FIVE

Derek was laughing, as Owen stood flushed red, his ears burning in embarrassment. Derek used his finger to dab lightly at the corner of his eye, soaking up imaginary laughter tears. He stood with Owen in the foyer of the hospital at the end of their shift. People walking the hospital looked in their direction. The elevator doors pinged and Mark and Lexie, finished for the day, walked out side by side. Marks mouth curved in a smile as he approached.

"What's so funny?"

Derek took his time, using his chuckles to punctuate his words.

"Owen wants...to take Meredith on a... date."

"Well I ..." Stumbled Owen.

Mark dug his hands into his trouser pockets and looked to Owen, and looked to Derek. "So?"

Derek was slightly disappointed that Mark didn't see the joke, and then wondered why he wasn't bothered that another man wanted to date his wife. "He wants to take Meredith on a date." He stressed.

Mark swung his head again to each friend. "I don't get it."

Beside him Lexie smiled, this was interesting.

"I just thought it would be a good idea to get to know Meredith a bit better." Explained Owen.

"You're trying way too hard." Grimaced Mark. "Why are you trying so hard?"

"Well I wa..." Owen stopped to reorganise his words, explaining that it was more for Cristina and for Meredith more than for himself.

Mark shrugged he still didn't get it. "Why do care so much? Let them duke it out. "

"Well I thought..." Owen stumbled over his words again. "If I could... '

"He wants Meredith to like him." Derek interjected. "So he wants to make a fuss of her, take her somewhere where they will have to bond, and like one another."

Mark raised his eyebrows; he still did not see the point but said. "Perhaps you could take her bungee jumping – without the cord."

Derek started to laugh then straightened at Marks unfunny comment about his wife.

"Or..." He said eyes peeling off Marks face. "You could try taking her for a meal or something."

"Or salsa dancing!" Enthused Lexie.

The three men swung a look at her. "I...I don't think ... so." Said Owen.

"How about paragliding." Said Mark. "Tandem."

"Or deep sea diving." Chuckled Derek.

"Very funny." Said Owen. Knowing he was walking directly into obvious jokes about this situation, but to him this was a serious business. "Well what else should I do, if you don't think this is such a good idea?"

"Oh I think it's good you want to get to know Meredith better." Smiled Derek, "I just don't think being alone with her is much of an idea."

"You could try roller skating." Lexie suggested casually.

Derek and Mark looked at each other and laughed. Mark crooked an arm around Lexie's neck. "Isn't she cute?"

Lexie shrugged him off and spoke seriously to Owen. "My mother used to send my sister and I out together when we weren't getting along. N...not Meredith... sister... My... My other sister... I thought it was to get us out of the house, give... give us some air." Lexie kept her eyes on Owen. "My sister wasn't great at skating, I was a little better. My sister would complain as we went round the rink, she kept falling over, and... And eventually I would go help her up tired of her complaining. But I would be complaining myself having to be out with her... I would be holding her up, helping her around the rink. She had to rely on me, listen to me, appreciate me, realise I was useful and not take me for granted, or argue with me so much. It was nice..." Finished Lexie, "...and eventually it did bring us closer together."

"Well thank you for that." Mark raised a sarcastic eyebrow. "But I doubt Owen - Dr Hunt has got ten years to bond with Meredith over roller skating."

Lexie was undeterred. "Skating, Dr Hunt, worked for us, my sister had to appreciate me, and...And it's fun."

Owen thanked Lexie for her input, but knew there had to be a better way to bond with Meredith.

"Why are you doing this again?" Mark wanted to know focusing on Owen. Then he remembered. "Ah yes, Meredith, Cristina. While I like the idea of dating two best friends. There has got to be a better way than crashing and burning with those two. But don't tell me, team bonding," Mark made a face in Derek's direction. "It works in the army, right?"

"Well." Concluded Derek picking up his briefcase. "You have my permission to ask my wife on a date if you can figure out what you want to do. Whether she'll go anywhere with you is another matter. But you're welcome to try. " Derek moved off. Mark pulling Lexie along with his arm, tailed behind Owen and Derek.

"Why don't you just give her a box of chocolates?" He called out.