*~*~*~*~*~
They cry in the dark, so you can't see their tears
They hide in the light, so you can't see their fears
Forgive and forget, all the while
Love and pain become one and the same
In the eyes of a wounded child
Because Hell
Hell Is For Children
And you know that their little lives can become such a mess
- Pat Benatar
*~*~*~*~*~
Addison arrived at the airport ten minutes late. Jack and Callie already had their bags and the little boy was hopping up and down begging for a t-shirt that had Mickey Mouse on it. Callie was trying to hang onto him, carry their luggage, and check the shirts for his size when Addison walked up and plucked the shirt from her hand. "That's my job, Callie. I am the spoiling aunt."
Callie was so glad to see her that she hugged her for a full minute. "He was so good on the flight and now he's bouncing off the walls."
"I brought reinforcements," Addison replied, winking at her friend. "Cooper Freedman, this is Callie Torres. Callie, this is Cooper ... one of the premiere pediatricians on the west coast. He loves kids."
Callie happily shook the man's hand. "Hi, Cooper."
"Hi, beautiful. I knew that when Addison said a friend was coming that you would be hot and well, you are." Cooper laid on the charm until Addison elbowed him in the stomach. "Sorry. I am here to entertain The Jackman."
He kneeled down and poked Jack in the belly. "Hi, dude. How are you?"
"Ahhhhhh!" Jack screamed in a way that should have shattered all the surrounding glass, hiding behind Callie. "Stranger danger! Stranger danger!"
Callie pulled him from behind her and said, "He's not a stranger! Addison just introduced him!"
"Not to me!" Jack informed his mother, crossing his arms over his chest as he regarded Cooper. "Well?"
Addison smiled. "I'm so sorry, Jack. This is Cooper. He's a friend of mine and -"
"Do you kiss him, Addy?" Jack asked.
"No!" Addison wrinkled her nose, saw that Cooper was watching her and said, "I - I mean, I would, but -"
"You would?" Cooper asked hopefully.
"I'm with *Pete*," Addison replied. "Like, officially *with* Pete."
"My mom ain't gonna kiss you either!" Jack said matter of factly. "She only kisses my dad."
"Dad?" Cooper got to his feet, glancing from Callie to Addison. "I thought you said she was single?"
Addison looked as intrigued and baffled as Cooper. "I thought she was single, too."
"Long story," Callie replied, pointing at the t-shirt Addison held. "I can get that."
"Nope!" Addison headed into the shop to pay, leaving Cooper and Callie standing alone as Jack trailed after her, announcing that he needed candy, too.
"That child is unbelievable." Callie shook her head when Addison bent down and picked up several types of sweets. "He's a natural manipulator."
"It's a glimpse of the man he'll become. We all did it as kids. Men, I mean." Cooper grinned at her. "Listen, since you're a friend of Addison's I'd be happy to give him a checkup while you're here. My waiting list is several weeks out ... I mean, I'm not bragging, but well, I'm just saying I'd be happy to do it."
"He is due for a checkup and he doesn't like the doctor that I found." Callie returned his smile. "That would be great, Cooper. Thank you."
"And just to put it out there ... if you find yourself without Jack's dad ... you can call me anytime. Day or night or whatever."
"I'll keep that in mind."
*~
Callie tucked Jack into Addison's guest room and glanced at her cell phone again. No missed calls. She finally dialed Mark's number and frowned when it went straight to voice mail. She left him a message, telling him that she missed him, she loved him, and couldn't wait to see him again. When she turned back toward the door, Addison was leaning against it. "Hey," Callie said. "I was coming back downstairs."
"It's Mark. Right?"
Her palms began to sweat and Callie nodded, walking past Addison and back into the living room. Her friend followed behind her and Callie sat down in the spot she had vacated and picked up her glass of wine. "It's Mark," she finally said.
Addison tucked her feet under her and took a deep breath. "Jack is calling him 'dad' and he's not running?"
"We're living together. He's the dad. He helps with the homework and the baths and the discipline. He's ... dad."
"When did this happen, Callie?"
"After the car wreck. I mean, we were kinda together before that, but the wreck made me realize that I can't be scared. You know? If I fall off the horse I can either run for cover or get back on and do it better. I think we're doing it better." Callie chewed her bottom lip nervously. "I decided to tell you in person instead of on the phone. Don't make me regret that."
"I'm fine, Cal. I just - I don't want you to get hurt. A person's track record is a pretty good indicator of what lies ahead."
"So, if you get remarried ... you're destined to cheat?"
"Touché." Addison flipped her a bird. "Are you happy?"
"Yep."
"Then I'm happy." Lifting her glass, the red head smiled. "And if he hurts you I happily volunteer to kill him or at the very least help you dismember and burn the evidence."
"You'd have to stand in line. Cristina went to *jail* for me. What have you done for me lately?"
"Shut up! What did she do?"
They talked until one in the morning.
When Jack announced at five thirty that he was freakin' starving and wanted waffles, Callie made sure that Addison woke up and suffered along with her until they departed for Disneyland.
*~*~*~*~*~
Mark had trouble prying his tongue off the roof of his mouth. The heavenly smell of vanilla was all around him and he smiled, reaching for Callie. He encountered nothing but the sheet and sat up fast, her name on his lips. That's when he spotted her open closet and the many empty hangers and for the briefest moment ... he thought she wasn't coming back, and then he remembered her weekend trip. He frowned and picked up his cell phone. Somehow, someway, it had been turned off.
He waited impatiently for it to power up and saw that she had called. Once. The previous night. Feeling like a total ass, he listened to her voice mail and smiled like a blubbering idiot the entire time. He called her back, sitting on the edge of the bed. She answered on the fourth ring, laughing, and he had to laugh with her. "Having a good time?"
"Jack has decided that Disneyland is better than his birthday," she replied. "He's like a little spider monkey on everything. We're taking a ton of pictures."
"How are you?" he asked.
"Exhausted. Hang on. Cooper, will you grab him before he tries to get back in line?"
Mark sat up a little straighter. When Callie spoke to him again, he said, "Who is Cooper?"
"A friend of Addison's."
"IS SHE TRYING TO FIX YOU UP WITH SOMEONE!?"
"She didn't know about us. Remember? Now she does."
"And you're with this guy anyway!?" He had to grab his thigh when he heard Jack squealing Cooper's name and screaming for him to put him down. "What is he doing to him?!"
"He's tickling him." Callie laughed at something and then Jack was begging for Cooper to take him on the ride. "They're playing rock, paper, scissors to decide who gets the kid next. Who knew that grown men could become ... hang on ... DELL! What are you doing?! Oh my god! Freak!"
"Now you're talking about men in the plural! Did she bring along multiple choices for you?!"
"Co-workers," Callie told him. "Hey, I called you last night."
"Yeah, I'm sorry. I went out for drinks with Webber and Derek and well, I got a little drunk."
"What!?" Callie cried. "Why?"
"Because I miss you. I hate this. Come home early."
"We're coming home tomorrow. I can't believe you got drunk."
"I can't believe you're at Disneyland with a male harem."
"This jealousy thing is pretty hot, Mark."
"I am definitely not jealous. I trust you. Just - remember that your personal bubble is about three feet around so if anyone gets in that area - it's assault and you can kill them." When she laughed, a rich, tinkling sound, he smiled. "I really do miss you."
"I miss you, too."
"Is Jack around?"
"Yep, hang on."
A second later, the little boy was on the phone. "Dad! Guess what?! Sam took me on a water ride and Nomi took me on the submarine and Cooper rides *everything* and he screams more than me and Mom and Addy had waterfights on the water thing and it's so much fun. Can you come too?"
"I wish I could, buddy, but I've got to work tonight. I'll see you tomorrow night, okay?"
"I miss you."
"I miss you too, Jack."
"I love you! Bye!"
Before Mark could reply, Callie was back on the phone. "We'll see you tomorrow."
"Callie, call me tonight. Anytime."
"You call me. It makes me feel important."
"You are, baby. You are."
"I love you."
"I love you, too. Be safe."
"Seeya."
"Bye."
Mark waited for her to hang up first. He closed his phone when she disconnected and looked at the clock. Disgusted with himself, he actually counted the hours until they'd be home. There were far too many.
He decided to go into work anyway, even though he was technically not on the schedule.
And he wore the shirt Jack had given him again.
*~*~*~*~*~
"Are you *sure*?" Callie asked for the fifth time.
Sam nodded at her. "I have a thirteen year old, Callie. She was five once and she'll be here, too. She baby-sits all the time. Go and have fun."
Stepping to her left, Callie gazed at Jack who was sitting next to Maya playing video games. "He's very ... he can lose his temper at the drop of a hat and -"
"I can handle that, too." Sam looked at Addison for support. "Can you please tell her that a sleepover isn't the end of the world?"
Addison put an arm around Callie's shoulder. "It's girl's night out, Cal. Come on. Sam has all of our numbers."
"Okay," Callie replied, nodding her head. "I'm going to go without telling him goodnight. He may be upset or -"
"Bye, Mom!" Jack called.
"Not." With a sigh, Callie thanked Sam and followed Addison out to her car. She didn't speak for the first five minutes and then she looked at her friend and said, "Are you sure that Sam's okay?"
"Callie! For God's sake! He was my best friend in college. He's not a serial killer."
"Okay, okay," Callie replied. They stopped to pick up Violet and Naomi, who catcalled when they saw Callie's attire.
"Nice outfit!" Naomi told her.
Callie shifted uncomfortably. The low cut red shirt had been Addison's idea and the jeans she wore were skin tight. She should have avoided the mall at all costs with Addison in tow. "Thanks."
"So, Cooper will be there," Violet said, spreading lip-gloss over her mouth. "He overheard me talking about it and -"
"Pete's coming, too. And Dell." Naomi grinned.
Callie turned in her seat to look at Addison's best friend. "You do get that Dell has a thing for you, right?"
"What!?" Naomi feigned shock. "He's *three*."
"He's also madly in love ... or lust. Whichever. Whatever it is ... it happens whenever you're near him." Callie raised an eyebrow. "And considering your outfit ... I think you already know that."
"Whatever, girl!" Naomi giggled like a schoolgirl.
The club they had chosen was nice, upscale. A large dancefloor with different colored lighted tiles dominated the center of the room. Tables lined every inch of available space and a horseshoe shaped bar was already crowded with people. They took a table near the dancers and Callie grinned when Cooper, who was apparently intent on proving that white men couldn't dance, threw up his hand at her.
"Poor guy," Violet said, watching him wave his arms. "He looks like he's in a swarm of bees and he's being stung all over."
As far as assessments went, that one was fairly accurate. All the women laughed and when he danced up to their table, they all declined his offer of cutting a rug. After six shots, however, Callie happily obliged him and after ten minutes of her instruction, he not only danced with her ... they danced the hell out of several songs in a row.
Completely drunk four hours later, Callie was led upstairs by Cooper and Dell, who kept laughing their asses off at her dry sense of humor. It became more pronounced and hysterical the drunker she got. There was evidence of this on several video phones and Dell, who was great at editing, promised Addison that he would have a great clip put together soon.
The following morning, Callie was so hungover when they arrived at the Oceanside Wellness Clinic that Cooper took one look at her and gave her pain medication for the flight home. The little boy answered all of Cooper's questions with animation and ease. Addison and Callie sat nearby, flipping through magazines as they half listened.
"My mom fixed my arm when I broke it."
"How did you break it?" Cooper asked, checking his reflexes.
"I jumped off the roof of the group home."
"Oh? Why is that?"
Jack shrugged. "Cause when nobody would pick us to take home with them ... the bosses would scrub us in the bathtub until our skins hurted and then they would hit us. Sometimes. If I hurted myself first then they left me alone."
Cooper looked at Callie, who was no longer reading her magazine. He questioned her with his eyes and she shook her head. She had not known. "Did they hurt you a lot?"
"Nah." Jack picked up the end of Cooper's stethoscope and breathed into it. "I didn't never cry when they hit me or scrubbed me so they didn't do me much. I did cry when they put me in the devil closet, though. It was bad scary. They said that the devil was in there with a pitchfork lookin' for sinners in the dark and that I was the biggest damn sinner alive."
Cooper watched the little boy clap both hands over his mouth. "Jack?"
"That didn't count, Mom! You can't make me pay for that one."
"Okay," Callie said, not smiling. "You get one free today."
Jack rubbed the metal end of the steth unaware that Addison had reached over and took his mother's hand or that Callie was trying hard not to cry. "My mom's a real good mom. I'm glad she picked me. Only I sorta picked her first."
"You did?"
"Yep. I knew she could love me." Jack nodded. "She won't let nobody hurt me no more."
"Is there anything else you want to tell me?" Cooper asked softly. "I really like hearing stories about your life."
Jack looked thoughtful. "Hmmm. I guess that Mr. McDeaver used to take pictures of us in the showers. He used a camera that would spit out the pictures instead of putting it on a 'puter like my mom's. He has a secret box like mine and he keeped 'em in there."
"Where did he put his secret box?" Cooper asked.
"On his book bin in his office. Whenever I was in trouble he would close up the box and put it with the books. I seen 'em, though. The pictures."
"Did he ever touch you, Jack? In a way that made you feel bad?" Cooper pushed.
"Only when he used his wood paddle on my ass. I'd rather give 'em my allowance than that!" His eyes widened and he looked at Callie. "I didn't mean ass! I meant ... rump! Or butt. Yeah, butt."
"It's fine." Callie forced herself to smile at him before she got to her feet and stared out the window. Addison walked to the phone and discreetly called Violet before she joined Callie at the window and talked softly to her.
Jack pulled the stethoscope off Cooper's neck and put it around his. "I'm gonna be a doctor, too. But I ain't helping kids. Kids suck."
Cooper smiled and ruffled his hair.
It was going to be a very long day.
*~*~*~*~*~
Mark was scrubbing out of surgery when he got the call from Callie. By the time he arrived at the group home with every intention of killing anyone he saw ... the police had already arrived with a search warrant and confirmed to him, off the record, that the lock box of photographs not only existed, they contained more than just shower pictures.
Mark did get to see one thing with the help of two friendly police officers who assured him that they understood his pain ... they both had kids at home.
He got to see the 'Devil Closet'. It was painted red on the inside and had jagged pieces of wood glued to every inch that would make it impossible for a child who was locked inside to lean against. If they did lean against he ... he had no doubt that their imaginations went wild with thoughts of devils and pitchforks. God only knew how many hours Jack had stood in the horrible little space. He hated to imagine it.
After emptying his stomach of it's contents, Mark headed back down the hallway. Social services had arrived to take the remaining children into custody and he watched, painfully reminded of the orphanage in New York where he had spent the first seven years of his life when he wasn't in foster care. It was still the same, he noted. Children were lined up like cattle and not given the benefit of an explanation. They were simply told to get their things and go with strangers.
His hands fisted so hard at his sides that he could feel his nails digging against his flesh. Feeling dizzy, he leaned back against the wall. A second later, something tugged on his pants and he looked down to see a little brown haired girl gazing up at him. She was smaller than Jack so he guessed that she was three or four at the most. "It's okay," she told him. "They can't keep you. You're all growed up."
Mark squatted down. "Hey there."
"Hey." She glanced behind her and beckoned him forward. "Are you a cop?"
"I'm a doctor."
"Did you tell on them? Did you make them let us go?"
"No." Mark shook his head. "Are you happy to go?"
She lifted up the end of her faded, too small dress and showed him the bruises on her leg. "Maybe they won't do this no more where we're going."
Mark had to look away. She tugged his collar suddenly and said, "I like your shirt. It's colory like a clown. But you ain't a clown 'cause clowns smile."
"I'm not a clown," Mark agreed. He didn't feel like he would ever smile again. "What's your name?"
"Emily. What's yours?"
"Mark."
"Bye, Mark."
She kissed him on the cheek and stuck her thumb in her mouth as she followed the last of the kids out of the building and into the waiting vans. Mark got to his feet, still staring at the corner she had disappeared around without so much as a look back. He didn't have to question that either. Kids like this, like *him*, didn't make it a habit of looking where they had been because it wasn't worth it. You kept your eyes straight ahead and you learned to expect the worst, but hope that maybe the sun would shine a little brighter at your next destination.
"I'm telling you I ain't done nothing wrong!"
Mark's jaw tightened and he turned. A short, fat man with a bald head was running down the hallway. One hand was cuffed and it was apparent that he had run out on his arrest. Mark stepped in front of him, effectively blocking him as two officers arrived behind him. "Are you Mr. McDeaver? The owner of this place?"
"Yeah, what of it?"
The two cops that Mark had spoken with earlier glanced at one another, nodded, and took a step back. They let Mark get three good licks and one kick in before they stopped it and hefted McDeaver back to his feet. One of the officers stayed behind and Mark braced himself to be arrested.
But the officer simply shook his hand, tipped his hat, and smiled before wishing him a good night.
Mark had been in many clubs growing up, but the brotherhood of men that consisted of fathers was by far and away the most gratifying. And the one that gave him the biggest sense of pride.
*~*~*~*~*~
After leaving the home, Mark hired a lawyer for Jack. He didn't know what was coming, but there was little doubt in his mind that Jack's life could be sent into a tailspin and he wanted someone there to advise them every step of the way. The attorney let Mark pay for the retainer, but Callie would have to make the ultimate decision as Jack's legal guardian. His second stop was at the hospital to have his hand X-rayed and when he was given a clean scan, he headed to the airport just in time with Cristina in tow. Yang wanted to blow up the group home for good measure, but agreed to quell her inner una-bomber when Mark told her that she'd need to drive Callie's car home.
His heart literally ached when he saw Callie. She was pale and so close to tears that he felt his own eyes blur. Jack spotted him and pulled from Callie's grip, racing as fast as his legs would carry him. Mark caught him and tossed him in the air, causing the little boy to announce that his dad was more fun than Disneyland. Mark clung to him for several seconds, then handed him off to Cristina who led him into the candy shop.
As soon as Callie stepped into his arms ... she let go. He led her across the lobby and sat down with their backs facing the candy shop so Jack wouldn't see it. He clung to her as she told him everything she didn't want to share on the phone and Mark silently hoped that the kick to McDeaver's ribs had shattered them. The old man had certainly screamed like it had.
"We're going to get through this," Mark assured her. "Jack's okay, Callie. He is."
"What's going to happen now?" she asked, accepting the tissue he held out. "I mean ... they won't release his name or anything because he's a minor, but what if they make him testify? What if -"
"Baby, we'll deal with that when it happens. Listen, I actually put a lawyer on retainer today and he's going to cover everything. Jack doesn't have to talk until we're sure he's ready and we can be there for it. The attorney even said that he can push for Jack to testify via closed circuit television to keep him out of the courtroom." Mark kissed her forehead. "The police already have the photos and they've moved all the kids."
"You went there?" Callie gasped, then her eyes widened. "What did you do?"
"What any man would do." He held up his hand, which was bruised, but not bad enough to require any bandage.
"Oh my god." She took it into her own. "Mark, you can get into so much trouble and -"
"Cristina's got the jail thing covered. It's okay."
"Did you make him cry?"
"I made him squeal like a pig." Mark cupped her cheek. "It's going to be fine. I promise."
She dried her eyes and smiled up at him. "I love you. I really do."
"I really love you back." He kissed her softly, rubbing his thumb against her chin. "Cristina said she would take him home and stay with him while we go to the lawyer's office. Are you up for that?"
"Why do I have to go?"
"Well ... you're his only guardian. I - I can't do anything."
She heard something in his tone, in the way he told her that broke her heart. He *wanted* to take care of it and couldn't.
She would have to see what she could do about that as well.
*~*~*~*~*~
Chief Webber readily agreed to give both Callie and Mark the rest of the week off. He seemed as devastated by the child abuse that took place as they were and practically insisted that they take the week, even two if needed, to handle what needed to be handled. The children from the group home were being seen at the clinic and there were psychologists on hand to discuss their experiences. All of it was documented in front of court appointed officials and after talking to Cristina about it, Callie was grateful that she had missed it.
Jack went to school every day as if nothing was amiss and they kept the television off when he was home because of the news coverage. So far, no one knew which child had finally come clean and that suited Callie just fine. The less that Jack had to relive it, the better. On Violet's orders, they were not talking to Jack about it and for his part, Jack didn't seem interested in revisiting it.
Four days after the news broke, Callie called her parents and told them what had happened. Her father wanted blood and Callie assured him that Mark had taken care of that. Al seemed to be very pleased with that development and actually inquired about Mark's well being and personal life. It was a small step, but a step nonetheless. Jack asked to spend the night with Cristina that night, Friday, and Callie reluctantly agreed. Letting him out of her sight for school was hard enough on her, but Yang was persistent and informed Callie that she had Jack-proofed the apartment and Jack would love the movies she had rented.
And Mark had asked Cristina to take him, but Callie didn't have to know that. Anyone with eyes could see how close she was to breaking.
After a nice dinner at a new restaurant that had just opened, Callie turned down the offer for a movie and asked to go back home. Mark was concerned for less than minute, however, because she leaned across the console and informed him that she had heated the pool to just the right temperature for the cool, autumn night and she felt like skinny dipping. He was tempted to break the sound barrier getting home. They had not been intimate since before her trip due to the stress.
Mark checked the phone messages while she grabbed towels from the hallway closet. Addison had called to tell Callie to check her email for a little cheering up and Cristina and Jack announced together that everything was fine on their end. Smiling, he left them both there for Callie to listen to and then his eyes widened when she walked down the steps in nothing but a towel.
"You're overdressed," she told him.
"I was getting the wine," he replied, holding up two glasses and said bottle. "We're celebrating us."
"Ooooh, fun." Callie made sure the front door was locked and set the alarm before they headed through the sliding glass door and down to the pool. Callie's house sat on several acres and two of those had been closed off with a privacy fence that was over nine feet tall. Even though there were no houses in the vicinity or neighbors who could spy, the fence made her feel safer, less vulnerable to peeping toms. When she dropped her towel and looked over her shoulder at Mark, he was watching her so intently that he was overfilling the wine glass he was working on.
"Uh, Mark," she said, pointing.
He tore his gaze off her and swore, quickly filling the second glass. He handed her one and smiled sheepishly. "Oops."
She clinked her glass to his, smiling. "To making child abusers pay."
He leaned down and kissed her. "And to being happy while we do it."
They both sipped their wine and then Callie bent down, depositing her glass on the edge of the pool. "Are you getting naked or what?"
"Oh, I thought I'd watch."
"Not fucking likely," she replied, unbuckling his belt herself. She pulled it from the loops and tossed it aside. "You're going to lose buttons if you don't hurry."
Mark tugged his clothing off and when she smacked his bare ass, he gently nudged her into the pool and followed behind her. It was like being submerged in a warm bath and he sighed with contentment when he broke the water and she swam into his arms. He moved a little deeper, making sure that their shoulders were covered because the night air had gotten much cooler than he anticipated.
She put her legs around his waist and grinned when she felt him throbbing near her center. "Sex in a pool? Mind blowing."
"I'm pretty sure I've blown your mind in a couple of places."
"I'm pretty sure you'll be amazed at how long I can hold my breath."
"Wha-" His eyes widened when she unlatched her legs and went under. A second later, she had taken him into her mouth and his entire body trembled. He looked down, feasting his eyes on her billowing hair and had no idea how she was doing it, but God, it looked and felt incredible. He wanted it to last forever, but the fact that she was holding her breath was too much for him. He pulled back and went under with her, smiling as he gripped her under the arms and pulled her up.
"I wasn't finished!" she cried, leaning back to wet her hair away from her face. "That wasn't even a minute and a half. I can go *three*."
"If you had done that for three minutes ... I'd be in a coma." He reached between them, stroking her sensitive flesh. "You know what?"
"What?"
"We're doing it on the couch next."
"The couch?"
"And then the shower and the kitchen table and -"
"Your new car?"
"Yes. In my new car." He nodded his approval. "Because we haven't had a chance to do this right since I moved in. We have to christen everything."
"By having sex on it?"
"Pretty much." Pulling her forward, he kissed her, his tongue dueling with hers as he slid his fingers into her tight, wet passage. She moaned against him and it was his undoing. He pulled his hand free, gripped her hips, and pushed up into her.
Callie was right.
Sex in the pool was so mind blowing that they did it three times before they emerged.
*~
Callie was panting in the floor of the office when Mark asked her about the Disneyland photos. He wanted to see a shot that Callie kept talking about ... a perfect capture of Jack's awe and reverence as he gazed up at Eeyore. Addison had taken it and Callie was sure that her friend was mailing her the attachments. Mark remembered the message on the phone and got to his knees to turn on the computer. Smiling, he kissed her stomach, then her sides as he moved between her thighs again.
"No way!" she told him, pulling him up for a kiss. "I have to *walk* tomorrow. Without a limp. These legs have to close."
"For how long?"
"Are you seriously this insatiable?"
"Baby, I could go all night." He nuzzled her neck. "You drive me crazy."
"I'm not doing anything." Callie smiled innocently before running the sole of her foot up the back of his leg. Biting her lip, she shifted slightly and watched him narrow his eyes as she lifted her hips just a little, just enough.
"Callie -"
"What?"
"Don't tell me no and then do *that*."
"This?" She raised her hips again.
They forgot about the email for thirty more minutes.
Boneless and limp, she stumbled into the bathroom afterward and cleaned up with the help of the shower head. The pulsating water renewed her lust and she groaned. Death by fucking wasn't really such a bad way to go. After she dried off, she walked back into the office and frowned when she heard slurred words and laughter coming from the screen.
"What are you doing?"
Mark turned and glared at her, moving aside so she could see herself clearly in the media player. The red top she wore was pulled to one side, revealing the red strapless bra underneath. As Cooper and Dell helped her into the bedroom, she tugged it over her head and threw it across the room, then hugged Dell, ruffling his hair. For his part, Dell rubbed her back and gave the camera a thumbs up. Cooper was next and his hands lingered over her hips as he gave her a hug. When he finished, he kissed her on the forehead and tugged off her shoes, then helped her with her jeans when she almost toppled over, leaving her in pair of red boyshorts and her red bra. Callie wriggled under the cover and then threw her bra at whoever was filming the show.
Addison appeared on the camera, laughing hysterically. "And this is why you are going to be limited to *six* shots and not six*teen* next time, Callie! You were so much fun! We can't wait to see you again!" The camera panned back and everyone at Oceanside waved, shouting that they missed her, that it had been great to meet her.
"Mark-" Callie began.
He slammed the keyboard drawer back under the desk and got to his feet. "Where was Jack? Where was he!?"
"He spent the night with Sam. You know Sam ... Naomi's ex-husband."
"Yeah, I know Sam. What I don't know is what possessed you to dress like that and ... and *undress* like that! Callie, what the fuck!?"
"I - I don't remember any of it."
"You missed the part where you were dry humping one of them on the dance floor and his hands were all over you!"
"That's Cooper and we were just having -"
"Did you sleep with him?"
"WHAT!? NO!"
"So you let anyone touch you like that!?"
"This is insane! What are you -"
Mark stalked past her and into their bedroom where he yanked a pair of jeans from the hanger and stepped into them. "I - I have to get out of here."
"No, no you don't." Callie closed his closet and leaned against it before he could retrieve a shirt. "Nothing happened."
"You can't know that! You were practically - you were acting like a slut! Who's to say that they didn't - that you didn't -"
"I got my period at Disneyland, Mark. And Addison was *not* drunk. She was our designated driver and those guys ... they wouldn't have done anything anyway because I made it very clear that I'm happily involved with you."
"You didn't say shit to me about you going to a club!"
"You didn't say shit to me about you going out for drinks with Derek and the Chief! Until after the fact!"
"Oh, so this is how you pay me back? I can assure you that your payback is over the top because I didn't do a fucking thing, Callie! I didn't do shit!"
"Neither did I."
"There's a *seven* minute video in there that would suggest otherwise. I can't fucking believe you! *This* is why you looked like shit the day you came home?! It wasn't because of Jack! It was because you were so hung over after your drunken gang bang that you -"
Callie slapped him. The second she did it, her hand flew to her mouth and she gasped. "Oh my god! I am so sorry. Mark, I'm sorry! I didn't meant to-"
Mark pushed her out of the way and grabbed a shirt from the closet. Without another word, he stalked out the door, pausing only to pick up a pair of shoes. He squealed tires out of the garage and angrily dialed Addison's number as he headed toward town. "Addison!" he yelled as soon as she answered. "You did this shit on purpose! You can't stand that we're happy, that we're-"
"Mark?"
"Maybe you think that fucking video is hilarious, but -"
"Ohhhh!" Addison said. "She showed it to you, huh? God, that was priceless. She was so drunk I don't know how she didn't pass out."
"How could you let them grope her? How could you let them undress her!?"
"The did *not* grope her! And Cooper helped her get undressed because she had spilled a drink on her pants and she probably would have fallen head first out the window if we had left her to her own devices. I was laughing too hard to do anything."
"It's not funny!" he bellowed. "We just broke up over this shit!"
"WHAT!?" Addison yelled. "You are such as asshole! Do you know why she got drunk? Do you? We kept buying her drinks because she wouldn't stop talking about missing you! God, you don't deserve her! You don't! Because you do shit like this and totally fuck it all to hell and back!"
"This is not my fault!"
"Did you notice the lack of sound on the video, dipshit? Yeah, Dell edited out all the comments about you and since that was *all* she talked about, he made it music instead." Addison sighed on the other line. "Don't blame her for this. It was my fault, Mark. I asked them to help me get her home and I was filming it and it was ... it was stupid and I was egging them on. Okay? I told her to strip and she was so drunk that she did it."
"Addison -"
"For reasons unknown to me ... she loves you. And I warned her. I told her that you cannot have a relationship with anyone but yourself and now there's a kid involved. A kid who calls you dad and -"
He hung up on her and did a U-turn, ignoring the many horns that blared. He didn't bother parking in the garage. Instead he parked in the driveway and raced up the stairs two at a time. He *was* an asshole, he decided, as he fumbled with the keys. Callie would not have cheated and she would not have left Jack with anyone who wasn't fine. He was so determined to find her that he forgot to bypass the security and it beeped at him as he raced toward the bedroom. He had to leap down the stairs to shut it off before it could activate the alarm.
When he finally made it back to the bedroom he was breathless. That breath caught in his throat when he saw her lying in the floor, her knees against her chest, crying like he had never seen anyone cry. She had not dressed and the towel that had been around her during their fight was still there, but it was opened, exposing her in a way that was vulnerable and ... broken. He squatted down and lifted her in his arms, hanging onto her tightly.
"Callie-"
"I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I'm so sorry."
"I know."
"I didn't -"
"Shhh." He could feel her trembling in his arms so he laid her on the bed, pulling the cover up over her. She sat up, hugging him and he rubbed her back. "I talked to Addison. She - she told me what happened."
Callie eased back, tears streaming down her face. "She did?"
"It's not okay."
"Mark, please. Please don't-"
"You shouldn't have put yourself in that situation and being drunk doesn't excuse it. That's a bullshit cop out. And I'm a jealous bastard, Callie. I'm jealous as hell and ... it's not okay." He wiped her cheek. "But it will be. Jack was right ... we're a family. So, when you fuck up ... I forgive you. And when I fuck up ... you forgive me. But I don't forgive easily so don't ask me to. Not yet."
Callie couldn't stop the tears. She tried valiantly, but it was no use. "I'm sorry I hit you."
"My life has taught me how to forgive *that* very easily."
"What do you -"
"I'm sleeping downstairs."
She watched him go and curled up on the bed.
He stood outside the door, his head against it, as he listened to her cry. The walk down the stairs was the hardest journey he ever made.
But he did it.
*~*~*~*~*~
The lawyer called on Saturday morning to tell Callie that the prosecutor wanted to meet with Jack. The prosecutor, Jeffrey Davidson, was amenable to location and had even suggested Callie's house. She told her attorney that Jack had to see his child psychologist first and if she cleared him, Callie would be happy to meet with the man. When she hung up, Mark opened the door and leaned against the jamb. She looked away fast.
"Who was that?" he asked softly.
"Philip," she replied, referring to their attorney.
"And?"
She told him what she knew and climbed out of the bed, gathering her things for the shower. He watched her closely and said, "I was thinking of cooking French toast. You in?"
Callie shook her head and walked past him, grabbing towels from the linen closet. When she started back into the bedroom, he lifted an arm and blocked her path. She didn't speak, still didn't look at him.
"Have breakfast with me, Callie."
"I'm not hungry."
"This is me trying."
"I have to get ready. I need to pick up Jack in an hour."
"I can do it. Do you want me to -"
"No. I'll do it."
"I can come with you and maybe we could go to the pa-"
"No thanks."
"Are you going to look at me at some point?"
"Not yet."
He shook his head. "You're throwing my words back in my face, Callie."
"I'm too exhausted from my gang bang to think of anything original."
"Oh, there it is. Go ahead and get it out your system."
She finally looked up at him. "It's out. All of it. Even you."
He blinked. "What?"
"You should stay. For Jack. Because that's why you're really here. It's not for me and I'm not going to hang onto something that's not for me. I'm just not. Not again. I can't."
"You're trying reverse psychology. You want me to think that if you're pissed at me then I'll stop being pissed at you. Right?"
"No. Mostly I want you to get your things out of my room and put them downstairs where you slept last night." She pushed his arm down. "And make sure it's done before I get home."
Mark followed her to the bathroom. "This is not going to work! Do you hear me? You're not winning this one. You're not. I have a right to be pissed!"
"Then be pissed." She shut the bathroom door in his face and a moment later the shower came on.
He stalked downstairs, grabbed his wallet, and left.
Once again his tires burned rubber as he peeled away.
*~*~*~*~*~
Derek glanced up from the bar as Mark walked in. He had been watching the news coverage of the child abuse scandal that rocked Seattle and he put a hand on Mark's shoulder when he sat down. "How's Jack? For you to be at the Emerald City Bar before ten a.m., it must be pretty rough."
"He's hanging in there," Mark replied, gazing up at the television. McDeaver's mug shot flashed across the screen and he felt instant gratification at the purpling bruises and swelling in his face. "I think Callie just broke up with me."
"What? Why?" Derek put his beer on the bar, gazing at his friend. "Because of this mess with Jack?"
"No. I got pissed at her because she got drunk in Los Angeles and Addison filmed her doing some pretty stupid shit."
"Like what?"
"Like ... dancing. And ... two guys helping her to her bedroom."
"Two guys?"
"Friends of Addison's."
"And Addison was filming it?"
"She was the designated driver."
"Addison knew them?"
"Yeah." Mark glanced at him. "It's not as mild as it sounds. She took of her shirt and then one of the guys helped her take her pants off because she had spilled a drink on it and ... then she went to bed and -"
"Alone?"
"Of course she was alone."
"Then what's the problem exactly?"
"The problem is she put herself in that situation, Derek. She should have had an ounce of restraint and -"
"Okay, you do remember that you got shit faced the other night don't you?"
"It's different. I didn't have two girls helping me to bed."
"No ... you had one girl. One girl who climbed between your legs and planted a kiss on you that was hot enough to melt the -"
"WHAT!?"
"You don't remember it?"
"NO!"
Derek simply lifted his beer. "You put yourself in that situation. You should have had an ounce of restraint."
"I don't even ..." he trailed off, then put his head in his hand and said, "... remember it. And neither does she. Oh, god. I'm such a dick. Yesterday was the perfect day and she needed it after this whole mess with Jack and -"
"Go home, Mark." Derek sighed. "Go home."
"Thanks, man."
"Anytime."
*~*~*~*~*~
Callie didn't bring Jack home until after dark. She had picked him up at ten that morning and had taken him horseback riding, out to lunch, to see a movie and then out to dinner. He asked about Mark the entire time, but she had simply said it was Mom Only day and Jack happily went along with it. She kept her telephone off the entire day as well. Her son was sleeping soundly when she unbuckled his seat belt and hefted him into her arms.
When she quietly closed the car door and turned, Mark was standing a few feet away. "I've been calling you for hours," he told her, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Sorry." She shifted the sleeping child in her arms and walked past him.
"You want me to carry him?"
"Nope."
Feeling like an outsider, he followed her upstairs and watched her take Jack's shoes off. He was wearing sweat pants and a t-shirt and she left them on him, tucking the cover around him instead of trying to put his pajamas on. He was exhausted and quickly rolled onto his side, gathering the blanket in his arms. She brushed his hair off his face and kissed his temple, smiling as she did so. He smelled good ... like the outdoors and happiness. She could breathe him in all night.
"We need to talk." Mark held out his hand and waited for her to take it.
"I'm tired."
"It's important."
Callie got to her feet and headed into her bedroom. She glanced at his closet, but the door was shut. She couldn't tell if his things were gone or not. Sitting down on the bed, she slipped her shoes off and tried to pretend he wasn't in the room at all. "You don't have to explain it," she finally said. "Just go."
"I'm not leaving."
"You can still see him. Anytime you want."
"I'm not just here because of Jack. Don't get me wrong ... I adore that kid and every time he calls me 'dad' ... I feel like I've done something great." He moved around the bed and sat next to her. "I'm here because I love you. I'm here because the thought of not having you in my life is too much for me to even contemplate. I want this life, Callie. I want it with you."
"I really didn't mean to hit you. I have never been so ashamed of anything in my life."
"That is a low point for us, but ... I shouldn't have said what I did." He reached over and took her hand. "You've been through hell and back this week and I'm sorry I added to it."
"I really don't know what the hell I was doing on that video. If you had met those guys, though, you'd know that -"
"I don't need to meet them to know that I trust you." He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I didn't move my things, by the way. If you're upset and you want me to go back downstairs then I will, but -"
"No." She leaned her head against his shoulder. "I can't sleep without you and I'm so tired that -"
"You don't have to say anything else. Come on." He helped her to her feet and pulled back the cover, then he turned and tugged her shirt over her head. A few minutes later, he spooned against her, letting his hand rest against her stomach. He held onto her, not speaking, simply listening to her breathing. The anger he felt was simmering and no longer boiling over, but it was still there. Another man had touched her and he didn't care how innocent it may have been, he wanted to choke him. And her.
His mind flashed to what Derek had told him about the woman at the bar and he closed his eyes. "Callie, there's something I need to tell you."
She didn't reply.
She had fallen asleep and he sighed ... thinking it must have been a sign for him to keep it to himself.
*~*~*~*~*~
*ducks*
I know. I KNOW! OMG. Trust me ... the next part is a lot happier and lot funnier. It's actually *hilarious*. :)
*ducks*