Chapter 1
The Way It Ends
•••
We will be spilled in blood
And this is the way that they'll remember us
Emerge from the shadows we will
Emerge from the shadows
This is the way it ends
Don't tell me it's meaningless
There'll be no compromise
We fall in we too shall rise
You held me and taught me how
I think I am ready now
If this is the way it ends
This is the way it's meant to be
- The Way It Ends by Landon Pigg
•••
"Don't come any closer!"
"Mr. Clarke if you would just let me give you these bandages it will stop the bleeding. I know your loss; I've felt it, but if..."
"YOU JUST DON'T GET IT! ANY OF YOU, I CANNOT TRUST ANY MORE SURGEONS! YOU ALL KILLED MY WIFE! MY ALISON IS DEAD BECAUSE OF UNTRUSTWORTHY SURGEONS! THIS HOSPITAL ISN'T SAFE! AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SEE THAT?"
"Mr. Clarke,"
There was a horrible bang and Callie, beautiful Calliope, the woman I love, fell to the ground.
•••
There was blood everywhere. The blood itself didn't bother me, but it was her blood. Her breathing was heavy and rapid. Her gorgeous brown eyes full of fear.
"Protect yourself Arizona. I love you too much to watch you get shot yourself." I spun around to see the gun pointing directly at me. I didn't care about the gun. I cared about the woman I was holding.
"YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYONE DO YOU?" I screamed so aggressively that Ruby, the poor little girl who was lying in the bed behind us, let out a whimper of fear. I composed myself before continuing.
"This isn't what your wife would have wanted."
"DON'T TELL ME WHAT MY ALISON WOULD HAVE WANTED!" I held up a hand to silence him. I had pressed a nerve. I had to tread carefully, years of working in peds is going to help me here.
"No-one would want this. I know if Callie were to die here she wouldn't want me to do this. Is this what you want Mr. Clarke. I don't know who you have shot already, but please stop and think about what you are doing. Dr. Torres has a family, a life. There are things she wants to do, things she needs to do. I can save her, if you let me, but only you can save everyone else. You can give up this game, end it here. If your wife is watching you now, she wouldn't like what she saw. The man she knew, the man she loved, isn't the man about to pull the trigger on an innocent pedriactics surgeon. Just stop and think Mr. Clarke" I watched intently as he shakily lowered the gun and left the room. I stretched and kicked the door closed before lowering my gaze to the woman lying on my lap. She smiled weakly up at me. She had to live. I needed her.