Gray's anatomy reverse

In the on-call room, Lexie sat cross-legged on the bed, the flute resting on her lap, the sound of the soft music lingering in the air. Mark stood by the door, holding a small box of her favorite dairy-free chocolate candy-an offering he knew would get her attention when she was in the mood to escape.

He placed the box beside her, a playful smirk on his face as he observed his wife.

"You know," Mark began, his voice low and teasing, "you get really good at that flute. It's like you're trying to hide from everything."

Lexie didn't respond immediately, instead picking up a piece of candy and unwrapping it. She popped it into her mouth, savoring the taste, then glanced up at him. "I don't know why you thought you could bribe me with candy, but I'm not in the mood to talk about Derek right now."

Mark chuckled, leaning against the doorframe, his eyes never leaving her. "I wasn't planning on talking about Derek. I'm not even sure he's worth the air today." He paused, noticing the subtle shift in her expression as she set the flute aside and took another piece of chocolate. "But if you really want to talk about it... I'm here."

Lexie let out a breath, clearly conflicted. "I just... I feel like I should have been able to fix it. You know? I should have been the one to stop it."

Mark stepped closer, sitting beside her on the bed. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. "You did everything you could, Lex. Don't let him drag you down with his mess. He made the call. Not you. You were just there to pick up the pieces."

Lexie turned her head to look at him, her eyes tired but grateful. She knew he was right, but there was a weight she couldn't shake. It wasn't just about the patient anymore. It was about Derek. Her brother-in-law. Her family. And the pressure of being the one who had to help him through it all.

Meanwhile, down the hall in the lounge, Derek nursed another drink. The alcohol did little to numb the guilt coursing through him. His thoughts were a spiral, and he was spiraling fast.

The door to the lounge opened, and Derek stiffened as he heard the familiar sound of Mark's voice outside.

"I really don't get it, Derek. You messed up, but why are you punishing yourself with this?" Mark's voice cut through Derek's haze.

Derek's response was a low, frustrated growl. "I don't need you telling me what to do, Mark."

Mark didn't back down. "No, but you sure as hell need to stop trying to drink your problems away."

Derek snapped back, "And what? You think talking about it will fix it? What happened today is something I can't fix. I couldn't save him."

Mark was quiet for a long moment before his voice softened, "You've got a family who loves you. Lexie loves you. You don't have to do this alone."

Derek leaned back, resting his head against the wall. "She deserves better than me right now."

As Mark walked away from the door, heading back to Lexie, he couldn't help but glance toward the on-call room. It was clear his best friend was in a bad place, but Lexie... she had her own battle to fight, too. The pressure of holding it all together, trying to keep the peace between her husband and brother-in-law while also dealing with the aftermath of the surgery. It wasn't fair.

Back in the on-call room, Lexie finished the last of the candy, her fingers absentmindedly playing with the wrapper. She was quiet, her thoughts heavy.

Mark, noticing her mood, gently prodded her. "You don't have to carry all this on your own, Lex. Whatever it is, you know I'm here for you."

Lexie looked up, meeting his eyes with a small smile. "I know. I just need to process everything." She leaned into his side, closing her eyes. "Thank you for the candy. It helps."