"Addie, we need a decision now," Derek's voice echoed through her mind, and everything felt as though it were a Lifetime movie she happened to be watching.

GAGAGAGAGAGA

"So, how does it feel to finally be a doctor?" Nikki asked Addison after her final day of medical school.

"It's great, so far, but internship is always the hardest. And, I still don't know if I want to do neonatal or obstetrics."

"You'll figure it out. Either way, you got into the best residency program. Everyone says so. I heard Mom telling her friends about how you got into the same program Dad did," she said wistfully for, at the mention of their father, both women grew misty eyed.

"I know. Just promise me something, okay, Nik."

"Sure. Anything."

"If I'm ever really sick or hurt or something, please don't leave me hooked up to life support like Daddy. I don't want my family to suffer any more than they have to."

"Okay, Addie," Nikki nodded solemnly, understanding how hard their father's death had been on Addison. "You're…DNR…I get it."

"Thanks, Nik."

"Do the same for me, okay. If I can't do it on my own, let me go in peace."

GAGAGAGAGAGA

"Addison! How do you want us to proceed?"

"She's DNR."

"Addie? Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. She wouldn't want to live like this. Let her go down," her voice wavered slightly, but she kept her head held high.

The team of doctors and nurses surrounding Nikki's bedside stopped moving, and all the machines were beeping impatiently. Everyone watched in silence as Addison took Nikki by the hand. She held her breath, fighting the tears that threatened to spill over. This is what Nik would want. For a moment, the entire room went silent. Someone tried to suppress a cough.

"Bless you," Addison responded absently before realizing that the cough came from the gurney.

"Oh…mmm…" a faint moan followed the weak cough.

"Nikki?" Addison gasped.

"Ohhh…" another moan preceded the opening of Nikki's cerulean blue eyes.

"Nikki! Oh my God! Nikki!"

"Ads?" her voice was hoarse as she tried to focus on Addison and the room around her, but everything was spinning.

"Nikki! You're alive!" Addison gave her sister a gentle hug before bursting into tears.

"What…" she gasped for breath and spoke slowly "What…happened to me?"

It seemed every person in the room made eye contact with everyone else. No one quite knew how to respond. Derek watched Addison for some sign as to what she was thinking, but she was staring at Mark, who had suddenly appeared just inside the door. I don't know how I would've made it last night without him. I don't know how I've made it this long without him…

"Addie? What happened?" Nikki's voice snapped Addison out of her daze.

"Someone attacked you," Addison began slowly, "We're kind of hoping you could tell us who did it? Do you remember anything?"

"No, I…I…" Nikki's eyes filled with tears. "I don't know."

"Do you remember me?" Derek stepped closer to Nikki, ready to examine her.

"Of course I remember you. You left my sister for Seattle," she answered still weakly, but with a sly grin.

At this point, everyone in the room scattered, leaving only Addison, Derek, and Mark at Nikki's bedside. Addison stroked what was left of her baby sister's blood matted hair, while Mark flipped through the chart. Derek continued with his list of questions. When she'd answered everything satisfactorily, he informed the group that Nikki was probably only suffering from a temporary short term memory loss. It's a miracle. She shouldn't have woke up from this, but Addie deserves a miracle or two.

"Can I talk to my sister alone?" Nikki asked, with a pointed glare at Shepherd and Sloan.

"Sure," Derek turned to leave the room and pulled Mark, who was staring intently at Addison's hair, with him.

"What's wrong, Nik?" Addie asked when the door had been shut behind the men.

"I sort of remember something….I think."

"What is it?"

"I remember arguing with my husband. And, later, wandering into the ER. He's been so mean to me lately, Addie. He's even hit me a few times."

"Do you think he did this to you?"

"I…It wouldn't surprise me. He threatened me a few weeks ago," she confessed, stifling a yawn.

"You need to tell Derek and the police."

As if reading Addison's mind, Derek knocked at the door along with two police officers. Nikki called out a greeting, and they entered.

"Are you feeling up to company, Nik?" Derek asked.

"I guess so," she answered, this time yawning openly.

"Hello, Mrs. Winthrop. Can we ask you a few questions?"

"Sure."

"What can you tell us about the attack on you?"

"I don't remember much, except that I'd argued with my husband. Everything goes blank until I stumbled into the ER, but that's even a little hazy. I just remember falling into a chair."

"Do you remember what you argued about with your husband?"

"No. We haven't been getting along well lately. He threatened me not too long ago, and he's hit me a few times."

"Do you remember why he threatened you?"

"He thought I was cheating on him," her voice cracked a little, "But I've never done that. I love him so much. I don't want him to be angry with me anymore."

"He called me once," Addison spoke quietly. "He said he hadn't seen Nikki in a while and wondered if I knew where she was. I didn't, but when I told him that, he got angry. He didn't believe me."

"Mmm 'kay," the other officer mumbled, taking notes all the while. "Is there anyone that could account for how Mrs. Winthrop arrived at Seattle Grace?"

"I'm not sure," Mark spoke this time. "I'd have to check with the ER nurses, but last night was fairly busy. We were pulling surgeons from all departments."

The officers continued to ask questions while Mark stared blankly at a point above the IV stand. Addison, on the other hand, was staring directly at Mark. He's changed so much. He seems nicer, like he has empathy for others. He seems sad though, the way he's staring off into space all the time. Soon, Nikki had drifted off to sleep, and Addison headed back to Mark's office to gather her things and try to find a hotel. She was packing her make-up back into her cosmetic bag, when she felt a presence behind her. Not daring to turn around, she continued putting things away.

Mark couldn't help himself. Every time he saw Addison, she was more beautiful. It was the way she bit her lip while thinking. Or, maybe it was the nervous way she toyed with her hair when things weren't going just right. Something about her made her seem more beautiful. Maybe, it was all the things he'd taken for granted before now: the cute curl of hair around her face that just wouldn't stay back, the perfect blue of her eyes that reminded him of trips to remote and wonderful islands, the way she'd put one hand on her hip and tilt her head when really concentrating on what someone was saying. Most importantly, he'd taken for granted just how much she cares about the people in her life, family and patients. I shouldn't have let her go. Now she has someone who obviously doesn't treat her like the goddess she is. I'm so sorry, Addie, that I didn't treat you like the goddess you are. He inched his way closer to her as she put every item from her make-up case back into its home. When he reached out to touch her hair, she immediately reached out and caught him.

"Mark?" her tone was slightly accusing.

"Addie, I'm so sorry. I can't begin to tell you how sorry," he was ready to apologize for nearly touching her and everything else.

"Mark?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up," she commanded, pulling him into a deep kiss.

AN: Don't hate me. Review and tell me what you think. I'll try my best to get the next chapter up soon, but organic chemistry is ruling my life as I prepare for the MCAT.