We've Got To Stop Meeting Like This

Bedroom Ceiling

Her arms were wrapped tight around her stomach as she left the elevator that had arrived on the floor for her hotel room. She was biting down on her lip so hard that she swore she had started to taste blood.

He made her feel... special, wanted. He made her feel important. But she couldn't do it. She couldn't give herself to him. Not when he lived on the opposite coast, not when he was working under her mother.

Oh, God, her mother. She was the last person who needed to find out Meredith had even been involved with someone else. Surgery was her focus. Building her career was her focus. She didn't have time for insignificant flings. Her mother had a way of finding things out, and Meredith had to stop any wind of this fling getting back to her.

She took a deep breath to fight back her tears as she unlocked the door to her room. She jumped slightly and her hand flew to her chest when she saw Cristina sitting on her bed waiting for her, "What the hell are you doing here, Cristina?"

"Wondering where you'd gotten to, we have a flight to catch in a few hours," Cristina assesses the expression on her friend's face, the redness that outlined her eyes, "Mer, what happened?"

Meredith sat on the bed beside Cristina with a long sigh, shaking her head, "It's just... I just... and he just, ugh," she groaned and buried her face into her hands, "I never should've gotten involved again."

Cristina sighed softly and rested a hand on Meredith's shoulder with a slight squeeze, "Come on, we can drink about it on the plane."

****

Meredith and Cristina entered the airport lounge and sat at the bar with their carry-ons sat beside their stools. Cristina ordered their drinks as Meredith's face fell in her hands, "I can't believe all the flights out of here are delayed, I just want to leave."

She still wore the jumper Derek had given her but had swapped out the dress for a pair of jeans for the plane. But now their flight was delayed for a good five hours, and they planned to spend that time sat at the bar, drinking. "Tell me about it. I'm dying to get back to the hospital, can't have Evil Spawn, Bambi and Barbie getting ahead of us already! Drink up."

She took the shot of tequila offered to her by Cristina and downed it in one, slamming the glass back on the wooden bar with a little too much force, "Keep them coming."

She felt a presence beside her before a familiar voice spoke, causing her to groan internally, "Nice to see you with more clothes on, Meredith."

Cristina looked over with a short laugh, "Is this...?"

"Oh, God no," Meredith eyes went wide as she downed another shot that had appeared in front of her before addressing Mark, "Please, leave. You didn't see me here."

"Hey, I didn't realise you were sat here until I came to order drinks, but he might want to get the next round in, we're going to be here for a while," Mark informed her, "But I won't say anything... much. I'll get the rounds in if you're still here."

He walked away again with his drinks and she lowered her forehead onto the bar with a groan as Cristina laughed a little beside her, "So who was that again?"

"Derek's best friend, Mark Sloan," she grumbled, not lifting her head, "Is there no other bar we can sit at?"

"Unfortunately, this is the only place here with the alcohol. Just keep your head down like that, you'll be fine," Cristina ordered them more drinks, giving Meredith a few pats on the back.

****

The sharp taste of the scotch hit the back of his throat as he finished off the remainder of the drink in his glass. "I can't explain, Mark. It's like, she's it for me. But she just... she's a complete mystery. It's like she's a stranger, but she isn't, you know?"