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Disclaimer: All rights go to Shonda Rhimes and ABC.

It had been two days since the incident that caused Lexie's world to turn upside down and it had definately taken it's toll. The police has questioned both her and Mark and were on the lookout for anyone matching the description she had given. Meanwhile, Lexie was doing her best to keep what little bit of sanity she had left. She focused on Haley as much as she could, but even that didn't stop the nightmares and the fear that came with them. Mark groaned lightly and looked at the clock next to the bed. 2:15AM. He wondered where she went as he ran his hand over teh empty spot next to him. He slowly got up and dragged his body to his daughter's room, only to find it empty. This was not like her to disappear, but then again, she hadn't exactly been herself lately. He walked into the living room and noticed the kitchen light on. He quietly walked over and lightly grabbed her wrist.

"Lexie."

Lexie shrieked and collapsed on linoleum.

"Stop!" She cried. "Please."

"Lex." Mark said, crouching next her and putting a hand on her shoulder. "Calm down, babe. It's just me."

"Mark?"

"Yeah." He answered her. "Are you okay? What's with the muffins?" He asked looking around.

"Just busy work." She stated simply.

"You should come to bed." He told her.

"No." Lexie replied.

"Lexie, you need sleep." Mark said, grabbing her hand. "Come on. It's late."

"Don't touch me!" She jumped, startled.

"What?"

"I said don't touch me." She repeated.

The past two days had been full of arguments like this one and Mark was at a loss of what to do to make her feel better, to make her feel safe, and above all to make her trust him.

"Lexie, you haven't let me touch you for days." Mark said. "Come on, it's just me."

"I just...can't okay?"

"You can't what?" He continued. "Be near me? Touch your husband?"

"Do you think I enjoy this?" Lexie defended. "Do you think I am doing this for kicks? I am scared all the time. Not just sometimes, all of the time, Mark."

"I understand." He told her. "We are going to get through this."

"We?" Lexie said, confused. "There is no 'we' here. You didn't get beat up. You didn't have your personal boundaries violated. I did! I did! It was me!"

Mark's heart broke as he watched the woman he loved fall apart over the one time he was not there to protect her.

"You keep saying 'we', Mark, but where were you when he had me on the pavement, kicking me like I was nothing?" Lexie said, on the verge of tears. "You weren't there. You can't fix it. You can't help me, and you don't get to be a victim here."

"Baby, I just-"

"I'm going to bed." Lexie cut him off. "I'll clean this up tomorrow."

Mark sighed in defeat and looked at the floor. He was running out of ideas and he knew she needed some kind of help. More than what he could give her. He had brought up the idea of counseling only to be shot down at the suggestion. A week ago, he would have blamed it on Lexie just being a Grey, but he knew that she was scared and she felt helpless and asking for help was just going to make her feel worse. The next morning, Mark woke up to find Lexie and his daughter gone and a note on the kitchen counter.

Went to the mall, don't worry about us, Meredith is with us.
I don't know if I will be home for dinner.

- Lexie

He couldn't help but get a little pissed off as he crumpled the note and tossed it at the trash. She was so distant and no matter how hard he tried, he felt like she wouldn't reach back to him. He knew that she was going through a rough time but he knew that he was expecting a little too much too soon. He ate breakfast, gathered his things, and went in to work. Maybe surgery would be the distraction he needed. Meanwhile, Lexie and Meredith were picking their way through clothing racks while pushing Zola and Haley in their respective strollers.

"None of this even looks like something I would consider wearing." Lexie whined.

"So, you really told Mark not to touch you?" Meredith asked bluntly.

"Look, I told you. I'm not good with the physical contact right now."

"How is that possible? Mark is all about the physical." She replied.

"Yeah, I know." Lexie continued. "It's not his fault though. He tries so hard and...I don't know. I feel like I'm not good enough to him."

"If you are still shaken up then you shouldn't have to apologize for it." Meredith explained. "Mark should get that."

"He does get it." She said. "I think he just wants so desperately to make it better that he pushes a little too hard sometimes. I mean, I want nothing more than to be fine, because it will make him feel better, but I can't do that."

"Have you thought about seeing someone, like a counselor?" Meredith asked, nearly tip toeing at the question.

Lexie lightly laughed. "I can't. Being poked a prodded like a psych patient. I can't. I already did that and it wasn't really helpful."

"I get it." Meredith paused. "I think there is an obvious solution to how to get through it."

"What?"

"Your husband." Mereidith said quickly. "Talk to him. Open up to him. Like it or not, that's what he is there for. Besides, he probably needs you just as much as you need him."

Lexie just sighed, clearly taking the words that Meredith said to heart.

"It's just hard." She replied, looking down. "How am I supposed to let him in on something he will never understand?"

"You have to make him understand." Meredith said with a sigh. "Sweetie, that man loves you. He would move mountains for you if you asked him to. You have to trust that he is going to be there to catch you, even when he doesn't quite understand."

Lexie paused. "You're right."

"Of course I'm right. Now, what do we think of this?" She replied, holding up a fuschia paisley blouse.

Lexie just schrunched her nose in disgust.

It was about six o'clock when Lexie opened the door to her apartment and pushed Haley's stroller inside. She placed her bag by the door and made her way to the living room, placing Haley in her playpen.

"We're home." She called out, giving Haley her favorite stuffed pig. "There you go, sweetheart."

"Hey." Mark said, walking into the room. "I thought you weren't going to be home for dinner."

"Yeah." She said with a slight pause. "I wasn't sure, but there wasn't really alot going on at the mall, so...here we are."

Mark just nodded, grabbing a beer from the fridge. After a few minutes of awkward silence, Lexie decided to break it.

"So, how 'bout those Seahawks?" She said with a smile.

Mark just shook his head at her and went about his business.

"I'm sorry, okay?" She caved. "I'm sorry for treating you like the criminal these past few days. I know it wasn't your fault and I-"

"Wasn't it though?" He said, cutting her off. "He was looking for me."

She sighed. "Mark."

"No, he was looking for me and I wasn't there so you were in the line of fire." He said, putting his beer on the counter. "I'm supposed to protect you, Little Grey, and I didn't do it. I failed."

"Stop it."

"No, I failed you. I...I can't ask you to just forgive me for that." He said with his head down.

"Look at me." Lexie said, getting no response. "I said, look at me." She said again, pulling his face up. "You are not responsible for this. I was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was angry and I took it out on you and I'm sorry for that. I am. I was just scared and hurt."

"Baby, I'm so sorry." He told her, on the verge of tears. "I can't lose you. I won't make it."

"Shhh." She replied, hugging him. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise. You're stuck with me."

Did everyone else enjoy the Mark and Lexie moments in the Valentine's episode? It was brilliant. Thank you, Shonda. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and I will try to update as soon as possible. Thanks again for all of your unwavering support. You guys are the best!