Meredith

Maybe I can sneak out without him noticing. I need to go home before going to the hospital. I can't show up in the same clothes as I wore yesterday, it's too suspicious. Maybe I can make it into the house without Izzie and George noticing I am gone. I doubt it, they know everything. I am sure George is knocking on my door right now asking me if I need some coffee. When I don't answer he will open the door and see my empty bed and know something is up. I wonder what they will think.

I wonder if he is a light sleeper. If I move will he wake up? It doesn't matter. I need to go no matter what. Should I say something to him or just leave? I am just going to leave so it's not awkward.

"Where do you think you're going?" Crap, I guess he is a light sleeper.

"I have to go to work. Thanks for last night, really." It was amazing. How could Addison not take him back after that?

"Yeah you too." Ok this is awkward. I definitely shouldn't have agreed to stay the night.

"Um, have a safe trip back home." Oh god, could I sound any more retarded? Just shut up and go. I still have to go home first.

"Yeah, thanks." Why aren't you moving? No, you can't go for another round. You don't have time. You can't afford to have an after sex glow at work. It would just cause a problem. Like this won't cause a problem anyway? No, Derek won't find out. Mark is going to leave and I won't have to worry about this ever again.

"Bye, Mark." I hope I didn't sound too sad when I said that.

"Bye, Meredith."

Mark

Oh god, I drank too much last night. My head is pounding. This is not going to be good for the plane ride back. Huh? Does she think I am going to let her sneak out like that? She doesn't even have the decency to say goodbye? Wait, what am I saying? I would do the same thing. I do it all the time. Can't say I blame her. The morning after is always pretty awkward.

"Where do you think you're going?" Don't sound so nasty or desperate or anything. Don't sound like you enjoyed yourself. Just shut up, you're leaving. It meant nothing.

"I have to go to work. Thanks for last night, really." No, thank you. It was just what I needed. It made me forget just for the night.

"Yeah you too." That was lame. Just let her leave. This is getting more and more awkward by the second.

"Um, have a safe trip back home." She doesn't want me to go. No, yes she does. No, no, she doesn't care either way. Stop being a bumbling idiot. You should be thinking about going back to New York alone, nothing else.

"Yeah, thanks." I am disgusted with you, Mark Sloan, totally disgusted. This is not like you at all.

"Bye, Mark." Finally.

"Bye, Meredith." Don't go.

Meredith

George walks out of the kitchen with two mugs, one in each hand. He slowly walks up the stairs so he doesn't spill any on the runner. He gets outside Meredith's door and kicks lightly with his foot to knock. No answer. "M-Meredith?" he says in a half whisper.

"She's not here, George," Izzie says as she stands in her doorway. George flinches as he is startled by Izzie's sudden comments. He didn't know she was standing behind him.

"She didn't come home last night?"

"Nope. I went in to check on what bar animal she brought home this time and no one was there."

"I hope she's ok."

"I'm sure she's fine. We would've gotten a call if something was wrong."

"What if she's dead in an alley somewhere?!?!"

"Nice, George, real nice."

Oh crap I can hear them talking in the hallway. So much for sneaking in. I have to take a shower. Might as well face them now before it's too late.

Meredith walks up the stairs. Izzie and George both turn towards her and they hear her creep up the stairs. George runs over to Meredith and throws his arms around her. "You're not dead in an alley!" he cheers.

What the hell is he talking about? "Of course not, George, I was only gone for the night." Maybe they won't ask.

"So, Mer, where were you and who were you with?" I knew Izzie wouldn't let it go. Lie lie, need to come up with a lie. Er, the hospital? Yeah I guess I could have been at the hospital.

"The hospital. I was in the gallery for a surgery that went way longer than expected." Yes, that was perfect. Now hurry to the bathroom before they ask anything else. I hate lying to them.

"I'm really glad you're ok, Mer." Good ole George, always looking out for me. I didn't mean to worry anybody.

"I need to shower really quick and then we can go." I almost don't want to shower. That would mean washing off the most magical night I have had in a long time. It would mean washing off his scent from my body. I don't want to wash it off. I want to keep it there so I can always remember. No, this is crazy talk. I need to shower, I am filthy and I must reek of sex. George is too naïve to realize but I am sure Izzie noticed. It will just have to remain an unspoken understanding because I am admitting to nothing. Ahh, the water feels good. I definitely needed this shower.

Mark

Maybe I could stay a few more days. I really feel like shit. I don't know if I can handle the plane ride home right now. The seat next to me will be empty. The seat I paid for. The seat she was supposed to be in. There will be nobody there. I don't think I can handle it. Not today. I can't handle the rejection today. I still can't believe Derek punched me in the face. I should stay and make him miserable just for that. Last night was amazing. No, I can't think about it. It's something that happened once and never to happen again. But how can I not think about it? She rocked my world. Not the other way around. For the first time I was the one being taken care of. I think it felt good. Stop, stop it right there. Thinking this way will get you nowhere. I am getting on this plane. I am going home.

Meredith

He's looking at me that way again. He's looking at me like he has something to say. I don't want him to look at me. I don't want him to say it. I just want him to leave me alone. He did this. This is all his fault. I hope I don't get stuck with him today. I can't bare to look him in the eye after last night. I need to walk away. I can't. I'd rather be in the pit than face him today. I'd rather run labs. I'd rather do rectal exams. I'd rather be anywhere else but here in this hospital with him today.

"Meredith, wait!" Derek calls out to her as she turns away from him and starts walking in the opposite direction down the hallway.

Don't turn around. Pretend that you don't hear him. Just keep walking.

Derek puts his hand on her shoulder to stop her. She quickly turns around and shrugs his hand off of her and gives him a dirty look. He has no right to touch. Not anymore. He puts his hands up in the air. "What? What do you want, Derek?" Why won't he let me be? Doesn't he see what he is doing to me? I can't look at him.

"I wanted to make sure you were ok." What would possibly make me be ok? What the hell kind of stupid question is that?

"Seriously? Are you seriously asking me this question?" Don't yell at him. He's still your boss. You're still at work. Calm down. Breathe.

"Meredith, I…"

"Shut up, just shut up. How dare you ask me that question? How dare you….after what you have put me through. You are the last person who should be allowed to ask me that question. No, I am not ok. There, you happy now? I am not ok and it's all because of you. I hope you're happy. I hope you got the answer you were looking for." That is yelling. You weren't supposed to be yelling. He deserves it. He deserves it and he knows it.

"I'm sorry." Why does he continue to torture me like this?

"Just leave me alone, please." I wish Mark were still here. He could take away the pain. He understands. He understands what I am going through. To love another who doesn't love you back. To watch them love somebody else. To have them look at you the way they should be looking at their wife and yet still wind up alone. He knows.

Mark

I cannot believe I missed my plane. My luggage is on that fucking plane. Stupid bladder. Stupid busy bathroom. I am so stupid for not wearing my watch to keep track of time. What the hell am I going to do now? The next plane out isn't until later tonight. I am not staying in this airport until then. I could try another go at taking Addison home. What's the use? She doesn't want me. I just wasted my time in coming here just like everyone said. It's raining, what the hell can I do when it's raining? The question is what is in New York for me really? Should I even go back or try it out here? Would they give me a job? I am Mark Sloan, of course they would. Would it be too painful to see her with him every day? Was last night a sign…a sign that maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel after all? Here is a taxi. Should I get in? He is waving me in. "Seattle Grace Hospital, please."

Meredith

I should be paying attention to this surgery. I know I am in the gallery just to hide from Derek but I really should be watching. I shouldn't be day dreaming. That is not what I went through med school to do. I went there to become a doctor, not to day dream about a one night stand. Cristina is down there, my best friend Cristina. She is in the OR. The least I can do is pay attention. George is looking at me. I wonder if he knows. That's ridiculous, he can't know. Stop being paranoid, he is just being George. I shouldn't have let him leave. What am I saying? I need to get out of here. I need fresh air. I am getting out of here. I'll go sit in the courtyar---OUCH! "Watch where you're going!" Oh shit, it's Mark.

"And hello to you too, Meredith." Wow, he remembered my name. What? Of course he did, why is that such a shock to you?

"Sorry, I didn't see you there." Isn't he supposed to be on a plane to New York right now? "What are you still doing here?" Don't sound like you don't want him here.

"I missed my plane. Busy airport bathroom, it gets me every time." Don't just stare at him say something. Say anything. You probably look like a drooling moron. Ok seriously, Meredith, you need to say something.

"I was just heading out for some fresh air. Do you want to join me?" Please say yes, please say yes.

"Sure. I am not taking you away from anything important am I?" This is not the same person Derek told me about. He seems caring.

"They'll page me if they need me. Right now I need fresh air."

Mark

I can't believe I am back in this hospital. What am I doing back here? Addison is not going to take you back. She's made that clear. Stop torturing yourself and just go back to the airport and wait for the next plane. There is the chief. Maybe I should ask talk to him about working here. No, you need to go back home. Your best suit is in that suitcase. Stupid, Mark, so stupid. You are thinking of giving up because of a suit? You don't deserve to call yourself a man. There is a beautiful girl here that you had an amazing time with last night. She is the reason you should stay. What if she isn't interested? We said it was just for the night. You took a chance coming out here for Addison. What's one more? Oof, shit, I just walked into someone. Meredith.

"Watch where you're going!" There's that feistiness I love so much.

"And hello to you too, Meredith." She seems happy to see me. That's a good thing.

"Sorry, I didn't see you there." Don't apologize, it was my fault. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. "What are you still doing here?"

"I missed my plane. Busy airport bathroom, it gets me every time." Or maybe just this time. Maybe I was meant to miss that plane. Maybe it's fate.

"I was just heading out for some fresh air. Do you want to join me?" Of course. I would like to do nothing more than to spend more time with you.

"Sure. I am not taking you away from anything important am I?" Do you really care? No not really. It sounded good though.

"They'll page me if they need me. Right now I need fresh air." As do I.