AN: The Grey's finale had so many feels. SO MANY.
Chapter 25
The group of soldiers in front of me took off their hats and held their hands behind their back.
I stepped out from Callie's grasp shouting. "No….NO!"
"Miss Robbins, we're sorry, but there was no sign of your father. Seattle is extremely packed with infected as well. I'm surprised we made it out alive."
"You didn't try hard enough!"
"We searched every inch of Seattle, there's no way we…"
"Shut up, just shut up!"
Callie moved up and stood by my side. "Arizona, they said they looked."
"Did you find his body? Huh?"
They all looked to the ground and shook their heads.
Another camouflaged figure stepped up from behind. "Then we'll go back and look again."
I turned my attention to the redheaded soldier. "Owen!" I ran over and joined him in a hug before I was interrupted by Teddy. Soon, our entire group was surrounding Owen and welcoming him back.
"Where did you guys find him?" I looked to Derek and Mark.
Sloan slithered through to answer. "I suggested we check the store we left from and sure enough, he was there waiting."
"I followed your signs and they eventually lead me to the store. I figured you'd go back there."
"Well, this certainly is an amazing reunion." President Grant extended his hand out to welcome Owen back to the camp.
"My dad's still missing." I interrupted the celebration to remind them that I was still pretty upset with the Seattle soldiers' work. "You know what; I'll just go back to Seattle myself." I began to walk away when several people called out my name, one of them being Owen.
"Arizona, I'm not letting you go up there. I trust these men when they say Seattle is covered in those things. I'll put a group together to make sure we find him. I promise." We laid a firm hand on my shoulder.
With defeat, I finally mumbled out, "Okay."
Monday, December 1st
It has been almost year since all of this began. I woke up one morning with my girlfriend screaming at me to turn on the news to find out the whole world was coming to an end. Now, almost all the east coast has been cleared. It was amazing progress considering the decline in our country's population.
I've found a family whose worked together to survive and I'm so grateful to have my wife-to-be, her best friend, my best friend, even my enemy, Mark Sloan. What we've been through has brought us so close, I could never think about throwing a punch at him again. Well…maybe a small one.
Most of all, I'm glad to have my mother safe and sound with the best security watching over her around the clock. I couldn't leave her here alone again as I fled to Texas, but I couldn't take her with me either.
"Callie…"
"We're not having this conversation again. I'm going with you to Texas."
"Come on, everybody is going to Texas. I need you to stay here with her."
"Why don't you just bring her with us?"
"I am not putting my mother in any harm's way." Callie rolled her eyes and went back to brushing her hair over the bathroom sink. "I'm serious Calliope!" I realized I was raising my voice so I stepped closer until my body was pressed against her towel covered back and my hands were around her waist. Our eyes met in the mirror and Callie put her brush down to lay her hands over mine. "Calliope…"
She turned around in my arms. "I would miss you too, Arizona."
I could her voice break as tears pushed to the side of her eyes. "I know you would. I'd miss you." I pressed my lips to hers for a soft kiss.
"Arizona…" She let out a long sigh before pulling me into a tight hug.
"It's only for one month. We can do one month."
"I love you." She squeezed me tighter.
"I love you too, Calliope."
We pulled back. "So I guess I don't need to pack anymore?"
"I know something you can do instead." I pecked her lips again before unravelling the knot in her towel until the only thing holding it up was my body against hers.
Callie ran of the room holding up the towel. Seconds later, my face was met with the towel, tossed from the other room.
Tuesday, December 2nd
The dull light of a rising sun brought me out of my sleep only to put my focus on my bags sitting by the door. I know asking Callie to stay was a lot but I couldn't leave my mother alone always wondering if her daughter was coming home.
I dragged my hand across naked skin to bring me back to reality. Black hair fell over tan shoulders and mixed with blonde. My fingers began to circle patterns on her stomach, going around her belly button and back up between her breasts. A muffled moan escaped from her mouth and vibrated her chest beneath my head.
"Good morning" I finally rested my hand on the curve of her hip.
"Morning." She stretched out her arms and rolled us over at the same time which surprised me.
"Whoa."
Callie looked up at me from her place on my shoulder. "You're leaving today."
"Yeah." We both were sad about it, but it needed to be done.
Her hands began to trace over the scars covering my midsection, even the one that lead to my back from the C-4 explosion. She moved to the arm on the other side of me and traced over the bite mark that almost killed me. After thinking about the horrid memory, I sat up and let the sheets fall from my torso. I slipped on my underwear and sat back on the bed rubbing the tired out of my eyes. Callie's warmth return to me as her fingers spread out to touch the pink scar tissue covering my back.
I let out a sigh. "I have to get ready." I got up and dressed myself before leaving the room. It's not that her touching me was uncomfortable, it was what I knew she was thinking about when she touched me.
I ran out into the hallway only to run into the other Torres with a very content Maria in her arms. "Hey.' I offered.
"Hey." She gave me a strange look up and down. "Why do you look so guilty?"
"I don't?" I fixed the bags I had in my hands.
"You're fidgeting… What did you do to my sister?"
"Nothing." She gave me the Torres glare which I somehow still fell for.
"I told Callie to stay here."
"What?!"
"It's too dangerous and I couldn't leave my mother alone again. I couldn't."
"Arizona…"
"I know it's crappy of me, but I really just want Calliope to be safe, and the only way I know she's safe is if she stays here."
Aria looked me up and down one more time. "Alright, I guess that's a good reason."
"It is." I gave Maria a kiss on the check. "Bye bye Maria."
"Bye." She mumbled in a baby voice.
There were people moving everywhere around the gates, grabbing bags, maps, clothes, and even hugs from loved ones who were staying here. Grant was moving around and thanking the soldiers and other fighters. When he reached me, I was placing my final bag next to Jackson's on the wall.
"Arizona, I'm sorry that you have to go out. I hope you give Texas a big helping hand and tell them we wish them the best." He handed me an envelope with "Amarillo" written on the front. "I hope they find your father, I just wish they would have done it the first time…"
"It's okay, sir."
"May I interrupt?" My mom found her way to me through the crowd.
"Of course, Mrs. Robbins." He steps aside to give us more room.
"Oh Arizona, why do you have to be like your father and brother?"
"I don't know, ma." I squeezed my mother in my arms until someone tapped on my shoulder.
"I'm next in line right?" I looked over my shoulder to see Callie patiently waiting.
"You bet you are." I turned back to my mom making sure she was finished.
"Go ahead honey." My mom edged me forward to Callie.
The velvet box rubbing against my leg in my pocket began to make me nervous. I wrapped my arms around her and took in the thumbs up Avery gave me. "Calliope, I love you."
"I love you, too." She leaned back and pushed her nose against mine before dipping her head down to push her lips to mine. It was a long, passionate kiss that showed Callie every ounce of love I had for her.
With a cough from my waiting mother, I stepped back with our hands still connected between us. After taking another step away, I spoke up very loudly, almost announcing myself. "Calliope Torres." I waited for the people whose attention I wanted then continued to speak out loud but still kept the conversation between me and Callie. I stared deep into her eyes before a huge smile ripped across my face. "I want you to know, you are the most amazing woman I've ever came across and I love you unconditionally. I wake up next to you and everything bad disappears; I forget about what we have to face or what we have faced. There's no one I'd rather spend the rest of my life with than you. I love you." I pulled out the red box from my pocket as more people circled around us and dropped to one knee. "I know I've already asked, but I still want to know if you would spend the rest of your life with me. Will you marry me?"
A whitening grin lit up telling me the answer. "Of course, Arizona. I'll marry you." I slid the ring on her finger which she took a second look at. "Is this a real ring?"
"Yes, yes it is."
"Oh my gosh, how did you even…I don't want to know. I love you, dork." She laughed before slinging her arms around me and leaning into another deep kiss. Applause erupted around to remind us we were not alone in this moment. My mom wiped away the tears that had found their way down her cheeks and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aria clapping along. Soon, she made her way and grabbed Callie's attention to chat about the ring.
Everybody else, including me, separated into their own groups as we gathered our bags to go. President Grant walked up and gave me a pat on the back. "We'll see you soon."
"Let's hope." I let out a nervous laugh.
"We will. And congratulation on the engagement."
"Thanks. Thank you for the ring."
"Ah, it was nothing." He stepped back and went to say bye to another group of soldiers.
I loaded the heavier bags into the back of Alex's truck and set my satchel on my hip. Callie was standing at the gate with my mom waving for me to come back.
"Arizona, come here."
"What?" I ran over to them.
"You going to leave without giving us a goodbye hug?" Callie took a few steps closer to me and placed her hand on my waist.
"Of course not." I reached both arms to fit around them. "I love you."
"We love you too." My mom mumbled.
I leaned over to just give my mom a hug then placed a kiss on her cheek. She sniffled before stepping back behind the gate, but still kept an eye on me and Callie.
I turned my attention to the woman now left in my arms. "I love you."
"I know that, just come back for me okay?"
"I will."
"I love you, Arizona." We closed the small distance between us and pressed her lips forcefully to mine. They moved slowly together with passion and love. A moan escaped from her lips and hands began to roam up the sides of my body, resting around my neck.
"Arizona, we're all ready to go!" I broke the kiss and turned around to see Jo hanging out the passenger's window waving for me to hop aboard.
"Shut up Wilson, you and April were just doing the same thing with your guys. Avery and Karev are going on the trip anyways!" I looked to the ground before turning my attention back to Callie. "Bye." I whispered and rested my forehead against hers.
"Bye."
I slipped out of her grasp and didn't look back as I hopped onto the truck. I knew if I looked back it would hurt too much and I would get right back off to stay. Alex started the engine and we were off.
Wednesday, December 3rd
"Oh my…"
Alex pulled up to where the wooden walls used to surround the Amarillo camps. There was debris everywhere including tents and parts of houses.
We all gathered outside and looked around.
"Holy shit." Jackson said receiving a smack in the head from Kepner. "Sorry."
"Damn, what… I don't even know where to look." Alex spoke out and wrapped an arm around Jo.
"Let's go find Captain Lebackes." Owen led the group down the streets until we reached the white tent which now had holes and dirt covering the top. As we went inside, we noticed it was empty and only had three soldiers running around. "Lebackes!" He called out.
"Oh thank god! You guys, I never thought I'd be so happy to see you guys."
"What's it looking like?" Derek asked.
He shook his head at the ground and took a deep breath. "It's not looking so great. There's been a lot of deaths, lot of damage, lot of food and supplies…gone."
"Well half of us are going to stay this month and help you out." Owen offered.
"That's good, thank you. What is the other half going to do?"
"We're going up to Seattle to search for Coronal Robbins."
Oliver looked to me and I offered a half grin to him. "So Robbins is going with you?"
"Yes, but you have Derek Shepherd, Meredith Grey, Mark Sloan, Lexie Grey, April Kepner, and Miranda Bailey. They are all tremendous and very hard workers."
"Not a very big group though."
"Well we've heard Seattle is a tough city to tackle so we're taking a bigger group up there."
"I guess that works. Hope you guys are ready to work, we still have a huge mess to clean up."
"We're ready to work sir." Derek said.
Lebackes lowered his voice. "There's a lot of death too. We're moving bodies and comforting the families."
"Don't doubt us." Derek put a hand over his heart as if he was hurt.
"Right. Let's get started then."
The guys left with the captain and we turned to go back to the truck, Owen by my side.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay, Robbins?"
"I don't think I could handle it. I mean, I probably could but I'd rather look for my father."
"Seattle is very dangerous."
"I know, that's why everybody back in D.C. thinks I'm staying in Texas while you guys go to Seattle."
"So you lied?"
"Oh Hunt, let's just get on the road."
A little fib about where I would be staying the next month wouldn't hurt right?
Friday, December 5th
"What's taking so long Karev? I'm tired of sleeping in this damn truck." Avery has been a little fussy the past few days as we worked our way up the coast.
"Dude, I'm trying, but everywhere I turn, there's a fat group of those things in the way. I keep turning around and taking alternate paths. I don't know if we're going to make it into Washington State; we might have to walk."
"Walk? That's going to take forever and those things are out there."
"I know! That's what I've been trying to tell you!"
Owen stood in the back of the truck. "That's enough guys. Karev, stop the truck right here." Alex pulled over and we all filed outside with every supply we packed except what we left in Texas. "Let's go soldiers."
"Oh, so you're serious?" Avery asked.
"Damn right I am."
I could feel a cold wind come through which made me shiver. "Owen, it's freezing out here." I blew hot air into my clasped hands.
"We'll make it, Robbins. Everybody needs to have a little faith and everybody needs to have a little fight. Okay?"
Everybody nodded.
Wednesday, December 24th
It's Christmas Eve and our group is huddled into a small corner of a room in the house we decided to stay at. Owen had a fire going in a small fire place beside us, but it wasn't helping much. We had covered most of the city of Seattle and to say that we fought hard would be an understatement. We almost lost Jo twice which put Alex off his game while the rest of us were battered and bruised because we had tried so hard. I loved them for it; that they were doing this for me, but I could tell we all lost every ounce of hope.
"Owen." I whispered not to wake anyone up.
"Yeah?"
"All I want to do is go back to D.C. to Callie. It's Christmas Eve and all I want to do is go home to my fiancé. I just have this feeling though. I have a feeling he's here and I can't explain it, I don't know how."
"I understand. We'll keep looking."
"No, you have to get them home. You guys have fought so hard for me, I can't ask for any more."
"Are you kidding? If we leave Arizona, you're coming with us."
"There's just a few more places I want to look."
Owen cut me off. "Then we'll go with you."
I took a deep breath in. "Okay."
Owen looked to my leg that was propped up on a pillow. "How's that ankle?"
Earlier, I had jumped off a stack of crates trying to get away from a very tall, very big infected man. In the process, I fell on my ankle causing it to crack and swell up. I'm almost certain it's broke in some way, but I couldn't let my group down so I pushed through it. I was in so much pain for the rest of the day, but it was feeling a little better after putting it up.
"It's fine." I simply stated, although I could feel it throb with every pulse. I met his blue eyes once more. "I just want to go home to Callie." I let my head fall to the side and I whispered again to myself. "I just want to go home to Callie."
Thursday, December 25th
We were all packing our things because I decided enough was enough. Surviving this long was a miracle and I didn't want to push it anymore.
"Hey, Owen." I waved for him to come over.
"What's up?"
"I was wondering if we could just stop by my house, see what's left there. Maybe I can find something worth taking along."
"That's fine. We're not too far from your house are we?"
"It's a fifteen minute drive. Walking, it might take an hour including all the infected in the way."
"An hour is nothing. Let's do it."
Jackson popped his head up from behind us. "Maybe we can stop by the football field?"
Owen looked at me as if I were in charge. "Why are you looking at me, I'm not the leader. If he wants to stop, we can stop."
"Everyone okay with that?" Owen asked.
"Going to your old high school? Lame." Alex huffed only to be slapped in the arm by Jo. "Ouch. I don't care, we can go. I was just saying, geez."
A few hours later, we were standing on the school roof gazing over the football field covered in stray papers, book bags, and creepy infected students.
"Man." Avery said after a long silence.
I took a few steps to stand closer to him. "Everything went to hell."
"Think we'll ever come back?"
"I don't know."
After a few more silent minutes, Jackson turned away. "Yeah, there's nothing to see here. We can go now." He wrapped his arm around my shoulder as we walked away from what used to be our hang out. I always helped the football team when I could and it's how Avery and I became such great friends. I don't regret it at all.
We made our way to my house which had a few trees beside of it so you couldn't really see the house until you were right in front of it.
"Is it freakishly quiet to you guys?" I turned around in circles a few times before realizing my street only had a few infected limping near us.
"Huh, that's weird." Owen looked to Teddy who shrugged her shoulders.
"I thought the guys said all of Seattle was packed?"
Teddy lowered her weapon realizing she probably wouldn't use it. "You know, I wouldn't really trust those guys. I wouldn't trust hardly anyone during this time no matter who they worked for. I'd trust our group of course, but not some no-name soldier who was enlisted after this happened."
We continued to walk towards my house when I noticed there were bodies scattered everywhere. Someone had come through and sliced these guys up. I limped over towards the front of my house and noticed a few wooden posts staked in the yard with barbwire wrapped around them to make a fence. Inside the window, you could see wooden planks boarding them up.
My ankle began to hurt when I moved closer so I waited for Owen and wrapped my arm around his neck. "We have to get in there." I said. We went over the wired fence and inside the house with ease. I tried to walk solo but without meds, my ankle was in more pain now than it has been. "Avery, help me up the stairs." Avery came and lifted me up the stairs with a little help from my good foot.
On the top floor, I moved to the right towards my room. Inside, I realized someone had been through my things. It was probably multiple people who have come through our house and sorted through the rooms. I couldn't blame them though, we did the same thing.
I began to look for anything of importance but soon learned there wasn't much left. There was my lamp, a couple pair of shoes, and a few boxes in my closet. I went to get the boxes but couldn't reach with my ankle so Avery got them down. They were all pictures and awards I had received ins school. One picture had me and Tim standing beside our dad, both of them in uniform. I stuck the picture in my pocket and took one more look around. "Let's go Avery." He guided me out into the hall and I paused at the sound of a doorknob rattling.
My parents' bedroom door flew open and we were met with a shotgun barrel pointed straight to our heads.
Callie's POV
"Merry Christmas, Callie." Barbra sat a plate of pancakes on the table in front of me.
"Thank you. Merry Christmas, Barbra." I picked at it before taking a few bites so it seemed like I was okay. I missed Arizona but I knew she needed me here instead of there. "I'm going to go upstairs for…something…I gonna put on a different shirt." I stumbled to make up a real excuse as I jogged towards the stairs before my tears became noticeable.
"Okay, dear. I'll be in the living area."
I crashed onto mine and Arizona's bed immediately latching to her pillow. When it came time for laundry, I made sure Barbra didn't wash this pillow case so it still smelled like Arizona. I felt pathetic for doing it, but it was the only way I could sleep at night.
A knock came to the door making me sit up quickly and wipe the tears from my face. I shoved the pillow back into place and stood up before responding. "Um, yeah?"
Barbra talked through the closed door. "Callie, Mr. Grant is down here and wants to talk to us."
"I'll be down in just a second."
"Take your time sweetie."
I had no clue what Fitz wanted to tell us but I'm certain it had to do with our guys so I cleaned my face off and jogged back down the stairs I just climbed.
"Mrs. Robbins, Miss Torres, I'm here to inform you that they are on their way back up from Texas."
"They weren't supposed to be back for another week or so. Right?" I asked.
"Yes, but we got a smoke signal not too far out." I regained hope and wanted to jump around but I waited for him to finish. "They should be here soon, so you guys can come down in about thirty minutes and we'll wait at the gates."
"Thank you."
"No problem." Grant and his men turned to leave the house.
Once they were gone, Barbra grabbed my hand. "He's so much nicer in person than on the TV." Her face lit up with a goofy grin. "Let's get ready."
"Sounds like a plan."
We stood in front of the gates holding hands, waiting for them to open.
"Truck cleared, gates opening!" A soldier yelled.
A truck much different than Alex's pulled up and parked. The back was filled with a huge group of people I didn't recognize.
I began looking around for Arizona but she was nowhere in or near the truck. Derek and Mark walked up to us, Derek reaching out to caress my arm but I pulled away. "Where are the rest of you guys?"
"Callie, the guys from New York gave us a ride here on their way up. They were taking a group up we were able to load into the truck and asked if we wanted a ride. We couldn't turn them down so we're here a little early, but that's okay…"
Derek began to babble and I cut him off. "Derek. Where is Arizona?" My heart felt as if it had stopped and Meredith could see it as well.
"Callie, Callie, she's fine. They're still in Seattle."
"Seattle?! I thought you guys were going to Texas?"
"We did." Mark interrupted and pointed around to the rest of the group present. "Arizona and Owen went to Seattle."
Derek gave Mark a glare but it was too late. "But…it's dangerous and… you guys just let them go alone?! When are they supposed to be back, when did they leave? Owen said we was sending a group up there, I didn't think he meant them."
Meredith lowered her voice to where only her I could hear. "She didn't tell you did she?"
I shook my head as tears fell and many horrific images went through my mind. Most of them consisted of Arizona being ripped apart limb from limb or Alex and Jo being swallowed in a pit of infected. All of them were in some type of danger and I could feel it.
Hey. You should totally review and tell me what you think.
What's going to happen next?
YOU NEVER KNOW.