The Secrets That We Keep

Chapter 1

Arizona tucked her blonde hair behind her ears and let out a shaky breath. She was nervous. Nervous and anxious on her first day at Seattle Grey Mercy West Hospital. She was a good surgeon. A very good one. In fact one of the best pediatric surgeon in the country but starting a new job in a new place in a new town and state was always nerve wracking, no matter how good and skilled you are.

She caught a reflection of herself in the double glass doors that would lead her up to the chiefs office for her first meet and greet. She looked proffesional. Black pants, green long sleeved shirt, a black leather jacket, high heels but not too high, and a black leather handbag. Simple and casual but still elegant and formal. She wasn't much for black in any shape or form but thinking it would be a safe option she didn't hesitate to pick out the dark colour from her wardrobe.

She glanced at her watch and saw that she had twelve more minutes before her meeting with chief Webber. It wouldn't look good to be late on your first day on the job and the blonde wasn't sure where his office was located. Taking another deep breath she pushed the heavy doors open and headed straight for the reception. "Excuse me," she said in a friendly tone, "I'm looking for chief Webber's office. Could you tell me where I can find it?"

Before the older woman behind the desk could answer, a deep masculine voice came from behind. "I'm heading that way myself. I'll show you where to go. If you're comfortable with that?"

She spun around on her heels and was faced with a middle aged man with ginger hair and dressed in a white coat. Clearly a doctor or a surgeon, Arizona thought. "Um, sure. That would be great, thanks."

Walking up to the tall man he extended his hand and introduced himself. "I'm dr Owen Hunt, trauma chief, and you are?"

"Arizona," she shook his hand with a firm grip. "Dr Arizona Robbins, the new head of pediatrics. It's a pleasure to meet you dr Hunt."

"Likewise dr Robbins. Come on, I'll take you to where you need to be."

It was a big hospital with a great team of doctors, surgeons and nurses. All the medical equipment were always up to date and serviced on a regular basis. It was clean. In fact so clean that the whole place looked like it was shining like a polished huge chunk of crystal. This was going to be her home for an unknown period of time. A new job, new colleagues and new challenging cases faced her and she was excited but also scared and nervous.

This was her moment, her time to shine and show everyone what she could do. Her amazing medical skills, procedures and techniques that this hospital had yet to see. She was a fresh breath of air blowing through the big building, sweeping up everyone in her way with her charm and wit, her pale blue eyes and attractive features and the most adorable dimples on her rosy cheeks. A picture perfect, her brother use to say. A picture perfect that wasn't so perfect, Arizona thought.

She might be attractive and charming but if you didn't know her well enough you couldn't possibly see her big secret she tried so desperately hard to hide from people around her.

Arizona Robbins had only one leg. Her left leg was only a small stump. From mid thigh down there was nothing but a prosthetic limb functioning as the leg she lost in a plane crash two years ago flying across two states with other surgeons carrying valuable donated organs that were needed for a dying child. It was not until Arizona came to and saw her own bone, her own femur, sticking out through pierced skin, that she realized what had happened.

For four days they were lost in the woods before being rescued. Four days, that had been the worst days of her life, passed in a painfilled agonizing haze. Her open fracture got severely infected and had to be amputated after numerous failed attempts of trying to save it. This was now her life, her one legged life, and it was rather recently she had come to terms with the fact that it was gone and had began to accept it.

She had no limp when she walked. She had refused to walk with a limp and forced herself to walk up straight and not to lean on her healty leg too much. Even though it was extremely painful and difficult at times her efforts had paid off and now there was no reason for anyone to think any different.

Dr Hunt stopped in front of a white wooden door with a sign saying 'Chief Webber' in a fancy eighteen hundredths style writing on it. "Here we are, dr Robbins. It was a pleasure to meet you and I look forward to work with you and have you on our team."

Again Owen extended his hand and Arizona firmly gasped it. "Thank you dr Hunt. I look forward to be on the team. I've heard a lot of good things about this place and it's staff. Being on your team is an honour in itself."

She watched as the tall man disappeared down the corridor before knocking twize on the door in front of her. "Come in." Opening it on command she was met by an older African American man. Bald, large frame but kind eyes.

The blonde approached the desk and the man stood up, revealing his full height. "Dr Webber, I'm Arizona Robbins your new head of pediatrics. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." His hand was large but warm and held a friendly handshake.

"Ah, dr Robbins, the pleasure is all mine. I've heard so many good things about you and your work. I can't wait to show you around and get you started."

Arizona flashed hr dimples. "Well, let's not waste anymore time then. Let's get to it."

The pediatric ward was big, much bigger than she had expected but that was a good thing. The nurses and the midwives were all nice and friendly, professional but also relaxed and approachable. She was shown all the new equipment the hospital had just received and to Arizona, who was use to work in a small place where they barely had an X ray, this was like Christmas.

"Karev," Webber hollered, "I'd like you to meet your new boss. This is Arizona Robbins the new head of peds. Dr Robbins, this is your right hand dr Alex Karev."

The blonde smiled and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you dr Karev. I'm super excited to be here and can't wait to work with you."

"Wow, you're a perky one." Alex stated.

Chief Webber punched him slightly in the shoulder. "Karev, show some respect towards your new colleague and supervisor."

Arizona giggled. "That's okay, sir. I know I'm perky, I've been told so many times. I guess working with children does that to you."

Karev looked at the two people in front of him like they had three heads each. "Not to me it doesn't. Listen, I've got a screaming kid in 204. I'll see you later Robbins."

Webber gave the blonde a nervous smile. "That's Karev for you. He really is a nice guy and very dedicated to his job. He will always go that extra mile."

"Don't worry chief. I'm sure we'll get on just fine."