AN
Apologies for the delay in posting. I went to post on Sunday night and my laptop had completely carked it. Thank god for currys selling laptops on ebay, I now have a lovely new laptop to post from. I literally only use a laptop to write fan fics on so its been a bit of an expensive hobby week lol.
Well its the time you've all been waiting for, we've had three Callie centric chapters so here is an Arizona centric chapter. We have jumped ahead in time to where the story really starts, the three chapters prior were just to set up for this chapter and future chapters, as such its quite a lengthy chapter as there was just nowhere to put a chapter break in it so enjoy the length, the chapters will vary between long ones and short ones depending on the content from here on out but there is a lot of ground to cover over the next few chapters.
Enjoy and as always, please leave me a little review, I can see on the stats that plenty of people are reading but not many are reviewing, as a writer getting feedback on the story makes my day so if you can spare a minute or two to write a review I would be most grateful.
AL
-oOo-
Three years. That's how long it had been, give or take a few weeks, since she had last spoken to her best friend. Had she known at the time that the argument would be their final correspondence, Arizona would have ignored that stupid alarm and stayed and tried to work out what the hell was going on with the brunette, to try and fix things before this happened. But alas, hindsight is a bitch like that.
In the three years since she had last spoken to her best friend Arizona had been living in a world of opposites. On one hand life was great, she had been excelling at Hopkins in each subject in each term of the past three years and was now only a week away from doing her boards and becoming Dr. Arizona Michelle Robbins M.D., a name which made her smile every time she realized how close it was getting. She was top of her class and had been working the past two years voluntarily in a children's ward at a local hospital in her every available minute. Something that she had come to love, she spent her time there playing with the kids of various stages of illness and injury, doing anything to help alleviate their pain, frustration and boredom. She would read them bedtime stories, sing to them; bring them special treats on birthdays or special occasions. And as much as she loved those things, she adored the other side too, being able to learn about the medicine involved in keeping these tiny little people alive and healthy and safe. Helping change out the drip bags, insert blood cannula's, take blood tests, change dressings, all kinds of medical things that fascinated her.
On top of her education and her voluntary work, she had a girl, Naomi. They had met slightly over a year ago and things were going great despite everything. They had discussed their future, their dreams and goals, of course when things between them were beginning to get serious and they had quickly realized that eventually their paths would separate and their relationship would be forced into an amicable demise. They had toyed with the thought of just ending things while they were above, walking away and not risking the hurt it could potentially cause should their feelings for each other blossom from a strong admiration and affection into that L word. But they had fun together, they made each other happy, and even if they did break up just a few months in, they would still remain good friends and see each other all of the time, and so they remained together.
Nine months later and they barely talked about the elephant that followed them around; they both knew it was there, they just didn't acknowledge it. When it came to their futures apart, to achieving their goals and reaching their potential, they supported each other without restraint. They genuinely wanted the best for each other, they truly cared for each other, so when it came to researching institutes to apply for internships they did it together. They would sit over a bottle or two of cheap white wine, the radio's hot hits on in the background and their laptops as they giggled and joked and teased each other as they looked over their options and made plans together that they knew in the back of their minds that it wouldn't involve each other. But they didn't let that stop them, or hold them back, no they took each moment and made it worthwhile, made most of every date night, every early morning snuggle, every night out together or with friends, they made each moment count with the sole intention to make it amazing while it lasted, and that's exactly what they were doing.
Feeling the vibration from her mobile phone that was in her hand still from her last txt to Naomi trying to confirm plans for dinner and drinks tonight. Glancing down to the device, her brow furrowed at the name flashing across the screen, Jo. Why the hell was her ex ringing her? Callie! It had to be about Callie. She swiped her finger across the device to accept the call and threw the phone as quickly to her ear as she could, desperate to hear if her ex was bringing her good news that she had spotted Callie, or had gotten a lead on her whereabouts.
"Hey Jo, how are things?" Arizona asked nervously as a deep panic filled her entire body, her stomach churned, and her heart pounded haphazardly and any trace of moisture within her mouth had completely vanished. The nervous energy built and she could feel the phone trembling slightly against the shell of her ear as she awaited Jo's news.
"Arizona... I found her... Callie... I'm looking at her right now" Jo mumbled in a way that pushed blood curdling fear to Arizona's very being, Jo sounded almost distant, almost scared.
"Is she ok? Put her on the phone so I can yell at her for being such a selfish moron and scaring the shit out of me!" Arizona forced a laugh, hoping beyond all hope that she was just imagining this feeling of dread encompassing her.
"Z, I can't... she can't... she's umm"
"Jo what's going on... you're scaring me. Is she ok?... where did you find her?"
"I'm at Davis, it's my volunteer day" Jo stuttered unsure of how to finish her explanation.
"Davis... Davis the hospital? Jo what the hell is going on" Arizona's panic has now trebled at the new knowledge that her ex and her estranged best friend are at the hospital, she needed solid facts and she needed them now, but her heart repelled the idea of being given facts that didn't coincide with her ideology that Callie was safe and happy somewhere living the dream and just didn't need the blondes presence in her life anymore.
"Z, I really don't know what's happening all I know is that she was brought in just a few minutes before I called you. She's completely naked Z, and has no personal effects on her, no phone, or pur… purse, or handbag… there's nothing to ID her with but its Callie, I promise you it's definitely her. I would know her anywhere after the amount of time we all spent together when we were an item... I don't know what the hell happened or where she's been these last few years but Z... it really doesn't look good right now. I'm sorry Z, but you may need to prepare yourself for bad news" Jo barked out a harsh sob against the deafening silence on the other side of the line, moments spread as neither women said anything, the only sound coming from the chaos of the trauma unit in the background of Jo's end.
"Stay with her! Please, don't let her out of your sight for a single second until I get there! Please Jo I'm begging you, keep a visual on her the whole time, whatever it takes!" Arizona begged as she jumped into action and began running towards the car park, jumping in her Prius and wheel spinning from the tarmac in a way a Prius was never made for. Gone were all concerns of an ecological mode of transport, of a green ride… the world could go to hell if it meant she would get to Callie's side quicker.
"Of course I won't leave her... wait... you said until you get here? You're coming?" Jo asked unbelievably as she followed Callie's gurney discretely into a larger trauma room and watched as various doctors and nurses worked on stabilizing her naked and broken form.
"Of course I'm coming Jo, she needs me! I'm already half way to the airport, I'll message you my flight details when I have it booked. I will be there as soon as I can Jo please if... if anything happens please, please message me and I will check every second I can, I want to know everything" Arizona begged as she navigated the junction that led into the entrance to the airport and the surrounding businesses and cargo holds.
"Ok I will... just take some deep breaths and calm down. We don't need for you to be in a car crash because you weren't paying attention and were too spooked. Now go, I will hang up so you can focus on the road just keep me updated on your travels and call me when you get here" Jo offered numbly.
"Ok I will and Jo... thank you so much for calling me to let me know" Arizona spoke with more strength than she felt.
"Of course! I just wish it was better news Z"
"She will be fine... its Cal, she's strong as hell and made of tough stuff and when she pulls through this I'm gonna kick her idiotic ass for putting us all through this. I owe you Jo!" Arizona offered before disconnecting the call to focus on the last few junctions that will lead her to the domestic outbound terminal.
After an eventful and chaotic arrival at Baltimore International Airport, Arizona finally found herself in the back of a cab on the way to Davis Hospital. The flight was a quick five hour and five minute, by the book flight that seemed to drag on for days for the blonde as every possible scenario of what she would arrive to would enter her mind. Despite knowing better, she couldn't resist the lure of turning her flight mode on her cell phone off just in case she somehow managed to get a signal to show her if any updates on Callie's condition had arrived, but the tin can cruising at thirty thousand feet just wouldn't allow her anything but the SOS signal. Finally her phone began to vibrate as messages began to pour in she read each one hopefully, there were six, all from Jo.
Z, thanks for the heads up on ur express flight call me when u arrive at Davis and I will come get u and bring you 2 Cal, stay safe and don't worry until we know there is something 2 worry about
She's been under just over 1hr, they seem 2 be running lots of tests and there is a lot of talk we can't hear from the gallery but she's holding strong so far
2hrs in Z, it's been a little turbulent. I don't want 2 scare u but I can't lie either! There have been a few scares but they r still operating. I know u won't see this till you land but I'm scared Z, she's in really bad shape and they keep finding more damage 2 fix. I don't know what the hell happened 2 her, but it does not look good
3 hrs. down. I have a resident called Sloan who is sitting with me and has been for hrs. now. I think he could see how scared I am and realized I know Cal, so he's been sitting with me and explaining everything that's going on. It's bad Z, really bad. It's not going 2 be a quick recovery in hospital and discharge 4 her. Something really bad has been going on. A few more scares but they keep bringing her back. She's still a fighter
4 hr. mark and by now u are closer than u r away, I can't wait for u2 get here. Watching this is just… I've never thought about quitting b4 but sitting here watching this… I really don't know if I can do all of this, the way these surgeons keep calm every time an alarm goes off, or she starts to bleed out, or they find something else tht needs fixing. They are so sure of themselves, so confident, so resilient and I am a complete mess and all I can do is just pray and cross my fingers and hope and just watch and wait
God I'm sorry, I should really b telling you all this in person not over the phone, and I'm so sorry z. I'm just scared and worried… I'm completely freaking out here. I'm doing it again… just get here safe k? She seems 2b a lot more stable now anyway. Codes are happening a lot less. She has had the head of pretty much every department in 2 check out her scans and images and look over her case. They are taking really good care of her. Let me know when uve landed Z
Arizona glanced up from her phone to gauge how long she had too reply to Jo, only to discover the Davis Hospital sign quickly approaching. Grabbing her satchel, the only thing she had brought with her, she threw it over her head and prepared to jump out of the car. She grabbed a fifty from her purse, threw it at the driver with an apology and thanks and dived from the vehicle. She spotted the glass sliding doors that announced the main entrance and headed in that direction in a brisk walk as she returned her focus to her cell and tried to control her trembling hands so she could control her fingers to find Jo's contact so she could call her friend. When this was all over she owed Jo a drink, or a week in a day spa. Her ex had gone above and beyond over the last few years for her and as if that wasn't enough now she was sitting vigil by Callie's bedside for her. Suddenly she connected with something, the air escaped her lungs in one solid breath and her hands leapt forward to grab a hold of something to steady herself, she looked up and there was Jo. A tired, strained and worn out Jo who looked worse than Arizona had ever seen her.
"Hey sorry I was looking at my phone to find your number!" Arizona scoffs at how normal that sentence sounded even though nothing about this day felt normal.
"Don't worry about it. I just ducked out to get a sandwich and a fresh coffee... she's still in surgery. They took her in about fifteen minutes after we hung up. They had to wait whilst they stabilized her. She coded four times on route and a further five times before they could get her into an OR and I really don't know how many times on the table"
"Jesus... that's like... almost six hours!" Arizona winced as the depth of Callie's injuries started to become more real with that realization.
"It looked like a random attack at first... what with her being naked and with no belongings and being badly beaten and dumped in an alley. But the longer the surgery is going on the more damage they have found... old damage... not from the last twenty four hours, so they are now suspecting foul play but aren't sure of what yet, it looks like various assaults" Jo admitted.
"Foul play?... what does... what does that even mean… What are you trying to tell me?" Arizona blanched at Jo's words.
"Well from the damage witnessed from having her opened up and the numerous x-rays and CT's they have taken so far from the portable machines... it very much looks like Callie has been copping a beating and a half, god knows how many times over the last few years... I'm so sorry Arizona" Jo watched as the blood drained from Arizona's face.
"What the hell... who, who did this to her? You don't think... Earl? No he always adored her and treasured her and sure he was a little possessive but not... not abusive kind of possessive, the amount of time we all hung out we would have seen that… right?"
"I don't know Z, I really don't know… come on, let's go and you can see her for yourself and we will work all of this out once she is in recovery" Jo guided Arizona towards the viewing deck that she had lived in for the past few hours. Arizona glanced through the large window into the immaculately lit operating room on the other side of it and her eyes fell upon Callie without any conscious thought. Various parts of her body had been covered with sheets in order to protect at least some of her modesty, however several parts of her body were open and exposed as surgeons worked diligently on the brunette. Arizona's breath hitched in her throat as tears stung at her eyes like they were filling with acid. Her stomach churned and her knees weakened. Jo noticed the look on her face and guided her to a chair before she fell down.
"I can't… Jo I can't believe this... this can't be real. It just can't! Look at her... that argument we had the last time we spoke… it started because I questioned her about a bunch of bruises and swelling on her face. Fuck it! I should have pushed harder and not let her sweep it under the carpet... I could have saved her from this!" Arizona practically yelled as her arm threw out and pointed in the direction her eyes were trained.
"Z, if it is a domestic violence situation there is no way to tell what you could or could not have done to help her. She has to want help to get help... and didn't you say she had completely cut ties with her parents and Aria too? It sounds like she was already too deep in his web by that point for you to be able to help her… if it is Earl, we don't know all the facts yet Z"
"Shit. Has anyone called Carlos and Lucia? Or Aria?"
"No they aren't listed as emergency contacts, only Earl is and I don't have their numbers. I asked the hospital to help me find it but they refused, something about patient - hospital confidentiality and if they aren't listed as next of kin they don't get a call... the next of kin will notify them... it's stupid" Jo grumbled, clearly having had this argument at least once already.
"Don't worry about it Jo, you did everything you could and more… I will go and call them and fill them in now" She moved to the back of the room for a little more privacy but there was no way she was letting Callie out of her sight. She wasn't sure if she would ever be able to let her best friend out of her sight again.
'Hello?' Arizona sighed as she heard the calm yet ever hopeful voice of Lucia Torres. Arizona had stayed in touch with the Torres family, of course, they were her family also just not by blood. Every time Lucia answered the phone or her door, it was always with hope and each time she had that hope dashed, her ageing heart would visibly and audibly break. She missed her eldest daughter, there was no doubt about that, but Arizona was unsure if the Mexican woman would be able to take the news she was about to give with as much strength as she knew Callie's Cuban father would. Of course he would be affected, hurt, angry, devastated, and furious but he was Carlos Torres, he was strong and stoic. He was a breath of calm in the middle of the wildest storm, no internally he would break apart but on the outside, where everyone could see, he would be the pillar of strength for everyone.
'Lucia, its Arizona. I found her. I'm with her now in California' Arizona tried her hardest to keep the emotion and pain from her voice but the tears burning her eyes had moved to the back of her throat and threatened to choke her.
'Oh thank goodness! That's fantastic news Arizona. Tell me everything is she healthy? Is she happy and safe? Is she still with Earl? Is she...' Arizona felt the guilt overwhelm her at having given the women she saw as a second mother any form of false hope. The happiness in Lucia's voice made her next words even more painful to release.
'Lucia I'm sorry to interrupt, is… is Carlos with you please?' Arizona stuttered to buy herself some time.
'Yes dear he is working in his office, why's that?... oh no... Is she in trouble? Does she need help... Oh no please don't tell me she needs us to come and bail her out of jail, Carlos will be so upset! Just wait a moment and I will go get him right away just hold on' Arizona could hear the worry clear in her voice and couldn't hold off any longer.
'Lucia please listen, I need you to get Carlos and meet me down at Davis Hospital and I will explain everything to you both. Can you do that? Can you please come?' Arizona begged trying to control the hot tears that were not streaking down her face.
'Oh no...Is she… what umm… she's hurt?' Lucia stuttered out on a single pained breath.
'Yeah, she's hurt... but we have found her and I'm not letting her disappear again. Please just get down here and I promise I will explain everything I know to you' Arizona begged again, quickly losing the will to keep talking.
'Ok sweetheart, I'll grab Carlos and be on my way right now, I will see you shortly. Love you Arizona' Arizona felt her heart tug in her chest at the admission that she rarely heard from the Torres Matriarch.
'I love you too Lucia, drive carefully' Arizona disconnected the line and threw her head into her hands as she sobbed. She felt Jo's arms wrap around her and pull her into her warmth and safety and she melted. It was something she hadn't experienced for over three years now, but it was a feeling she recognized. It was a safety she was intimate with and right now it felt like she had rewound time to five years ago, when everything was normal and Callie was still the biggest and most present part of her day. She stayed in Jo's arms for several long minutes until her phone vibrated alerting her that the Torres' has arrived
"Can you stay here while I go an meet them and fill them in, if anything changes can you let me know, please Jo, I know I have already asked a lot" Arizona asked as she pulled back from the embrace and smiled sadly at Jo to show her gratitude for the comfort.
"Go… I will be right here and if you need any updates just message me ok. I will go back and sit with Sloan. Once he stopped hitting on me he's actually a decent enough guy" Jo offered a playful smile at the blonde who couldn't help but scoff at the idea of Jo willingly sitting and talking to a guy that was actively trying to hit her up. Arizona skipped down the stairs in the direction she saw Callie's parents enter the hospital and Lucia greeted her with a tight embrace that lasted for several moments. Both women holding off the inevitable for as long as they could in the comfort of each other. Eventually Lucia pulled away and offered Arizona a tired and sorrowful smile.
"Goodness Mija, you look dreadful" Carlos offered a tight and almost teasing smile before he leaned in and kissed Arizona's forehead firmly and rubbed the back of her shoulder affectionately.
"Thanks Carlos, I appreciate the compliment! It's good to see you both, even despite the circumstances" Arizona offered, knowing that she was reaching the point where she could physically no longer hold off on telling Callie's parents her news on her best friends disappearance.
"Arizona please... I can't take it any longer I need to know… where is my baby? Is she ok?" Lucia asked, knowing from the strain in Arizona's eyes and the pain on her face that the answers would be ones she hoped she would never have to hear. In her heart she knew that Callie would only disappear in sinister circumstances, sure they had their disagreements and petty fights over the years, but the Torres' were close to both of their children, it made no sense for Callie to just write them off for no reason other than a minor disagreement on Callie's choices.
"She's in surgery right now and has been for around six and a half hours now" Arizona admitted around the lump in her throat.
"Mio Dios" Lucia muttered under her breath as the words hit her, her hand rising to cover her mouth in shock and her eyes instantly filling with moisture.
"What the hell happened to her?" Carlos asked taking charge, his arm wrapping around Lucia's shoulders firmly in silent support, knowing that she would need it as they delved deeper into Arizona's answers.
"Ok, well I'm not certain of all the facts so I'm going to start from the beginning and tell you what I do know, but I'm going to need you both to sit down and stay calm and remember that we are here for Cal and there is a reason that she cut us all off in the first place, if we do something brash, like storm into her room and demand answers, or accuse someone without proof and threaten them… she is likely to disappear into the night again, so please… I know how hard it is, I love Calliope just as much as you both do even if that love is in a different form, but we need to keep our heads on straight for Callie right now" Both parents silently nodded before sitting on a deserted row of hospital seats overlooking the reception area and its calm quiet never ending bustle.
"I'm sorry you will have to hear some of this and please remember that the details are all sketchy right now. She was found in an alleyway by a young guy who was putting the trash out at his workplace. She was running in and out if consciousness when he spotted her, she had been severely beaten so he called an ambulance, she umm… she was also completely naked and had nothing… no ID, no purse, no clothing... nothing" Arizona closed her eyes, unable to bare watching either Torres digest that information and what it suggested to.
"Dios no! No, no, no! She was raped… in an alleyway of all places? Dirty and deserted and completely alone? Dios My poor baby" Lucia sobs into Carlos' shoulder. Arizona opened her eyes to offer her support and sympathy to the woman who had partially raised her, she really was a second mother to her and being the one to cause this pain to her was heartbreaking.
"Well that was what we originally thought but..."Arizona caught sight of Earl entering the hospital and stopped talking and rushed over to him. She didn't know what to feel towards him, the feelings were massing and were overpowering each other making her thoughts a confused jumble. The two main feelings were confusion and anger though. Why the hell was Earl just arriving? She had been here for almost an hour now and she had travelled all the way from Baltimore, Earl however, looked like he had travelled from the closest bar in the last five minutes.
"Earl she's still in surgery... where she has been for seven hours now and you are only just getting here when I know for a fact that the hospital successfully contacted you within half an hour of her arrival after they had identified and confirmed that it was actually her. I got here from Baltimore quicker than you got here, where the hell have you been?" she could smell alcohol on him and his eyes had that glazed, two sheets to the wind look, which only served to stoke her anger and frustration further, making the ability to control her anger reach levels bordering on impossible.
"You know what Blondie? What happens in my marriage is none of your damn business, it's no one's damn business. So why don't you just piss off back to Baltimore where you belong and take her fucking parents with you while you are at it! The further you three are from her the happier she will be!" Earl spat in her face on a low growl, the menace in his voice clear and evident to the blonde who looked at him in shock, surprised at the change in personality from the last time she had seen him.
They were completely different people and the possibility that Earl was the cause of the damage Callie was suffering right this moment on an operating room table, it was becoming more and more cemented in her own mind as each second passed. With a dismissive shrug of his shoulders, Earl turns towards Carlos and Lucia throwing them the stink eye of all stink eyes, he strode arrogantly towards the nurses' station to find out how much trouble his pain in the ass wife was causing for him. "Hi there I had a call regarding my wife Calliope Thompson a few hours ago but I was in a very important meeting at work and I couldn't get out of it until just now, so I'm just making it here. Would it be possible to get someone to fill me in on what's going on please?"
"Of course sir, if you want to go ahead and wait in the private waiting room just down the green corridor, I will have someone come and talk to you as soon as possible. She's still in surgery at the moment so you can't go and see her yet I'm afraid" The nurse offered cautiously but with a false smile. She had overheard the exchange between Mr. Thompson and the blonde woman and was dubious about what the correct protocol was considering the circumstances of Mrs. Thompson's condition and the current questions being raised about her being involved in a long term violent situation.
"That's fine thank you! We have a situation here, my wife is estranged from her family and they seem to be here hanging around. She absolutely doesn't want to see them, in fact she's terrified of seeing any of them and having them force her back into her abusive past. How do I ensure none of them are allowed anywhere near her and that nobody upsets her any further by mentioning to her that they are even here? Her parents shouldn't even be in the hospital that she is in, she has a restraining order on them forbidding it" Earl said in the most worried and concerned voice he could muster.
"Oh I am so sorry to hear that sir, if possible could you please provide me with the names of these people and I will have it written in her file. Any doctor that comes near her case will read the file prior to treating or conversing with her so will be aware of not to mention it to her and I shall call security and inform them and they will send someone over here especially to watch the group and make sure none of them try to go near her" The nurse offered sympathetically, instantly assuming that the injuries the patient had sustained were caused by these other people and the husband was just an innocent bystander.
"That sounds perfect... I just want to focus on my wife and help her heal and not worry about what that lot are plotting to do to her this time. The names are: Lucia and Carlos Torres. They have a restraining order which prohibits them from being closer than six hundred and fifty feet of her. Then you have Arizona Robbins, Aria Torres, Timothy Robbins and finally, Barbara and Daniel Robbins. All of these people are absolutely not to be allowed near her, can you assure me of that? I just want my wife to be safe and comfortable to heal properly and if she even knows they are sniffing around the stress is going to do more damage than good" Earl offered smoothly, playing his part perfectly. The last three years had certainly taught him well on how to behave when around others, how to react with honed perfection and how to lie easily on the spur.
"Of course Mr. Thompson, I have Torres: Lucia, Carlos and Aria, as well as Robbins: Arizona, Timothy, Barbara and Daniel. I will get security to snap some images of those three from the CCTV to add to the file just in case they are stupid enough to even attempt using fake names and I will put a red flag on the file for if the other four show up to get photo ID of them also. Because of your request anyone outside of the hospital staff who requests access to your wife will be asked for ID and we will call your mobile number which we have on file to request entrance, is that ok with you Mr. Thompson?" The nurse asked sweetly as she typed rapidly on the computer, inputting every detail she could to help keep the patient safe. Rumor's had been flying around the hospital since she was brought in, she needed as many people fighting her corner as possible and if she could help even just the tiniest amount in the most insignificant way, she would.
"Perfect at least I know if I can't be here she will be kept safe and no one can get near her to hurt her!" With a sneer of disgust, he left the general waiting room to a more private one to await his wife and someone from her medical team.
Arizona moved to the counter after Earl was out of sight, having seen the disapproving looks being thrown her way and the smug smirk Earl threw at her before he left, she knew that something was up, something was very wrong here and the second she knows that Calliope is safe and stable, she would be getting to the bottom of it once and for all and if Earl was responsible for harming a single hair on Callie's head, Arizona would rip him apart with her bare hands till he was nothing but bloody mist and sinew. She offered a dimpled smile to the nurse who was watching her with interest and, what looked like worry evident all over her face. "Hi, is it possible to get an update on Callie Torres in OR6 please. I haven't heard anything for a while now and they should be closed up already, it's been over seven and a half hours since she was taken in"
"I'm sorry Miss Robbins I'm afraid I'm unable to provide you with any details regarding Mrs. Thompson as you aren't on the kin list, you need to have approval from Mrs. Thompson's next of kin in order to be provided with any information" Arizona frowned as the words hit her, she studied the nurse for a few quick seconds in shock and all she could see was some form of disgust or disapproval written on the older woman's face.
"I'm sorry, I've been here for the past hour, I flew from Baltimore the second I found out that she had been brought in, I mean I arrived five and a half hours after she did and Baltimore is a five hour flight… I haven't had any trouble at all being provided with information so far, so why has that changed all of a sudden?" Arizona asked warily, already knowing the answer but needing the verbal commitment for confirmation.
"I'm sorry Miss. Robbins but certain information has been brought to light regarding Mrs. Thompson's current injuries and her past, and her case has been locked down for security purposes. Only verified family and friends who are on the list authorized by her next of kin are allowed access to her or any of her information now" Arizona couldn't help but sigh as her shoulders slumped. This was definitely a set back and a frustrating turn of events but arguing it out with this woman wouldn't achieve anything, after all she was only doing her job, following protocol's that were devised in order to keep at risk patients safe from further abuse or harm.
"Ok, I understand what you're saying, that its protocol for these kinds of cases... how umm... how do I go about getting myself and Mrs. Thompson's parents over there, put on the list?" Arizona asks, pointing nervously towards the Torres' who were watching the exchange intently with interest and horror. Arizona's eyes flicked towards a beefy security guard who had just arrived and took vigil behind the nurse but outside of the desk enclosure. She couldn't help but notice the way he was staring intently at Callie's parents from the corner of his eye, and it left her with an uneasy feeling. What the hell was going on here, what on Earth had Earl told this woman to have the muscle brought in so rapidly.
"I'm sorry Miss. Robbins but that's not possible, and due to the restraining order against Mr. and Mrs. Torres they won't be able to get access either" The nurse offered with a tight smile, a smile which said to Arizona that the woman was running out of patience with her. But Arizona couldn't stop her mind from buzzing at the new information which had been given to her.
"Restraining order? I'm sorry but… what?" Arizona spun towards the Torres' who were looking mortified and scared and she realized they had been listening to her the whole time and from the look on their faces it was true and they had been too embarrassed to mention it to her before.
"He did this didn't he? He went out of his way to tell you not to let any of us see her? We didn't do this to her, if that's what he told you… and if we didn't do it to her that means someone else did! If he is deliberately keeping us away from her for no reason that makes the suspicion fall upon him. Please, please I am begging you to have someone keep an eye on him, make sure he isn't hurting her or worse trying to kill her... please. I understand that you have to follow protocol and right now there are accusations about me and my family being thrown around, but we won't cause you any trouble, we won't fight your protocols or anything, just please… look it can't hurt to keep an eye on one extra person just in case I'm not lying right?" the nurse offered a sad smile unable to do anything or say anything, but she could see the honesty in the blue eyes staring hopefully at her. She offers a nod of understanding and acceptance of what the blonde had asked.
Arizona returned to the chairs and dumped in the one next to Lucia, dropping her head to the older woman's shoulder and taking her hand in her own. She could feel the silent sobs coming from the usually stoic and proud woman and it broke her heart. What the hell was going on here and why the hell did Callie put a restraining order against her parents? Callie adored her parents!
Jo finally arrived not ten minutes later and with a sad smile on her exhausted and drained face. "Mr. and Mrs. Torres, it's a pleasure to meet you again I'm sorry it's under such sad circumstances" Jo offered sadly.
"Wait, walk away. Go to the toilets over by the cafeteria and I will call you in a second. Don't say another word here just act like you've said hello to an old friend and walk away like you don't really know us... do it Jo please"
Once Jo was gone, Arizona made a point of loudly discussing with the Torres' "what a blast from the past. Jo was a good friend to Cal and me at school but we lost touch. I bumped into her earlier and she found out about Cal being here it's just a shame I couldn't update her on how she's doing before she leaves for the night" after waiting a few minutes impatiently she continues. "Hey I'm just going to ring my parents and fill them in on what's happening ok? I'll be back in a few"
She walks the opposite direction to Jo stopping still within sight of the nurse and security but well out of hearing distance. She wants them to believe her cover story. Right now Jo is her only way of keeping in touch with Callie and making sure she's ok. She won't do anything to compromise anyone figuring out that they all know each other well.
"The hell was that all about Z?" Jo asked after not even one ring cycle on her phone.
"It's Earl… I'm sure of it. He's put a ban in place so we can't get access to any information about Cal and if they find out your passing along info, you will be banned from going near her too. You are literally my only connection to her right now, if we lose that she is gone again and the next time we find her it could be too late… how is she?"
"Still fighting, they have moved her to ICU where she will stay for the next hour before being moved to her own private room. She's pretty banged up Z, physically it's going to be an uphill struggle for her. Mentally, even if this wasn't Earl… it could take years for her to heal if she ever does"
"I can never thank you enough for today Jo… truly. And Lucia and Carlos feel exactly the same… thank you Jo"
"Ah what can I say Z. You know I can never refuse those damn dimples. Just be careful ok. I know you love Callie but she won't want you getting yourself killed trying to meddle in her stuff… just…. Don't be the Arizona who was my girlfriend and always did stupid shit without thinking it through… use your head, for Callie's sake!"
With a smirk at Jo's cheek… and accuracy, Arizona bids her farewells and wishes Jo a goodnight. The tall skinny brunette was finally going to head home and after the early start, the hours of running around during her shift and then the drama of Callie, sitting in a seven and a bit hour surgery just watching helplessly, the emotional turmoil, the panic of every code, the stress of not knowing if the Latina would pull through the surgery. Now Jo got to do something she very much deserved. Head home, eat some take out and crash for as long as she needed.
After filling the Torres' in on the news, the three adults sat and chatted for long minutes as they awaited any news on Callie's condition. Sometimes they would share stories of Callie's adventures and laugh together, other times they would collaborate their perspective of Callie's story, trying to piece together where it had all gone wrong and if they would have been able to change it.
A little less than two hours after Jo had left, two police officers approached the burley security guard who hadn't moved an inch since he arrived to take vigil. After a brief chat, they had approached the trio and kindly demanded that they leave. Arizona had refused based on the grounds that they had security footage showing her sitting quietly for several hours so she had done nothing to warrant being ejected from the hospital, the Torres' on the other hand had a restraining order hanging over their head. Lucia had begun to argue her dissatisfaction at their order to leave but Carlos had stopped her, not wanting to make a scene and knowing that legally they were standing on very thin ice, and so with a promise to call with absolutely any news, even just the most boring of updates, Arizona found herself sitting in the waiting room doing as its name suggested, and little else: waiting.
After what must have been another two hours, but had felt like ten, a short and stout female exited from a bank of elevators and caught Arizona's attention. The woman had been one of Callie's surgeons and Arizona jumped at the chance to find out something, anything. She wracked her brain, knowing that Jo had provided the woman's name earlier in the gallery… Bailey, Dr. Bailey!
"Excuse me Ma'am but you were the general surgeon that led the case for Callie Torres… sorry Thompson" Arizona more states than asks as she looks down at the shorter woman who was looking at her incredulously.
"I'm sorry miss…"
"Robbins, Arizona Robbins"
"Well Miss Robbins, I'm afraid I cannot provide you with any information on Mrs. Thompsons case, as I'm sure you know, you are specifically named one of the people who we specifically can't talk to!"
"Are you… are you freaking kidding me? I don't want any specifics, that not what I'm asking…"
"And as I already told you Miss. Robbins, I can't give you any details on Mrs. Thompson's case"
"Fine, don't give me damn details just tell me if she is ok? That's all I need to know, is she ok? Oh and is she safe? That's all I need, I need to know that the woman who has been my best friend since the day of my seventh birthday when she joined my school and gave me the best birthday present I have ever received, her friendship, that she is ok, that she is going to live and make a full recovery but most importantly that she is safe and that there is someone more than her damn husband keeping an eye on her, please can you at least do that Dr. Bailey, that's not providing me with information, that's confirming the information I have given you!"
Dr. Bailey eyed the blonde incredulously, it wasn't often that anybody, patient, visitor, colleague or family member spoke to her in such a commanding and authorative way.
"Look I'm sorry, that was rude and I'm projecting my frustration onto you and I shouldn't, none of this is your fault, but please understand that my best friend has just come out of a seven hour surgery and from what I saw, she was in really bad shape. Now it turns out that the responsibility for her condition is being accused on myself and Callie's family, and I can assure you that none of us did this to her which leaves only one person who can be responsible for her injuries, old and new, and that's the only person who is allowed access to her, the person who is sat at her bedside right now likely without anybody watching any of his movements… now I can't prove it and I shouldn't really make accusations that are so terrible, but I'm scared for my best friends safety and I'm not asking you as the woman who is being nosy and interfering in her friends marriage, I'm asking you as the woman who is shit scared for her friends safety, I love Callie so very much and I'm terrified that I'm right and it is Earl that has been doing this too her, and I'm terrified as to what he may do next, but I… I just need to know, if she is ok and safe…. Please, surely you can tell me those two simple things, please?" Arizona sobbed, angry tears burning tracks down her face as the little beads of saline are overtaken by gravity the second they are released from her eye.
"Miss Robbins, I can't tell you anything, however I'm about to go an inform the nurse of the update on Mrs. Thompson and I advise that you do not follow me and eavesdrop, as I wouldn't be able to control that or be responsible for your snooping" Bailey offered with a straight face before moving towards the desk nurse, Arizona followed her quickly, smiling shyly at the nurse who was watching the interaction with great interest. Dr. Bailey taking pity on a patient's visitor who had just spoken out of line to her was something of an anomaly, when it happens, and if you're lucky enough to be a witness to it, you pay great attention.
"That's me off for the night Sarah, I've updated Mrs. Thompsons charts a few moments ago, the surgery was a success and we were able to achieve everything we set out to do despite the amount of trauma her body had been through on this occasion and in the past. Due to hospital policy, please ensure that all protocols are being followed, as you know its standard practice in what is suspiciously like a violence case, especially domestic violence, that the patient is kept in a private room which is monitored not only by staff in fifteen minute intervals, but that they are placed in a room which is monitored by the closed circuit security system and all blinds remain open, that way if any misinformation is given to us about the origins of any injuries, we are able to observe and document and inform any authorities necessary. Now I'm going to head home and get Tuck into bed before I miss story time again, if there are any issues or complications with Mrs. Thompson, please page me immediately however she is in a stable and comfortable position so I doubt I will be needed for the night. Goodnight Sarah!" Bailey smiled at the nurse, turning on her heel she offered Arizona a tight smile, instantly noticing the look of absolute relief and gratitude all over her face and body language, and with a firm nod, she was gone… gone for the night and gone to her own home to get on with her own life and to leave the chaotic drama that was beginning to circle from the second Mrs. Thompson was rushed in that afternoon.