Chapter 6
Arizona reached the skills lab, Bailey had Sofia, Tucker, Bailey and Zola set up on stations each one had a look of concentration etched on their faces. Only Sofia had dressed in scrubs but all 4 had lab coats on, face masks and gloves. Each one had a teddy cut open some stuffing lying next to it, fake suction, safety scissors and gauze. Miranda was instructing them on how to replace the heart.
Arizona's attention was pulled away from Sofia by the sound of a camera. Meredith was taking a picture, April, Jackson and Webber watching.
"It's too cute" she whispered so not to distract the kids. Arizona gave her a slight smile, she was dreading her next appointment, taking a breath she opened the door.
"Sorry Doctor Torres we have another appointment" she interrupted.
"Aww Mommy we haven't put the heart back yet" Sofia moaned,
"After, we can come back" Arizona promised
"Dr Torres you don't ignore 911 pages" Bailey ordered.
"Yes Ma'am" Sofia sulked walking out. Bailey saw the crowd outside and huffed. She didn't like people watching her softer side, it was time to re-establish her authority.
"Dr Webber, will continue this class" Bailey ordered,
"Bailey I'm busy," Webber protested,
"Not too busy to be gaping through windows, drop them back at day care when you have finished" Bailey ordered. "And you all standing outside don't you have consults" she shooed them away.
"Thanks" Arizona said gratefully, "We don't need an audience for this"
"Come on I'll walk you down" Bailey offered. Arizona lifted Sofia up as Bailey guided them through the hospital to the psychiatrist that would be seeing Sofia.
"Hello Sofia, Arizona, Chief Bailey, so what I like to do is talk to your Mommy first while you pick out some toys, then we all play with the toys" Dr Thompson said. Arizona nodded stepping into the office, Bailey stayed with Sofia.
"Thank you for seeing us at such short notice" Arizona greeted,
"Its fine, I had the social worker send me the file."
Arizona snorted,
"I bet that doesn't cover half of it, Sofia has had a turbulent life, she was born early 23 weeks after my wife, ex-wife and I were in a car crash. Her mother almost died, then I resuscitated her. Then there was a plane crash, her dad died, and I lost my leg, then I lost my baby, her sister, and I had an affair, then Callie and I split up, we fought over her, I won and still let Callie take her, Callie moved away to live with Penny who abused her, she abused my little girl and I have no idea how to help her." Arizona ranted at her daughter's therapist,
"Are you getting help?" Kelly asked, Arizona nodded, wiping away more tears.
"Yes, I just came from my therapist"
"Okay, now I have more of an idea, let's get Sofia in" Kelly said she knew Mommy needed help, but this was about Sofia.
Arizona waited outside with Bailey as Sofia sat inside the office with Kelly. It was taking everything Arizona had not to barge in and check her daughter was okay.
"How are you holding up?" Bailey asked
"I have no idea, I'm exhausted Sofia is up every night, and I don't sleep, I'm angry with myself, with Callie with the whole world and scared. What is everyone going to think? How is this going to affect her long term, short term?" Arizona breathing was faster and faster as she had a panic attack.
"Breath Arizona breath" Bailey ordered, "Can I get some water?" She ordered the secretary. "Come on Arizona your daughter needs her Mommy to be calm"
Arizona tried to take steading breaths, but it wasn't working. "Think of Sofia, Sofia needs her Mommy calm" she repeated, "Sofia" it worked as Arizona took a deep breath and calmed down. Just in time as Sofia bounced out of her therapist's office.
"Mommy, Dr Kelly said I get to come back next week, and she'll have princess colouring in." Sofia gushed.
"Wow baby that will be great" she carefully lifted her daughter up hugging her tightly, watching her ribs.
"Sofia, would you like to pick a sticker and a lollipop while I chat to your Mommy" Kelly asked, Arizona joined her in the office.
"You have a resilient girl who worships you and your ex-wife, but I am recommending we continue therapy, she needs an adult who she can talk to about what is confusing her that isn't emotionally involved. Today she is worried about you, says your leg has been hurting and she isn't sure why, but she is to scared to ask you, because she says it makes you sad to talk about"
"Thank you for telling me"
Arizona left her office; Sofia had picked an orange lolly and a purple sticker.
"Good choices Sof," Arizona complimented, "Now we have a teddy to fix" she ordered. As they said goodbye to Bailey and returned to the skills lab. Sofia's teddy was there still ready to be fixed. The other children had gone back to nursery leaving Arizona and Sofia alone. Arizona passed Sofia her mini lab coat back,
"So, I can see we opened the chest,"
"Yep, and stopped the bleeders and opened the ribs, now we gots to find the old heart and put the new one in" Sofia got the tweezers. "Suction Mommy,"
"Okay" Arizona grinned as her daughter picked through the fluff to find the fake heart, it was tucked right at the back and Bailey had drawn lines through it, so it was half black.
"Gots it," Sofia pulled it out, "New heart Mommy" Arizona passed her the red heart, Sofia carefully placed it in the chest.
"Stitches Mommy," Sofia ordered Arizona passed the needle a large plastic needle, Sofia weaved it in and out of the chest.
"Good job Doctor Robbins Sloan Torres" Arizona complimented.
"Thanks Mommy," Sofia bit her lip wondering how to ask her next question. "Mommy, why couldn't they mend your leg?"
Arizona took a breath glad Kelly had warned her. The amputation was years ago but it was still hard to talk about.
"Well, my leg was really badly broken, and some bad bugs got into it, and they were making me sick." Arizona explained, "So the best thing to do was cut my leg off because then it would hurt me less and make me feel better"
"But you were sad" Sofia reminded her. Arizona bit her lip hating that Sofia remembered that.
"I was sad for a long time because I missed my leg and I was scared we wouldn't find a good one to replace it, and I missed your daddy. But now I'm happy because my fake leg lets me run and play with you and it doesn't hurt as much anymore" Arizona explained.
"I'm glad it doesn't hurt anymore Mommy, do you need kisses to get it better?" Arizona kissed her daughter's hair; she was so smart and sensitive.
"I'll always need my Sofia kisses and hugs because you are my special girl. My leg is better, it's gone now and it barely ever hurts now. Do you have anymore questions?" Arizona asked,
"Can we get ice cream?" Sofia asked her most serious question.
"Of course, I have a few patients to check on, you want to come with me?" Sofia nodded happily she loved being a doctor for real. "Yes Mommy"
She held her mom's hand as they walked around the foetal medicine department. Arizona had 2 women both post op's.
"Okay I think your good for discharge" she said to the first woman reading her chart.
"Thanks this is your daughter the 23 weeker" Maria asked bending down to the little girl. Arizona had explained the risks of early delivery before doing the procedure.
"Yes,"
"You mommy's been telling me all about you, you're very special," Maria said kindly to Sofia.
"Thank you, you have a baby" Sofia pointed to Maria's tummy,
"Uh huh a little boy, your Mommy helped save him"
"Wow" Sofia looked amazed, Arizona chuckled,
"You want to see him again" She asked Maria, who nodded. Arizona got the ultrasound, easily locating the baby.
"You were this small when you came out of your Mama" she told Sofia
"Is he going to come out now?" Sofia asked curiously
"No, I'm going to keep him here a little longer, keep him growing" Maria patted her stomach gently as Arizona put away the ultrasound. Signing the discharge papers Arizona said goodbye to Maria, hopefully the next time she would see her was at 30+ weeks.
The second woman was even easier, Sofia distracted by chocolates at the nurse's station, nurse Sally agreed to watch her for the 5 minutes it took to discharge her patient.
Next was the Peds ward. Sofia danced between the rooms making friends with all the children and most the nurses as Arizona checked there was nothing urgent for her to assess.
"Boss" Alex greeted, "Sofia" he lifted the girl up sitting her on the desk.
"Uncle Alex we are going for ice cream" Sofia informed him,
"How many flavours?" Alex asked,
"3" Sofia replied,
"Sprinkles?"
"Yep"
"Extra sauce?" Sofia hesitated biting her lip, she didn't want to get fat.
"Of course," Arizona butted in. "You want to come Karev?" she invited not wanting to be alone,
"Can't boss I have an appy at 2," he checked his watch. "I better go, see you soon Sofia" he lifted her off the nurse's station,
"Ow" she complained as he caught her bruises.
"Sofia" Alex immediately went on alert, lifting her top catching sight of the bruises.
"Karev stand down" Arizona ordered, she knew Alex would recognise the NAI and didn't want him to make a scene here.
"Robbins" Karev's voice dropped down an octave, he was concerned, and not hiding it.
"Sofia, can you go to nurse Charlie and ask him to show you the fishes?" Arizona asked, her daughter nodded missing the tension.
"My office" Arizona ordered, the moment the door closed Alex was in her face.
"What is that?" he screamed, "What is that I don't know? Why is your daughter riddled with bruises?" he screamed, Arizona stood taking his abuse, tears running down her face.
"No, no, not Sofia, no" he wailed, "This is crap" he punched the wall, pushing everything off her desk.
"I failed her" Arizona muttered,
"Who?" Alex asked, "I'm going to beat the crap out of them, who?"
Arizona thought about not telling him, but the look on his face persuaded her not to.
"Penny."
"That bitch" Alex yelled.
"The social worker and Liz took photos and her statements; I had a 3-hour interview with the police. They serve the warrant and restraining order to her today. I asked for them not to do it at the hospital but wait until tonight, I don't want them to ruin Callie's career."
"Screw Callie, did she know?" Alex asked angry, Callie had to know, how could she not.
"I don't know, I hope not," Arizona's eyes were watering. "My little girl had 12 belt marks, 2 broken ribs, and god knows what else. You know that stats on abused children," Arizona confided.
"Look at me, and Jo and Grey, we were all abused as kids, we came out stronger." Alex told her shrugging. Arizona hugged him. He was right, Sofia had been through the mill and so had plenty of people, she couldn't change the past only building up Sofia's resilience to get her through the hard times.
"Thank you, now I need to give my little girl the biggest bowl of ice cream I can find, would you and Jo like to come over tonight eat dinner with Sofia and me. I'm expecting Callie to call, and I could use support" Arizona asked wincing at the thought of the conversation with her ex-wife.
"You haven't told Callie yet?" Alex asked incredulously. If it was him that would have been the first thing he did. Pick up the phone and scream blue murder at her.
"I can't not until the warrant is served, there is evidence," Arizona paused feeling the familiar nauseous feeling to come over her, "evidence to be found, the belt, the police are trying to find the belt with my daughter's blood on it" Arizona lost her fight with nausea, vomiting in the attached bathroom attached to her office. Alex held her hair out of her face while she finished.
"I'll be there boss" Alex promised. "I think Jo's on call" His bleep sounded
"I better go, but you need anything you let me know" he made her promise, Arizona nodded her agreement. As Alex ran off to deal with his emergency Arizona collected herself washing out her mouth and leaving her trashed office with a huge smile on her face.
"Okay Sofia lets go get ice cream" she said to her daughter who was waiting by the fish tank still looking at the fish mesmerised by the pretty colours.
"Yay Mommy" her daughter replied leaving the fish straight away. Nothing beat ice cream.
After a huge bowl of ice cream and a play in the park, while Arizona was worried about Sofia's injures the young girl pleaded until she gave in, staying at the park until it was time to stop at the shop to buy food for hosting tonight. It was going to be Sofia's favourite and one of the few dishes Arizona could make, Mac n cheese. With Callie and Penny being served the warrant and Penny the restraining order Arizona wanted to make something that took little effort. Her mind to distracted to cook properly.
One more chapter until Callie finds out, can you wait one more?