Chapter 50: The Lists
"What's up your ass? You have been in a pissy mood the last few days." Mark asked Derek as they sat down for dinner.
"Nothing. I am fine." Derek grumbled.
"Yeah, okay. And I am the fucking tooth fairy." Mark said sarcastically.
"You would look cute in a tutu." Derek forced a smile on his lips.
"Yeah, well, lucky for all of us, you will never witness that, nor will anyone else." Mark did enjoy having this time with Derek. They had been apart the last years in the navy and were both happy to be stationed together.
"Where is Yang? She isn't coming to eat with us tonight?" Derek asked as she had eaten with them the last 3 nights. Derek tried to be supportive of his best friend's new relationship, but it was hard, knowing they didn't have the same issues as he and Meredith of the officer/enlisted. They were both enlisted which wasn't as big of a deal, it was merely frowned upon. Mark actually seemed to want to be with her more than just a good lay. They were actually good for each other, both very quick witted and cocky.
"No, she had to stay to make sure some shit gets done in her shop. Her night check supervisor is fucking up big time. I think a change will be made soon. If she makes Chief, they are fucked in that shop. She runs a tight ship." Mark explained thinking about how much they actually talk. He usually only talked to a woman long enough to know when and where they could meet up for sex; this was a little different. Mark found himself enjoying this time getting to know Cristina although he would never admit it to anyone.
"Well, at least you know what the fuck is going on with her." Derek said frustrated.
Mark knew exactly what was wrong with him. Meredith Grey. "So, things are rough?"
Derek looked over at Mark as they sat down at a table away from the mass with their food. "Rough? Things are non-existent. Do you know what it is like to see her and not be able to hold even a normal conversation of 'how did your day go?' Yes, I want to kiss her and well, do much more than that to her." Derek couldn't help but smile a bit when he said that.
"I know I am ready to fuck Cristina senseless the second we get off of here. Hell, I am not sure we will make it until then." Mark laughed, taking a bite of his food.
"Why do I even try to have a normal conversation with you? I hint at sex, and you take it to a whole new level." Derek said somewhat playfully but going back to his food.
"What can I say? You up your fuckable scale by hanging out with me." Mark laughed.
"My what?" Derek looked up in amusement.
"Girls score us you know. They have lists and I say you hanging with me, ups your status on the lists. I am pretty high up on all lists." Mark explained seriously.
"And you know about these lists how exactly?" Derek shook his head with a smirk on his face.
"I have seen them. I am on up there, number 1 on many lists." Mark raised his eyebrow with a cocky smile.
"So, where is my status?" Derek asked curiously.
"Pretty high for a newbie. Although, you can't make it too high up because you haven't fucked any of them, well, any that they can actually compare notes with." Mark was talking very nonchalantly about this.
"Are you fucking serious? There are lists? Seriously?" Derek asked in amazement.
"You mean your last command didn't have them? Usually there is at least one issue with them on deployment because something will leak from a list and will cause some problems." Mark had to deal with this in his last command as a supervisor of a shop.
"That is fucked." Derek continued to eat.
"Yeah, but it is great to be at the top of the lists." Mark flashed his signature cocky smile and continued, "Cristina would never admit it, but she is jealous of my status. But, she knows she has the best."
"So you think." Derek was amused by Mark's comments most of the time.
"I know so. Don't even lie; you want to be higher on the lists. It is a reputation you have to uphold." Mark enlightened Derek.
"Don't care about a reputation. I have the one I want." Derek said, taking a bite of food.
Mark hated to even say anything, but he knew Meredith got around. He heard the stories about last deployment and the other officers from the squadrons. She only had the hottest and the best, the higher up, the better. He couldn't help but notice her carrying on with the male officers around the ship. "Are you sure she feels the same way?"
Derek put his fork down and looked up at Mark in disgust, quickly turning the light and friendly conversation, "Don't you even fucking suggest… yes, she feels that way. No doubt." After he saw her the last few days of this first week on the detachment, he really had to tell himself she did feel that way.
"Good." This was the only response Mark could give, not wanting to say something one way or the other.
Derek picked up his fork and tried to take a bite, but suddenly losing his appetite. He put his fork back down and sighed loudly.
"I am assuming you have seen her around." Mark could tell by his reaction that this was something he had contemplated.
"Yes, and I can't even talk to her. She is usually with some fucking male officer." Derek scathed, watching Mark eat a little faster since Derek was seemingly done for now.
"She does get around." Mark said without thinking and quickly looked up at Derek realizing this was not the thing to say.
Derek didn't even say a word, he got up with his food and threw it all away and walked out. He immediately went to his rack and changed into clothes to work out in. He needed to relieve some stress after the quick turn of events in his conversation with Mark. As he got close to the gym, he saw Meredith and Alex talking a few feet away from the entrance. He knew Alex was no one to worry about but by the look on both faces, they were in a somewhat heated discussion. They both stopped and looked to Derek when they saw him.