AN / here is a new chapter I hope you will enjoy. Let me know what you think. I worked with Jax on this chapter. Flasbacks are in italic.
Callie gulped as she heard the terrorized woman she was so used to seeing perky. What could have happened to her during those years she was away.
Suddenly, Arizona's body began to shake uncontrollably, Amelia immediately reacted.
« She's convulsing! » Amelia said as she pushed Arizona on her side quickly. She took the syringe the nurse gave her and immediately administered the shot into Arizona's arm and slowly the shaking began to stop.
Callie witnessed the scene, torn between the excitement of Arizona waking up and fear the convulsion would be a sign of brain damage.
« What's happening? » Miranda asked.
« It's not unusual. She's just been hit by a car and when we were in the OR... » Amelia swallowed hard, not knowing if she should share the information with her co-workers.
« What? » Callie worried. « Spill it Shepherd! »
« It already happened in the OR, two or three times. And Derek thinks it's not because of her accident. He noticed her skull had already suffered some head trauma. So maybe the convulsions were already a side effect from another accident. »
As Arizona's stats got back to normal and Amelia checked her vitals, Callie approached her and looked at her, paying more attention to the small helpless woman.
As her hospital gown had moved a bit when her body was pushed on her side, her non fractured shoulder had been uncovered.
On that little piece of skin, Callie noticed numerous scars. Some were old and others more recent. She pushed the fabric of the gown back to hide the sad truth.
« Who was she talking about... it's not possible... Arizona was a free spirit, a strong-minded person. She wouldn't have let herself get trapped with an abusive person. » Callie said sadly.
« You don't know what happened to her during those years Callie. » Miranda reminded her. « When we met at the mall, I hesitated when she told me she didn't know me. She was so off. I told you, she was like a shell, a shadow. She must have met the wrong person... »
« She's back again! » Amelia smiled at her friend's noticing Arizona was already opening her eyes.
Relieved, Callie approached her, and smiled when she met the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen, even if they were red and swollen.
« You're okay sweetie, don't worry... » She whispered tenderly as she went to stroke the blonde's cheek, but Arizona violently pulled her head back away from Callie's hand.
Taken aback by the gesture, Callie tried to remain neutral.
« I'm sorry. » She said. « I just wanted to make you feel safe. You're safe here, with us. »
Arizona took a moment to look around her and tears filled her eyes anxiously.
« Where am I? » she asked hesitantly.
« Arizona, you were in an accident. You were hit by a car. You are at Grey Sloan Memorial. » Amelia explained. « You were severely injured. You have a fractured shoulder; a femur fracture and you have a bleed in your brain we are monitoring closely. »
She was totally lost. The faces she was supposing were not strangers to her, but her vision was still blurred.
« Arizona, listen to me, you are going to be okay. Matthew is with us, he is totally fine don't worry. » Bailey explained. « And whoever did this to you will pay. »
« Matthew... I want to see him. » Arizona asked. She tried to remember how these voices were so familiar and yet so hard to reconnect.
« I'm sorry, you can't right now, you're in the ICU, we can't bring children in here, you know that. » Amelia said.
« Please. Just a minute, I … I just need to be sure he's okay... I just... Please, one minute. I swear I won't ask again; I promise. » Arizona begged, biting her lip as she tried not to cry.
« I'm sorry, it's hospital protocol... » Amelia explained.
« I swear I won't ask anything more, please... a minute... Nothing more. » Arizona pleaded under Callie's stunned expression.
« Here he is! » Bailey approached her with her phone where she had taken a photo of the little boy.
« Here, look at him. He can't stop saying « Nana ». Is that you? »
Arizona gasped as she saw the face of the toddler on the phone, unsure it was him.
She knew Jamie could be malicious, maybe everything was just a new sick game of hers.
She rubbed her eyes a little trying to clear her sight.
« Yeah... » She smiled widely when she recognized him. « I'm his Nana... »
« He's well taken care of, don't worry. I'm looking after him and will continue until you'll be able to do it yourself. I promise. » Miranda smiled at her friend.
Arizona knitted her eyebrows suddenly. Her vision was still a little clouded, but it was getting better and better. And then all of a sudden, a name popped into her head.
« Bailey? » She asked, shocked by her own question.
« Yeah... It's me. » Miranda replied, not able anymore to restrain her tears. « I'm here, we are all here. »
« Where am I again? » She asked, confused.
« Hospital, Grey Sloan memorial. » Miranda repeated.
« She doesn't know that name Bailey. When she left when it was still Seattle Grace Mercy West. » Callie said as she approached again. « You're at Seattle Grace Mercy West. You are back. And we are not letting you go this time! »
Arizona turned her gaze trying to focus on the sweet voice she knew so well but unsure she was right, because Callie was standing in front of the window and the sun was shining on her back, Arizona seeing her with a backlight. She approached again, sitting back on the chair next to the bed and grabbed the blonde's hand.
« Ca... Calliope? »
« Hey; how was your day? » Arizona asked as her girlfriend got back to the apartment they had just moved in together a few days prior.
« Exhausting, as usual. I'm exhausted and all I want tonight is a good shower with you naked and a good meal... » Jamie said as she approached her, grabbing her waist and kissing her deeply.
Arizona was not really happy by the hungry kisses from her girlfriend coming from nowhere. But Jamie loved them, so she was trying to get used to them.
The brunette grabbed her ass, pushing the other woman against the kitchen counter.
« Jamie, please wait, I have to finish the salad. » Arizona said as Jamie was kissing her neck and then stopped.
« What do you mean the salad? » She grumbled leaving Arizona to look at what the blonde was cooking. « You must be kidding me. I tell you every day I'm tired, that the job is hard because my players are out of control, and you think that I am just going to eat your stupid Salad? »
« You... You said you hated heavy diners at night... I thought you'd like it... » Arizona explained.
Jamie took the Bowl Arizona was using for the diner. She grabbed the tomatoes already cut and put them with the cheese, the avocado and all the other ingredients.
Arizona looked at her confused by her behaviour.
« Come here... » Jamie ordered.
Arizona walked next to her and waited.
« Here is your salad Mam... » Jamie sarcastically said, « look closely, I made it with all my love. I have all day to make a good meal for the woman I love but instead I thought she would LOVE a salad. Is that what you were thinking? »
Arizona didn't reply? She was too confused.
« Look closely! » Jamie grabbed her by the hair violently and made her bend over the bowl. « Is that all? Am I missing something? »
She put her hand on the back of Arizona's head and smashed her face into the bowl with all her strength.
« You are going to love that salad! » Jamie yelled, keeping the blonde's face in the filled bowl.
Arizona was trying to pull her head up, but it was impossible. Jamie was too strong for her, and she was scared if she struggled too hard, the aftermath would be worse.
Suddenly her face was removed from the vegetables by her hair the brunette was still holding.
« I'm disappointed Arizona... Now I have to go out and find a place to have my dinner... and this is not something I like... » Jamie reproached.
She threw the younger woman on the floor violently and went to the bathroom.
Arizona was still on the floor, lying in shock.
Jamie was quickly back and didn't even bother to check on her girlfriend.
« I'm going, and when I get back, I want all this mess cleaned up. » She simply stated. « Is that clear? »
Arizona didn't reply. Her mind was not able to function normally after the violent assault.
« IS THAT CLEAR? » Jamie yelled.
Receiving no answer, the soccer coach reached her girlfriend who was still lying on the floor.
She sighed, annoyed by the silence and that she hadn't received an answer, and then, with all the frustration and anger she had built up she kicked Arizona hard in the stomach before grabbing her by the arms and with difficulty made her stand up.
« Is that clear? » She repeated, the grip on her arm tightened.
Arizona nodded, hoping it was the end of the nightmare.
« That's my girl. » Jamie said, patting Arizona's cheek. « Don't ever disrespect me... »
She made Arizona raise her gaze to meet her eyes while she smirked.
« Hurry up... » she ordered, before spitting in her girlfriend's face just before leaving her.