This is my first attempt at a Grey's Anatomy fanfic. It based around 9X07 and 9X08. Hope you enjoy it.
The white-washed walls and consistent beeping of monitors gave the signs that Dr Arizona Robbins had walked onto her ward. The only difference that made this ward different from the others was the laughter of children. Most days this was the sound Arizona lived for; the days where children weren't in pain and they were happy... they were enjoying being a kid. This made her happy but on some days where things didn't all ways go to plan it would be a few days before she would hear this sound. The silence will fill the corridors for days in Arizona's eyes, the days where sometimes it was hard but as a Paediatric surgeon you power through it, as you're a doctor and you're job is to save lives to the best you can.
In Arizona's mind, you don't stop because when you stop... you think. Then thinking leads you to the people you have lost, the children robbed of a childhood and a life, so you carry on and move forward. You promise that the next kid that walks in will also walk straight back out because that's how you work... that what you want.
Most days children need a break from the hospital routine. A day without the medication, the tests, the beeping and the worry.
And that's why, a week after she returned to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, she came up with the idea of "Your Day" for the children on the ward. This was the day where the children could do anything they wanted, anything they the wished. A day where they weren't a patient in a hospital, it was a day where they were a kid. If they wanted to watch a movie, they could watch a movie. Whatever they choose, Arizona did her damn best to make sure it happened.
Now two weeks after the idea the day had finally came. She woke up and started her daily routine. She drove to work with her wife and dropped her daughter of a day-care. She grabbed a cup of coffee, parted with her wife in the lift and then made the final steps to the entrance of her ward. It was a normal day but with a difference. This time there was music playing out from one of the rooms, movies playing in other, sports games on TVs and children playing video games.
Arizona walked to the desk and grabbed her clip board. She looked at the first name on the list and sighed. Isabella Cooper.
Isabella Cooper is one of the children who had been through too much at such a young age. At 17 years old, this girl had lost her leg. It was a Friday, the last day of the week and Isabella was walking home with two of her friends. They turned the corner and separated when the two other girls walked the opposite way to go home. This was normal for Isabella she lived the furthest away from the school so she made the last trek of her journey on her own. Listening to her music, she watched the world go by. It was a normal day for Isabella, just like any other day. That was until from behind a car hit her. By the time the paramedics arrived, Isabella had already lost consciousness and her lower body was covered in blood. Her parents were called and met her at the hospital. From initial observation, the doctors knew there was no way to save the leg. It had to be removed.
For anyone that kind of news is hard to accept but for a girl who is captain of the girls' basketball team, it was even harder. Her parents made the decision to remove the leg to save their daughter. So after five hours of multiple surgeries to contain and improve the damage that was left from the car, Isabella woke to find out she was missing a leg. It was even harder to learn that Isabella had lost her leg to a drunk driver.
From then, Isabella shut down. She didn't speak to anyone; the occasional yes or no was emitted but nothing else. She dropped out of school and her social life took a blow. No friends came to see her because she didn't allow it, anyone who attempted to would meet Isabella's mean side. The shouting, the snapping, the swearing and the stares scared away any intern or even nurse. She tested people's patient. In the end it was decided that Isabella would further treatment at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital where it would be more suited for her.
Her arrival wasn't one of the best. It was filled with arguments and shouting. Multiple questions being asked from Isabella, why was she here? Why did they move hospitals? What difference does another hospital make? To her parents, this was the most Isabella had talked since waking up after the surgery. But she was still angry, because in her eyes she didn't have control. For Isabella, control had been something she had always had. In the team, she was captain she had a say in who played, what position they played and how they trained. She always had some sense of control; control is what Isabella lived for. But in this situation she had none at all; people were always doing things for her, trying to talking to her or help her. This girl strived on control and independence, knowing that she could do things for herself without help but now that had gone.
When Arizona returned to work she was immediately put onto Isabella's case. Some people thought it was because she had lost a leg as well, other thought it was because Arizona was just an awesome doctor. Arizona didn't really take much notice to the rumours; she rose to the occasion and prepared herself with Isabella's notes.
Now staring at Isabella through the window all she could see was a younger version of how she was not too long ago. A blonde haired girl had been through hell and back.
Arizona made her way to Isabella's room and stepped in. Taking a deep breath, she turned to face Isabella. "Hello Isabella, I'm Doctor Robbins. I'm going to be the person who is continuing your treatment, so I guess will get to know each other quite a lot."
"Well, the feelings not mutual" Isabella muttered loud enough for Arizona to hear.
"Okay" Arizona dragged out "I guess I'll see you... yeah I'll be back later." Hopefully in a better mood, Arizona thought.
As Arizona turned and made her way to the door, she heard "Why you limping?"
Nothing made Arizona turn around quicker, "You find out when you're nicer." She said, smirking at Isabella.
As she walked out the room she heard. "Well played, Robbins"
Alex Karev was confused when he saw Arizona walking out of Isabella's room after only spending about five minutes in it. As Arizona made her way of to the desk, he saw that she was smiling. "Okay, no-one and I mean no-one comes out of Isabella Cooper's room smiling. What happened?"
"I made a connection, a small connection but it's something right?" Arizona asked.
"Of course it is, how in the world did you make a connection? She shouted at anyone who went in her room last week. Then look at you, five minutes with her and you've made a connection. It's good to have you back boss." Alex said, truthfully.
Arizona looked at Alex. "Well, it's good to be back."
For the second time in one day Arizona made her way back to Isabella's room. The young girl was in her bed reading a book when Arizona walked into the room. She turned to face Isabella. "So, are you in a better mood now?" Arizona asked.
Isabella looked up at Arizona. She didn't say anything, just looked at Arizona.
"Well, at least you're not shouting at me. That's a start." Arizona stated.
"I'm going to be nice, okay? I'm not going to shout at you. I just want to ask a question." Isabella said. Arizona nodded as to say 'go on then'. "When you walk, you limp kind of. All I want to know it why?"
"That's a bit of a personal question to ask when I know nothing about you." Arizona said.
Isabella glared at Arizona. "That's not true. You know everything about me in that file you have in your hand."
Arizona looked at the file she was holding. "Technically, yes I do. But this file..." Arizona lifted the file so Isabella could see it "... only tells me medical things. I don't know anything about you personally. This file doesn't tell me what your favourite colour is. It doesn't tell what three things you would have with you on a deserted island. It doesn't tell me your favourite type of ice-cream. It doesn't tell me your dream in life. It doesn't tell me what cereal you like. It doesn't tell me what size shoe you are. It doesn't tell me..."
"Okay, I get it." Isabella interrupted. "You don't know anything about me. But why do you want to know the boring things? You could have asked me anything but you ask about cereal and shoe sizes?"
"To you, there boring. But to me, they are one thing I know about you more than anyone else here on this ward. So yeah, I ask about cereal and shoe sizes because if you asked the next nurse that came in here to ask a question, it would how are you feeling or what can I do for you? Not me, I ask random, off the topic questions because I learn more about you personally." Arizona said.
Isabella looked at Arizona. "If this is going to happen then it has to work both ways. If you learn things about me, then I learn things about you. And it won't be about cereal and shoe sizes... most of the time."
"Okay, that works with me." Arizona said, as she turned around to walk away. "But that doesn't mean that your questions won't be personal to." With that said, Arizona made her way to the door.
She stopped when she heard "Red, that's my favourite colour." Arizona didn't turn around she carried out walking out the door with a smile on her face.
Callie made her way over to Karev, after a hard day at work she just wanted to go home with her wife, make dinner and then go to bed. "Hey, have you seen Arizona around? I've tried texting her but she isn't answering."
Karev laughed. "Yeah... she's down the hall, first left." And pointed down the corridor.
Confused Callie made her way down the hall. She stopped when she heard shouting and a sudden noise form a TV.
"YES! C'MON" A young girl's voice echoed through the hall.
Followed by "Yeah what she said." Callie recognised that voice, it belonged to her wife.
Standing closer to the door she could hear the conservation her wife was having with the young girl.
"I mean, c'mon you can come up with your own cheer." The young girl said.
"Alright, alright I'll come up with my own." Arizona said.
"Good, because copying is bad."
"I'm only trying to support your team might I remind."
Callie opened the door to find her wife sat in chair and the young girl sat in a wheel chair in front of the TV, watching a basketball game. She made her present aware when she said "Hey, what you doing?"
"Trying to watch a game so if you don't mind bye bye." The girl said.
Arizona lightly hit Isabella on the arm and said "Hey, that's my wife."
Isabella turned back to Arizona "Well, damn Robbins you got game"
"Excuse me" Callie said.
Arizona looked at Callie "I swear she means that in the best way possible" She then turned to Isabella "Will you be quiet for a minute?"
"Okay but I'm making no promises." Isabella said, whilst Arizona glared at her. "Okay, I'll be quiet."
Arizona returned her focus back to Callie "Hey, pull up a chair?" She said cautiously.
Callie grabbed a chair and set it down next to Arizona. "Why are you watching basketball? You know nothing about basketball?"
"I know enough..." Arizona started.
"Enough." Isabella started to laugh. "She shouted touchdown when they scored!"
"Hey!" Arizona said looking at Isabella. "Like I said I know enough."
Isabella laughed again. "This one's better. She thought the ref was playing for the other team."
"Arizona, c'mon they don't even play in the same colour" Callie stated, laughing as well.
"Alright, we've established I know nothing about basketball." Arizona huffed. "Jeez, is it 'pick on Arizona day'"
"You make it too easy, Robbins. So come on introduce me to your wife?" Isabella said, smirking.
Arizona stared at Isabella and then focused her attention on Callie. "Callie, this is Isabella. A patient on my ward. She's also a big fan of basketball which she tricked me into watching."
"Hey! I think you'll find you came up with the idea so don't even play that game." Isabella joked.
"Okay..." She said, turning to face Callie again. "You've finished early, everything okay?" Arizona questioned.
"Yeah, everything's fine. I just came to find you to see when you finish." Callie asked.
"Oh, I have already finished..." Arizona looked at her watch " whoa like an hour ago, damn were we meant to meet because if we did..."
"No, no we didn't have anything planned tonight." Callie interrupted. "How long are you going to be here for?" Callie questioned, in a low enough voice so that Isabella couldn't hear.
Arizona looked at the TV and back to Callie. "Seeing as though we're only in the second quarter..." Arizona sighed, heavily. "...quite a while."
"Hmm, seems you do know a few things about basketball." Callie said, whilst smirking.
"Why don't you get going? I'm going to be here for a while and then I have to take Isabella back to her room. I'll grab some food on the way back." Arizona said.
"You sure?" Callie questioned.
Arizona smiled. "Yeah, I'm positive. Go home, I'll be there soon."
"Okay, I'll see you later." Callie stood up and kissed her wife on the check and then made her way to the door. She made one last look to her wife and Isabella and smiled. Seams Arizona has made a friend, Callie thought.
Today was a bad day for Arizona. Her alarm didn't go off in the morning, making her 30 minutes late to a very important meeting. It was even worse in said meeting when she had to make five other people stand up so she could get to her seat. Not to mention when she went to get something to eat from the vending machine, it took her money and didn't give her anything in return. Then dropping her coffee on the floor, it was a day that challenged the title for worst day ever. Then to make her way onto the ward to hear the Isabella Cooper was also having a bad day made her day even worse.
When Isabella had a good day, it was good. When her day was bad, it was horrific. She wouldn't speak, only to say a few words which weren't acceptable for young ears. She'd shut down, push people out and then face the world on her own.
As the only person that had made a connection with Isabella, she was the person that was nominated to deal with her. That meant walking into her room, where she would more than likely try to throw something at you. But Arizona rose to the challenge, if Arizona couldn't do it then no-one could. So she made the steps to her room.
"Good morning, Isabella. How are you feeling today?" Arizona said, in her perky voice.
Isabella glared at Arizona. "Get. Out."
"Excuse me?" Arizona questioned.
"I said get out. Why can't you understand that? You have a doctor degree and simple tasks confuse you. What a waste? Reconsider your job option because it isn't working out girly." Isabella sat up "I don't get it you know? Why are you even here? Because everyone else avoids this room like the plague, and here you are stood here. Has it ever thought to you that I don't want you to be here? Heck, I don't want to be here but yet I am. You get to go, go live in that precious life where nothing bad ever happens to you, you get to see your wife and daughter. So go, life that happy life where nothing goes wrong. Because that's who you are, the wonderful Dr Arizona Robbins who can fix anyone, well tough luck I can't be fixed. Just...just go live you wonderful life and live mine alone."
Arizona sighed "You don't think my life is hard?" She said, calmly. "You don't think there have been points in my life where I feel like giving up, where I just want everything to stop. Isabella, you are not the only person who has it hard sometimes."
"Yeah, then what's your problem the Robbins? What has made your life so hard and difficult?" Isabella questioned.
Arizona crouched down and slowly lifted her trouser leg up so that it showed off the metal attachment on her leg. Slowly she looked back up at Isabella, who eyes were focused on her leg. "On the first day I met you, you asked me a question. 'Why you limping?' and I never answered it. This is why I limp, because some days it gets sore and it hurts so I limp."
"How did you lose it?" Isabella said quietly.
"I lost my leg in a plane crash. I was flying to Boise to do an operation. We took off and everything was fine, that was until halfway through the flight I look back and there is no back to the airplane. And then we're falling, we're falling fast and nothing can stop this plane from falling. So you accept it and somewhere in the few minutes whilst you are falling, you accept that you are going to crash and you are more than likely you are going to be hurt. And then everything went black, I lost consciousness. Then I woke up and I could hear someone screaming and they were screaming so loud and I didn't know who it was but I wanted to help. Then one of the others told me to shut up screaming and I realised, it was me I was the one screaming. And then the pain, I could feel everything and it hurt so much. I looked to the side and I saw blood. I looked at my leg and I saw my bone sticking out. Not something which calms you nerves? I had an open femur facture. Then people were missing and others left to go find them, I had to splint my own facture and then I started coughing up blood." Arizona took a deep breath "Then the other came back and they were dragging someone. Someone who I work with and I knew by the looks in their eyes that something was wrong. They told me someone had died, a friend, a friend had died and that's all I could think about. Four days, four days were stuck in the woods. No help, no nothing we had to survive with what we had. I lost two of my friends from that plane crash."
Isabella started at Arizona as she made her speech.
"From then I became this person, this horrible person who shouted at her wife. Who didn't want anything to do with her family? The times when her wife and family needed her the most, she pushed away. I blamed my wife for cutting my leg off and I told her that to her face. What kind of person does that? She had done the thing that had saved my life and I was resenting her for it. And I probably made her life a living hell. I know that I owe everything to Callie for making that decision as otherwise I wouldn't be here today. But I became this appalling person." Arizona stood closer to Isabella's bed and looked at her straight her eyes. "I'm telling you now, Isabella. You will not become that person in life. You will not push everyone because you're too ashamed. I've been there it doesn't help. You will reach the point where everyone hates to be around you and the sooner than later no-one will want to be around you. So you have to be strong, you have to be able to ask for help. And trust me I know, you don't want help, you want to be independent but you can't do things that you used to be able to do. You have to accept that and it hard but that's how it is. And there are going to be days where you feel like giving up but you can't you power through it. And there will be days where you question why was it you? Why did you have to lose your leg? Why is this happening when it wasn't you fault? But that's the thing Isabella. Sometimes bad things happen to good people, even when it's not their fault, but it makes them stronger and you can survive worse things because you know how to power through the hurt and the pain. But you can't be a good person if you are mean to everyone who is trying to help, okay?"
"Okay" Isabella said.