Driving Sideways

50.

Mark put the boys in the car and buckled them in. He had fed them and bathed them in a cloud of confusion, and he could tell by the silence of the two boys that they could sense something was off. "Are you okay, Uncle Mark?" Richie asked, watching him carefully.

"Um... uh... yeah, why?"

"You're still trying to buckle me in..." he said, pointing to the latch that Mark kept pushing on.

"Oh... oh... ha... I didn't even notice..." He laughed as he shook his head. "I'm just silly today..."

"Yes... yes you are..." Richie nodded.

"Silly, Uncle Mark..." Greyson said with a giggle as he smiled at them and shook his head, closing the door after they were all buckled up. He climbed into the driver's side and sighed as he slipped his keys into the ignition.

"Are we going to go see mommy and daddy, Uncle Mark?" Richie asked.

"Are we going to go see GG?" Greyson asked. "I want to see GG..."

Mark sat in his seat for a moment, unsure if he should bring them to the hospital or not. If he brought them there, the kids would surely make a scene until they got to see their grandmother, and he didn't know if he was ready for that. "You know what... let's call up mommy and daddy... and we can see if GG is doing alright..." He said quickly. "Does that sound like a good idea?" He asked, smiling at the resounding 'yeah' from the back seat. He pushed the button for Derek's cell phone and waited.

After several moments, the phone picked up. "Der."

"Mark... how are the boys?" He said immediately, no pause.

"They're doing well..." Mark said looking at the boys. "Daddy says hi..."

"HI DADDY!" Both boys screeched loudly as Mark held the phone to his ear as if it were keeping the sound out.

"Did you hear that?" Mark asked.

"I think that there are very few people in the world that didn't..." Derek chuckled slightly.

"How's the chief?" Mark asked, getting right to the point.

"No change..." Derek said, there was a light shuffle on the other line.

"Mark..." Meredith's voice came over the line. She sounded frightened and sad, but there was still a very evident sound of strength in her voice.

"Meri..." Mark whispered, feeling his stomach suddenly relax at the sound of her voice. The bravery in her voice was enough to calm him slightly. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm... I'm okay... how are my boys? Are they behaving themselves?"

"They're being very good..." Mark said, sighing as he swallowed hard.

"I need them..." She whispered.

"If I bring them to the..."

"She's stable... they won't let them in right away... but I can talk to them... I'd like to talk to them..."

"We'll come see you..." Mark replied. "Meri, if it's any consolation... you're being very brave, and I'm proud of you." He said softly, hearing the soft release of breath on the other side of the line.

"Thank you, Mark." She said softly.

"Never a problem, Meri..." Mark replied. "Meri, Cris wants you to call her..."

"Is she alright?"

"I'm not sure... it's kind of important... call me after you talk to her..." He said softly as he sighed.