27. The Return

"Why can't you walk like a normal person?"

"Sex," Emily managed to say as she limped to the nurse's station.

"So you and Sloan finally did it?" Cristina asked, glancing over from the nurse's station's office chair. She had her legs propped up on the desk as Emily rubbed at her neck with a held back flinch. Her neck was completely marked with red and a slight purple and if her scrub shirt shifted too far to one side, one could see the bite marks along the planes of her shoulders.

"All weekend," Emily sighed helplessly. "I feel like we christened everything in that hotel room. Twice." Taking out the binders, she felt the muscle underneath her arm that ran near her ribs protest. "Ow."

"When was the last time you had sex?" Cristina smirked and Emily rolled her neck, trying to keep herself awake. "To be honest, I thought you were a virgin."

"Thanks." Emily glared at her friend who proceeded to poke at the styrofoam cup with her paperclips. "Cristina, what is going on?"

"Do you ever think Sloan's gonna cheat on you? He's done it before," she said, "so what's stopping him from doing it again with you? He says he's serious but what makes you take him seriously? Honestly, if I were you, I'd run fast and far away. No one wants sloppy seconds, especially after Mark Sloan's done with you, 'cause then you're just pining over someone who never wanted you in the first place."

"Cristina-" Emily stopped before she could say anything. She swallowed a knot in her throat and took a deep breath. "You know, I hope you feel better about the Burke thing soon," she said instead, taking the binders and leaving.

.

"When was the last time you called a woman after having sex?"

"That's changed. Don't need to call the woman when she basically lives in my hotel room. I'm turning over a new leaf."

"What was wrong with the old leaf? So they called you a whore. You're a happy guy with Em."

.

"Are you okay?" he whispered, kissing her shoulder as she burrowed closer. His hands played with her hair as he pressed another kiss to the juncture of her neck and shoulder. "Em?"

"I don't want you to go," she said quietly into his bare chest. His legs caught on hers and he tugged her closer. His hand ran over her shoulder and hugged her close as Emily closed her eyes. The skin to skin contact burned and he sighed against her hair, trying to find a way to mould her closer to his body.

"I won't go." He knew it was one of her moods where she became insecure in herself. He simply held her as she let out a sharp breath against his chest. "We should take a shower, and then order some food, and then we can watch your favourite movies." Her arms wrapped around his middle. "Sound like a plan?"

"Okay." Tossing off the covers, he pulled her up and guided her to the bathroom, their naked bodies pressing together like two pieces that had found their right place on the puzzle.

.

Emily swirled the glass of red wine as Callie groaned, burying her face in a pillow. "Honestly, does Mark make you think of Erica that much? With her blonde hair and dazzling blue eyes. Her strong, strong hands…" A sly smile curved her lip as Callie threw the Archfield pillow at her. Yelping, she managed to move the glass of wine out of the way, taking the blow to her face. Pulling the pillow off, she smacked Callie's legs with it. The brunette let it stay on the woman's legs as she leaned back into the headboard. The Latina, meanwhile, head near the end of the bed, just poured herself more wine.

"Shut up about Erica Hahn. Both of you are exactly the same. You and Mark are exactly the same." There was something about her complexion, cheeks dusted with rose and her pupils dilated that made Emily narrow her eyes.

"What is wrong with you?" Her raking gaze returned to the tanned woman's face and her mouth popped open. "You guys kissed."

"She kissed me."

"And?" she prompted, pushing the pillow down and sipping her wine. Licking her lips, she watched the woman struggle for words.

"It was different and new and I don't know what it means," she finally said, downing the rest of the scarlet liquid and pouring a hefty amount back into the glass.

"Did you… like it?"

"I don't know." There was a pause and the woman nodded, "Yes. I - yeah. I like kissing, kisses are good."

"Well, ask her to kiss you more. More's always good. Love is love." Emily shrugged as the lock clicked and the door opened, revealing Mark. "Hey!" He shrugged off his brown coat and leapt onto the bed, landing right next to Callie as he drank straight from the bottle. Scooting up beside his girlfriend, Mark shoved Callie's legs. The ortho resident sat up, pouting,

"We talking about Hahn and Torres?"

"Yeah."

"It's not as easy as it sounds. She only kissed me because of Mark."

"He does have his way around women," Emily agreed and Mark leaned over for a kiss which she happily gave. "You know, you could just ask. Ask what it meant for her." Mark poured the rest of the wine to Emily when she held out her glass for more before getting up to get another bottle.

"Or, you could make a deal to kiss her and then end up together somehow because even though you became best friends, the chemistry was just so powerful," Mark called back and Emily rolled her eyes.

"That is a gross oversimplification of it," the brunette replied as he returned, a fresh bottle of wine in his hands.

"I hate you. Both of you, you sick, happy people."

"Oh, I hate me, too." Mark uncorked the bottle as he said this and Emily nodded along to his words before adding to it herself.

"Yeah, honestly, we're disgusting. Happiness is overrated. We should go back to being sad and pining."

"Okay, you both knew what I meant!"

Breaking into laughter, the couple leaned against each other as Callie took the bottle from Mark and glowered at them playfully. When she filled up her glass, the woman set the bottle near the floor and pouted.

"I'm grateful you two are together, it's just really annoying you two have it figured out."

"Absolutely."

"I know right."

Callie sighed, "I hate both of you."

The two at the head of the bed shared looks and Emily reached to hold onto the woman's free hand.

"But seriously, we're with you. No matter what." At that, Callie smiled slightly and squeezed their joined hands.

.

"Hey, Em!" Turning around, she looked up to see Mark with Sara. "I need to show you something."

"Why's Sara here?" she asked warily after saying a quick hello.

"Because I need to show you something."

"He wouldn't tell me what it was either," the woman said truthfully. "I'll see you around, Emily." The woman left and Emily watched him go for a moment before turning back to her boyfriend.

"You told her already? What is it?" Mark cupped her jaw and kissed her between the eyebrows. "Mark!" Emily sighed, putting away her charts and following after him. Pulling her lab coat tight around herself, she scowled.

They walked through the E.R. It was quiet, a few patients here and there as they were treated for minor injuries. She spotted one of her interns doing stitches. She did assigned them to the E.R earlier that day, so she was thankful they were doing okay. The doors slid open to the ambulance bay and she sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Mark, there aren't even any traumas. It's cold!"

"Look." She sighed and followed his gesture to the bloodstain.

Or, what was the bloodstain.

Emily felt her insides turn over when she saw that it wasn't there. Her eyes met fresh pavement. There was no stain.

All at once, she let out a jittery sigh and closed her eyes, trying to comprehend it.

"It's not there," she whispered and Mark held her to his side, pressing a kiss to the side of her head.

"It's gone, jailbait."

"It's gone. He's… Stan's gone." Her throat squeezed and she turned to bury her face into Mark's shirt. "Stan's gone." His hand pressed her head to his chest and she tried to calm her breathing. It was as if a huge weight lifted off her shoulders as she clutched onto him - not crying, but merely needing the support to stand. She didn't think her knees could take it if she were here on her own.

Stan's gone.

And I'm still here.

She felt like she could fly.

I am still alive.

.

Today was the first day Emily had left through this side of the hospital in weeks. The sound of the doors automatically opening didn't accompany her step and instead of grey walls, she saw the trees and benches. Mark held her hand as they walked out with Callie, and proceeded to watch as Callie went up to Dr. Hahn to make her move.

"Go, Callie. Making the first move." She paused to watch them for a moment beofre tearing her gaze away. Resting her head on Mark's shoulder, they began walking to his car when suddenly he stopped. "What is it?" She followed his gaze to the now kissing women. "I'm proud. Is that too weird to say?"

"No." His voice was soft and her gaze drifted up to him. His icy eyes stared back at her and something warm flickered in its depths. "Come on. Let's get to the car."

Continuing on their way to the parking lot, they were silent until they were nearly to the car. When he spoke up, it nearly spooked her but the warm timbre of his voice calmed her down.

"We should find a place to call our home." She knew the shock showed on her features but it melted under his smile. He turned her to face him and he rubbed her arms. "Not some hotel room but our own place."

"Okay," she agreed. "Okay, as long as you're sure." She took his jaw in her hand, brushing his cheek with her thumb. He placed his hand on top of hers and sighed, pressing a kiss to her palm.

"Oh, I'm not," he said shakily. "I don't know if we should do this so early - we've only been dating for, like, three months." She smiled, twisting her hand to hold onto his and placing a hand on his shoulder. "But you were in an ambulance crash."

"Yeah, but I'm better now," she promised, leaning up and kissing his nose. "The stain is gone and… it's like I'm free." Smiling slightly, she added, "I don't want to rush you, but if you want to take a leap, I'll take it with you."

"Let's leap," he whispered, ensnaring her lips in a long kiss.

.

Snow had begun falling in Seattle in autumn. A sure fire sign of global warming, Emily had said to Mark that morning. As Emily ran to the coffee cart, she rubbed her hands and felt her teeth chatter throughout her order. The cups warmed her freezing hands as she paid for her order and dashed back towards where her friends were meeting without spilling the hot liquid. Swerving past nurses and orderlies, she spotted the congregation and ran up.

"Is it up?" she asked breathlessly, handing her boyfriend the second cup of coffee as Bailey shook her head. Mark held out his free arm and she stood in the v of his legs, leaning against him. He chuckled heartily, sneaking a kiss to her temple.

"Back up, you're sucking all my oxygen."

"I'm trying to see," Derek protested, looking at the screen.

"It's not up yet, there's nothing to see," Bailey snapped as Cristina bounced up and down impatiently. Hahn insisted that it was supposed to be up fifteen minutes ago as Emily looped a hand around Mark's shoulders. He leaned into her as well, sipping the coffee and checking his watch.

"It's 4:15."

"Hit the refresh button, you have to reload the page," Cristina said, reaching forward to touch the keyboard before being smacked away by Bailey.

"I'm hitting the refresh button every ten seconds. Just wait." Meredith approached them, asking the same question as Derek greeted the blonde. Alex walked up.

"Is it up yet?"

"No, wait!"

"I'm thinking we move up a slot. We pass Hopkins," Mark opined, leaning forward to read the computer screen. Derek disagreed as Hahn suggested that Mayo could surge forward and they could be three.

"Three? Pessimist."

"Realist. The rankings of teaching hospitals change based on any number of things."

"Three is top five. I can live with three."

"Just hit the refresh button,"

"Get - stay back. I'm doing this," Bailey snapped, slapping his hand away. Izzie finally arrived, out of breath. She nudged between Hahn and Alex, bending down to read the computer.

"Hey, is it up yet?"

"No!"

"Here, just hit the refresh-"

"I am hitting the refresh - okay, all of you, back up. Stop hovering, stop speculating." Emily wrinkled her nose, hitching up a leg atop of Mark's. He raised his eyebrows at the Chief Resident, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. "The rankings will go up when they go up. We have no control over when they're posted." Emily's gaze drifted over to the screen and there was a blue loading icon, swirling around and she stared intently, waiting for the list to show up. "When it is up, I will say, 'It is up.' Until then, back up, shut up and leave me alone so I can push the-"

"It's up." They all crowded around the screen, reading the list.

"Number one, Hopkins, number two, Mayo."

"Told ya."

"Three, Cleveland Clinic? "

"What?" Derek muttered as Emily leaned forward.

"Four, Mass Gen."

"What?" Mark echoed in her ear. Emily sighed when she didn't see their name in the top five.

"Wait, wait. We moved down to five?" Bailey clicked for the next five and shook her head slightly.

"No, we are not five." Another click of the mouse and there, next to number twelve was their name. Between the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Stanford Health-Care was Seattle Grace Hospital at number twelve.

"Can you live with twelve?" Emily breathed in Mark's ear as they took it in. The air was filled with disappointment and disapproval, and they began to disperse. Alex and Izzie walked away, talking about something and Mark, after a peck on the cheek, walked off with Derek.

Taking out her phone, she asked a nurse at the nearest nurse's station to page her interns, knowing they'd come running.

.

"Just wondering but what do you see in Dr. Sloan?" Emily raised her head from where she was watching Michael and Liam perform sutures. Charlotte was trying to intubate one of the dummies and she called out.

"Visualize the chords, then pull up."

"I'm trying!"

"Calm down. It won't help a patient if their doctor is panicking." The redhead nodded and the brunette resident turned to the intern. She looked a bit frazzled, charts in arms. "Why do you ask?"

"'Cause he's a complete ass to George, and I was just wondering how on Earth he got you as a girlfriend, because in my opinion you're complete opposites and he's such an ass while you, you're watching your interns intubate and sew and you're teaching-"

"Lexie," Emily started patiently and the younger woman shut up, "you're rambling."

"Sorry."

"Mark is Prince Charming." Lexie snorted, covering her mouth with her fingers and Emily rolled her eyes. "And he's Han Solo. He's everything in between." Twirling her pen, she watched Michael finish his stitches. "Good, just space them more evenly apart." Turning back to Lexie, Emily continued, "You know, you don't have to give him a chance but he'll impress you anyways. He's an irreplaceable surgeon and he makes me laugh even when I don't want to. He… he gets my kind of silence and he's my best friend. He will always be my best friend."

"Even if he's a complete ass?"

"I've asked him to work on that before," she mumbled. "You should get back to work, Lex."

"Yeah, okay, thanks." The brunette offered a smile to the intern who was rushing away before turning her gaze to Charlotte who had managed to get the tube in.

.

"I was paged. More MVCs?" Emily asked as the ambulances rolled in. Bailey nodded and ran to one of the rigs as it slowed to a stop.

"Vincent Kenner, fifty eight. Unrestrained backseat passenger of the limo that took a nosedive. Laceration to the scalp and crush injuries-"

"You should probably get a neuro consult. I think he has a depressed skull fracture and abdominal bleeding, and definitely needs a cardio attending," a new voice interrupted and the paramedics opened the other door to reveal a man in camouflage, his arm stained with blood and his hand grasping a scalpel. His other hand was deep in the patient's chest, unmoving and plugging the wound. "I can feel the aortic tear, my hand's right on it."

"What the…"

"We didn't do it. He did!" the paramedic exclaimed as they began wheeling him into the hospital. His eyes were hard at the paramedic but the hazel color didn't go unnoticed by her.

"Noah?" At his name, the man's features softened and a flicker of recognition passed both of them.

"Emi," he breathed and she ran ahead of them, opening the door for them.

"You know how to make an entrance."

"Yeah, I do. I'd hug you but my hand…"

"Later." After hooking up the monitors, she asked for an ultrasound machine before paging cardio. Cristina came in and they shared a look as a small smile broke on the Asian's face. The peds surgeon shifted around the E.R. staff as Emily gave him a new pair of gloves, taking the scalpel from his hand.

"Big Moore. Welcome back to civilization,"

"Funny, Yang. Take a look at his abdomen but be careful, my hand's on his aortic tear." Cristina took the wand as soon as it came and Emily snipped his shirt away, covering him with blankets but leaving his chest bare for Cristina to look at. Using her stethoscope, she listened to his heart as Noah smiled slightly. "Let's get scans on his head injury." Cracking his neck, he sighed.

"What is it, No'?"

"He needs an O.R. Also, I'm very tired."

"Very mature," she drawled as Derek and Hahn entered. "Vincent Kenner, fifty-eight. Unrestrained backseat passenger of a limo that took a nosedive. Large scalp lac and muffled heart sounds," she reported as Derek went to the head of the patient. His eyes drifted over to Noah before widening.

"Noah?"

"That's a common reaction today. Hey, Derek." They were interrupted as the wife came in before being returned back to her bed by Izzie. Noah blinked for a moment before returning to watch an intern pull in a machine for the scans. "Well, am I right? Depressed skull fracture?" Derek manned it, watching as the scans came out and put it against the light.

"Compressed," he corrected, setting it down and shining the flashlight in the man's eyes as Hahn sidled in beside Emily and listened to his lungs.

"He's also got decreased breath sounds bilaterally. This guy's getting an express ticket to the O.R."

"Would've thought so seeing as my hand is kind of on his aortic tear?" Noah added and Hahn shot him a look. "Sorry, Noah Moore. I just got back from leave."

"The Noah Moore?"

"Yeah, we don't have time for this right now. Let the Chief know we're coming up. Someone tell him I need privileges, scrubs, and maybe a coffee." Derek shot his old friend a look and Hahn eyed the brunet as Emily sighed, taking the clipboard and filling it in before handing it to Derek to sign.

"Yeah, well, I can get one of my interns to give you an espresso shot," Emily teased and Noah laughed.

"An intern! You really are grown up to be raising your own tiny surgeons." Rolling her eyes, she took back the clipboard before heading for the phone to book an O.R.

.

"Aortic clamp." Noah, now gowned and gloved asked for the tool which was placed in his hand as he worked on the heart. "It was nice operating with Derek again. Nostalgic, in a way. And it's our first time operating together, Emi."

"Yeah, it's pretty cool," she admitted, watching as he worked efficiently on the heart. "Damn, I've watched you do it before but I'll never get over how you do it so fast."

"Practice." She snorted, peering deeper into the cavity.

"I get it, you're old. Suction?" He nodded. Cristina entered, being gowned before coming in beside the Chief as Noah checked for more damage.

"I think that the number twelve ranking was a mistake. I think it was a clerical error, and I'm going to start making calls about it as soon as I get out of this surgery." Webber stated, looking at his fellow surgeons. Noah chuckled, glancing at his old mentor before returning to his work. "Would you like a spot, Moore? It'd be good publicity. The mythical Noah Moore, the greatest innovator in peds surgery in a long time."

"That's a big inflation of my ego, sir. I actually needed to discuss that with my sister. Harper Avery-" Her eyes widened at the name- "had actually offered me a job the second I came back and asked if my sister would like to tag along."

"Harper Avery - the Harper Avery?" Emily repeated, glancing at Cristina with wide eyes. "Me? In Boston? You're not joking?"

"Nope. So don't run away as soon as we're done."

"I won't," she promised teasingly.

"Prepare the Dacron graft, Yang. Emily, fill in for her. I hear you're interested in cardio, Yang, so I'm about to teach you how I repair an aortic tear." Hahn didn't protest, even watched in awe as Cristina pulled away to prepare the graft. Emily raised her hands away from the heart, passing the suction to a nurse to hold before sidling in beside the Chief.

"So, I've been observing teaching styles," Hahn began as Emily picked up the bovie. The cardiothoracic surgeon was working on the lungs while Noah worked on the heart. "Shepherd likes to teach by thinking out loud, Bailey is blunt and direct and doesn't over teach, and Sloan… Well, Sloan just likes to berate and humiliate and play favorites." The blonde stared at Emily who flushed, eyes on the cavity.

"I think if you really want to learn about teaching, you should talk to your students," Webber cut in before Noah could question the look. Emily was grateful for it as the surgeon flashed the younger woman a glance, "find out how they learn best. Yang?"

"Oh, that's not necessary, sir." The woman looked up startled from where she brought the graft to Noah.

"Are you serious about this or not, Dr. Hahn?"

The surgeon acquiesced, looking at Cristina expectantly. The black-haired woman cleared her throat, stating the socratic method was how she learned best.

"Well, that's the cornerstone of medical teaching. It's what we do in rounds,"

"Well, not everyone does it," Cristina shot back and Noah raised his eyebrows, clearly taken aback, "some people simply tell you what to do." At this, Hahn went on the defensive.

"Who? Are you talking about me?"

"It's okay, Dr. Yang. Dr. Hahn is eager to learn. You can be honest."

The next moments were pierced by the monitors beeping. Blood began to flood the field and Emily exchanged the bovie for suction. Noah immediately pulled back, looking at his work before his eyes darted down towards them. Emily asked for lap pads, suctioning as much blood as she could.

"He's crashing. Get me an aortic clamp," Noah ordered.

"I can't get a handle on this bleeding in his liver. We may just have to start doing damage control soon." Digging her hands in, she scooped out blood by the handful. "Hang another unit of O-Neg. What's his pressure?"

Emily's eyes darted to the monitor. "Ninety systolic." Webber continued to push around the organs to find the tear as Emily stuffed more lap pads in.

"I see a tear in the renal artery. Moore, are you familiar with the single-layer continuous closure?"

"I've only done it a few times, sir," she informed as Noah glanced around. "Never on organs." Webber chanced a glance at her brother before lowering his mask near her ear.

"Sloan taught you well. I know he did."

"Where is that blood?" barked Noah. A nurse hung another litre as Hahn glanced at the beeping monitors.

"B.P's still dropping."

"Okay, max out on levophed and keep pushing the blood," said Webber. "Get in there and stitch, Moore."

Breathing in, she envisioned Mark's hands teaching her how to do it on banana. Endless hours during her recovery suturing. Her eyes stared at the bleeding liver as gradually, the beeping faded away into background noise and the tools were placed firmly in her hands. Holding them, she swallowed and asked for more suction. Her eyes flickered up to the Chief who nodded before going to Noah, his eyes determined. You can do it.

"It's easy once you get the hang of it. Here, take the needle and make sure you don't mash it. The body may be tougher than it looks but it's still frail. You've got to find the perfect balance. Here, you're pressing too hard. Your forceps can completely destroy the muscle and skin if you aren't careful. They do it in general too, if they're really in a bind." He tilted his head thoughtfully. His hands covered hers as they began the stitch. "The organs - the liver, kidneys - are soft, delicate." She threaded the material through the soft peeled banana and he hummed in approval. "There you go. That's good. You've got a real knack for plastics, you know that?"

Mark's lesson echoed in her mind, his voice calm. She remembered when she had gotten it down, the pride in her smile and his. But that was on a peeled banana. It was nothing like a real organ.

Yes, it is. You can do it. Just think about the banana. Just think, she repeated.

"Don't overthink. You know it becomes second nature."

So she blinked once, then threw the stitch. Then she began to stitch down the tear and it held shut. It was as if she were in a daze, her hands having a mind of their own as they continued to the end, tying the stitch closed.

"Good job." Her head snapped towards her brother and she could see the smile behind his mask.

"I've never seen a resident with such a delicate touch on a liver," the Chief remarked with a hint of pride. "Your stitches will barely leave a mark." Emily smiled in relief, hoping that no one would say anything about how she knew that stitch so well. Putting down the needle, she began to suction again when Han spoke up.

"That is what happens when the head of plastics decides to play favourites because she's his girlfriend," Hahn commented disdainfully but there was a grudging sort of regard in her blue eyes. Emily looked back down at the stitches, unaware of her brother's narrowed eyes as they continued on.

.

Burying her face into the crook of Noah's neck, Emily squeezed him as hard as she could. He smiled against her cheek, swinging her lightly around. When he set her down again, he pulled her back and smiled, exhausted. "You know, I'm not going back. I thought it'd be best if you heard it from me in person."

"What?"

"I'm not leaving again." Her eyes widened and she pulled back, going back onto flat feet. That thought never occurred to her. Noah was always the soldier. It never occurred to her that he might retire.

"What do you mean?"

"I start work in Boston next week. I'm taking the deal Harper Avery gave me."

"But you love the field!" she protested. "That other guy you came with, I heard he's going back on tour."

"But I've missed my family growing up. Will and Ollie, Theresa-" His voice softened at the name of his wife- "I saw them today at the airport and I realized that I've already missed both of them being born. I've missed so much and Theresa is still here. I have a chance to see them grow up. I don't want to miss it for anything. So, I'm retiring from the warfront even if Owen isn't."

"Really?" Her eyes stung and she broke out into a smile as he nodded, engulfing her in a hug again.

"Really. Are you going to come with me?" he asked, pulling back and she frowned. Her eyebrows furrowed together.

"To Mass Gen, right." She glanced down at her shoes, leaning against the nurse's station near the O.R. board. He pulled off his scrub cap as she said, "I… don't know. You can't expect me to decide already because there are factors to consider. I love Seattle. My friends are here and my teachers and this is already a great residency."

"Is Mark one of the factors?" he asked bluntly and she considered playing it off but in his eyes she could see he already figured it out.

"What?"

"When Hahn said the head of plastics teached his girlfriend I thought she was joking but you didn't deny anything. Emily, you know I love Mark like a brother but I also know how he is." She scowled, crossing her arms and looking away.

"He's different now. I promise, he hasn't hurt me or anything."

"Yet," he added grimly and she smacked him. "Ow!" With another wicked glare, she waited until he sighed. "I can't really deny you anything, can I? Fine, but I'm giving him the talk. Where is he?"

"He might be in surgery but I'm not sure."

"I just don't want some other douchebag to fuck you up. Not like Atti-"

"Hey! There's the rule. The no speaking his name, rule." He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "No one's gonna hurt me like him. Not even Mark. They don't get that right anymore." Hugging her tightly, he kissed her hair.

"I know." After a moment, he continued, "You'll have to show me around Seattle. Maybe… maybe Mark can come too." She appreciated the effort. Ruffling her hair, he rested his chin atop her head. "I'm glad you found someone, even after all these years. I didn't want you to be alone after him. So I'm happy if you're happy with Mark." Her arms wrapped around his waist and the warmth of his arms was nostalgic of her childhood. "I love you."

"I love you too, Noah."

.

"You're dating my sister. That means I have to like you… even though I already like you. Not the point. But it means if you break her, I will break you. Got it?" Mark blinked before breaking out into a smile. It made Noah smile and they hugged, clapping each other on the back.

"Yeah." He agreed, "Y'know, it's good to see you. Great big brother speech."

"Thanks. I was struggling - kind of made it up on the spot."

"I could tell."

"But it's good to be home." He pulled back and stared straight into Mark's eyes, pinning him down. "Do you love my sister?"

"Yeah, I do." At this, Noah's smile softened at the edges and he nodded to himself. "She is everything."

"Good, 'cause she's my everything and you manage to hurt her more than-" He broke off, face darkening. "I will not hesitate to murder your ass."

A/N: Edited - October 6, 2018

Next: The Shepherd Method, Mark and Emily break up (for Callie), and our two ortho buddies build a man's bones.