Chapter 26

"What are you talking about Tina? I haven't seen Mark. I went to his house and he wasn't there. I've been at the office all this time because I didn't want to come home and argue with you." Bette is telling the truth. She had been at her office all evening after not finding Mark. Yes, in her mind she wanted Mark dead but reality is a whole other ball game. "Tina I'm coming over there. How is Sofia?"

"She's very upset. Angelica is trying to be there for her but she's really not up for any comforting from her."

"Why is that?"

"They also had a conversation about Mark and me. Angelica apparently offended her."

"Offended her? How?"

"Bette, you're pretty convincing when you want to be. She's not four years old any more. She understands and hears everything that we argue about….including anything you may accuse me of. So in her mind, I was engaging in inappropriate behavior with Mark. She felt the need to mention her thoughts to Sofia."

Bette feels horrible. She dislikes when Angelica is dragged into any drama. Her problem is with Tina. She would prefer it not to affect her baby girl. "I will be there in 30 minutes. Angelica was never supposed to be involved in this."

Tina ends her call with Bette and turns directly into Callie, whom is standing firm with her arms crossed. Tina slightly jumps, hand covering her heart. "Callie, you scared me. I didn't here you come behind me."

"Does Bette have something to do with Mark's accident?"

"What?"

"Answer my question Tina."

"No, Bette had nothing to do with the accident."

"Sofia told us everything. About the fighting and Bette's suspicions. Did - she - have anything - to do -with this accident?" She asks again.

"No, Callie she didn't. She's on her way over here now. She was going to see Mark but he wasn't home. She's been at work all afternoon."

"If I find out that she had anything to do with Mark being in this hospital bed, I will kill her. Do you here me? Be sure to tell her that and if you love your wife, keep her away from me and my family. I do not own this hospital but I can control who enters that room. You can meet her downstairs!"

"Callie, she didn't have anything to do with this. Why are you so upset? I'm not understanding where all of the hostility is coming from. She said she had nothing to do with the accident."

"Ask your wife. Truthfully I don't understand the connection you have with that woman. If she comes on this floor or even attempts to say anything to my wife if their paths cross, she will be the next to be admitted to SGMW."

Callie abandons their conversation, leaving Tina with no explanation of her rage. Tina is shocked and remains in the hallway for a moment. Inside she can see Callie rubbing Mark's hand and trying to console Sofia. What the hell happened in Florida? She wonders. Callie is always such a warm and loving person. For some reason, she is very angry and it's not only because of Mark's current condition. Finally deciding to join the rest of the group, she convinces Angelica to go downstairs to the cafeteria for another coffee round. She extends the invitation to Sofia but she declines. Entering the elevator, she sends Bette a text telling her to meet in the cafeteria.

Twenty minutes later, Tina notice's Bette entering the double doors. "Bette - Over here."

Bette quickly walks to the table and kisses Angelica on the forehead, not acknowledging Tina. "Hey Sweetie, you doing okay?"

"Nope!"

Bette's hand lingers on her daughter's shoulder. She and Tina make eye contact but nothing is said. With her free hand, she moves a stray hair from Angelica's face and places it behind her ear. "Do you want to talk about it?" She gets no response from Angelica and gathers she will have to settle for talking to Tina.

"She's worried about Mark and Sofia. Let's just give her some time to deal with everything." Tina tries to explain.

"I'm not just worried about them." Angelica says once she decides to speak. "What about the two of you? Mother, do you have any idea why you are meeting us here in the cafeteria?" She asks sarcastically.

Bette hates being called mother. "I was under the assumption that you were trying to be supportive and making a coffee run."

"No mother! We are here because Callie threatened to put you through a fucking window if you brought your ass on their floor!"

"Angelica! Watch your mouth." Tina fears her daughter has inherited her mother's mouth. "I understand that you are upset but I will not tolerate such an attitude or the language."

"It's okay Tina."

"No it isn't okay Bette!" Tina begins to mumble under her breath. "Callie may have a point."

Tina didn't mean for Bette to hear her remark. "What did you say? Callie has a point about what?"

Tina doesn't answer her but starts to get up from the table. She gathers the coffees and taps Angelica on the arm to let her know to get up.

"What the fuck do you mean - Callie has a point? Answer me!"

"Can you two not argue here? I'm going to take the coffee upstairs by myself. I think it's better if I go alone. They don't need any added drama and right now that's all you have to offer. Please, just leave." A single tear slides down Angelica's cheek. Refusing to wait for a response, she is gone.

It's been two days since the accident and Mark has yet to awaken. Unfortunately, he is getting worse. Karev has been a life saver where the triplets are concerned. He and Lucy offered to keep them while Callie, Arizona and Sofia stay by Mark's side.

"Callie, we have to prepare ourselves."

"Prepare ourselves? Derek what are you saying? No, n-never mind. I don't want to hear you right now. I can't."

"He isn't getting any better and he signed a DNR (do not resuscitate). I don't want to accept it neither but I think it will be better than being in denial. I don't want to let him go but…. But- Callie, he's dying."

The tears begin to flood her eyelids and she lays her head on Mark's chest. She tries to muzzle her sobs but she can't help but to release the sound of agony into the air. Her body shakes uncontrollably and Derek doesn't know whether to comfort her or give her space. She begins to climb into bed with Mark. Then and only then does Derek determine it time to intervene.

"Come on. Come here." He wraps his arms around her. She presses her face against him and continues to cry. Derek himself cannot stop the tears that begin to immerse on his face. "I know… I know." No other words are needed. They know exactly how the other is feeling.

Mark gave her a beautiful child and had been her best friend for years. She thinks back to their last serious conversation about children. She remembers Mark wanting more children and asking Callie to carry his baby. She couldn't believe that he would even ask her….. And now she was feeling guilty for not trying to give him this wonderful luxury. "He can't die. He's my best friend. He's my family." She says between sobs.

Derek only shakes his head. He was both of their friends. He was both of their family. He didn't want him to die neither. Time stands still as they stare at their fallen comrade. There is no explanation for his condition and there is no treating his current state. Mark is going to die and all they could do is wait.

Sofia stands back in the corner by the nurse's station. She has been watching the scene before her for some time. She is numb. As though she can't comprehend the events transpiring before her. She loves her mothers but no one can compare to her father. Mark holds a special part of her. Callie and Arizona both have encouraged her to be open with them and to share her feelings on how she is dealing with Mark. She has completely ignored them and has said nothing of how she is coping. Instead she is turning into a ticking time bomb. Nurse Jan approaches her and grabs her by the hand. Snatching her hand back, Sofia unleashes her frustrations on the undeserving nurse that was trying to help.

"Don't touch me! What the hell is wrong with you sneaking up on me like that? Is it too much to ask for some time alone? Get off of me and away from me! All I want is some privacy."

Nurse Jan takes two steps back. "I was going to tell you that you could use my desk. You can have my seat instead of standing there watching your father." The nurse isn't upset. She understands what Sofia is going through.

Sofia is sorry. She covers her face and cries. "I'm sorry. I don't know what is wrong with me. I shouldn't have spoken to you that way….. But I'm so angry."

"It's alright." The nurse holds her hand up toward Callie and Derek, who are coming out of the room. She waves for them to stand back. "You're entitled to be angry. He's your father and you're hurting. I would be worried if you weren't angry and upset. Sit here in my chair. Sit here as long as you need. I'll stand guard and make sure no one bothers you." She smiles at Sofia and helps her get situated. "And Sofia, if you ever need to talk to anyone, I'm here. I know you have two wonderful moms and a slew of family and friends but sometimes it easier to talk to a stranger."

"You're no stranger Nurse Jan. You've worked here for years."

"Yeah, we know of each other but we don't know each other."

"Thank you." Sofia curls up in the chair facing Mark's room as her personal guard shields her from any unwanted attention. "Nurse Jan."

"Yeah."

"I know you better than you think. My dad told me all about you. It'll be our little secret."

Several minutes pass before Arizona shows up. She can hear Sofia whimpering from down the hall. When she spots her at the nurse's station, she goes straight for her. Nurse Jan steps in front of Arizona and quickly explains her actions before the over-protective woman bites off her head. Arizona isn't trying to accept her explanation but Nurse Jan doesn't back off. Derek comes to her rescue.

"Dr Robbins..,.Arizona." Derek shakes his head. "Callie needs you."

Reluctantly she slowly nears Mark's door. She never chose Mark some many years ago to be her daughter's father. She never chose to spend the rest of her life with Mark…but she cannot ignore how much she has came to love him. He still irritates the hell out of her at times but he was a great father and that couldn't go unnoticed.

"Is there any good news on his condition?" The empty looks from Derek and Callie tell it all. "How long? Do we know how much time he-"

"Soon, real soon." Callie thought she was all out tears but she was wrong. "We have to tell the girls. We have to explain this to them. We have to- we-we have to-"

"I know Callie. We have to tell them. We will baby. We will."