"Stevens, meet me in the lab. 10 minutes. Don't be late!" Mark says.
"What was that about?" Alex asks when Mark is out of earshot.
Izzie looks away. "I'm scrubbing in on Lexie's next procedure. It's tomorrow and then he's letting me go solo on the third procedure, which is really scary because it's her face and if I screw up…I can't even think about it, I'm so scared!"
"Are you sleeping with him?" Alex asks.
Izzie turns back to him. "Sleeping with him? What? Sleeping with Sloan??? Ummmm…no! Why would you ask me that? Seriously?"
"You've been avoiding me and spending all your time in a lab with him. Look…I know the guy has a reputation. He's not a one woman guy. And now you're scrubbing in on a procedure we were all told we had no hope of scrubbing in on. The only way to get privileges with Sloan is by sleeping with him," Alex points out.
"I can't believe you asked me that! And for the record, my answer is still no. Besides…how offensive is it that you don't think he might have asked me to scrub in because I'm a good surgeon?" Izzie protests.
"Did he?" Alex challenges.
Izzie looks away again. "No," she says, honestly.
"So there's more to the story?" he asks.
Izzie nods.
"And you can't tell me?" he asks.
"No. You're just going to have to trust me for now," she replies.
Alex looks into her eyes which are plagued with exhaustion and stress and he softens. "I do trust you. I'm sorry. I just…"
"You just got scared…I know…You're the Meredith," Izzie says.
"What?" Alex asks.
"In every relationship there is a Meredith and a Derek. I'm the Derek. You're the Meredith. Take Lexie and Mark. Lexie is the Derek…Mark is definitely the Meredith," Izzie says.
Alex thinks about this for a moment. "How about Yang and Hunt?" he asks.
Izzie is silent for a moment. "I don't know…I have to think about that one," she admits.
Alex laughs. "Okay. But I think I just poked a hole in your clinical study!"
Izzie kisses him. "I love you," she says.
"I love you too. Good luck. I'll be watching you from the gallery thinking how sexy you are," he says.
"Believe me…that is the last thing you'll be thinking. Be thinking how terrified I'll be!" Izzie says.
"I think I know how we can relieve some stress tonight…" Alex says.
Izzie smiles. "See you at home," she says.
(Break)
"Okay. I'm ready," Izzie says, after watching Mark perform the procedure for a 3rd time.
Mark steps aside and passes the torch to Izzie.
Izzie leans over the dummy and begins to measure the area.
"Not so close to the eyes. If you hit her eyeballs with the torch, you'll blind her," Mark says, hoping he sounds more patient than he feels.
"What if she moves?" Izzie asks, feeling a rising panic in her throat.
"Then you better react quickly because if you blind her I'll never forgive you," Mark says.
"I'd never forgive myself," Izzie reminds him.
"Believe me…my wrath is worse than your own," Mark says.
"How's this?" Izzie asks, as she shows him her markings of the dummy's face.
"Not bad. Get a little closer to the hairline…but don't burn off hair follicles, I want her hair to be able to grow. I like long hair…it's hot," Mark says.
"You're a pig," Izzie says.
"Just don't screw this up, Stevens," Mark says.
Izzie re-marks the area and then steps away. "How does that look?" she asks.
"Pretty damn good, Stevens!" he says, smiling.
"Thanks," Izzie says, proudly.
Mark grows serious. "No…thank you," he says.
(Break)
"He asked Izzie Stevens? He totally doesn't love her as much as everyone thinks he does. I mean everybody is feeling all sorry for Mark Sloan, while in the meantime, there is no way he is in love with her. I mean, would you let Izzie Stevens operate on me? I mean, seriously?" Cristina vents.
"Are you concerned about Lexie or just pissed off that Izzie is getting an amazing surgical opportunity and you aren't?" Owen asks.
"Both…" Cristina admits.
"I think he loves her," Owen says.
"If you ever have to let a resident operate on me, let it be Meredith. But not if Derek is there…because she gets distracted when he's around. And make sure she doesn't freak out because sometimes she…" Cristina stops when she realizes Owen is laughing.
"You're mocking me," she says.
"I am," Owen agrees.
"There's no mocking here…" she says.
"Oh, but there is," Owen replies, still laughing.
"I just…I feel like something is going on. It's weird. It's creepy. It's just…Izzie Stevens?"
"You're not the only talented resident here. Izzie Stevens has her own talents," Owen says.
"Is cutting a guy's LVAD wire and killing him a talent?" Cristina challenges.
"No, but sensing a patients' needs and changing protocol accordingly is. Stevens is good at that," Owen explains.
Cristina glares at him.
"And your attention to detail and precision is impeccable. However, maybe Dr. Sloan feels like it's not all that Lexie needs right now," Owen explains.
"Shut up," Cristina says, defeated.
"But you're definitely the sexiest resident!" Owen offers, trying to redeem himself.
"You're not getting any tonight," Cristina says, walking away.
(Break)
"Karev, you want to get a beer?" Owen asks.
"Sure. Where's Cristina?" he asks.
"Sulking. Where's Izzie?" Owen asks.
"With Sloan…again," Alex says, bitterly.
"You sound pissed off about that," Owen points out.
"Nah…I'm more pissed at myself. I accused her of sleeping with him," Alex says, dejectedly.
"Stevens and Sloan! Yeah…like that will ever happen?" Owen laughs.
"Why couldn't it happen?" Alex asks.
"Izzie is a devoted kind of girl. She's passionate and kind and the sort of girl who doesn't do the wrong thing. Sloan…he's a pig," Owen explains.
"Then how do you explain Sloan and Lexie?" Alex asks.
"Lexie tamed the pig. But if Sloan were sleeping with Stevens he'd still be a wild pig, which I don't think he is anymore," Owen says.
"Anyway…she's not sleeping with him. I believe her. I'm pissed at myself for accusing her. I should know better," Alex says.
"Yeah…you should," Owen agrees.
"Dude…do you ever think this is the end, like you've found what you're looking for?" Alex asks.
"Yeah. Every time I look at Cristina," he says.
"Who's the Meredith?" Alex asks.
Owen looks at him confused. "What?" he asks.
"Izzie said that in every relationship there's a Derek and a Meredith. Which are you in your relationship? Izzie says that I'm the Meredith, which I guess I am. Which are you?" he asks.
"I'm the one who thinks you'd make more sense if you started drinking!" Owen says, looking at him like he has three heads.
(Break)
Meredith sees Derek flipping through some scans. "Hi," she says.
"Hi," he says, kissing her.
She smiles sheepishly. "You still want to kiss me after my little outburst?" she asks.
"I'm always going to want to kiss you," he says, kissing her again.
"I'm sorry," she says. "I was out of line."
Derek shrugs and smiles. "It's okay. Are you ready for Lexie's procedure tomorrow?" he asks.
Meredith nods. "I'll be in the gallery with you this time," she says.
Derek nods. "I think that's a good idea," he says.
"Family doesn't belong in the O.R." she says.
"Family doesn't belong in the gallery either…" Derek says.
"True. But I can't not be there," she says.
"So we'll be in the gallery. And maybe we'll even make a quick appearance to wish Lexie good luck," he says.
"Sounds good. Can I ask you something?" Meredith asks.
"Sure," Derek says.
"Why is Mark letting Izzie take such an active role in Lexie's upcoming procedures?" Meredith asks.
"Because this is a teaching hospital and he thinks Izzie has done a fabulous job up to this point," Derek replies.
"I just…I mean…I shouldn't have a problem with it…but I…well…I mean she's my friend…and I think she's a wonderful doctor, but Lexie's my sister and I only want her in the hands of the best…" Meredith admits.
"So does Mark…trust him. He loves your sister too," Derek says.
"Okay…" Meredith says, hesitantly.
(Break)
"Aren't you getting dressed up for me?" Mark says, sitting down on Lexie's bed.
Lexie laughs. "Don't make me laugh! It hurts!" she says.
"I mean it. I reserve the best O.R. for our date and you show up in a hospital gown? I mean seriously?" Mark says, smiling.
"I didn't realize the O.R. was formal," Lexie says, smiling back.
"Well…since I don't love your gown, I think I'm going to take it off," Mark says.
"Do you check all of your patients for follow up like this?" Lexie laughs as he slowly and seductively lifts up her hospital gown.
"That is going to be the hottest torso ever. It's healing perfectly," he says.
"Did I hear you say that you're letting Izzie do some of my extremities today?" Lexie asks.
"Yes. This is still a teaching hospital," he reminds her.
"I don't have a problem with it. But Meredith…well…she's kind of…" Lexie gets quiet when Mark cuts her off.
"Trust me…Meredith will be fine with it when it's over. Izzie's ready. She's more than ready," Mark says.
"Okay," Lexie agrees.
"You're so agreeable. I hope our kids have your personality one day," Mark says.
"Our kids? Mark Sloan wants kids?" she says.
"Only yours. Little Sloans…lots of them," he says.
"Can the world handle more Sloans?" she asks.
"Scary thought!" Mark replies kissing Lexie gently.
*****
Thanks for reading! Wasn't GREY's AMAZING last night? McDreamy and McSteamy fight was insane!
Ummmm...those of you who are reading and not reviewing, PLEASE review! THanks to all of you who have been reviewing consistently! I really appreciate it!
-Jess