Chapter 13

Arizona wasn't sure how long she had been sitting at the foot of the bed. She was lost in a daze. How could Callie do this? How could she go against her direct request? She asked her to let Conner go. It was the hardest thing Arizona had ever had to do, but she tried for his sake. Arizona had put her wants and needs aside for him. Now her mind was racing with the whys and how of what Callie had done. Arizona questions were interrupted by another one that just seemed to keep coming back. How was he in Miami?

Once Arizona saw the first message, she went back through them all. She knew that it was an invasion of Callie's privacy, but she couldn't stop looking. This was her son; her life. She couldn't believe of all places in the world to be, Conner was here. His name was Jacob now. 'Jacob' was here. Callie moved in the bed causing Arizona to come out of her daze.

"What time is it?" Callie asked.

For the first time Arizona looked at the clock. "6:45."

"Oh my god, Arizona. Why are you up?"

Callie hadn't opened her eyes until Arizona said those next words. "Your phone was blinking and I couldn't sleep with it doing that. It was just magnified in this dark room."

Immediately Callie's eyes were open. She brushed her hair back to look at Arizona.

"Ariz-"

"I asked you to let that go, Callie. I asked you, but you are so obsessed with having a family. He isn't ours, Calliope."

"Hey!" Callie sat up in the bed. "That isn't fair. I never said he was. You are the one that hid this from me for over a year. If your niece hadn't hid in the closet, I still wouldn't know. Why the hell are you going through my phone?"

"What was the first thing to happen when we got of the plane?"

"God I don't remember." Callie was now as upset as Arizona.

"Your phone rang. They called about advise on a patient. Was it any patient? No, no it wasn't. It was a patient of mine that has been under my care for over two years."

"He has a broken foot that will need pins, not a pediatric surgeon."

"I don't know that. What if the meds cause problems. They called your phone to talk to you and me both. They know you are always texting someone on that thing, and it's easier to find you."

"I told you that those messages were a surprise. For you not to ask questions."

"This is a surprise?"

"I just said it was a surprise when you asked. You didn't know there wasn't a surprise. You looked at my phone anyway."

"You can blame this on me all you want, Calliope, but this is on you. I told you to leave it alone."

For the first time Callie saw a tear run down Arizona's face and the more important point was suddenly clear to Callie. "Arizona, I thought I could help you with this."

"How? He was ripped out of my arms and I asked you to let it go."

"I just thought.."

Callie was interrupted by a very angry Arizona. "Call it off, Callie."

"I just…"

"CALL IT OFF! NOW!" Arizona handed the phone to Callie. "You text him and tell him thank you, but he is done."

Callie took the phone and watched Arizona walk around the bed and climb in. Callie pulled the message up as Arizona looked at her. She then hit reply.

Hey Ricky. Thanks for the info. That is all I need. I really appreciate the help, but what you have found is plenty enough. You did really good work. Thanks again. -Callie.

Callie hit send.

Arizona looked at her and sternly said, "I get that you think you are doing me some favor, but you aren't. If you want to help me, truly help me, don't ever do anything like this again."

"I'm sorry. I just thought you needed…."

"I just need sleep." Arizona laid back and turned to her side away from Callie.

"Arizona?" Callie said looking at Arizona hoping she would turn around.

"What?" Arizona didn't move.

"I just thought you needed to know."

"What I need is sleep, Callie."

Callie took her cue and laid back down. She was awake for a while before returning to sleep.

"Arizona? Arizona?" Arizona could feel a kiss on her cheek. "Honey, wake up."

Arizona opened her eyes to look into the most beautiful blue eyes in the world. "Huh?"

"Change your clothes. You were exhausted and fell asleep. You still have your shoes on."

"I was just gonna lay down a minute."

"I know, but you were up with Conner all night and you're tired. Just take your shoes off."

Arizona tried to take them off, but not without help. "I got this." Arizona said still half asleep.

"I can help." Arizona started to return to sleep. "Ari?"

"Yeah, Jess."

"Promise me you will always watch out for him."

"OK" Arizona said in her sleep.

"No, Promise me." Jessica said shaking her sleeping girlfriend awake.

Arizona opened her eyes to look at Jessica. "I promise to tuck him in every night. I promise." Arizona lifted up and kissed Jessica before returning to sleep.

"Arizona? Arizona?" Arizona's entire body was shaking. "Arizona!"

Arizona looked up into those same blue eyes that were now harsh and reprimanding. "Jess?"

"You promised, Arizona. YOU PROMISED!"

Arizona sat up in the bed. She was drenched with sweat and breathing hard. Callie was already up for the day getting dressed and when she noticed what happened she immediately went and sat beside Arizona. "It's a dream, Arizona." Callie brushed the large curls from Arizona's face. "It was a dream."

Arizona started to cry. "This is why, Callie. This is why."

"Why, what?"

"I let her down. I promised and when I think of him I know…..I promised her, Callie."

"Arizona, we can fix this."

"No. It's been too long." Arizona cried harder into Callie's shoulder. "These nightmares are my punishment. They always will be."

Callie just held Arizona. She didn't know what else to do. This was her fault. She had brought this back to Arizona. This was on her.

"I am so sorry."

"I just need for you to leave this alone. Please."

Callie pulled back from Arizona. She wiped the large tear that was running down Arizona's face and kissed her gently on the lips. "I promise. I will let it go."

"Thank you. You don't have to understand, but if you care about me, this is what I need."

"Ok."

Callie laid back with Arizona. She held her as tight as she could until she felt Arizona return to much needed sleep. Callie laid there for the next hour just holding her and wondering what now.

They spent most the morning in bed catching up on sleep. When Arizona finally woke, she joined the rest of the family out by the pool.

"Aw, good morning Dr. Robb…Arizona." Carlos said with a smile. "Sleep well?"

"Yes, finally."

Aria yelled from the pool. "Hey Arizona?" Arizona smiled at Aria laying on a double float with Callie. "Dad told us about when we came home last night. You coulda left me in the doorway you know." Aria and Callie laughed.

"Thanks I will remember that next time."

Callie slid off the float and swam over to where Arizona was. "Hey."

Arizona knelt down and dropped her feet in the water. "Yeah."

Callie swam over to her and crossed her arms across Arizona's knees and looked up at her. "Just pins, right?"

"What?"

"Just pins. I said it was just pins."

Arizona smiled. "What happened?"

"Apparently Kyle had a setback this morning."

"Setback?"

"Yeah. When he broke his foot he also cut it on a piece of metal. He was seen at the doctors last week and they brought him in yesterday to the ER when they called us. Tests came back this morning positive for a staph."

"Great. So now what?"

"They are giving him meds. His parents have asked for you twice. I told them I would have you call when you were available."

"Ok."

"I know that look."

"What look?"

"That 'I have a tiny human in trouble and I am not there' look."

"Callie, I am not…."

"You sleep better?"

"Yeah. I'm really sorry I looked at your phone and that I yelled at you. I was upset and very tired."

"It's ok. I understand your point. Besides, I shouldn't have done what I did."

"I'm gonna go call the hospital and see what is going on." Arizona got up from the pool.

"My phone is on the chair over there if you want to use it."

Arizona smiled. "You sure?"

"Yeees."

Arizona knelt by the pool again. "Have I told you today how much I love you?"

"Not since you yelled at me, no" Callie smiled. "I love you too."

Callie's family watched the interaction between the two and loved the idea of Callie being so happy. They may have had their problems at first, but were really starting to like Arizona. She was good for Callie and that was obvious.

Arizona paced the yard while talking on the phone. Callie watched as she became intense about her conversation. Callie knew Arizona's body language enough to know something was wrong. Callie watched as she hang up the phone and take a deep breathe. She knew that Kyle had gotten worse.

Arizona returned to the pool. "What's up?"

"It is just like a ripple affect. Everything is cause everything to be worse. If they had known about the infection when he came in. He has infection markers running up his leg now. His foot is swelling more. His body has been through so much with Chemotherapy the last couple of years, his body is just weak. His body is just not fighting this. I don't know if there is more to it than that. He is running a high grade fever too."

There was that look again. She knew Arizona wanted to be there with her patient.

"If you need…"

Callie was interrupted. "We are on vacation."

"Not if you are here talking to the parents and being upset. You are his doctor, vacation or not."

"They are taking care of him. Alex is back to work now and he can handle this. If he needs me he will call."

"They have….three times morning. Oh and once yesterday."

"We are here, we are not leaving."

"Ok, I may have just overstepped my boundaries again. I told them that when you got up, you would want to go home."

"What?" Arizona looked at Callie's family. "We just got here."

"And we love you being here." Carlos said. "But if you are needed there, if a child is in danger, we understand. You can come back to Miami anytime."

"I just hate to leave."

"Arizona, they were just in Seattle."

"I know but….."

"And we will see you in a couple of weeks for the wedding." Callie's mom said.

"Well ok. I guess I am outnumbered. We are being kicked out."

Aria smiled. "Yeah but not before one last night out. Wooohooo." Aria threw her hands up causing the float to shift and send her to the water.

"I think she is still drunk." Callie laughed.

"Let us take the two of you to dinner this evening before you leave." Maria asked.

"That would be nice." Arizona said as she helped Callie retrieve Aria from the water.

"Alright then I will make the arrangements for six thirty tonight." Carlos said as he placed a call to make the reservations.

"We are going to have to put floaties on you." Arizona laughed.

That evening they spent dinner going over plans. When they would arrive in Seattle, where they would stay, how long they would visit and when Callie and Arizona could try another trip to Miami. They loved spending time with their families. They really wanted to do more of that especially if children were involved.

Arizona was so glad that Carlos had given in to Callie being gay. She would have hated to think all this could have been missed. She had no idea that everyone at the table was thinking the same thing as she was. She hated her and Callie had fought, but there was only one thing Arizona didn't compromise on and that was Conner. She never had.

They had a wonderful dinner and was heading out the door when Arizona stopped. "Damn."

"What?" Callie said as she stopped too.

"I left my sunglasses on the table."

"You want me to go back?"

"No I will. Just wait here for me."

"OK" Callie moved over to the side of the entrance waiting on Arizona.

When she returned she was still laughing at her forgetfulness and said "I can't believe I did that. The waiter…" Arizona stopped as she bumped into a man around the corner.

"Oh god. I am so sorry." She said looking down at her glasses now on the floor.

"No, it was my fault." The man said picking them up. "I wasn't watching where I was goi…" He stopped.

Callie stood there and looked from Arizona to the man. They both had a look of terror and surprise. Callie had heard the expression 'looked like you had seen a ghost', but she had never seen it. The color was immediately drained from their faces. All of a sudden it hit Callie who this must have been. 'NO' she thought there is no way.

"Arizona?" The man asked.

Arizona didn't move.

"What are you doing here? If you are here for….." He was interrupted by a young boy.

"Ok Grandpa, I'm ready to go."

Arizona looked down at the boy. He looked at her with blue eyes she had seen before. A million thoughts and emotions ran through her. She wasn't sure how she was still standing. Her knees felt weak and she could feel herself shaking.

The man looked at the boy. "Jacob, I just pulled the car around. Go ahead and get it in, ok."

Callie saw the boy look at Arizona. For one second Callie looked hard at him. She knew she saw it. She knew she did. When the boy looked at Arizona she could have sworn she saw his eyebrow raise just a bit. 'Couldn't be right' she thought.

All three watched the little boy get into the car. When his door was closed Callie lunged toward the man. "You son of a bitch! You stole him….." Arizona stepped between the two of them.

"I didn't find you. This is my girl friend and soon to be wife, Callie. Her parents live here in Miami and we are here visiting them."

"Well don't get any ideas."

"Don't threaten me. His happiness has only ever mattered to me and Jessica."

Callie lunged at him again. Arizona stopped her once more. "Callie, stop." Arizona pled as Callie was cussing in Spanish.

"So you found me. That doesn't mean anything, Arizona."

"Just get in your car and go." Arizona said looking at her son watching everything from the window. "He is watching this. Not now, Michael. Not here in front of him. I know where you are."

"He's fine. Just fine. He doesn't remember anything, Arizona. Leave him be."

"Don't you tell me how to let go of my son you selfish son of a bitch."

"I am leaving. Don't you follow me or I will call the law."

Arizona watched as Michael took her son again. She watched as the boy looked out the window when the car moved. When he turned, Arizona turned away as well as tearing were steaming down her face. Callie continued to look. Just as the car was pulling out of the parking lot, Callie saw the boy look back. He saw an emotionally broken Arizona. This time it wasn't her imagination it was real. As she looked, Conner secretly put his hand to the window and waved. She knew in that moment, as she held Arizona, Conner had known exactly who she was.