Short chapter. I appologize. Please review.

Chapter Seven: Why do I Keep Hurting People?

Mark Sloan's hand hovered over the exam room doorknob. He told himself to just walk away. He wasn't even that sure he'd heard anything and even if he had it wasn't any of his business. He had enough problems of his own to deal with. He was about to walk off when he heard it again, a wavering sigh, someone crying. He cracked the door open and peered into the room.

"Shit, Addie. What happened?" She was slumped against the wall, legs and arms splayed awkwardly as if she had collapsed, face wet with tears.

"I don't want to talk about it." Her voice was hollow.

"Well, I'm not leaving until you talk to me Addison. Something obviously happened here."

"I can't... I..." Addison drew a long shuddering breath and leaned her head back against the wall, meeting his gaze for the first time. The look in her eyes was a painful reminder of the day she had told him she wouldn't be having his baby, a fusion of guilt and anguish.

"Why do I keep hurting people?" she whispered.

"Look Addie," Mark crossed the room and knelt in front of her. "If you tell me what happened maybe I can try to-"

"I did a terrible, hurtful thing, Mark." The words tumbled from her mouth. "I did a terrible, hurtful thing which really is only the last in a long line of terrible, hurtful things I have been doing since the first terrible, hurtful thing I did, which, incase you've forgotten, was sleeping with you. So really, I don't think you're the person to help me feel better about this."

She was right and he knew it. There was too much baggage. Things between them could never be the same as they'd been before. Before the baby or before they'd been anything but friends. Still, he couldn't stop caring about her. She was Addison, the only woman he'd ever come close to loving and she needed his help.

"Look Addison, I know I'm pretty much personally responsible for ruining your life but if you give me a chance to actually be a good friend for once I'll..." He couldn't think of a way to finish the sentence. The words were meaningless anyway. They both knew that the last time he'd come to her as a friend was the night they'd first slept together, the night that had destroyed her marriage, his friendship with Derek and any right he'd had to her trust. The last thing he expected was for her to actually open up to him.

"Your not a bad friend Mark. Besides, nobody's better at ruining my life than me... I slept with Alex Karev." The last words were a barely audibly whisper but they certainly affected him. He couldn't deny feeling a rush of jealousy at the thought of Addison with another man.

"When?" He suddenly found himself capable of speaking solely in monosyllables.

"Just now." She bit her lip before adding, "On the exam table." and heaving a defeated sigh.

"How did that happen?" Mark struggled to detach himself, to ignore the feelings he knew he shouldn't be having.

"I don't know. It doesn't matter. Mark, I think he has feelings for me." There was a discernable level of panic in Addison's voice now. "He said he didn't want to just be sleeping with me. He said it was about more than just sex for him. I... I..."

"Jesus. What'd you say to that?" He wished he didn't need to know so badly. It wasn't his business who Addison slept with or how emotionally involved she became. It wouldn't change the fact that they were over and right now Addison needed him as a friend.

"I threw it back in his face," she whispered.

He was relieved until he saw the tears gathering in her eyes.

"I actually made a conscious decision to do it in the cruelest way possible." She was fighting not to cry now. "I... I..." she stammered, . "I told him it wasn't going anywhere and I don't even know if I didn't want it to."

"Addison, he's your intern."

"I know!"

She collapsed against his chest, sobbing heavily. He wrapped her in his arms and let her cry.

Next chapter: Mark takes Addison to his apartement. You will also get a little bit of Derek. I am trying to bring in more characters.