Meredith

Amelia is anxious. She's pacing as I'm finishing up with the CT scan. She's desperate to get Arizona out of here. Desperate to help her recover in a way that she knows works. Fortunately, it's good news from the CT scan. I perch on the edge of her bed to talk to her properly.

"Arizona, I'm going to discharge you," I begin. "The CT scan came back clear... Now, we've just got to work on getting all that crap out of your system. I want you to drink a lot of water. Amelia is going to be with you for the next few days, even to the point where you'll probably get sick of the sight of her."

"Hey!" Amelia interjects.

"I've left her with a list of suitable foods and liquids to flush all the drugs through. So, lots of fluids, lots of 'doing as you're told', got it? Or, we'll be hauling you back in." She offers me a weak smile and a nod in response. I'm not going to push for words, she looks exhausted. I look at her seriously for a moment, making sure she knows that the next lot of news I have to deliver is sensitive. "If you need to get around, I want you to use a wheelchair for the next few days. Using up all your strength trying to walk won't do you any good." She's silent and her eyes dart around the room, searching for any space that isn't occupied by myself or Amelia. I place my hand on top of hers. "Only for a few days, not forever," I say gently. She nods, still looking down.

Arizona

I hear the word "wheelchair" leave Meredith's mouth and I'm immediately transported back to the first few days when I lost my leg. I didn't ever want to use one again. I'd never been more depressed. Knowing that it's only temporary softens the blow.

Meredith pats me on the thigh before she gets up. "I want you to come in next week for a check up. If you need me in the mean time, call me. Anytime. Do you understand?" I give her the biggest smile I can muster. "I'll be coming to check on you at home in the next few days, ok?"

"Thank you, Meredith," I manage to croak out.

Meredith smiles at me and exits the room, squeezing Amelia's arm on the way out. The woman has barely left my side in the past 12 hours. She walks over to the bed.

"You ready?" her voice is incredibly gentle. It's like she knows exactly what I need right down to the details. How she talks to me, the words she uses to calm me down, the way she gives me physical contact... all of it is exactly how I need it.

"Really ready," I say as enthusiastically as I can. She smiles at me and wheels the chair into the room. Her eyes change as she looks at me.

"Just temporary, remember?" My face must have changed because she's concerned about my emotions surrounding the wheelchair. I swallow the lump in my throat and nod. I can't manage a smile this time. She helps me stand from the bed. Without the covers over me, I'm suddenly very aware that I don't have my prosthetic leg on. I can't look her in the eye. And, she doesn't force me to. We shuffle over to the chair that's a few steps away and she lowers me down into it. This alone is tiring for me.

"Amelia," I speak quietly, a little ashamed of my current condition. "I...I don't... " As I stumble with my words she crouches down opposite me. She doesn't rush me, she just watches attentively, waiting for my words to come to me. "I don't want to be a burden," I blurt out all in one go. I mean it. I don't want Amelia to stop her whole life for me, even if it is only for a few days. My eyes search the floor, hoping it might swallow me up.

"Hey," her voice is barely above a whisper. "Look at me," I do as I'm told. "You, Arizona Robbins, are anything but a burden. You're a damn strong woman. You are a fixer of tiny humans and World's Best Mom all rolled into one. You are kind and smart and one of the bravest people I have ever met. Helping you whilst you're sick is not a burden, do you hear me?" She waits for a nod before pressing her lips to my forehead. This simple gesture gives me life. It takes away some of the pain and helps me feel somewhat stronger.

As she wheels me towards the lift, we're stopped by several different people: Richard, Jackson, Miranda, Owen, Maggie, Jo... I can't really tune in to anything they're saying. As we exit the lift on the ground floor, we bump into Alex.

"Are you kidding me? Where the hell do you think you're going?" he says angrily. I know it's out of concern, but I'm not exactly in the mood to do any explaining.

"Home, Alex," I say in a warning tone.

"My ass you're going home," he goes to take the wheelchair from Amelia before I clutch at his arm.

"Alex, please," the tears are coming again. "I am exhausted. I know I haven't been in long, but I can't stay. I can't... I was attacked... here. I can't recover here, too." He stands uneasily, rubbing his mouth whilst he thinks.

"You're going to be there the whole time?" He directs the question towards Amelia.

"Won't let her out of my sight," Amelia confirms.

"You're damn right you won't," he says. It's not threatening, just full of worry. "First sign of any trauma, bleeding, sneezing... anything, she needs to come back." It's not a request, it's a statement.

"Of course," Amelia wheels me towards the doors. The same ones I exited 12 hours earlier right before I was grabbed. My breathing quickens. It's light outside this time but I'm still terrified about what's on the other side. I must be louder than I thought. I can feel Amelia's hand on my shoulder. "It's okay," she says, kindly. I still grimace as the automatic doors open. "See? You're okay," I need this. I need the constant reassurance she's offering. She's being so good to me.

We finally get to the car, and I can't wait to get inside. I feel better with Amelia watching out for me, but still not completely safe outside. She helps me quickly manoeuvre from the wheelchair to the car seat before folding up the wheelchair and putting in the trunk. It's a good job she drives a massive 4x4. She slides into the driver's side, looking at me carefully. I feel my eyelids become heavy as I relax into the leather seat.

"Arizona?" Her voice startles me and I sit up straight.

Amelia

She's so weak and drained that I can't help but wonder if I'm doing the right thing taking her away from the hospital. "Are you sure?" She looks at me with big doe eyes.

"Please."