Focus
‘Hey, I’m with you today.’ Meredith said, smiling as she approached Addison. ‘That’s great Dr Grey. Have you read the charts.’ Addison replied. ‘Not yet, I uh haven’t had the chance.’ Meredith said as she took some things from Addison, who looked like she was going to fall or drop everything she was carrying or both. ‘That’s unacceptable Dr Grey. I expect you to be prepared.’ Addison replied dryly. ‘Geez, Addie. Who rattled you?’ Meredith said, letting out a laugh as she did. ‘It’s Dr Montgomery-Shepherd.’ Addison stated. ‘Really?’ Meredith asked. ‘What’s going on Addison?’ Addison sighed and unlocked the door to her office. When both women were inside she closed to door and took a deep breath. ‘We can’t be friends and we can’t be more than friends. We need to be colleagues, only.’ Meredith shook her head in confusion. ‘We are friends, Addie. I don’t understand.’ Addison sighed. ‘Derek and I dealing with our issues and us being friends is a problem because I still have feelings for you and its confusing for me. I don’t know what I’m doing any more so we need to be professional at all times.’ Meredith nodded and let out a laugh. ‘I get it. You can’t help that you find me irresistible.’ Meredith laughed again. Addison smacked her arm playfully. ‘Mer, this is serious. I’m not playing around.’ Addison couldn’t help but laugh a little too. ‘What happened to Dr Grey?’ Meredith smiled. ‘She got annoying.’ Addison laughed. ‘You’re awful but I’m serious. Please understand, Mer?’ Meredith nodded. ‘Professional. I got it…I guess I’ll go read those charts.’ Meredith gave Addison a sad smile before leaving the room.
‘Hey, did you talk to Meredith?’ Derek asked as he approached Addison in the hallway. Addison nodded. ‘Yeah. I told you I would and I did.’ Addison replied, her voice sounding colder than she had intended. ‘Addie, it’s for the best. Our marriage is important and I don’t want you hanging around with your ex…it makes things difficult for us.’ Derek added, equally as cold. ‘What are we doing Derek? All we seem to do is argue about Meredith. Are you still in love with her? I know I still have feelings for her but I was fine with that, you’re the one who seems to have a problem. So, are you still in love with her?’ Addison asked. ‘Yes. I am still in love with Meredith. But she wants you. You are my wife and I love you and I want to fix our marriage but we are both in love with someone else so we can’t be around her if we want to fix us.’ Addison knew the answer to her question but she was shocked that Derek was honest about it. She nodded quickly. ‘Okay. I’m sorry. You’re right. Our marriage is our focus. I love you, Derek.’ Addison reached to hug Derek, he responded by wrapping his arms around her. ‘Oh, before I forget I have a surgery tonight so could you remember to pick up our dry cleaning? Your suit for this stupid prom is with it.’ Addison said as they pulled back from the hug. Derek nodded and kissed Addison gently. ‘Gotta run. Meeting with the Chief.’ Addison nodded as Derek walked quickly towards the elevator.
Addison and Derek were in the elevator together when the doors opened and Meredith stepped in, not noticing the other occupants of the elevator because her face was in a chart. When she looked up to press the button for her floor she groaned. ‘Oh, god.’ She sighed. She looked down and noticed their joined hands and sighed again. ‘Dr Grey, it’s nice to see you.’ Derek said. Meredith smiled awkwardly. ‘You too, Dr Shepherd.’ She nodded towards him. ‘Oh and you too, Dr Montgomery-Shepherd.’ Addison turned to her then and smiled awkwardly. ‘Thanks, have a great day.’ She said as Meredith left the elevator when it opened at a floor that was not the one she had planned on.