Summary: Callie realizes the extinct of her feelings for Mark.

Rating: T

In an Instant.

It had been raining hard all day. I hadn't given the time to think about that when he left that night. The night everything changed. It was another argument of course. I felt like I was being pulled in two. Arizona wanted a life with me and Sofia, not Mark. I could see she was trying. But it wasn't the life she wanted.

Mark wanted a life with Sofia, he never thought for a second that I wouldn't be a part of it. And there lies the difference between Arizona and myself. I never thought for once he wouldn't be part of my life with Sofia. I mean a intrical part of it. But having a wife meant that I was obligated to side with her. No matter how much it hurt or how against it I felt. I couldn't keep putting him before. But I was so easy. I never meant to minimalise her feelings. He and I just always seemed to connect.

We always could and now that our daughter was born it was becoming harder to gloss over. But still I was blind. I chose to be blind. To really look at my feeling for Mark would bring all kinds of hell into my life and for my daughter. This is what I told myself. And I loved her. I do love her. She's my wife for god sake.

But it all changed in an instant.

He left angry..it was some trivial thing that he and my wife were arguing about. I can't even remember what it was. But I know I felt my heart stutter at 10.30 that night. I knew he was hurt. I was hysterical with worry. Of course she dismissed it but I couldn't reach his cell. I called Derek, I called Joes. And then the call from Bailey and I knew….

So I've been here by his side for four days praying to every God I know to wake him up. He was parked at stop light when a car ran the light and caused a big rig to skid out of control and crash into his car. The impact alone almost killed him.

In a instant I knew I couldn't live my life without him. And now it might be too late. Realization hit me like a glass of cold water to the face and I had spent the last four days hiding in his room away from the world and away from my wife. I couldn't let her see that something had changed in my eyes.

But something had changed. And no amount of love or vows or duty could keep my bound to her. Not now when everything before didn't mean anything in an instant.

So I'm praying. I'm praying for him to open his eyes and come back into the world. Even though I know it would mean the end of someone else's.

It then it happens…

It all happened so fast. He moved just a little and I could see him struggling to come to. I sat on the side of the bed carefully, taking his hand into mind whispering his name…"mark opens your eyes… It's me. Its Callie..Come back to me"

A weak smile formed on his lips and his eyes slowly and heavily opened fluttering like just our daughter's when she is just waking up from a nap.

I find myself waiting with bated breath just to see those eyes. Those beautiful cool blue grey eyes so I know my world can begin to turn again.

I never heard the door open. I never felt her presence in the room. I could only take him in … waiting anxiously.

And then he was staring at me tiredly but alert.

"Cal"

"Mark"

"I love you"

"I love you too"

And he was asleep again just that fast. I pushed a stray lock of hair away from forehead and couldn't stop myself from leaning down and placing the chaste kiss against his cool lips…

I pull back satisfied and somehow I can breathe again. Until I turn and see her staring at me with cold realization of what I've been trying to hide. She could always feel it between him and me and now she has heard it and she can see it in my eyes…I love him.

Maybe I always have and didn't know it. But I know it now and so does my wife. She can see it in my eyes …

All in an instant.