Chapter 9

"Mark, it's been almost three weeks since the wedding, when are you going home?" Addison has been getting really impatient with Mark in the last few days.

"I'm not going back to Seattle." Mark says.

"Why not? Where are you going?" Addison asks.

"I was planning on staying here, but I might head back to New York, seeing that you don't want me here," Mark says, looking at the floor.

"Mark, it's not that I don't want you here, it's just, Sam and I, we, we thought it was just going to be us. You know? We're newlyweds, Mark." Addison says, sympathetically. "If you stay in LA, then you have to get your own place. I mean it. Within a week, you are not living in a hotel. I mean it." Addison adds.

"Fine," Mark says.

"And, you are not this baby's father, not ever. You can be the cool uncle, got it? Birthday presents and all that stuff. No dropping in everyday to change and feed her. Got it?" Addison really wants to get her point across.

"Cool Uncle Mark. Got it." He says. "When will Sam be back?" Mark asks.

"Should be soon. He was just going to get groceries and some last minute baby stuff." Addison's phone beeps. "That's him. He's just leaving the store. He'll be home in twenty minutes. Forty-five minutes pass, and Addison is getting worried. Her phone rings again.

"Addison," Amelia says from the other end.

"Amelia? What's wrong?" Addison sound worried.

"Addison, don't panic. Sam was in a minor accident, he's fine. Don't freak out. He's at St. Ambrose now."

"What happened?" Addison is starting to freak out, though Amelia told her not to.

"He just has a minor concussion and some other minor wounds. Stay at home. We got everything here covered. Stay calm, he'll be home in a couple of hours." Amelia is trying her best to be reassuring, but it isn't going to well.

"Let me talk to him."

"I can't. No cell phone use in the hospital, remember?"

"Yeah, okay. Get him to call me as soon as he can, okay?"

"Okay. Addie, I got to go. Incoming trauma. I'll get him to call you from the nurse's station, okay?"

"Okay. Thanks, Amelia. Bye."

"Bye."

Addison turns to Mark. "That was Amelia. Sam was in an accident. He just has a minor concussion and some other minor wounds. He'll be home in a couple of hours." Addison says.

"That's good." Mark says. Amelia calls back a few hours later, but this time Mark picks up.

"Amy? What's up?" Mark asks quietly because Addison had just fallen asleep.

"Sam has a brain bleed. The concussion was worse than we thought. I'm taking him into surgery now. Where's Addie?"

"Sleeping. Should I wake her? I don't think it would be a good idea."

"Yeah, no. Don't wake her. She'll just force you to bring her here. She needs to stay in bed. I'll call again when I get out of surgery. Put the phone on vibrate and keep it in your pocket or something."

"How bad is it?" Mark asks.

"Not very, but it would be a terrible idea to let it go untreated. I have to go. I'll call back in a few hours. You should try to get some sleep."

"Yeah. I will." Mark says, then he hangs up. He slowly drifts off to sleep.

After about four decent hours of sleep, Mark wakes up to the vibrating of Addison's phone.

"Amy, how'd it go?" Mark whispers, trying not to disturb Addison.

"Good. Everything went really well. He'll have to stay here for a week, standard to brain surgery, though."

"Addison won't be happy about that. I'm going to have to bring her in, eventually."

"Yeah, I know. Just try to keep her there as long as possible. Call me before you bring her in." Amelia tells Mark.

"I will. Do you have a plan?"

"Not really, just don't let her walk. I can set up a cot in Sam's room, and get her a wheelchair, but that's about as relaxed as it gets around here. Maybe don't tell her too many specifics until she gets really worried. Don't let her freak out, though. Tell her once she is here she can't leave. Either she stays here of she stays at home. Let her choose. Just don't let her get freak out. Call me before you come in, okay? I have to go."

"Okay. I'll keep her here as long as I can, but I can't guarantee anything. I should go, too. Bye." Mark says. He hangs up and goes downstairs to make a pot of coffee. He sits on the sofa and turns on the news. About two hours later, Addison calls from upstairs.

"Mark? Where's Sam?" Addison calls.

"I'm coming." Mark calls back. When he gets upstairs, Addison is sitting on he bed, tears in her eyes.

"Where's Sam?" Addison asks, her voice breaking.

"He had to stay at the hospital. Amelia had to open him up. He's fine. Amelia said you shouldn't worry."

"I shouldn't worry? I shouldn't worry!? What did you think would happen when you told me that? I wouldn't freak out?" Now Addison is freaking out.

"Addison, calm down. You need to stay calm, or you'll go into pre-term labor. Do you want that?" Mark questions.

"No." Addison is slowly starting to calm down.

"Good. Amelia said I could take you to see him in a few days. You need to stay calm. Okay?" Mark says.

"Okay, how soon can I see him?" Addison mumbles, sniffling.

"How long can you wait?"

"Not very."

"If you go today you can't some home until he does."

"Okay, that's fine, let's go." Addison starts to get out of bed.

"What about Henry?" Marks looks down at Henry, who is still sleeping in his play pen.

"I'll take him to Violet's."

"Addison, you need to stay in bed as long as possible. I'm sure he wants to see you, too, but you need to stay here."

"Mark."

"You can't be in this much stress, it's not good for the baby."

"Mark." Addison says, calmly trying to get his attention.

"If you leave here now, what's to stop you from going into labor?" Mark is rambling on.

"Mark."

"Sam probably doesn't want to see you like this, anyway. You're crying, you're stressed," Mark tries to continue.

"Mark! Shut up! Just, just shut up. For a minute, shut up."

"What?" Mark looks hurt.

"Aah," Addison moans.

"What? Is it the baby?"

"Yeah, I think I'm having a contraction." Addison says, clutching her abdomen.

"Okay, okay, I'm, uh, I'm going to, uh, call Amelia, and tell her, that, uh, we are coming to the hospital." Mark is having a panic attack as he dials.

"Mark, give me the phone," Addison says, holding her hand out.

"Mark?" Amelia says from the other line.

"Amelia, how's Sam?" Addison asks.

"He's doing good. He just woke up. Do you want to talk to him?"

"Not right now, we're coming in."

"Addison, you should really stay at home," Amelia debates.

"I'm having contractions. Mark is packing the bag now. We'll be there soon."

"Oh. Okay. I'll meet you at the front of the hospital."

Author's Note: Sorry this one took so long. I need some suggestions for names!