"You're going to make him a partner, Addison? Did you forget to mention that?"
"Yeah, actually, I did. It's been a little crazy around here and it's been rescheduled a million times."
Addison and Callie walked along the promenade heading toward the wellness center, both their cardigans hugged tight around them as the wind blew.
"Sam wanted to make him partner the first month he was here. But Mark kept putting it off."
"Why?"
"I think he was waiting for something. Waiting for you."
Callie stopped walking, arms crossed around her chest. Addison turned to face her, her arms extending out before falling, a gesture that read 'I don't know what you want me to do.'
"We're in LA, he's a plastic surgeon. The amount of business that he's brought in has been phenomenal."
Callie gave her a look that said that she could give two fucks.
"He can't live in in LA. He's home is Seattle. His apartment is still there, waiting for him. He has friends there."
"He has friends here," Addison stated.
"I'm there." Callie corrected.
"Look, something like this takes time. There's legal stuff and board meetings."
"You guys are the board meetings."
Addison sighed, tucking her red strands, freed by the wind, back behind her ear.
"Can't you talk to him? You know him, you know he doesn't belong here. He only came because I was an idiot. But I'm trying to fix it now and if he stays here, then I'll have to stay here, and I don'twannaliveinLA, Addison."
"Hey! What wrong with LA?"
"The same thing that was wrong with Miami. I'm a moody person. I need weather. I like the rain. I can't do sunshine all the time. Rain is nice. It represents every single emotion. Sadness, happiness...gloom."
"What are you a poet now?"
Callie ignored her as they began to walk again.
"Have you ever had sex in the rain? It's amazing. What's so great about having sex on a beach? Nothing. It sucks. Sand gets all up in your -"
"Woah, woah, woah, okay. I get the picture."She chuckled, her mind going to all the possible places one could possibly have sex. "He seems pretty set to do this."
"He'll change his mind."
Addison reached for Callie's hand, giving it a tight squeeze.
"I hope so. For you."
Callie looked at her with a smile. Addison smiled back, thin lips spread tight across her face.
"What's this?"
Addison's eyes were now at Callie's wrist. She lifted her hand to fully expect it.
"What the hell?"
"It's nothing."
"That wasn't there yesterday." Her blue eyes were back on Callie's face, eyebrows raised. "Did he do this?"
"It was...I don't want to say an accident... that sounds...unintentional. It was unintentional."
Addison continued to look at her.
"I will kick his ass."
"Come on!" Callie said, her voice weary, "You know Mark. You honestly think it did it on purpose? He just grabbed it a little hard."
"A lot hard." Addison dropped her friend's hand with a shutter. She didn't like it. "Callie, I know you probably don't want to hear this but maybe you guys should spend some time a part."
"That's the last thing we need to do."
Addison stepped in front of the brunette, turning to face her again. Callie met her gaze.
"I don't know, Callie. I think this thing between you two is going to take more time than you probably thought it would."
"Yeah, I'm figuring that out."
"How long are you willing to wait for him to come around?"
Callie sighed, turning her head to watch as a couple passed them by, a shrug to her shoulders.
"I don't know." A small laugh. "Forever."
"That's a long time."
"Which is why I'm hoping it won't take that long."
"My man!"
Sam greeted a seated, suit and tie wearing Mark with a grab of the shoulders as he entered the conference room before taking a seat in a black leather chair of his own as he smoothed his hand over his designer tie. "You finally ready to do this?"
Mark gave an open mouthed smile, one that couldn't hide the burden in his eyes. "Haha, I think so."
"You have to shake off the last couple of days. You know it happens to every doctor, no matter how great they are. And you are one of the best, my friend."
Mark could only nod his head, his usual confidence a little shook. Sam looked at his old friend, the one that was usually in the good mood with some dirty joke to tell, and saw that he wasn't quite the same. He was different though. Different than he had been the past few months, possessing a spark that almost seemed like Mark was trying to squelch.
"How are things? With your lady friend?"
Mark was silent, his brows furrowing as the edges of his mouth smoothed out. He turned his chair a little to look at his friend. The air around them serious.
"You ever - you ever look at yourself in the mirror and see somebody completely different?"
Sam puckered his lips in thought. "I think everyone's done that once or twice."
"It ever scare you?"
Mark waiting for Sam's reply, feeling that he didn't quite understand. His head lowered, his chair turning back.
"I think if she had come...hell last week even, I think- I think we would have been fine."
"You don't think that anymore?"
"I don't-" he started, his thought switching to another, "I think that I'm realizing that I've spent so much of my life settling, accepting scraps and feeling honored that they were even given to me. I think I deserve more than that. I know I can do better than that."
Sam leaned back in his chair, nodding his head at Mark's words. "I'm not saying that you don't, because you definitely do, but this woman, this Callie from what I've heard about her is not something you'd be exactly settling for."
Mark raised his eyebrows with a grin. He was ready for the serious air to clear.
"She wants me to go back to Seattle."
"Oh, well then I take back what I just said."
Mark laughed.
A few minutes later, the others began to gather into the conference room. Pete and Violet took their seats next to each other, wrapping up a conversation about a case they were working on. Cooper came in next, taking a seat next to Violet, strumming his fingers against the table.
"We finally doing this, Sloan?" he asked.
"I think so." Mark confirmed with a smile, his eyes diverting to the window as Callie and Addison stepped off the elevator. "I think so."
He watched as Addison and Callie talked, Addison presumably assuring the younger doctor of something. Callie nodded her head as Addison walked away, heading toward the conference room. She popped her head in, fingers wrapped around the door frame.
"Mark, can I talk to you for a sec?"
"We're about to start, Addison." Sam spoke up only to receive a hand.
"Just a minute. Charlotte isn't even here yet and neither is the lawyer."
Mark gave Sam a nod as he stood, walking out with Addison. Callie sat on the lobby couch, watching as they passed. Addison closed the door to her office as she entered in after him.
"If this is about Callie - OW! What the hell?"
He was met with a slap to the head.
"I saw her wrist. Did YOU see her wrist?" Addison asked with accusation.
He turned back to face her.
"You can't possibly think that was intentional."
"I don't know what to think."
"Not that is was done on purpose!"
Addison stood with her arms folded over her chest, an eyebrow raised and mouth twisted. Mark stood too, his hands going in the air.
"What are you doing, Mark?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're not happy here. You've just been going through the motions. You do surgeries and then you drink. That's been the cycle for the past six months."
"What are you getting at?"
"What am I getting at? You're about to sign a contract to remain in Los Angeles permanently for the next four years. Why now? Why when all you've ever wanted was for Callie to come and take you back home?"
"So this is about Callie."
"No, it's about you. You're my friend and I love you and I know that I haven't always been the greatest friend and vice versa but I care about you. This is a big commitment, Mark. And I can't help but feel that you're just jumping in because you're running scared."
Mark was silent, his breathing heavy as his eyes left hers and fell to the floor.
"I want this, Addison," he said finally.
"Does Callie know that? Because she's still hanging on to some kind of hope."
"I'm not making her stay."
"And yet you're letting her sleep in the bedroom next to yours."
"I tried to get her to leave."
Addison blew out air between her lips. "Yeah, and that worked out really well."
"Look, I can't base my decisions on her. If she stays, if she leaves, that's up to her. But I've found a life here and it's going pretty well and I want this."
Addison worried the inside of her cheek, hands on her hips as she looked at him.
"I do. Okay?"
Addison nodded before shaking her head, not really sure of anything. "Okay."
Callie watched as they left her office. Addison shot Callie an apologetic glance with a shake of her head. She and Mark reentered the conference room now, with all members present. Callie felt time stop as she watched Mark take his seat, her heart pounding in her ears. She was too late. She had come too late. Her bottom lip trembled as she watched them laugh, documents sliding between partners. She felt panic begin to rise but she didn't know what to do. She stood to leave, walking back toward the elevators, only for her feet to turn around, leading back toward the conference room.
"You can't do this." She said, barging in, her hand tightly gripped around the door handle. All eyes were on her. "You know that you don't belong here."
"Callie-"
But Mark was cut off.
"You know it, and if you could just lose your stupid pride for just a moment..."
"Is there a problem here? Do we need to reschedule this?" Charlotte asked looking back and forth between Mark and Callie.
"No." Sam and Mark spoke together.
Callie didn't really know Sam, but she felt a sudden urge to cause him physical harm. Her wish was granted when he was met with a swift kick by Addison.
"Ow." The bald surgeon said, rubbing his shin underneath the table as he glared at Addison who wore a face of innocence.
"I'm at work here, Callie. This isn't the most appropriate time."
"I don't care," she responded with a shrug. "Ask me if I care." She turned to the others seated, watching the spectacle. "Do you guys think I care?"
Cooper and Violet shook their heads. Pete leaned forward in his chair, stretching his arms across the table as he let out an uncomfortable breath. Mark stood.
"Now is not the time, Torres."
"Oh, really? Because it looks like you're about to sign your life away. I can't think of a better time to stop you from doing that."
"I think we need to reschedule this," Charlotte said, beginning to gather up the documents.
"No." Mark said firmly. He approached Callie, voice low though the others could still hear him. "You need to go."
"I'm not leaving," she said with exasperation. "Why do I feel like I'm repeating myself? I'll keep saying it though cause apparently you're not listening."
The others gave up, leaning back in their chairs all their attention on the arguing doctors.
"And what am I supposed to do with that? Is my life supposed to stop because you decided, after another round with Robbins, that you've made a mistake? I'm supposed to be grateful? I'm supposed to welcome you in my life with open arms?"
"You're life has stopped! It stopped the moment you gave up and ran away like a little boy. What life do you have here? I've seen no sign of it."
The seated doctor's swiveled their chairs to look at Mark. Charlotte suddenly wished that she had a bowl of popcorn. She dug into her purse to pull out a box of Altoids, offering some to the other trapped surgeons.
"Thank you," Pete whispered as he took one after the others, popping it into his mouth.
"I don't care if you see it. I stopped caring about your opinion a long time ago."
"You're so full of shit."
"I'm...I'm full of shit?" His voice rose an octave in disbelief.
"I get it, I hurt you. I think everybody here gets that I hurt you. I'll gladly spend the rest of my life making it up to you, but this what you're doing right now is an even bigger mistake."
His head shook, his hands balling into fists.
"I really need you to get out."
"I love you. I dare you to say that you don't love me back. I won't believe you, but I dare you to say it."
Once again, chairs turned toward Mark. His mouth closed as Callie stood waiting for a response. He turned toward the others, somehow surprised that they were still there, hanging on every word. Violet especially looked to be anticipating his answer.
"Could you guys give us a minute?"
"It'd be much easier if you leave," Charlotte stated simply gaining glares from Mark and Callie.
They all stood, filing out of the room and into the lobby.
"Things are never dull around here," Cooper said with a smirk.
"I like her," Charlotte whispered. "She got sass."
Addison shared a glance with Callie as she walked behind Sam, the door shutting behind her.
"I cannot believe you did this in front of the people that I have to work with everyday."
"What can't you believe? After last night I'm frankly surprised that you could be surprised at anything I do."
She had a point, though his patience was wearing thin. His shoulder slumped as his hand slid over his face.
"Callie, I - What do you want?"
"You. I want you."
"I waited for you. I waiting just knowing that you'd come and you didn't. I moved on."
"Where? I haven't seen you move on. I haven't felt you move on."
"I can't do this with you."
"Do what?"
"Stop what I'm doing to make you the center of my universe."
Callie swallowed. Had she asked him to?
"Every time you'd call I'd come running. You needed a shoulder, I had two. You'd fall, I'd catch you."
"I don't know what all you're remembering, but that was never a one way street. I can recall on both hands and feet the number of times I fought with my girlfriend because I'd come running when you called. I was there for you just as much. I mean, my God, were we supposed to be tallying up the points?"
"Of course not."
"Then can we please drop the bullshit and get to the truth of it?"
"Fine, Torres. What's the truth of it?"
"I failed you. You think that I put her first."
"You did put her first."
"Of course I did! She was my girlfriend. I felt that I had an obligation to make it work. But I never shut you out. I never turned you away."
Violet, Pete, Sam, Charlotte, Cooper and Addison stood outside, watching Callie and Mark through the window, the lawyer having long left. Charlotte had got her hands on a bag of microwave popcorn, sharing it with Violet.
"What's going on?"
Their heads turned to Naomi walking up, her eyes going to where all their attention was being paid.
"Mark is having it out with Callie," Sam answered.
"And you're just watching?"
"Nothing else to do," Cooper replied, stealing a cornel and popping it into his mouth.
"Aren't you guys doctors?"
The group looked amongst themselves, frowns forming, becoming slightly embarrassed. They suddenly disbursed, heading off to their offices to catch up on cases. Sam and Addison remained behind, smirking at their colleagues.
"So, you're close with this Callie person. How much of a chance does she have?" Sam asked, arms wrapping around Naomi.
"They're both so much alike, I - I don't know."
They went at it for hours, sometimes going in circles, sometimes breaking ground, but they both stood exhausted. They were now at Mark's house, taking turns pacing in the living room and sitting on the sofa.
"I called you everyday. I emailed you, I texted you. You broke contact."
"You broke my heart, Callie! Was I supposed to continue talking to you and hanging out like old times, like nothing had changed? I couldn't watch you be her. I couldn't do it!"
"But if you had only waited - ,"
"Then what? Then I would have seen what I already knew was going to happen? Watch as you and Robbins combust? I had watched it twice and both times you went back to her. Both times, I was left alone!"
He pounded his chest with his fist as he spoke, his tie long ago loosened and jacket tossed over the arm of the couch. Her cardigan was tossed over it, the top few buttons of her blouse undid as mass strands of hair fell from a clip that was holding it up.
"I never meant for you feel alone. Of everyone on this planet you would be the last person I'd hurt."
She approached him, taking both his hands and clutching them against her chest. He turned his head unable to look at her.
"Mark, it was such a mistake. But you and me, we go together. I can be a little slow on the uptake sometimes but I know that now. And you know it too or you wouldn't be hurting this much. You wouldn't so angry."
She waited for him to speak but he kept his eyes askance.
"Look at me." When he didn't she gathered both of his hands in one of hers, keeping them pressed against her as her other hand went to his cheek, turning his head. "Look at me, Mark." His eyes stayed adrift for moment before they finally turned down to her face. "I love you. This isn't some fluke. This is the real thing. You knew it all along. So please just let me back in. Let me back in."
He wanted to. It was her eyes that did it every time. But there, lingering in the back of his head, were so many doubts. He had finally resigned himself to being alone, to being an afterthought and her sudden reemergence in his life only served to shake his world upside down. She could see that he was wavering. She could see that her words had hit home, that he was fighting some inner war that prevented him from giving in. It was enough for her though, she'd hang onto it, telling him how much she loved him a thousand times until he'd break. And he would. It was inevitable. Pride was making him stubborn. She understood that too, it was after all a trait she too possessed.
His eyes scanned over her. Her hair was wild, eyes wide, lips...kissable. His head dipped slightly. He must have gained the strength of ten men to not have allowed his lips to fully meet hers. She allowed his hands to slip from hers, seeing the battle play out in his eyes. She couldn't help but smile, he looked like a little boy so she'd indulge his petulance. His head shook as he backed away, a smile of his own forming. His entire being shook with his resistance. He wouldn't be able to last much longer, not with her looking at him like that, with that smile and glistening skin exposed through that half unbuttoned blouse. She looked quite simply...fuckable.
"I'm going to bed," he said.
He needed a cold shower and she didn't fail to notice that either. But sleep would come faster. She watched as he backed away, tugging his tie from around his neck as he turned to head down the hall.
She went to bed soon after, unbuttoning the rest of her blouse and unzipping her skirt. She put on an oversized sweat shirt, tugging the sleeves above her elbows. She lay in bed, eyes on the ceiling before turning on her side, finding no comfort. She let out a breath, tossing the covers free from her body, getting out of bed and walked out into the hall. She went to his door, opening it. He slept shirtless, on his back, the covers covering his lower half. She closed the door behind her as she entered. He didn't wake as the mattress shifted and she lay on her side, her hands tucking under a pillow as she laid her head down. Her eyes closed instantly as sleep welcomed her. Mark rolled to his side, his arm wrapping around her waist as he hugged her close. They remained that way. Until the morning.
He could smell her in his dreams, feel the soft feathers of her hair brush against his face. It was almost like she was there in his arms, being held by him. Mark moved his arm slightly to find that it was in fact holding something, someone. The lids of his eyes lazily floated open met by waves of black curls. He squinted, eyes blinking several times. Was he still dreaming? Without thought he leaned his head down, is nose grazing against Callie's shoulder. She was there, in the flesh, in his bed, in his arms. He had dreams like this before. For the first couple of months that he was here, he'd dream about her, her smile bright, speaking words of affection. He'd wake up every time to a cool room, alone in bed, a heart re-shattered. Yet this time, there she was. He felt a sudden wave of emotions, a knot in his stomach slowly making its way to his throat. He didn't know whether to cry or laugh, be glad or disbelieving.
He couldn't help but bring his nose back to her shoulder, inhale her. He listened as she took a deep breath, that breath one takes when they're finally waking up, shoulders raising to the ears before falling back down again. He made no move, he couldn't. It would all evaporate if he did. Her head turned to look over her shoulder, her eyes falling on his mouth before rising to meet the cool blue eyes that stared back at her. She smiled a morning greeting before turning her head back, stretching her limbs tightly with a yawn. She settled back in her position before turning over to lay on her other side, facing him, arms bent, hands tucked under her chin.
Mark watched her face as she relaxed again, the lids of her eyes closing shut for a moment only for them to reopen again. He gulped. His fingers, having a life of their own, made their way from their spot on her waist to travel up her arm, her skin soft and warm to the touch. She watched his face as he looked at her, his fingers sliding along her face, over her eyes, her freckled nose, her lips, her chin. She smiled again, untucking a hand from under her chin to touch his face, the rough stubbles of his beard, his lips. He could feel the knot return to his stomach as his lips parted. He had that same urge to kiss her and his heart pounded vigorously as each second passed that he didn't. She could read his thoughts, her eyes scanning up and down his face as her fingers lingered along his rigid jaw.
Her lips pressed against his in the most gentle of fashion, a lingering peck really. She leaned back, her eyes reopening to watch him. His face twitched with a tremble of his lips. He'd crumble if that were all. So she kissed him again, capturing his bottom lip between hers before catching the top. His own body began to spring to life, natural instinct leading the way. His hand pressed against her back to bring her closer. Her hand slipped from its place on his jaw to land on the pillow on the other side of his head. Their mouths opened wider to deepen the kiss and allow the first meeting of tongue. He leaned to lay on his back, pulling her with him to lay on top of him, her leg going over him to land on the other side of the bed, straddling him, their mouths not breaking even for breath. Her hair dangled over him, sprinkling his face and spilling onto the pillows. His fingers went to pull the strands from her face, holding them in place against her head as the kiss deepened, heat coursing through both their bodies. Her tongue licked across his lip before sucking it between her teeth.
He sat up, holding her lower back as he brought her with him, her legs moving to hook over his hips and circle around him. Her arm went around his neck, fingers burying into the hairs of his head. His hands went to her ass to bring her still closer, their tongues reconnecting upon her release of his lip. His entire body was on fire, tingling with desire. He wanted her. Now. She could feel his need, her desire for him matching his for her. They'd both explode if they couldn't get closer and their bodies trembled with need for more. His hands dug under the hem of her sweatshirt, feeling the warmth of her back, fingers dancing along her hips before pulling the article overhead, her arms going into the air until it was tossed aside. Her hair rained down over her shoulders and onto her back. He silently thanked the gods that she rarely wore a bra to bed.
His chest pressed against her breast, his mouth finally breaking the kiss to taste along her jaw, her neck. His teeth grazed her shoulder before his tongue licked it, traveling along her clavicle. Her head fell backward as her back arched and he took the opportunity to take a nipple into his mouth. She moaned as his tongue flicked it before he sucked on it making her body shiver as he held her in place. His mouth went to the other, giving it the same attention, her chest heaving as she tried to maintain her breathing. Callie snapped her head back up, her fingers tugging his hair to lift his head. He was met with a bruising kiss.
He laid her down on her back, going with her so that he was on top, wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her lower against he mattress, their heads now at the bottom end. Heated breath escaped, brushing across the other's face. Her legs bent completely at the knees so that the heel of her both her feet touched the backs of her thighs. He felt his waist being squeezed between them, her toes going to the waistband of his sweatpants. She wanted them off. He broke the kiss to look down at her, seeing her chocolate eyes burn with want. She was real and she was here. He sat up, pulling the pants free then laid back down to cover her. She could feel him, hard and throbbing against the cotton of her underwear. She moaned, biting down on her bottom lip, releasing it with a loud gasp when his fingers made their way between the cotton. She was soaking wet. Her hands left from around his neck, traveling down his back, the tips of her fingers pressing into his skin. Her hips lifting off the bed as he pulled the underwear off over her endless, tan legs.
She cried out when he entered her, every inch of him buried inside her. He held still, allowing the feel of her to wash over him, his head buried in the spot where neck meets shoulder. He kissed her there, feeling as her walls adjusted to him. His hips began to rock, his body shuttering at the perfection that was Callie Torres. They rocked together, slowly taking in the feel of each other, committing it to memory. Breaths were, hitched, caught and released as they continued their reconnection of bodies, of souls. He lifted his head to look down at her, her mouth parted, everything in her eyes. She saw them in his too and she felt happy. She lifted her head slightly off the mattress as a hand went to the back of his, pulling him down to meet her in another kiss.
Mark lifted her up with him as he adjusted them to a new position, with him sitting on his on the backs of his legs and her in his lap. She held tightly to him, an arm going over his shoulder, her hand in a tight fist behind his head, the other holding onto his upper arm as she raised and lowered herself. Her mouth was close to his ear, low guttural moans pouring out. She kissed the side of his head, his neck, shivering every time he'd reenter her, her head falling upon his shoulder to bite down on the enticing flesh. He was lost in her, his eyes closed as her hips ground in circles. She was increasing the pace, his hands guiding her as they held onto the bottom of her ass. She squeezed him tighter as she began to shake, tears welling as sensation after sensation swept over her, both bodies glistening with perspiration.
His groans were deep, becoming grunts when he flipped her onto her back. He went faster, hooking her leg over his pelvis. They kissed again, her tongue finding the roof of his mouth and making him shudder. He went deeper, both crying out as her hands fell from his hair and onto his ass. She met him thrust for thrust, hips lifting off the bed as they went. Their moans became melodic as his pace increased still more, driving deeper. She broke the kiss as her head fell back, digging into the pillow, and arch to her back. She was coming close. He wanted to continue forever. The pain was forgotten. The anger, forgotten. His walls were down and she was in his blood again, swimming inside his veins. Where did he begin? Where did she? He didn't know. He didn't care. Only that feeling of fear began to creep up. He didn't have control. He could lose her again. She could be gone again and where would that leave him? Shattered and destitute. He wouldn't be a man, he'd be a slave to an emotion that always dealt him a shitty hand.
Tears stung his eyes as the fear took hold. He held her, his pace increasing still more, going deeper than he ever thought he could. She came hard, screaming as she shook underneath him. He kept going, a bit rougher, his tears landing on the side of her face, on her shoulder. She held him as he continued, animalistic grunts leaving his mouth as he'd pull out and dipped back in. He began to shake too, his curled toes digging roughly into the mattress.
"Oh, god!" he cried.
She came a second time along with him, feeling as he exploded inside her, his thrusts slowing until they stopped. He fell on his side beside her, sobs bubbling before they were let out. She held him, shushing him quietly in his ear.
"I love you, Mark," she whispered between shushes, feeling as his arm wrapped around her, his face buried in the crook of her neck. "I love you."
He continued to cry, unhealed wounds throbbing. His body had felt it as well his soul but his heart was still in disbelief.