It took me awhile to get this chapter finished, and I apologize. This winter has not been "nice" to my kiddos….We've been dealing with the flu!

However, I finally have an update. NOTE: This chapter will deal with details of the abuse Morgan experienced at Jason's hand. If that is something that is difficult for you, please don't read.

Please let me know your thoughts. I love hearing from you!

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Mark took a fast shower before collapsing onto his bed from exhaustion. He set the alarm on his phone for 7:30 a.m. and was fast asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. He woke with a start two hours later when his alarm sounded. He dressed quickly, brushed his teeth, and headed back to the hospital to check on Morgan.

Callie was reading a book on her Kindle and gave him surprised look as he walked in.

"You're back already?"

"I did what you said, " Mark said defensively as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I took a shower and got some sleep."

Callie looked at her watch. "Wow….Two whole hours," she said sarcastically.

"I'm just worried about her," he said softly.

Callie sighed and put her feet down to stand up, "I know you are, but she's stable. She's been sleeping the entire time you've been gone. Her vitals are good….and…"

Mark approached the bed to look at Morgan more closely as he interrupted Callie. "But her bruises are getting more pronounced and the swelling is worse," he interrupted.

"You know that's normal, Mark," She looked at him sympathetically as she rubbed her hand soothingly up and down his arm. " You should really try to get more rest before she wakes up again. It's going to get worse before it gets better."

"I know," he agreed. "It's just hard for me to see her like this."

Knowing that she would never get him to agree to leave and get more sleep, Callie decided to distract him from Morgan's injuries...

If only briefly.

She reached back to pull up another chair beside hers at Morgan's bedside.

Then she gave him a pointed look and motioned towards the chair. "Sit."

Following her direction, he sat down.

Callie followed suit and sat back down beside him. "So tell me about her."

"I'm sure Derek's told you some of it already."

"Yeah," Callie agreed. "But I want to hear it from you."

Mark kept his gaze fixed on Morgan.

Callie saw him swallow and take a deep breath.

"She was the first girl I ever loved, Callie." He turned towards her and she could clearly see the pain in his eyes. "And if I'm being completely honest, I don't think I ever got over her. I really loved her," he admitted as he turned back to look at Morgan lying in the bed.

Callie reached over to take his hand. "I can see that," she said softly. "It's obvious that you cared a lot about her."

"Everything about her was good. And I know that sounds crazy, but it's true. She was sorta like Kepner; Ya know…..always happy and smiling. Some people called her 'Suzy Sunshine' because of her endless optimism." He chuckled softly. "I know she probably got on people's nerves…" He looked towards Morgan and his voice softened, "….but I thought she was…"

When he paused, Callie looked at him with curiously, "She was what?"

"Perfect." Mark sighed. "She was perfect."

Callie smiled at him softly and he continued.

"We dated for three years in college. I was her 'first'….and she wasn't just another girl to me, Callie. She was special."

"So what happened between you? If you were so good together, why did it end?"

Mark shrugged. "She deserved better than me, " he said 'matter-of-factly'.

Callie suddenly felt protective of her friend. She knew Mark's heart…..probably better than anyone. She knew his 'public persona' was very different from the one he showed everyone else, and one thing Callie knew for sure: Mark had a big heart…but it was wounded and afraid to open for 'love'.

Was that because of how his relationship with Morgan had ended? She couldn't help but wonder.

"She deserved better?!" Callie said more sharply than she'd intended as she quirked a suspicious eyebrow at him. "I'm sorry, but that's a load of crap."

When he looked at her skeptically, she continued. "You forget that I know you, Mark. Probably better than anyone else. " She paused as she saw his brows furrow. "You have a big heart….and I know you have the ability to love. You just don't open yourself up to it. So I'll ask you again: What happened with Morgan?"

Against his will, Mark's eyes filled and he looked down at his hands. "I really loved her, Callie. And honestly…..I don't know what happened between us. I mean, we just sort of went in different directions and drifted apart. Before I knew it, we were on different paths…and the relationship just ended."

"And yet, here she is….Back in your life again." Callie smiled.

"Nothing but a coincidence," Mark insisted. "But maybe that's a good thing because I wouldn't trust anyone else to operate on her." Mark reached out to touch Morgan's face softly, "She's always been so beautiful; Inside and out."

Callie reached over to rub his back affectionately. "She's lucky to have you."

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Several hours later, Morgan started to stir. She had a pounding headache and wished she could just go back to sleep. She started to move and felt a hand holding on to hers.

Her eyes fluttered open and she saw him…...His head was laying down beside her, but she would recognize that curly sandy brown hair anywhere.

She squeezed his hand weakly. "Mark?" Her voice croaked hoarsely.

He lifted his head and offered her a sleepy smile, "Hey…." He reached up to stroke her cheek with his thumb. "You okay?"

"I feel like my head is the size of a watermelon," she admitted. "A really big watermelon."

She tried to smile but found that only one side of her mouth would move.

Mark sensed her fear as she realized how badly she must be injured.

"It's just the swelling," he assured her. "Derek and I have both been watching over you."

"Derek is here too?" She asked surprised.

"Yes…He's here. You have a bad concussion, Morgan. You also have some cracked ribs and a broken wrist…..but everything else is cosmetic."

She looked at him with a terrified look on her face and he reached out for what seemed like the hundredth time to stroke her cheek.

"I'm going to fix it…..I promise. Don't worry, okay?"

Her eyes filled with tears. "But what if you can't?"

His gaze grew serious, but there was a twinkle in his eyes. "I'm one of the best plastic surgeons in the country, babe. You're in good hands, I promise. I will fix it….All of it."

She gave him a small smile, "And you're still so modest, I see."

He couldn't help but chuckle at her comment.

Derek picked that moment to walk in. "Hey Morgan. It's good to see you awake." He smiled at her. "And as you can see, Mark hasn't changed much…..He's still as arrogant as ever."

They knew Derek was teasing, but Morgan still felt the need to defend him. "Oh, I'd say he's changed some. He's gotten even more handsome, if that's possible."

Derek was surprised to see that Mark actually blushed. He picked up the chart from the end of her bed to look over her stats for the last few hours and seemed to be pleased with what he saw. He took out his flashlight to look at her eyes before checking some reflexes. After a few more minutes of small talk, he turned towards Mark.

"I need to borrow Mark for a second, okay?"

Mark followed Derek out into the hallway where Derek's expression grew concerned. "I need to tell you a couple of things, but I want you to promise me to keep it together and not let her see you get upset."

Mark stood up straighter; He didn't like the sound of that, but agreed anyway.

Derek sighed and lowered his voice even more. "Morgan was brought in by paramedics last night. She somehow managed to get away from the bastard and down to the lobby before she collapsed. She was practically naked…Only wearing her underwear…"

Mark winced and the muscles on the side of his jaw began to twitch in anger.

"The desk clerk called 911," Derek continued, "and they brought her here since we were the closest hospital. She didn't regain consciousness until they had her in the E.R."

"So what about Elliott? Do they have him in custody?" Mark asked.

"That's the other thing I need to tell you." He released a frustrated sigh, "No, they don't have him. No one realized what room she'd come out of since she wasn't a registered guest. By the time they figured it out, he was long gone. That's why the police are here and need to talk to her now."

"No," Mark shook his head emphatically. "She's not ready."

"Mark…"

"I said, NO, Derek!" Mark's voice was getting louder as started to pace and struggle to keep his emotions under control. "You've seen her. She isn't ready to talk to anyone yet."

"I think she'll be fine if you will stay with her." When Mark didn't respond, Derek continued, "Look….. He needs to be arrested and locked up for what he's done to her. But that's not going to happen until they can talk to her. The longer we put them off, the harder it's going to be for them to find him and bring him in."

He was right. As much as Mark hated to admit it, Derek was right.

"Okay fine. But I'm not leaving her side, and if it gets to be too much for her to take right now, I will make them leave."

"Understood." Derek agreed. "I'll bring them up now."

Derek left to find the detectives assigned to her case while Mark went back into Morgan's room. She offered him a tentative smile when he walked in.

"Everything okay?"

He sat down beside her and took her hand. "Everything is fine." He smiled at her, "Listen, honey, the police need to talk to you about what happened last night. They need your help to find Jason and bring him in. Okay?"

Morgan shook her head in agreement even though he could see the fear in her eyes and feel her hand trembling in his.

He scooted a little closer, "It's gonna be okay. I'll stay right beside you the whole time."

A few minutes later, Derek walked in with two men behind him. They introduced themselves as Detectives Sanchez and Williams with the Seattle Police Department. What followed was a couple minutes of small talk where they were introduced to Dr. Shepard and Dr. Sloan and learned the extent of her injuries.

"Miss Matthews, I know this is difficult," Detective Sanchez began, "But can you tell us what happened last night?"

"I flew in from San Francisco and met Jason at the hotel."

"Was he expecting you?" Detective Williams asked.

"No. And it turns out my suspicions were right since I found him with someone."

"So what happened next?"

Morgan shifted uncomfortably on her bed and felt Mark squeeze her hand supportively.

"She ran out of the room when I confronted him. After she left, I walked in to talk to him."

Detective Sanchez shot her a suspicious look. "You went in to the room on your own? Or did he force you in?"

Morgan huffed in frustration, "I went in of my own accord, Detective. It's not like I was expecting him to beat the living hell out of me!"

Mark opened his mouth to say something, but Detective Williams cut him off while giving his partner a look of warning, "Sorry, Miss Matthews. Of course, we know you didn't invite this kind of assault. Please excuse my partner. So can you tell us what happened next?"

"We started yelling….and calling each other names. At one point, he hit me really hard across the face…. and I fell backwards onto the bed." She started squeezing Mark's hand more tightly as the horrifying details came to mind.

"I hate to ask you this, ma'am, but we need to know anything you can remember about what happened. Your injuries are pretty extensive, so everything you can tell us is going to help our case against him."

Mark spoke up, "I don't think she can do this right now, gentlemen."

"I'm okay, Mark," she said quietly.

He couldn't help but admire the resolve he heard in her voice even though he was fighting to let her continue. He hated to see her hurting. "Are you sure?"

She shook her head before turning back to the detectives. "I can tell you everything."