...☤...

𝟑 | 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓, 𝑆𝐸𝐴𝑇𝑇𝐿𝐸

𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟔

The persistent beeping of machines infiltrated my consciousness, pulling me from the depths of sleep. My eyes fluttered open, and I blinked against the harsh fluorescent lights to clear the haze that clouded my vision. Slowly, I turned my head, and the sight of my brother's head resting on my lap came into focus. His hand gripped mine tightly, a lifeline tethering me to reality.

"Derek?" My voice was barely a whisper, raw and scratchy.

He lifted his head, his eyes bloodshot and filled with relief. A breath escaped him, a mixture of exhaustion and hope. "I didn't think you were going to wake up."

I lifted my free hand, instinctively touching my nose. The sensation of a tube and the steady pressure of air flowing into my nostrils startled me. I reached for it, wanting to pull it out, but Derek's hand stopped me.

"Don't," he said firmly, his grip tightening.

Confusion clouded my thoughts as I looked around the sterile hospital room. "What happened?"

"You were shot," Derek replied, leaning back in his chair and running his fingers through his hair. "You're lucky."

"Lucky?" I echoed, trying to comprehend the situation.

He nodded, concern etched deeply into his features. "They didn't know if you would make it off the operating table." He paused, swallowing hard. "I thought I lost you."

The realization hit me like a tidal wave, my eyes widening in fear. "The baby..."

A soft clearing of a throat drew my attention. 

I turned to see Addison standing in her blue scrubs at the foot of the bed. She closed the door behind her, her expression a mix of professionalism and empathy.

"...survived," Addison said, her voice steady but gentle.

Relief flooded through me, and I let out a shaky breath. Addison moved to sit on the other side of my bed, and Derek rose from his chair, avoiding Addison's gaze. He leaned down and kissed my forehead.

"I'll check on you later," he murmured, his voice thick with unspoken emotions.

I nodded, watching him leave the room. The door closed softly behind him, leaving me alone with Addison. 

I turned to her, frowning at the hurt I saw in her eyes.

"I need to talk to you as your doctor, not your friend, right now," Addison began, her tone serious. She grabbed my hand, her grip firm yet comforting. "There were complications with the surgery. The baby is fine. But..."

A realization dawned on me, cold. "I'm not."

Addison shook her head. "No, Rayne, you're not."

She squeezed my hand, her eyes searching mine. "Because of the gunshot... there was an accumulation of fluid in the pericardium. It's manageable, but..."

I sighed, the weight of her words settling over me like a heavy blanket. "I'm high risk."

Addison nodded, her expression somber. "As your doctor, I have to tell you that having this baby can potentially kill you."

"You recommend termination," I said, more a statement than a question.

Addison bit her lip, hesitating before nodding. "Yes, I do."

"Have you told Mark?" I asked, my mind swirling with uncertainty.

Addison shook her head. "I haven't even told him that you're pregnant. But I think you should."

The enormity of the situation pressed down on me, and my thoughts were jumbled and chaotic.

How do you process the fact that the life growing inside you could end your own?

"Can I think about it? Terminating the baby, I mean," I asked, my voice trembling.

Addison nodded. "Of course. Mark went to your apartment to get some things to make your recovery more comfortable."

"When will I be discharged?" I asked, the question escaping my lips in a rush.

The walls of the hospital room felt like they were closing in on me, the sterile smell of disinfectant and the incessant beeping of monitors making it hard to breathe. I needed to know when I could escape this suffocating environment and return to some semblance of normalcy.

I hated being a patient. 

Addison looked at me with understanding eyes. "If there are no more complications, by the end of the week." She squeezed my hand gently, offering a small measure of comfort. "Are you going to be okay?"

I nodded, though the uncertainty gnawed at the edges of my mind. "Yeah. I just need some time to think."

Her smile was warm and reassuring. "Okay. Take all the time you need."

As Addison left the room, the door closing softly behind her, I let out a long breath I hadn't realized I was holding. The quiet settled around me, broken only by the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor. I rested my hand against my stomach, feeling the weight of my decision pressed down on me, heavy and unrelenting.

I stared at the ceiling, the sterile white tiles different from the storm of emotions swirling inside me. My fingers traced small circles over my belly, seeking a connection with the life growing within me. The thought of losing this baby was a knife to my heart, twisting and cutting deeper with every breath.

No matter the risk or potential consequences, I knew I couldn't let go. The decision had been made in the quiet moments between heartbeats, in the stillness of the night when fear and hope battled for dominance. This baby was a part of me and Mark, and I couldn't bear the thought of losing that connection.

The room seemed to blur around the edges as my thoughts drifted to Mark.

How would he react?

Would he understand the choice I was making?

The fear of his reaction mingled with the fear of the unknown, creating a tangled web of anxiety and resolve. But deep down, I knew I had to tell him.

He deserved to know.

...☤...

Mark held the door open as I gingerly stepped into my apartment. The familiar scents and sights brought a sense of comfort after the sterile, unwelcoming environment of the hospital. His arm was firmly around my waist, guiding me with care and determination.

"Mark, I can walk to the couch," I insisted, trying to shake off his overprotectiveness.

He ignored me, steering me away from the living room and towards the hallway leading to my bedroom. I sighed as he set my duffle bag on the floor and pulled back the covers of my bed, easing me down onto the mattress with a gentleness that belied his usual brisk demeanor.

"Мамка му," I mumbled a curse, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "Mark, you're going to be late for your flight."

He sat beside me, pulling the covers over my legs and brushing a wisp of my brunette hair out of my face. "You know I don't have to leave today. I could change my flight."

I shook my head, the movement slow and deliberate. "No. You've kept your patients waiting long enough."

He cupped the back of my neck, his thumb rubbing small, soothing circles. "I don't want to leave you."

A small smile tugged at my lips. "I know." I grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him closer. "I'll be here when you get back."

Mark raised an eyebrow, his eyes searching mine. "Promise?"

I leaned in, my lips brushing softly against his. A low growl rumbled in his chest, making me grin. 

"That wasn't fair," he murmured, his voice husky and low, sending a shiver down my spine.

I rolled my eyes playfully, trying to mask the fluttering in my chest. "One kiss and you'll go catch your flight."

He nodded, a reluctant smile tugging at the corners of his lips, his eyes never leaving mine.

I sighed, feeling the inevitable pull between us. Giving in, I leaned closer.

Our lips met, and the world around us seemed to blur into oblivion. His kiss was demanding yet tender, a perfect blend of passion and gentleness that conveyed all the unspoken words and emotions swirling between us. I melted into him, the warmth of his touch seeping into my very bones, grounding me in the moment. His hands cupped my face, fingers threading through my hair, holding me as if he never wanted to let go.

Time seemed to stand still, the only reality being the sensation of his lips moving against mine. I savored every second, every gentle brush and lingering caress, imprinting it into my memory. When I finally pulled back, breathless and dazed, his blue-gray eyes met mine, intense and filled with a mix of longing and concern that mirrored my own feelings.

"I'll be here when you get back," I reassured him, my voice soft but steady, hoping to impart some of the strength I felt from our connection.

Mark stood slowly, his hand lingering on my cheek before he leaned down to press a tender kiss on my forehead. 

"I'm going to miss you, Sunshine," he whispered his words a promise and a plea wrapped into one.

A smile broke across my face. "You better."

As he turned to leave, the echo of his footsteps resonated through the room, each step a reminder of the temporary nature of our parting. 

As he left the room, I settled back into the pillows, the day's exhaustion weighing heavily on me. Voices drifted in from the living room, and Meredith appeared in the doorway moments later.

"Mere?" I called out softly.

Meredith came over and lay beside me on the bed, her presence a comforting balm. "You don't get to die," she said firmly, her voice a mixture of sternness and vulnerability.

I sighed, the weight of her words pressing on my chest. "I'm not dying."

"So you told him about your heart condition? Or the baby?" Meredith's question hung in the air, heavy with expectation.

I frowned, staring at the ceiling. "No."

"Why not?" she asked, her voice softening.

"Because I'm scared of how he'll react. Derek didn't react well when I told him I was seeing Mark or about the baby," I admitted, the words tumbling out in a rush.

Meredith reached over, squeezing my hand. "Derek will come around eventually. But Mark's not Derek."

Her words settled over me like a soft blanket, a mix of comfort and reality. I nodded, the truth of her statement resonating deeply within me. No matter how scared I was to tell Mark that he was the father of my baby or that my pregnancy could potentially kill me, I knew it was a conversation that had to happen.

"I should've told him," I whispered, my voice barely audible, barely there.

"Yeah," Meredith agreed, her tone gentle and understanding. "But I get it. You're scared."

The fear of Mark's reaction and the fear of the unknown swirled in my mind like a storm I couldn't escape. I turned slowly onto my side, the movement deliberate and heavy, resting my head on Meredith's shoulder. Her presence was grounding, a silent reminder that I wasn't alone in this tumultuous sea of emotions.

As I lay there, the quiet hum of the apartment wrapped around us like a cocoon. I knew that facing the truth was inevitable. Each breath felt like a step towards that inevitable conversation, the air thick with unspoken words and lingering doubts. But I needed to find the courage to tell Mark everything, not just for my sake, but for our future.

Meredith's arm tightened around me in silent support, her warmth a balm to my frayed nerves. I closed my eyes, letting the comfort of her presence lull me into a semblance of peace. Her rhythmic breathing reminded me that I wasn't navigating this alone.

In the silence, my thoughts wandered to Mark—his smile, his touch, the way his eyes lit up when he looked at me. The image of his face when he found out about the baby flickered in my mind, a mix of hope and fear. I needed to trust that he would understand and stand by me through this.

As the weight of the day pressed down on me, I allowed myself to sink deeper into the mattress, my body molding into the soft contours of the bed. The room felt safe, a haven from the chaos of the outside world. 

Meredith's steady presence beside me was a constant anchor, pulling me back whenever my thoughts drifted too far into fear and uncertainty. 

"I'm here for you," she whispered, her words barely a breath against my hair.

I nodded against her shoulder; the motion was small but significant. It was enough to know that someone understood that someone was willing to stand beside me as I faced the most challenging decisions of my life.

Meredith's quiet comfort lulled me into calm as the minutes ticked by. The worries of tomorrow and the fears of the unknown seemed to fade into the background, replaced by the simple, unspoken promise of support and friendship.

In that moment, wrapped in the quiet strength of my best friend, I found a sliver of peace. I wasn't alone, and that knowledge gave me the courage to face whatever came next.

...☤...

𝐀/𝐍: HERE IS ACT TWO!!!

THANK YOU GUYS FOR 22.9K READS!!!

I can't wait to start act two. There will be some angst in this act, but don't worry—there will be plenty of Mark and Rayne moments throughout. 

Rayne still hasn't told Mark, but don't worry—she'll tell him in the next chapter. This is mostly a filler chapter. 

THANK YOU TO 946 FOLLOWERS.

I hope you guys like it.

𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒: What did you guys like about this chapter? How do you think Mark will react when he finds out Rayne's pregnant? What are you guys excited about in season 3?

𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆: 𝐖𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐬

-𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛𝑎𝐵𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑘