A/N: I didn't want to make Tim a POW because I didn't want his story to be super traumatic. I think with what I did we can move on and heal his relationship with Arizona and keep him in the story.

I really wish you could respond to reviews. I wouldn't have to make authors notes, which some don't read even if they contain story information, if I could :p. But a review about timeline came from one of my favorite fellow writers, MondlerFanKay (who also has a new story you should check out –"Don't Call It Love"). So, I want to go over it in case others have questions. I love answering questions because it shows you guys are paying attention and all this isn't for nothing 😊

*IF YOU SKIP AUTHOR'S NOTES… YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ THIS. WE DISCUSS TIMELINE. *

Arizona is 2 years younger than Tim. In the first few chapters I mention how she skipped some grades so her and Tim attended med school at the same time. They also did their residency together at Hopkins.

Tim joined the service immediately after residency. Arizona stayed at Hopkins until a little bit after his "death" (roughly 6 months).

Arizona was in Seattle for 1.5 years. She then left for Africa where she stayed for a little over 3 years. So we are just up over 5 years since Tim "died". I hope that helps clarify. If it still doesn't make sense, let me know.

Now Sofia's age. I actually did do the math here. Callie got pregnant with Sofia about a month or so after Arizona left for Africa. She was pregnant for 8 months (we will address this time later). That makes her give birth to Sofia about 10 months after Arizona left for Africa. Arizona was in Africa for a little over 3 years. This is going to make Sofia about 2 years and 3 months based on my calculations.

I will admit the part where she talks about Mark sucking at the voices is too advanced for her age, so just play pretend there :p. However, everything else is consistent with my older son at 2 and my nephew who is currently the same age as I make Sofia in this story. Being in daycare all day makes kids speech a little more articulate and "advanced" in my opinion.

Chapter 5

Seattle

If it were up to her she wouldn't be the one who went into the room and discussed Tim's surgery. She would pass that off to someone else. The fact she was about to see the woman who crushed her three years ago and her family all at once made her feel like she was going to be sick.

Taking a deep breath, she quickly turned on her doctor persona. One she had perfected over the years. Empathetic, but unattached. Yeah, we all know that is bullshit.

Gently tapping on the door, she hear Tim tell her to come in. Callie entered the room and was quickly greeted with warm smiles by the Robbins family. She looked around and the room was notably missing a certain blonde.

"She's pouting." Tim responded to what Callie had clearly been wondering.

"Um, what?" Callie asked shocked that the blonde wasn't sitting as close to her brother as possible. Every single time Arizona mentioned Tim, which was rare. She mentioned how they were inseparable and his death completely destroyed her.

"She is mad at me and she took off. You know, she tends to do that." Tim knew his sister was going to take his story the hardest. But he didn't expect her to up and leave. She hadn't seen him in 5 years.

"I don't understand…" Callie felt a little lost.

Tim went on to tell her the whole entire story of where he had been for the last 5 years. Callie honestly had a hard time believing it. But at the same time, Arizona had told her how the Robbins family was about honor and helping others. So all things considered, it really wasn't that shocking that Tim made that decision. She absolutely understood where Arizona was coming from, but she was also a little disappointed in her. Callie was estranged from her own sister and missed her every day. Granted, the circumstances were very different. She knew how much Arizona loved Tim. The only thing she could think is that Arizona needed time to process. It wouldn't be the first time.

"Just give her some time. I didn't know her when you were alive. But when she talked about you. It was like you were the most important person she had ever known. I have to imagine she is having a hard time processing all of this." Callie tried to remain impartial. This wasn't her family. Had this happened when she and Arizona were together, she would be comforting the blonde right now. But that wasn't her place anymore.

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Arizona needed some space from her family. She was mad at Tim, but she was happy to have him home and safe. She had two options. One, go to the roof and smoke like she wanted to. Or two, go talk to Dr. Webber. Deciding that she shouldn't open the smoking can of worms, she decided to go find Dr. Webber.

As she walked to his office she was stopped by a familiar voice.

"You have got to be kidding me….."

Arizona turned around to find Teddy Altman standing there with a shocked look on her face. "You come back to Seattle and don't even tell me you are coming! What the hell? We email every week." Teddy ran to Arizona and scooped her up in a giant hug.

"Trust me. I would have told you. It was a family emergency that brought me back." Arizona had read the case notes and knew Teddy had been involved in Tim's surgery.

"Oh no. Is it your Mom or Dad?" Teddy knew of Tim. She was Arizona's best friend. But she didn't know that the man she operated on a few days ago was her best friend's brother.

"My brother actually." Arizona just chuckled. What else could you do?

"Ummm." Teddy didn't want to state the obvious here.

"Yeah. He isn't dead. Surprise! You actually operated on him a few days back. Your Army John Doe, was Tim."

"Excuse me?" Teddy hadn't heard anything else about her John Doe. She tried to follow up but all Dr. Webber said was that it was a VIP and she would be contacted if he needed anything. The fact the whole hospital didn't know about this was a miracle.

"It is a VERY long story. I will fill you in later. Dr. Webber wants to talk to me right now. Meet me in the cafeteria in an hour?" Arizona smiled at Teddy.

"Don't you want to be with your brother….?"

"Not right now. I will explain everything later."

"Ooookay. Well, it is REALLY good to see you Arizona. I missed you." Teddy hugged her friend and headed off to a consult.

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"Hey stranger." Mark walked up to Callie as she sat at an empty lunch table studying Tim's file. She wanted to go back in tomorrow to try to finish his reconstruction.

"Hi." Callie replied shortly.

"Where the hell have you been and why are you in such a bad mood?" Mark bit into his apple and waited for his friend's response.

Slamming the files shut Callie looked up at her best friend. "I haven't left this god forsaken hospital in almost 3 days. I miss Sofia and I am exhausted." Callie sunk back into her chair. She wanted to tell Mark Arizona was back. She wanted to tell him that she was terrified to see her. That she didn't know if she was going to want to punch her in the face, or jump her bones.

Mark could tell Callie was exhausted and stressed. Deciding not to press anymore, he just asked "are you okay?"

"I don't know, Mark. I really don't."

"Let me know if there is anything I can do to help, alright?" He rubbed Callie's shoulders.

"Thank. I just need a nap and some Sofia cuddles. The next few weeks are going to be really tough."

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"Dr. Webber is now a good time?" Arizona walked into his office after his secretary told her he was waiting for her.

"Ah yes! Dr. Robbins. Always time for you. Your Carter Madison has been great for the hospital's press." He motioned for her to take a seat. "So, how is your brother? Is there anything we can do for your family?" Arizona had issues with authority, but Dr. Webber was always so good to her.

"No. You have done so much already. Honestly, the VIP room was unnecessary."

"Nonsense. He is family!"

"Thank you, Sir."

"Now, listen. I am going to cut to the chase. I heard that the Carter Madison committee let you out of your contract to come here. Do you plan on staying in Seattle?"

Arizona just stared at him. She hadn't thought that far. "Honestly sir, I don't know. I assume I will be here for a little while. My brother is going to require more surgery and physical therapy. We all know there is no better orthopedic option and our physical therapy department is quite good as well."

"Your replacement, to put it bluntly, is a disaster. I honestly think he hates children…."

Arizona laughed. Teddy had mentioned how terrible Dr. Stark was in her emails, but how could a pediatric surgeon hate kids. "I have heard some things. I kind of figured after a few things Karev would take over."

"He isn't ready yet. He is close, don't get me wrong. You trained him well. But he needs more time. We both know how he can be with the parents. Imagine having him do budget reports…"

Arizona laughed out loud. Yea, not a chance. "So, what do you want from me?" She had a pretty good idea.

"I want to offer you your job back. Head of the department. I will give you a significant raise and I don't know if you heard about the upgrades to our research budgets."

"Wow. Sir. Can I think about it? I need to see what is happening with Tim first."

"Of course, of course. Please. Just let me know by the end of the week if possible. If not you, we are going to look elsewhere. Between you and me, Stark is an ass."

"I can let you know by the end of the week. Thank you for thinking of me, sir. I do miss this hospital." Arizona shook Dr. Webber's hand and headed out towards the cafeteria.

As she headed towards the cafeteria she was struck by how at home she felt. It was like nothing had changed, but so much had. She had been in Africa the last three years, her brother was alive, the love of her life had probably moved on. How could she accept a job here and see Callie every day? The answer really felt like she couldn't.

Walking passed the ER she was stopped by the one person she had been excited to see.

"Robbins. No way! What the hell?!" Alex Karev sprinted towards her and wrapped her in a bear hug. "Are you back? Please say you are back. Stark is an ass!"

"Alex. Gosh I missed you!" She returned his hug. "Word on the street is that you are ruining my department."

"Yeah right. I am the only reason it is still standing. Tell me you are back! Come on."

Smiling at her protégé she just shrugged. "I don't know yet. I have some family stuff that brought me back. I am going to decide by the end of the week. But don't say anything." Their conversation was broken up by his pager directing him to a 911 in the ER.

"Dude, Joe's tomorrow?" He yelled as he ran away.

"Okay!" She responded. Alex Karev was rough with everyone else, but he was her guy. She molded him form a bratty surgeon to a brilliant one. He was one of her biggest accomplishments.

Finally feeling ready to head back to her family, she took the elevator up to the 12th floor. Taking a deep breath, she entered the room.

"Well, look who decided to end her temper tantrum." Tim joked as she walked in.

"Bite me." She plopped down on the sofa in his room and just rolled her eyes at the looks her parents were giving her.

"You missed Callie, dear." Barbara casually mentioned.

"Probably for the best."

"Mhmmmm. Oh, here you are sweetie. I meant to give it to you on the plane, but the anticipation to see Timmy distracted me." Barbara handed her a new iPhone. "Your old number is programed to it."

"Thank you, Mom." She took the phone and looked down at it. Her cloud had synced to the new phone and when she opened the home screen the picture that had previously been on her phone 3 years ago was left unchanged. It was her and Callie. They were at their bench in the park. Both of their smiles wide. The picture was taken shortly after they decided to move to Africa together. Tossing the phone down she sat back and closed her eyes.

Realizing she must have fallen asleep she woke up and noticed her parents were gone.

"Where are mom and dad?" That felt weird to say.

"Went to go get me some real food. Callie said I can eat normal again. She wants to operate tomorrow so I am getting a real meal in." Tim looked up at the TV that was currently playing a baseball game.

"I missed TV. I didn't miss how bad the Tigers sucked, but I missed TV."

"Well, you could have just come home. It was here the whole time." Arizona quipped back.

"You seriously don't get it do you?" He was starting to get mad. He knew his sister took time to process things, but this was just getting dumb. "Do you really think I want to fight. After missing you for 5 years?!"

"You didn't have to miss me! You could have come home!"

"How was I going to get home, Arizona? How? My whole base was blown up. It was sheer luck we stumbled upon that village. I should be dead!"

"You made it to the embassy didn't you?"

"You are being a bitch and you know it. You act like you don't even care I am here."

"I don't care? Are you kidding me?! Tim. When Callie called me I had NEVER in my life been so happy. NEVER. My brother, my best friend ALIVE. Then I went through every single possible thing that could mean. Were you beat, tortured, forced to do God knows what for 5 years? Then I come back and find out you chose to stay gone." Arizona said through tears.

"You do realize we did the same thing right?" He asked.

"Excuse me?" She had no idea what he was talking about.

"You left to help people too." He was referring to Africa.

"No…no not even REMOTELY the same thing. I called Mom and Dad once a month. They didn't think I was dead. They didn't have a funeral for me! I didn't hurt anyone by being gone."

"No…you just destroyed someone when you left….."

"You DO NOT get to talk about her. You know NOTHING about that. I left to go help children who would otherwise never have received it. She didn't want to come with me. She said she did, but I know her. She would have been miserable and eventually resented me. I couldn't let her do that. Not for me."

"I know that the amount of pain in her eyes when she pulled up a picture of you to show me was more than I have seen in most people." He watched as pain flashed across his sister's face. "Arizona I stayed because there were so many kids. Do you know how many children are alive because of me? Do you know how many little girls will have the opportunity to go to school, not become child brides, will get to have careers? Do you? Shoot. Maybe even some day they will get to love who they love the way you do. Arizona, when I told them my sister was a surgeon they didn't believe me. The idea that you went to college, medical school, just like me. It was foreign to them because they would never be allowed to do that. The girls there were not even allowed to learn to read!"

Arizona was silent. She saw what she was doing to help the children in Africa every day for three years. She hadn't watched the news since she left, but she knew the type of people her brother was fighting against. She knew what he did was amazing. She was proud of him. But she was also so mad.

"I missed you so much, Timmy." She started to cry.

"Zo..." Hearing the nickname that only Tim could ever call her, she broke down. Tim tried to sit up to comfort her, but his right arm being elevated made it difficult.

"Come here so I can hug you, you dummy."

Climbing in bed next to her brother she let him wrap his left arm around her. Callie had changed his dressing to a soft cast to keep the frostbite covered, but other than that it was completely mobile.

"I thought of you every single day, Zo. Everyday. Do you know how sick they were of hearing about my sister?" He laughed as she chuckled against him.

"I thought of you too, Tim. I thought you were dead."

"Can't keep me down, sis. No one can."

They laid in silence for a while. "Does this mean you don't hate me?" He whispered. "I can never hate you. I love you. I am glad you are okay. I am also proud of you."

"Thanks. Sorry to top your Carter Madison. But me saving a whole generation of people is pretty hard to beat." He winced as she smacked his chest.

"Shut up. Let's watch this game. The tigers still suck by the way…"

"At least some things don't change." He smiled grateful to have his sister back in his arms. There is not one person he missed more while he was over there. It wasn't always fun and he did see a lot of things that kept him up at night. But he fought every day to get back to his family and he did just that.

A/N: They will finally come face to face next chapter. I just had to repair Tim and Arizona before I had them come together. I couldn't have her raging from Tim when she saw Callie for the first time.

A review mentioned people looking down on Ortho. I have a funny exchange in the next chapter about that exact thing 😊