AN : Chapter 7 and the drama goes on!
Hey guys! A huge thank you for all your fav and follow!
I'm really happy you enjoy the story.
Arizona is going to have a rough day in that chapter and she's going to learn something that won't please her.
Reviews are wanted! I love to read them and it help me.
Are the flashback scene explicit enough? I hope you understand them all.
Chapter 8 will be here soon. Stay tunned.
The bigest thank you to my beta reader : Alina ! You're amazin, you're awesome ! THANK YOU !
I wish you a nice reading!
« Everybody is going to see it! » Arizona said angrily. « How am I supposed to hide that? It's impossible! »
Bailey was trying to calm her friend down. She had knocked at her door early in the morning before going to the hospital to tell her what happened the night before. So to cheer her up, Miranda had offered her a ride to work.
« I haven't sleep at all, I have got a zombie face! Everyone is already telling me that I look terrible these days! So now I'm even worse with that wound on my lip! » Arizona grumbled. « I know its Halloween time but come on! »
« You're back Robbins! » Miranda said, smiling, getting out of her car.
« What do you mean? »
« You faced him! He was right in front of you, at your place and you were alone. And you didn't freak out! And now you're just worried about that stupid wound? I told you, you're stronger than anyone else I know. »
« I was totally freaking out! But what else could I've done? » Arizona asked. « It was the only way! »
Miranda laughed. It was the first time she saw Arizona angry about what happened to her but in a good way. She wasn't angry at herself and so scared that she couldn't function. She was angry and ready to fight.
« Shut up Robbins! » Miranda ordered. « Just focus on your job! And keep it like that. »
Arizona sighed and followed Bailey through the parking lot. She knew that something had changed in her and understood what Bailey told her. She hadn't panicked. She was alone in front of her worst nightmare and she had managed the situation well. She didn't bail and that was amazing.
« You know, you're right Bailey. I can do it! » She said proudly. « I can! »
Touching her lip as they entered the hospital she tried to hide it and began to act weirdly as she was acting for several weeks now. She was avoiding everybody's gaze, looking at the floor and walking fast. So when Bailey stopped, she didn't notice it and bumped into her friend.
« What are you doing? » She asked.
« You are going to act naturally and normally! And I mean it! Forget about him, about the trial. Spend time with your daughter and your friends, have fun! Live your life! » Miranda said. « And not only to ward off suspicions, but to be you, to be happy. »
Arizona smiled sadly. She was allowed to live her life. Even if she knew that Roney can harm her or anyone from her family or friends at any time. She had been living in fear for too long.
« I'm going to try. » Arizona said, hesitantly. « But, you know, Callie is on my back. She's going to ask questions again... »
« Let her be. She'll get tired before you know it. » Bailey replied, nodding and leaving her before walking to her office.
…...
4 months earlier
« I did what had to be done! » Arizona explained one more time. « There's not a line in that article that is true! How can they publish this bullshit! »
« Calm down Robbins! I know that you didn't make any mistake. » Catherine Avery replied. « But it's published and it's all over the internet. It's going to be very bad advertisement for the hospital, and you know that... »
« That baby couldn't have been saved! The parents knew that! Why are they lying! The surgery wasn't a failure. » Arizona yelled in the conference room, in front of the other board members.
« I'm sorry, I'm late » Callie apologized, entering the room. « I was in surgery. What's going on? »
« There's an article saying that Arizona failed an easy fetal surgery, leading to the death of a perfectly healthy baby. » Jackson explained. « We know it's not the truth, but the article is online, and on every medical website. »
Callie quickly glanced towards Arizona and pursed her lips. « And is there any way to shut it off? » She asked.
« Well, we can ask for an official renunciation and ask those websites to publish an interview where Arizona will explain the truth about the surgery. » Jackson stated. « We can also hire someone who can erase all prints of that article. »
« I don't have to justify myself! Those people are lying! » Arizona yelled.
« We know that Dr. Robbins. But we have to respect their loss. Their son died. They're not acting rationally, they're looking for someone to blame. » Catherine Avery stated.
Arizona swallowed hard and stood up from her chair. Reaching the door she turned back to her colleagues.
« I didn't do anything wrong here. Do whatever you think will be more appropriate, but I don't want to talk about it anymore. » She said, slamming the door behind her.
…...
The attending's lounge was full, and she didn't want to see them. She didn't want to explain the wound on her lip. She didn't want to lie again, but she couldn't tell the truth either. The lawyer had been pretty clear. She and Bailey had to be as discreet as possible about it.
So, here she was, trying to find a lie to tell her friends. Bailey had suggested her to say that it was a sports accident... But what kind of sport could cause such a wound.
Whatever, she would improvise an answer if anybody asks her. And, she had to get to her locker, so she couldn't wait any longer. She opened the door and walked as fast as she could.
« Hey! » April greeted her from the corner of the room. « How are you? I didn't see you yesterday. Where were you? »
« Oh hey! I was at home, that's all. » Arizona replied.
« Oh my god, what happened to your lip? » April asked loudly out of worry, making some of the other surgeons turn towards Arizona. Of course Callie was there and looked at her immediately.
« Oh that, it's nothing, don't worry. » Arizona said, smiling a bit too much.
« It's seems pretty deep, let me take a look! » April said. « How did you get that? »
« I was just... trying my Heelys back on. I was a little too enthusiastic, and I fell down. You know ... Silly me. »
« You were roller skating after a long shift here? It was after 10pm when you left the hospital. » Callie said coldly.
« Yeah, you know, I had nothing else to do but roller skate in my living room at night. That's the way I am! » Arizona laughed before leaving the room with April, leaving Callie with raised eyebrows.
« You really wanted to try your Heelys sneaks back on? » April asked.
« Yeah, why not? » Arizona asked. « I wanted to have fun. Life is so complicated in every possible way, I just wanted to have fun while I still can! »
« Wow, you're in a good mood today. »
« Yay! Yes I am. » Arizona replied. « And what about you. Have you talked to Jackson? »
« Not since that stupid dinner. » April replied. « And I don't want to think about it... So let's just work and forget about everything else... »
« Okay. » Arizona smiled.
« I have to go now. I'm meeting Stewart Roney. » April said.
« What? » Arizona exclaimed, grabbing April's wrist. « Why? »
« Because his advertising agency is looking for a doctor who has served in the army for several months. Just like I did. They need testimony to enroll candidates. » April stated proudly.
« And he asked for you personally, by name? »
« Yes. His secretary called me last week. »
« You can't go April. » Arizona said. « This man is … You can't! »
« Why can't I? » April asked, surprised by the fear she noticed on her friend's face. « I'm flattered he's offering me this opportunity. So hell yes, I'll meet him! »
« No! Believe me, that man is crazy! » Arizona yelled as they arrived in front of the elevator doors.
« What's wrong with you? No he's not. » April replied.
« Yes, he is! » Arizona insisted.
« Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm already late! See you! »April stated, entering the elevator.
« April, don't! » Arizona said as the doors closed.
…...
6 months earlier.
« Have you heard from your dear friend Teddy Altman lately? » Roney asked. « She's very busy. That new job is taking a lot of her time. »
« What do you want? » Arizona asked the man, standing in front of her desk.
« But she seems lonely. She works late every day. And she's a beautiful woman. » Roney said, looking at pictures of Teddy on his phone. « Look at her. Anything can happen to her, she's on her own in that huge parking lot. »
« Don't you dare touch her! » Arizona yelled. « She has got nothing to do with this. You want me to shut up, I'll shut up! But leave her alone! »
…...
Finding Karev. It was the first thing she thought about. He was the only one who could help her right now. And then find April before Roney could do anything to her. She didn't know where they were supposed to meet but it was surely in the hospital.
Arriving at the pediatrics floor, she looked everywhere but Alex wasn't there.
« Where's Dr. Karev? » Arizona asked a nurse.
« He's in surgery. OR 2 I guess. » The nurse replied.
Immediately, Arizona rushed to the gallery of OR 2. She needed him right now, but she didn't know what kind of a surgery Alex was doing with Maggie. So when she entered the gallery, where Meredith and Callie were sitting, she took a few moments to look at what he was doing before pushing the intercom button.
« Alex! How are you doing in there? »
« What do you want Robbins? I don't need you to look after me! » Alex grumbled.
« Can Dr. Pierce finish without you? » Arizona asked insistently.
Noticing Arizona's tense voice, Alex raised his eyes and looked at her. He immediately understood that something was wrong and then looked at Maggie.
« I guess that Dr. Pierce is more than qualified to finish the surgery on her own. » Alex stated.
« Of course, no problem! » Maggie reassured him.
« Are you okay Robbins? » He asked just before pulling his hands out of his patient.
« Hurry up Alex! It's an emergency! » Arizona said.
She closed her fist tightly and closed her eyes for a split of second. That was all the time she needed to focus on what she had to do next, and that was to ask Alex to join her in finding April. That's also the sign that made Callie notice that something was wrong again.
« Hey! » She said to Arizona. « Do you need anything? What kind of an emergency is it? »
« I have to go, sorry... » Arizona said, leaving the gallery in a hurry.
…...
« What's wrong? » Alex asked as Arizona found him outside the OR.
« April! » She said, trying to breathe normally. « He... She's with him! We have to find them! »
Without trying to understand everything Alex followed Arizona. They were looking for Bailey and walked to her office. She was supposed to be aware of everything happening in the hospital.
« Bailey! » Arizona yelled opening the door. « Where's April? »
Bailey jumped when the peds surgeons rushed in her office without knocking.
« What? » She asked. « What happened? »
« She... She told me that she had an appointment with Roney for some campaign for doctor recruitment in the army. That's bullshit! Please tell me you know where she is! » Arizona begged noticing that Bailey wasn't alone in her office.
« Dr. Robbins, I know where Dr. Kepner is. Don't worry she is in conference room 4. But I didn't know who was with her. » Miranda quietly replied. « She's not alone with that person, Dr. Hunt joined her and I'm sure that he's going to take care of her. So if you'll excuse me, I have a job interview to do. »
Arizona looked confusedly at Bailey and then to the person sitting on the chair in front of the chief of surgery's desk. She recognized her just before she turned to face her and Alex.
« Hello Dr. Robbins. Dr. Karev... I'm glad to meet you again. » Sally Said.
Arizona swallowed and looked at Alex who was as surprised as she was. What was Callie's girlfriend doing here? Did she really hear Bailey saying 'job interview '?
« Hey! » Alex said, trying to break the awkward silence. « So, you're going to work here? »
« Well, I hope so. » Sally replied.
« Ms. Ortiz is an experienced pediatric nurse. And as you needed someone to take over for Patricia who left the hospital last week, so I offered her the job. »
It wasn't a good time to talk about that but Arizona looked at Bailey with a puzzled expression. What was she thinking? Bringing her ex-wife's new girlfriend to work with her daily. It was going to be more than awkward. Arizona sighed, exhaled loudly and nodded politely.
« I have to go and check on Dr. Kepner. » She said, leaving Bailey's office.
On her way to the conference room, she was trying not to let the recent news bother her. She had to find April. And, why was she over thinking about that. Callie was happy with that woman, and she was surely nice. She just didn't want to witness her ex-wife on her floor, flirting with her girlfriend, in front of everybody, or hear that same woman talking about how amazing Callie was or about more private things. Just thinking about that made Arizona sick to her stomach.
« Focus Robbins, It's not the time to think about these things! » Arizona said to herself.
Arriving in front of the room, she opened the door without knocking. And as expected, April and Owen were talking with Roney who was smiling and didn't seem surprised at all to see her entering the room.
« Get out! » Arizona said to him coldly, looking at him with a look of disgust.
« Hang on! » Owen said. « What's the problem Dr. Robbins? You're not supposed to be here. »
« Get out of here immediately or I swear to god, I will kick you out myself and I don't even care about the consequences! » Arizona yelled.
Owen and April were so surprised that they couldn't even say a word. Roney stood up and smiled.
« Well I guess our meeting is over. » He said to the trauma surgeons. « I will call you back Dr. Kepn… »
His sentence was cut off by a brutal slap. A silence settled for a long moment before Arizona broke it.
« Don't ever try to contact her or anyone else. You have nothing to do here. Get out of my hospital! »
…...
« I was supposed to be cool and not bring attention towards myself. Guess what! I've did the total opposite of that! » Arizona said, as she met Alex in her office just after she kicked Roney out.
Her body was shaking and she was sweating. She had left the room after him, without a word to Owen and April. « And now, everybody is going to stare at me again, like I'm crazy... »
« We'll see. Don't think about that right now. » Alex told her as her pager buzzed.
« Crap... It's Bailey. » She sighed. « I have to go. »
…...
Walking to Bailey's office, Arizona knew that her friend was going to lecture her. But what was she supposed to do. After all the 'you're stronger than him' speech, Bailey had managed to give her the confidence she needed to confront that horrible man. He was messing with her, she knew that. She had been stalked by one of his henchman and April was now on his list of people he could use to threaten her.
« What was that! » a voice said, grabbing Arizona's arm out of nowhere.
« I'm sorry, I don't have time to explain. I'm being paged by Bailey. » Arizona said to April who was now following her.
« Arizona! Talk to me! What's your problem with Mr. Roney! He was just doing his job! » April said.
« I... I can explain. But please... Wait for me. I have to see Bailey. » Arizona explained, leaving April on her own in the middle of the hallway.
Why were all these things happening today! Just the day she decided to step back a little and live lightly. Why was everything so difficult? Why was Callie on her back? Why was her girlfriend going to work in her department? Why was he targeting April?
Thinking about all those events made her freak out. She started feeling dizzy and her heart started beating quickly. She felt a pain in her chest and her breathing became difficult. She looked for the first bathroom she could find and entered it. She walked to the sink and placed her hands on its sides, bending her head and began to sob silently. It was all too much to handle, she had to let it out. He wouldn't win! That was what she trying to convince herself.
She opened the tap and let the water flow through her hands. She then rubbed her face with her wet hands slowly, when someone entered the bathroom and opened the toilet's door.
Arizona didn't even notice it. She had her eyes closed trying to stay calm, clenching and unclenching her fists and breathing deeply.
Suddenly, a strong impact from behind forced her head into the mirror in front of her. She slowly fell on the floor, half unconscious.
She tried to raise her head to see what was happening when something violently crushed her hand. The pain was so intense that it almost woke her up. She screamed in pain, noticing that it was someone's foot that was still squashing her fingers roughly.
A last couple of blows to her ribs made her lose consciousness completely. And everything turned black.