She stopped bent down and hissed at him. "You're drunk! Again."

Shrugging he replied, "So? Get off my ass Rachel."

Shaking her head at him she reached out and snagged the bottle.

"Hey! That's mine."

"So is this restaurant but you don't seem to give a shit about it." she paused and let out a deep sigh. "You look like shit Mase."

"Thanks for the helpful advice there."

"Do you really think this is what she’d want?"

Feeling his head swirl a little he swayed and looked up at his sister, trying to focus but seeing two of her.

"It doesn't matter does it? She's not here." then he mumbled, "And never will be again."

Rachel placed the bottle on the stainless steel bench beside her. "Are we still talking about mom?"

He lifted his eyes to hers and stood on shaky feet, "Of course we are. And now we're done. Give me back the bottle."

"No." she replied stubbornly.

"Fine. I'll just go out to my bar and get another one."

Rachel rolled her eyes, "What are you doing to yourself Mason? This wont help."

He pushed past her and mumbled, "Nothing does."


Lena sat in the car beside Shelly and took a deep breath. Looking over at her friend she shook her head. "I can't do this."

She reached over and took Lena's hand. "Yes you can. I'll be right there. He knows the hospital comes here and I'm sure he’s seen the booking and will stay well out of your way."

Swallowing, Lena couldn't decide if that was a good or bad thing. It hurt her physically to think of being here and not being able to go back and talk to him, kiss him or touch him. This place held a lot of memories both good and bad and she couldn't help but think tonight's would be in the latter category.

"Come on." Shelly said as she opened her door and climbed out. Lena closed her eyes took a deep breath and got out of the car. When they walked in the door she noticed the place was at full capacity. People were lined up along the bar standing behind those sitting on stools. The tables were all jam packed and the waiters and waitresses were maneuvering their way through them carefully. The hostess asked if they had reservations and luckily Shelly spoke up because it was quite clear Lena had lost all ability to function. It was amazing she was actually still standing on her own. They followed a young blond woman through some tables to the long set up in the back where most of the doctors had already taken their seats.

Lena's eyes darted around the dimly lit dining room, trying to see anyone familiar like Wendy, Rachel or even Mason just so she could slink low into her chair and avoid them. Luck was not on her side though because just as the waiter arrived at their table she saw the frosted double doors push open and Mason come out from behind them.

The first thing she noticed was he looked terrible. This was not the same man she’d met nearly eight months ago. The man storming through the restaurant with a scowl etched deep into his face, and a dark shadow of a beard, looked nothing like the easy going Mason she’d come to know and love. This man looked tired. His eyes had dark circles around them and his hair was longer than usual and falling into his face. He didn't greet anyone and didn't smile as he pushed his way behind the bar, and reached up to grab a bottle from the top shelf.

The bartender watched him closely, Lena noticed, but didn't say anything as Mason grabbed a glass then turned to make his way back out from  behind the bar. Suddenly he stopped and his eyes focused on someone walking through the front door. Lena followed his gaze and froze when she saw the tall red head, Trisha, standing at the front door. Almost in slow motion, like watching a car wreck, Lena saw Trisha spot Mason turn on tall black heels and strut her way over to him.

Feeling the bile rise in her throat Lena turned to Shelly. "I need to leave."

Shelly looked at her and arched a brow, "What? Why? Did something happen?"

Lena shook her head and clamped her mouth shut, not trusting herself to say anything. Shelly looked behind her and Lena knew the minute she saw what was unfolding. It must have been worse then when she was looking because a look of pity slid onto Shelly's face.

"Oh honey. I'm sorry I made you come. I didn't realize he was with,"

Lena held her hand up and swallowed not wanting to hear the words. Her heart felt like it was being squeezed by a tight fist and she couldn't seem to take a breath.

"Can we just go?" she managed to get out.

Shelly nodded and pushed back from the table to stand. Lena also stood then turned to find Wendy behind her chair. Swallowing and keeping her eyes away from the bar Lena looked at the woman she had started to consider a good friend.

"Lena." Wendy said reaching out and taking her hand. Lena looked down at the fingers squeezing hers gently. "How are you?" she seemed to think better of that and shook her head. "I'm sorry that was a stupid question. Please don't leave. I know Rachel would love to see you."

Lena stiffened. She hadn't been sure if Rachel would ever want to talk to her again after what had happened and they way things had ended with Mason.

"I'm not so sure," Lena started.

"Well I am. Just because Mason is falling off the deep end doesn't mean we all have to stop talking."

Lena nodded once and couldn't help but raise her eyes to the bar. Big mistake. Mason had come around from behind it and had seated himself in the end corner, where she’d once sat and flirted with him. However, this time he had Trisha sitting on his lap stroking his hair. Lena must of made some kind of strangled sob because Wendy turned and looked in the direction she was. Wendy quickly turned back to her. "It's not what you think."

Lena looked at the woman in front of her and nodded, "Yes it is."

Shaking her head Wendy answered, "No it's not. He's drunk and Trisha has wanted him for months. Even after they broke up and you two hadn’t met, it was definitely over. She doesn't understand no and she’s looking for an opportunity to slip in, she found it."

Lena swallowed and turned to Shelly who was looking over at the two at the end of the bar with a look that may have been, Lena thought, murderous.

"I need to go." Lena said moving to push past Wendy. She felt the manager's hand on her arm and looked back at her.

"Please don't. If you ever cared about Mason, or Catherine, please don't leave him alone with her. He'll hate himself for it."

Turning Lena asked, "I don't understand. What is it you expect me to do? I'm not his keeper. He hates me."

Wendy shook her head. "No he doesn't. He hates what you did."

Lena sucked in a deep breath and Wendy nodded, "Yes. We all know. We're family, but he doesn't hate you."

Shelly took Lena’s arm and whispered, "I'll come with you."

Lena turned toward her friend and looked at her as though she were insane. "You'll come with me where?"

"To rescue you're stupid prince." she paused blowing out a big sigh. "Do you really want that slimy witch on him?"

Right now as Lena looked over at Trisha clinging to Mason's neck she thought she didn't care what happened to him, but that wasn't true. Although she felt she would regret it she glared at both Wendy and Shelly and dropped her bag on the seat and huffed out, "Fine." and marched toward what she knew was about to be an ugly battle.


Mason's head was fuzzy and Trisha was sitting on his lap stroking his hair like an animal. It was starting to really annoy the shit out of him but he was to drunk to do anything about it. Originally he’d decided to drown himself in scotch then Trisha had arrived and he’d changed his mind and decided to drown himself in her instead. Now as he sat here with her clinging to him and petting him like a prized Labrador he thought, big fucking mistake.

"Oh I've missed you so much Mase." she cooed into his ear.

Her perfume was overly flowery and was tickling his nose so much he thought he was having an allergic reaction to it. Then he laughed to himself because he thought it was hilarious that he could actually be allergic to her instead. He felt her mouth and her warm breath on his ear right before a tongue flicked out and traced it. He shivered and not in a good way, what the hell was he doing? He was about to push her off, when he heard a woman beside them comment, "Well, isn't this cozy?"

Mason looked around Trisha's shoulder and almost pushed her to the floor when he spotted Dr Shelly Monroe and Dr Lena O'Donnell standing at his bar. It seemed as though the scathing comment had delivered by Dr Monroe, since Lena was glaring at him with a look of pure disgust. So instead of dumping Trisha on the floor Mason wrapped his arms around her waist and hauled her onto his lap. She let out an ear piercing giggle and he watched Lena's eyes narrow and Shelly arch a brow.

"Evening Dr's." he managed and was impressed he didn’t slur his words.

"Casanova." Shelly said tipping her chin down in greeting and then glared at Trisha when she giggled.

"Casanova? What does she mean?"

That's when Lena decided to step in and unpin her first grenade. "She means he's a player. Didn't you know that Trisha? He was dubbed that in a national article?"

Trisha ran a hand down his chest and Lena watched the move with narrowed eyes and a fury he’d never seen on her. She looked absolutely murderous and then her eyes turned to him and she just looked disgusted. He couldn't honestly say he blamed her but he'd be damned if he admitted it.