This is the start of what will be a short series of ficlets between Callie and Addison as they deal with their grief over losing Mark.
Disclaimer: I am obviously not Shonda Rhimes nor do I have any affiliation with her. I seek nothing from this endeavor other than the critiques of fellow writers and readers.
"Shit." She's standing at the kitchen sink, up to her elbows in bubbles and dirty dishes while Arizona works with her physical therapist in the living room and Sofia naps on their bed, when realization comes over her. The glass that she's holding slips from her hand, collides harshly with the metal basin and probably breaks beneath the water, but she doesn't care as she mindlessly grabs for the towel to dry her hands and yanks the cellphone from her pocket. Her hands shake as she finds her way to the master bathroom, past the sleeping toddler, to collapse on the cold tile floor as she hits the speed dial for the woman whose heart she was about to break.
"Hello?" The familiar voice sends a shock down her spine and a fresh round of tears pools beneath her eyes. "Callie? Cal, are you okay?"
"Addie..." Callie's voice breaks and she presses the back of her hand to her mouth. This should have been Derek's phone call but they've both been so busy; first with deluding themselves with false hope and then letting him go, now funeral arrangements. "Oh god, Addison."
"Callie, you're scaring me." Addison's voice is wavering, as if she already knows. "What is going on?"
"I'm sure you heard about the plane crash..." Things had been so hectic but she should have called Addison. One of them should have called Addison. "Addie... Mark got really hurt in the crash."
"No."
The whimper in the redhead's voice made her falter for a second but she pulled together all her courage and powered through. "He had an advanced directive; after thirty days... after thirty days, we were supposed to let him go if there was no chance for recovery. Derek... Derek was his medical proxy."
"Callie... is... Cal, please."
"He's gone, Addison." Callie bit her lip hard enough to taste blood as she took a shaky breath in. "Yesterday. We took him off the vent yesterday and he... Derek and I were there until... Addison."
"Why didn't anyone call me, Cal? I would've... I would've moved heaven and earth to be there."
"I know." Callie wiped at the silent tears with the back of her wrist. "I know, Addie. I'm sorry. Derek was hurt in the crash and Arizona lost her leg... things just got.. It should have never happened. Someone should have called you. I... I can never give you that time back but the funeral is this Friday and... you should have the chance to say goodbye."
"Cal... I gotta go." The tears were winning and she knew that Addison was too proud to let her hear them fall. "I'll..." She choked on a sob. "I'll see you Friday."
"Addison, wait!" And her own sobs came without her permission. "I'm sorry. I love you."
"Me too."
Callie's heart shattered when she heard the first of Addison's sobs just before the call disconnected.