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… But any original characters are mine. Hands off.

AN: You all did NOT like where I ended the last chapter… But you all love it. ;-p Last chapter for tonight. Enjoy.

Chapter 36

Arizona's POV:

*BANG*

…that was close. That was too close…that was from within this wing. My stomach is clenching, rolling, doing knots, barrel rolls. My body is shaking from adrenaline, another dose being added after that last shot. I spring off the bed and exit the room at a run. There is no one in sight.

I round a corner and see the back of Callie …something's wrong. Then, the world stops. My heart stops. Callie falls back onto the floor. …jesus. The gunman moves to stand over her but sees me. I see him glance at my leg. …we've met before. All this happens in a second. Without thinking about it, without telling my body to do it, my right hand clicks open the switch blade and in the next second I send it flying from my hand. I can see if spin through the air in slow motion, just like in the cartoons. The gunman's eyes get wide as he spots the incoming danger. He doesn't have enough time to react and before I can blink the knife drives deep into his left bicep. He lets out a wail of pain. Turning, he takes off down the hall at a run to lick his wounds somewhere else. Twenty seconds had passed since I heard the gunshot, but it seems like a lifetime.

Falling on the floor beside my girlfriend, her eyes lock with mine. I place my hands on top of each other and apply pressure to her wound. There is a dark brown stain on her scrub top about three inches below her left breast. Her blood seeps around my hands, through my fingers.

"Calliope…stay with me baby… look at me…." I plead, trying to stem the bleeding. "HELP!" I call out. "He's gone. I need HELP!" I look down into those chocolate brown eyes that I love. I can see her life slipping away. She can't form words, but she grasps onto the front of my shirt. Tears stream down my face. Her eyelids start to flutter.

"NO! No…no don't….Calliope…Callie sweetie… you keep them open. Don't you dare close those beautiful eyes of yours…" I beg her, plead her.

The first person that arrives next to me is Dr. Bailey. Followed closely by Dr. Yang.

"Torres…what happened to you…"Bailey breathes out and starts barking orders at Yang and a nurse that showed up some time.

"You can… you can fix her…right?"My voice is wavering No one answers me. "Yang…you can fix her right?" The Asian woman glances up at me for a split second and then back to her fallen roommate. They pry my hands off her body, needing to look at the wound. My hands are covered in her blood. I try to wipe it off on my shirt, but they are stained red. …it won't come off…it won't come off. I move to where I am above Callie's head. I lean over and talk to her.

"Callie…they are going to fix you ok? ….You got the best of the best working on you… you're going to be fine." If only I believed that myself. Tears form at her eyes and I see drops fall on those beautiful cheeks of hers, tears that have escaped my grasp. "You…you're going to be fine. You know why?" She chokes, trying to breathe. Eyes finding mine again, I continue "Because…because we have a life to build together… right?" She gives a faint nod. "Yeah that's right… we have a house, and, and…we have a tiny horses… and we are going to get married. You'll marry me, right? …And kids, we'll have kids. All kinds of kids. You just…. You need to stay with me ok? You have to stay with me…" Her eyes flutter, and this time her body wins over.

"She's tachycardic…" Someone shouts.

"No rhythm… Paddles!"

I get pushed back and I see the body of the love of my life jump as they shock her. My body goes numb, my mind goes numb. All I feel is…nothing.

"We got sinus…"

"We need to get her to an OR…NOW." Bailey announces.

"We can't move her with that maniac still running around…" Yang says.

It's barely been a minute since I've injured the gunman and he's run off, he can't be that far ahead of us. My eyes are locked on the limp body in front of me. …she needs to be ok. She has to be ok. If she… I shake myself out of that train of thought.

"If you get her to an OR, can you save her?" My voice ice cold. Both the doctors look at me while continuing to pump life and air into her. "Can. You. Save. Her?" I ask loudly, eyes never leaving the body of the barely living goddess. …she has to make it. If anyone is going to die, it should be me.

"...it's the only way we have a shot." Yang answers.

I quickly stand, pain searing up my leg but I don't feel it. "Get her on a gurney." In seconds we have her on a rolling bed. "Take her…" I say and head off in the direction of the fleeing gunman.

"Where are you going?" Bailey calls after me.

"Save Callie…don't worry about me." …I'm clearing the way.

I run the hallways. I was the prey before, but now I'm the hunter. I have no weapon, no means to defend myself besides my fists. …that's all I need. My anger, my rage drives me forward. I track the coward like I tracked the first deer I killed. Occasional blood stains, foot prints, bullet holes, and strewn bodies are my guide. I'm not quiet…I don't need to be. I'm not afraid of him, I want to see him. He's the one that should be afraid.

Following his path of destruction, his trail leads me down one floor and another…he's going towards the surgical wing...towards Callie's only chance of survival. I need to stop him…by any means necessary. I turn a corner and find my target. The hallway is deserted. He's cradling his wounded arm with his other, gun stuck in his hand. His back is to me, walking the opposite direction. He's looking for someone…why else would he wander a hospital. He's been all over the place and he can't find what…or who he is looking for. And he's not going to. I take off at a run, pushing my body as hard and as fast as I can. He hears the fall of my heavy boots on the floor. I'm 15 yards from him….12….10…. He turns, our eyes lock. Recognition flashes across his face. …8 yards. He starts to raise his gun ….5 yards. He moves his finger to the trigger. I launch myself at him.

*BANG*

I tackle him like a linebacker, arms wrapping around his body, using my shoulder to knock him off his feet. I feel a flash of pain in my left side, but it doesn't stop me. …pain is good, pain means I'm still alive. He flies back, gun sliding along the floor. I land on top of him. He reaches for the dropped weapon, and I land a right fist across face.

He brings a left fist to my chin, and pushes me off him. Crawling forward on his hands and knees toward the gun, I pull him back. He fights me off with a shoe to the face. I feel my nose break, I feel blood start running freely. I jump on top of him and he collapses on the ground. I start nailing him in the kidneys, landing one strong punch after another and he yells in pain. He pushes himself and my weight off the ground and he climbs on top of me. One hand closes around my throat and brings a fist down hard on my face. I can feel the bones crack. …fuck…. I see stars, but I keep fighting. I'm not fighting for my life, I'm fighting for Callie's. To save her, or avenge her…I don't know yet.

He winds up for another punch but I pull a knee up and catch him right in his junk. Both hands cup himself and he rolls off me. I take a second to breathe then haul myself up. He rises as well and we face off. Blood is covering my face, dripping down onto my shirt. My leg has long since gone numb from pain.

"Why did you do this?" I ask, gasping for air. The taste of iron making me sick

"They killed my wife…" He groans out.

The man starts for the gun, but I run intercept him, pushing him back against a wall. A split second later, I haul a right fist across his face.

"So you take MINE?" I feel bones snap in my hand like they are kindling but I don't register pain. His face is red and swollen. He pushes me back and wipes blood off his face, but only managing to smear it around.

"Don't you look pretty…" I breathe out. I want him to fight. I want him to want to kill me. I want to rub him out like a fucking mistake. Rage urges me on. I see red, nothing else but red. Again, he moves for the gun but I pin him to the wall. I grab the front of his jacket, pull him back and slam him back again. My left fist makes contact against his face, then again. He howls in pain. His hand finds hold in my hair and he pulls my head in as his comes flying forward, head butting me.

"Son of a…." I grab my forehead, a fresh wave of blood descending down my face.

I step back in pain, my eyes not focusing. He takes advantage of my disorientation and brings a foot down on top of my bullet wound, which is enough to bring me to the ground. Feeling back in control, he forgets the gun. Stalking around me, he pulls his leg back and kicks me in the stomach. Then again. I can feel my ribs crack, my breath getting stuck in my throat. He leans in close, examining my mess of a face. Spitting a mixture of saliva and his own blood on me, he winds his leg up again and kicks me square in the face. My body threatens to give out on me…to defy me. I can feel unconsciousness lurking around the periphery of my mind. But I fight it off. He pulls back for another kick, but I catch his foot and knock him off balance.

He comes down hard, knocking the wind out of him. I move on top of him, hold him down limply in my broken right hand and raise a left fist above him. He raises his hands to defend himself but it's not enough to stop the force that I create out of pure rage and hate alone. My fist makes contact with his face again. I feel my wrist give. Pain is radiating throughout my body. Everything hurts. My face is covered in blood. I've got I don't know how many broken bones. My head is pounding and spinning. I can't breathe. But I know I can't stop. I can't stop. …not until I feel his life slip from my fingers. Not until I know Callie is safe. …is alive…

Running out of hands, I pull back my right arm and bring my elbow down on to his face. I can feel his bones crush beneath me. Another elbow to his mouth. His teeth catch my skin, tearing me open. But I keep it up. His body is limp, all fight gone. …You killed her… you did this. I keep going. Another elbow, and another. ..you took her from my life, now I will take your life from you. I won't stop. You killed her…you shot her. You bastard…I'm sending you straight to hell where you belong. I don't care if I'm right behind you…I'll see you there.

I bring my bloody and broken elbow back for another blow when a strong pair of arms pulls me off the limp man. I fight against them. …I'm not done, he's still alive. I'm not done.

"Let me go! …He shot her! ….I'll kill him!" I yell, giving my all to break free of the restraining arms around me, which can't be much at this point.

"We've got him… ma'am…he can't hurt you anymore…" I see a SWAT member clutching an automatic weapon walk around me and check the guy for a pulse. He nods, signaling that the gunman is still alive. ..you're a lucky son of a bitch. 30 more seconds and you would be on the express train to hell.

I wrestle myself from the guys grasp. I take in the scene in front of me. A gun not 5 feet from where the guy is laying. His face bruised, bloody, swollen. His knuckles bloody from the force inflicted on my face and body. Blood, a mixture of his and mine, is everywhere. The floor, the wall, there's even some on the ceiling. We are each wearing the others blood on our clothing. Dents in the walls from where I rammed him. My whole body hurts. If it wasn't for the adrenaline and rage that is keeping me going, I'm sure I'd be unconscious.

"Arizona…" I hear a tentative voice call from behind me. I turn and the woman gasps. "Oh my g-"

"Where is she?" I cut her off. …please tell me she is alive. The redhead looks confused. "Callie…where is she?" My eyes won't focus, not that it would do much good because I can't see through the red that is caked to my face.

"OR 3." She says. …she made it to the OR, that means she's still alive…for now.

"Take me." I can't go anywhere under my own power.

"You need to-"

"Take. ME." I growl, ending any argument that was about to take place. I spit out blood that has pooled in my mouth. I can't touch my face, it hurts…everything hurts everywhere.

She leads me to the observation deck of OR 3. I look down and see my Callie lying on the table. Yang and Bailey working with everything they have to save the love of my life. Addison brings me Callie's white lab coat, like it will be of some comfort. It would be, except it is still wet with my girlfriend's blood.

Addison moves to the intercom and asks "How is she?"

Yang and Bailey glance up and take in my state, shock crossing their faces, but quickly going back to work. Yang answers "I don't know… the bullet bounced around like a fricking ping pong ball. There's so much damage."

"Can you save her?" I ask, needing a yes or no.

She makes eye contact with me "I…I don't…I don't know…I'm past my depth right now…" Her words wash over me. …I could lose her. The most amazing woman in the world could die…how can I help. I need to do something. To save her. I always have to save her. I will always pull the trigger. I will always step in front of an oncoming train to protect her. I think, rack my brain for any possible options. Only one comes to mind…I have no other choice.

I pull Callie's phone out of the pocket of her lab coat and find the one number I know she hasn't used in over a year. I press the 'call' button and hold it limply in my left hand. It rings and rings. The more it rings, the more tears fall from my eyes.

Finally, "Hello?" The woman's voice is uncertain.

"Erica…Erica Hahn?" I breathe out.

"Yes…"

…you need to save her.

AN2: Cue dramatic cut-away. Come on, you know what to do. Click that little bubble and give me your thoughts. I love to hear from you all.