A/N: I know everyone is eager for a happy Meredith, Anna reunion! Believe me, so am I! But… I must also bring around several storylines to complete this… Hang in there readers!
Enjoy!
(Note, before earthquake)
Mark groaned, hobble-hopping to the bedroom. Lexie had a minor freakout in the bathroom, called Meredith, and then stormed out and ran to the bedroom, slamming the door.
"Lexie?" He called. He supposed he was a half and half mix of worried and annoyed. Worried, because the one person he loved most in the world was upset… Annoyed because the one person he loved most in the world was upset and didn't want his help.
"Ahh," he hissed in pain as he continued to make his way to their bedroom. Mark leaned in closer and opened the door, relieved she hadn't locked it. "Lex…" In the middle of the bed, Lexie lay. Staring at the ceiling as if she gazed hard enough, it would give her the answers she sought. He hop-hopped to the bed and plunked down with a grimace. "Lexie… what's going on, are you okay?"
She sighed and gazed at him thoughtfully.
Teach me, she'd once begged him. And he still puzzled over that, sometimes. Not just the mechanics part of a relationship… but all the other things. He could only teach what he, himself had learned… And what he learned he had scrounged up from other people. From Derek and Meredith, from Richard… from Callie and Arizona. From Sofia.
But he loved her. And he didn't have to be her teacher to do that. So Mark contorted himself into a semi-comfortable position on the bed, Lexie's head on his lap, and tried to prepare himself.
"I'm not a resident anymore," she said finally.
Mark bent an eyebrow. Oh. Career stuff, he could do career advice. "You haven't been a resident for a long time," Mark said. In fact, she'd been on the shortlist for Neuro Chief before she accepted her research fellowship. Lexie was a brilliant surgeon, and a great doctor.
"I know."
Now Mark was really confused. What was she really talking about?
"I grew up," she said. "I have, haven't I?"
"Uh…" Mark didn't know how to answer that. Thankfully, he didn't have to. Lexie was on ramble mode.
"I used to be scared, Mark. Of change… of growing up. Being responsible for more than just myself. I didn't want to. I just wanted to be me. I wanted to be me and still have you. But then you changed… You wanted more from life… and it meant I couldn't just be me anymore…
Mark remembered that. The Sloane debacle. And later… when Sofia was born. There'd been a lot of rough patches then. A lot of emptiness.
"Then our plane crashed…"
Yeah, that. He tried to forget it most of the time… But anyway…
"I didn't want to lose you, Mark," she continued. "I couldn't bear the thought of living without you. I realized I was… I was selfish and immature to try and keep you all to myself. A future without you in it at all was scarier than a future where I had to grow up a little. I chose to not be scared of being with you.
"I changed. I started to accept the things I couldn't change. Which was you. I accepted you, and Sofia, and Arizona, and Callie… Accepted all of it because they're all a part of you too… and I realized I guess I could share, you know. I could."
"Okay…" Mark said, trying to wrap his head around this epic Lexie-ramble.
"Because you were worth it. You always made it worth it. You always looked for me. You always had a place for me."
It was a truth he'd figured out long ago. Even when they broke up, or were apart somehow, for some reason… If he was alone, he longed for her. She was beautiful, and smart, and empathetic… How could he ever give that up? He would always love her. He stroked her fine, silky hair, brushing his thumb over her eyebrow, her temple. "Lex, I will always want you in my life. Always."
"I know," Lexie replied. She sighed and sat up, curling against him. "Well, um… I think you're going to have to get used to sharing me now."
"Huh?" Mark blinked, confused.
"Because," Lexie took his hand and put it on her stomach, "I'm carrying your child."
He pulled away, blinking at her. Was he dreaming? But Lexie only nodded. "I'm pregnant," she confirmed.
"For real?" he asked.
"Yes."
"And you want…"
She narrowed her eyes, "Of course. Mark… I'm having your baby. We're going to be a family."
"You, me and a mini… running around…" he said, imagining the future. He felt his lips pull upward in a smile. "Really?"
"Really. And you know the cool part?"
"What?"
"We don't have to share… him or her with Callie or Arizona."
"Lex…"
She laughed. "Just kidding. They can be the cool aunts."
She was talking too much. Right now, Mark was bursting with joy. He was going to be a father again, and this time a fulltime fifty percent parent… not a one third part. He leaned into Lexie, watching her lips.
"…And Meredith," she was saying, "She'll get to be an aunt too-,"
His girlfriend's lips were moving too much. Mark had to do something. He dropped his chin, cupped her cheeks and took her.
"Ohh," she moaned, burying her hand in his hair.
They were going to be a family. Lexie wanted… Finally wanted to share something with him. He deepened the kiss, exploring her soft lips, her taste, her passionate return. The moment was fulfilling. Life-changing. Ground-breaking. Earth-shattering?
Wait, was this an ultimate kiss… or was the bed actually shaking?
xxx
In the living room of Mark's Condo, Callie put down her wine glass. "Okay, was that an earthquake or am I tipsy? What's the proof of this wine Mark?" she called out. She'd had one glass… well, a glass and a half.
"I do believe that was an earthquake, Callie." Carolyn said, steadying herself against the kitchen counter.
"Thank God, Carolyn," Callie exclaimed, because she definitely did not like the idea of being tipsy after just one drink. "Oh my God-, that was an earthquake?" It suddenly sunk in. How come the place didn't just collapse all around them?
"Did you not just feel the floor move?" Carolyn quipped.
Suddenly the television beeped and blared. BEEP-BEEP-BEEP "This is an EMERGENCY ALERT for the City of Seattle Washington and surrounding areas," An automated voice spoke, "At approximately 9:53 am this morning, an earthquake of a magnitude of 6.1 struck the downtown harbour area of Seattle Washington…."
"Oh no." Callie reached for her phone. "Sofia… she's supposed to be going to the zoo. Callie thumbed through her contacts to call the day care. "Damn," she swore when it came up with a fast-busy tone. Next, she tried Arizona, but got the same response. The lines were dead. "Oh my God, oh my God," she panted with worry. What if something happened to Sofia? Or Arizona? She just couldn't bear the thought of losing them. She tried calling the daycare again.
"Callie," Carolyn came toward her. "Pull yourself together. You are a doctor, and fortunate enough to have been in this protected condo instead of out there on the street. You'll have to trust that your daughter is in good hands for the moment. It's chaos out there. People need our help."
"Right," Callie said, swigging the last of her wine and wiping her lips. "Oh- Mark and Lexie!" She strode to the hallway and banged on the bedroom door. "Hey are you guys -oh-," she smiled, seeing the couple making out on the bed. "Yes, yes you are okay."
"Callie?" Lexie gasped pulling away, "What was that?"
"That was one hell of a kiss!" Mark replied with a goofy grin.
"Yeah… also, it was an earthquake!" Callie yelled, startling them.
"What?" Lexie and Mark said at the same time.
Inside her being, a familiar feeling rose up. The need to take action, take control of the situation. The need to be in charge. "C'mon, we need to come up with a plan, people are going to need us." Energy filled her, and her earlier mopeyness dissipated. She could do this… In the back of her mind, anxious thoughts of Sofia trapped under cement, or Arizona trapped in an on-call room were carefully squared away as she decided to focus. "Lexie, what are the emergency protocols for an earthquake?"
"Um," she stammered detangling herself from Mark. "The first thing would be…"
Callie nodded as she listened. Maybe she had lost her wife to another woman, or maybe she hadn't, as Mark had said, but she was thankful for the newfound sense of purpose the earthquake had forced on her. After this was over… assuming everyone was okay, she would force herself to talk to Arizona.
xxx
Maggie watched the vital signs of both mother and fetus as they prepared for April's C-section. She was ready for her part in this, to remove that tiny conglomeration of cells that blocked the valves in the developing heart. It was an honor and privilege to also be working with the extraordinary Dr. Herman and the equally amazing Dr. Robbins. The surgery, of course, had it's risks… but she was positive with the combination of skill and experience present in this room, it would be a piece of cake.
Dr Herman presided over the unconscious body of April Kepner, hands folded. "Ready Dr. Robbins?" she asked her mentee.
"Ready," Arizona nodded. "Ten blade," she held her hand out. The requested blade was palmed to her, and the surgeon handled it deftly, slicing thinly and accurately along the line for the C-section. Maggie watched, eager for action. In a minute or two, the fetus would be removed, Arizona would make a tiny incision over the baby's heart, and then she would be in action.
"Good." Dr Herman squinted, "Now… Robbins, carefully remove the fetus." Arizona's fingers slipped inside the uterus, and she brought out the tiny fetus, barely larger than her hand. Carefully, the baby was placed on a sterile drape on top of April's abdomen.
"Mm." Herman blinked hard. Was that a blink or a wince? Maggie wondered. It seemed that she was in pain. "Now, remember," she swallowed, "Robbins, you'll want to cut perpendicular to the mediastinal….ah!"
"Are you alright?" Maggie asked the older doctor.
"Fine," she responded bruskly. "Continue. Cut carefully."
Robbins nodded, tracing the imaginary line in a practice gesture first. Maggie stepped closer now, her fingers itching for action. In a few seconds, she would be in there, and this tumor would be gone.
But then Dr. Herman stumbled back, clutching her head. "Ah!" her hand struck a surgical tray, and equipment went flying.
"Dr. Herman!" Arizona shouted.
Maggie's reflex was to run toward the woman and help her up, then the ground shook and debris fell from the ceiling.
"What the-?" Maggie called as Robbins draped herself over April and the baby. "Oh my God!" she struggled for balance, but ultimately ended up falling to the floor.
It only lasted a minute… maybe two, but less than three. When Maggie was finally able to get the ground under her feet again, she staggered to Dr. Herman. "Dr. Herman... Dr. Herman?"
A strange sound erupted from the downed surgeon. Laughter? What was funny about this? Maggie wondered. "Nicole!" Arizona called. "Are you all right?"
She moved and sat up. Blinking, she laughed again. "Well, how about that? I'm blind. And was it just me… or was that an earthquake?"
Maggie pulled up her fellow surgeon. "Alright… now?" She came back to April's unconscious form, getting her bearings.
"Now," Arizona looked up, her blue eyes sharp and pained, "I'm really gonna need your help, Pierce, because something just fell into her uterus." As she spoke, the heartrate monitor spiked just a little faster.
Crap, Maggie thought. She'd been ready. So ready… just not for a freaking earthquake.
xxx
"Jo? C'mon Jo…"
She could hear him. Alex. But she couldn't move. She felt pressure everywhere. Her head hurt. She opened her eyes but saw only darkness. As she inhaled, her abdomen shrieked in pain. "Ow," she said, swallowing dust.
"Jo?" Alex again, his voice hopeful.
"Alex?" she squeaked. She could barely breathe, barely talk. Rubble covered her. Something heavy lay on her stomach. Her body was pinned.
"Oh God, you're alive!" He shouted, causing her to smile. She heard noises, scraping, shouting… People were coming to help. She tried to move again. Her hand scraped against… ceiling tile? Carpet… and hair? Oh God.
"Alex," she called again, worried. She couldn't do anything at the moment, except think. And her new thoughts worried her. She'd lunged for the gun.
It went off.
"It's okay," Alex was saying, "You're trapped under some rubble. We're gonna get you out."
"Okay," she said. God it was warm in here. Again, Jo tried to move. She could wiggle her fingers and toes, but there was pressure around her middle. A heavy weight that was soft and warm. A body. Oh God, was it Brent? Did she shoot him?
She heard rubble moving, and then light hit her pupils. "Ow," she winced and turned from the light, welcoming as it was.
"Jo!" Alex's dirt covered face appeared in front of hers. "You're okay!"
"I…" she thought she was, sort of. "Where's Amber?" she asked.
He looked away for a minute. "She's fine. Went to help the kids. The cop's here, Dan. We're gonna get you outta here."
"Oh. I think… Alex, Brent's on top of me."
"What?"
"Yeah, I can feel…" she could move her right arm a little. Rubble shifted, her hand fell on his ear, "his head." She moved her hand down around, to his carotid, feeling for a pulse. "Alex, there's no pulse," she exclaimed. Suddenly she felt really really sick. "You have to get me out of here, please hurry."
"Hang on…"
"Okay. Okay…"
There was movement, rubble clearing, things shifting. Dust got in her eye. Jo blinked tearfully, trying not to think about the man essentially in her lap. She thought instead about Alex, his love and support for her. His protective concern… She should never have worried about her past. He would never hurt her. Jo knew that now.
"Alex?" she called out.
"Jo," he appeared above her, she could see his whole face now "Hang on," A minute later, there was a bigger push, and suddenly Jo felt a weight lift from her body. It felt great, it felt wonderful, it felt like a rush… Whoa, the blood was rushing to her head. Alex and Dan were now pulling Brent off of her. She felt Alex's warm rough fingers stroke her cheek. He was right in front of her, speaking but she couldn't hear him from the ringing in her ears.
"Alex," she thought she said, "Iwannamarryou…" but she couldn't be sure because everything turned white and she lost consciousness.
A/N: Another cliffie... ooh boy! Oh well. Please Review!