Friendly Help 7/?
Title: Friendly Help
Pairings: Mark/Sabrina
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I own no one.
Summary: Mark and Sabrina have a relationship that most don’t understand, but it works for them. When Mark needs Sabrina’s help, she’s always there for him.
Comments: Welcomed and appreciated.
Chapter 7
It was the longest 2 hours of Mark’s life. He had seen her two more times around the lot. She didn’t seem to notice him because of how charming she was when she talked to someone. She had great eye contact and didn’t let herself get distracted. The first time he spotted her, she was catching up with Cheryl. The girls were laughing about something they did last week as far as Mark could tell, as he passed them. The second time, she was with the producer. He was inside of the studio and Mark was doing camera blocking. She hadn’t been looking at him, but the producer stopped and stared at the couple on the floor that were clearly having some issues.
“Why don’t you go and help them out. She seems petrified to be on that stage and the room is empty. How will she survive tonight?” Sabrina listened to the producers words and wanted to say no, but like the good person she was, she walked slowly to the stage.
“Mark, excuse me.” Mark looked up. “Do you mind if I talk to Morgan for just a second?” Mark looked confused, but agreed. Sabrina pulled Morgan away a few feet and talked to her. A few minutes later, both women turned towards Mark and the producer. “See you later Morgan. I promise to be here for tonight.”
“Thanks Sabrina. I don’t know what I would have done had you not talked to me. I’ll never forget it.”
“You are a strong woman, you would have figured it out.” Sabrina and the producer walked out. She turned to look back at Mark who was still watching her walk away and she gave him a little wink.
“What was that about Morgan?”
“She just gave me some great advice and then she said she would be here! Tonight! She’s coming to watch ME! I’m so excited. What am I going to wear?”
“Calm down. You’re in your costume, that IS what you are wearing!”
“Oh…yeah…”, she smiled sheepishly. The two started into camera blocking again and there was not a trace of fear on Morgan’s face or in her actions. She was fierce even. He couldn’t help but wonder if Sabrina had that effect on her or she had this in her all along.
Mark had changed back into street clothes after his camera blocking and found Sabrina waiting for him on a bench outside of the rehearsal suites. He watched her before she actually saw him. Her eyes sparkled, that beautiful hair he loved was long and flowing in the breeze, and she was smiling. He couldn’t wait to see where today would lead. He prayed for the best as he walked towards her.
“Hey there, I hope you haven’t been waiting long.” He looked genuinely concerned.
“Oh no, I’m great. This is a beautiful California day. Isn’t it just gorgeous out?”
“It is. I have a great view from my back deck, if you’d want to eat outside.”
“That sounds perfect. Are you ready?”
“I am.” He leads her to the car and opens her door. He can’t stop staring at her legs. He catches himself just before she looks up at him. He quickly shuts the door and gets in his seat and drives to his house. He pulls up to a house that Sabrina just can’t believe is his. He lived in an apartment. While it was nice, he wasn’t the type to want to get out and do much in the way of yard work, or so she thought. Maybe she didn’t know about Mark Ballas as she thought.
“I love this house Mark! When did you move in?” She continued to look around the yard even as he explained. He had moved in last month and he loved the house and the neighborhood. “It’s just gorgeous!”
“Thank you. Would you like to come in?” He had been standing waiting for her to notice and when he asked the question, she grinned and walked in. She continued to look around and see all that was in his house. She marveled at the décor.
“Did you decorate yourself or did your mom help you with this very sleek look?”
“Believe it or not, this was all me. She did provide me some home cookin.”
“That’s a good thing. You aren’t very good at cooking as I recall!” She let out a laugh that was typical Sabrina and he was overjoyed to hear it again. She wondered around looking at pictures and he began getting lunch ready. She was shocked that a few of the pictures he had displayed included her. They weren’t romantic pictures, but she was in them just the same. She looked and saw a wall with pictures all over it. They were pictures of him with every dance partner he has had on the show. She was prominently at the top and the picture of them was much larger than the others. He came out of the kitchen to tell her lunch was ready and saw her standing there and looking up. She sensed him behind her. “What’s all of this Mark? Why is that top picture larger than the others?”
“Well, there is a very good reason for that. First, that top picture is of me and my amazing first partner. She taught me so much that I’m not sure she wasn’t my teacher instead of the other way around. I still like to learn from her.” He walks up behind her and fights back the need to wrap his arms around her waist. “She is an amazing woman and I owe her a lot.”
“Really? What did that amazing woman teach you? It certainly wasn’t how to dance, sing, play guitar, entertain or work an audience. You can do that all on your own!”
“You are right. She taught me life lessons. She taught me to live as if no one is waiting for me to fail, laugh like I want and when I want, dress in what makes me comfortable, and kissing! Whoa, she did teach me how to kiss! There are a few other things, but they are a bit personal.” She turned quickly and he winked at her. She quickly smiled at him. “Are you hungry?”
“Yeah,” she said softly. “Mark? I don’t understand?”
“Understand what?”
“This,” she points to their picture. “Why would you make this wall and then do that!”
“I thought I just explained all of that. Let’s eat and then we can talk more.” He led her to the back deck and she noticed how nicely Mark had made everything look.
“It looks wonderful. I should have been in here helping you. I’m sorry, I wasn’t much use to you just gawking at pictures.” She turned a little pink in the cheeks and he smiled brighter.
“It’s fine. If you feel that bad, you can help me clean up. NOW, we are going to eat the best lasagna in the world. I hope you like it!”
“You know I will. Your mom is an awesome cook.” He watches as she puts a bite into her mouth and moans her approval. He has a hard time eating because she eats and savors every bite and lets out little moans revealing how amazing she thinks the meal is. When they are finished they begin to clean up and they fall into the silent team they had been when they were together. They didn’t have to say a word, they each gathered forks, plates, glasses and put them into the sink. Mark washed, Sabrina dried and only then did they chatter about light topics that weren’t too deep.
When Sabrina finished drying the last dish, she handed it to Mark who put it away. “Now, there is no evidence that I was here and ate!”
“My mind holds the images of today, so be careful what you say about evidence!” He laughed at his lame attempt to be witty. She laughed though. “Hey, do you want some ice cream? My mom got me hooked on a new flavor that is brilliant.”
“NO! I mean, no thank you. I’m done with ice cream for a while.” She lightly patted her small tummy and smiled weakly.
He grinned at her, “Took you long enough to think! You got it all figured out yet?”
She started laughing. “You know me, don’t you? I can’t believe you remembered that ice cream is my poison of choice when solving the problems in life!”
“How could I forget Sabrina?”
She didn’t answer him with words, but she smiled at him and walked past him back out onto the deck. She leaned against the rail and the light breeze made her hair dance. He walked out to join her. “Mark?” She turned to look at him. “Can we be friends again?” She suddenly looked very sad.
“We are friends. I’ve never stopped being your friend Sabrina. You just wanted your space and time and as your friend, I did the only thing I could, I gave you what you wanted.”
“I know. I know that I’m the only reason we haven’t been talking. If it makes you feel any better, I haven’t been talking to many people lately.”
“No! That doesn’t make me feel better. What’s going on that’s got you down?”
“I am fixing what’s gone wrong in my life and it’s not been easy.”
Mark looks at the clock and realizes he has to meet Morgan at the lot and if they don’t leave now, they’ll be late. “Sabrina? I’m sorry about everything that’s going on for you. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“You’ve done more than you know Mark. I guess we’d better head back. Morgan will freak if you go MIA on her.”
They get in the car and chatter away. He despised pulling into the lot because it meant this precious moment with her was over.
“Thank you so much for lunch,” she said as she got out of the car.
“Thanks for the company. It was nice catching up.”
Sabrina walked to where Mark was standing. She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, but she was dangerously close to his lips. She lingered a little too long to have been an accident. When she pulled away she gave him a folded up piece of paper. He unfolded it even as she was getting into her car.
He called out, “Hey! What IS this?”
“Oh, I know this girl that is perfect for you. On that paper are the three ways to get in touch with her. Live a little and ask her out. Take the chance.” She smiled and shut the door. He examined the paper again and realized the information was hers. He stood with his mouth open trying to figure out what she had just done. She sees him and smiles brightly. She blows him a kiss and drives off.
The rest of the day he was a nervous wreck trying to figure out what was going on. It wasn’t until Morgan mentioned Sabrina again that he remembered she was coming to the show tonight. He had to catch her to figure this out and to make sure she wasn’t playing with him. He didn’t think his heart could take it. As show time approached, he kept looking for her but eventually had to concentrate on Morgan and her nerves. Right before they went on, Morgan went to look out of the curtain and she smiled and did some sort of happy dance. “SHE CAME!!!!”
Mark smiled as the stage hand told him they were up. He went out with Morgan and performed the dance as if Sabrina was the only one in the room. When the dance was over, he caught her clapping wildly and smiling from ear to ear. They went back for their scores and when he looked back out, she was gone. He panicked and his heart fell slightly. He heard Morgan squeal and turned as Sabrina was there hugging her and congratulating her. Mark was staring a hole in her trying to figure out a way to bring up the note. She walked up to him when she was done talking to Morgan.
“I’m glad you came. She’s been excited all day. I think she performed better too.”
“Glad to hear it. You did great out there.”
“Thanks. Hey, about that note. Are you saying you want to…”
“I said to call the number and take the chance. That’s what I meant Mark.” She had cut him off quickly and caught him off guard. “I have to go. Maybe I’ll see you around.” She winked and walked out the door.