Arizona's point of view.
For the first time in a while, I felt good. Richard and I were going out for another trivia night. You know it's amazing, to think I was actually scared of him a couple of years back and now he's probably my closest friend at the hospital. But life never seems to work out the way you planned it to. For example, no offence to Richard, but if my life planned out the way I intended it to be, then I wouldn't be going on any trivia nights at all. I'd be curled up with my wife and my daughter, all of us living under the one roof rather than being co-parents to Sofia. I love my daughter, but co-parenting is difficult. Even more so now that the once fragile friendship Callie and I shared seemed to be disintegrating. Since Penny came along she seems to be everywhere with Callie. She comes with Callie to bring Sofia over to mine, sometimes she'll come alone if Callie is at the hospital. She seems nice, but I can't help but be jealous over the fact she has my perfect life. It really doesn't help that Sofia adores Penny. In fact, it breaks my heart listening to my daughter chatter on about the things she does with Callie and Penny. I want to be happy for them all and I try to be. But jealousy's a green eyed monster and like I say to my kids, there's no reasoning with a monster.
Although I can't blame Callie for moving on, a lot of what I did was the reason why our marriage ended in the first place. First Lauren, which Callie even forgave me for but It still wasn't enough, I still had to make her hurt more, like she made me hurt when she took my leg. I was horrible, completely different to the person I am today. Only now I realise it, she's gone and probably never to return. But I'm trying not to think about it. Richard is helping me move on. It's been a couple of weeks and all I've got is a couple of drinks with a few girls but I remain hopeful. It's all I can be nowadays.
It was a good day at the hospital. In the midst of all the chaos and drama I actually received a bit of good news from Meredith who was filling me in on the gossip from having people round at her place last night. Callie and Penny had broken up. When Meredith told me, I really tried not to smile but she's observant, really observant. I start to replay our conversation in my head.
"You're happy about this" Meredith stated to me, as I struggled to hide the smile that was creeping over my face.
"No, I'm not" I shook my head, unable to look Meredith in the eye, in fear I might give everything away.
"I get it" she stares at me. "You still love her and you probably always will"
I give a small not in reply.
"Nothing will change now" I sigh. "Too long has passed, we barely speak nowadays"
"You have to fight Robbins, it sounds as though you are giving up" Meredith shook her head at me. "They've broken up, it's your chance"
"I don't think she wants me" I sigh again. "Besides I'm moving on. Richard and I are going to trivia later"
Meredith rolls her eyes in the same way she does every time I tell her I'm going to trivia with Richard.
"Have you even gotten a full date out of that yet?"
I shake my head. Meredith stares at me more.
"Is the reason that you're not receiving any interest or because you still want Callie back?" she asks.
I ponder this for a moment. Going back into the dating world was scary and something I thought I should do. I had received interest of some women, but none of them seemed like my type. Maybe Meredith was right. Not wanting to give her the satisfaction, I didn't reply to that. But our conversation was still fresh in my mind now. I wanted Callie back, I've known that for a while.
The doorbell rings and I presume its Richard. Or maybe it's Maggie. It won't be Callie considering Sof is with her tonight. I hear De Luca greet whoever it is at the door. I presume it now isn't Maggie. Normally things would have quietened down by now, with not nearly as much talking.
"Arizona" he calls up the stairs for me. I glance at my reflection in the mirror. I don't look half bad I smile to myself. I'm wearing a black dress and my hair is super wavy. I feel good. I feel really good. I apply a coat of red lipstick and make my way down the stairs. Richard and De Luca are in the hallway. They both smile up at me.
"How do I look?" I ask them both, parading my outfit to them.
"Hot" De Luca blurts out. I try not to laugh as Richard glares at him as though he's my father.
"You ready?" Richard asks me. I grab my coat and nod. Today has been a good day and nothing could change that.
Then I step into the car and something consumes me, I think it's fear. I look over to Richard wondering if it's too late to back out and go home.
We never made it to trivia night.
Disbelief and fear consume my mind as I stare at the bright flickering lights in front of me. They're hurting my eyes. I am vaguely aware of Richard yelling my name. I knew this was a bad idea. I feel as though I should be crying, but the shock of the accident inhibits my tears for the time being. It is only afterwards that I realise that I can't feel my body. I start to whimper.
"Arizona" Richard's voice is attempting to console me. I wonder why he doesn't appear to be as hurt and then I realise why. I dropped my purse and had to take my seatbelt off to retrieve it. I'm beginning to get flashbacks from when Callie and I were in the crash together, when I almost lost her and Sofia. I begin to cry harder, hoping now is not my time. Sofia can't lose a parent at this age. Life is cruel.
I'm aware of more voices around me and Richard is telling whoever it is what happened. I want to scream out and make myself heard but for some reason I can't. I can't move, I can't talk. All I can do is wait.
I start to think of Callie and Sofia. I wonder if Richard's called them. They're my family and Callie needs to know. But from what I can guess so far, Richard has only called 911. A paramedic makes their way to me.
"Dr Robbins" a familiar voice greets me and I'm now aware it's one of the paramedics from Grey Sloan. "Hang still, we're going to get you out"
I begin to shiver, suddenly aware of how cold it is tonight now that the car windows are shattered. Richard seems to be fine. My vision begins to focus and I can make out his figure. His face is cut but at least he's walking and able to talk. And I can bet he can feel his legs too.
"I…I can't feel anything" I stutter before my tears fall even harder. Suddenly it feels difficult to keep my eyes open any longer. The bright lights and the people around me begin to blur. I feel sleepy. People are shouting at me to stay awake, but I can't. I ignore them and everything goes black.
Callie's point of view.
I'm happy. For the first time today I'm truly happy. Penny and I made up. She makes me happy, or at least, I think she makes me happy. Only time will tell if now out relationship is strong enough to last again.
It was silly why we broke up in the first place. I lost her to Meredith and I blamed her for it. I should have tried harder. God knows how hard it must have been for her to deal with Meredith and then come home to dealing with me. I got lonely pretty quick, I began to miss the company. So I'm happy, I'm happy we've made up now.
I've finished for the day and its soon time to pick Sofia up from Mer's place where she's been since after school. I was going to arrange a childminder, especially after Mer's accident, but she insisted. I suppose it's the type of woman she is, the one who doesn't let a traumatic injury affect her way of life. I can't help thinking of Arizona now, it was understandable the way she dealt with it at first and now she's grown. I don't see her much nowadays, but I think she's accepted her leg now and doesn't hold anyone responsible for the fact it was taken away. I realise that I should make the effort more with Arizona, after all she is Sofia's mom too. Maybe once we've both got the day off I'll arrange a day out, just the three of us. I think both Arizona and Sofia would like that.
My thoughts are interrupted by a lot of chaos coming through to the emergency room. Richard is right there too with a couple of nasty looking cuts over his face. I rush over to him straight away.
"What happened?" I question him. Hunt and Kepner have since joined my side, focusing on the patient who seems critical. I can't see who the patient is.
"There was a car accident" Richard tells me, glancing over my shoulder to get a look at the patient.
"We should get you see to" I tell him, trying to get him to go to one of the other beds. Hunt and Kepner seem as though they've got the other patient under control and I know I'll be paged if there are any broken bones or ortho surgeries.
"I'm fine" Richard snaps. "You should be focusing on Robbins"
I glance at him wondering what he means, before glancing round the room in search for my ex-wife. It dawns on me quickly as I recall Arizona telling me about the trivia nights she's been enjoying with Richard recently. I feel nauseous. I push past Hunt and Kepner to come face to face with my ex-wife. I gulp because I barely recognise her. Her beautiful face is swollen beyond belief and there's so many cuts. She's not awake and suddenly I'm very scared. I try to shake her.
"Arizona" I call out and receive no reply. My tone gets more urgent rapidly. "ARIZONA" I yell, the pain in my voice becoming apparent to everyone around me. Tears begin to fall from my eyes. This isn't happening, this can't be happening. I continue to scream at her, Hunt and April are shouting orders over my screams. Richard pulls me back and into his arms.
"I'm so sorry" he comforts me. I didn't expect this at all. I'm completely floored.
"What happened?" I ask. I already know it was a car accident, but I need answers.
"She dropped her purse" Richard began. "She took her seatbelt off"
I nod, trying to hold back the tears. I begin to have flashbacks from my car accident. I wonder if she did too, while she was still conscious. Richard clings onto me and I begin to realise how much he cares for her. And now I realise how much I still care for her. What will I tell Sofia?
"Torres" Hunt calls me over. "I need you to page someone for an ortho consult"
I stare at him as though he's crazy. Surely he knows I am the best? And definitely, what Arizona needs.
"I can do it" I stammer. I want to help, I need to do something and I definitely can't go home.
"You are her family" Hunt tells me. I shake my head.
"She's my ex-wife, we're not family" I tell him firmly because nowadays it truly feels like we're not family. Hunt glares at me.
"Fine" he stares at me as if he doesn't believe me. I suppose it's the shock that's plastered over my face. He steps aside whispering to April that Arizona needs surgery. April nods, she's good under pressure and I can see the pain in her own eyes too. I step away from them both, grasping Arizona's hand with mine. She's still unconscious and nothing happens although I know she'll probably be able to hear me. All thoughts of Penny have gone out of my head and all I can think about is how much I've been pushing her away and been focusing on myself. I grasp her hand tighter.
"Please be okay" I whisper to her, removing a piece of blonde hair from her eyes. "Please" I whisper. The heart monitor starts beeping and I step back so Hunt and April can do their jobs. It's not good. We're losing her.
"She needs surgery" Hunt shouts at April.
"OR 1 is ready" she confirms, as the pair of them wheel the bed. Hunt carries on telling April the different people she needs to page and she does so, so efficiently. I don't even feel like I can stand up properly. I follow Hunt and April down to the operating room where the people who have been paged begin to make their way there. Hunt turns to me.
"We'll page you if we need to" he gives me a small smile and it provides a little bit of comfort. "I'm so sorry Callie"
I nod at him, watching the team of doctors disappear with Arizona. I collapse onto the nearest chair I can find. This isn't happening. This can't be happening.