Nothing Else Matters: Chapter 4
One of the many things Mark Sloan was good at, was knowing how to avoid someone. Derek knew this, which is why it had taken him five hours to find Mark. Because when Mark doesn’t want to found, he becomes damn near invisible. Mark was hiding out in the resident’s locker room finishing his paperwork when Derek finally found him.
“Is Little Sloan leaving Little Grey alone?”
Mark’s face twisted into a grimace and he shuddered. He twisted his body around and glared at Derek, who was standing at the door.
“Can you stop saying that, it’s creepy. And yes, Little Sloan is not bothering Little Grey. Problem is, Little Grey won’t leave Little Sloan alone.”
Derek let out a chuckle as he let the door shut behind him.
“Come on! Lexie is not hitting on you”
Mark pointed to his head, “She is in here." He then sighed and ran his hand over his face.
"I can't stop thinking about her," he said.
Derek crossed his arms in front of his chest and stared at his best friend. He had never seen Mark display such control over his actions. Usually when he wanted to sleep with someone, he slept with them but here he was, showing a level of self control Derek never thought he had. Derek stepped forward before asking Mark a question that had been on his mind for the entire day.
“I heard you like her?” Mark looked at Derek and frowned, “Where did you hear that?”
“It’s all around the hospital. Apparently you and Lexie were having a very cosy looking conversation that ended with Lexie calling out that you like her.”
Mark groaned and sat back in his chair, “The amount of gossip around here is ridiculous." He then stared at Derek, "This is all your fault. You and your stupid seed. Now I cant get her out of my head because I’m not supposed to have her in my head.””
“I thought I told you to un plant it. ”
“Too late. It’s already sprouted. Roots. I’ve got roots now." Mark sighs dejectedly, "but it’s not like it matters now.”
“Why not?”
“Little Grey doesn’t want Little Sloan.”
“Why do you say that?”
“She doesn’t act like all of the other females in this hospital. She’s not afraid of me or infatuated with me. She doesn’t follow me around like a love sick puppy like the other interns.”
Derek laughed lightly at his friend. “Instead, you’re the love sick puppy and she’s got you following her around.”
“You suck at this best friend thing." Mark glared at Derek before continuing, "besides, she’s got a thing for someone else. It’s pathetic, but she does.”
“Does this person like her?”
“He’s an idiot if he doesn’t”
In that moment, something clicked in Derek's mind, “You have a crush on her.”
Mark scoffed, “I do not crush on anyone. Don’t turn this into a girl thing.”
“Maybe you having a crush isn’t so bad?”
Mark looked at Derek confused, “Hold on, didn’t you want me to stay away from Little Grey’s....little grey?
“Im starting to wonder if maybe Lexie would actually be good for you," he then smirks, "might actually turn you into a human being. You know, someone that cares about other people’s feelings..”
“Now you’re making fun of my pain. I’m leaving.”
“Let me know when I should start referring to you as Mr. Lexie Grey.” Derek called out to Mark's back.
Mark’s eyes narrowed as he turned around to glare at his best friend, “Jackass.”
Meredith was livid. Why couldn't he follow simple instructions? Was it that difficult for him to keep his McPenis in his McPants?
It was in this state of mind that she found Mark standing at the nurse's station and with her tiny ineffectual fist, she punched him in the arm.
“What was that for?” Mark looked at her in a state of shock and confusion as he rubbed his arm.
“Stay away from Lexie" Meredith warned.
Mark smirked as he realized what this was about. “I’m not Derek. You can’t boss me around.”
“Lexie is very fragile and vulnerable right now and getting involved with you isn’t the smartest thing. You treat women like disposable gloves.”
“First of all, these women you speak of all knew what they were getting into. Hell, I told them what to expect from the beginning. And second of all, you don’t even care about Lexie so stop pretending.”
Meredith narrowed her eyes at his statement.
“I’m not pretending. I’m evolving.”
“So did you tell Karev to stay away? Cause I heard he slept with Little Grey and forgot.”
“That was before. This is now. Now, I care.”
“Sure” Meredith was starting to get on his nerves.
“I mean it Mark. Stay away from Little Grey.”
“She’s not as fragile as you think she is. Besides, last I looked, she was an adult who could think for herself.”
Meredith's jaw drops and pokes him in the arm “Stop looking at her!”
Mark glares at Meredith “How does Derek put up with you?”
“You’re an ass”
Mark crossed his arms in front of his chest and leaned back against the counter. “Didn’t you already know that?”
She copies his stance and nods, “Yes. That’s why you can’t get involved with Lexie.”
They stand in silence for a couple seconds before Mark says, “Just because I’m an ass to you and everyone else, doesn’t mean I’m an ass to her.”
“Then why have I heard rumors of her telling you to shut up?”
Mark rolled his eyes, “Don’t these nurses have jobs to do? Yes, she told me to shut up; repeatedly, but it was only because I was telling her the truth.”
“About what?”
“That, Big Grey, is none of your business. I don’t care if you do ‘care about her’. ”
Mark wanted to stay and laugh at the way Meredith's mouth was hanging open but he was getting tired of this conversation.
“Are we done here? Cause I’ve actually got work to do.”
“Derek was right.”
He looked up and was confused by the small smile on her face.
“About what?”
“You have a crush on her”
Mark groans loudly before yelling, “I DO NOT HAVE A CRUSH ON LEXIE GREY" causing everyone in the area to stare at him.
Meredith laughs and starts walking away from him, “You do and don’t even know it. Maybe I’ll start calling you McCrushy from now on.”
Mark stands in shock until he realizes the entire floor was staring at him.
“There are sick people dying and all of you are just standing there. Get back to work!”
He watches everyone rushing to get back to work when he notices George suddenly rushing past and stops him. Annoyed, he realizes O'Malley would probably know where Lexie was.
“O’Malley, where’s Grey?
“Uh, Meredith? I think she’s assisting Dr-“
“Not that Grey, the other one. Little Grey.”
George knit his eyebrows together in confusion, “You mean Lexie? What do you want with her?”
Mark gave him a threatening look, “Since when do I answer to you Wonder Boy. Didn’t you become a resident like ten minutes ago?
George looked down embarrassed and started fidgeting.
“She’s in the supply closet on the second floor” he said before rushing off in the other direction.
Mark watches him go and shakes his head,
“Idiot.”
( next chapter)