Author's note:
Sorry for the long wait! I know it's been months! Hope you enjoy the chapter and please r&r!
GAGAGAGAGA
After a long day at Seattle Grace, several meetings with the Chief and the board later, Ashley entered her office in search of something more comfortable to wear instead of the business suit she had been wearing all day. Thankful for reminding to bring something more comfortable she slipped out of the suit and put on faded black jeans, a long off white turtleneck, accompanied with a black belt surrounding her waist. She slipped on her favorite black boots and put on her gray coat. She then grabbed her keys from the desk, turned of the lights and closed the door before making her way to the parking lot.
While she walked through the corridor, she said goodbye to some of the staff and waved at Tuck, who was sitting patiently at his mother's hip while she was writing in a chart.
When she walked through the entrance doors, she glanced over her shoulder. For a second she thought someone was watching her, but when she looked back there wasn't anyone who was paying any attention to her. Shrugging it off she unlocked the car, sat down and then, without a second thought, drove towards Joe's.
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As she entered Joe's she spotted Meredith immediately. She noticed that Mark and Derek were already there. They weren't talking to each other, but at least it seemed civil.
"Thanks for waiting for me", she told Mark, when she slipped into his booth.
Mark turned his face towards her and pressed a soft kiss on her cheek.
"Sorry, all better now?", he asked.
She pretended to think about it. "Buy me a drink and you're of the hook", she told him.
He laughed. "Girl, you're easy", he teased her.
"Fine …", she replied, "… make it four drinks and a plate of fresh fries".
He stopped laughing. "You're serious?"
She nodded.
"Deadly".
Slightly defeated Mark stood up and made his way to the bar.
"Oh, and bring another scotch for Derek!", she yelled to him.
Derek looked at her and couldn't help but smile.
"Thanks", he told her.
She smiled back, glad for the change in attitude. "Forget about it", she told him, faking a strong Italian accent.
Shortly after Mark returned with a tray of 4 shots of tequila and 1 scotch.
"The fries are coming right up", he told Ashley as he placed the four shots in front of her.
She shook her head and then placed two shots in front of Meredith.
Meredith smiled brightly. "Thanks!"
"Anytime!", Ashley replied, smiling just as brightly.
She decided to tease Mark a little, so she moved her right leg a little so it was in direct contact with Mark's left leg. She then dropped her right hand in her lap, rubbing her right leg before slightly teasing his leg with her long fingers.
Mark gulped down the last of his scotch, before standing up and leaving the booth.
"I'll be right back", he said, before he walked away hastily.
"Girl, you've got him whipped", Meredith told her, smiling at the discomfort Mark was in.
Derek shook his head.
"Don't mind me for asking, but what is going on between the two of you?", he asked.
Ashley turned towards him.
"I'm not sure. I mean, we enjoy each others company. We have a great time together. But we're taking things slow, one step at the time. And maybe this time we can make it work", she tried to explain.
Derek nodded.
"Well, for what it's worth, I think the two of you make a great couple", he told her.
"Thanks", she answered genuinely. She was finally on speaking terms again with Derek and he pretty much gave them his blessing.
The conversation was interrupted by Joe, who placed a large plate of fries in the middle of the table.
"Enjoy!", he told them before walking back to his bar.
"What's taking Mark so long?", Derek wondered out loud.
"Probably letting out some steam", Ashley told him, before taking a bite from a fry.
He rolled her eyes.
"I see Mark's been rubbing of on you".
Before she could answer, someone else spoke.
"That's not the only thing I'm rubbing", Mark said, before slipping back into the booth.
"Mark!", Ashley exclaimed, cheeks red with embarrassment. She hit his arm. "Why'd you say that!"
He shrugged. "Haven't I not been rubbing your hair? Or your arm?" he asked her innocently.
She muttered something incoherently, before raising her glass and taking the shot like a pro.
Meredith did the same, before bending forward towards Ashley.
"There's a guy at the bar who's been checking you out all night", she told her.
"What guy?", she asked, before glancing over her shoulder.
"Damn".
GAGAGA
TBC!