Dr Mark Sloan

Lena raises her eyebrows. “How about you just take me back to where you’re staying and we use actions instead of words?”

Lena stands, putting her bag over her shoulder. “Are you trying to convince me otherwise, Mark? I already said sure.” She points out with a raise of her eyebrow.

Mark’s offer was sweet, but now that the trial was done, all Meredith wanted, and she knew Derek did too, was to move forward and past this. They would never forget about what happened, it would always be with them, but the trial had been rough in that they had to dig head deep back in all of it and relive it all over again. Still, rather than just shutting Mark out, Meredith nods and forces on a smile as she says, “Thanks…”

“Fair enough,” Lena remarks, raising her drink to him before downing the rest of it. His question surprises her, but Mark’s old reputation did precede him. “Sure.” She replies, nodding.

Looking in front of her as they walked, as a distraction to her lame question and feeling weird about having said it out loud, Mark’s response pull her attention back on him, surprised that he was being honest about it to her but also thankful. It was fair. She would not even blame him for being angry that Lexie took off without telling him anything, even though he had done far worse to her. It would be human, for him to be upset that she returned him the gesture even though she knew Lexie had not done it this way as a mean payback, at all. Lexie was not a resentful person, all the opposite. Lost in thoughts there, Mark’s question catches her off guard and she turns to him, eyebrow raised up. “Mh?” It comes right out of her mouth. But that could not be her answer, nor could she just go with the everything’s great response because he had been honest with her. He had given her the truth about where he stood so she owed him the same amount of honesty back. “Good,” she shrugs, but she does not leave it at that. “The trial was rough… but we’re moving forward.” She nods, swallowing, turning back to look up to Mark.

“Someone who was the subject of it through no fault of their own,” Lena replies. “But at what point do you deal with it, then?” She asks, not judging, really just wondering his perspective.

Meredith responds with a shake of head as she sips more coffee from her cup. She knew she was hard to please. She knew she was challenging as a resident and co-worker, that she had very high expectations and could be harsh at times, but her intention was obviously to encourage the interns and residents she would work with to be better. She pushed them, gave them all she had. The least she asked for in return was for them to give them all they had… And be on time, organized and do the things they were asked. Glancing over to Mark as he picks up on her accusation, she only nods her head in response, knowing very well that he would dare doing that. “I know you,” she responds in a muttered voice, sipping some more coffee as they walk down the hall. “Mh,” she then responds to his saying they would find her an intern. She did not really believe in finding one she would work well with. Like he had said, they did not seem to make them like they used to. Now walking and talking about work was fine, but she knew Mark was avoiding any personal topic, and though she knew he only meant well by that, she also knew that wanting to give him a chance was also meaning letting him in and sharing more personal stuff. “So…” She trails off, not sure of where to begin. She glances up to him, gulps, then looks before her as they walk side to side with their coffee in hand. “How have you been…?” Oh, lame. That was lame.

@drmsloan

“I try not to listen to gossip,” Lena replies, sipping her drink as she watches Mark down his second in a few gulps. “That’s the thing, though, the amnesia will only last tonight. But as long as you know that,” She shrugs. “Sure, why not? I could drink.”

“I could party all night and still pull off a 48 hours shift. I’d be dead after, but I still made it through. Without calling-in sick,” Meredith snaps, clearly annoyed. “It’s like they don’t want to work anymore. They want the paycheck and the glory of saying I’m a doctor but they don’t put in the work. Not all of them, but I have a few names in mind,” she mutters, sipping some coffee again, shrugging. “You keep your intern,” she responds. “If he’s good, you want to keep him. Besides, if I have him, you’ll constantly page him to get you coffees so I won’t even have any help.” Raising up an eyebrow, the corner of her mouth curves up.

“Yea I suppose we do,” Lena muses, taking a long sip of her drink. “But some days more than others. I feel like I’ve been on a streak lately, just gotta get out of a rut,” she sighs with a shake of her head. “Well, that sounds like some inappropriate coping, Mark. What’s got you drinking?” She counters.

She’s debating whether or not to order another drink or go home when Mark Sloan sits beside her, ordering one for her. “Well you sure know how to flatter a woman,” Lena snorts, though she takes the drink and remains seated. “Not much to talk about, I just feel like the angel of death today,” She mutters, taking a sip of the whiskey, relishing the taste as it goes down her throat.