chapter eight

raindrops keep falling on my head.season two, episode one.

as the bar's atmosphere became more crowded every passing second. The latter had yet to say a single word to her, but Cassie knew exactly what she was thinking.

"Just for the record," she said, breaking the silence. "He told me they were divorced, and that he would tell you about his when the time was right." Meredith finally looked up at her. "He lied to me too."

Meredith sighed and passed Cassie one of her tequila shots, which she gladly accepted.

"Hey Cassie," Joe smiled, before turning to Meredith. "You look familiar. You been here before?"

"Once. That worked out well."

"I know that look," Joe said, filling up their shot glasses. "It'll be one of two things. Either your boss is giving you hell, or your boyfriend is. Which is it?"

"Both. My boyfriend is my boss, which was a problem. But not as big a problem as the fact that my boyfriend has a wife, and forced my best friend to unknowingly lie to me."

"And her boyfriend, who's basically my brother, lied to me and told me he divorced his wife, who also happens to be my friend, even though I haven't spoken to her in a year," Cassie added.

"Tell you what," Joe smiled awkwardly, passing them each another shot. "These ones, they're on the house."

"Thanks, Joe."

"Can I have a beer, please?" George asked Joe as him and Cristina came into the bar.

Cassie reached over Cristina and grabbed the hand George used to punch Alex, inspecting it for any sprains or damaging bruises. When she deemed it all clear, she let go, ignoring how he was rolling his eyes at her dramatics.

"Let's play a game of whose life sucks the most," Meredith suggested. "I'll win. I always win."

"No, you don't want to play with me," Cristina shook her head.

"Oh, I do," she insisted. "I'll even go first. Derek's married."

At that, George spit his beer out. "George, beer is dripping from your nostrils," Cristina cringed as he fled to the bathroom to get cleaned up.

"Told you I'd win."

Cristina sighed. "No, you didn't win."

"Did you hear me? I said Derek is married. As in pigheaded, adulterous, liar married. Lied to his best friend-slash-sister for months to make sure she wouldn't tell me, married. Nothing you could say could top that."

"I'm pregnant," Cristina deadpanned, sipping her water as Meredith and Cassie gaped in her direction. "I win."

Suddenly, Joe started groaning and holding his head. A customer asked him if he was all right, but he collapsed before he could answer.

"Okay, maybe Joe wins," Cassie said, rushing over to help. "Joe, lay back down."

"You called the gurney patrol?" the bartender groaned, trying to get away from the herd of doctors trying to help.

"Sit back and relax. We have to take you to the hospital to run some tests," Meredith informed him.

"Tests? I don't need tests. I'm fine!"

Cristina rolled her eyes. "Dude! You collapsed! On the floor. This is your bar. You know how filthy this floor is."

"Radial pulse is strong."

"Minor skull contusions."

"You're sleeping with someone?" Meredith questioned Cristina, who gave Cassie a pleading look not to tell.

"What?" George raised a brow as he reappeared. "Who?"

"Why is that such a shock?" she scoffed. "Even George managed to get some action. And I'm sure Cassie is too."

"Correction. George got some syphilis."

"Cassie is not, actually."

"How could I not know that you were sleeping with someone?" Meredith continued.

"Forget this," Joe shook his head, stumbling up from the floor.

"Joe!"

"The hospital is right across the street. I can sure as hell walk across the street by myself."

"Oh, I think we should—"

"No, I got him," George said, rushing after Joe into the parking lot.

☆

"All right, details,"Meredith demanded while the interns were waiting to see what was wrong with Joe. "You're really pregnant? What are you going to do?"

"Look, you know what happens to pregnant interns. I'm not switching to the vagina squad or spending my life popping zits. I'm too talented. Surgery's my life," Cristina replied.

"Which begs the question, who are you sleeping with?"

"Does that really matter?" Cassie chimed in, knowing Cristina was uncomfortable sharing that information.

"Just a guy."

"Yes, it matters. That's all I get? You can't just bring something like this up and expect me to drop it."

Cristina sighed in annoyance, not before sending a grateful look to Cassie for keeping her mouth shut. "Well, watch me."

"Why are you back here tonight, don't you have a date with McDreamy?" Izzie questioned as her and George joined the trio.