.
"Come on man, show me around," says Mark.
"Fine. One night. And you can take the couch," says Derek.
"Where do you sleep?" says Mark.
"In my hammock. Outside. I need it because Meredith snores, and I think Addison is snoring now because Meredith does," says Derek bitterly.
"I'm not sure that's how it works-" says Mark.
"You'll believe it when you hear it. They're like two chainsaws, I don't know how they can stand each other," says Mark.
"What do you mean stand each other?" says Mark.
"They sleep in the same bed," says Derek.
"And you're okay with that!?" says Mark.
"Well, I couldn't sleep over with either of them," says Derek.
"Are you at all scared that your wife might fall for your ex-girlfriend?" asks Mark gently.
"Not really," Derek shrugs.
"So they sleep in the same bed, they spend all their time together, they laugh at each other's jokes, and you're just… Fine with that" says Mark.
"Well, we used to do all that," Derek shrugs.
"Right…" says Mark.
"Look, if we have to live together… Again… Could you stop asking me how I feel about Meredith and Addison?" asks Derek.
"Fine," says Mark.
"Thanks Mark," says Derek.
"You're not going to tell me how happy you are that I'm here?" says Mark.
"I'm not there yet," says Derek.
"Take your time," says Mark. "You'll get there…"
Meanwhile, Meredith and Addison start their not-date-night at the new dog park.
"Come on, Doc," says Addison. "Let's go!"
"Rr!" says Doc.
"Yes, field trip," says Meredith.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"Yes, we're going to meet some new friends," says Addison.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"Yes, you can play all you want, you can run, there'll be big fields, new smells, a new place," says Meredith.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"Yes, we'll be there too. No need to worry, we're not leaving you," says Addison.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"Yes, we packed your food and water," says Meredith.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"Yes, your leash is on so no one will kidnap you," says Addison.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"You have a microchip Doc, and no one's going to kidnap you, we'll be there the whole time," says Meredith.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"No, we're not forgetting anything!" says Addison.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"Okay, I forgot my keys. Now can we go?" says Meredith.
"Rr…" says Doc.
"Finally!" says Addison.
They head to the dog park with Doc in tow, who is happily sniffing to his heart's content.
When they get there, Meredith takes off his leash, and Addison waves for him to get going.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"Go play, we'll be here. For a little while," says Meredith.
"Rr!" says Doc, wagging his tail as he runs off to play with the other dogs. He finds a corgi about his size, and a golden retriever to play with. They run around the park, and play on the various terrain set up for them while Meredith and Addison chat with each other.
"I'm so glad he's doing well," says Meredith.
"Yeah, he's a happy dog," says Addison.
"So have you stopped avoiding me?" Meredith asks Addison nervously.
"Yeah, I think so," says Addison. "I'm sorry again Meredith, I just thought that giving you space would be good for you… I didn't realize how hurt you'd be," says Addison.
"Yeah, it kinda sucked," says Meredith.
"Yeah," says Addison, as she wraps her arms around Meredith, and Meredith pulls her close, and they stand like that on the edge of the dog park.
They just hang out there, happily enjoying the fresh air until someone approaches them.
"Umm, I think your girlfriend's dog just stole my dog's toy," says a teenager.
"Uhh-" says Meredith.
"Sorry about that, Doc!" says Addison.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"Doc, give it back. That's not yours," says Addison.
"Rr…" Doc puts his ears down in apology.
"Come on, I know it's exciting, but you still can't steal things," says Meredith.
"Rr…" says Doc.
"I know you're sorry, now apologize please," says Addison.
"Woof!" says Doc.
"There you go," says Meredith. "We'll kee an eye on him," she adds.
"Thanks," says the teenager, walking away.
"Oh and she's not-" Meredith calls out, but the teenager has already left.
"Honest mistake," Addison shrugs.
"Yeah," says Meredith. "You'd make a pretty girlfriend," Meredith teases.
"Thanks, you too," says Addison, as she cuddles Meredith back into her arms.
Doc plays for a little while longer, before he runs back to Meredith and Addison.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"You wanna come up for a bit?" says Addison.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"Here," says Meredith, picking him up. Meredith takes him in her arms, and Addison pets him too.
"Rr," Doc wags his tail happily as Meredith and Addison hold him.
"Yes Doc, you're a good dog. You deserve great things," says Meredith.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"Do you want to go play with your friends more?" says Addison.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"Alright, see you later," says Addison, setting Doc down so he can run off again.
"He plays for a little, and then comes back. It's like toddlers," says Addison.
"Yup, he's our little baby," says Meredith.
It slips out before she realizes it, and Meredith bites her tongue when she notices, but Addison only smiles, and squeezes her hand.
"He sure is," says Addison proudly.
Doc runs around and plays with more dogs before it starts to get dark, and Meredith and Addison decide to take him home.
"Come on Doc, time to go in!" says Addison.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"We'll come back another time, I'm glad you enjoyed it!" says Meredith.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"Say goodbye Doc," says Meredith.
"Woof!" says Doc.
"Alright, let's go," Addison puts his leash on, and they walk back to Meredith's house.
"That was lovely," says Meredith.
"It was," Addison smiles.
Addison kinda wants to hold Meredith's hand again, but she doesn't, and they keep walking and talking until they reach the house.
"Alright Doc, let's get you some dinner, and then Meredith and I are going for dinner," says Addison.
"I'll get him some water," says Meredith.
"Hey there, how was your walk?" says Mark.
"It was good," says Meredith. "Are you settling in? Do you need anything?" says Meredith, trying really hard to appear flirtatious.
"I'm doing great," says Mark. "I feel like a bath, what do you think?" says Mark with a shit-eating grin.
"There's bubble bath in the top drawer," Addison says with a scowl.
"Thanks, Red," says Mark. "I don't suppose you'd like to show me, Meredith?" says Mark, leaning in on purpose.
Meredith has to fight the urge to lean away, and she's about to answer when Addison shoves him a little.
"We're going to dinner. Have fun Mark," says Addison.
"Take care of Doc while we're gone!" says Meredith.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"I will, come here, Doc," says Mark.
"Rrrrrrrrrrrr…" says Doc, not quite trusting Mark yet.
"See you," says Meredith.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"Bye!" says Addison.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"Bye!" says Mark.
"Rrrrrr!" says Doc.
"You'll be fine. Don't let Mark burn the house down, Doc," says Meredith.
"Rr…" says Doc.
"I know, tough job," says Addison.
"Hey!" says Mark.
"Rr!" says Doc.
Meredith and Addison head out the door again, and Mark and Doc enter into a staring contest, with both of them eyeing each other up for a solid minute before Mark blinks first.
"Come on, no fair Doc, I don't have a tail…" says Mark.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"Fine, I'll feed you some treats. Just don't tell Meredith and Addison. It'll be our little secret. Okay?"
"Rr!" says Doc.
"I mean that!" says Mark.
"Rr!" says Doc.
Oh well, he'll have to stare Doc down some more later.
***** END OF CHAPTER 20