Chapter 8: Things Can Only Get Better.

"Lynn, wake up," Arizona said rushing into Lynn's room and turning on the light and pulling the covers off of her.

"No, Mom." Lynn pouted as she curled into a ball and cuddled her pillow.

"Ashlynn, get up now." Arizona said strongly as she began pulling out some jeans and a t-shirt from Lynn's closet and threw them to her.

"What's going on?" Lynn mumbled as she slowly sat up and rubbed her eyes. She looked out her open door and noticed Callie pacing back and forth with her phone pressed up against her ear. She had her hand to her mouth as if she was trying to keep from sobbing. "Mom," Lynn said fully awake now, "What's going on?" Lynn repeated suddenly scared.

Arizona took a deep breath and turned to face Lynn. Lynn could immediately see the tears that had formed in her eyes, as she walked closer and grabbed Lynn's hands.

"There's been an accident." Arizona chocked out.

"What?" Lynn asked getting up quickly and throwing off her Pajama pants as she grabbed the clothes Arizona had laid out for her.

"Calliope is calling the neighbors to come and watch Adam while we're out, but we need to get to the hospital quick." Arizona tried to explain as calmly as possible.

"What kind of accident Mom?" Lynn asked, "Who was in it?" Lynn paused knowing that here Mom wasn't going to give in and tell her.

"Mom, I'm 16 years old, I'm not a baby. Tell me what's fucking going on?" Lynn shouted.

Callie entered the room at that moment and put the cordless phone on Lynn's desk, "They'll be here in five minutes." Callie whispered softly as she looked up and locked eyes with Lynn.

"What's going on Callie?" Lynn asked.

"It was Mark, and the kids." Callie replied quietly.

Lynn's breath hitched, "What? Are they okay?"

Callie solemnly shook her head, "We need to go." She said softly as she motioned toward the door.

Lynn nodded quickly as she grabbed her purse and followed her mother's out the door.


Callie quickly rushed up to Lexie as they got to the hospital and enveloped her in a tight hug. Arizona slowly walked up to the rest of their Seattle Grace Family and hugged each of them, quietly asking them what was the latest information.

"Where are they?" Lynn quickly asked Bailey, who was sitting quietly next to Tucker.

Bailey sighed, "Melinda," Bailey said referring to their youngest 3 year old, "is stable, but is pretty banged up. She'll be fine."

"What about Mark?" Lynn asked softly.

"It's about the same, he's not doing too well either. He hasn't even woken up yet, and the neurosurgeon that's on his case isn't sure when to expect him to wake up. " Bailey replied honestly.

Lynn bit her lip and sat down next to Bailey, "And Little Der?" Lynn asked referring to Mark's oldest son who was barely 7.

Bailey wiped away the tears that fell down her face and shook her head, "the truck hit his side. He had the most damage. He's in surgery at the moment."

"No," Lynn shook her head, as she looked up with glossy eyes toward Callie and Lexie who were standing up holding each other up as they sobbed into each other shoulder's. "No, I have to see Mark."

"He's in post-op, Lynn, no one's allowed in."

"I don't give a damn," Lynn replied rising up from her seat quickly.

Bailey tried to grab her and pull her back down into her seat but she had already taken off toward Post-Op. Lynn walked past all the doctors straight into the hallway. As she passed each door in the hallway, she checked the name on the chart of the patient inside until she finally found Mark Sloan. She looked inside through the window and she suddenly felt dizzy as she saw one of her best friends laying in the hospital. She knew death and illness very well, granted, she basically lived in the hospital, but seeing someone who she loved dearly in the hospital bed was a huge punch in her stomach. She felt like she couldn't breath as she cautiously walked into the room.

"Mark." She sniffled as she walked quickly up to his side and sat on the chair that stood beside his bedside. She grasped his hands and noticed the cuts and bruises he had all the way up his arm. As her eyes traveled over his body at the damage that had been done she couldn't help but lay her head down and sob, "No, no, no." She cried. "You can't leave me, Mark. You can't leave us."

"How did this fucking happen? Why did you do this? He's a good guy! Sure, he doesn't always play by you're rules, but he was a good guy." Lynn shouted up at the above as she let the tears stream down her face.

"Lynn," A voice from behind her whispered. She turned around and noticed the chief had just walked in.

"I'm not leaving." Lynn replied firmly as she hiccuped.

The chief sighed, "I wasn't going to make you, it's good that you're here. Lexie went to be with Melinda right now. She figured Mark would want her to be with her instead of him."

Lynn nodded through her tears, "He would've." Lynn paused as she saw the chief take a seat across from her on the other side of Mark's bedside. "How did this happen?" Lynn asked quietly through her hiccups.

"Drunken idiot was going 80 and ran a red light running straight into the side of Mark's car." The chief informed her.

Lynn shook her head, "Why was he out that late?" Lynn cried.

The chief sighed, "He had ice cream and ice cream cones with him, and he was headed towards the hospital. Lexie was on call."

Lynn buried her face into the bed. She knew exactly what Mark was doing out that late. Whenever Lexie was on call and one of the kids had a nightmare or just felt like seeing their Mom, he'd pack up a late night snack, throw the kids in the car, and they'd drive to the hospital to spend the night with Lexie. Usually they would just camp out in an empty on call room eating whatever they had brought, telling funny stories, and falling asleep in each other's arms. Whenever Lexie had an emergency she'd go take care of what she needed to do, but then she'd be right back to her kids. The chief was aware of this little tradition they had and had decided to completely ignore it for the sake that he didn't want any of his Seattle Grace families breaking up due to the rough hours. He didn't want any of his family making the same mistake he had made with his own marriage.

Lynn shook her head, "He doesn't deserve this."


"You ready Lynn?" Callie asked quietly as she walked into Lynn's room a few days later, dressed in all black.

Lynn nodded solemnly. Callie quietly walked over to Lynn and put her arms around her tightly, "You doing okay?"

"Not really." Lynn admitted.

"Me either." Callie shook her head, "I hate this so much. As much as I wish I could just crawl in bed and lay there for the rest of eternity, we have to be strong and support Lexie and Melinda."

"I know that." Lynn nodded as she followed Callie out of her room.

"You two ready?" Arizona asked as she stood at the doorway of their house with Adam who was dressed nicely in a black suit.

"I don't think we'll ever be ready, but let's go." Lynn shrugged as she walked passed them out of the house.

Arizona turned to Callie sadly, "Do you think she'll be okay?"

Callie shook her head, "I don't know."

Arizona sighed sadly as Callie put her arms around her waist as she guided them out of the door.


"...As we stand here, on this solemn day, we join with each other to remember..." Lynn rolled her eyes. This man is a load of shit, she thought. Lynn looked up at the next pew where Lexie and Melinda sat. Lynn could easily spot Melinda from her bright hot pink cast that she had on her left arm. Melinda was sitting on Lexie's lap, unaware of what exactly was going on.

"...he was a wonderful friend, who will be deeply missed. His shortly lived life, will be one that is remembered for his wonderful personality..." He doesn't even fucking know him.

"I can't do this," Lynn said quietly as she leaned over to Callie. Callie nodded sadly as she wiped away her tears and leaned down the grab her purse and pull her key's out.

"We'll find a ride home, take them." Callie handed her the keys. Lynn quietly got up from her seat and walked out of the church, trying to avoid looking to the front where the casket laid.

She quickly rushed into the car and drove off as fast as possible. She needed to get away, as far as possible. She thought of all the places she could go: The cliff that overlooked the lake near Derek's house, the park that Mark had taken her to when she was 9, or maybe even the ferry dock. She quickly pushed all those options out of her head as she saw the exit that she wanted and quickly swerved into it.

Within minutes she was in front of her destination.


Lynn walked past a lot of unfamiliar doctors as she entered the Intensive Care Unit of Seattle Grace hospital. She figured they were all doctors that weren't too close to the Sloan family, because half of the Seattle Grace workers were at the funeral.

With a turn of the corner she was standing in room 294. She quietly took a seat next to the bed and rested her elbow on it. She felt her eyelids get real heavy, and she knew that she was exhausted. The past few nights had been filled with her tossing and turning, so she knew she would end up falling asleep. Sure enough, within a few minutes she had fallen asleep.


Four hours later, Lynn lifted her head and immediately felt a pain shoot through her neck.

"Shit," she mumbled as she rubbed the back of her neck. She rolled her head back and forth trying to get the pain to go away, and it slowly did. She took a deep breath and examined the man in front of her.

"You're looking a little better." Lynn mumbled with a slight smile. "You're color looks good." Lynn reach over and grasped his hand.

"You have to wake up." Lynn whispered. "Melinda needs you. You're her Daddy, and right now, most of all, she needs her Daddy. Lexie is barely hanging on. She's having the hardest time trying to keep strong for Melinda, but you should be proud of her. She's doing a good job, but she needs to you. And I need you too Mark, you're my best friend. You're like the Dad I never had. I really need you. I know we may pick on you a lot, but we need you so much. More then you could ever imagine." Lynn said honestly.

"Figured you were here. You're Mom got a little worried when we got home and nobody was there." Callie said softly as she entered the hospital room. "He looks better." Callie commented.

Lynn agreed, "Did Lexie check Mel back in?" Lynn knew that Lexie had checked Melinda out of the hospital for the day so that she could attend the funeral.

Callie nodded, "I think she's getting that taken care of right now. Arizona is going to come to check on her when I get back home."

"How was it?" Lynn asked softly.

"The casket was so tiny." Callie whispered.

"How's Adam doing? He just lost his best friend."

"He's so young, I don't think he fully understands the situation."

"I can't lose him." Lynn whispered. "He's like my Dad. I mean, I've never felt bad that I didn't have a father. You know that. You and Mom have always been enough for me, but having Mark in my life was an extra perk. You know?" Lynn asked as her eyes tears up again.

"I know." Callie said softly.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but visiting hours are over. Only family is allowed in after hours." Nurse Olivia said as she entered the room.

"Don't you have some syph you need to spread?" Lynn said sarcastically as she stayed put in her seat.

Olivia crossed her arms and glared at Lynn, "I've been married for three years now."

Lynn rolled her eyes, "Yeah like that'll stop you," Lynn muttered as her eyes stayed fixated on Mark.

"Lynn!" Callie said in shock. "Apologize."

Olivia just put her hand up, "It's okay. It's a rough time for all of you, but that still doesn't change the fact that you need to leave."

It was Callie's turn to roll her eyes now, "Okay, Olivia, I'm a doctor here, and you know just as well as everyone else that Mark is family. So we're not leaving yet."

"I will call security." Olivia warned them.

"I fucking dare you!" Lynn shouted finally breaking her gaze with Mark and turned to Olivia, "Goddamn it Olivia, piss off, why don't you? You're just upset with the world that even though you screwed every doctor in the hospital, you weren't able to marry one. Instead you're married to some loser that works at McDonald's. Too fucking bad. Maybe if you weren't such a slut..." Lynn paused when she felt Mark's hand squeeze her own, she quickly turned her head to look at Mark as she stood up.

"Mark." She whispered as she fixated her gaze on him. She noticed his eyelids move and she broke out into a huge grin, "Call Lexie!" Lynn ordered Olivia.

"Mark, wake up. Come on, open your eyes." Lynn whispered, and Mark did.

"I've never heard someone call out Olivia like that." Mark whispered horsely.

"Mark!" Lynn shrieked as she leaned down and hugged him softly. "Don't ever do that again."

"What happened?" Mark asked softly. Lynn slowly sank into the seat and turned to look up at Callie. At that moment, Lexie came bursting in through the door and ran straight to Mark, placing kisses all over his face. Callie motioned with her head to Lynn to exit the room. Lynn nodded and followed Callie out of the room into the hallway where they watched from the window.

Callie put her arm around Lynn's shoulder as they watched Lexie slowly sit on the bed and begin explaining to Mark what had happened in the last few days. They could see that she was crying uncontrollably, but Mark stayed stiff. They sat like that for a few minutes until Mark seemed to ask something, to which Lexie shook her head through sobs. Mark broke into sobs also as he pulled Lexie on top of him.

"I think we should go now." Callie whispered to Lynn.

Lynn nodded sadly, "Yeah, Mom and Adam need us too."

"Things can only get better." Callie stated optimistically.

TBC...

I think there may only be a couple more chapters left to this story.