Howdy guys! I'm sorry that this update is late, I was busy all this week and was dealing with a case of writer's block, again -_- This chapter is written from Mark's, Rory's, and Arizona's point of view. It's partly filler but it is important. I hope you guys enjoy!

Two. Talk You Down
"I can feel the color running, as it's fading from my face.
Try to speak but nothings coming…"
- Talk You Down, The Script

Entering the house I can't help but smile, Jess' hold on my hand hasn't broken since leaving school except for entering and exiting my car. Every so often I feel her thumb slowly trace figure eights on the back of my hand.

"So, how about we get ourselves a snack and talk it out?" Jess says with a comforting smile, yet I can hear the hesitance in her voice which leaves me slightly confused.

"Talk it out?" I give her a look to express my current confusion as we slowly enter the kitchen.

"Yes, talk it out." The hesitance in her voice is now gone and is replaced by a soft yet affirmative tone which is surprisingly calming. "We are going to sit down and I'm going to do whatever it takes to get your feelings out of you because you really shouldn't bottle things up. I've been there, and it's not pretty when they explode. Believe me."

With her words my confusion has been erased and slight panic is written all over my body. "O-okay." I can't help but stutter; she's making me nervous and relaxed all at once.

"Relax," She wraps her other around my waist so that we are less than an inch apart. "It's okay. We're going to get through this together."

I can't help but chuckle now, I look up at her to find her grinning looking straight at me. She goes on her tip toes slightly and places an affectionate kiss on my forehead before giggling herself. "Come on you goof, let's get some food. This day is making me hungry."

I can't help but chuckle at Jess' silliness. "Alright, alright. Don't go all Hannibal Lecter on me."

"Are you sure you don't want me too?" Jess inches closer to me, "I'd have to say you look pretty appetizing." She says, I can feel her breath on my neck. I don't respond because I can tell that that's what she's looking for. Soon enough I feel Jess' lips against skin, placing a kiss on my neck; slightly nipping as if to continue the joke.

I look down at her waiting for a reply as she pulls away from me. "And?" I ask after a few moments of receiving no response from her.

"Not bad." She says with a look of slight disappointment on her face.

"Hey!" I playfully slap her on the arm, attempting to get out of her hold.

I only make it two steps before she has her hand wrapped around my wrist, turning me around so that I'm look at her once again. She's grinning from ear to ear. "Sorry, I lied." She giggles, "But seriously, I'm starved."

I pause for a moment, racking my brain which eventually leads to a smirk crossing my face. "I believe I have an idea."


"Mark?" I hear someone calling out to me; it's barely audible over the sound of scrooping and clinking desks and chairs. I look around, trying to see who may have been speaking to me.

"Mr. Robbins?" I am now able to fully hear the voice of my teacher. I turn to my left to find Ms. Schneider leaning back, sitting on the edge of her desk.

I reluctantly pick up my books and walk towards her desk, "Yes."

She looks around the room to back sure it is completely empty before continuing to speak. "Mark, this is the third time this week you've fallen asleep in my class." She pauses to look me in the eye. "And I don't think that it's the material that's boring you to sleep, you haven't been yourself lately. I think you need to talk to somebody. I'm not saying that person has to be me but it has to be somebody, someone you trust. It could be another teacher, a friend, a parent, a sibling," at the word sibling I automatically flinch slightly.

"Ms. Schneider, I-" I don't even get the chance to finish my sentence.

"Mark, if you fall asleep in my class again I'm going to have to bring your parents into this because it's out of my control. So please, do what you need to do and talk to somebody. That's all I ask."

I'm trying to think of what I can respond with but my mind keeps drawing blanks, it is as if someone is coming behind me with an erasing everything I had just thought of. I tighten my hold on my books before simply nodding in response.

I somehow managed to put one foot in front of the other and exit the classroom swiftly; never looking back.


"So this is your great idea, huh?" Jess laughs slightly as she takes a seat at the breakfast counter.

"I never said it was great, you goof. I just said it was an idea." I say, rolling my eyes jokingly as I put the knives down next to her.

"Are you sure about that? I could have sworn," She replies, I can tell she's trying to get a rise out of me.

"Yes, I'm sure." I say chuckling as I take a seat next to her.

"Okay, I'll take your word it, this time." She grins.

"You put your bottom dollar it is. You can never go wrong with a PB sandwich." I grin as I snag the jar of peanut butter out of her hand.

A look of shock crosses Jess' face. "Oh no you didn't."

"Oh yes I did." I giggle before unscrewing the top.

Our playful banter is interrupted by the sound of the front door slamming. My laughter automatically stops and I look directly at Jess. Her eyes are wide in shock and fear, but they narrow slightly as I take her hand.

Without thinking fully my mouth reacts before I get a chance to stop myself, "Mark?"

I receive no verbal response from him but I can hear his footsteps heavily on the floor getting closer and closer. Jess tightens her hold on my hand as if she's trying to keep me from jumping up out of my seat.

If I hadn't thought something was wrong before I definitely do as Mark turns the corner entering the kitchen. His eyes are bloodshot and his face is flushed; he is attempting very hard to keep both from being visible but I've learnt how to counter his defensive moves.

"Hey." He says quietly as he opens the fridge as if everything was completely normal.

"Mark?" I ask once again as he tucks his head behind the fridge door while he searches through it.

"Yeah?" He replies, his voice barely audible.

"I know that this is because of me but do I have to ask or are you going to tell me?" I say, as soon as the words are out of my mouth I realize how much I sound like my mother. She and Ma definitely had different interrogative styles; she'd always give us a chance to explain ourselves before asking.

Mark hesitantly pulls his head out of the fridge, he pauses to take a deep breath before turning to look at me. "No, it's not." He says before taking another deep breath, leaving me slightly shocked. "Where do you want me to start?"

"Where do you want, to start?" I ask trying to make him more comfortable, knowing that it'll make it more likely he'll tell me the whole story.

"What do you want to know?" His voice is hesitant yet somehow calm.

"Everything, everything you can tell me."

"I'll talk to you tomorrow okay?" Jess says quickly before placing a quick kiss on my cheek as she hops off her stool.

"It's okay." Mark's words shock me; to be honest this entire situation shocks me.

Jess' head quickly turns to Mark. "Are," Jess pauses for a moment almost as if to regain her composure. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."


Looking down at Pete's chest I can't help but be slightly shocked. His upper torso is reddened and swollen.

"I need that pentobarbital now!" I raise my voice slightly just after another wrangled scream escapes Pete's throat. A nurse scurries over and injects him before going back to her original position lower down the table near Calliope. "Thank you." I say, taking a deep breath to try and hold my concentration.

After a few moments I can see Pete begin to physically relax. I carefully put my fingers down to feel his chest. Through my gloves I can feel the heat radiating from his skin. This definitely was not a good sign.

"Scissors, please." I stick my hand out for a nurse or resident to place a pair in my hand. I could have to cut his shirt off because there was no way we could safely lift him up to pull his shirt off completely.

After feeling the cool metal against my glove covered hand I pull Pete's shirt back down carefully so that I am able to cut it easier. As I begin to cut I inspect his skin more closely. It definitely isn't a burn nor was it signalling any breaks. After handing off the scissors I begin to use both hands to apply slight pressure. Once I reach the area between the sternum and ribs I can physically see Pete wince.

"Does that make the pain worse, Pete?" I ask calmly in attempt to keep him calm as well.

I can tell the sedation is beginning to work because I can tell he's having slight difficulty getting his words out between it and the pain itself. He simply nods before mumbling a word that I can't understand.

"Pete? Can you tell me that again?" I say before almost my straining my hearing to hear what he replies as he begins to mumble once again.

"Arms."

I quickly check his arms but there's no sign of inflammation or swelling. "Okay, after Dr. Robbins is done get him up to CT. Page me immediately when you leave."

"I'm going to need get him into surgery before there's any more permanent damage, if I don't fix his patella soon it's possible he'll never walk without crutches." Calliope's voice is firm as she tries to get her point across.

I look down at Pete, his eyes are now closed, he looks peaceful; he doesn't deserve to never walk properly again. I avert my eyes to find Calliope's, "Well, we're going to have to get that CT quick. Someone do an ultrasound. I'll meet you in CT." Calliope gives me a nod and a quick half smile before going back to examining Pete's legs.

"Does anyone have a history for me?" I ask as I begin to walk towards the trauma room door.

"I do." A quiet intern's voice speaks up; her voice is able audible over the rest of the hustle and bustle in the room. I can see that she's not used to this. She's a transfer from OB who showed interest in Pediatric surgery.

"Follow me then." I say as I open the trauma room door to enter the ER. I wait for a nod from the young resident before beginning to enter it.

She follows me out of the ER to a much quieter, less chaotic hallway. "Here's a copy of his patient history, Dr. Robbins." She says as she attempts to pass me the file while she comes up next to me so that we are walking side by side.

"I think better out loud." I say as I shake my head in refusal. "Can you read it out to me, Dr. –" I pause as I realize I'm unable to remember her name even though she's worked on a few of my cases since she came into the program.

"Davis, Andy Davis." She replies, her voice is barely above a whisper.

"Davis. I like you. You're intelligent, you're good and thorough. But I'm going to give you a piece of advice. And I highly advise you take it."

I pause for a moment, making sure she wasn't about to react with high negativity or at all.

"You need to speak up," I say after receiving no response from her. "I know you have an interest in Peds and Peds is hardcore. You need to be an advocate for your patient, even more than any other specialty. When you go into that patient's room or the OR you can't let people walk over you or ignore what you're saying. They might not even hear it. Because what you have to say may save that child's life. So, Andy you need to speak up and ask for the same respect your fellow residents do. That is my advice."

I glance over at Dr. Davis to find a bashful smile crosses her face that she is attempting to hide. "Thank you." She replies; her voice is now stronger, it's not quite as loud as I'd like it but much more firm and articulate.

"That's better," I say with a classic dimpled smile. This prompts a small chuckle from her as well. "We're still going to have to work on it, but it's better all the same. So where were we?"

"Patient History, Dr. Robbins." I'm pleasantly surprised to hear that Dr. Davis' voice is once again louder, coming quite close to the level of my own voice.

"Yes, that. So what do you have Dr. Davis?"

"Pete Bishop, age nine. He- "


"Mark?" I ask as I place a hopefully comforting hand on his shoulder. I don't receive and verbal response from him. His body continues to shake slightly under my touch. I let go and take hold of his empty clammy hand.

My brother had just told me everything that had been invading his mind for the past eight months. Mark had completely shocked me with everything, I was amazed he was able to keep it all in that long.

I can feel Jess' hold on my own hand tighten slightly. I know that she's unsure of what to do. I glance up at her to find her eyes slightly widened but still as kind as ever. "Mark?" She attempts at getting my brother to respond as well.

"I-I knew." He says, slowly looking up at us. "I knew and I didn't say anything. I wasn't a hundred percent sure until then and even when I was sure I didn't say anything. I-I didn't." His voice is gravelly due the slight dehydration of his throat from the sobbing.

"Mark, it isn't easy to say. It isn't easy to bring up in conversation. It isn't easy to tell someone something that can change their entire life as they know it. It just isn't." They are the only words I am able to say; the only words I can string together to make a comprehendible sentence.

"Sure, it's not easy." He scoffs with a slight sniff. "But what's easy? The right thing never is, Rory." Mark's voice is raised and much clearer now; I can hear all the rage he's feeling in his voice.

"Exactly, we're not taught how to deal with these things. We aren't born knowing how either." I respond, surprisingly I'm more sure of my words now as they flow freely from my mouth without much input from my brain.

"Still," He says, "But we're still supposed to the right thing. It was right under my nose, right on the tip of my tongue. It was close enough for me to something about it but I never did." My brother's usual calm personality has gone completely out the window, there's not even a sliver of him left. His face is now blood red in anger and his voice raised even more than before.

"Mark, you can't always do the right thing. If you did then you'd be perfect and nobody is." Jess startlingly takes this as her opportunity to cut in.

The redness is slowly escaping his face. My brother looks up at her and opens his mouth to speak. He closes almost at once. He doesn't say anything for a moment, he simply exchanges glances with my girlfriend before looking to me, then back to her once again.

"I'm not trying to be perfect. I'm trying to do what's perfect for her." I can tell by look in my brother's eye he means every word. I knew that Emma was never a joke or simple teenage crush to him but it wasn't until now I truly understood.

I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out; I don't say a single word because I know whatever I say could never validate what my brother has said. As I close my mouth once again I feel Jess squeeze my hand reassuringly before she speaks up, a wide grin crossing her face that makes butterflies flicker through my stomach.

"In that case, let's get to work on that then, shall we?"