Ok, for real this time… Last chapter of the night. Super late for a work party. Didn't realize how addicting these stories and posts are! This is my favorite chapter so far… Hope you enjoy!
Arizona walked behind a wheelchair which contained a discontent Callie. She hated the fact that she was not able to walk yet until her wound healed more, and she hated even more that Arizona was having to push her in the chair. Both women made their way to the PEDS ward and met Lexie standing in the hallway speaking with two older individuals. Lexie murmured an inaudible comment to the couple and before Arizona knew what was happening, she had two strong arms wrapped around her shoulders. Her arms were pinned to her side which rendered her incapable of returning the hug, not that she would have had the presence of mind to do so anyway. She looked at Callie who was also enveloped in a hug of the same kind from the female. Both individuals promptly swapped hugging partners and Arizona was quickly wrapped in a more relaxed but still intense hug. She received a kiss on the cheek and was taken by the shoulders to look at the woman in the eye.
"I am Logan's grandmother. The baby at the wreck. I am his grandmother. And this is his grandfather", she pointed to the man holding Callie's face in his hands which caused her cheeks to be squished and her lips puckered. She looked at Arizona with wide eyes and the most adorable face which caused Arizona to chuckle. Arizona extended her hand and introduced herself.
"I am happy to meet you both. You have quite the fighter on your hands." Arizona lowered her voice an octave "I am sorry for your loss".
"Thank you Sgt. Robbins. We are his paternal grandparents, his father was killed in Iraq just before his birth. His mother was devastated. They both lived with us in San Francisco but they were in Seattle visiting her family for her birthday. Her family is coping. It will take time. But a miracle did come of this. We could have lost them both. Thank you so much. For everything you have done. You will never know what it means to us."
Arizona quickly patted Callie on the shoulder and told the grandparents of her involvement, adding that she would have never been able to help the boy if not for Callie's calm direction. "Callie is the real hero here. I ensure you." Callie watched Arizona through the whole conversation and felt tears sting her eyes as this woman who was so brave and selfless gave her credit and praise when she could have taken all the glory. Arizona's hand remained on Callie's shoulder which was given a tight squeeze when Arizona met Callie's gaze. "Let's go see the little guy, is that ok?"
"Of course, of course," The couple led the women into the ward and to a small crib where a baby boy dressed in a blue hospital gown slept with a pacifier in his mouth and a large gauze pad taped to his little forehead. Callie stood from the chair, holding her weight on the leg that was not injured, and softly pulled up one end of the gauze.
"12 stitches" she said. "It was a big cut. Looks like they put it together nicely, He will have a scar. But I hear that baby girls dig scars. He will be the talk of the nursery." Callie claimed, eyes still on the infant.
"Of course he will" Arizona chimed in. "May I?" she asked, asking permission from the grandparents to pick up the child.
"Of course Sweetheart" I could get used to these pet names, Arizona thought. As carefully as possible, Arizona lifted the sleeping infant with one hand behind his head and neck and the other behind his back and diapered bottom. She positioned the child in her cradling arms and the movement caused him to stir and suck the pacifier loudly. Arizona softly bounced the baby boy as he nuzzled into her shoulder and gave a content sigh. Callie watched as a smile broke across Arizona's face.
"Hey little guy. It is so good to see you all cleaned up and feeling better. I am sorry about your head baby… but Ms. Callie is right, it is gonna get you a lot of extra bottles and all the little girls will be wanting to share their paci's with you. You are gonna be a rockstar, just like Ms. Callie." Arizona bounced the baby softly for several minutes, running her fingers along the bare skin of his arms. She felt the soft skin of his face and kissed his little fingers which twitched with his dreams. He let out a small snore as he settled into Arizona's arms and she smiled. Wanting Callie to experience the feeling of holding the miracle baby, she kissed his bandaged head and handed him off to Callie. Callie positioned her back against the crib to give herself more stability on one leg and she gingerly took the infant from Arizona's warm arms. The two women shared more contact than ever before, their faces mere inches from one another as they both crooned over the baby boy asleep in Callie's arms.
"Oh my gosh, he is like crack! This is a crack baby!" Callie said as she buried her nose in his neck, taking in his addicting baby scent.
"I don't think you are supposed to call him that" Arizona whispered.
Callie, realizing that she was overheard, blushed sheepishly and went back to nuzzling the baby who did not seem to object to the attention. Arizona watched the interaction between Callie and baby Logan, feeling a warmth in her soul which she had never experienced. I wish I could watch this forever. "I remember when my Sophia was this small, oh my gosh I wish she was this small again."
"Do you have a child dear?" the couple asked Callie
"Oh yes ma'am, she is 16 months." Arizona, clearly taken back, looked questioningly between Callie and the grandparents. "Ok sweetheart, sleep well, I will come back and see you tomorrow." Callie spoke to the infant. Asking the grandparents how long the child will be under medical care, she learned that he will be kept for two to three days to monitor his neuro function. "We will be back tomorrow. Sleep well."
"Thank you two for everything. I cannot thank you enough." Arizona, still silent from the comment about Callie's daughter, walked away after a shy smile and accompanied Callie back to her room.