A/N:

I hope I wasn't late with this reply - my midterms ended so I'm just partying however, I promise I'll try my best to keep my rate of updates going on as usual. The reviews I got, again, were marvelous. You guys, this is my most well-received fanfic and I'm just so glad about this! I'm looking forward for more. I hope you enjoy this chapter, I know it took some effort out of me~


Physical Therapy: Day Fifteen

Lexie looked up at Mark; his hands were tightly wrapped around her torso so she wouldn't fall as he balanced her on the ground. Her feet weren't numb, but they were simply heavy beneath her. Lexie took a deep breath as she again turned to Jared for instructions, but he remained silent as he watched her with meticulous eyes, yet encouraging. Lexie placed her hands on the rails around her and took a deep breath. She could do this, she could walk. She could back on her feet. She could do it.

Lexie looked up at Mark, "Okay, you can let me go now." She said with a small smile and then balanced all of her weight on her hands, keeping herself held up for a moment before she took a deep breath eased her weight onto her right foot, dragging it forward across the floor to take her first step before she put her whole weight onto it and onto her left arm as she dragged her left foot across the ground, then put her weight onto it, and repeated the pattern once, before she looked up at Mark – her eyes as wide as they could get as she flickered them between Mark and Jared.

They both just stared at her, their faces stoic. Lexie's smiled slowly drowned away into a frown, before she looked down at her feet again. Maybe she just needed to walk more. Maybe they were just shocked.

Lexie again dragged her right foot across the floor, even lifting it some before she put it down again eased her weight onto it, except when she did – she heard a loud snap and pain shot up her leg. Lexie let out a loud scream as she shifted her weight onto her left foot. And then there was another snap, and Lexie clattered to the ground, her eyes stinging with tears as her legs throbbed with unbelievable pain – the pain she felt when she was beneath the plane's tail.

Lexie gasped, as she sat up and took a deep breath to swallow down her sobs, squinting through her tears as she ripped the flimsy fabric of the leggings apart, and let out a whimper when she saw her legs. Lexie looked up at Mark and Jared, who stood there, staring down at her with no signs of reaction to what they were witnessing. Lexie looked down at her legs again, and lifted her left hand to press it against her mouth to muffle her sobs – except she felt something warm against her lips, and when she looked down at her hand, she saw the crimson liquid drip down her wrist and into her palm.

Lexie's eyes trailed up her arm, her breath quickening as they took in the mutilated flesh and the wounds that went deeper the further Lexie's eyes traveled up her arm, until she found her shoulder. That's when Lexie sucked in a deep breath and she screamed, a loud, ear-piercing, ringing, painful scream.

"Lexie…Lexie! Wake up!"

Lexie's eyes snapped open and she gasped as her eyes met Mark's blue, concerned hues. She sniffled once as she lifted her hands above her, running her right hand along the length of her left arm. Lexie almost relaxed, until she remembered her legs. Her breath quickened again when she tried to sit up, only to feel the pain in them. It was less pressing as it was, but it was there, and Lexie couldn't stop the whimper that left her.

"Hey, hey..it's okay. Hey.." Mark tried to calm her down, but she didn't seem to respond, so he moved slowly to sit her up and wipe away her tears, before he held her face in his hands. "Lexie, look at me." Mark waited as her eyes focused briefly on his face, "What's wrong?" He asked gently as he stroked the bangs out of her face. She bit her lip harshly before she gasped again, "They hurt..Mark, my legs…Oh god." Lexie flinched and held her breath. Mark could see the obvious pain on her face and he looked down, flustered for a minute. "I'll get Callie. Don't get any crazy ideas about moving, Lexie Grey." Mark warned before he gently stroked the hair out of her face. She nodded slowly before she let a whimper leave her lips, and Mark frowned as he clambered out of the bed.

Mark could have sworn he crossed the apartment in the length of two strides, because he was at Callie's door in no time. He was pressing repeatedly against the doorbell until finally Arizona opened the door and looked up at Mark through tired, sleepy with a frown. "What, Mark, what?" She groaned once.

"Wake up your wife, Robbins. Something's wrong with Lexie and I have no idea what's going on." Mark spoke quickly as he looked above Arizona's shoulder, "Is she awake?" He demanded in a hushed tone, trying to be silent so Sofia wouldn't wake up. But too late for that, his two year old daughter started crying and Mark cursed silently under his breath.

Callie came running out of the room, rocking the crying toddler in her arms as she looked up at Mark, confused for a minute. They hadn't been speaking for a very long time now – at least, since that meeting. Mark repeated his case, and Callie nodded slowly before she gently handed Sofia to Arizona and moved out of her apartment and into Mark's. Her was growing impatient with her slow pace – had she not heard him? Her patient, his fiancée, was in pain.

Lexie was still sniffling and whimpering when they walked in, and Callie ripped the covered off her legs to reveal the scared limbs. Callie examined them briefly before she stood up and looked up at Mark, giving him a knowing looks before she moved past him and walked into the kitchen. Mark couldn't bother to watch her as he sat down beside Lexie and tried to soothe her, wrapping on arm around her and holding her close to him.

Callie came back with a glass of water she was stirring with a spoon, "I usually don't give this to my patients but it's a very good painkiller. What you have is nothing but normal post-op pain that usually comes really later on. Here, I stirred it into the water. It will kick in no time." Callie explained as she placed the glass in Lexie's shaky hand. Mark eyed Callie through narrowed eyes – she was lying. And if only one could figure out Callie and her lies, it was Mark. However, he watched as Lexie drank the whole before he pressed a small kiss to her temple and took the glass from her to place it on the nightstand before he rubbed her arm gently and let her lean into his chest.

Callie never left; she stood there in her robe and crossed her arms over her chest. Mark felt Lexie relax and heard her breath even out and Mark sighed slowly, before he eased Lexie down on her back again and pillowed her head gently and wrapped the covers around her. Mark left the room and waited for Callie to follow him out before he closed the door, and then turned to her, "Mind to tell me what is all about?" He demanded in a furious, hushed tone.

Callie held her hands up in defense and shrugged once, "That," Callie gestured towards the door once, "Is exactly why I didn't tell you about her odds." Callie muttered and crossed her arms over her chest, her face set on a stubborn expression. Mark stared at her momentarily, confused, before Callie sighed. "She's freaking out, Mark. She's scared, and the trauma of the crash is finally getting to her. I've seen this in many patients who've had traumas like her. Not as…huge as hers, but," Callie held her arms towards the door and shrugged, "Look at her. She's a mess."

Mark stood there, his eyes flickering between Callie and the door before he pursed his lips. "What are you saying?" He started quietly, running his fingers through his hair for a moment there.

Callie wet her lips once, "Did you guys see a trauma counselor?" She asked and lifted her brows, "Because….after the shooting – that Perkins guy, he did a really good job with all of you. And I think you guys need him." She explained, gesturing her head towards the door when she said 'you guys.'

"Perkins is in Germany. He won't fly all the way across the world to treat-" Mark stopped talking for a moment and took a deep breath to try and come together with the situation unfolding. He could see Callie rolling her eyes, "I'm not saying get Perkins. I'm saying get someone. Mark, if you let her go on like this, she could get something worse than a nervous breakdown."

"I'm not dragging her to psych again," Mark answered bitterly, "I promised her I wouldn't do that again."

Callie clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, "That will not be a choice when she refuses to attend tomorrow's session."

Mark stared at her agape for a minute before he exhaled, "She won't."

Callie's eyes traveled along his frame as she pursed her lips, giving him her famous 'Calliope Torres is judging you' look before she shrugged once, "Whatever. I've said my piece." Callie trudged past him towards the door before she stopped and turned back to Mark, "I put sugar in that water, Mark. She's a doctor. She's not stupid enough to believe that what I put in there was actually medicine. She wasn't in pain. She thought she was in pain and when she drank what she thought was a pain killer, she felt better. Listen to me, Mark." Callie nodded once before she turned, whipping her hair as she stalked out of his apartment and closed the door, leaving Mark standing alone to his indecisiveness and yet another sleepless night.

Mark was lying beside Lexie when the alarm went off and she stirred awake to turn it off before she exhaled, "Callie's medicine really worked." She sighed once and looked up at Mark, "I hope you thanked her. Enough with the treatment you two are giving each other." Lexie muttered groggily before she yawned once and smiled at him, "Good morning." She whispered as she pecked his lips once and sat up. Mark smiled at her, feeling almost relieved yet at the same time very much nervous.

The morning had gone by very naturally. They bathed, had breakfast, and started towards the hospital. On his way into the lobby, he saw Callie at the reception and pursed his lips as he avoided her gaze. She almost started at their way, and Mark shook his head furiously. Callie huffed once and turned away again to retreat back into the medical personnel only area. Mark sighed once as he wheeled Lexie into the elevator and waited until they were on the floor they needed. Oddly enough, no one they knew walked into the elevator as they waited, and Mark could feel how nervous she was. It was in the all around him – but he decided to choose that it was because today Jared would finally let her down on her own feet and let her try to take her first steps on her own. Mark asked him if he was rushing it – but Jared argued back with the fact that she shouldn't be sitting down for longer than three months after her surgeries or that would cause serious damage to her tendons – despite all the stretching exercises they were doing on daily basis to keep the tissue alive.

Jared greeted them with an excited smile and let Mark do the usual protocol of helping Lexie lie down as he held up her legs up for moment in the air. Usually, Mark would make a couple of silent jokes with Lexie about this position would be more suitable for him if he were on top of her rather than at her bedside, but he was in too much thought today to even try to crack a joke – and Lexie chose to blame it on the fact that he was excited about the events to unfold today, but simply he was internalizing.

Lexie exhaled when Mark bent her leg against her stomach, and she could feel her muscles stretching, but part of her was anxious. When Mark pushed gently as Jared instructed, Lexie placed her hand on his, her eyes wide. Mark looked down at her, and she saw his eyes cloud with concern, "Relax, Lexie." He demanded, almost pleaded, and she tried – she really tried, but she couldn't. Her heart was already hammering against her chest, and she could almost feel it at her throat. "No, no…Enough for today." Lexie whispered, before she raised her voice to demand louder, "I..I'm tired." She said quickly, and Mark could hear the panicked edge to her voice. He slowly let her leg down and helped her sit up.

Lexie looked up at Jared apologetically, "I'm sorry. Can we cut this short? I didn't sleep well last night. I'm not ready." She explained and shrugged briefly, "We…I promise I'll sleep better tonight. " Lexie offered with a sheepish, yet nervous smile. Mark's heart dropped into his stomach as he shifted his weight and his eyes cast down to the ground. Jared saw both their expressions and shrugged once, "Sure, why not." Jared approved, before he looked at Mark, "Mark, can I have a word?" He asked once and Mark took a deep breath as he looked back at Lexie, flashing his McSteamy smile. Lexie grinned when she saw it, and just like that, Mark ensured that she wouldn't doubt anything.

"What happened?" Jared asked slowly, "Did she have a panic attack?"

Mark stared at him for a moment, wondering how he knew that, before he had to remind himself that he was a doctor too and that it was his job to see something like that coming, "Yes…she had some sort of dream and woke up saying she was in pain. A colleague of mine, actually her doctor, she gave her a glass of water and sugar and told her it was medicine…and she drank it." Mark sighed, exasperated, running his fingers through his hair before he met Jared's worried gaze, "She said I should take her to a trauma counselor."

Jared hummed quietly for a minute before he took a deep breath, "I've worked with Callie Torres. We've seen many cases similar to Lexie's. It would be best to take her to a trauma counselor, but I wouldn't take her to anyone." Jared turned back to his desk and searched for a pen to write on an empty post it, "Doctor Sara Hastings." He whispered as he scribbled her name down and handed Mark the post-it. "She's good. She helped most of my and Callie's patient, and I strongly believe she can help Lexie."

Mark stared down at the paper before he nodded slowly and sighed, "So I should go up there…and what, make an appointment?" Mark inquired, and Jared pursed his lips as he nodded slowly. Mark thanked him silently and shoved the paper back into his pocket. He turned back to Lexie and helped her back into the wheelchair, pressing his lips to her forehead, "I love you, you know?" Mark offered with a small grin and Lexie laughed a little, "And I love you too." She answered with a quirked brow before she sat back into the wheelchair.

Mark sighed – Lexie will probably hate him for doing this, but he wasn't doing this for him. He was doing it for her. He knew not walking may destroy her. Mark couldn't let that happen, he wouldn't let her crumble before him – not when he is capable of doing something about it.

Lexie was going through her bag when the doors revealed the psych floor – she wasn't even paying attention to anything until Mark was speaking to the nurse at the reception, "I'd like to make an appointment with Doctor Hastings?" He asked briefly, and Lexie's eyes snapped up to him, but he avoided her gaze. Lexie's eyes scanned around her and she felt her heart almost skip a beat as the sudden feeling of betrayal ran through her veins like poison. She listened to Mark as he booked the appointment with her name, and waited until they were off the psych floor and back into the elevator before she swung her fist into his stomach.

"Damn it, Lexie!" Mark exclaimed as he stepped away from her and frowned, "What the hell was that for?!"

"You're seriously asking that question, Mark?" Lexie muttered in disbelief, every word leaving her lips through her teeth as her hands clench around the arm rests of the wheelchair.

"I did this for you. And you're going to that appointment." Mark stated and shrugged once. Lexie almost started protesting, "Lexie! You had a panic attack because of a dream! You drank sugared water and thought it was medicine! Something's wrong Lexie – please, please let me fix it before it gets worse." He pleaded, but all Lexie could do was glare up at him.

"Sugared water?" Lexie whispered in complete horror as she shook her head.

"That's not the problem here-"

"That's exactly the problem, Mark!" Lexie bellowed as she threw her arms in the air, "I'm not a patient. So both you and Callie and just everyone I freaking know need to stop treating me like one!"

"Lexie, you can't condemn people for caring-"

And again, she interrupted him, "Caring?" Lexie laughed and shook her head. Mark groaned and let out an exasperated breath leave his lips, "Why didn't you start with the training today? You've been excited about this ever since we started physical therapy." Mark demanded, trying – struggling to keep his tone rational as he spoke through his teeth.

"That was before I knew I probably won't ever walk normally, or walk at all ever again." Lexie answered, her voice solemn, "But that's thanks to your best friend. At least I wouldn't have gotten my hopes so up."

"See, that's exactly what I am talking about!" Mark exclaimed, "You're…You're scared, and you need to let me help you. Or else you won't-"

"I won't what, Mark?" Lexie demanded and jutted her chin out as she narrowed her, "I won't walk again?"

"Yes, and-"

"And then what? You'll have to look after your paralyzed fiancée forever." She stated factually, "Unless that imposes some kind of a problem to you?"

And that was it – the last straw that was between Mark and saying something stupid, "Maybe it is kind of a problem to me, Lexie. I need to get back to work. I need to move past this plane crash. You need to move past this plane crash. What you're doing? You're freezing us in place, and I can't be frozen in place with this." Mark shook his head and pursed his lips. Lexie stared up at him in disbelief, before she locked her jaw almost confidently, "Fine then. Go home. I'll have my sister look after me. At least she won't regret it."

"I didn't say I regretted-"

"Mark, I think you've said enough." Both Mark and Lexie glanced sideways at Meredith who was standing in front of the elevator doors that were wide open, and apparently the whole hospital was staring at them. Lexie pursed her lips when she saw Meredith and closed her eyes as she looked down. Meredith stepped into the elevator, and wheeled Lexie out before she pressed the main floor's button for Mark. Mark looked at Lexie, his eyes desperate for a moment as they met hers that were filled with nothing but pain as they looked away.

Mark stood in the elevator for a long, quiet moment after the doors had closed. "Fuck!" He growled as he swung his fist into the elevator's wall, and stormed out of it as soon as the doors were open.