A/N: So I am soooooooo sorry for the wait for this update, I've been on holiday in the middle of a field with no access to anything so here we go, hope you're still with me :D
Callie woke up the next day disorientated at first, she had spent the last couple of months waking up in the hospital, either in an on call room or in Arizona's hospital room and when she opened her eyes to neither she forgot where she was for a second. Then she looked down to the blonde hair in her arms and smiled, she was at home with her Arizona safely in her arms. Kissing the blonde locks she snuggled in closer to her back revelling in the feeling of having her back in their bed. She thought to what lay ahead for them that day; even though Arizona had just got home she would be back at the hospital donating her bone marrow for Jess today. If Callie was completely honest with herself she was scared stiff at what would lay in store, she was scared that it wouldn't work and Jess would die, she was scared that it would be too much trauma for Arizona's already frail body and also a part of her was scared that this would make Jess all better and she would be released from the hospital and they'd never see her again. She'd grown quite attached to the little girl.
Arizona stirred as she could practically hear Callie's thoughts threatening to spill out of her head. She rolled over and winced as she put weight on her hip and shoulder.
'Babe?' Callie was instantly awake fully as she heard Arizona cry out in pain.
'It's fine, just put too much weight on my hip and shoulder...ouch.' Arizona settled back into a comfortable position, this time facing Callie, the concern evident in the brown orbs.
'Are you sure you're going to be ok to do this today Arizona? Maybe it could wait a week?'
'Jess doesn't have a week Cal, you've seen her chart...today we will go in and I guarantee you she'll be ten times worse than she was yesterday...I've seen it happen to too many kids before and I am not going to sit and watch it happen to Jess.' Arizona voice was filled with determination but at the same time a distinct hint of fear laced her words.
'Ok, ok, but you have to promise that if it's too much...at any point in the day, you'll just tell me and we'll stop...ok?' Callie furrowed her brow in concern.
'Yes Calliope...I promise. Are you working today?'
'Nope, I booked the week off to be with you through this and the recovery afterwards.' Callie hadn't told Arizona she'd booked the week off, not wanting her to think she was overreacting.
'Oh, you didn't have to do that Calliope, but I'm glad you did.' Arizona smiled, flashing the dimples that Callie loved so much.
...
Callie and Arizona dressed, had breakfast and sat drinking coffee, both were glad to be back to some sort of normalcy even though they were far from that. The truth is they never would go back to the couple they were before the shooting, but this would be in a very good way; they were closer now...stronger.
Callie wheeled Arizona to the hospital as she was in no fit state to start walking long distances. Once inside they headed straight up to the Peds ward, they planned to pop in and see Jess before heading in to see Jarrad. Callie wheeled Arizona through the door quietly as it was still quite early in the morning and most of the ward was still dark and quiet. Jess' room light was on and when they walked in they could instantly see why; her sheets were all crumpled up on the bed, they were wet with what looked like sick and they could hear the sounds of retching coming from the toilet attached to the room.
Callie instantly walked towards the toilet and felt her heart break slightly as she saw Jess' hunched little body leant against the toilet as she threw up the contents of her stomach. A nurse was with her but Callie gestured that she would take over so the nurse could clean up the bed before Jess needed it again. Jess registered that the hands holding her changed, they were stronger but at the same time were more caring as they stroked what was left of hair out of the way of her sweaty face.
After about ten minutes the vomiting ceased and Callie washed her face gently before lifting her up and carrying her back out to her main room. As she placed her back into the bed Arizona saw Jess for the first time and gasped in shock. The difference between yesterday and today was so awfully clear. Jess was pale, sweaty and had obviously not slept all night; the remainder of her blonde locks were messy and plastered to her face. For the first time since Arizona had started treating Jess she looked like the Leukaemia was winning.
Callie pulled Jess' fresh blankets up around her little body and attached the two new drips that the nurse had brought in. She worked gently but quickly, not wanting to cause Jess any more pain than she was obviously experiencing. Once she had finished she sat down in the chair next to Arizona and reached out to grip her hand. She turned and saw that tears were filling Arizona's eyes, although she was blinking furiously to stop them from falling, not wanting to cry in front of Jess.
'C-c-ca-al-l...' Jess' voice was so quiet and raspy and as soon as she'd spoken she coughed. Callie was once again instantly on her feet and pulled the oxygen mask round and attached it around Jess' head.
'Just breath sweetheart, don't talk, just get some sleep.' Callie smiled as she placed her hand on top of Arizona's which had reached out to clasp Jessica's as she looked terrified.
'She needs an oxygen tube fitting will you tell a nurse?' Arizona looked at Callie, whom just nodded and left the room.
Arizona edged her chair closer to Jess and smiled as their eyes met, even through the pain Jess did her best to smile. 'Hey sweetie, you just rest...we're going to make you better...' Arizona went to say 'I promise' but stopped herself, she couldn't promise that. She continued to stroke Jess' hand as she fell into sleep easily and even when the nurse came in with Callie to fit the oxygen tube she didn't so any sign of waking up.
'She's so tired.' Arizona said simply.
'I can't believe how much worse she is in one day...' Callie regained her grip on Arizona's hand.
'I know...but that's what kids are like, they change in an instant, they're resilient for much longer than adults but then when they take a turn for the worse it's a lot harsher...more noticeable...' Arizona saw it all the time, but this case was having a personal effect on her as much as she tried to deny it.
'Let's go see Jarrad whilst she's asleep babe, we can come back later.' Callie gave Jess' hand a squeeze as did Arizona and they left as quietly as they had come, both even more determined to help this little girl.
They waited outside the main office in Peds as Dr. Foster was in an emergency surgery, both sat in silence for a while as their thoughts went straight to the little girl they had just left.
'She has to get better. This has to work.' Arizona said in a very dead-pan voice as she stared straight ahead at the wall in front of her.
Callie looked towards Arizona and saw that she was scared, no terrified, that this wasn't going to work. 'It'll be ok Arizona, we'll help Jess get through this...' Callie didn't really know what to say, she was an ortho surgeon, she didn't know Leukaemia...she knew bone cancer, she'd helped cure bone cancer...but Leukaemia, in a five year old girl? This was a horrific new challenge for Callie.
Arizona didn't reply, she knew this was hard for Callie to see Jess go from being ok to being so ill. It was hellish enough for Arizona and she'd seen it before. They had to wait about half an hour for Dr. Foster to come out of surgery and in that time they both remained very quiet, lost in their own thoughts but both united in the determination to win this fight, their hands locked together.
'Ladies.' Jarrad opened the door to his office and signalled for them to follow. 'Take a seat Dr. Torres.' He proceeded to pull Jessica's huge lump of a file out of a drawer to the left of his desk and placed it on the table; he'd decided to try and be nice to Arizona Robbins, she was going to be in charge of his ass in a few weeks after all.
'She seems a lot worse today?' Callie made her statement into a question.
'Yes, Jess' stats and vitals dropped like a stone over the course of last night, we've pumped her full of meds but she's just throwing them back up because of the chemo and radiotherapy. It's a viscous circle.' Jarrad finished sadly.
'Is the cancer not responding to the chemo anymore?' Arizona already knew the answer from the charts she'd read whilst she was in Jess' room but she needed to hear it out loud.
'It's keeping her white blood cell count down to an acceptable level but it's not doing anything to cure Jess anymore, the side-effects of the chemo are winning.'
'So can we do this today?' Arizona put her game face on.
'I believe we can, I've spoken to both Dr. Bailey and Dr. Altman just this morning about your injuries Arizona, both cleared you physically; I've also spoken to Dr. Hammond and he's happy that even with your injuries from the shooting you'll be able to undergo the bone marrow donation as you're still in your wheel chair. Obviously I don't have to tell you how much this will hurt, it's a big needle going into a sensitive area...just make sure you're ready mentally for this, if needs be we can wait another day or two.'
'Does Jess have another day or two?' Callie asked.
'No, the longer we wait, the less likely it is for the donation to work. It needs to happen today.' Arizona spoke like the Head of department that she was.
'Yes, I agree with Dr. Robbins. This should happen today. Dr. Hammond will do the procedure himself, I told him it was you, so once we're done here you need to go down to oncology, book yourself in as outpatient, you're on the OR books.'
'That's great, thanks Jarrad.' Arizona said mechanically.
'Will you operate on Jess today?' Callie asked.
'Yes, I've booked an OR for later this afternoon, I don't think Jess can wait any longer if she's going to make a full recovery, I'm afraid.'
A silence descended on the trio whilst each surgeon collected their thoughts about what they were going to have to do and see during the day. Arizona made to leave, wanting to get down and check-in so she could get the procedure out of the way.
'Arizona?' She turned, shocked at Jarrad using her first name, he was always very strict about using surnames when addressing fellow surgeons. 'What you're doing...it's good...it's brave...I'll be glad when your back as head of this department.' Jarrad felt stupid for what he had just said but he felt he needed to, he had a lot of respect for Arizona, even though he didn't always show it, she had mentored him and gave him a chance when a lot of people hadn't.
'Thanks Jarrad, I'll be back sooner than you know.' Arizona smiled warmly and let Callie push her from the room and towards the elevators.
Callie and Arizona rode the elevator in silence and entered the oncology ward. After checking in at the front desk, a nurse showed them to Arizona's room and left them to get settled saying that Dr. Hammond would be in shortly to go through the days' events.
'Eurgh, a day out of one of these has made me realise how itchy they are!' Arizona complained as she began to fidget as Callie slipped the hospital gown over her girlfriend's torso.
'You pull it off quite well though...' Callie said as she sat down in the chair next to the bed giving Arizona a wink.
'Ewwww you cannot tell me that you find me attractive in this thing?' Arizona joked, enjoying the light-heartedness that existed between the couple despite the seriousness of the day.
'Babe, I find you god damn sexy in anything you wear.' Callie's voice came out husky as she kissed Arizona and helped her swing her legs into the bed.
'Well I suppose...when you had chicken pox, even you in gauze paws didn't put me off.' Arizona winked as Callie laughed at the memory of that day.
Their laughter was interrupted as Dr. Hammond knocked on the door and walked in followed by Bailey and Christina Yang.
'What are you doing in here Christina?' Callie asked before anyone had the cnace to speak.
'I'm on Bailey's service today. Besides, I have to make sure my two favourite lesbians have the best care possible...and as I am the best resident, that's what you'll get!' Everyone in the room collapsed in laughter at Christina and although it wasn't mentioned, the fact remained that ever since the shooting Christina had taken it upon herself to check Arizona's charts and make sure she was ok when the attending's weren't around. Although she would never admit it, Christina had developed a soft spot for the couple and she didn't want to ever see Callie in the state she had been when they were broken up and when Arizona had nearly died at the hands of Gary Clark.
'Arizona, I'm Dr. Hammond, I'll be performing the marrow extraction on yourself today. I've asked Dr. Bailey to oversee you're aftercare and to do your initial exam as she knows your case and the existing injuries you have.'
Arizona nodded in understanding, glad that she wasn't going to be surrounded by many staff that she didn't know.
'Ok, so I'll just briefly talk over the procedure with you, I don't want to insult your intelligence but as your usually on the other end of the proceedings I need to make sure you understand completely what's going to happen.' When Arizona nodded once more, Dr. Hammond continued with his description. 'So the marrow cells will be collected from the backside of the pelvic bone, you'll have a general anaesthetic around the area of the needle site but I'm afraid that you'll still experience some pain when the needle meets the bone. It should only take an hour to collect the marrow cells needed and once the anaesthetics worn off we'll give you some morphine...probably in your case will give you an IV as your body's still recovering but all being well we'll have you in your own bed tonight. As you know you'll most likely experience some pain for a week or two but as you'll be on pain meds and rest from your shooting injuries that will be controlled along with them. Is that all ok and clear?'
Arizona nodded once more, taking in all that Dr. Hammond had said.
'And you're sure her recovery or her overall health won't be compromised by donating the marrow?' Callie's voice sounded out as she gripped Arizona's hand.
'I'm sure Dr. Torres, the pain will be there as it is for any other marrow donator, but after a week Arizona shouldn't feel any affects from this.' Dr. Hammond smiled warmly trying to reassure his patient. 'Now if you'll excuse me I have a couple of other patients to check in on. Dr. Yang here will be getting you ready for the procedure and Dr. Bailey will be around too if you feel you need to ask any more questions or want a higher dose of pain meds.' With that he left the four women to it.
'Right I just want to check your other injuries over ok?' Bailey stepped forwards.
'Yeah that's fine Miranda.' Bailey worked gently but quickly checking all of Arizona's wounds. 'Ok these are all looking good although the one on your shoulder looks a little worn around the edges...you do anything you shouldn't last night?'
Both Arizona and Callie's cheeks were suddenly a definite shade of red. Bailey on seeing this promptly shook her head with wide eyes; 'I don't want to know.' Christina chuckled as she began to fit Arizona's tubes and take her vitals.
'When me and Dr. Altman say take it easy, we mean take it easy...just...don't over-exert yourself too soon Arizona.' Bailey said the words with a hint of warning but also with a hint of a smirk playing on her lips. With that she left, instructing Yang to prep Arizona for the procedure and page her if there were any problems.
'So, how's the pain?' Christina asked. 'Worth the hot sex?'
'Christina!' Callie scolded their friend but found herself laughing along with Arizona, both of them remembering the events of the night before with a wry smile.
Christina left the room shortly afterwards to go and get the room ready for the marrow extraction leaving Callie and Arizona alone once more.
'I can't believe Bailey just reprimanded us for having sex!' Callie chuckled as she kicked her shoes off and climbed into the bed next to Arizona so she could hold her properly.
'I know! I'm not even in pain from it!' Arizona laughed with Callie and settled into her embrace, never growing tired of being in Callie's arms.
'You feeling ok about today?' Callie asked as she stroked the blonde's locks and softly kissed the top of her head.
'Yeah, I just hope it's not too late...I hope it saves Jess.' Arizona said sadly.
'Me too babe, me too.' Callie whispered silently offering up a prayer to her God, asking once more that a woman in her life that she loved dearly would win the fight against death.