Title: In the Arms of Sleep (2/2)
Authors: VietAngel and Chelle Storey-Daniel
Rating: K
Soundtrack:
Paolo Nutini – "Loving You"
KT Tunstall – "Universe and U"
Snow Patrol – "Open Your Eyes"
Smashing Pumpkins – "In the Arms of Sleep"
Adele – "Crazy for You"
The Cardigans – "You're the Storm"
Callie shook her head when Emilio held out a cup of hot chocolate. She also brushed aside his suit jacket when he laid it over her shoulders. Despite the fact that she was trembling ... sweat was rolling down her back. When he sat beside her and took her hand, she got to her feet and paced the length of the room. It was nothing personal, but being comforted by anyone other than her husband simply would not do. She took two turns in the waiting room, then glanced up at the clock. Three hours for major surgery wasn't that long, she told herself. Mark was in good hands. She just wished they were hers.
George, who had been gazing in through the window, slowly opened the door and gazed at her. He was aware that Callie's father was watching him in the same way that a lion watched its prey, but he took a step into the lion's den anyway and said, "I got an update. He's doing great. They're giving him blood and they've removed his spleen. They just need to patch up his liver now and ... you look so pretty."
Callie stopped walking and glanced his way. She looked through him. "I wouldn't show him my dress. I wanted it to be a surprise. He - he may never get to see it. Oh god... Daddy, what if he never sees my dress?"
Emilio got to his feet and pulled her into his arms. He held out his hand for the bottle of water, not asking if it was intended for his daughter, and snapped, "Get some tissue, O'Malley. Don't just stand there."
George left quickly and when he returned, he found Callie sitting in one of the stiff chairs and her father was kneeling in front of her, speaking softly. "Here you go."
The door opened behind them and Callie's mother hurried into the room with Addison right behind her. They took the seats on either side of her and wrapped their arms around her, but she seemed to take no comfort in their presence. Amaia felt helpless sitting there watching her child be wracked by painful hiccups because she was crying so hard. All she could do was wipe the tears from Callie's reddened and swollen eyes. Addison just stroked her hair and wished like hell that she had stayed home with Meredith, Cristina, and the girls because it was killing her to see Callie like this.
"I forgot to tell him I loved him this morning" she said in a voice that was paper thin and haunted. "I could have told him that instead of being a sarcastic asshole and flipping him a bird. I could have made love to him again instead of telling him to get back to work. What if I never feel his touch again? I can't-sometimes I can't sleep without him."
"You won't have to, mija…he's going to be fine. You didn't have to tell him you loved him this morning because he already knows. He's known for a very long time. I know Mark, he's a strong man…a good man. He has you and those three gorgeous little girls to think about-he'll pull through," Emilio replied.
For the first time in her life, Callie doubted her father's words. The OR doors opened and Callie held on to the seat of her chair with a white knuckled grip as Bailey and Chief Webber emerged. The room was dead silent and everyone held their breath as they waited to hear the news. Chief Webber smiled, and finally they could all breathe again. Callie relaxed enough to get to her feet…it couldn't be too bad if he was smiling.
"I'm not going to lie to you because I know you wouldn't appreciate it," he started, looking Callie in the eye. "There were some touch and go moments, he flat-lined once, but we were able to get him back in record time."
"He's stable now…pulled through like a champ," Miranda interjected. "There's no way I was going to let that fool die on you. We had to insert titanium rods in both his legs, so he has a long road of physical therapy ahead of him-but he'll be fine."
Callie felt like a truck had been lifted from her shoulders, while at the same time being just a little bit jealous that some other orthopedic surgeon worked on her man.
"When can I see him?" she asked.
"He should be spending a couple of hours in recovery…" Chief Webber started, but thought better of it when he realized she would likely have a heart attack if she had to wait hours to see him. "…but I guess I can make an exception to the rule this time since you are a medical professional. I'll get him set up in a private room right away and send someone down to get you as soon as he's settled."
"Thank you Richard," Callie said, pulling the older man into a hug. She turned to Miranda and did the same…holding on to her just a little bit longer. They exchanged words that no one else could make out and when they pulled away from each other they were both smiling.
Mark opened his eyes…his senses coming back to him slowly. Tiny flashing lights, a beeping sound, the smell of antiseptic, and something soft under his fingertips…silk? No, strands-hair-Callie's hair. He turned his head to the right and saw her there, curled up in the uncomfortable hospital chair, swathed in a sea of midnight.
"Callie," he croaked, gently tugging the lock of hair he had wrapped around his finger. She looked up at him bleary eyed and he waited patiently as a gamut of emotions crossed her face. He was content to just look at her, drink the sight of her in, because for a minute there he wasn't sure if he'd ever see that face again. He wanted to stay in that moment forever because he knew it would be the last time that they didn't have any secrets. Beyond that moment there would be things he could never tell her, because he couldn't bear the thought of placing a burden on her heart and soul. He could never tell her that he'd been drawn to the warmth of the light, comforted by the glow. She could never know that he'd almost given up as he waited for the Jaws of Life to get him out of that car. All she could know was that he'd heard her name whispered in his ear, and from that point on he'd fought like hell to get back to her…all for a moment like this. "My God, you're beautiful."
She smiled and stood slowly, wincing slightly at the ache in her muscles. She touched his cheek timidly as she fought hard to put on a brave face, but when took her hand and brought it to his lips, she quickly lost the battle.
"No, baby, please don't cry," he cooed softly as if he was comforting one of his daughters. "I'm fine. I'm here."
She continued to sob and he wanted nothing more than to just take her in his arms and hold her, but he couldn't…and that killed him. He inched over to his left as best he could with two broken legs, leaving a sliver of space just big enough for her to fit on.
"Get in here," he said, patting the small sliver of mattress. She wanted to protest, but her desire to be close to him kicked the shit out of her sensible side. She crawled in carefully and he couldn't have been more thankful that his arms hadn't been injured in the crash. "Does your back hurt? Why the hell didn't anyone get you a cot instead of that damned chair? Someone should have brought you some comfortable clothes."
"Shut up, idiot!" Callie said, smacking him in the arm that wasn't currently wrapped around her. "You do not get to worry about me when you almost died!"
"Ow! Where's the compassion?" he said.
"Oh shit, I'm so sorry!" she replied, immediately feeling guilty. She tried to squirm out of his grip and retreat to the safe distance the chair provided, but he held firm.
"Callie, relax. I'm fine, you didn't hurt me…much," he said carefully. "Just a little sore is all."
Silence fell over the room. Callie lay stiffly in his arms, not moving a muscle for fear of hurting him somehow. Mark was content to just breathe her in. There was a moment when he was trapped in the car where he freaked out because he couldn't remember how she smelled. Now he was blanketed in her scent and he just couldn't get enough.
"Chief Webber brought me scrubs," she whispered, "but I didn't want to chance because you never saw my dress. I'm sorry I didn't let you see it when you asked…and I'm sorry I didn't tell you I loved you when I left your office this morning…and…"
"Shh," Mark said, silencing her with a soft kiss. "No apologies. You don't ever have to tell me you love me, Callie. I know you do…it's the only thing I've ever been absolutely sure of."
"I'm glad to hear that," Callie replied.
"Oh yeah? Why?" he asked.
"Because when you're out of here and I kick your ass, you'll know that I'm doing it out of love," she replied. "You almost DIED! Do you have any idea what that would have done to me? I would be a single parent…and my sex life would be REALLY fucked up because no other man could ever know my body like you do-and OH.MY.GOD! YOU WEREN'T EVEN WEARING A SEATBELT! What were you thinking? You're a father, you dumb ass!"
Even though he was getting reamed, he had to smile. It was so good to see her with her spirit back. That was his Callie…not the sad crumpled mess that had crawled into his bed not so long ago. He was finally saved from her rant by Chief Webber entering the room and clearing his throat.
"Dr. Torres, Dr. Sloan…I'm sure you two are aware of the hospital's rule concerning patients' beds," he said.
"Richard, save it. The father of my children and love of my life almost died today…and the fact that you helped save his life is the only thing keeping me from telling you what you can do with that rule," Callie replied with a glare.
"Duly noted. I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't try though," he replied with a wink. "You two have a good night. Try to get some sleep, you both need it."
Callie waited for him to leave the room and looked up at her husband. "I knew something was wrong. I could feel it. You remember when Thalia broke her finger? I knew before the phone rang that she was hurt and it's the same with you. I - I could feel you leaving me."
Mark flinched, thinking of those moments in the car. "Well, that would never happen. I'm not going anywhere."
"We need you, Mark. I need you. When our kids are grown and they go away ... it's gonna be me and you forever and I can't -"
"I know, Callie. I know." He tightened his grip on her, smoothing his hand over her arm. "I feel you, too. All the time."
"Well, you won't be feeling me for a very long time because you didn't have your seatbelt on and -"
Addison pushed the door open and stuck her head in. She carried an overnight bag over her shoulder and smiled tentatively, patting Mark on the arm. "How you feeling?"
"Glad to be here. Even though my beautiful wife is making it very hard to sleep." He frowned when Callie pushed herself up and off the bed. "Baby, I-"
Clearing her throat, Addison held up the bag. "The kids packed what they thought you guys needed. I'm pretty sure I saw Tinkerbell, Callie. I'm so sorry."
Wordlessly, Callie accepted the bag and set it down on the window seat, unzipping it. She rifled through it and then smiled. Aiden had packed her favorite blanket and a photo of herself sitting in Mark's lap. "What did you guys tell them?"
"Well, Cristina has no tact so she told them that their daddy couldn't drive very well and had been in an accident." Addison shrugged apologetically. "Don't worry, Amaia was able to calm them down after that. Thalia and Aiden were crying hard enough to make Evan cry and ... well, they put them in a room with Cristina as punishment."
"Thanks for bringing this," Callie said, lifting her pajamas from the bag. They were indeed Tinkerbell. Pink and green and girly enough to make her children happy every time she wore them.
Addison nodded, looking at her friend closely. She glanced at Mark, then walked to where Callie was and quietly asked, "Are you okay?"
Callie gave her a smile that could only be described as wicked. "Oh, I'm perfectly fine. And so is he ... but it won't last long."
Twenty minutes later, Addison said goodnight and left them alone. Callie turned on the lights so that Mark would miss nothing. She could feel his eyes on her as she reached behind her and felt around for the zipper of her dress. She could have unzipped it easily, but she didn't. Instead, she bit her bottom lip and walked to the side of the bed. "Help?"
He nodded, reaching up to unzip it for her. She heard his breath catch as he exposed the back of her lingerie. Letting the dress pool at her feet, she reached up and meticulously pulled the clips from her hair. When she felt his fingers skimming her hip, she stepped out of his reach and turned around. She knew that nothing was left to the imagination and that didn't matter because he knew ever inch of her by heart. When his eyes glazed over, she licked her lips. "Do I have your attention?"
"Huh?"
Not yet, she thought. Wordlessly, she unfastened one garter and rolled it down her thigh, then over her foot. She tossed that one into the chair behind her and repeated the process on the other leg. That stocking landed on his face. He slowly pulled it away and looked at her bare legs. "Cal-"
"How about now?"
"What do you-"
Reaching up, she unfastened the bra and let her breasts fall free. "You were supposed to be doing this."
"I don't feel so bad that I can't."
She slipped the long sleeved pajama shirt over her head, hiding her smile as he moaned his displeasure. Next, she slid the panties down and pulled a pair of cotton, no nonsense pink briefs from the bag. They were usually reserved for that time of the month and his hatred of them was evident by the litany of swear words that he mumbled. "And I wasn't supposed to wear these for two more weeks."
The see through panties she wore were tossed to his fingertips as she slid the pink ones in place. She watched him fist them in his hand and slipped her pajama bottoms on. "Now ... what have we learned, Sloan?"
"Seatbelts are our friend."
"Mmm hmmm." She nodded. "Anything else?"
"That you always have the upper hand, I'm always wrong, and I love you more than anything."
She spread Aiden's blanket over his bare chest and leaned down. He thought that she was going to kiss him, but she didn't. "You hurt me more than you hurt yourself this time."
"My dick is not broken. I'm pretty sure it's suffering a slow death right now."
"That's how I felt in the waiting room. Don't ever scare me like this again."
"It was an accident, baby." He reached up and touched her face. "I'll always wear my seatbelt from here on out. Is that enough?"
"I suppose."
"Get back in this bed."
"I'm fine here." She sat down in the chair and tugged on fuzzy socks. "Get some sleep."
"I can't sleep without you."
She smiled. She had said something very similar to her father earlier. "I know how that is."
Without another word, she climbed in beside him and gently rested her head on his shoulder.
Side by side and heart to heart ... they fell asleep.
Exactly four weeks after the worst night of Callie and Mark's lives, Derek delivered Mark to his front door. He was wheelchair bound because he wouldn't be allowed to put weight on his legs for another two weeks, and the cold Seattle rain made his bones ache like nobody's business…but his heart soared the minute he was pushed across the threshold. All of his girls were there waiting for him, and the house was filled with the smell of a hearty, home-cooked meal. For the first time he realized that his friends and family were one in the same, and they were all there waiting for him. This was love—this was a life worth living.
"Welcome home," Callie said while trying to calm a very fussy Evan. As soon as she caught sight of her father she reached for him and he was more than willing to oblige her.
"Hey, baby girl. What's all the fuss about?" he cooed. She curled into his chest and started to drift off immediately.
"I think it's safe to say that she missed being in your arms. She's been giving me a hard time for four weeks straight," Callie said. "I told you not to hold her so much when she was first born…she's spoiled as hell."
"Just like her mother," he shot back lightheartedly. Callie rolled her eyes.
"He's right, mija. Your mother had to practically fight me for you when you were a baby and you couldn't fall asleep without me holding you until you were four years old," Emilio chimed in, kissing his daughter on the cheek.
Aiden and Thalia were both maintaining a safe distance from their father. They both had Callie's eyes—big, brown, and expressive…windows to their souls. It only took one look at those eyes to know that they were both scared. While they'd visited Mark many times in the hospital, they'd never seen him in his wheelchair. It had to be hard for them to see the man who was invincible in their eyes broken, bruised, and unable to walk.
"Mom, could you take her please?" Mark asked, handing a sound asleep Evan off to his mother-in-law. "Hey Aid, Thal…you don't have to be scared, daddy's not going to break if you come closer."
Thalia shook her head and hid behind Callie's leg, but Aiden put on a brave face and took a few steps forward. She paused and waiting to see if he was going to fall apart of disappear, and when he didn't she got up the courage to move a bit closer. He reached out to her and she let out a sigh of relief before finally climbing into his lap. Mark wrapped his arms around her. Words couldn't describe how much he'd missed this.
"Daddy, your arms feel the same," Aiden said softly.
"Oh yeah? What do they feel like pumpkin?" he replied.
"Heaven," she finished in a whisper.
Mark kissed the top of her head and managed to blink back the tears as Thalia crawled into his lap beside her sister. It was moments like these that made all the pain and suffering worth it…heaven couldn't get any better than this.
Fin.
