Nothing Else Matters: Chapter 5
Mark Sloan does not hesitate when it comes to something that he wants. Whether it be a woman, a surgical case or even the last blueberry scone at the bakery he had fought an old lady over earlier that morning. So why was he finding himself unable to open the door to the supply closet where he knew Lexie was hiding. And why was there a strange feeling in his stomach just thinking about her. He refused to believe that he had a crush on Little Lexie Grey. He liked her, but not in that way. At least, that was what he kept telling himself. Mark took a deep breath and finally put his hand on the doorknob.
He saw Lexie sitting in the middle of the supply closet with files all around her. He smiled at the child like frustration on her face.
Mark knocked on the door to get her attention, “Little Grey” he said in greeting.
He was prepared to be met with a smile or maybe even to find her blushing in embarrassment from their earlier conversation. So Mark was surprised to see the look on her face. In less than two seconds, Lexie’s face went from surprise to absolute annoyance.
“Dr. Sloan." She then looked down at the file in her lap and sighed heavily.
The sigh and tone of her voice was familiar to him. He had heard it directed at him by many disappointed women and usually he deserved it, but he had no idea what he had done to deserve it from Lexie. He shut the door behind him and took a spot on the floor next to her.
“Not happy to see me?”
Lexie ignored his question and decided to ask one of her own.
“How did you know I was here?” she said, without looking up from her lap.
“Your boyfriend told me”
Even though he knew those words would probably anger her even more, he just couldn’t help himself.
“Shut up” she replied, still not looking at him.
“Grey, that’s not how interns speak to an attending. Especially interns on probation."
Lexie turned to face him with a forced smile.
“What can I do for you this morning Dr. Sloan?”
Mark was slightly taken aback. He had never seen Lexie look at someone with less than kindness and here she was, practically shooting daggers from her eyes.
“What’s with the attitude?”
“I don’t have an attitude.”
“Yes you do.”
Lexie sighed, "Can you tell me what you want so that I can go back to work?”
“I want you to tell me what’s bothering you.” Mark was surprised at the protective tone he heard in his voice although he shouldn't have been. This woman in front of him always seemed to invoke long buried emotions inside of him. He knew she had heard the feeling in his words when her eyes softened for a moment. After looking into his eyes for a moment, she suddenly deflated like a popped balloon before his eyes.
Lexie rubbed her eyes with the tips of her fingers, “I’m sorry. I’m taking all my anger out on you.”
Mark smiled, slightly relieved that he hadn't actually done anything wrong, “I’ve had worse Little Grey. I think I can take what you dish out.”
Lexie gave him a sideways glance and smiled before frowning, “It's just, everyone in the hospital is talking about us.”
“Well, you were the one yelling in front of the entire hospital” Mark shut his mouth when she glared his way.
“Then George came to warn me about you.” She looked at him nervously, "He said that you were using me.”
Mark suddenly wanted to ring O’Malley’s neck with his bare hands.
“O’Malley doesn’t know anything."
“And it’s not just George. All day, people have been telling me terrible things about you.” she continued softly.
Lexie then looked into his eyes. Those same warm brown eyes he had been dreaming about for weeks.
“I need to know if what they say is true. And if it is, just tell me now. Tell me that all of this is just a game to you.”
She didn’t need to explain, he knew what “all of this” meant. For weeks now, whenever she was assigned to his service, they would banter and playfully tease each other. She made him eager to go to work every day, just to see the light in her eyes when she knew an answer or to see her enthusiasm for whatever procedure she was assigned, no matter how dull or boring it was.
“You’re not a game to me Lexie” he whispered.
Mark felt his heart speed up as she nervously bit her lip.
“So, we're friends?”
“I can’t be your friend Lexie.”
Her eyes reflected the pain of yet another rejection in her life.
“Am I really so bad?”
“No. I am.” Mark said softly “I wouldn’t be a good friend for you.”
“This is that whole ‘It’s not you, it’s me speech’ isn’t it?”
Mark sighed and ran a hand over his face, “I’m trying to be nice here.”
She couldn’t understand that he was trying to protect her. To protect her from him.
“You’re never nice to interns.”
“Im not nice to interns. I'm trying to be nice to one intern. You might know her to be slightly neurotic, stubborn and one of the most promising interns I've ever met.”
What he didn't say was that she was also the most beautiful woman he had ever laid his eyes on. But that was one thing he knew he had to keep to himself.
When Lexie smiled and turned a deep shade of red, Mark couldn't help but laugh. "Shut up" she said playfully.
Lexie then took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes.
“I feel like I can trust you” she admitted.
More than anything, Mark wished he could tell her that he was trustworthy. Yet his track record proved time and time again that he couldn’t be trusted. Especially with women.
Mark suddenly began to feel uncomfortable with the way she was staring at him. He could feel his control slipping from his fingers so he quickly took charge of the conversation.
“Why are you hiding out in the supply closet”
Lexie gave him a knowing smile. She knew a subject change when she heard one.
“Im not hiding. I like it in here. None of the residents or mean attendings come in here.” Mark’s heart sped up at the teasing smile she sent his way.
There must be something wrong with his heart because this wasn’t normal. One smile shouldn’t make his heart feel like bursting from his chest.
“There’s no reason for us to come in here. That’s what interns are for."
Mark then pointed to the large stacks of charts "You're working hard.”
Lexie sighed and nodded “Yeah, well ever since I was put on probation and named the ring leader of the whole almost-killing-someone surgery, Dr. Yang decided I need to be busy every second of the day so I have to rewrite every single case file she's had for the past six months."
"Understandable. She doesn't want you cutting up other interns during your free time" he teased.
“You’re not very good at this nice thing, are you?”
Mark smirked, "Not really”
Mark couldn't help but be hypnotized by the way her face lit up with laughter. It was the sweetest sound he had ever heard and it felt like he was being put under her spell.
“I have roots” he suddenly blurt out without thinking. 'Crap' he thought as he shut his eyes.
“What?”
Mark opened his eyes to see Lexie's confused face looking back at him.
“I have roots.”
Lexie tilted her head and looked at him in silent confusion as she waited for him to continue.
“And I need to get rid of them.”
“Okay, why did you need to get rid of them?”
He knew that he wasn’t making any sense, but was relieved that she was deciding to play along.
“Because I’m not supposed to have roots. Roots are bad.”
“You know I have no idea what you’re talking about right?"
Mark nodded "I'm counting on it."
Lexie narrowed her eyes in thought before saying, "Maybe you should just leave the roots alone.”
“Why?” he couldn't help but wonder what she was going to say.
“Roots are proof that something good and beautiful can grow out of even the darkest and loneliest of places.”
Mark's heart stopped. He couldn't understand it. Even when she had no idea what he was talking about, she always seemed to make perfect sense and speak to him in a way no one else ever could.
“You’re amazing” he said.
Lexie turned a deep shade of red “Thanks, I guess?”
Mark watched her mouth open to say something else when her pager suddenly went off. He watched her quickly become nervous and flustered.
“It's Dr. Yang. I have to go or she’s going to kill me" she said stacking all of her files together as he stood up behind her.
Lexie almost knocked into him and he realized that he was blocking her way to the door and moved out of the way. He then watched as she stopped before the door and slowly turned around. Lexie tucked a piece of hair behind her ear before looking at him.
“I guess I’ll see you later, Dr. Sloan.” She then gave him that smile that seemed to send his heart in a frenzy.
Mark nodded "Bye Little Grey."
When she left the room, Mark was left with only one thought.
Mark Sloan definitely had a crush on Little Lexie Grey.
I just had to use that "Am I really so bad" part from the show. I hope you guys liked this chapter!
( next chapter)