A/N: Thank you all so much for reading and commenting :-). I am actually really excited about this story and can't wait for you to read some of the scenes I have already written, but we have to get to them first as they are spread out throughout the next chapters so let's get on with it... As always looking forward to reading your thoughts and reactions :-). Oh and the medical/hospital related stuff… I do my best with research but I might as well be inventing stuff there, so go easy on me ;-).
CHAPTER 2
I feel like I know you but I don't really know who you are, the words were ringing in Callie's ears, as the room started spinning around her.
"Are you okay?" she heard Arizona's voice and she quickly pulled herself together.
"Umm…, let me get Amelia!" Callie said and rushed out of the room avoiding any contact with Arizona's gaze.
Arizona's eyes followed Callie out and she suddenly started feeling nervous.
Callie rushed through the hall towards the neuro office, tears in her eyes, trying to keep it together even though every cell in her body needed her to fall apart, to scream and let this overwhelming feeling out.
She saw Amelia and Bailey down the hall and rushed towards them.
"Callie? What happened?" Amelia asked and immediately started rushing towards Arizona's room but Callie grabbed her hand and stopped her.
"She's awake," Callie blurted out quickly.
"All the more reason for me to go see her," Amelia said as her eyes dropped to Callie's hand which was preventing her to move.
"She didn't recognize me…" Callie whispered.
"What?" Bailey asked, her eyes focusing on Callie.
Callie shook her head in an attempt to stop the tears from falling.
"She doesn't know who I am… she looked at my wedding ring and asked if we were having an affair…, she…" Callie's voice trembled as she tried to keep herself composed, "…she said she feels like she knows me but doesn't really know who I am…"
"Does she know who she is?" Amelia asked.
"I… I do-n't know," Callie whispered, "I rushed out, I had to get out of there, I can't fall apart in front of her… she doesn't need additional stress…"
"Okay, I need to go check her up," Amelia said as she softly pushed Callie's hand away.
Callie nodded her head, "I need a few minutes…" she whispered.
Amelia tapped Callie's hand, "Take your time."
Callie turned around and stepped forward to find an on-call room.
"Callie," Amelia called and Callie turned back again. "If she asks… about you… she might ask who you are… do you want me to tell her, or do you want to tell her yourself?"
"I… I don't know," Callie whispered, "Is there, umm… medically, is there a better option? From your experience?"
"Well, sometimes it's easier if the doctor delivers the news, the emotional side she would see in your eyes is not present and it wouldn't be overwhelming for her and also gives her time to process the information, so when she sees you again it would be less strenuous for both of you."
Callie nodded her head, "Okay," she whispered as Miranda squeezed her hand. "Do you want company?"
"No, thank you, I just need a few minutes to wrap my head around this..."
"Okay," Miranda nodded her head and let go of Callie's hand as she followed Amelia towards Arizona's room.
Callie took a few more steps and opened the door to the on-call room. She sat on the bed and stared at the floor as Arizona's words echoed in her head again, I feel like I know you but I don't really know who you are… Callie closed her eyes as tears started rolling down her cheeks. How am I supposed to wrap my head around this…? she thought. Thirteen days ago she kissed me goodbye and told me she loved me, and now… Callie felt like a heavy burden was pressing inside her chest, it was hard to breathe, she wanted to scream, she needed to scream the frustration out but she couldn't… her lips trembled as she buried her head in her hands and started sobbing.
ARIZONA'S HOSPITAL ROOM
Arizona's eyes never left the door that the brunette exited through. She felt nervous, and afraid a bit. The woman was upset that she didn't recognize her and she felt bad about it. They clearly knew each other, it was obvious, or the woman would not have been here by her side all the time, but why didn't she remember her, why didn't she know who she was, she did seem familiar…, I feel like I should know who she is… Arizona thought when two female doctors appeared at the door.
"Hi, I'm Amelia Shepherd, I'm your doctor, it's nice to see you awake finally," Amelia said as she approached Arizona's bed.
"Yes, you examined me already, you err…, asked me if my head was hurting…"
"Yes, that was me, excellent, you remember that, so how are you feeling?"
"I feel really tired, and my head still hurts, especially when I keep my eyes open."
Amelia nodded her head as she checked Arizona's pupils and body responses, "Okay, we should get a new MRI scan to check your status. Is it okay if I ask you a few questions?"
"Sure," Arizona nodded her head as her eyes travelled to the other doctor who had this sort of a superiority vibe about her, something almost scary, but there was also something tender, and very protective in her eyes as well.
"Do you know your name?" Arizona heard her doctor ask and slowly turned her eyes back to Amelia.
"Arizona Robbins?" Arizona said and looked at Amelia with a puzzled expression on her face.
"Is that a question?" Amelia asked.
"I just… I find it weird that you are asking me if I know my name," Arizona said still puzzled a bit.
"There was an accident and you suffered a head injury so I need to do a full brain functionality check on you."
Arizona nodded her head slightly, "Arizona Robbins, Peds surgeon, I work at Seattle Grace Hospital as an attending."
"Okay, that's great, do you know where you are now?" Amelia asked.
Arizona looked around, "I would be guessing, some of the things look like it could be Seattle Grace but it's not the same," she explained as her eyes landed on Miranda Bailey again.
"I feel like I'm supposed to know you…" Arizona stated.
Bailey forced a smile worried that she might upset Arizona. "We are at Seattle Grace," Miranda informed deciding to leave the Mercy West part of the name out of the details for now. Can you tell me who the Chief of Peds Surgery is?" she asked.
"Dr. Kenley, Dr. Jordan Kenley," Arizona said.
"And who else do you know at the hospital?" Miranda asked as she tried not to let her worry show on her face.
"Well, I know the Chief of Surgery, Chief Webber..."
Bailey's face lit up, "Oh, you know Dr. Webber!"
"Yes, he hired me a few years ago."
"Okay that's great I'll page him to come here," Miranda informed as she took her pager.
"Anyone else?" Amelia asked.
"Well, Dr. Smith and Dr. Yu, they have assisted on a few of Dr. Kenley's surgeries, and a couple of residents but as you know we don't really allow residents to assist on the procedures on children until well into their fourth year of general surgical residency, and very few actually decide to pursue the peds fellowship since it is so hard to get in. I know a few nurses, and some of the administrative staff…"
Bailey nodded her head. "Do any of these names sound familiar to you, Derek Shepherd, Meredith Grey, Cristina Yang, Mark Sloan, Lexie Grey, Alex Karev?" Miranda asked as Arizona shook her head.
"How about Torres, Callie Torres..?" Amelia asked.
Arizona shook her head, "No, none of them sound familiar," she paused for a second and then looked at Amelia, "So obviously my memory has been compromised."
Amelia nodded her head.
"How much time am I missing?" Arizona asked.
"Well, according to your current answers a bit over three years, because Dr. Kenley passed away three years ago, January 2009, we are now in late May 2012," Bailey explained.
Arizona opened her mouth in shock. "I'm missing three years…!?"
"Well, this is just a general estimate based on our conversation right now, we would have to do a thorough analysis to see if there are any bits and pieces that you remember from that period, or something missing from before," Amelia explained.
Arizona nodded her head and looked at Bailey again, "And you are?"
"Dr. Miranda Bailey, general surgery attending, and you offered me a Peds Fellowship two years ago."
"I offered it to you?" Arizona asked as she squinted her eyes, "Me?" she emphasized.
Miranda smiled, "Yes, Dr. Robbins, you have been Chief of Peds Surgery ever since Dr. Kenley died, and you have been doing one hell of a job if I might add."
"Chief…" Arizona whispered.
"Yes, and you were a pain in the ass when I first met you! Rolling on your wheely sneakers, all around the hospital halls, you're lucky Webber allowed you to do that," Miranda said rolling her eyes a bit trying to ease the moment.
"Oh, Heelys, they are so much fun!"
"You remember using them?" Amelia asked.
"Oh yes, have you ever tried, they are super fun!"
"I want to do more tests later today if you are up to it, to check which parts of your memory have been affected…"
Arizona nodded her head, "So the woman who was here earlier?"
"Yes, she is Dr. Callie Torres, orthopedic surgeon," Bailey explained.
"How do I know her?" Arizona asked.
Bailey looked at Amelia.
Amelia took a deep breath, "She's your wife…, you are married to her."
Arizona's mouth stayed open, she tried to say something but could not speak as the word married rang in her head.
"Married…" she finally whispered as Chief Webber entered the room.
"Arizona! I am so happy to see you awake finally," he said with a broad smile on his face making Arizona turn her head to him.
We are on the first name basis?, Arizona wondered, "Hi Dr. Webber," she greeted him and offered him a slight smile.
"So how are you feeling? Where's Torres, does she know? Why isn't there a celebration going on in this room!?" he asked with excitement in his voice and looked at Bailey and Amelia's grim faces.
"What's wrong?" he asked and looked at Arizona again.
"Arizona's memory has been affected," Amelia explained as she watched worry replace the broad smile on Richard's face.
"How bad is it?" Richard asked.
"Well, apparently out of the six or seven names they mentioned, I only remember you and Dr. Kenley, who I have just learned passed away three years ago. And I'm trying to wrap my head around the fact that I'm actually Chief of Peds Surgery, and apparently I'm married to a woman I don't even remember."
"You don't remember Callie?" Richard asked with surprise. "What about Sofia?" he said and Bailey looked at him with panic in her eyes and shook her head slightly signaling to Richard not to go there.
"Who's Sofia?" Arizona asked.
There were a few seconds of silence when Callie interrupted it appearing at the door. Arizona looked at her and felt sad seeing the mixture of emotions in the woman's eyes.
"Sorry, I got held up," Callie mumbled while briefly catching Arizona's eyes before averting her own towards Amelia. She took a deep breath to compose herself. "So what have you learned?" she asked still avoiding Arizona's eyes, her fingers restlessly playing with something in her left pocket. Arizona kept her gaze on Callie's pocket, noticing Callie's nervousness and she let her eyes travel up Callie's body, inspecting her facial features, wondering how it was possible that she was married to this woman but does not remember her. Amelia's voice snapped her out of her daze.
"From our short conversation it seems that she is missing the last three years," she explained and looked at Bailey for a more detailed description as she was the one familiar with the names and the facts.
Miranda nodded her head, "She told us that Dr. Kenley is the Chief of Peds Surgery."
"Oh…" Callie let out a surprising sigh and looked at Arizona.
"I must say it's not a great feeling to wake up and suddenly learn that you are the Chief of Peds Surgery without going through the process of considering the offer," Arizona joked and gave them a soft smile shrugging her shoulders, her eyes focused on Callie. Callie shifted on her leg, as her nerves started building up again, why do I feel so nervous, it's only Arizona, she's my wife for Christ's sake, I shouldn't feel this uncomfortable… she thought as she heard Bailey continue.
"She doesn't remember any of our surgical staff, no one from the plane… she only remembers Chief Webber."
"The plane?" Arizona asked and looked at Miranda.
"Err… well…" Miranda hesitated and looked at Amelia, before her eyes met Richard's eyes and then Callie's. "I'm not sure…" she stuttered.
Amelia placed her hand on Bailey's arm, "Let me," she said and looked at Arizona. "I mentioned you were in an accident…," Amelia started.
"Yes," Arizona nodded her head.
"Well, it was actually a plane crash, you were flying together with five other surgeons to Boise to assist in the separation of conjoined twins."
"A plane crash…" Arizona repeated.
"Yes, do you remember any of it?" Amelia asked.
Arizona shook her head in denial, "Is everyone… did anyone…?"
"You all survived," Bailey cut in, "some are still recovering, but you all survived thank God," she explained as her pager sounded.
She looked at Webber, "It's Lexie, they have decided to wake her up."
Callie looked at Miranda in surprise, "Really?"
"Yes, she's been sedated all this time, they want to see what happens when she's awake, how her body will react and if she can communicate and explain if anything hurts so that they know if any additional surgery is needed."
Callie nodded her head, "Let me know how it went, please."
"Of course, see you later Dr. Robbins," Bailey said and smiled at Arizona.
"I'll stop by after lunch," Webber said and followed Miranda out.
"Bye," Arizona said as her eyes followed them leave.
"Your parents are here, I have to let them know you are awake," Callie said softly, making Arizona look at her again.
"My parents…" Arizona repeated.
"Do you remember them?" Amelia asked.
"Yes, Barbara and Daniel, I remember them, it's just, they live on the East coast…"
"They flew in to be here with you, they were also spending time in this room when I…" Callie paused for a split second, "…when I couldn't," she finished.
Arizona nodded her head.
"Umm, what about the rest of your family?" Callie asked warily.
Arizona thought for a second and then she realized why Callie was so careful with her question. "Oh you mean my late brother, I do remember he passed away, yeah that would have been painful, to have to hear that news all over again," she said pensively suddenly wondering how many painful things she would need to hear about.
"Okay, I'm gonna leave you and your wife alone for a bit," Amelia said making both of them react to the word wife. "I'll come back in an hour so we can do some tests, please get some rest as well," she added.
Arizona nodded her head, "Thank you," she said and offered Amelia a dimply smile.
Amelia touched Callie's hand in support on her way out, "If you need anything, you know where to find me," she said directing her eyes at one then another before she exited the room.
"Umm, I should really call your parents," Callie said hastily and took her phone out of her right pocket.
"Can we talk first?" Arizona asked quickly.
"Sure," Callie said nervously and put the phone back inside her pocket.
"What would you like to t…" Callie started.
"I'm sorry," Arizona whispered and Callie let their eyes meet.
"For what?" Callie asked softly.
"Not remembering you…" Arizona said in low voice, "It must be awful for you…"
Callie offered a slight smile, "I can imagine this whole thing being quite awful for you too," she said as her hand started playing in her pocket again and it caught Arizona's eye.
"Who is Sofia?" Arizona asked and Callie's eyes went wide with surprise and hope.
"Chief Webber asked if I remember Sofia," Arizona continued and saw a wave of disappointment cover Callie's face.
Callie sighed softly and looked at Arizona, tears visible in her eyes. "She's our daughter, she just turned one…, two months ago."
"We have a daughter…," Arizona whispered.
"Mm-hmm," Callie hummed and nodded her head.
Arizona stared at the wall for a few seconds and then looked at Callie again.
"Do you have any photos?" she asked in low voice.
"Yes, of course, would you like to see some?"
"Yes, I umm… I think I would like that," Arizona whispered.
"Okay," Callie said and took her phone out, her finger made a few motions to the left and Arizona saw her face form a warming smile. Callie took a few steps forward and showed Arizona her phone.
"This is when she saw her new teddy bear that you bought her," Callie explained.
"Oh she's adorable," Arizona whispered as her eyes lit up seeing Sofia's bright smile. "She looks just like you…" Arizona commented.
"Yeah, everybody says she's like a mini me," Callie explained and swiped her finger to the left again and a photo of Arizona holding Sofia in her lap showed up. Sofia's little fingers were touching Arizona's cheek and they were both laughing happily.
Arizona's eyes welled up with tears, "How do I not remember my own child…?" she whispered as a teardrop rolled down each of her cheeks.
"Hey, hey," Callie soothed and put her phone away. She wiped Arizona's tears gently, took Arizona's hand and sat down on the bed next to Arizona. "You suffered a head trauma, you've had two long and complex surgeries, you were unconscious for twelve days, you have just now woken up, maybe you will soon start remembering everything, okay?"
Arizona nodded her head and looked at Callie's hand caressing her own arm. Callie quickly let go, "I'm sorry…" she whispered, "I'll need to get used to you not remembering our relationship," she mumbled as she took the phone again.
"I should really go and call your parents," Callie said as she smiled, trying her best to hide her nerves as her left hand started fidgeting in her left pocket again.
Arizona nodded her head and looked at Callie's hand.
"Am I making you nervous?" she asked.
Callie laughed nervously. "A bit, it's not every day my wife wakes up and tells me she doesn't remember me," she said.
Arizona smiled softly, "I can imagine… umm... I've noticed you've been playing with something in your pocket, a lucky charm? I used to have a happy stone in my pocket when I was a resident, whenever I got nervous I would play with it and I would calm down."
Callie smiled, "Yeah, I know, you told me that, it actually inspired me to do the same."
"So what is it?"
"What is what?" Callie faked not getting what Arizona meant.
"Your lucky charm…"
Callie's cheeks blushed as she hesitated.
"Oh, you don't have to show it to me if you feel uncomfortable," Arizona quickly said.
Callie shook her head, "It's not that, I'm just not sure how it will affect you when you see it…"
"Oh… umm, why? What is it?"
"It's your wedding ring…" Callie whispered.
"Oh…" Arizona exclaimed with surprise. "Can I see it?" she asked, a slight reluctance evident in her voice.
"Sure," Callie took out the ring and placed it on her right palm as she handed it closer to Arizona.
Arizona slowly reached for the ring, her fingers brushing over Callie's palm. She picked the ring up and looked at it.
The engraving on the inside read Callie and Arizona.
Arizona touched the engraved letters and looked at Callie's ring finger and then looked at the ring in her own hand again.
"It's beautiful…," she whispered.
"We picked them together," Callie explained observing Arizona, wondering if this would be too much for her.
After a few seconds Arizona handed the ring back to Callie.
"Oh, it's fine…, you can keep it... umm it's yours after all…" Callie stuttered.
"It might get lost, we don't allow patients to have any jewelry," Arizona said, her eyes still glued to the ring.
Callie smiled, "Yeah, it's a good thing you remember all the hospital rules," she teased and Arizona laughed.
"How about we put it here for now and later we can see what to do with it?" Callie said as she placed her hand on top of the side table.
"Okay," Arizona agreed and watched Callie put the ring on the table to Arizona's right side.
"I'll go get you some water and call your parents and then I should also check your leg."
"My leg?" Arizona asked.
"Your leg was injured as well, there was a bit of an infection but it has been healing wonderfully."
"Oh, okay, so I'll see you later?"
"Yes, it'll be just a few minutes, do you need anything else?" Callie asked.
Arizona shook her head into a no.
"Okay," Callie smiled and leaned forward. She gave Arizona a quick peck on her lips making Arizona's eyes go wide in surprise.
"Oh, sorry," Callie mumbled after seeing Arizona's surprised face, "I really need to start getting used to the changes."
Arizona smiled, "It's fine, I'll try to get used to the fact that you might do this every once in a while."
Callie laughed nervously and stepped away from the bed. "Be right back," she said as she exited the room.
Once alone in the room Arizona closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She lay still for a few moments, listening to her own breathing, trying to relax and rest her eyes. She couldn't sleep, her mind was too preoccupied with everything that had happened, and also there was something she couldn't get out of her head. She turned to the side and looked at the ring that was glistening on the dark grey surface. She stretched out her hand and touched the ring lightly. She lifted it just enough to see the text inside again as her eyes went over the printed words, Callie and Arizona, she whispered and put the ring down as she closed her eyes, a certain brunette occupying her thoughts.
A/N: So, I have actually written double the current amount for this chapter but then I realized that so many things were happening it was just too much... And also I really felt this scene was the perfect ending to a chapter so I just had to end it here. The good news is that I will be posting the next chapter sooner, since most of it is already written :-).