Breathing Space - Chapter 5

Mark had hopped on the first flight to Seattle and was there within 5 hours. By the time he got there it was around 5:30 and the sun was just starting to rise. He had hopped in a cab and had headed to the harbor. He paid the cab driver and headed over to the lone figure looking out onto the water. Not wanting to startle her he walked around to face her and leaned back against the railing. She had a blank look on her face and dried tear tracks running down her face.

"Hey..."

"I'm glad you are here." Addison got up off the bench and walked into his arms pressing her face into his chest. He just pulled her close and vowed to never let anyone hurt her this way again. She was supposed to be going into work in an hour but when she had called Richard to let him know she was ok, he told her to take as much time as she needed.

Since the moment that the guests had left Derek had been trying to find Addison. He had been calling her cell phone every 5 minutes and had left so many messages that her mailbox was full. He had driven to all the spots he could think of to look for her, and had called every hotel in Seattle with no luck. He had even called her parents in Manhattan to see if she had contacted them. He called his own family to see if she had maybe called one of his sisters. After all, they all joked that Addison was sister number 5.

By the time work rolled around, Derek wasn't any closer to finding her, than he was at 10pm. He got dressed and rushed to the hospital in the hopes that Addison would show up. She was just as dedicated to her patients as he was.

He continued on to the hospital and proceeded to search every square inch with no luck. He was just going to have to accept that he wasn't going to find her until she was ready, and who knows how long that will be.

Nobody had seen or heard anything from Addison in 3 days. She and Mark had gotten a hotel room where she proceeded to sleep all day and all night. Mark took care of her and made sure she ate. He was also the one to convince her to get out of bed and face him.

"I don't want to see him."

"Well I'm sure that's exactly how he felt about you when he found us together." Addison just gave him a fowl look.

"Will you come with me?"

"You know I will."

Together they got ready and went into the hospital. Addison had made an effort to at least look presentable when she got dressed. She still managed to outshine all of the women she passed. The first thing she did was go see the Chief.

"Addison...I see you've brought a friend. Dr. Sloan."

"Dr. Webber I am just here as a friend. But I was wondering if you have any spots available to give me something to do while I am here visiting."

"I'm not sure if I want you hanging around this hospital, but I'll see what I can do. Are you ok Addy?"

"I don't know what I am to tell you the truth. I just want to get this over with."

Both Addison and Mark headed out to the main surgical floor. They saw Bailey talking with her interns at the nursing station. Addison took a deep breath and they both headed for the attending's locker room. It was as if everyone on the floor stopped what they were doing to watch her walk through. The interns were shocked that she had actually brought Mark with her into the hospital, that she had even called Mark. The rumors were really going to fly with this.

They had been in the locker room for around 5 minutes when Derek came walking down the hall. Everyone knew there was going to be some kind of blowout and didn't want to leave. Derek approached the nurses station and noticed everyone giving him funny looks.

"What's going on?" He turned to follow their gazes and his eyes met Addison's. She and Mark had just walked out of the locker room together. Derek rushed over to her.

"Addison"

He tried to pull her into his arms but realized his mistake when she seemed to shrug away in pain. It was then that he really noticed who was standing beside her.

"What the hell are you doing here? Come to take her back when we are at our worst!"

"I am here to take care of her, somebody has to."

"Oh that's rich coming from the guy who's responsible for this whole mess in the first place."

"Why don't you take a look in the mirror Derek. You practically pushed her into my arms!"

Flashback - Christmas 2003

It was Christmas eve and the Shepherd house was full. This year they had invited Derek's family to spend the holidays with them. All four of his sisters and their husbands were staying with them, as well as his parents. The house was packed but they didn't mind because they were all having a great time.

They had just had dinner and were sitting down in the living room to chat and have coffee. Mark had come over to celebrate with them because his family had decided to go to the Mayan Riviera for the holidays. They were just about to open their traditional one present on Christmas eve when Derek's pager went off.

He got up and went into the kitchen, the next any of them saw of him was when he passed the room to grab his coat. Addison got up to go see what was going on.

"Derek you can't tell me you are going into the hospital tonight, it's Christmas! You're family is here."

"There is nothing I can do. One of my patients needs me."

"Let someone else take care of them. You don't have to be the best every day. Derek we need you here...I need you here, especially this year."

Everyone in the other room could hear every word. They could only imagine how Addison was feeling after losing Katie under a year ago. None could understand why Derek was acting this way. Derek came back into the room to say goodbye to his family.

"Listen, I'm sorry to ruin the fun here but I have to go into the hospital for a while, I should be back before breakfast."

"Can't you just tell them you can't come in?" Derek's mother asked.

"Mom this is my patient, everything I do from now on determines who is going to get the Head of Neurosurgery position. I need to do this. I promise I'll be back soon. Mark take care of her for me." Mark just shook his head and responded.

"I always do man...I always do."

End Flashback

"I know I wasn't the ideal husband and I am working on that but you have no right to be here."

"I am here to support Addy as her friend. I know there is no chance anything is going to happen between us so I am being the bigger person by helping her be with you. So why don't you two take this somewhere private so you don't give these people more to gossip about."

Addison looked up into Derek's eyes, she nodded her head and followed him to the Chief's office for some privacy.

Ok well I liked this chapter, I hope you liked it too. I am still not sure who she is going to end up with but as you can probably tell I am leaning towards Derek, but who knows. Please review, I look forward to reading your comments.