A/N: Logan - Yeah, very evil, thanks for sticking with me!
I don't have much to say except that this chapter involves some times lapses. So just beware. There are many mentions of how long it's been.
And last, but certainly not least. My beta, and my best friend, has made such a difference to this story. She keeps me going when I get stuck. She has helped the development of the plot so much. She lets me bounce insane ideas off of her and then helps me fit them into the plot so seamlessly. While I maybe could do it without her, it would not be the same. She definitely deserves a shout out and so far she hasn't really gotten it. So thank you, Stephanie, you've made writing this a truly wonderful experience. And I know you'll continue to make it the best experience ever. All the way to the end. And into whatever next crazy idea gets set into my head.
Now enjoy a little more Arizona, and a scene that many of you have asked for. :)
It had been three weeks, three weeks since Arizona was told that she too was in danger.
Though Arizona was living out of a suitcase, everyone made her feel like she was at home. She had been in various people's homes recently. She stayed with Mark first, because Teddy wanted an advantage over the police and figured that if they didn't know everything it would be for the better. In all of her military training, she had learned that those slight advantages held great benefits. When she was with Teddy, they told the police that she was with Meredith and Derek. It had been going on this way since then. Currently her belongings were nestled in one of her scrub nurses' apartments, her home for the next two days. The hospital had really jumped on the assignment to keep Arizona safe and quickly a rotation had been established. But no one made her feel more comfortable and safe than Carlos.
He had taken up residence in her apartment for the time being, though he had to leave in the next few days. He had been away from his offices in Miami for too long, even though Callie was the most important thing to him. He was making arrangements to stay in contact with the Seattle P.D. Arizona spent a lot of time at her apartment with him, unknown to the police, planning strategy and using their own brains with the known evidence to piece together any sort of puzzle. But this type of thing didn't happen in Seattle, at least not often. And it never went on this long.
DNA evidence had been lifted from the letter, but it hadn't matched any of the criminal profiles in their archive. Klein had expanded the search for a data match and it matched Officer Courtain perfectly. They were back at square one with no leads. Klein had chalked it up to the fact that the officer had not been wearing gloves when he handled the letter. Though Carlos was now funding them, they still threatened to call off the search and close the case. After a particularly heated argument Klein said to him, "There are people that we can save! I'm sorry sir, but for all we know, she could be at the bottom of the ocean."
Arizona refused to accept this. She had spent the day with Carlos and they were racking their brains. She was pacing back and forth and he was certain he could see wear on the beautiful hardwood floors. Her blonde curls shook gracefully every time she sighed in frustration. "Arizona, you should sit."
"I can't, too much energy," she said. She looked out the window. Same blue sky, same empty streets, same full parking lot – she stopped and looked harder. The hospital parking lot was full of people. "Carlos, turn on the TV."
"Arizona," he said tiredly.
"No, I'm serious, turn it on. Channel twelve news."
He picked up the remote and confusion crossed his face. "What did you see?"
She smiled at the image on the screen. "That."
People had filled the hospital lot, armed with signs, and were picketing the sidewalk. "Protestors?" he asked.
"We have to get to the hospital."
She pushed her way through the crowd with Carlos right behind her. Posters flashed in the sun. End abuse, make kidnapping disappear without a trace, bring them back; all kinds of slogans greeted her eyes. Then someone recognized her and she was pushed to the front, everyone making room for her. Several news stations had microphones set up and various members of the organized mob were speaking. When they saw Arizona, they moved aside. She took a deep breath. The emotion of the moment was getting to her. Carlos patted her back and she turned, pulling him into a hug. "I love your daughter."
"I know," he smiled. He turned her back to the reporters and the protestors. "Let's bring her home."
She stepped forward and the reporters immediately bombarded her with questions. "Please, please. I will answer your questions in a few minutes."
They quieted.
"Calliope Torres has been missing for almost two months now. I know that doesn't seem like a long time, but please imagine any of your children or loved ones disappearing for more than a week, a day. It has been a lifetime for us. Callie's father, Carlos Torres, has put a halt on his business ventures in order to be here, to make sure she is brought back," she pulled Carlos up next to her. "There are no leads, no evidence. Despite the substantial monetary reward offered, no witnesses have come forward. The police would have us believe that she is dead. We refuse to believe that our Calliope is truly gone from this world. She is out there, somewhere. Please, if you know anything, please contact the Seattle police."
"Callie is the glue that keeps this family together," Mark's voice came from behind her. "She is the strong one. We need her. She is my best friend. She is a daughter, she is a lover. People miss her."
Arizona turned around and was almost brought to her knees. Hospital staff members were pouring out of the lobby doors. The Chief was standing there holding them open. He smiled and nodded at her. Teddy came up on the other side of Mark, "We will never stop the search until she is brought home."
"Bring her home!" someone called out from the crowd. Another person repeated it. Lexie, Jackson, and April began chanting and it spread like wildfire through the hospital staff. It then spread to the protestors. They stood and watched the crowed pour out their support. Arizona had never seen such a show of support from a community.
"Please," she called out over the chanting. "Please help us bring her home."
Carlos wrapped an arm around her. Mark and Teddy joined the line, presenting a united front. Other members of the hospital staff joined them. Cristina stood next to Teddy, Meredith came up beside her. Owen came up beside Carlos, followed by the interns, and then the Chief. Derek came up beside Meredith, and Bailey beside him. Nurses and doctors alike began linking arms and hands. 'We are here for you Callie, and we want you brought home,' they said. Arizona cried at the show of support from her family. Then Bailey turned to Arizona and above the chanting said, "You can bet, if any one of us gets our hands on those bastards, they'll wish they had never been born."
The scene unfolded on the television screen, air shots panned over the hospital to show all of the people standing in support of Calliope. Each time they chanted, he hit her with the belt. "You better tell that blonde bimbo that if she don't keep quiet we are going to make her disappear without a trace too," Don snarled at her. She took every hit in silence. He knew she knew there was no way for her to contact Arizona. She would never see Arizona again, or her father, or Mark, of anyone else from the hospital. She was going to be shipped to Taiwan; they were just waiting for Calory. Then she would be sold. She had accepted her fate.
Luke ran through the door and saw Don beating her. The look in her eyes made him cringe and he pulled the belt from the man's hands. "Leave her!"
"Luke," Don threatened. "She's nothing."
"Then beating her should mean nothing."
Don stared him down, but eventually left the room
She stared at him, bewildered but guarded. He dropped the belt on the ground. "I'm sorry," he said, turning to leave the room. Before he left he turned the television off and snapped at her, "Don't you have chores to do? We don't feed you for free."
She couldn't even find irony in his statement anymore. Her weight had dropped significantly. They fed her when they felt like it, out of a bowl. The painful rumble in her stomach had become so normal for her that she had come to ignore it. Staring at the black screen for a moment longer, envisioning the angel face that now held so much pain for her, she turned to continue the cleaning she had been doing.
The news reports had spread through the country. It was clear that the police could no longer do anything. There were no leads and the case had been open for over two months. The country was on lookout, but if she was dead it was doubtful that anyone would find anything. She was sitting on Meredith's couch, her current home, alone. She had just been hounded again by reporters and Jackson had to bully their way out of the onslaught. She had thanked him and quickly jumped into her SUV. At this point, she couldn't talk about Callie anymore. She didn't know if she would ever see her again. She shifted and the TV came on. Her most recent interview greeted her ears and she frantically searched the cushions for the remote. Finding it, she hit the power button several times, but not before Callie's picture was thrown up on the screen.
She threw the remote across the room as Meredith walked through the front door. "No!" she screamed, oblivious to the other presence. Sobs filled the air as Arizona caved in on herself. "Callie, Callie," she repeated, "I love you." Meredith stood rooted to the floor. She had never seen the attending this way. She was always so sure, self-confident, and strong. It hurt her to see the other woman so completely broken. Arizona pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes, but it couldn't stop the tears. She wrapped her arms around her knees and brought them to her chest. Meredith dropped her bags and walked over to her, wrapping her arms around Arizona. Arizona clung to Meredith. "She's gone."
Meredith stayed with Arizona until Derek got home. He tripped over Meredith's forgotten bags and yelped. "Derek," she called softly. He looked over and saw the distraught woman in Meredith's arms. "Call Mark."
He was there ten minutes later. He walked straight into the house and scooped Arizona into his arms. He sat with her on the couch and rocked her gently, but her heart wrenching sobs were getting to him within minutes.
"She's gone, Mark," Arizona whispered.
"She'll come back," he reassured her.
"No," Arizona gave up, "No, I don't think she will."
Mark sat with her all night. He had never seen her so broken. "They have no leads. There is no evidence. All they have is a pool of blood and a tainted letter and envelope. Mark, they are closing the case soon if nothing happens. If she's dead, not all the people in the world could find her. Oh god Mark," Arizona sobbed, "What if she's dead?"
He shook her, "She's not. Callie is not dead. And when you go to D.C. in two weeks to have your fancy press conference, something will happen."
Arizona buried her face into his shoulder and her sobs began anew. "I thought we'd have something by now. If she was alive, we would."
"You're running," he said.
"I'm being realistic, Mark," she said.
"No," he said, "you're running."
She pulled out of his embrace and stared at him. "I lost my brother. My father has done tour after tour in the military. My brother wanted to be just like him. The first time he went overseas, he didn't come home alive. So forgive me for my terribly dark outlook. I know I'm usually all sunshine and rainbows and smiles, but I have demons Sloan, and I love Callie too much."
Mark reached forward and grabbed the pendant that was around her neck. He held it between his thumb and finger. "Callie is still alive, she's out there somewhere. We just have to find her."
Arizona turned away from him. "We got my brother's body back in a coffin and a flag. I once acted like that wasn't enough. At least we got his body." The tears started again and he rubbed her back in small circles. "She's gone."
She looked through the glass. Teddy couldn't believe what she was seeing.
