YOU AND ME - Chapter 6
"Mark?" What the hell was he doing here? I left Seattle to get away from all my problems and I end up running into him of all people? Like I said before, what the hell? "Meredith?" He was looking at me, exactly how I think I was looking at him. Astonished. What do I do? Shake his hand? Hug him? I mean we were sort of friends, what with the whole dirty mistress thing that we had going on. No, instead I did the only logical thing I could think of in that moment, which now that I think about it, was actually pretty stupid. I spun and run.
Getting out to the front of the hospital, I found Alex standing by our rental car, looking at his phone. As I got closer he looked up with a smile on his face, that quickly changed to worry after seeing my appearance, which I am confident was very different at that moment. It was my first time running in a while. Maybe I should try that too since I'm starting anew and all. "Mere, you okay?" Pointing to the car, I managed to puff out, "car." Hopping in the driver side of the car, he put the key in the ignition and drove out of the hospital parking lot. He was silent, waiting for me to talk first, which I was incredibly grateful for, however, he was still looking at me like a worried Dad. Driving a little further, he pulled up to park less than ten minutes from the hospital. Turning towards Alex, I let out the one sentence I'd been dying to say as soon as I had seen him. "McSteamy is here."
Looking at me with wide eyes, as if I told him that House was going to let him lead his next surgery he fell back into his chair, hitting the steering wheel with his hands in the process. We just sat there for a couple of minutes, him trying to completely take this new fact in and me, well I was thinking about Mark. It was weird seeing him, because he was one of the reasons Derek and Addison broke up, only for him to chase Addison all the way to Seattle and then become my partner in crime. But it was good. When I saw him today, I wasn't scared or nervous about seeing him, I only really ran because I was embarrassed. Just like he was when he was waiting, sitting in the bar for Addison to turn up that night, even though we both knew she wouldn't. Today, when I walked into him, I wasn't scared, nervous, angry, anxious. I was happy. Really happy, and I have no idea why.
"Damn, Mark Sloan is here. In New Jersey. Mark Sloan is here. Damn. Sloan, he-", glancing at Alex, I couldn't help but slightly chuckle. "Yes Alex. Mark Sloan is here, in New Jersey and I don't think he plans on leaving anytime soon." Looking at me with that weird, worried face again, he asked if I was alright like he expected me to break down and cry. I wasn't surprised, it wouldn't be the first time that I did after what happened. "Yeah Alex, I'm okay. I feel fine. Happy even." He was still looking at me weirdly. "Mere, are you sure? Why did you come running out looking so messed up then?" Deciding to tease him a bit because of the last comment, I looked at him with a scowl, which he only replied with a "well?" Typical Alex. So I told him exactly why I came out like that. "I wasn't scared or nervous seeing him. Shocked, definitely. I was happy seeing him, really happy, but I have no idea why." He still had that look on his face, but now it was softer. "I only ran from when I bumped into him because I was embarrassed. He had the guts to set the rules in his relationship with Addison. He was the one that told her, that if she didn't turn up, he'd leave. I was embarrassed because I never had the strength to do that with Derek and I didn't want him to look at me with pity." The look was gone now, he only had understanding across his face. I knew he'd get it. He's been there for everything with this whole mess and I couldn't be any more grateful. "You should talk to him, Mere. Even though we've only known him for a short amount of time, he's always been there for you as well." Now that completely surprised me, but I didn't show it. It surprised me even more when I looked at him and told him with a slight smile on my face, "Yeah, I will." Maybe, just maybe I'd be alright.