Chapter 3

At Seattle Pres hospital Susan had come through, all Arizona had said was prep an exam room as she was bringing in a child with a suspected NAI, non-accidental injury. She had followed procedure alerting the social workers and police liaison knowing it had to be serious if the head of Peds and fetal medicine at Grey Sloan was bringing a NAI to Seattle Pres.

Arizona had worked with Susan for years Susan was head of the Peds department at Seattle Pres and was an amazing Doctor. Her first thought had been Alex, but she'd been his mentor and his teacher and was on the board of the hospital if this went to court, she wanted it known she could wield no pressure over the doctor documenting the injuries.

Arizona carried Sofia in the least used entrance she could think of, she needed to see Susan and get this over with.

"Arizona where's the NAI? Hello Sofia, aren't you all grown up" Susan asked coming out of the room,

"Sofia, Susan has got lots of really fun toys in there, do you want to see?" Arizona asked ignoring her for a minute. She couldn't look at Susan, she'd break down if she did. Luckily Sofia really did want to see the toys, hospitals had the best toys she jumped off Arizona running into the room.

"Arizona, what's going on, why have you brought Sofia?" Susan asked dreading the answer. For the first time Arizona met her eyes, crying. Now Sofia was distracted she could finally let herself feel the emotion's she been burying since discovering the injuries.

"I saw the bruises last night, she wet herself and was trying to clean the sheets, so I didn't notice the wet sheets. She is 6 years old"

"Sofia is your NAI? Our Sofia?" Susan couldn't believe it, she hugged her colleague taking a moment for herself "okay you'll get through this, she is strong and so are you"

"I need you to document every single mark and bruise and thing she says, so when my daughter tells me who hit her, I can kill that person" Arizona kept her voice level fiercely wiping her eyes. For a brief moment Susan felt very sorry for the person who had hit Sofia, having no doubt Arizona would follow though.

In the room Susan talked Sofia through the process it was traumatic looking a photographing each bruise, welt, and each and every mark. Arizona watched like a hawk, feeling sick as each injury was revealed and carefully measured keeping her professional mask firmly in place. Sofia didn't need to see her break down, right now Sofia needed her mom with her.

"Now we need to take some photos of your insides" Susan said,

"This is what Mamma looks at for work X-rays" Arizona told Sofia watching the light in her eyes come on,

"Really, cool Mommy, can we send Mamma the pictures?" Sofia asked

"She'll see them one day" Arizona promised clenching her teeth. She hadn't called Callie or spoken to her, wanting to see the amount of damage her ex-wife had missed and not sure she could have a civil conversation with her. After all she'd been awake most the night watching over Sofia, her mind racing through suspects.

It was gruelling watching them photograph bruise after bruise after bruise. They had asked who did this, but Sofia wouldn't budge it was a secret. Arizona knew if Sofia was a stubborn as her mamma, they'd have their work cut out for her. Once the physical exam had been done x-rays and a CT scan had been taken it was time for the interview. Sofia was taken to the playroom Susan promising to stay with. They'd have a specially trained police officer there trying to get her to open up. Arizona was taken to an interrogation room. Sat opposite was a police officer and a social worker. Arizona had called her lawyer ready who showed up just as it started, they introduced themselves and started the evidentiary tape.

"Dr Robbins, you say Sofia lives in New York with her other mother and her girlfriend?" the social worker asked, Arizona nodded

"Callie and Penny yes for the last 3 months, before that Callie and I shared, 3 nights, 4 nights then swapped"

"And you won custody of Sofia but still let her go to New York?"

"Yeah, I thought she'd be happier there with 2 moms instead of here with me, my one leg and my PTSD, moms that could take her swimming, take her skating, do normal things with her" Arizona sniffled, how wrong had she been. And now her daughter was beaten, and downtrodden because again she had been wrong. "I was so wrong"

"Has Sofia said anything about who has been hurting her?"

"No, I've been wracking my brain trying to think of who, Callie would never she is so gentle and loving, she adores Sofia, when she had to have bloods taken, she couldn't even stay in the room because even with the numbing cream because it would cause Sofia pain. Then there is Penny, perfect Penny. I…I don't know, I met her a few times, I hate her, but Sofia loved her when she was here."

"You hate her?" the officer noted raising an eyebrow,

"She is the person who got a job and took my family across the country, she is the person the love of life goes home to at night. So, I don't like her, but I don't think she'd hurt Sofia, I wouldn't have let her go with them if I did." Arizona told them honestly, surely if it was Penny then Callie would have noticed?

"What about school?"

"Sofia loves her teacher, apparently she gives the best stickers, she has good friends, I asked her what she hates most about school she said homework, she loves maths, art and playtime the most. I don't know about her other teachers, I've only met her main one Mrs Collins, she seemed nice" Arizona searched her mind trying to think of anything else Sofia had said about school.

"What about after school?"

"Penny is on a fellowship so is working 9-5 hours, Callie is on call more I know she is pulling long hours trying to prove herself in a new hospital; they have a sitter Mrs Smith an old lady in their building who picks Sofia up with her grandchildren, Sofia also plays sport Tuesdays and Thursdays after school." Arizona recited her daughter schedule from memory.

"Have you been to New York in the last 3 months?" The social worker asked,

"I went out initially to meet her teacher and check out the area but not since. I…I struggle to fly, since my plane crash" Arizona confided unconsciously rubbing her amputation.

The door opened; another police officer came in with a folder.

"Okay, we have determined the injuries have all occurred in the last 3 months, we have checked your work schedule with the flights schedule and know you have not inflicted the injuries; therefore, we are happy to allow you to resume full custody of your daughter. This is an active police investigation, so we need you to not reveal any of the details of this case to anyone, including your ex-wife. There is potential evidence we need to find that if anyone got wind while we get the warrants could be disposed of"

"What about her other mom, Callie, I can't lie to her" Arizona said, the officer looked at her sympathetically.

"I understand and I know you don't think she has done anything, but she could let something slip to the abuser, we need to find the evidence, if we do it will make it a lot easier to prosecute them and less traumatic for Sofia" the officer said. "She is there in New York with the abuser, if she loses her cool even just for a second we lose all that evidence. It becomes Sofia's word against her abusers. It means its a lot more likely they get awat with it"

At the thought of Sofia's abuser walking free Arizona nodded her consent. She would keep it a secret from Callie for now. Callie was a passionate person, she would go nuts, she would scream and shout at anyone in Sofia's life.

"I need to tell my boss Miranda Bailey at Grey Sloan; I need to take more time off to care for Sofia and we are both going to need therapists I'd like to disclose this to them too"

The police officer and the social worker had a quiet discussion,

"That's fine, we also expect Sofia's normal Paediatrician and new schoolteacher to be aware. Again, we would stress confidentiality." Arizonan nodded she understood,

"What, how," I mean," Arizona started stopping and rubbing her face, "I'm sorry I'm normally more put together, but I need to know her injuries as her mom and as a doctor"

The social worker gave Arizona a sympathetic smile and opened the file.

"There were 10 welts we believe made from a belt, there are hand marks to both arms, and bruising to her bottom. There were 2 hairline fractures to her ribs. There was no evidence of sexual assault"

Arizona stood up diving for the bin throwing up her breakfast wiping her face she stood with all the dignity she could manage as they mentioned sexual assault, it hadn't even crossed her mind.

"Sorry, carry on" Arizona waved sitting them down.

"Her weight is below that recorded at her last weigh in 4 months ago, she is now below the expected weight for her age, and height by some way. Behaviourally she is guarded and acting above the 6-year-old level in some areas with serious regression in others." The social worker continued. Arizona nodded holding in tears. "She is refusing to disclose the identity of her abuser, she is scared, we think the abuser has threatened her and her family if she talks"

"So, what next? What do I do?"

"Take your daughter home, get her professional help and let us do our job, we don't want her abuser to get spooked and dispose of evidence," the officer explained, Arizona didn't want to know but had to ask,

"What evidence are you looking for?"

"Any ripped items of clothing and the belt"

Arizona stood up again going for the puke filled trash can. Vomiting again at the thought somewhere out there was a belt with her daughter's blood on it. Somewhere someone had a belt ready to use to hit her daughter again.

The meeting finished there, Arizona desperate to see her daughter, on seeing her happily playing Arizona ran over hugging her tightly.

"I love you so much bug, so much you have been so brave" she let go "Thanks for watching her" she said to Susan,

"Anytime" Susan offered. "I mean it, you need support I'm here"

"Thanks" Arizona hugged her friend, "I mean it," Susan repeated holding Arizona's arm to emphasise her point.

"Come on Sofia, let's go get ice-cream" Arizona ordered her daughter. Her daughter was underweight, so in Arizona's mind that meant lots of ice cream donuts and meals to build her up.

"Okay Mommy" Sofia agreed. Arizona drove to the best dessert place in Seattle ordering a burger each for them both and then a huge bowl of ice cream afterwards to share with 3 different flavours, sprinkles and extra fudge sauce. Sofia ate most of it, Arizona still feeling too nauseous by what she had discovered to eat.