Disclamer in the prologue

AN : I don't know much about my country's military system, and even less about the American one. Therefore, there will very likely be incoherences in the story. And I apologize. Again, don't hesitate to talk to me about them. I'll do my best to rectify them.
Enjoy !

Two years earlier.

-"Sweetie, are you really sure about this ?"

The blonde rolled her eyes for what seemed to be the hundredth time today.

-"Yes, mom. I'm sure about this."

They were in the middle of the airport, waiting for the plane that would take Arizona and her brother to Iraq.

Arizona Robbins was a twenty-two year old girl with silky blond hair and sparkly blue eyes. She had just finished her third year of medical school. She had always wanted to be a surgeon. Her ambition and her natural talent had always helped her be at the top of her class.
Arizona was a passionate girl who always aimed for nothing less than excellence. But lately, she had been starting to have second thoughts. Of course, she still wanted to save lives. But what if she could help somewhere else and in another way ?

Her brother Timothy, who was five years her senior, was a soldier. He had been in Iraq for two years before he came back to Seattle to visit his family two months ago.
The two of them had always been very close. Arizona had always admired her brother's bravery and his commitment to his country. Timothy had also been very supportive when she came out to him. He only asked her if it meant she would "marry a chick" and, smiling from ear to ear, said that he was gonna dance so hard at her wedding.

Yes, Arizona loved her brother more than anyone. So, when he told her about the things he saw in Iraq, the people getting killed every day because of a war in which they shouldn't be involved; she made up her mind. When the blonde heard about the horrendous things happening across the ocean, she decided to join the army.
She wanted to physically help those who needed it. She wanted to serve her country in another way than comfortably staying between four walls in a hospital. More than anything, she wanted to feel useful NOW. The many years of medical school she still had left wouldn't allow her to do that.
She had already received the necessary training anyway. Her father being a colonel, he had always insisted on the importance of a military education. With his name and her brother's reputation, it didn't take long for Arizona to receive the approval to join the forces posted in Iraq.

Her mother had been worried sick ever since she told her parents about her decision. She had been more smothering than ever, constantly trying to knock some sense into her daughter's thick head. It was different with her father. Even though he was worried to see his baby girl join the battle in such a dangerous area, he was quite proud that both of his children decided to follow his footsteps and to practice what he thought was one of the most glorifying professions on this planet.

Now that they were standing in the lobby though, it seemed he had decided to side with his wife.

-"But, what about med school ? You always said it was your dream !"

-"Dad, I'm not dropping out of med school permanently. I just need a break to make sure it really is where I belong."

Arizona's mother looked at her in a way only mothers do when they want to make their child feel guilty.

-"You don't need to risk your life to figure this out. You could work with me at the shop." She said.

She heard Timothy snort next to her. This time, Arizona turned around to face her parents.

-"No, mom ! I am certainly not going to work at the shop !" She firmly stated, starting to be really annoyed by her mother's antics.

"Besides, that would also be risking my life since I'd probably die of boredom…"

She had muttered the last part under her breath, but the sudden giggle her brother tried pathetically to mask as a cough let her know he heard her.
She tried to hide the smile threatening to break out on her face as she continued,

-"This is not me having some sort of identity crisis. This is me wanting to help people at the very source of their problems ! Right now, I can't picture myself sitting on my ass, waiting for a gurney to burst through the doors and bring me a patient like I'm some kind of fancy old lady waiting for her food to be served in a five star restaurant ! I need to be directly where it begins, to be able to prevent people from taking an unnecessary trip to a crappy hospital !"

She hadn't realized that at some point, she had started yelling. Some people were staring weirdly at her after her outburst.

-"Arizona Robbins, language !"

Of course, leave it to her mother to lecture her in the middle of a discussion that important, she thought, definitely annoyed now.

-"Yeah, come on sis, Timothy said, wouldn't want the family's badass genius to have a potty mouth !"

She hit him in the arm, but the corners of her mouth were twitching. Another thing she loved about her brother. He was always able to ease the tension.
Timothy finally decided to put his sister out of her misery.

-"Listen, I know Arizona didn't always make the right decisions. And we all know how infuriatingly stubborn and impulsive she is !"

The blonde frowned and whispered to him,

-"What the hell ? Not really helping here, Tim !"

Her brother ignored her and just kept going.

-"BUT", he said, looking pointedly at her, "We also know she never gives up. And, in the end, things always seem to work out for her. She knows how to learn from her mistakes. Even if she's never willing to admit she made a mistake in the first place… Anyway, my point is that I think we should just trust her judgement here. I do."

When he was finished, their parents looked more convinced. Arizona smiled gratefully at her brother, when a smug grin appeared on his face and he said,

-"Besides, if, or rather when she'll get herself in trouble, her amazingly strong and handsome big brother will be there to save the day !"

-"COME ON !"

Mr. and Mrs. Robbins laughed at their children's behavior as Arizona tried to hit Timothy, while he just grabbed her wrists and started to make fun of her.
Their son was right. Arizona had always turned out well. This time shouldn't be any different.
A voice echoing in the lobby announced that their plane would be leaving in thirty minutes. Arizona's parents glanced at each other and both nodded, releasing a heavy breath.

Their little girl was going to war.