AN: Well, people were getting a little hostile about an update (no complaints here), so I decided to stop pussy-footing around it. It helped that I finally figured out what I wanted from this chapter. Also, O-M-G! SIXTY REVIEWS FOR LAST CHAPTER! I am so unbelievably happy about the response I'm getting from you guys on this story, I can't even begin to thank you in words. Just know that I'm virtually hugging every one of you (in appropriate ways full of only gratitude) for your investment in this piece of work. Stay classy fanfic world, and have a day as wonderful as you are!

At first, I didn't know what woke me up. All I knew was that consciousness was coming sooner than I would have liked. So, I dismissed it and sought sleep once again. It didn't work. Just as I began to drift off, something disrupted me. I couldn't tell what it was, right away. Noise was all I comprehended. Finally, words and a slight melody formed from the unwelcome sounds, and I was vaguely aware that the direction implicated the guest bathroom.

Ain't nobody livin', in a perfect world,

Everybody's out there, Cryin' to be heard.

Now, I've got new fire, burnin' in my eyes,

Lightin' up the darkness, movin' like a mereorite.

I tried to focus my blurry eyes on the clock, but all I decoded was that the first number was six. Not cool.

All fired up!

Now, I believe there comes a time,

When everything just falls in line,

We live and learn from our mistakes,

The deepest cuts are healed by faith.

That song meant that yesterday was not a bad dream. There really was a pushy, infuriating, know-it-all nurse living in my house. Because, that song was Callie seriously singing in the shower. She said to expect it, but I was so not ready to be audibly assaulted before seven in the morning. I wanted to sleep. Sleeping kept reality away. Once again, rage at the fact that this woman was forced upon me and destroying my safe existence bubbled up inside me. I really, really, didn't like her. I groaned and slammed a pillow over my head.

I must have dosed off again, because the next thing I knew, someone was knocking on my bedroom door. I let out a frustrated grumble. I really did not want to get up and interact with that woman again. "Go away," I mumbled into my blanket.

"Okay, I'm coming in, hope you're decent!" Callie's cheerful voice crashed through the door, making me physically recoil from it. A few seconds later, Callie executed her threat and entered my room. "Good morning, Goldie Locks. Rise and shine." If it was possible, I hated her even more in that moment than I had the day before.

"It's not morning. I'm going back to sleep." I told her resolutely. There would be no discussion on that matter.

"Sorry, your morning will be starting at seven-thirty A.M. everyday. We're going to get you on a regular sleep cycle, which will help with depression and energy levels." She pulled my drapes back, allowing the sun to mock me with its morning glow.

"Ugh. Dammit! This is my house and my life, and if I want to sleep past seven-thirty, I damn well can! Now, get the hell out!" Irritation clawed at my insides, which made my skin crawl and my stomach churn.

Callie smirked, "Wow, you are certainly not a morning person. And, on the 'get the hell out' note, I could…But, seeing as you just got up, and on account of all your rage, you probably have to pee now. And, unfortunately for you, that's where my job comes in, so…" She placed her hands on her hips and stared expectantly at me.

"I don't have to pee." I definitely had to pee. "Why don't you just let me be the boss of my own body, and I'll tell you what I do and don't need, ok?" My tone was scathing and bitter.

Her eyes narrowed and she scanned my face for a few moments, "Fine, boss lady. Let me know when you have to pee, and I'll help you. Then, you're getting in the shower so we can start our day."

With that, she strode out of the room, leaving the door wide open and me seething in the constant use of 'we' and 'our' she used when describing my life. There was no 'we'. It was 'me' and 'her', no 'we'. Hopefully, soon it would be only me and no her…that was such a lovely thought that I was able to get lost in a daydream about a Callie-less life.

However, to my dismay, it only took about three minutes for my bladder to begin to aggressively protest the amount of liquid currently residing in it. I really needed to get to the bathroom. I could call for her, but there was very little I wanted less at that moment than to ask for her help. Glancing at the door to the bathroom, I carefully gauged the distance and obstacles. I'd got there once before on my own. I could do it, again. The wheelchair didn't fit in the bathroom, so I could use it to get to the door, but then crossing the bathroom to get to the toilet had to be done without the chair. That was an unquestionably difficult task without assistance. But, I could not bring myself to call out to the cocky nurse. I would do it myself.

Pushing myself to the edge of the bed, I swung my legs over the side. Leaning over, I gripped the arm of my wheelchair and drug it over to me. The maneuver into the chair was fairly easy, a simple shift of weight that I had done several times on my own. Once situated, I wheeled to the door of the bathroom. I took a moment to survey the surroundings and the looming task of getting across the small room. Finally deciding to use my arms to propel myself to the sink, then use the towel rack to balance as I hop to the toilet, I began my mission. It didn't work like I had planned. The slick floor combined with a misallocation of force left me sprawled on the cold tiles. My hip throbbed and my arm ached from getting pinned under me as I fell. But, the pain wasn't the worst part, not by a long shot. I'm not exactly sure what the cause was, specifically, but my best guess is that shock of falling flat on my ass was just too much for my swollen bladder and the only plausible resolution was instinctual and immediate relief of pressure.

White hot shame and embarrassment flooded my body as my body flooded the floor. I was sitting on the bathroom floor, in my own urine, as I waited for the woman I loathed to find me. That part was inevitable. No escape from that moment existed. My penance for attempted independence rested in the confrontation that would happen when Callie discovered my actions and consequences. At no point in my past had I felt even a fraction of the self-revulsion that I experienced in those minutes I spent slumped on that floor.

It took two and half minutes for Callie to seek me out. "Arizona? Are you ready for me- Where are you?" Ten seconds later, she entered the bathroom and saw me sitting where I had fallen. I watched from my peripherals as she skimmed the scene, quickly deciphering the events that had proceeded her arrival. "I'm going to start your shower. Do you like it scalding, hot, or warm?"

My face felt like it was on fire as I stared at the grout lining the tiles. I made no attempt to answer her question, completely unable to look at her or form words.

"Ok, I'll just make it hot." Without acknowledging my predicament, she stepped around me and started up the water. She spent a few seconds adjusting the knobs, then turned back to me. "Alright, I'm going to help you up onto the toilet so that you can remove your clothes, then I'll help you to the chair in the shower, ok?" Her voice was alarmingly gentle, but not overtly pitying. I couldn't tell if she felt sorry for me, embarrassed for me, disgusted at me, or superior to me. Not knowing her angle pissed me off even more than my feelings of inadequacy already had. "Hang on." Her hands slipped under my arms and easily lifted me off the ground and onto the seat.

My anger grew when I accidentally made eye contact with her, and still couldn't get a read on her thoughts. Not knowing what else to do, I snapped, "What? No, 'I told you so' speech? No lecture on how I messed up by not asking for help?"

I couldn't see her gaze, but I could feel it. "Nope." That was her whole answer. Again, frustration at the woman streaked through me.

"Seriously? You talk non-stop, constantly in my business, and you have nothing to say to my royal fail to prove you wrong and unnecessary?" My chest heaved with the overwhelming emotions erupting inside of me.

"Nope. You're laying enough on yourself without me adding to it. Now, take off your clothes, or I'm going to do it for you…and, I can't promise I won't enjoy it." I glanced up at her face and saw her, already famous, smirk securely in place. I really hated that smirk, but mildly appreciated her attempt to deflect focus from my disastrous situation.

With a snarl, I grabbed the hem of my shirt and started to pull it over my head. Besides her smirk, I also hated that my privacy was pretty much amputated with my leg. I couldn't get in the shower myself, which meant someone else had to help with that. Meaning, I had no choice but to let someone else interact with me while I was naked. I'd never been particularly shy about my body, but that didn't mean I wanted to be forced to reveal myself to strangers. After my shirt, I struggled a little to remove my soggy sweats, then my underwear and bra. "You ready?" Callie had adverted her eyes while I accomplished that task, but naturally had to look back to help me in.

Clenching my jaw, I nodded, "As I'll ever be."

With a swift and steady movement, Callie gripped my arm and tugged, standing me up next to her. Then, with two strong hands on my hips and mine on her shoulder, she smoothly eased me into the shower and onto the chair. Reaching up to unhook the shower head, she clipped it to the rail that had been recently installed. With a quick glance around, she asked, "You set?"

Swallowing, I murmured, "Yeah."

"Ok, just call when you're done." Then, she left me to shower in alone. As I slowly rinsed myself off, letting the hot water wash away the evidence of my morning, I let my thoughts wander a bit. I had to admit, to myself only, that that was a surprisingly easy shower experience. With the other nurses, there had been awkward hand placements, nerves, stumbling transitions, roaming eyes, and unsteady balance. But, with Callie, she had helped without overstepping boundaries, her hands were stable and secure, and she exhibited complete professionalism. She had even impressed me with her reaction to my…accident. Shaking my head to clear the unpleasant thoughts of Callie possibly not being as evil as I had thought, I set about finishing my shower.

Once the last of the soap washed down the drain, I resigned to the fact that my shower was over and I had to call for Callie. Turning off the water, I sat grinding my teeth, wracking my body for the courage to do what I needed to do. I wrung my hands harshly and took a deep and shuddering breath. Closing my eyes, I finally croaked out, "Callie? I'm, uh, I'm done."

Only four seconds passed before Callie was standing at the shower door, offering me a towel. After I eagerly wrapped the plush fabric around my body, I looked up to see her holding out her hand, "Alright, lets get you out." She gently pulled me to my foot and guided me out of the shower, then into my bedroom. On the journey, I briefly noted that the bathroom had been cleaned. I didn't even notice her do that. Once at the bed, she moved me to sit down. "Good. Now, tell me what you'd like to wear." She walked over to my dresser and opened the top drawer, "It looks like I've found your underwear…do you have any preference?" I shook my head as I felt an annoying blush tinge my cheeks. "Ok…" She tossed a pair of panties and matching bra onto the bed next to me. Another drawer down, she found my jeans, "Jeans?" All I offered was a non-committal shrug, so she pulled out a pair and put them next to the underwear. "Shirts?" Her raised eyebrows indicated that she was looking for direction, so I nodded toward the closet. Understanding, she went over and selected a casual green blouse and held it up. Again, I shrugged. "Alright, there you go. Your clothes are set, so I'll leave you to get dressed. Your chair is right here, so you can just come out when you're done and I'll get you breakfast."

Eleven minutes later, I exited my room to find Callie sipping coffee in the kitchen while reading the paper. "Hey. So, what do you want for breakfast? I can make anything, and love to make everything, so lay it on me. What'll it be?" She put her mug down and rubbed her hands together.

Rolling my eyes, I grumbled, "Cereal is fine."

Callie sighed, "Come on, Arizona. I can make you anything you want. French toast? Pancakes? Waffles?"

I felt my nostrils flare a bit and I flexed my fingers, "Just cereal."

"Seriously? You're so stubborn that you won't even let me make you breakfast? This is going to get old real fast…" Her tone wasn't accusing or angered, just calm and blunt.

And, like a flash, fury flared inside of me, "Dammit! I just want cereal, ok? Most days I prefer to eat cornflakes with bananas! Sometimes on the weekends I'll make something else, but what I really like is cold cereal with fruit! I just like it. I'm not being stubborn by refusing something on principal, I just don't want anything else! Got it? Stop trying to 'break' me and listen to what I'm saying! Can you do that?!"

Callie studied me for a moment, "I think you need some coffee."

As she busied herself with getting me a cup and pouring coffee, I rolled my shoulders and stretched my neck. She was going to be the death of me.

"I'm sorry."

My eyes snapped to her as she set a steaming mug on the table next to me. I must have heard her wrong, because I thought I heard her apologize. "What?"

She stood next to me, shifting slightly as her voice came out soft and sincere, "I'm sorry. You're right, I am trying to force you into accepting me and I got carried away. I'd be happy to get you whatever you want to eat, and I promise to listen better. I'm not going to stop pushing, but I'll pay more attention to the difference between what you think you want and what you actually want."

I chose to simply fix her with a calculated glare as I sipped on a nearly perfect cup of coffee.

AN: I have to admit that I'm getting nervous about keeping up with everyone's expectations for this story…let me know if I'm even close.

And, the song was All Fired Up by Pat Benatar.