Disclaimer: This is AU. I do not own any of the characters from Grey's Anatomy. I just manipulate them to my will. Also, any line or phrase or setting that seems remotely familiar from any other show, movie or book, also not mine. I borrow…

AN: Could be the last update of today, maybe not… Enjoy.


Chapter 29

Arizona's POV:

"What do you mean you withdrew me from Oklahoma? Mark…I swear to god, this had better be one of those damn jokes you like to play on me." I am breathing hard, sending pain through my chest from my broken ribs. Mark just informed me that he withdrew me from the next tournament. Needless to say, I am not happy.

"Z, you can't ride in your condition." Teddy steps in because Mark is struck silent from fear.

"Oh bullshit!" I spit out. "That tournament is a whole week away! I'll be fine. Hell, I could ride right now! Put me on a fucking bull…" I wince in pain as I try to get up.

"You can't even move out of bed, and you cringe at every breath you take." Teddy says, gesturing at me up and down, like her point has been made.

"I can hold my breath for 8 seconds." I murmur as I settle back down on my bed.

Mark finally finds his voice "Robbins, I know it sucks but I had to make an executive decision. You ride in Oklahoma, you could get injure yourself more and take yourself out of the Championship. You sit out in Oklahoma, you'll be at 100% for Vegas and…" He's cut off by a knock on the door.

"What?" I yell, thinking it's yet another nurse coming in to bother me.

Callie pokes her head in, looking scared. "Oh… sorry Cal. I didn't expect it to be you. Please, come in."

She enters, lab coat draped over her arm. She looks at me, then to Teddy and Mark who are on their feet and obviously agitated.

"Can you just hold on for a sec?" I ask.

"Uhh…yeah yeah sure. I got lots of time." And she fades into the back of the room, trying to give us as much privacy as she can.

I turn my attention back to Mark, calm myself and continue our conversation "Mark, if I sit out the next tournament it would be damn near impossible for me to make up the points to put me into the running at Vegas."

"And if you get hurt in Oklahoma, you would be out of the running…period. So I made the call." Mark says.

I use my good arm to rub out the headache that has started to grow from this conversation.

I even out my breathing, set my voice and look directly at him "I do not pay you to make executive decisions. I pay you to talk to sponsors, set up promos and make sure I look good. I am the rider. I say when I ride, and I say when I take a draw. You WILL get me back on the roster for Oklahoma, or I will find another agent who can."

Teddy sighs "Jessssussss….Arizona! What are you trying to do? Kill yourself?" Then looks at Callie. "Dr. Torres, can you PLEASE tell this stubborn jackass that she needs to REST. That she can't ride in the condition that she is in."

All eyes turn to Callie. She's got the 'deer in the headlight' look on her face, obviously not expecting to be dragged in on this conversation. She visibly swallows and steps forward.

"Uhh… it, it-it would be best to rest for a couple weeks, yes." She adds weakly. I expected her to side with Teddy more spins to me and throws her hands out in a 'told ya so' gesture. I just roll my eyes.

I turn my look to Callie, trying to soften my features and ask "What is keeping me from riding? Medically, what would prevent me?…Barring me getting stepped on like a welcome mat again that is."

"Your shoulder inj-"

"We'll tape it again. What else?" I cut in.

"The pain from your broken-"

"I can handle the pain." I know I'm steamrolling her, but my anger from the last few days is finally starting to spill out. "What I am asking is, will I further injure myself by riding?"

Callie thinks, lets out a breath and concedes "Medically…no. In a weeks time, the fractures in your ribs would be repaired enough to handle the stress, and taping up the shoulder with Teddy's new method should provide enough support for the fracture in your collarbone. As far as the concussion…your helmet will provide enough protection against the trauma of the ride" Teddy looks at Callie like she's been stabbed in the back. Callie just gives her a shrug in response.

I look at Mark who is looking very defeated, I know he is just looking out for me, but right now I need a cut throat manager, not a dad. "Sooo…..what are we going to do Mark?"

I can see he is still looking for ways to fight me, but he sees the look on my face and knows he has no shot at winning. "Fine, I'll get you back in. But for the record, I think it's a terrible idea." He pulls out his phone and exits the room.

Teddy is left shaking her head "I…I…Jesus, Arizona….. We get it, you need to prove a point. But to what end? You've proven you are the best, why are you doing this?"

"To win without risk is to triumph without glory." I recite.

"What?" She spits.

"If I want to win, I have to make risks…..I have to Teddy. I have to risk it. I'm too close to give up because of a few pains in my side." I try to calm her, hoping she will understand.

"Right, and when you kill yourself on the back of some fucking bull, who will be the one on the dirt trying to put you back together, trying to breathe the life back into you? …Me, that's who." She snatches her purse and makes a very dramatic exit, leaving just me and Callie.

"So….sorry for busting up the party." She says. I just give a dismissive shake of my head. "How are you feeling?" she asks as she pretends to check my IV.

"Fan-fucking-tastic." I see the look on Callie's face then apologize. "Sorry, its just…he had no right to do that. It's my call."

"He was just looking out for you. He cares about you." She says as she takes a seat next to my bed. We sit in silence for a while. Each catching the others eye then awkwardly looking away.

"So….." She starts.

"So…" I parrot back.

"Are you ready to talk?" Still not making eye contact.

"Yeah" …no.

She takes a deep breath "Ok, but first, there should to be rules…."

Yeah, one. Don't break my heart again.


AN2: I know, I know...I did it again. Next chapter...maybe ;-) LoL You know what to do readers!