Author's Note - First of all, thank you all for the great comments on the first chapter...

I hope you enjoy the second one. I feel like I need to remind you for the sake of a few incoming chapters, that Mark is still Mark from the beginning of the show... for now, and that here, nobody hasn't warn him off from Lexie. Speaking of that, I'm also planning the appearance of Derek and Meredith very soon.

Disclaimer - Characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners... except for a few of my original characters...

Lexie gave herself a minute to just… stand there and take a good look at the hospital. She has planned to spend the next seven years of her life there. Seven years. A lot of things could happen in seven years.

The hospital looked so big and beautiful and… scary. Really, really scary. She could feel her stomach churning from just thinking about what's waiting for her inside.

The white building was large and mostly covered in windows. Lexie caught herself thinking… was this hospital really the best choice. She graduated from Harvard on top of her class and had great letters of recommendation, which meant that she would literally be accepted on whatever program she wanted. People thought of that like an advantage, but really… that was just making room for bigger mistakes.

The hospital was one of the best in New York City, maybe even the best… but also probably the one in which will be the hardest to make it through. Maybe indeed was the wrong choice.

Coming a few minutes earlier was on purpose. She knew herself well enough to be sure that there is no way that she could go through that door the second she saw it. That would be too… terrifying. And she wasn't great at dealing with things she would find terrifying. She needed that minute before. Well to be honest, she needed a lot more than a minute. But the minute was all she had. Let's be honest, who isn't scared of the unknown?

New people, new surroundings, thoughts about other interns and residents and attendings and… What is the worst thing that could happen? Well, you could kill someone, for example. That would be pretty bad, especially on the first day. Do interns could be like... thrown out on the first day? In a case I really do kill someone... I could kill a whole bunch of people, in fact. No. Stop. You're not going to kill anyone. Hopefully... No, definitely. Just calm down. Breathe… Remember to breathe...

Lexie deeply sighed and looked at her reflection in the mirror of the car to check again if her high ponytail was in place, and then finally started walking to the main entrance of the hospital, trying her best to look calm and confident... First impressions always matter, as she has been told. First impressions are important.

She was in full stride, heading towards the hospital, when she crushed into someone.

Losing her balance for a moment, she caught the sight of coffee cup that flew up into the air before crashing and pouring down on the ground.

"Damn it!"

Lexie heard a husky voice as she tried to regain her composure and come to her senses. Oh God, she had to stop doing this…

"Why don't you watch where you're going?" he yelled in shock. Then he looked at her face. "You."

"Sorry?"

In that moment, she just prayed for the earth to open up and shallow her.

"You almost ran me over two days ago." he bluntly announced, straight to the point without a second of hesitating, speaking loud and clear, with his eyes still fixed on her.

Although, he didn't have to say that. She very well recognized him. It was him. She clearly remembered his face. And his black leather jacket. But she just couldn't believe it. How was this possible? How the hell was this possible?

Lexie could feel her cheeks starting to blush as she stared at him with a half-open mouth still not knowing what to say. For a second, she forgot about the hospital, and first-day anxiety, and every other terrifying thing…

"Oh God! I'm so sorry about that. And about this. And about your coffee. And everything." Lexie rambled, gazing at the spilled coffee on the ground.

Mark Sloan couldn't help but grin at the sight of her cheeks getting redder and redder. It wasn't the first time that he was the cause of that kind of reaction from a woman, but definitely never under this kind of circumstances. Still, he didn't say anything, letting her finish. Not even caring anymore about his ruined coffee.

"I'm really sorry." But despite the dangerous panic levels filling in her brain, she had to switch gears and concentrate on the actual destination that she headed. The hospital… first day… you can't be late on your first day. "And I really, really have to go now. I'm sorry… about everything." With those words, she turned around and walked away as fast as she could. Mark could only shake his head, grinning after her.

Two days ago, while he was on his way back from the bar, alone this time, the car that seemed parked at the moment, suddenly started moving towards him and luckily stopped at the less than a few inches before it had hit him. After taking a few seconds to figure out what the hell just happened, he saw a woman behind the wheel who looked a lot more shocked he was. Because of the terrified grimace her face made, he could tell that she was completely lost in disbelief.

The next moment he thought about approaching her. Checking if she's okay, making sure that she didn't somehow end up hurt, maybe was something wrong with her car, or maybe… it didn't take long until his worry turned into a lust. It wasn't exactly an encounter with a woman in a way that he used to, but… he didn't get lucky with a finding a good enough match for tonight. And what he could see through the windshield was definitely good enough. A lot more than good enough. Silky brunette hair, big brown eyes, coral lips. Undoubtedly younger. He just needed to relax her a bit. Tell her it's not a big deal.

There was his chance... He could easily have her. Women always go for… Are you okay?, Is there something I can do?, Please don't blame yourself. One of those, and she's already on her way with him to his apartment. Maybe even right there in her car, if he put a little more effort and accuracy into what he wanted. He could have her. Unquestionably.

But he didn't do anything. He just… couldn't bring himself to. Why? There was no reasonable explanation. Not for him. The moment her face slightly cleared from shock, he saw her looking right at him. Something on her face made him smile. Some kind of embarrassment maybe, or guilt, or insecurity, or shyness or… something. And that smile was all he gave her before he walked away.

It had taken him a minute before he started feeling deep regret for not approaching her. He cursed himself for missing an opportunity to have her.

…

Even with a couple of complications at the beginning, her first day… went pretty good.

And after a whole day of running through the bunch of hallways, rooms, doing everything anyone asked, just sitting in the gallery and watching a simple appendectomy was kind of relaxing.

Lexie was pretty much proud of herself. She managed to handle almost every case that came in. At least in the way that was expected of an intern. She knew the answers for every question she had been asked. It was a very good first day. But she needed it to be over soon.

"Oh God, it's almost over." commented some guy, sitting down on the chair next to her. Lexie couldn't help but smile on that. Just a few hours more. She could barely feel her legs, her eyes were closing on every possible opportunity, and there was a big headache coming on.

"Did you get lucky with something interesting today?" he asked as he looked at her. She saw him earlier in the locker room. He was an intern too.

"No, not really... You?"

"If you count rectal examinations as interesting... My resident hates me." he slightly laughed as he ran his fingers through his short dark brown hair.

"Well I think my resident hates everyone." she told him, gesturing down to the OR.

"Dr. Gosling? I heard about her. Everybody says that she's… well…"

"A bitch? Yeah."

Doctor Vanessa Gosling, fourth year resident, and the first word that would anyone associate her with - bitch. Simply as that.

Rude, difficult, arrogant… She had some kind of cold hard stare that could scare you to death. Like literally. Looking at her sharp, dark eyes for more than five seconds, and you could literally feel how your organs are shutting down. That was only a warning for Lexie not to piss her off more that she naturally was.

"I saw you around, but we didn't get the chance to actually meet. I'm Nick." he smiled as he extended his hand.

"Lexie. So... are you from here? From New York?" she asked, shaking his hand.

"Yeah" he confirmed.

"Wow that's… great. I mean... you can go home whenever you want..." She didn't know where that came from. She wasn't sure where her home was, so that she could like… go home. Her father was in Seattle, and she grew up in Seattle, and she apparently had a half-sister in Seattle. But... most of her friends were in Boston, she spent the last four years of her life in Boston and even if that wasn't important anymore, her most recent ex was also in Boston. And her sister was all across the ocean. And she just started living in New York. So… her home was totally split out.

…

A few hours later it was finally over. The first day - done. Admiring hospital from the parking lot seemed so unbelievably long ago.

After she changed her clothes, Lexie directed back to the parking lot. There were no words to explain how badly she wanted to reach her bed and just close her eyes.

Walking by one of the nurses stations on a first floor, she saw him again. What the hell?

Except it was worse. It was a lot worse. Because he was wearing a white coat. Why he was in the hospital? Why he was wearing a freaking white coat? He was also doing some charts and chatting with some nurses. What the actual hell?

"Hey you wanna go for a drink? There's a bar in the next street. Most of the interns are coming..." Nick asked as he caught up with her, interrupting her thoughts.

"After the first day? I think I'll just go home and take some rest. Thanks… though." she slowly answered, giving him a slight smile.

"Okay, some other time. I'll see you tomorrow…"

"Wait. Who is that?" she asked him before he got a chance to leave, pointing towards the nurses station.

"Dr. Sloan." he told her widening his eyes in stating the obvious. "Head of plastics." Nick added, noticing her narrowed eyebrows in confusion.

"Head of… What? How? I haven't seen him once in the hospital."

The shock of seeing him in front of the hospital that morning had just worn off… finally and now… he actually worked here. That man, the man that she almost hit with her car on her second day in New York, was apparently a doctor, a surgeon, a freaking attending that worked at the same hospital, at the same freaking hospital that she chose to do her internship. Yes, this hospital was definitely the wrong choice. On top of all that, he was literally her boss. This really couldn't get any worse.

Figuring that she started to bluntly stare at him, she shook her head, focusing on Nick's explanation.

"He hates working with interns… He thinks he's too good for that… if you know what I mean." Nick said before walking away, almost in a whisper, even if it didn't really feel like that was a secret.

The next time she looked up towards the nurses station, she saw him still talking with one of the nurses, but it seemed kind of private. Things were being whispered. Then he raised his hand and pointed. He pointed. In her direction. He pointed at her.

Panic and shock of seeing him again and horrifying discovery of who he was hit her again. And her body was still overreacting. Erratic heartbeat. Fuzzy thoughts. Blushed cheeks.

Till now leaned against the station, he stood up straight. And a quiet voice from the frantic part of her mind told he was about to walk up to her.

But the next moment he was the one that someone walked up to.

"Hey Mark, wanna go for a drink?" Dr. Gosling smiled politely. Wow, she knows how to be polite to someone, Lexie thought, unconsciously rolling her eyes. Well, everyone can be polite to a charming surgeon, right?

"Sure, just a sec..." Lexie overheard him, and the next second he was walking towards her. Of course he was. Why the hell she hasn't already left? It was too late now. She had to face him. Again.

As her eyes locked with his steel blue ones the moment she looked up at him, standing now so close to her, she felt some kind of strange fluttering feeling in her stomach.

"Let me guess. Not your ideal first impression?" he asked, flashing her confident, delightful smile.

She would've maybe even laughed if the situation wasn't so terribly embarrassing. And if wasn't her boss... Their little encounter from two days supposed to be a private, careless, forgettable mistake... But no, he had to be her boss.

His mocking tone, grin written all over his face and crossed arms proved the truth Nick had told her about his self-assurance and arrogance...

"No." she gulped. "Not at all. Dr. Sloan." she emphasized his title in an attempt to show him that she indeed, had no idea who he was.

"Dr. Grey as I heard?" Explains the pointing.

She just nodded, hoping he hadn't noticed a baffled look on her face.

"What? You're surprised?" But he did. "Let's just hope you'll pay more attention in the OR than you do behind the wheel."

Of course Mark couldn't help but to make a joke about it.

Normally, he wouldn't think twice before saying something even worse to humiliate a new intern, in fact, he enjoyed doing that, that was kind of a highlight of every day, but this time... something has stopped him. This time he let himself enjoy how much he clearly made her uncomfortable without even trying to.

"Again, I'm sorry about that... And this morning." Lexie apologized again in a shaky voice, not knowing what else she could say for that matter.

"When are you coming here tomorrow?"

She stood frozen for a moment at his sudden question.

"Uhmm… 6 am."

"Great. I'm expecting bone dry cappuccino on my desk at let's say… 7 am. More or less… every day." For a moment she didn't figure what that has to do with her… but the way he said that, in a husky voice and with a big smirk at the end, it didn't sound like the request or plea. It was an order. And how the hell she could say no?

"Acknowledged, Dr. Sloan." she managed to answer, biting her lip.

"You're not from around here, are you?" he asked, laughing.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Well you apparently had no idea where your head is. So I'm gonna be generous, and I can give you a first-day advice." he offered, taking a small step closer to her.

"Which is… don't ever again try to run over an attending?"

For the first time in front of him, she smiled. Even laughed.

The way he made her cheeks blush as her lips curved into triggered something in him. The picture of her from two days ago popped up in his mind. She hadn't smiled then. But she still looked so reserved, so uncorrupted… Mark wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing. It definitely wasn't his kind of thing.

"Don't be too surprised." he whispered, leaning slightly towards her. Thoughts about her that went through his head two days ago popped up next. Did that thoughts change? No… not really.

Smirking to himself he managed to walk away.

"Wow it's their first day, and you're already found an intern to torture for your cappuccino duty. And one of mine, on top of all. You know her or something?" Dr. Gosling commented, catching up with him.

"No. She just… almost ran me over... Literally." Mark answered, slightly smiling, and she gave him a confused look, but without asking anything further.

"So... drink?"

…

As Lexie unlocked the door of her apartment, without enough strength to really think about everything that happened, she heard a vibration of her phone. At first, she assumed it was Molly, just checking how her first day went. If it was Molly, she would've ignored it.

But it wasn't Molly. Lexie suddenly got a little weird, but kind of exciting feeling in her stomach as she read Luke's name. She didn't hear from him since they broke up. Or… since he broke up with her.

And she hadn't planned on reopening contact with him at any kind. Definitely not now, when she moved across the country.

-Hey, I'm coming to NY this weekend... so if you want to catch up or something, we could go out for a drink... Just give me a call or something. I hope everything went well with your moving and new job.

"To catch up" she read that part out loud.

"Hey Luke what's up? Well, not much, just that my dad became alcoholic, I was insomniac for some time, but maybe you knew that, I'm not sure if that started happening before or after you left me, then I moved across the country to live alone in a city I'm not familiar with, and today I found out that the guy I almost kill two days ago is my boss. Oh, and did I mention that I have a half-sister that I never know existed ? No? How could I forget that?"

It definitely sounded a lot better in her head than said out loud.

She sat down on a sofa tightly holding a phone between her hands. She really wanted to see him, she wanted to talk to him, she wanted him to tell her how he's doing... but she was sure that just a simple talk with him could bring all the feelings, that she spent the last few months trying to let go, come right back to her. They did end things on a good terms. Kind of. But still, they weren't friends. It didn't feel like that. Sure, she wanted to talk about stuff, but with a couple of… exceptions. For example, if he has found someone else, she definitely wouldn't want to hear that. Partly because it would probably hurt and partly because… well, because she hasn't.

-Sure, I would really like to see you.

She regretted sending it a second after she had pressed send. Every time she reread the text, it felt much worse. She should have just typed sure or okay or something that would not make her sound so lonely or clingy or depressed... Which she was, but... he didn't need to know that. Impatiently waiting for another text from him, she tried to come up with some kind of excuse to tell him when he actually comes to New York, so she could avoid seeing him, because suddenly it sounded like a terrible idea.

-Okay, I'll call you when I get there.

And then a moment later.

-I'd really like to see you too, Lexie.

Always happy to hear your thoughts...