A/N: Keep those reviews coming:-D This chapter is shorter and not one of my favorites. I guess it's more of a filler chapter. The next one is longer and much better.

Addison walked into Mark's apartment and collapsed on the bed. She had spent the last three hours at the police station answering questions and giving descriptions of the two men that had assaulted her. Mark had begged her to let him go, but Addison refused, saying this was something she needed to do herself. Truthfully, she just didn't feel right about letting another man help her that wasn't Derek. Addison curled up into a ball and soon fell asleep.

Mark looked at her from the doorway and it tore him up inside. She had done nothing to deserve what she'd been through. He carefully tucked her into bed and retreated into the living room where he picked up the phone and dialed the familiar number of his best friend's cell phone. It rang twice before he picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hey Derek, it's Mark."

Silence.

"I know you don't want to talk to me right now, but I have something important to tell you. What you saw between Addison and myself, it wasn't what it looked like…"

Derek snorted.

"Seriously man, you're my best friend! Why would I intentionally hurt you like that?" Mark asked.

"Listen, Mark, does this phone call have a point to it? Because if it does, you'd better get to it fast. I don't have time to listen to you ramble-"

"Look, I want to talk to you about Addison-"

"Oh no, you don't get to do this! You don't get to call and discuss my wife with me!"

"Derek, she's a mess. She really needs you. She keeps asking for you," Mark said. Derek inhaled deeply. As much as he wanted to be mad at Addison, he couldn't help but still care for her.

"What's wrong? Is she alright?" Derek asked. Mark sighed.

"That's something I can't tell you. She needs to tell you herself." Derek was silent for a minute before continuing.

"You mean she already told you what was bothering her so much?" Mark didn't say anything. Derek's hurt quickly turned into anger.

"She can confide in you, but she can't confide in her own husband?! The man she's spent the past twelve years of her life with?!" Derek asked outraged. Mark winced at his tone. This wasn't going as well as he'd hoped it would.

"Listen, Derek, I think you should come over and talk to her tonight."

"That would be impossible."

"Why?"

"Because I'm in Seattle."

Mark couldn't believe his ears.

"Seattle? What the hell are you doing there?!"

"I needed to get away from you…from her. I was offered the head of neurosurgery at Seattle Grace Hospital, so I took it." Mark was silent. Derek sighed.

"Look, Mark, I'm going to make this quick and simple. I don't want to talk to you, I don't want to talk to her. I just want to be left alone. I need some time to think things through…"

"Yeah buddy, sure, I understand," Mark answered through gritted teeth.

"Good-bye Mark." The line went dead. Mark hung up the phone and rubbed his temples. How was he going to tell Addison that her husband was on the other side of the country? He heard sniffling sounds coming from behind him and knew he wouldn't have to. He turned around to see Addison standing in the doorway.

"How long have you been standing there?" he asked.

"Long enough to know that my husband has abandoned me," she answered. Mark moved to walk towards her, but she backed away.

"Please don't," she whispered. Mark stopped moving and held up his hands. He turned around, sat on the couch, and flipped on the TV.

"Don't you have to go to work?" Addison asked. Mark shook his head.

"I'm taking some time off."

"How much time off?"

"As long as you need," he answered. Addison sighed.

"Mark, I'm a big girl. I don't need a baby-sitter." Mark snorted but didn't take his eyes off the television. His previous conversation with Derek had obviously left him in a foul mood.

"I don't! I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself!" Mark finally tore his gaze away from the TV and looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Addison, you back away from me every time I try to get close to you. Don't tell me you're alright," he said smugly. Addison began to grow frustrated. She stormed out of the living room and into the bedroom and began filling her suitcase with clothes Mark had brought her from the brownstone earlier. Upon hearing all the drawers banging, Mark got up and walked towards the bedroom.

"What are you doing?" he asked leaning against the doorframe and watching Addison with amusement in his eyes.

"Packing, I'm going to Seattle," Addison answered. Mark rolled his eyes.

"Addison, he doesn't want to see or talk to either of us, remember?" Addison narrowed her eyes.

"I'm not giving him up without a fight," Addison responded. Mark began to worry. When Addison Forbes Montgomery-Shepherd got an idea in her head, she would always follow through; and he didn't want to lose her.

"Addison, you need to stay here. The police may need you for more questioning," Mark stated. Addison didn't look up from her packing.

"I don't care. I went down to the station and poured my heart out for three hours only to be told that there was nothing more they could do until they had a suspect in custody. I'm not going to sit around here and wait for the creep to strike again."

"Addison, you're being unreasonable. The police are doing everything they can to find the guys. You also need to give Derek some time to cool off." Addison finally stopped what she was doing and looked up at Mark.

"Mark, I've always been in control of my life. But last night, I lost control of my life for fifteen minutes. And in those fifteen minutes, something horrible happened. Something that I will never forget, no matter how much I try to. I can't control what has already happened, but I can control the future. I need to go to Seattle to talk to Derek. I need to be in control of my future again," Addison finished in a shaky voice. Mark nodded and began absent-mindedly helping her pack. Finally, he spoke again.

"Give me a month." Addison looked at him like he'd grown ten heads.

"What?"

"Give me a month or two. Give Derek some time to cool off and give yourself some time to get some help and talk to someone about the incident. Give me some time to help you." Mark looked at her with hopeful eyes. Addison looked uncertain before finally giving in.

"Fine. You have one week." Addison answered. Mark gave her a soft smile.

"That's my girl," he beamed. Addison returned his smile before unpacking her suitcase. Mark walked over to help her unpack.

"Jeez Addison, who honestly owns thirty-two pairs of shoes?! Do you seriously wear all of them?" Mark asked. Addison laughed softly. Mark grabbed a pair of her Prada shoes and tried them on. They were way too small for him and they made him feel like his feet were about to fall off.

"Ouch!! Why do you torture your feet like this?! What did they ever do to you?!" He tried to take a step and almost fell over. By this time, Addison was laughing so hard she had fallen on to the floor and was clutching her stomach. It was the first time she'd genuinely smiled since the other night. Mark finally knew how he could help her: he could make her laugh. He would use his sarcastic and weird sense of humor to make her smile and forget her misery. He just hoped it would be enough to win over her heart as well…

A/N: dun dun dun! Mark wants to win Addison over, but Addison is still in love with Derek! Who will she choose? The man who ran away, or the man wearing her shoes? I know, and I'll let you know too if you review :-)