Chapter 22: She is Something

Derek stormed out of his shop going immediately to find Mark, knowing he was probably in his shop; he immediately swung the door open and without looking, "Sloan… we need to…" Derek was pissed when getting back to his shop and realized his guys had really messed something up in his absence this morning.

He stopped the second he saw Mark and Lexie very close, but quickly pulling apart almost as though they were in a daze, lips… very close.

"Seriously Mark." Derek scathed.

"I am… just going to… um, go out to 502 and… get to work. Thanks for… showing me my options." Lexie smiled nervously and walked out of the shop.

"What the fuck is that?" Derek said the second she walked out.

"You fucking interrupted." Mark equally matched his tone and look.

"It looks like I needed to… she is an Airman Mark… your career."

"Like you are worried about yours right now." Mark shot back at him.

"What did you just say to me?" Derek's eyes darkened even more.

"You think I am a damn moron? You and Grey are fucking." Mark wasted no time.

Derek just stared at him not even sure what to say, "No, we aren't… no, nothing."

"Cut the shit." Mark rolled his eyes.

"There is no shit to cut. We aren't . . . anything." Derek's tone had bumped down a few notches trying to stay calm, not revealing anything.

"That tells it all." Mark said sarcastically; he knew there was more, a lot more. He has known Derek almost his entire life. Even without seeing Meredith pull up to the apartment, he would have known there is something.

"Shut the fuck up." Derek said, knowing Meredith was off limits.

"Why, because I hit the nail on the head? What in the hell are you doing? She is off limits Derek." Mark turned from challenging to serious.

"Just like Lexie." Derek tried to turn the attention off Meredith; he wasn't ready to face anything where Meredith was concerned, not to anyone else.

"No, Lexie isn't the same thing. She is at least in the same class as we are. Not in a whole other world. Just because you were a stupid ass and didn't become an officer because of some pride or respect thing… doesn't mean you can just act like you are anyway." Mark said truthfully.

Derek had no idea what to say. "You know why I chose this life… dad. I had to."

"No, you actually didn't. Hell, he told you not to. You went to college Derek, you always wanted to be a doctor, you were on your way to go to OCS (Officer Candidacy School) and be a flight surgeon, but at the last minute, without telling anyone, you decide to go enlisted anyway. Dad wanted nothing more for you to be an officer and you know that." Mark never used his first name, but this was serious, very serious. Mark decided to go enlist right out of high school and has taken classes along the way to earn his BS. Derek… he knew what he wanted but he also wanted to be the man his father had become, the most amazing man he ever knew and that was more important to him than becoming a doctor.

Derek sighed knowing Mark was 100% right. "This is what I wanted."

"Really? Right now, you are going to say you are happy being enlisted?" Mark was going to push. He knew there was more to Meredith; he could see it in Derek's eyes.

"I am." Derek said quickly, sitting down in the chair. He had everything he wanted in his career; at his rate, he would be a chief in less than 10 years and that was a HUGE feat.

Mark sighed knowing he was getting nowhere, "Meredith was at the house last night."

Derek shot his head up, "What? No… she… no."

"I saw her pull up." Mark said flat.

Derek ran his hand through his hair and sighed loudly. He knew there was no way out of this, but he just didn't know he was ready to talk about it because then… this meant things. "It is nothing Mark. Just fun."

"Since when do you just have fun?" Mark smirked, knowing Derek was the guy to at least take a girl out to dinner before taking them home for sex. Mark on the other hand, he would just take the girls anyway. But, Lexie… she was different.

"Can we drop this? I am not… there is nothing to talk about." Derek said.

"No, Shep, we are not. You come in and say shit about me and Lexie when you… what you are doing is much worse."

"I am not doing anything." Derek was really trying to convince himself there was nothing.

Mark decided to continue… getting a little louder and more forceful. "So, you stayed up there with her for an hour today, just talking shop? Bullshit. Lexie… I am willing to explore that and go through hell with my career. There is something there and for me… you know that is huge. I also know you; well, enough to know there is more with you and Grey. Anything you say stays only with me. You know that."

Derek knew it wasn't an issue of trusting Mark because he would keep his secret; it was a matter of really admitting his feelings to himself. "Mark, she… I am not ready to say a lot about it. Not yet."

Mark knew he had to accept this for now, "I am here when you need to talk and I have a feeling, that will be coming more and more especially with us going to the boat next week for a month."

Derek sighed knowing that would be hell, "Mark, there is something… she is something. My career… she could be… there is something big."

Derek didn't have to say another word for Mark to see it… the pain and the big something that was there. Derek wasn't ready to say anything else right now and that was ok with Mark. Derek looked back up to Mark, "So, Lexie… at least she wouldn't be a career ender like Meredith would be."

"No, but it would be bad. I think I will talk her into trying to get rated in something different than AE so I won't be her boss. I think she can get rated into AT." Mark smirked a bit.

"Can she do it?" Derek asked curiously, knowing AT is a little harder than AE.

"Yeah, I think she can. Would you help her with the rating test if she decides to do it?"

"You… Mark Sloan is asking me for help with one of his many women." Derek forced a laugh.

"Yeah, the first and only, so savor the moment and no more many women." Mark laughed back.

"I should get back to the shop. Thanks… Mark. I really appreciate it."

"Do we have to hug or anything?" Mark asked laughing trying to lighten the air.

"So, saying how much I am glad we are together would be out of the question?" Derek asked mockingly.

"Ah… how romantic." Mark really did enjoy having his best friend and brother close by.

They both laughed, "Drinks after work?" Derek asked.

"Sounds good. We have a hell of a schedule the next few days. Crazy flight schedules trying to get ready for det." Mark said.

"Fun… always fun." Derek shook his head and walked out of the shop. He took a deep breath the second he walked out. Mark was right in every way, but Derek wasn't ready to really feel the force… the force to Meredith.