ROLLING IN THE DEEP ━ grey's anatomy

004. back to september

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑
-ˏˋ Back to Septemberˊˎ

Mercy West
september 2005

Friday night, the end of a stress riddled millennia, the one night a week with no responsibility, a cause for celebration. Stumbling into the bar, ( Honeybees, designated hangout for Mercy West doctors ) Lillian Knightly made a beeline for the counter, only one goal in mind; get absolutely hammered. Music blared in the night, the type that can be felt throughout the whole body, heartbeat hammering in her chest as she ordered her first cup of poison for the night, downing it effortlessly.

One shot.

Liquid courage soared throughout her body, heightening her senses as she ordered another round, swallowing it just as easily as the first.

Two shots.

She spun around on her seat, unruly hair swept over her shoulder, eyes sweeping the floor, scanning the crowds for a familiar face. Humming along to the deafening music overhead, ( Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi, classic ) her eyes locked on the one and only, Jackson Avery. There he sat, smirk on his face, in all his privilege and glory, as he looked the brunette in front of him up and down, unceremoniously checking her out, causing Lillian to roll her eyes. Men.

Stealing a brisk glance across the room, moon met sun, her fire fuelled eyes sunk right into his as if daring him to carry on looking at her while he entertained such company. He was the one to break the trance, turning his head and feigning a cough, excusing himself from the woman before him, making his way towards the counter. Watching his actions with a bored expression etched across her face, Lillian abruptly turned, ordering yet another shot, downing it with that familiar grace of the evening.

Three shots.

"Well, well, well, Lillian Knightly in a bar? Never thought I'd see the day." he asked as he reached her, a sense of friendly mocking in his tone that didn't go unnoticed by her.

"Hm and why's that Avery?" she questioned in return, raising a brow at him causing him to step back and stutter his words, as if intimidated by her.

"No, no reason" he averted his eyes and cleared his throat in order to regain his composure, glancing at the empty shot glasses beside her for a change in conversation, "And what are we drinking tonight?"

"Vodka."

"Straight?" he asked as if in disbelief.

"No, gay." she answered with a slight eye roll in his direction. Then as if realising what she'd just said in her tipsy state, she started laughing. And she couldn't stop. She'd had to stop to take a breath only to let out a snort, causing her to start all over again, making her ribs hurt. Jackson just stared at her with soft eyes, adoration written all over his face. He'd never heard her laugh before, properly laugh, and it was something he never wanted to forget, a new melody he would record in his mind and replay every second of every day.

He turned around, shaking his head as he signalled the bartender over for another round. The glasses refilled, they both lifted them up, muttering a brief 'cheers' as they swiftly drained the glasses of alcohol.

Four shots.

***