TITLE: Grey's Anatomy – "Out Here On My Own"
SUMMARY: Doctor Arizona Robbins has finally come to a decision after years of attempting to regain the love of her ex-wife. She didn't have the epiphany on her own; it was ungraciously shoved in her face by others. Is it finally time to move on and find some happiness or is she preordained to be alone?
Pairings: Arizona Robbins & OFC; Callie Torres & Penelope Blake.
RATING: M for mature readers.
DISCLAIMER: The television characters are owned by Creator Shonda Rhimes, ShondaLand, The Mark Gordon Company and ABC Studios. I have merely taken them out to play and will return them unscathed once my Muse is done. All original characters belong to the author. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit is gained from this storytelling.
A/N: Please feel free to review, follow or favour. Thanks to those who have taken the time to leave a comment. To the Guest who mentioned onions, here's another layer!
Chapter 29
As the visitors gathered in the waiting room of the ICU Ward shortly before ten o'clock, Joel received a text and excused himself, "Luke is at the front gate. I'll go organise his pass and bring him here."
"I'll come with you," offered Daniel with a pat to the Colonel's right shoulder.
Arizona took a seat beside her mother and Beverley sat on her other side. Jaimie's mom reached for her left hand as Barbara held her right, "Hopefully we'll have word soon. Joel made contact with Jaimie's CO this morning to find out more information."
"Did he have any success?" inquired an optimistic Arizona.
Beverley glanced towards Barbara before replying, "Yes he did."
Squeezing Beverley's hand, Arizona smiled slightly, "You can speak freely. Mom figured out the true nature of Jaimie's role with the retrieval mission."
Nodding, Beverley continued, "I see and that will save me disguising my words. The four units had cleared the last of the strongholds and were on their way back with four captured soldiers. One was in terrible condition from abuse. He is actually here at this hospital suffering from severe malformation of his legs due to being hobbled and the bones reset out of alignment."
"Oh dear god, the poor man must have endured so much pain," mumbled Barbara tearfully.
"There is evidence of prolonged torture and this particular chap was found in a crude hole in the ground. He was unresponsive and emancipated and barely able to walk. The authorities haven't been able to identify him. He wasn't wearing his dog tags, so a DNA sample has been taken to compare with medical records on file. The procedure can take another three does to complete before the result is known."
Arizona was about to ask a question when an exhausted Callie entered the waiting room. She headed straight to Arizona, "Good morning everyone. Where are Joel and Daniel?"
"Luke arrived a few minutes ago and they went to organise his pass," answered Arizona while scanning Callie's face for any signs of emotion; there were none.
"In that case, I'll wait until they return before explaining Jaimie's condition."
Arizona's heart sank as she lowered her eyes, "Okay."
Just then the three men walked through the doorway.
"You have news?" inquired Joel as Luke took turns in hugging the four women present.
"Please sit down," suggested Callie. She waited for that to happen before proceeding, "Jaimie is out of recovery and back in the ICU. She is heavily sedated for pain management, but is aware you are all here. She regained consciousness briefly and was coherent enough to ask that one question. I'll be keeping an eye on her for any signs of infection and she will be constantly monitored for any complications."
Arizona's voice was a mere whisper, "Her arm?"
A smile danced across Callie's face, "I managed to rebuild her Humerus with a titanium fixture and repair all the tendon and muscle damage."
"Oh thank god," responded Barbara while Beverley and Arizona clung to one another and wept.
Getting to his feet, Joel shook Callie's hand, "Thank you, thank you so much."
Luke let out a sob and embraced them both.
Taking a moment to dry her eyes once she was released, Callie continued, "It will be days before I'll be able to assess the extent of possible nerve damage due to swelling, but I'm optimistic about Jaimie making a full recovery."
Standing, Arizona reached for Callie, "Thank you."
"I'm glad I could help honey. You can go see Jaimie now, but be prepared for her dozing off and on."
"You go first Arizona" advised Beverley. "She'll be worried about you and eager to see you."
Nodding, Arizona followed Callie into the Ward then donned sterilised coverings before entering Jaimie's room. The flow of tears increased exponentially as she took in the sight of a pale Jaimie lying on the bed surrounded by monitors and IV stands. Jaimie's face was extensively bruised and her eyes closed. Her right forearm was encased in light blue fibreglass and resting on top of the sheet and blanket. Underneath the grey coloured hospital gown, Arizona could see the bandaging and drainage tubing attached to the patient's reconstructed right shoulder.
Callie moved in behind her, "I harvested skin grafts from the back of her thighs. I'm really pleased with the result Arizona. The Trauma Doctors did an amazing job at preserving her arm and that made my procedures easier."
Letting out the breath she had been holding, Arizona rotated, "Oh Callie, I don't know how I'll ever repay you."
"You don't need to; it's what any Surgeon would have done."
There was a groan from Jaimie and Arizona inhaled sharply as her fiancée's eyelids fluttered several times before opening and attempted to focus. "Hey honey, it's so good to see you," Arizona finally whispered while leaning over and kissing Jaimie's forehead.
In a halting, groggy tone, Jaimie managed to reply, "Glad … you could … make it."
"I'll give you some privacy," offered Callie with a grin.
With considerable effort, Jaimie waved her left hand at the Orthopaedic Surgeon, "Hey Callie … before you go … I was practicing … before I drifted off." A smile washed over Jaimie's face as she wiggled the fingers of her right hand, "You do … amazing work … rock star."
"That's excellent and I remind you, I am a Goddess," returned a teary eyed Callie. "Now just don't overdo it like we discussed earlier."
"Sure thing Doctor Torres and thanks again for making yourself available."
"You are welcome and I'll be back shortly to check on you."
"I look … forward to it and … recovering."
Once Callie left, Arizona gripped Jaimie's left hand, "You scared the crap out of us."
"It wasn't … done on purpose my love."
"Oh, I missed hearing you call me that in person."
"I missed you … full stop. How are … you going?"
Gliding fingers over Jaimie's clammy temple, Arizona answered, "I'm very relieved you are alive."
Jaimie's eyelids drooped, "I am too. Where is Sofia? Did … she make the trip?"
"Yes honey, she is currently at the hotel with a babysitter. She is anxious to see you and give you a hug."
With closed eyes, Jaimie mumbled, "I miss her … I'm fading … sweetheart. They've got … me on some good … shit."
Smiling at the words, Arizona pecking Jaimie's forehead again, "Don't fight it, you need to rest and heal. I'll be right here when you wake up."
"Az, so … in love … with you … need to … tell you something."
"Sleep for now baby, I love you too and we can talk later."
There was no response from Jaimie.
Kissing her lips tenderly, Arizona left the room and told Jaimie's parent to go in. Taking a seat beside her mother, she exhaled, "Despite her injuries and the amount of drugs in her system; Jaimie is in good spirits."
"I'm so glad sweetie," remarked Barbara prior to hugging her daughter tightly.
"I'll bring Sofia to see her this afternoon."
"Good idea," agreed Daniel behind a broad smile. "She's been pining for her."
-o-
Two hours passed before a more focused Jaimie asked to see Arizona and her parents. Once she greeted Daniel and Barbara, she thanked them for being there then promptly drifted off again.
Daniel suggested everyone go have lunch then return. Callie joined them in the cafeteria and excitedly went into detail about the various techniques she used during surgery.
When she was done, she added, "Doctor Faulkner asked if I'd examine one of the POWs."
"The one with the leg injuries?" inquired Joel with interest.
"Yes. Apparently his left ankle was shattered some years ago."
"Years?" interrupted Daniel.
Nodding, Callie clarified, "The last four soldiers were held hostage for a much longer time than the others. Three are still to be interviewed and information about their capture collected. I'll be assessing the fourth after I've eaten."
"Poor buggers, my heart breaks for them," exclaimed Beverley. "I can't even begin to fathom how the families of these men must be feeling."
"I feel for the unknown soldier's family," admitted Daniel with a shake of his head. "They don't even know he is alive."
Joel take a drink of water then queried, "Surely the other mean can identify him. Are they here Callie?"
"Yes they are, but the soldiers had been kept separate from each other and unaware of the other's existence."
The conversation centred on the POWs until Callie departed and the visitors went back to the ICU Ward.
-o-
Barbara and Daniel made their way back to the hospital with Sofia a little after four and she listened carefully while Arizona instructed her not to sit on Jaimie's bed and to be mindful of where she touched her.
Those words of advice sailed out the window when Jaimie patted the left side of her bed, "Hey sweetie, come sit you here."
"Mama said not to, I might hurt you."
"I'll be fine and I'll be able to see you better."
"Mama?" asked Sofia with puppy dog eyes.
Lowering the railing, Arizona lifted Sofia onto the bed, "Just don't touch Jaimie's hip, okay?"
"Got it mama," replied Sofia before turning her attention to the patient. "Hey Jaimie, you okay?"
"I'm feeling much better after a nap and you look cute in your gown and mask."
"Germs not allowed, Grandpa said so."
"He's a wise man," pointed out Jaimie as she placed her hand on Sofia's back.
Brown eyes popped, "We flew in Abuelo's plane across the water."
Notwithstanding her previous words on her condition, Jaimie's eyes started to close, "Did you?"
"I cried cos you were hurt."
"How do you feel now that you have seen me?"
A radiant smile graced Sofia's features, "Much better, what about you?"
"I was scared I wasn't going to see you again, but I'm fine now."
"Good, mommy fixed you?"
"Yes she did; she's a rock star."
"Yeah she is. When can you come home?"
"In a few … days, but … I'll have to … stay in mama and mommy's hospital for a while."
"Will I be able to visit you?"
"You most … certainly will."
"I will read to you."
"I'd like … that sweetie."
"Grandma bought me a new book."
"Maybe you could show me tomorrow. I'm a little tired right now."
"Yay, can do."
All eyes were drawn to the door as Doctor Faulkner walked into the room. He was all smiles, "Colonel Miller, how would you feel about moving to a private room?"
"I'd be … pretty happy."
"Consider yourself on the move."
-o-
When a fatigued Jaimie was settled into her new room, she chatted with Sofia for another ten minutes before Barbara suggested she and Daniel take Sofia back to the hotel and allow Jaimie to rest. The patient was asleep before Arizona decided to leave too and Beverley and Joel soon followed.
Once Sofia was in bed two hours later, Arizona sat on the couch with a weary Callie. "How did it go with the POW?" she inquired before sipping from a cup of tea.
"He is in bad shape physically and mentally. He was awake throughout the examination, but didn't speak or react to my questions."
"That's terrible. What about his injuries?"
"I am going to have to reconstruct his ankle and break his legs before realigning the bones with rods."
A blonde eyebrow rose, "An external fixator?"
"Yes. The extra stability will be needed during the knitting process."
"Has there been any word on the other soldiers?"
"Only the fact they are responding well to treatment for malnutrition and the open laceration caused by torture and assaults."
"Crap, they have been through so much."
"Yes, but thank god they are healing now. Faulkner mentioned their families have been contacted and the men are flying home tomorrow."
"That is awesome news."
Placing her hot beverage on the coffee table, Callie reclined, "I'm really pleased with Jaimie's recovery and the absence of infection."
"I read her chart this afternoon, so did she, but she did point out it was early days and she wasn't out of the woods just yet."
"She is right, and the next two days will be critical. Jaimie told me she is eager to return home and begin rehab."
"I told her not to expect too much in such a short time frame."
"She is keen to be fit for your wedding."
Rolling her eyes, Arizona sadly admitted, "That's only two months away and I have a feeling we may have to propose it."
"Jaimie is determined for that not to happen and I advised her take a deep breath and take it one day at a time."
"I said the same thing and she agreed. Have you rescheduled your weekend to Miami?"
"Sofia and I will be visiting on the tenth of next month.
Tears pooled behind blue eyes, "I'm sorry you've had to put your family plans aside."
"Hey now, it's what friends do in time of need."
"I really do appreciate all you and your dad have done."
"Don't mention it and Jaimie has already offered up the yacht any time I want a romantic getaway with Taylor. There was even mention of sparkly jewellery."
Wiping away the tears before they fell, Arizona smiled, "Awesome."
The two friends discussed Callie's upcoming surgery for an hour before retiring to bed for the night.
-o-
Up next: A serious discussion.
