CODING ━ grey's anatomy

chapter forty two

"Can we get back on track?"

Meredith nodded. "I can't sleep. I can't sleep without the dreaming—"

"And the panic attacks."

"One. One panic attack."

"Okay, still."

"What's wrong with me?" she groaned.

"As far as I can tell," Cristina shrugged. "Severe abandonment issues."

"That's crap," Meredith scoffed. "Psych is crap. Issues?"

"Actually," Cassie began, causing the other two to roll their eyes.

"Here we go."

"A fear of abandonment isn't a recognized condition or mental health disorder, per se. Instead, it's considered a type of anxiety and is more than often treated as such. Initial behaviors of abandonment fear are usually not purposeful, however they are self inflicted. Over time, the reaction these behaviors get, plus the attention that comes with it, can become self-reinforcing. That can cause someone to repeat the behaviors in order to get the response again. This behavior can have unhealthy consequences, and over time it can ruin relationships. It can also prevent the development of healthy platonic bonds."

Meredith looked at her blankly. "Huh?"

Cristina pointed at Cassie. "She's saying that it's all your fault."

"No," Cassie defended. "I'm not— okay, look. Have you considered that maybe you and Derek should stop having breakup sex? That it might be making things worse?"

Meredith sighed. "The more available he gets... the more I pull away."

Cristina tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing," Meredith waved her off. "It's a Derek thing."

☆

"So, what exactly is a gentlemen's evening?" Mark questioned Derek as they walked down the stairs together.

"I don't know," he shrugged. "It's an evening with gentlemen."

"Sounds kinky," Cassie said, coming up between the two. Mark looked down at her, instinctively smiling and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "The Chief is getting a stripper?"

"No, I don't... I don't think the Chief meant strippers," Derek shook his head.

"Sure sounds like strippers," Mark shrugged as the group passed Bailey. "Dr. Bailey? What's the first thing that comes to mind when I say the words gentlemen's evening?"

"Tassels," she answered. "Shiny, sequined tassels and 1 dollar bills."

"See?" Cassie pointed at Bailey in agreement. "Strippers."

"There will be no strippers. I'm... almost positive."

"So you don't know what this thing is either?"

Derek shrugged. "No, but you're in?"

"Oh, Mark is going?" Cassie raised a brow.