She was staring too, but for different reasons.
She was just happy that he was here.
That he was alive.
But she knew that he was going to want answers. It was only a matter of time. She was going to have to talk. Tell him about what happened. And she knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was not going to take the news okay.
Not after what Dominic had done.
He was in a hospital bed, hooked up to wires, the machines around them and their sounds reassuring her that he was indeed alive. Although he certainly looked worse for wear, the doctor was of the opinion that he had come out with nothing more than a few really bad scratches.
After a few hundred stitches, where Mark wouldn’t let them put him under, where he had sat there holding her hand the whole time, after all of it, it was over.
She was just soaking up that he was alive.
Soaking up that they had both made it.
That they were both here alive.
But she knew it was coming.
The questions.
She could see that his mind was burning with questions.
“Just ask me,” she whispered.
“Where are they?” he said just as quietly back, and she knew exactly who he was referring to.
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean?” He frowned.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. She didn’t want to be the one to break the news to him.
“I know it’s bad. But please just tell me.”
“It’s not her fault,” Dominic stated from the door, Rick and Danny behind him.
She gaped at the sight and stood up, standing next to Mark. There was no way of knowing how this was going to go, and if something bad happened, she wanted to be able to get between them and protect Mark.
Dominic turned to a man outside the door and called, “secure this floor.” Then he walked in, Rick and Danny following.
“What did you do?” Mark snarled, already coming to her aid.
“I was a fool. I let everything get to me and forgot about what was important. I forgot that family is the most important thing.”
Mark was silent, but he did sit back.
She took it as a good sign.
She however kept silent.
She wasn’t sure she was ready to forgive just yet.
“Twice now when you needed us. When you needed me I have let you down. It will not happen again.”
Mark and Dominic stared at each other as the tension filled the room. Even Rick and Danny seemed to be standing on the edge, wondering just what would happen.
