Seattle Grace Hospital
Administrative Floor,
Late Afternoon

-

"Going home for the day?"

Addison looked up from her charts at the sound of Miranda Bailey's voice.

"Yes," she sighed, tugging a strand of hair behind her ear while Miranda approached the counter and came to stand next to her, reaching for a chart herself. "All my mothers and infants, born or unborn, seem just fine so I think I'm actually out of work."

"Then how about leaving altogether." Derek's remark made both women turn their heads. "Aren't there some evil spawns waiting to be delivered in New York?"

Addison turned back to her charting. "Of course, Derek, but since I'm Satan I'm sure I can be in several places at the same time so it's all being taken care of," she replied wearily. This was part of the reason why she was so tired. Derek was hurt and unforgiving again and she was Satan and an adulterous bitch again. Everything was back to how things had been upon her first arrival in Seattle with Derek smiling at Meredith and glaring at her, with Meredith and basically everyone else avoiding her as best as they could, and with her trying to pick up the pieces of everything she had broken. Okay, so not completely like it had been upon her first arrival. She wasn't trying to pick up the pieces. Or not very hard anyway. And not everybody hated her. Most people had probably given up on trying to figure out who was cheating on whom here.

She had tried to get on more civilized terms with Derek for a while but given up very soon. It was clearly useless this time. In a way she understood why he was so hurt – she had deceived him. He hadn't been the only one with a relationship. She hadn't been – and still wasn't - any better than him. But not worse either! It had still been him cheating on her again, with Meredith, at the prom. In some sick way they were even, at least in her mind. Clearly, Derek was not on the same page on this. Without another word he took off.

"I see you and your ex-husband are still on friendly terms."

Addison raised a brow as she glanced at Miranda whose expression wasn't exactly one of sympathy. "You got something to say to me?" she inquired. Why not getting this over with as well once she was at it.

"I don't know why I even bother to tell my interns to keep their pants on and their underwear to themselves when you people can't seem to keep yourselves in check either."

"Hey," Addison protested. "I'm not the one who slept with an intern."

"No, at least you were smart enough to pick an equal," Miranda remarked snidely, looking at something behind Addison. "But I'm not so sure that's of any benefit to anyone in this particular case."

Turning around Addison caught sight of Mark as well and she quickly turned back to her chart. He was the last person she wanted to talk to now. She'd rather listen to more of Derek's accusations Miranda's lecturing. "Gotta go," she muttered, scribbling down her signature and tossing the chart onto the pile already accumulated on the counter.

"Good luck," Miranda commented as Addison passed the resident in a hurry to get away. But as most good wishes these days didn't turn out to be of any help to her, so did this one, and when the elevator doors opened on the ground floor about twenty minutes later Addison froze for a second before stepping out and rushing towards the entrance.

"Did you hide out in the women's locker room all this time?" Mark's voice reminded her she wouldn't get rid off him that easily. "Or since when do you need this long to get out of a lab coat?" She winced when he was suddenly close to her, practically whispering into her ear. "I remember you getting out of much more clothing much faster."

"Leave me alone, Mark," she growled, wondering if there would be serious consequences if she was to accidentally slam one of the glass doors at the entrance into his face.

"Come on," Mark called out, slipping through behind her – unharmed. She should have made a run for it instead. Maybe she could have beat him to her car. Then again, being chased across the lobby and the hospital parking by someone the entire hospital by now knew she had had an affair with, in high heels and with parts of said hospital looking on – there were more dignified or graceful things she could imagine herself doing. And if she was left with nothing else, she would try to at least keep some dignity!

"I mean it, Mark," she tried in her most threatening tone, "leave me alone. I don't want to see you, I don't want to talk to you, I don't want to be around you." She was done for the day and on her way home, her only desires something to eat, a hot bath and a good night's sleep. And she didn't want any company for any of those activities, especially not Mark's.

"Didn't sound that way when you called me in New York -"

"That was a mistake," she hissed.

"Or after your divorce was finalized," he added and she bit her lip. Another mistake?

Stopping in her tracks she turned to face him, trying to keep her anger in control and her voice down. "How much more clear can I make this to you? I was hurt, I was desperate and I was drunk!" And she simply hadn't known who else to turn to. Why hadn't she just done the same thing Derek had done, she thought bitterly. Gone to a bar, gotten drunk and hooked up with the first best intern coming her way. But no, she had called Mark of all people. The very person who had gotten her into all this trouble in the first place. But hurt, desperate and drunk didn't bring out the best in her.

"All qualities I like in you," Mark stated with what he probably thought of as his own personal charm. "Especially when they lead you to me."

"You're sick," she shook her head. "I used you! I always just used you when Derek wasn't there."

For a moment they just stared at each other as the realization hit her like a spray of cold water: a part of her felt not just guilt and shame but also a tremendous urge to apologize. To tell him that she hated being that person, that she had never meant to use him, let alone hurt him - if he indeed was in love with her and not just playing one of his games. But the smirk on his face wiped any trace of that particular urge away, leaving her with shame and guilt alone. "I used you," she repeated, "and even if I ever got involved with you again it would never be for any other reason than that." And after a moment's hesitation she added, "I'd like to say you deserve better, but honestly, I can't get myself to feel that way right now."

He didn't seem to have a comeback for once and just placed his hand around her wrist, but she freed herself quickly. "Get out of my way, Mark. In fact, get out of my life. Go back to New York and leave me alone."