Unexpected Gift

Izzie sighed tiredly and laid down on the gurney that had been theirs since they had started their internship. She had forgotten how tiring it was to be working thirty-six hour shifts. At times, it hurt to be in the hospital where Denny died, but it was hardly ever boring and she was never alone with her thoughts for long.

"You're a hard woman to track down."

Izzie's eyes snapped open and she was surprised to see Mark stanidng right beside the gurney. So lost in thought, she hadn't even heard him approach.

"I had actually given up," Mark admitted, pulling her legs up and sitting down. He grabbed her ankle when she made to get up. "Don't get up for me. So I was just wandering around down here and I saw you laying here, talking to yourself, which I find oddly endearing. I'm sure that says a lot about me." He pulled her feet onto his lap and grinned at her Christmas socks.

Izzie closed her eyes and tried to ignore him. If he wasn't going to tell her why he was looking for her, it mustn't be too important. When she felt a small weight settle on her stomach, she reopened her eyes and looked down.

Mark smirked. "It's kinda small. You're not going to be able to see it past--" He broke off when she ground her heel into his upper thigh.

Izzie picked up the gift off her stomach. It was a plain box with a stick-on bow on top. Inside was a small stuffed dog wearing a Santa hat.

"You seem like the stuffed animal type," Mark said.

Izzie opened the envelope that was attached to the collar. It was a gift certificate to a spa.

"You also seem like you need it."

Izzie wasn't sure how to react to the gift. "Thank you," she finally said.

Mark gave her a wicked grin. "That's not all."

Izzie looked under the tissue paper and rolled her eyes. "A gift certificate to Victoria's Secret?"

Mark shrugged. "Maybe after you buy whatever it is you want, you can model them for me."

Izzie suddenly didn't feel so bad about accepting the gifts from him. "Thanks for the gifts, Dr. Sloan." She sat up, pulling her feet from his grasp, and slipped her shoes back on. "I have patients to check on."

Mark watched her go with a smirk. His eyes fell to the sway of her hips and he felt like he'd made real progress.