Sutures and Secrets || Mark Sloan

38 | Mother Knows Best

05x12

Days later, Charlie's room was quiet except for the sound of hurried breathing. The dim glow of the bedside lamp was flickering against the walls as Charlie and Mark lay tangled in the sheets, completely lost in each other.

Then-

Knock. Knock.

Mark froze against her, his lips stilling against her skin.

Charlie tensed beneath him, hands gripping his shoulders. Maybe whoever it was would go away.

Another knock.

Mark groaned into her neck. "I swear to God-"

He pulled himself up, grabbing the closest thing - a blanket - to wrap around his lower body. He trudged to the door, barely cracked it open and glared at whoever was ruining their night.

It was Lexie.

She stood there, shifting awkwardly, her cheeks pink as she very obviously avoided looking at Mark's bare chest.

Mark narrowed his eyes. "Grey, whatever it is - it can wait till morning."

Lexie winced. "Yeah. Um. No, it actually really can't."

From the bed, Charlie groaned, clutching the sheets to her chest. "Lexie. This better be life or death."

Before Lexie could answer, a loud crash came from downstairs, followed by the sound of frantic voices.

Mark frowned. "What the hell? Do these kids never sleep?"

Lexie exhaled. "That's - actually why I'm here."

Charlie's brow furrowed. "What are they doing?"

Lexie nodded. "They're deep-cleaning the house because your mom is coming."

Silence.

Mark and Charlie froze.

Charlie blinked. "I'm sorry. What?"

Lexie sighed. "Your mom. She's coming to visit."

Charlie's stomach dropped. She suddenly remembered all the missed calls - so many missed calls.

Her mom had been calling for days. And she had ignored every single one.

"Oh my God."

Mark groaned, running a hand down his face. "Damn it. She called me multiple times in the past few days. I should've answered."

Charlie turned her wide eyes to him. "You too?"

Mark winced. "Yeah."

Charlie gawked. "And you didn't pick up?"

Mark scratched the back of his head, looking guilty. "I had my reasons."

Charlie threw her hands up. "You have no reasons!"

Mark scoffed. "Excuse me?"

Charlie pointed at him. "I have a reason. You do not. I've never had the best relationship with her, so obviously, I ignore her calls." She gestured at him. "You, on the other hand, have almost as good of a relationship with her as Derek does! So why the hell were you dodging her calls?"

Mark groaned, rubbing his face. "Because I - I just - I panicked!"

Charlie stared. "You panicked?!"

"Yes!" Mark threw his hands up. "I mean - come on. That woman practically raised me! She's the one who made sure I had dinner when my own parents couldn't be bothered and who always made sure I was okay. And now I'm supposed to answer her calls and act normal while I'm secretly sleeping with her daughter?"