Running in Circles - Lexie Grey x OC

Sounds of Silence

The sounds of bottles, glasses landing onto the bar counter, darts hitting on the wall, missing its supposed rubber board target made the bartender swear under his breath as he cast a frustrated glare at the cheering regulars. Conversations over music from a local acoustic band added to the ambiance of the Friday night.

The drinks were nearly empty, but no one wanted to finish it, serving as a prop to keep their conversation going while they were lost in their own bubble. They had been talking for a while, sitting behind the bar under the yellow overhead light. Eric had agreed to only three questions but shockingly it had been over three and he was still there, sitting down, listening to a beaming Lexie as she told random stories one after another. Eric never was a conversationalist, nor good at it. Usually, he would tap out of a casual, personal conversation that lasted longer than he intended, exhausted at the end. Unusually that night though, he found himself gazing at Lexie, never tiring of listening to her voice, mesmerised by how her eyes danced and lit up when she laughed.

Eric leaned against the counter, slightly dizzy. His gaze was hazy but focused on the person in front of him, immediately forgetting where he was and what had happened that day. His arm propped his tilted head, and he stared at Lexie as she continued to talk. He wouldn't be able to recount her story word for word, but he could still remember how it felt, to slowly be drawn to her smile, the glitter in her eyes, the tinged red on her cheeks. He allowed himself to be drawn, getting pulled in willingly so.

Lexie's smile was contagious, and Eric, eyes slowly closing, found himself intoxicated, and not because of the liquor they had consumed that night. It's her. She's a bright light, a breath of fresh air; cold rain in the summer, spring after a long winter. She's unexpectedly addicting, overwhelmingly calming. Eric couldn't move his gaze away from Lexie. A smile on his face as he followed every tug of her lips, the glisten of her hazel eyes that was almost green when hit with light.

Lexie unconsciously run her fingers through Eric's messy hair, combing it neatly with both her hands, as if instinctual, not used to seeing him so carefree, and Eric let her. She knew that Eric was always someone who made sure his hair was neatly combed, but that night he was relaxed, hunched down, shirt unbuttoned once on the neck, and sleeves rolled up. She eventually noticed his stare on her and his stupid, dumbstruck smirk. Her lips formed a flustered smile and she pulled her hands away. Lexie was almost certain she heard Eric groaned in protest before downing his last drink. She cocked her head and gave him a narrowed, jokingly wary look. She then flashed her bright smile with a cock of her head.

Eric responded with a hum and a shake of his head, letting his eyes become heavier as the booze was slowly getting into him. The sound of her calming voice didn't help either, finding himself staring and he's not hiding it.

Lexie smile softened, as she met Eric's stare, tilting her head, putting her palm under her chin as they stared at each other. She let out a slow breath and opened her mouth to speak.

- - - - -

Psych Ward - Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital
Saturday Morning

Eric's eyes opened slowly, the tiled floor coming into focus as he sat hunched over, fingers tangled in his hair. For a moment, he stayed like that, disoriented, before lifting his gaze to the hospital bed where Lexie lay. She was still, except for the faint rise and fall of her chest, her breath in sync with the steady beeping of the monitors. It had been two days of this - two days of waiting. Two days of quiet.

Too Quiet.

He winced as he rubbed his neck, the strain from hours of worry settling into his muscles. With a slow exhale, he leaned back into the sofa, eyes closing briefly as he tried to push the exhaustion away. He leaned forward again, his elbows resting on his knees, and ran his fingers through his disheveled hair.