The Alternative (Mark Sloan story)

Chapter 24

03X13

Great Expectations

"Meredith,Juliette would you guys like seconds?" Burke asked, as they all sit eating at Burke and Cristinas place.

"I'm fine." Juliette replied.

"I'm great. Maybe Cristina would like some. Cristina would you like some?" Meredith asked.

"I only made dinner for 3." Burke replied.

"You just said there was seconds." Meredith said.

"This is...awkward." Derek said, Juliette agreeing with him.

"You know, we could go, and you two could talk." Juliette tells him.

"We're talking." Cristina said.

"To each other. You're enjoying your meal at the international house of silence?" Meredith asked. "Burke, you have to feed Cristina. She doesn't cook and she will starve."

"I've got cereal!" Cristina tells her.

"You two live together. Someone has to be the first to speak." Meredith said.

"I am giving a dinner party. If she wants to sit there she can sit there. Let's just enjoy our evening and talk about something else." Burke tells them.

"I heard a crazy rumor today from one of the scrub nurses that Richard was retiring." Derek tells them.

"It's an interesting rumor." Burke replied, as Cristina snorts in disbelief.

"What?" Derek asked. "It's true? Richard's going to name a new chief of surgery?"

"He asked Burke. But Burke took himself out of the running which apparently is my fault for being part of the team." Cristina tells them.

"He asked you?" Derek asked him.

"Who wants desert?" Burke asked, ignoring him.
------------

Juliette headed to the kitchen for breakfast before having to head to her shift. After she was done eating she headed towards the bathroom, stopping at Georges door by Izzie who was standing in front of his door.

"George. Can I come in?" Izzie asked. "I made you some cookies and brownies and muffins of course. I always make muffins."

"Thank God you guys are here. I can't take any more. Three times already tonight and he's getting ready for a fourth." Callie tells Izzie and Juliette as she comes out of the room.

"Are you talking about...oh." Juliette spoke.

"Yeah I'd get it if he were all crying and depressed. Everyone deals in different ways but this is not grieving. This is my legs being bent in ways my legs do not go. And i know. I know his dad died. I know. I get it. I feel horrible, but ow ow ow." Callie said, as she puts her clothes on.

"I'm going to give you guys some privacy." Izzie said.

"Me too, I have to head to work." Juliette said, walking away from the two.

------------

"George has turned into a sex machine. Are you hearing me?" Izzie asked, as they stood in the locker room. "A machine of sex. We have to do something. What's wrong with you people?"

"Derek kept me up all night with his ranting. Cristina and Burke still aren't speaking to each other." Meredith said.

"Oh you know what? I'm fine. I'm just not going to be the first one talking. He's going to be the first cause I'm in the right. Talking first is for losers. I'm winning." Cristina tells her.