Arizona was still complaining as they transferred her from Hermans consultation rooms to her own room. She was not happy at the idea of being readmitted, and wanted everyone to know exactly how unhappy she was. "Oh Callie," she suddenly gasped as her yes caught sight of one of the clocks above the nurses station as she was wheeled to her room, "I can't be here, YOU can't be here. We have physio!"
"Yeah right!" Callie chuckled softly
"Noooooo, Callie, we have to go, we are doing so well!"
Callie sighed as she waited for the porter to lock the brakes on her wifes bed and leave them before taking the tearful blondes hand in hers. "Arizona. I am NOT leaving you, no way am I going anywhere right now. And there is no way you are up to doing a couple of hours physio, don't be silly!"
"Silly? You think I'm silly!" Arizonas eyes flew open
"No, no no, no! I don't think you are silly" Callie said quickly, "I meant it would be a silly idea to expect you to keep the physio appointment when Herman is so concerned about your health right now. That, that's all. Physio can wait. You and our babies can't. I'm going nowhere, and neither are you!"
"Thanks for reminding me" came the soft reply
"It's gonna be fine" Callie reassured her as she pulled the chair nearer and slowly lowered herself to sit down, her hand never letting go of Arizonas. "Herman is being cautious, and that's good right? I would rather her be over cautious than cavalier, have her send you home when you were at risk!"
"I'm NOT at risk, I'm not. So my BP s a little high, big deal!"
"It IS a big deal Arizona. A HUGE deal. You're a doctor for heavens sake! You must be aware of what high BP means in pregnancy! There is the risk of stroking out, of pre-eclampsia, of haemorrhage, of , of…."
"Ok, I get it. I know the risks" Arizona said softly. "I do. But Callie, I had just got, we were finally moving forward and putting everything behind us. I was finally free of it all. And now, now here I am, back in a hospital bed, knowing my parents are yet again rushing over to be here with me, putting their lives on hold, your parents are rushing around, making sure Sofia is safe, worried about YOU because you are worried about ME. And you, sat here, looking at me and trying to be so strong. Don't think for a moment I can't see the fear in your eyes, don't think I don't know you are freaking out right now. And that hurts me, because I am doing that to you again, I am putting you through hell and…."
"And it's not your fault!" Callie quickly cut in. "It's not your fault baby. Yes, I'm scared, terrified. I hate to see you in pain, I hate to see you scared and know there is nothing I can do about it except hold your hand and wait. But Arizona, none of this is your fault, so, uhm, stop feeling guilty. It's bad for your blood pressure!""
Arizonas eyes shot wide open and she glanced at her wife, giving a short laugh as she saw the hint of mischief in those gorgeous brown eyes. "Funny Torres!" she muttered.
"Hi!" a young intern said as he came strolling through the door. "Dr Herman asked me to draw some bloods" he explained nervously
"No!" Arizona said quickly, so quickly that the young intern dropped the file he had tucked under his arm. "Get out!" she snapped
"Uhm, but Dr Herman…"
"Can come get the bloods herself if she needs them!" the blonde woman in the bed glared at him and he swallowed noisily
"Bu, but she, uhm…I….she…." he stammered.
Callie looked over and gave him a small smile. "Why don't you leave the kit here!" she suggested kindly. "If Nicole, sorry Dr Herman, has the time later she can pop in and it is all waiting for her. Ok?"
"Ok" he nodded gratefully before placing them on the table in front of Callie and quickly heading out of the room
"Did you see the way he was shaking?" Arizona huffed indignantly, "no way was he getting near me"
"Uh huh" Callie said as she gently stroked her wifes arm, slowly edging the sleeve up and pursing her lips. "So, whilst we have some time to ourselves, guess we really DO have to talk about names huh, seeing as I was joking when I suggested Aladdin and Hercules!"
Arizona gave a small smile. "Thank God! Though I do think Sofia would be happy. Hmmmm, that feels nice baby!" she sighed as Callie kept stroking her arm
"Well, good! Close your eyes, just relax a while. Don't need to be sitting up to talk right?" Callie grinned as she carefully uncapped the needle the intern had left and with her free hand assembled the blood draw kit. "So" she began softly, "any ideas yet?"
"Well, I was thinking of Carlos! Your dad has done so much for us over the last few years, and he is an incredible Abuelo. He loves Sofia SO much, can only imagine what he is going to be like with grandsons!"
Callie chuckled. "Probably just as daft as THE Colonel is going to be! And he is also an incredible Grandfather Zo, so if Carlos for one, Daniel for the other?"
"I don't know!" Arizona sighed. "I really don't! You'd think having twins would mean the choices would be less stressful, but I don't wanna get it wrong! We decided on Sofia because all three of us liked it, it was the only name Mark agreed with us about!"
"To be fair, there was no way any child of mine was going to be called Clementine!"
The blonde smirked. "He DID like that name, and, Callie?"
"Hmm?"
"You're not as sneaky and gentle as you'd like to think!" Opening her blue eyes and looking down at her arm as Callie switched vials she gave a quick shake of her head. "I felt the first pull!" she whispered
"Really?" Callie smirked as she tilted her head to the table, "but not the other two?"
"Wow! Impressive" Arizona nodded
"Magic hands baby" Callies smile grew and she gave a small wink, "magic hands"
"Don't I know it!" Arizona giggled
"Oh please, seriously! You two even make drawing blood sound like foreplay!" came a strident voice from the door
"Nicole" Arizona huffed. "Come to send me home?"
"I came to see why you had chased out my intern, the poor wimp will need therapy after you yelled at him!"
"His hands were shaking and he looked scared, no way he was coming near me!" Arizona explained patiently
"He has to learn!" Nicole snapped back
"NOT on me!" Arizonas eyes flashed and the argument was over, especially as Callie chose that moment to fix the plaster on her wifes arm and nod at the small full vials in the tray waiting to be collected.
"So" Herman came to sit on the edge of the bed and gave a small sigh. "I have spoken to Addison, told her your BP readings, and she agrees with me that they are too far above the safety level to ignore. The blood work us will give us some further information and we will decide the next step after they come through. We want to leave the babies in there as long as possible Robbins, you must know that. We had only estimated 30 weeks as a possible delivery date, but we had every hope that we would be able to push that to 34 weeks…you are normally fit and healthy and working on one kidney doesn't seem to have had too much of an impact on your system, so far! But, well, that could be one of the reasons your BP is out of control. It could be because your whole body is still recovering from being shot! You certainly don't believe in doing things the easy way do you Robbins?"
"Certainly doesn't!" Callie chuckled before planting a quick kiss on Arizonas cheek. "So, does this mean you are keeping her in?"
"Yes, I'm so sorry Arizona, but it does" the older doctor said kindly as she patted her hand where Callie held it in hers. "I know you aren't happy about that, but this is the best place for you right now!"
"I disagree!" The blonde pouted slightly, "The best place is at home, with my wife and my daughter!"
Herman chuckled a fraction and shook her head. "So, you would rather be at home, where your wife will be so concerned she won't sleep a wink, even though she herself is still recovering from major surgery and needs ALL the rest she can get? Especially as she has to be ready to care not just for you, but soon for three little ones? You would rather be at home where every time you wince or look pale her heart rate will soar in panic and…."
"Ok, ok, I get it! Jeez, emotional blackmail! Who knew you would stoop so low Herman!" Arizona muttered
"No, I'm not stooping low Goldilocks. I'm saying it as it is! Do you think for one minute that Callie will tell you how she would be too scared to sleep if she took you home right now, knowing how high your BP is? Do you? Your baby blues have got that bad ass Torres tamed, she can't say no to you, and she is your wife, so it would be tough to say no. I, on the other hand, am your doctor, and have no such qualms. So, no, Robbins. You're not going home anytime soon!"
After a few moments of silence Callie cleared her throat and quietly asked. "Arizona will only just be on 27 weeks tomorrow…"
"You can be so exact!" Nicole guffawed
Callie glanced at Arizona and nodded. "Yeah, we can. Anyway, as I said, 27 weeks tomorrow, and we saw the scans, the twins look…a good size, everything looked, normal. If you, if we have to deliver, do you think they will be ok?"
Herman again sighed and pursed her lips a fraction. "You are both doctors. You know the risks of early births. Twins are naturally smaller, so by default, if we bring them out early, they will be tiny, and there will be risks. But, 27 weeks is not the most dangerous zone, you should both know that, I believe your daughter came at 23 weeks, now THAT is tiny and dangerous, but 27 weeks? Not ideal, but, viable!"
"Viable" Arizona laughed, "Makes it sound like a science project!"
"I have to be practical here Robbins!" Nicole said softly. "I have to treat you as any other patient, as difficult as that is, not many other patients have their wife to draw their blood for them or argue statistics with me….and not all of my patients are people who I consider to be my friends. So, it is tough for me to, believe me. But, I will do everything in my power to get you through this, you….your big lug of a wife, and those tiny babies of yours. You just have to trust me, listen to me, and do as you're told…."
"Good luck with that!" Callie whispered
"And I'll get you through this. And when Addison gets here, we will all sit down and sort this out together. Ok?"
Callie looked at Arizona and kissed the back of her hand. "Ok!" she whispered as the two of them looked back at Nicole.
"Good, now. Robbins, get some sleep. Torres, your mom is outside to take you home!"
"NO! No way, I am not going anywhere, I am staying…."
"At home, until I call you to come back later. You need to rest to, or weren't you paying attention to my somewhat OTT speech? Don't make me repeat it, I'll get indigestion!"
"You will? My ears will bleed!" Arizona hissed before looking back at Callie and smiling. "It's fine, I'm fine. Go home Callie, rest, and don't worry about me. I promise to behave, at least until Addison gets here! So, go home. I need you to be strong for me, ok?"
Callie chewed nervously on her lip, she didn't want to leave her wifes side, not for a second. But, it was logical that she rested now, the days ahead were going to be long and difficult. "Fine, I'll go home for now. Oh, and Nicole? Big lug of a wife? Thanks!"
Herman grinned and winked as she stood up. "Any time Torres! Now. GO HOME!"
[xx]
That had been eight days ago. Eight of the longest days of Callies life! She confessed to her mother in law, on one of their daily drives over to Grey Sloan, that the only other time she had felt more anxious was when Arizonas plane had been missing. Instantly seeing the pain that had flashed through the older womans eyes Callie had mumbled an apology and quickly changed the subject, talking instead about the endless deliveries that had been arriving at their home. Callie had been shocked when she had got home from visiting Arizona on her second day in hospital, to find her dad and Daniel covered from head to toe in pain, laughing with each other as they enjoyed a quick cup of tea and a sandwich on her front lawn. She had vaguely heard them mention that morning about decorating the nursery, after she had confirmed the biggest guest room was to be the boys nursery, and the smaller one next to Sofia would eventually be for their daughter. She had vaguely heard them, but had just guessed it would be for them to direct the decorators to. So, yeah, she had been surprised to come home and find it was the two dads that had picked up the paint brushes and rollers, and done it themselves! The first time, to Callies knowledge, that either man had done any form of DIY! The Colonel always moved into army houses, so had them pre=decorated or had his squaddies in. And Carlos Torres? With all the money in his bank account it was different types of rollers he was used to!
Callie had walked into the freshly painted room and gasped in delight. The walls were a very pale cream, with soft pale blue curtains and two matching rugs on the newly polished floorboards. The cots that had been delivered the day before were assembled, and just waiting for the last finishing flourishes. Daniel had assured her that the two changing tables and the storage cupboards would be in place in a matter of days, and had then forbidden her from going back into the room until Arizona was with her. And she had done as she was told. Every day new parcel arrived, she and her mothers ticked them off their lists, and her dads took them away to be assembled or stored. Leaving Callie with nothing else to do but visit her panicking wife, and hold her hand for as long as she was allowed to stay!
The eight days had seen Arizonas BP fluctuate, but alas not come down sufficiently to be considered safe. Her blood results had indicated that her remaining kidney was struggling, so Addie and Nicole had called in Bailey, who once again set Arizona back up on dialysis to help her out, much to the blondes disgust and Callies dismay. To add to their woes, she was not only anaemic, but had developed gestational diabetes. Despite all this, Arizona still wanted to come home, and every visit .Callie spent well over half the time repeating word for word all the reasons she couldn't. No matter how much it was breaking the brunettes heart to not have her wife at home with her, the hospital was the only safe place for Arizona to be.
Today, as Callie walked into the room she gave a small smile. "Notice anything?" she asked softly as she hovered in the doorway
Arizona tilted her head a fraction and scrunched up her eyes. Suddenly she gasped. "A cane! Oh Callie, you're on a cane! No more crutches?"
Callie finished crossing the room and gently kissed her wife before sitting down. "The crutches are still around!" she sighed, "but only if I'm doing a lot of walking. I needed them to go shopping with my mom last night, on the way home, but that could have been because I was tired to. I did two hours of physio before I came to see you and…."
"Didn't realise visiting me was so tiring!" the blonde huffed out
"Not what I was going to say and you know it! I wanted to say I did the physio, then visited you….but didn't want to show you the cane until I was sure it was ok. So I uhm, I went back to the gym after I left you, and did another couple of hours, so I could surprise you"
Arizona looked at her and reached for her hand. "I'm sorry!" she sniffed as a tear ran down her cheek. "I didn't mean to yell at you. I'm so proud of you Callie, but please, don't push yourself so hard for me, after all, we don't want you landing back in here to1" she offered with a weak smile
Callie kissed the back of her hand before leaning out of her chair to softly kiss her wife, a small moan left her as she felt her wifes hand wrap themselves in her hair
"Oh no, not again!" came a familiar chuckle from the doorway. "Every time I walk in here you two are smooching like lovelorn horny teenagers!"
"Well Addison, perhaps if you had the courtesy to knock, we would be more presentable!" Callie huffed as she reluctantly say back down in her seat and glared at her red headed best friend.
Addie gave another small smile before walking fully into the room and closing the door behind her, she pulled a chair up and sat next to Callie, clearing her throat slightly she licked her lips and looked nervously at first Callie, then Arizona
"Uh oh!" Callie muttered as she reached for Arizonas hand and gripped it reassuringly
Addie nodded a fraction before she looked at her noted and started. "Arizona, it has been eight days you have been here now…"
"I'm fully aware of that thank you!" the blonde muttered
"Arizona!" Callie chided as she glanced at her sulking wife
"It's ok, I get why you're cranky!" Addison smiled gently. "And, your results after last night won't be helping. They will be making you feel more….unsettled"
"Results? Last night? Arizona? Addison? What?" Callie had sat up and was looking wild eyed between her friend and wife
With a sigh Addison looked at the guilty looking blonde before explaining. "Arizona had an episode last night. It started as a hypo, and we struggled to control that, but then she, she uhm…"
"I fitted ok?" Arizona whispered. "It happens, it was the diabetes, nothing to worry about"
"Wo…wo…WORRY ABOUT! You didn't call me? You didn't think to call me? Nobody called to tell me my wife needed me!" Callie was standing as she leaned into Addison and yelled. "She needed me, you promised me Addie, you….you promised me. I told you I had to be here for her, I should have been here, I should have…."
"CALLIE!" Arizon reached for the brunette and pulled her to her. "Don't blame Addie. I told her not to call you. It was the early hours of the morning, you need to sleep. If they had called it would have woken not just you but your mom, Sofia. Your whole day would have been ruined for what?"
"For what?" Callie asked incredulously. "Arizona!"
"I came out of the hypo fine, and they were too busy to call you when I was fitting, but the time they went to call I was out of it, and I told them not to call you, I made that decision , because I was ok, and I didn't want to worry you"
"Oh baby" Callie sighed as she rested her forehead on the top of her wifes head. "I always worry about you, but I should have been here. I have to be here, to look after you!"
Addison let them calm each other before she spoke softly again. "Arizona, the blood results we took. Your kidney is struggling, the dialysis helped but not as much as we'd hoped. Your anaemia isn't improving, and there are high traces ok protein. You BP is out of control. Arizona, Callie, we have talked about this. We have given you as long as we can. I'm sorry, we can't wait anymore. It's too dangerous for the babies, and it is far too dangerous for you Arizona. I'm sorry sweetie, but it's time"
"Time?" Callie whispered as she stood and looked down into terrified blue eyes.
"Callie" Arizona whimpered
"I've already put the call to clear an OR. Herman is going to be there with me, and Bailey. Karev is on standby to look after your boys and Meredith has asked if she can be there to help as well but, I said I would check with you both…after all, it's gonna get a little crowded in there!"
"You've already booked the OR?" Callie mumbled in a daze, her eyes still locked on Arizonas
"Yeah, we should be in there within the hour " Addison replied softly. "Callie, Arizona. I know you're scared, I know you are. And believe me, I wish we could try and leave things a little longer, but we have given you as long as we can! We've tried, we really have. But, these kids of yours? Already as stubborn as their mommas….they want out, and they want out right now! Who am I to deny a Robbins-Torres!?"
Callie looked at her wife again and nodded before she whispered. "Can you uh, just give us a few minutes alone Addie? Please?"
"Oh uh, yeah, sure! Sure!" She quickly stood up and headed to the door. "Is it ok if I tell your mom what's happening Callie? She can call the rest of your folks? One less job for you huh?"
"Yeah, thanks Adds" Callie said gratefully She waited until the door closed behind the red head before turning to her wife and sighing heavily. "Wow!"
"Yeah!" Arizona whispered. "Wow…Callie?"
"Ummhmm?"
"I'm scared!"
"Me to sweetie. Me to." And with that, she wrapped her arms around the love of her life, and hugged her as tightly as she could
[xx]
"Ready ladies!" Nicole Herman said as she glanced down the top of the table were Callie sat next to Arizona, holding her wifes hand as tightly as she could. They were in the OR a little over an hour after Addison had been in to speak to them, Callie was gowned and terrified, Arizona was draped and pleasantly medicated, but equally as terrified as Callie
Callie swallowed and locked her eyes on Arizonas. "Are we ready?" she asked softly
'Nope!" Arizona gave a lopsided grin. "But let's do it anyway!"
Callie leaned as close to Arizonas as she could and whispered. "I love you"
The blonde grinned and nodded as she sighed slightly. "I love you to, so much"
Callie looked up as she heard Addison call for a ten blabe. "Eyes on your wife Torres!" her friend chuckled as she worked. "I can't concentrate with you cow eyes watching me1"
"No problem!" Callie chuckled back. "I could look at my wife all day every day1"
"Bleurgh, THAT'S why Robbins got diabetes!" Herman chuckled as she stepped forward to help Montgomery after the first cut. "That's a lot of fluid!" she murmured as she tried to clear the surgical site.
"Hmm, still just shy of 28 weeks, I suppose it is to be expected!" Montgomery replied as she manouvered her hand into the cut. "OK!" she said brightly. "Ready Karev?"
"Ready!" came the gruff voice from behind Callie
"Ok, here's the shoulders, uh, damn the cord it…."
"It's ok, I got it" Herman cut in as she deftly worked the cord free of the babies neck. "It wasn't wound tight, not a problem"
"Ooooh, that feels weird!" Arizona giggled slightly, like some tugging at my belly button!"
"Yeah?" Callie grinned. "But you're ok right? Not hurting?"
Arizona tightened her hold on Callies hand. "I'm good!" she whispered. "No pain, and I get to hold your hand!"
"Always sweetie" Callies smile broadened, but she resisted the urge to bend down and kiss her wife
Addison laughed a she gasped. "And, ok, baby number one is here and….!"
Immediately the OR rang out to the sound of a shrill cry….
"And seems to have a very healthy set of lungs, dontcha little guy…yeah you do! I'm your Auntie Addie, yes I am, and I'm gonna teach you how to mix a mean cocktail and…."
"DR MONTGOMERY!" Herman hissed. "We are still somewhat busy here! Torres, wanna cut the cord?"
"Go ahead1" Arizona smiled as Callie hesitated. "Go on!"
Callie swallowed and slowly stood, coming to stand next to Herman she took the surgical scissors in her hand and for the first time, stared at her son. Tears were rolling down her face as he looked back up at her, his feet already kicking in objection to being dragged out of his warm surroundings . "Just like your momma huh, you don't like the cold do you little guy." She husked as she deftly cut the cord and then stroked his cheek
"Karev!" Herman barked out. "Come and take this baby, check his readings and keep him warm!"
Callie chuckled as she quickly retook her seat next to Arizona. "He is beautiful Zo! So beautiful"
"Your biased!" Arizona drowsily muttered
"Sweetie? You ok!" Callie asked as she saw the way her wifes eyes were fluttering. "Addie….ADDIE….what….what's happening?"
Just as Callie finised speaking the alarm next to Arizona started to beep frantically.
"Oh crap!" yelled Herman. "Montgomery, get a move on getting that other baby out! Her BP is dropping, heart rate erratic. MONTGOMERY! MOVE!"
"Arizona?" Sweetie!" Callie was shaking her wifes shoulder trying desperately to get her to look at her
"Karev!" Addison called, "get Torres out of here!"
"NO! NO! I'm not leaving her…don't you dare touch me Karev…back off!" Callie yelled as she glared over her shoulder at him
"Fine, you stay, but step back to the wall!" Herman order, pointing at the wall were a nervous Bailey and Meredith Shepherd stood.
"Baby two is out, cord is cut….Karev, take him!" Addison yelled as she started to frantically look for the cause of the drastic drop in blood pressure. "There's no bleeds, site is clear!" she called in frustration.
"BP is still dropping!" Bailey intoned, her eyes fixed on Arizonas monitors. "Sats are down to 91%, there is a bleed somewhere! She needs to be intubated!"
""On it!" Meredith yelled as she moved and grabbed the kit
"Addie….FIND that bleed!" Bailey begged as she snapped on a fresh pair of gloves and set up more fluids on the IV attached to Robbins. "And get me some more O neg!"
"Well it's not the uterus, or, or…oh…oh crap. Look at her heart rate!" Addison gasped as Bailey stepped forward and yelled "Someone page Pierce….NOW!"
""Her heart!" Callie sobbed, her eyes wide and fixed on Arizonas face.
"C'mon Arizona Robbins!" Bailey huffed, "don't do this, not now…your babies are here….Callie is here. You don't get to do this I now. You. DON'T!" Just as she finished the tone of the alarm changed. "No…she's in V-fib!"
Almost by magic the nurse had the defibrillator charged and the paddles in Baileys hands. "Charging 200….clear!"
Callie gasped at the thunk that echoed around the OR, she held her breath as she looked at the monitors. Whimpering when she saw no change
"Charge again!" Bailey yelled. "Charge to 250…and…..clear!"
Again the thunk echoed, but as Callie held her breath a second time, the tense silence was broken by the soft grizzling of a new born baby. "No!" Callie sobbed as she felt the strength start to leave her. "No"
"Charge again! Charge to 300….and…clear…."
