Thank You

"Meredith?"

Meredith snapped out of whatever she was experiencing. This was her place of work. She wasn't going to break down again. She hadn't in a year and she wasn't planning on revisiting the times when she did. She turned slowly around, swallowing the lump that refused to dissolve.

"What's the diagnosis?" Being a doctor was all she had at the moment.

Lexi stammered, surprised at the sudden change of mode. "Uh, it's cancer."

She nodded, looking down at her stethoscope for distraction. "How long does he…have?"

Lexi wiped away a tear, holding herself together. Meredith, for a moment, thought she should hug her. She decided against it. She just wasn't a patient's family; she was hers estranged.

"Two weeks."

The earth that seemed to give away for a moment quickly hardened. Her sadness turned into anger. "Why didn't he—" She stopped herself. She knew the answer. He didn't want anything to do with her. She took a breath.

Noticing this, Lexi gathered her things and walked away, slowly. "I just thought you should know."

She managed to wrangle a strained thank you as she watched Lexi walk away, the magnanimity of the situation sinking in.

She focused and gathered herself, aware that it was in the middle of the day and that she had work to do. She saw Debbie give her a sad smile, one that she could only return with a nod. It was then that she realized work would have to wait.

Mark had entered the hallway in time to hear the last part of the conversation between the sisters. He knew Meredith needed some space. He would be there when that space decided to suffocate.

That seemed to occurring right about…now.

He watched her as it took everything she had to just walk into the stairwell. He gave it a moment before he followed her. Once inside he heard the footsteps that she'd been so careful to make light finally running down the steps. He didn't need to run and alarm her of his presence just yet. He knew where she was going.

She reached the basement and burst through the doors that seemed to confine and stepped outside, welcoming the pouring rain. It was a good disguise to hide pain and the tears that came with. She'd have to remember to thank God for that.

She still didn't break. The tears were just an indication of what she was holding inside.

That plan was immediately shot down.

She quickly wiped her face as she heard the door open. She took a deep breath and didn't even acknowledge who joined her. She made her way to the door, head down. She opened it half-way when she was stopped by a hand on her shoulder. She'd know that hand anywhere.

She looked up. That was all it took.

He gently pulled her to his chest and held her as her body shook with the release of pent-up emotion long forgotten. He didn't say anything; he just let her be.

Not that he would know what to say anyway.

He joined as her as she slid to the ground, not caring that he was getting soaked and that the ground was dirty. He just held her. They stayed this way for some time.

Ten minutes later she broke the solitary soundtrack of rain colliding with material.

"I just don't know what I'm supposed to do, what I'm supposed to feel."

He pulled her closer as she lifted her head and stared forward.

"He hates me, and I should hate him, but I don't. He's my dad. I don't want him to die."

"I know. Just give it some time."

She sniffed, "He doesn't have time." It wasn't bitter, it just was.

'See, I knew I should've stayed quiet.' He gulped. "I mean, at least give yourself today. You can talk to him tomorrow, when and if you're ready."

She seemed to be okay with this suggestion, nodding and fixing her presentation. She got up as Mark helped her to her feet. Once she was sure she was okay, giving him a confirmation nod, he opened the door, like she had done shortly before. This time, she stopped him.

"Thank you." She smiled. It was sad, but it was the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen.

He nodded, not trusting the first words to let them out. "No problem, I'm you're friend remember?"

She chuckled, scoffing, "And there goes the Mark we all know and love."

They eventually made it back to the main floors. "Well, I guess I'll see you later."

"Yeah." He quickly thought of the day's events. "That is, if you're still up for it. It's okay if you're not, I'd understand."

She laughed. It was a genuine laugh. He was grateful. It seemed to take a lot of energy out of her though, he was a bit worried. "What?"

"You're rambling," she grinned and put her hands in her pockets. "I usually do that."

He smirked. "I guess you're rubbing off on me."

She opened the door. They saw Grace talking to Derek at the nurses' station. "I seem to have that affect on a lot of people."

"And right there would be some of me rubbing off on you."

They were now in front of Derek and Grace. "Meredith," Grace greeted, "I thought we agreed no rubbing at all?"

Immediately taking in her appearance, both Derek's and Grace's desired questions were assuaged by one look from Mark.

"Hey, Grace. Could you give Meredith a ride home?"

Meredith protested, looking at the clock. "I have two more hours. I can finish my shift."

"I'm still your boss."

She glared but realized he was acting as a friend. It was then that she noticed how tired she was. "Fine."

She said good-bye and led Grace to the locker room.

Derek turned to Mark. "So."

Mark began walking towards the hall. They had a mutual patient to consult. "It's her dad."

"Thatcher?"

He nodded, "the one and only. He has cancer; they give him two weeks, max."

Derek mouthed a silent oh. "Is she, are you…"

Years as practically brothers allowed him to decipher and answer. "She will be," he paused before continuing, "and I am."

Meredith was eating dinner with Grace, Christina, Izzie, George, and Alex. Mexican food from take out pervaded the room.

"I'm stuffed guys," Izzie blurted.

"I don't think I should have eaten that last tamale," Georged added, running to the bathroom.

"Is he gonna be okay?" Grace asked, pointing to his running form.

Meredith nodded, "Oh yeah, he'll be just fine."

"Bambi does this all the time. He tries to hang with the big boys and lives to regret it."

"Well I guess that would put you out of the running, now wouldn't Evil Spawn?" Christina spat.

Alex shrugged. "Maybe you should tell Burke you're a dude. It would be nice to know before you marry him in two months."

Izzie stood up, "Oh my gosh, it is in two months!" She grabbed Meredith. "Come on, we have to plan!" She looked at Grace, grabbing her too. "And you by extension of the maid-of-honor."

Christina got up. "I'm leaving."

Alex soon joined. "I'm so not here for this."

Minutes later the women were upstairs and George returned. "Hey, where did everybody go?"

Meredith answered the door and smiled, happy to have the expected company. She laughed as he cautiously checked for roommates.

"Don't worry; Izzie is at the clinic, George went to visit his family, and Grace is with…guess who?"

Mark took his jacket off and hung it up, joining her on the couch. He extended his arm and she tucked under it.

"Derek."

She nodded. "Yup. With the rate they're going, you'd think they were in a marathon."

He chuckled. "Well, she is only here for another two days." He paused as he smiled at a thought. "You're evil."

She looked up, still in his embrace. "What are you talking about?"

"You knew she was only gonna be here for a little while and that he would like her. Torturer!"

She chuckled, amused. "Even if I did do that to him, why would I do it to Grace?"

He thought for another moment. "Okay, you're not evil."

They watched Supernatural where the father comes back at the end. Mark thought it was a pretty good show. He looked down at Meredith. His shirt was getting wet.

"Mer?"

She tried to perk right up. "Yes?"

"Why is my shirt wet?"

"Uh," she stalled, "I drooled."

"Wow," he mused. "You're willing to lie and say you drooled instead of admitting that you're crying, even though I've already seen you." She lifted her head. "You are one strange woman, you know that?" he grinned.

"It's just," she struggled again with words. This was Mark. She could do this. She could and she would; without the crying. "He got to come back; my dad can't."

He nodded in understanding as she sat up, Indian-style perpendicular to his position on the couch. "Do you want to talk?" He searched her face. "I mean, I don't know what to say, but I could listen."

She shook her head. "No, but there's something else you could help me with."

She reached over his shoulder. 'This is it,' he thought. 'She's going to kiss me.' His hopes were shot down when she grabbed the phone.

"You could call and order pizza. I'm starved again."

He looked on, regaining composure.

"What? Plus I need food in the morning." She got up and headed upstairs. "Make yourself comfortable, I'm going to go change. Be down in a minute."

Two movies later Meredith stared at Mark's sleeping form. The truth was, she was going to kiss him. She chickened it out. She didn't know if she wanted to kiss him because she wanted to, or if she was just in emotional distress because of her father. She quickly reminded herself that she felt a little something before today. Today it just seemed like a tangible possibility.

She pulled a blanket over him and kissed his forehead. She turned off the TV and the lamp. A few seconds later her eyes became adjusted to the darkness. 'One more kiss couldn't hurt.'

She walked back over, timid yet excited about her momentary endeavor. She held her hair away from his face and lowered hers to his. She kissed him softly and quickly on the lips.

"Goodnight Mark. Thank you, for everything," she whispered.

She quietly made her way upstairs.

Sure that she was safely in her room upon hearing her door shut, Mark opened his eyes.

He smiled. "You're welcome. Thank you."

Definitely a possibility.

A/N: Not as long as I intended, but hope you enjoyed! Please REVIEW!

Frenchnavygirl: You're slowly getting your wish!

Broadwaygr16502: Thank you! Hope I answered your AU question!

Merderdreamy5: Thank you so much! Love MerMark too in AU…looks like it'll be on the show soon enough.