Alex, Izzie, and George are on their way to the cafeteria when they pass the courtyard where Mark and Meredith are talking. Izzie stops short once she sees them. Alex and George both slam right into the back of her. "Dude, Iz, what the hell did you stop for?" Alex says and he rubs his elbow that smacked with George's.

"Meredith is sitting with McSteamy," Izzie whispers. George and Alex both look over in Meredith's direction.

"You have got to be kidding me," George says.

"So Sloan came back and I think I know why," Alex says with a smirk.

"Wait until Dr. Shepherd sees. We may get round two," Izzie says.

Alex sits down at a nearby table, "I am not missing this for anything."

"I'm hungry, Alex," Izzie whines.

"So go get food. I'll save you guys a seat. Get me something too." He hands her some money and they walk off to get food.

Meredith

Ask him to stay. Just ask him to stay. Maybe it doesn't have to be a relationship. Maybe it can just be a friendship. This is someone you need right now. I can't. I can't be falling for him. Not so soon. This is what got me in trouble last time. No. I will not. I can not ask him to stay. "So did you really miss the plane because of the bathroom?"

"I may have let a few people pee before me." Why do I find that adorable? It's kind of gross when you think about it. Mark standing in the airport bathroom telling people to pee before him. They probably think he's some kind of pervert. Ha, he is but not for those reasons. "Why are you smiling? What's so funny?" Crap, he caught me.

"I am just thinking about you in a room with a bunch of men with their pants down." Haha, that really is a great image. Oops, he's not smiling. I guess it's only funny to me.

"I come back here to give you a break from your problems and this is how you repay me. You laugh. I am hurt." What a big baby. I can tell he's joking. And what does he mean give me a break? Last time he did that we wound up naked.

"Is that so? How long do you plan in staying?" Crap, you're not supposed to be asking to stay you idiot. I just want to know. You can't. Is that Alex over there at that table? That little sneak, he's watching us.

"I don't know. There is this girl. I want to have sex with her. I just don't know if she'll be up for it…again." That smile. That smile is so naughty. I love it. How could you say no to that? You can't. See where it goes. It may be good for you. What if I get hurt again? I don't know if I could handle it. Try, just try.

"She might be." What? Why did you say that? Don't let him in. "Do you want to come to my place tonight?" Meredith! What are you doing? And why did you just yell at yourself in third person. I can't help myself. I need to heal. He is the one who can heal me. It's just sex.

"I'd love to." Derek is going to die when he finds out. Stop. Stop thinking about him. He doesn't care about you. Yes he does. It doesn't matter. He made his choice. "Are those your friends over there watching us?"

"Yup, those would be them." How are you planning on keeping this a secret if you invited him to the house? Did you forget who lives there with you? Shit, Derek is coming. I have to get out of here. "Come on we have to go."

Meredith quickly stands up and grabs Mark by the arm. He gets tangled up in the chair but finally gets free. He tries to keep up with her as she gets further away from him, still holding onto his arm.

"I should get going anyway. I have to meet with someone. Meet me at the bar across the street when you're ready. I promise I won't get too drunk." Meeting with who? Who else could be possibly know out here? Ok time for damage control.

"Ok see you then." Why do I have this uncontrollable urge to kiss him right now? Don't do it. You're at work. Just walk away.

Mark

What am I doing here? This is a mistake. You shouldn't be doing this. Then why does it feel like this is the right thing to do? You're only asking for trouble. I think trouble is what I want right now if it includes her.

"So did you really miss the plane because of the bathroom?" Well yes technically I guess. What does it matter? I am here, that should be all that matters.

"I may have let a few people pee before me." Is she laughing at me? I don't see what is so funny about that. It's romantic! Ok, maybe it's not. "Why are you smiling? What's so funny?"

"I am just thinking about you in a room with a bunch of men with their pants down." Now that's just nasty. Dirty dirty girl. She seems to always find new ways to turn me on.

"I come back here to give you a break from your problems and this is how you repay me. You laugh. I am hurt."

"Is that so? How long do you plan in staying?" She's interested. She wants you to stay. That proves it right there. She wouldn't ask if she didn't care.

"I don't know. There is this girl. I want to have sex with her. I just don't know if she'll be up for it…again." Forward. That was very forward. I hope she doesn't take offense to it. If she wants me to stick around she might as well get used to the way I talk. She is smiling. That's a good sign. It means she's not totally disgusted with me now.

"She might be." See, what did I say? She's interested. "Do you want to come to my place tonight?" Wow, even I wasn't expecting that. Should I go? I don't know. Hey that rhymed. Anyway, I don't know if it's such a good idea.

"I'd love to." So much for not knowing, idiot. You're not even going to take a minute to think this over? You are making a big decision, a decision that will change the course of the rest of your life. Here you sit in an instant and just make that decision like that. It's too late now, you can't take it back. And what the fuck are they looking at? "Are those your friends over there watching us?"

"Yup, those would be them." Nosey. They're nosey. Look at them staring at us like they're watching a movie. I don't know if I will be able to deal with them every day. "Come on we have to go." What? Go Where?

Meredith quickly stands up and grabs Mark by the arm. He gets tangled up in the chair but finally gets free. He tries to keep up with her as she gets further away from him, still holding onto his arm.

"I should get going anyway. I have to meet with someone. Meet me at the bar across the street when you're ready. I promise I won't get too drunk." Have I told you lately how much I love you, Mark Sloan? That smile. That smile is worth it all.

"Ok see you then." Should I kiss her goodbye? No, it probably wouldn't be right. Maybe tonight. Oh look she walked away. That would've been awkward. Good move. Time to meet with the chief.

Mark

I think I have changed my mind. I can't do this. I can't leave it all behind. I need more time. He isn't in here yet. I still have time to leave. Why aren't my legs moving? Stand up, you idiot. Just walk away. Go home. You can get sex like that back home. You don't need to stay here to get it. Ok, I am getting up. I am walking away.

Mark stands up to leave just as Richard walks in. Mark sits back down in the chair.

There is no turning back now. "Dr. Webber, I am sure you know why I have arranged this meeting."

Nods and says, "You want a job here."

"I do. I bring my talent and reputation with me. I assure you that you will not regret hiring me." I haven't had to do this in a very long time. I hope he sees through my bullshit. Job interviews suck.

"Although I am impressed with your reputation and your accomplishments I am a little worried about you getting punched out in the hallways of my hospital again." If Derek is the reason I don't get this job I am going to kill him.

"I will take care of Derek. I know how to handle him."

"Apparently not." Ouch, I deserved that.

"This is your hospital is it not?"

"Yes." Putty in my hands. There is no way he's saying no after that. Mark continues to look Richard straight in the eye as Richard stands there deciding his fate. After what seems like forever Richard finally smiles. "Welcome to Seattle Grace." Richard extends his hand to shake Mark's, Mark shakes it.

Ok…now what?

Meredith

How am I going to get Mark into the house without Izzie and George noticing? There is no way I can. What was I thinking telling him to come over? I probably should've warned him first. I'll tell him when I pick him up. That should give him plenty of warning. I should probably be paying attention to this surgery. Addison has no idea he is still here. She's just standing there with a scalpel thinking all of her problems just left on a plane to New York. She is going to be so pissed when she finds out he is still here. Crap, she just said something to me and I have no idea what it was.

"I-I'm sorry I didn't hear you." She is going to have my head for this. How embarrassing.

"I said are you ok, Dr. Grey, you look a little out of it," Addison says, her annoyance shows in her tone but she tries to stay as calm as she can.

"Yes, Dr. Montgomery-Shepherd, I am fine. I just zoned out for a second." Why? Why did you tell her you zoned out? You should've just told her you were fine. She's going to kick you out. Good, I don't want to be in here anyway.

"You can just zone your way right out of here then. I need someone who is going to be alert at all times. This is not a game, Dr. Grey." I deserved that. It's still embarrassing. Ugh, what a bitch. She didn't have to say it like that.

Meredith doesn't defend herself. She just turns on her heel and leaves the OR.

Meredith

Do I tell Izzie and George he is coming over? How am I going to tell Mark we won't be alone at the house? What a mess I got myself into this time. I really need to start thinking things through before I agree to them. Where is my shirt? I can't find my shirt. "Has anyone seen my shirt?"

Cristina holds it up. "It was in my locker for some reason." She throws it to Meredith.

I have to tell them. They're going to find out sooner or later. I might as well warn them. Ok how am I going to do this? Words words words, what words do I use? "Um…" Crap, I can't do this.

Izzie looks at Meredith confused, "Yes, Mer?"

I can't. They're going to judge or something. It's going to get back to Derek. No I can't tell them. "Never mind. See you at home." That was horrible…seriously horrible.

Meredith walks out of the locker room without saying another word. She hopes not to run into anyone on the way out of the hospital. She just wants to pick Mark up and make it home before George and Izzie got there. She gets onto the elevator and of course Derek is there.

Just what I need…Derek looking handsome in my favorite shirt. Why must I be punished like this? What have I done to deserve such torture? I won't make eye contact. It still hurts too much to look at him. This silence is deafening, I can't handle it. Say something. Say anything. No I don't want him to.

"So…what are you doing tonight?" Derek asks.

Is he seriously asking me this? Out of all the nights I just went home and cried…the one night I am going to have his ex-best friend over he asks me what I am going to be doing. Lie, I have to lie. He is not ready for this yet and I am not sure I am ready to tell him either.

"Having a friend over." It's almost the truth. No, it is the truth. Good job.

"Anyone I know?" Does he know and he's just toying with me? Or is this some very scary coincidence? There is no way he could possibly know. He thinks Mark left. The only person that knows he is still here is me. Don't look at him. Just say no but do not look at him.

Meredith looks at him. Pain. There is pain in his eyes.

How can he be the one looking like that? He is back with her. He should be happy. I am the one who is in pain. He has no right. "No you don't."

The elevator doors open and they both walk out.

Mark

I will look like such an idiot if she doesn't show up. She has to show up. There is no reason for her not to. She asked me to come over, not the other way around. I am sure she is just in a surgery that ran late. Or maybe one of her annoying nosey friends is talking her ear off. It sure is loud in here. I think I am going to wait for her outside.

Mark walks outside and shivers in the cold wind that blows. He left his jacket at the hotel.

Ok it's colder than I thought it was going to be. I hope she gets here soon. There she is. She looks amazing.

"You shouldn't be out here without a jacket. You could catch cold. It's a good thing I am a doctor. I could take care of you." If we weren't in public I would jump on you right now, my dear.

"I am not really used to the weather around here yet. With time I'm sure I will." Was that subtle enough?

"Yet? Is there something you're not telling me?" I knew she'd pick up on that. It's just the way I was hoping she'd react.

"Later, I'll tell you later. Let's just get going, I'm freezing."

They get into Meredith's truck and drive off.

"Mark, there is something I need to tell you before we get to my house." Holy shit, that doesn't sound good. What could she possibly need to tell me? Don't panic, it's probably not that bad. Don't overreact before you even know what she's talking about.

"I have roommates." Oh is that all? That's not so bad. "They work with me at the hospital." Oh well this complicates things a bit I suppose. I don't think it should be too bad though. They are her friends, not Derek or Addison's.

"That's not a big deal."

"Seriously? Oh good, because I was worried you'd freak out or something." How could I freak out when you're looking at me like that?

"Everything is perfect." You are so corny. Shut up.

Meredith

Wow it got colder since the last time I was out here. I am glad I dressed warmly. Do I walk over to Joe's to get him or should I pull up? I think I am lazy today, I am going to pull up. I hope not too many people are at the bar. I don't think I can handle the rumors right now. Is that him standing outside? Is he wearing short sleeves? He's nuts.

"You shouldn't be out here without a jacket. You could catch cold. It's a good thing I am a doctor. I could take care of you." What are you doing? Stupid lines don't do anything on a man like this. He doesn't need this flirty bullshit. He's a straight forward kind of guy. Stop trying to be cute, you've already got him where you want him.

"I am not really used to the weather around here yet. With time I'm sure I will." Did he just say yet? I could've sworn he just said yet.

"Yet? Is there something you're not telling me?"

"Later, I'll tell you later. Let's just get going, I'm freezing." Later? Fine I guess I can wait until later.

They get into Meredith's truck and drive off.

"Mark, there is something I need to tell you before we get to my house." Great, way to go Meredith, now you're making it sound like you're going to tell him you have a penis or something. Could you have sounded any more sullen while saying that? You're going to freak him out.

"I have roommates." Ok he didn't say anything. I guess I should elaborate. "They work with me at the hospital."

"That's not a big deal." It's not? Then why the hell was I so worried? I really need to stop thinking so much about things. I am just going to make myself go crazy.

"Seriously? Oh good, because I was worried you'd freak out or something."

"Everything is perfect." It is isn't it?