Title: Breaking at the Cracks

Chapter: Ten - "Keep Holding On"

Author: laurenxx3 (iheartcallietorres on ff)

Pairing: Callie/Arizona, Callie/Addison (friendship)

Rating: PG-13 [for now]

Summary: Callie's devastated after Arizona leaves for Africa and now has no job, no place to live and no prospect of either. Addison comes to the rescue and whisks her away to California.

Disclaimer: You know the drill. All characters belong to Shonda Rhimes/ABC. I don't own anything. Any similarities to real life situations/persons are purely coincidental. Not for profit; for entertainment purposes only.

A/N: I have absolutely NO medical knowledge beyond what I see/hear on Grey's Anatomy, so forgive me of any medical-related errors. Also, this is un-beta'd, so all mistakes are mine. Please let me know if you come across any, but I'm pretty OCD about grammar and spelling, so there shouldn't be too many mistakes. As always, comments are much appreciated (and will encourage me to write more fics in the future - *hint, hint*).

A/N 2: This starts off after 7x07 and will NOT follow the events past that, except for maybe a few small things. I will *not* include spoilers for future episodes. Please be aware that Arizona is not present in the first several chapters since I'm more interested in how Callie is coping post-airport scream-fest. I love Arizona to death, but I just don't think I could do the Arizona working in Africa plot justice. She is in Africa, but we won't see her until she comes back to the states. I'm not going to tell you how long that will be, however. ;)

Umm, so, yeah, don't get too used to the lighting fast updates... I'm just on Thanksgiving break and managed to not have any work to do over the break. Once I get back to classes on Monday, I'll be in the midst of preparing for my finals which will begin in less than two weeks. But I wanted y'all to get a few decent updates while I could update. I'm hoping to be able to continue this fic for a while, but no promises. The good thing is that once I'm finished with the semester, I'll have an entire month of no school. Which means lots of updates for y'all (hopefully). Yay. Okay, so enjoy this chapter. Again, I have absolutely no medical knowledge, so forgive me any medical mistakes. Thanks!

Keep Holding On

You're not alone

Together we stand

I'll be by your side

You know I'll take your hand

When it gets cold

And it feels like the end

There's no place to go

You know I won't give in

No, I won't give in

::~::Avril Lavigne::~::

[Arizona's POV]

Over the next two days, I never left Calliope's bedside. Even when Mark, Maria and the nurses all suggested that I get some sleep, I'd just requested a cot to be brought in. Mark or Maria brought me food three times a day and I took two minute showers in the adjoining bathroom. Aria had loaned me some clothes to change into. Carlos hadn't said much to me any time he was in the room, he mainly talked to Calliope or whispered prayers.

I'd feared, at first, that he'd object to my being in the room, but he hadn't. I wasn't sure if it was because he'd really come around on the subject or if Maria had talked sense into him, but I was grateful nonetheless. I couldn't imagine not being able to sit by her side. It would have driven me insane.

I was brought out of my thoughts as the door opened and Maria, Carlos and Aria entered the room. I stood from my chair to allow Maria to sit. Aria, who I'd quickly formed a bond with, gave me a quick hug before handing me a paper bag. I smiled when I noticed the logo of a local bakery and looked inside to find two glazed donuts with rainbow sprinkles. "Callie happened to mention that you liked donuts with sprinkles," Aria said.

"Thank you," I said, pulling out a donut and taking a bite of my favorite comfort food.

"I saw Mark and Lexie outside," Aria informed me. "It looks like they were bearing coffee."

No sooner were the words out of Aria's mouth when the door opened again and Mark and Lexie entered the room, Addison and Violet close behind. We were way over the two visitor at a time limit, but since Calliope was a surgeon at this hospital, that rule was overlooked for her.

Mark handed me a coffee, which I accepted gratefully, needing the caffeine.

"Anything?" Addison asked.

I shook my head. She still hadn't woken up. They'd finally been able to remove the breathing tube last night, but nothing had changed otherwise.

"She'll wake up," Addison said, wrapping and arm around my shoulders. She sounded as if she were trying to convince herself of that, which I'm sure she was. We all were. I think we were all failing.

"Arizona," a voice interrupted. I looked over to see Carlos standing nearby. "I was wondering if I could have a word?"

I raised my eyebrows, surprised. "Um, sure," I said.

"In private," he indicated.

"Oh, I, um…" I looked around, not wanting to leave the room.

"It's okay," Addison said. "We'll all be here in case something happens."

I nodded and Carlos led the way out of the room. I followed, my heart pounding with nerves. What did he want to talk to me about?

He led me to a small conference room just across the hall and held the door open for me. I sat carefully at the table as he sat across from me. I waited.

He seemed to steady himself before looking up at me, expression unreadable. I licked my suddenly dry lips in a nervous gesture.

"I wanted to apologize."

I raised my eyebrows again in surprise. "Apologize?" I questioned.

He folded his hands on the table in front of him and nodded. "Yes," he said. "I wasn't fair to you or Calliope before. I've since accepted your relationship, but I never offered my apologies or tried to explain myself."

I shook my head. "You don't have to explain yourself, Mr. Torres," I started.

"Carlos, please."

I nodded. "Carlos, you don't have to explain yourself. I get that you were only trying to protect her. You just didn't realize that she doesn't need protecting."

He nodded. "You're right, but I'm her father. It comes with the job. And it seems like you've done a good job at protecting her."

His words cut deep, unbeknownst to him and tears immediately sprang to my eyes. I sniffled and shook my head. "But not when it mattered the most," I said quietly.

"You're not still blaming yourself, are you?" Carlos asked in a stern voice. I gave him a surprised look. "Maria told me," he explained. "You shouldn't blame yourself. It wasn't your fault."

"But if I hadn't left-"

"You would have resented Calliope and driven her away," he finished for me.

I was silent. I knew he was right, but I was unwilling to admit it.

"It's easy to blame yourself in times like these," he said. "I blamed myself, too."

I knit my eyebrows in confusion. He nodded.

"Yes. I should have tried harder to convince her to come home instead of moving to LA. Then she would have been in Miami. I quickly learned that you cannot blame yourself for things that are out of your hands. It's not your fault. You are not to blame for this."

I nodded slowly, feeling a little better but I still had that nagging voice in the back of my head pointing fingers and issuing accusations.

"I want you to know," Carlos said, breaking me from my thoughts, "that if this… doesn't end well, you'll always be like family to us."

I inhaled quickly from both fear and surprise. Fear that his words of it not ending well would come true and surprise at his acceptance of me into their family.

Before I could respond, the door burst open and Lexie rushed into the room. "She's waking up!" she practically screamed. Carlos and I both jumped out of our chairs. "And she's asking for you."

::*~*~*::

[Callie's POV]

I hurt. Everywhere.

I tried to open my eyes to no avail. I tried to move, but was hampered by something unknown. Oh, God, what's going on? I thought to myself.

I thought I heard voices.

I tried to speak, but my throat was dry and my tongue felt like cotton.

The voice became closer and I recognized a familiar voice singing softly.

Dame la mano y danzaremos

Dame la mano y me amarás

Como una sola flor seremos

Como una flor, y nada más…

The lullaby was familiar. My mother had sung it to me as a child.

I slowly became aware of all the other voices around me that sounded so familiar. They were getting clearer. I could make out that my sister and father. I realized that it was my mother singing softly. I heard Addison say something, then Mark reply. Then I heard another voice. One so sweet and remarkable. I had to be hallucinating. Hearing things. Because I thought I'd heard Arizona.

But that's impossible, right? She's in Africa. Yeah, that's it, I'm dreaming.

But why did I hurt so badly?

Then I heard my father whisper into my ear. "Tienes que despertar, mija. Tienes que despertar para todos nosotros. Especialmente para tu Arizona. Despierta para ella, mija. Por favor, mija. Despertar." Then I felt him place a gentle kiss on my temple. I tried to say something, to tell them all that I am awake! I could hear them, but my eyes refused to open. My mouth and tongue refused to move and make a sound. I tried to groan in frustration, but that didn't work.

I heard the door open and shut. I concentrated on attempting to move. Someone was clasping my hand. Maybe I could squeeze it. I tried, but was unsuccessful. I focused all my energy on twitching my hand and managed to move a few minutes later.

"Oh, my God, she moved her hand!" I heard someone screech. It was definitely my mother. The sudden sound hurt my head and was able to groan softly this time. "Calliope," she said. "If you can hear me, squeeze my hand again."

I did. That seemed to kickstart my entire body.

"Oh, mija," my mother cried out. I felt movement of others surround my bed.

"Callie," someone said, it sounded like Addison. "Can you open your eyes for us?"

I tried again, my left eyelid fluttering open. I immediately realized that my right eye was covered in gauze, preventing it from opening. Surrounding me were familiar faces, my mother, Aria, Mark, Lexie, Addison and Violet. Where was Arizona? I know I heard her a few moments ago. And my father?

"Oh, mija," my mother cried out again, clutching my hand tighter.

"A-Ar-" I coughed from my dry throat. "Arizona?" I finally managed to get out. Everyone looked around.

"I'll go get her," Lexie said, rushing out of the room.

"I'm going to get a nurse to page Dr. Reynolds," Addison said, naming the neurologist, and quickly left the room.

"Welcome back, Torres," Mark said with a smile. "You had us scared there."

I tried to respond with something witty, but ended up coughing.

"Shh," my mother said. "Don't try to talk. We'll get you some water soon, okay?"

I tired to nod, but soon realized that my neck was in a brace, preventing me from moving. It was then I finally realized that I was in a hospital bed surrounded by machines. What the hell happened?

The door suddenly burst open and there was a frenzy of movement at my bedside. "Oh, my God, Calliope," I heard the sweetest voice cry out. I moved my eyes over to meet the bright blue ones that I'd become so familiar with.

"Arizona," I wheezed out. "You're here," I said in wonder, half convinced that I was hallucinating.

She smiled broadly. "Of course I'm here," she whispered as she leaned down to kiss my lips softly. "Of course I'm here," she repeated as she pulled back and brushed her fingers across my temple as tears tracked down her cheeks. "Don't you ever scare me like that again, Calliope Torres, do you hear me?"

"I'll try not to," I whispered weakly.

The door opened and Addison reentered with Dr. Reynolds in tow. "Okay, we need to clear the room," he said as he made his way to my bedside. "One of you can stay while I examine her, but the rest need to wait outside."

I quickly grasped Arizona's hand, making my preference known. I was grateful when no one protested and the others left the room.

"Good morning, Dr. Torres," Dr. Reynolds said as he moved to shine a pen light in my left eye to check my pupil response.

"What happened?" I croaked out, my voice hoarse. I coughed.

"Will you get her some water?" Dr. Reynolds asked the nurse before turning back to me. She nodded and left the room. "You were in a car accident," he explained, continuing his examination. "Follow my fingers with your eye." He moved them from left to right to left again and I did as he asked. "You've sustained a severe head trauma as well as several crush injuries. You had a subdural hematoma that I had to drain. Your ICP has been slightly elevated, which caused your comatose state."

The nurse reentered the room and handed the cup of water to Arizona, who held the straw to my lips. I sipped, immediately felt relief. "Coma?" I asked once I'd taken a few sips. "I've been in a coma?" I felt Arizona squeeze my hand in reassurance.

Dr. Reynolds nodded. "But it looks like your ICP has come down and your neurological function is back to normal," he said.

"How long was I out?" I asked.

"A little over four days," he said. "And Dr. Robbins here has been by your side nearly the entire time."

I glanced up at Arizona and felt a tear roll down my temple. "You have?"

She smiled softly. "Of course I have," she said.

"You're doing good with your neurological function for now," Dr. Reynolds said, jotting something on my chart. "I'll need to keep a close eye on you for the next several days, but I think you'll be fine. I'll page Dr. Noble to fill you in on your crush injuries."

"Thank you," Arizona said, her shoulders loosening with relief.

Dr. Reynolds nodded and backed out of the room. "I'll page Dr. Noble now," he said. "Welcome back, Dr. Torres," he said before closing the door behind him.

"More water?" Arizona offered, holding up the plastic cup. I took a few more sips. She put the cup on the table and leaned over me again, kissing my temple. I inhaled deeply, not caring that it hurt my ribs to do so. I needed to smell her, a mixture of coconut shampoo and a light, powdery perfume. It was so familiar, so comforting.

"I was so scared," Arizona said as she pulled back slightly to meet my uncovered eye with her baby blue ones. I saw her swallow hard. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm so sorry. I love you. Please forgive me."

Keep holding on

'Cause you know we'll make it through

We'll make it through

Just stay strong

'Cause you know I'm here for you

I'm here for you

There's nothing you can say

Nothing you can do

There's no other way when it comes to the truth

So keep holding on

'Cause you know we'll make it through

We'll make it through

::~::Avril Lavigne::~::