Hidden Truths
Chapter 37: Sanctuary
Slowly but surely, things were getting packed up. Their apartment was covered in boxes and looked like a huge mess. Mark was in the kitchen, looking for the extra forks while Nina was getting dressed. Ethan rushed out of his room, wearing some comfortable clothes and his eyes wild. "Dad, could I ask you something?" He asked, chewing his lip.
"Sure sport. What's up?" Mark said, still looking for the forks. He had made scrambled eggs, breakfast sausages and grilled cheeses for breakfast.
Ethan fiddled with his hands. "Neveah Grimes asked me to be her boyfriend."
Mark spun around, his eyes wide with surprise. "B-boyfriend?"
Ethan nodded, "I think…I think I like her? But I don't know. She wants to have lots of babies but I told her that I want to be a surgeon and that I already have a baby on the way." Ethan stated. "How could I be a daddy, a surgeon and a big brother to Ashlie all at once?"
As Mark was stumbling over his words for wisdom for his son, Nina came into the kitchen. She kissed Ethan's head while he sat at the counter. She noticed Mark's expression and looked confused. "What's wrong with your daddy?" She asked, turning to Ethan.
"I told him that Neveah wants me to be her boyfriend." Ethan said simply. "And nobody my age says daddy anymore, mom. Everyone says 'dad'."
Nina frowned slightly, "You've always said daddy. What's wrong with daddy?"
"It makes me sound like a little kid." Ethan pouted. Nina didn't comment and found the forks, handing one to Ethan. Mark was still very stunned. "And girls don't like little kids."
Ah, I should have known. Like father like son. Nina thought. "Well, there's no girls around except Ashlie and I, so you can say daddy and mommy. I won't tell." She promised.
Ethan shook his head and ate his breakfast. "I'm a big boy, mom. Girls like big boys."
~x~
After dropping Ethan off at school, Mark and Nina went to the hospital. Mark was still stunned about the news that Ethan liked girls. Nina wasn't so worried about it; it wasn't like Ethan was rushing to grow up and knew what actual "big" people did with each other. When they reached the hospital parking lot, she turned to Mark. "Babe, are you okay?"
Mark turned to her. "I just…I never thought that…isn't Ethan too young for a girlfriend?"
Nina rolled her eyes as Mark parked. They each got out, Mark grabbing Nina's purse for her. "He's only seven. He doesn't know what having a girlfriend actually means." She reassured him.
"Neveah wants babies." Mark commented, looking unsure as they walked towards the hospital.
"So? You want babies." Nina pointed out.
"I'm also an adult," Mark pointed out as well, sighing as they walked together into the hospital and to the Attending's lounge. "I'm not ready… I'm not ready for Ethan to want or have babies."
Nina smiled and kissed his cheek as they boarded the elevator. "I'm worried about how you'll react when Ashlie is born."
"Oh god…" Mark swallowed thickly, "She is not allowed to have babies or have a boyfriend. Ever."
Nina laughed as they left the elevator. "I want grandkids, Mark."
"I… Ethan will have to have them when he's older then."
"Whatever you say Mark."
~x~
Nina was in a really good mood; she knew that Teddy was in surgery with a gunshot victim and Nina was with Cristina looking after both Teddy's and Nina's post-opt patients. Cristina was off and Nina could sense that.
Nina was waiting for the elevator so that she could head down to the OR board to check the schedule. She was humming some silly song she and Mark had been dancing to last night. She was pretty sure it was "Hero" by Enrique Iglesias. She was just so happy and she felt like she was floating on joy.
She continued to hum and began to mumble the words, heading towards the OR board. She got onto the elevator and continued to hum. She loved Mark more than anything and couldn't help but feel just so thankful. Ashlie kicked Nina and she reached down to touch her belly.
"I know, I miss daddy too." Nina cooed to her stomach, not caring if anyone saw her. A man in a brown jacket got onto the elevator with Nina.
"Do you know where the chief of surgery is?" The man asked.
Nina could sense that something was up with him but she figured he needed Derek to sort through paperwork. Sounds like fun, Nina thought dryly. "Doctor Shepherd? He should be in his office." Nina said smoothly.
The man nodded, "I've been there but I forget where it is." Nina gave him directions, as she continued to rub and try to sooth the child within her. "Thank you." The man said before he left as the elevator dinged. "Have a nice day."
"You too!" Nina called after before she returned to her humming. "What got you so worked up, little one?"
~x~
Mark was working on charts at the nurse's station when Lexie came walking up to him. "Could you sign this for Doctor Robbins?" Lexie asked, looking uncomfortable talking to her ex-boyfriend.
He nodded as he took the paper and began to sign it. "So how have you been, Lex?"
Lexie shifted on her feet. "Fine… Alex and I are… happy."
"Glad to hear it." Mark said as he handed the piece of paper back to her. He flashed her a bright smile and Lexie's knees felt weak. "Did I tell you about Ashlie?"
"Who?" Lexie felt her stomach twist.
"Ashlie, she's my daughter. Nina's pregnant with a girl." He said with such excitement. "But…Ethan…he uh, he's thinking about getting a girlfriend and I don't know what to say. Nina's cool with it but I can't help but worry – Lex?"
It hurt listening to Mark talk about how happy he was with Nina. "I…"
Mark looked down at his pager, reading that it was now lock down. "Weird, we're on lockdown." He commented.
Lexie swallowed, staring at his face longingly. I'm with Alex! She told herself firmly. Right as she was about to say something she'd regret, a gun shot rang out. Screams filled the room. Mark jumped and covered Lexie's body, protecting her from the possible threat.
Everyone started running all at once. Mark could only think: protect Lexie. Lexie tried to help the dead nurse but Vivian…was dead. "Come on!" Mark shouted at Lexie, trying to pull her away. "We gotta get out of here!"
Mark kept Lexie's head close to his shoulder. Lexie felt safe in his arms and wanted to just… hold Mark close. She completely forgot about Alex until the elevator doors opened and there laying in his own blood, was her boyfriend.
~x~
Mark and Lexie brought Alex to a board room, Mark knowing that he would need to perform surgery to save Alex's life. He was also worried about his wife; Mark wanted to go hunt down Nina, to make sure she was alright but when he thought of it, he would see Lexie's worried face.
Lexie was freaking out and Mark knew he had to be the adult here, or else, Alex would die. So, he stepped up, praying quietly that Nina would be alright.
~x~
All Nina could think about was Mark; she was stuck in this hospital, alone and on lockdown. Ashlie had stopped kicking her so crazily but was still on edge, so Nina was hiding in an on-call room, trying to calm Ashlie. All she could think about though was Mark. Was Mark okay?
Of course, Mark's okay…he's Mark. Why wouldn't he be okay? Nina reasoned. But, something was nagging at her and she was getting worried. I'm sure this is just a drill.
She got off the bed, hand still resting on her baby bump which was growing a lot now, she was about four and a half months pregnant now, and she began to waddle out of the room in search of her husband.
Mark, babe, are you okay? Love you. Xoxo -Nina.
Nina messaged him on her phone before she began to officially waddle.
~x~
Mark was getting for a chest tube, focused on Alex who was in a lot of pain. Lexie chewed her lip, glazing at her boyfriend with worry. "Alex, it's going to be okay." She tried to reassure him.
Mark began to cut and Alex screamed. "Shut him up Lexie!" He demanded.
"Okay…okay!" Lexie swallowed thickly as she looked helplessly at Alex.
Alex continued to scream. "If you don't shut him up, the guy with the gun will come here." Mark scowled as he worked.
She ended up stuffing Alex's mouth with gaze. "I'm sorry." She uttered.
~x~
As Nina was waddling down the halls, she spotted Cristina and Meredith huddled beside a window, staring at something. Meredith looked horrified and she wondered what was wrong. Nina waddled forward as she watched Cristina cover Meredith's mouth.
Nina wondered what was up as Cristina held Meredith back. She turned and looked over to the bridge and saw the guy with the brown jacket pointing a gun at Derek Shepherd.
It was as Nina was watching Derek talk to the man that she came to realize why she should have stayed in the spot she did. Ashlie continued to kick wildly as Nina watched helplessly. The doctor inside of her screamed to go to Derek but Derek was calming the man down.
Until April opened the door and called to Derek.
Nina watched helplessly as the man lifted the gun back to Derek and shot him. All she could hear was Meredith's screams of agony.
Up Next: Death and All His Friends: Nina must save Derek's life and Mark must save Alex's. But who will save the life within Nina and Meredith?
Hey everyone…quick update. Not much say except…my heart hurts.
REVIEWS
Georgia Peach: I'm playing around with the idea of Meredith keeping the baby.
RHatch89: Yes, they really, really do.
Anyway, please review guys. I'm gonna go work on the chapter 38. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Sorry if it's so…weird this chapter, I couldn't figure out where I wanted Nina. And there aren't many scenes with Mark and Lexie.
Xoxo,
Nerdy~