AN: Hey, ladies, I'm back. That's all. Have a great day!

She says, we've got to hold on to what we got,

It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not,

We've got each other, and that's a lot

For love- Well give it a shot

My eyelids shot open at the auditory intrusion. "Not again." I groaned as I realized that once again Callie was waking me up at the butt crack of dawn with her very piercing voice. Sleep, sleep was all that I wanted, but it seemed that I would never get it again.

Whooa, we're half way there,

Whooa, livin' on a prayer,

Take my hand, and we'll make it-I swear,

Whooa, livin' on a prayer

With a deep sigh, I arched my back and rubbed my eyes. I hated her. The rest of yesterday had been fairly uneventful. She seemed to stay out of my way a little, like she was giving me some space. A few attempts at chit-chat were made on her end, but with no reciprocation from me, she stopped trying. She quietly made me dinner and helped me get to bed, and that was it. Not horrible, but not particularly pleasant, either. I still didn't know quite what to make of her.

As I glumly stared at the ceiling, I listened to her finish her set list, then the water turn off, then several minutes of silence, then the door opened. Ten seconds later, a knock sounded at my door. "Arizona? You awake?"

I grumbled loudly, "As if I could sleep through the Bon Jovi concert in the next room."

"Oh, awesome. So, will you let me help you to the bathroom this morning?"

I glowered at her hopeful, and easy-going grin. "Fine."

"Good choice." Callie set about helping me through my morning routine, the day turning out far less dramatic than the day before. When I wheeled myself into the kitchen, she held up two boxes of cereal. "Which cereal will it be today?"

Shrugging, I muttered, "Rice Crispies are fine."

"Ok, and the fruit?"

"Strawberries." I answered shortly. I can't say that I wasn't a little surprised that she stuck to her word from the day before. She didn't question what I wanted.

"Alright, cereal and coffee are ready. I still can't believe you eat cereal everyday, especially when you now have a spectacularly talented chef at your disposal." Callie smiled and set my breakfast on the TV tray next to me, then plopped onto the couch.

"Are we going to fight about this, again?" I asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Nope." She took a few bites of her toast and eggs before continuing. "So, today we need to go grocery shopping. I can't continue to make us something out of nothing, so we need to get some food." Her eyes snapped to mine, like she was expecting me to protest.

I instantly protested, "I don't go grocery shopping, it's too hard in this chair." I tried to reason, hoping that she'd see my predicament.

"Plenty of people go shopping in wheelchairs, I promise it's possible. And, I do happen to believe that you can do it, so we're going."

"I said, I'm not going." I put a sharp bite on my words.

"And, I said that that was one of the rules to me living here. You come with me on all house related errands. Grocery shopping is one of those errands." Callie stood up and brought her plate to the sink, missing my eye roll and withering glare.

"Then, the solution is simple- leave. Ta-da! Everyone's happy." Smirking, I held my hand out as if to demonstrate the logic in my words.

"I wouldn't be happy. I'd miss your glowing smile and cheery disposition. You complete me, Arizona Robbins." She held her hand over her heart and smiled adoringly at me before dropping the façade and stating seriously, "You're coming."

"No."

"Yes."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"You can't make me."

"I know you are, but what am I?"

"What?"

"Oh, I just thought we were having an elementary school fight…we're not?"

"No."

"Ok…You're still coming."

"No way."

"I can do this all day, can you?"

"Yes."

"Alright, you're on. Today we are going grocery shopping together. We're going to buy food, and cook it, and eat it together. I'll wear a cute apron and will insist that you do, too. But, you won't want to, so we'll bicker until one of us caves, probably you. Then, we'll make all kinds of different food. It'll be wonderful and delicious and magnificent. Once again, you'll pretend that you don't like it, because I made it and we all know that I'm Satan. Then, I'll point out that you helped make it, so then you'll grudgingly eat and the whole time try to hide that you love it…Let's see, at the store, I'll need to buy chicken, and pasta, and garlic bread, and zucchini, and broccoli, and herbs, and bananas, and-"

"Oh, my, God, if I go, will you stop talking?" I finally spit out.

"Duh."

"Did you just say 'duh'?"

"Yeah, sorry, I got stuck in the elementary school thing. So, we're going?"

"It looks that way."

"Good."

She studied my face for a moment, then walked over and sat next to me, "Look, I get why you don't want to be around people. You're barely able to accept this version of yourself in private yet, let alone comprehend how to sell it to others. That makes people scary. I understand, but I promise that the only way to start to get past it is to just start doing it, even if it hurts. And, if it makes any difference, I'll be there every step of the way."

"You don't know me as well as you think you do." My mouth spoke words that I knew were false. Her words expressed a deep truth in me that I wasn't ready to admit anyone, and that pissed me off…again.

"You're probably right about that, but I really am trying to get to know you…are you?"

"I know that I still don't like you." I returned easily, even if the impetus was desperation.

To my surprise, Callie simply chuckled, "Well, that's something, I guess."

As Callie pulled into a parking space of the giant grocery store, I nervously jiggled the leg the was still whole and chewed on my thumb nail. I really didn't want to go in there. I'd never been out of the house or hospital since the crash. And, even though there were people at the hospital, at least those people had the decency and understanding to politely ignore my unfortunate state. People at the grocery store were just…people. Regular people with insatiable curiosity. People that would stare at my absent limb. People that would wonder what tragic circumstances led to my situation. People that would judge me for being less than a complete human. I judged me for being incomplete. "Can I just wait in the car?" I cringed when my voice wavered with childlike tones of vulnerability.

Callie considered me for a moment, "Yes, you can." Seeing my hopeful expression, she added, "But, then how would you know whether it's as awful as you imagined or not?" When I chose to snarl in response, she continued, "I think going in will actually lead to some relief. It's a big first step that you'll never have to make again."

My rolling stomach let me know that I thought she had a point. I hated it when she's right. With only a barely perceptible nod, I indicated that I would go inside with her. So, with a small shuffle we got me out of the car and into the store. The grocery store was never as terrifying as it was in that moment. The automatic doors whooshed open with an air of arrogance and innocence, exposing a world full of unknown dangers to my fragile being. That may sound dramatic, but that's what it felt like.

I had allowed Callie to push me to the entrance, but took over my mobility once inside. I hastily glanced around, searching for the inevitable hazards that lurked down any isle. Within the first minute of being within the air-conditioned building, I spotted five furtive gazes locked on my missing limb. This affirmed all my concerns, causing my chest to tighten, my pulse to race, and my palms to sweat.

"Calliope Iphigenia Torres." A voice broke through my inner turmoil and forced my eyes to the casual form of my nurse.

Taking a deep breath, I struggled to decipher what she had said, "Um, what?"

"My full name." Callie offered as she browsed the apple selection, picking one up only to discard it for another. Finding one to her apparent satisfaction, she placed it in a plastic bag and glanced at me. "I'm only guessing, but I think that you're probably feeling very exposed and unsafe, right now. Like at any moment the possibility exists that someone will attack you. Emotionally speaking, of course…I don't know many people that have the guts to physically attack someone missing a leg…" At my disbelieving glare, she grinned and continued, "But, just imagine walking around with a name like Calliope Iphigenia Torres. Talk about a loaded gun of embarrassment aimed right at me, at all times."

I'm positive that the look I was sending her was a perfect mixture of annoyance, incredulity, disgust, with just a hint of amusement. "And, what the hell does that have to do with anything?"

Callie shrugged, "Nothing, I guess. Just thought I might offer up a point of camaraderie. You're vulnerable in here, so I made myself vulnerable, too, by giving you a piece of information that nobody else knows. Plus, it made you briefly consider smiling, didn't it? So, that's a win in my book."

With irritation and reluctant acquiescence, I realized that she had succeeded in distracting me enough that I hadn't thought about the people around me. The people staring at me. She had helped quite a bit, and I now felt slightly less tense than I had before. I hated that I had to give her that one.

We slowly worked our way through the store, stopping to discuss what we needed or what we didn't. Turns out we disagreed about food as much as we disagreed about everything else, however, much more civilly. With two items left to acquire, my journey was feeling far more like a success than I ever dared to hope.

"Where's your leg?" A young voice filled with innocence and curiosity brought my world to a screeching halt and instantly triggered my fight or flight response. I panicked.

A boy, no older than six, with dark, brown hair and bright green eyes had single-handedly knocked me out. Emotionally, of course. His brave and socially un-tainted question managed to shine a blaring spot light on every fear I possessed about being in public. I had almost forgotten that I existed as only a watered down version of myself and that people around me were noticing. I had almost forgotten that it wasn't just me and Callie shopping for food. But, in those three words harsh awareness brought sharp focus to my reality. I was missing a leg, and it was obvious. Unfortunately, even with all the trepidation and worry surrounding this trip, I hadn't actually formed a solid plan on dealing with it. I hadn't pre-constructed a response to handle queries from strangers, and that was coming back to bite me in the ass.

The boy stood in front of me, patiently waiting for an answer, totally unaware that he had shook my world so thoroughly. An internal battle raged, each side of me fighting to propose a possible solution to that situation. Part of me wanted to just turn and leave, part of me wanted to regale the boy with the woes of my tragic circumstances, part of me wanted to scream, part of me wanted to fake a cheerful response, and part of me wanted to cry. I didn't know which one to obey and with each passing second my distress multiplied.

Finally, a warm hand settled on my forearm as Callie squatted down next to, but slightly in front of me. "Hey, kid. What's your name?"

"Ryder." The boy answered confidently.

"Hi, Ryder, my name is Callie and this is Arizona." Callie said kindly.

"Hi. What happened to her leg? Is it gone?" Again, his inexperience in the world allowed complete openness and shamelessness.

Callie looked at me for a moment, then turned back to him, "Yes, her leg is gone."

Ryder studied me for a few seconds, "What happened to it?"

I felt Callie's grip on my arm tighten when I inhaled sharply and started to tremble. She must have recognized that I wasn't going to be speaking, so she kept talking to the boy in a gentle voice, "It's kind of a crazy story, Ryder. You see, she's a doctor, and she went to help a little girl. But, she got into an accident and got really hurt, so the other doctors had to take off her leg to make her feel better."

"Is the little girl ok?" His question was so simple, genuine, and unexpected. My eyes widened and Callie grinned.

"Yeah, Dr. Arizona had already helped the little girl before she got hurt."

"So, she's like a hero, then? Heroes help other people even if it means they get hurt." The boy said wisely as he continued to examine my leg.

Tears sprung to my eyes as I watched this kid tell me that I'm a hero. I sat there obsessing over what awful things people would think about me, about what a six year old boy would think of me. Never once had any of those things been positive.

"Yes, Ryder, she is exactly like a hero." Callie's smile was so wide and sincere I briefly pondered if it had actually brightened the fluorescently lit room. And, had anyone been watching close enough, they might say that they saw the corners of my mouth turn up in a hesitant grin as I watched this interaction. But, I would never concede to that assessment.

"That's cool. My daddy's a hero, too." On cue, a middle-aged man walked up behind the boy.

"Ryder, I told you not to wander off. You need to stay where I can see you." The man had a deep, sturdy voice as he spoke. And, as he wrapped his muscular left arm around the boy's shoulders, I couldn't help but notice his right arm that ended abruptly at his elbow.

"I'm sorry, dad. I was just asking her about her leg. She's a hero like you." Both father and son turned to me as Ryder kept talking, "Daddy got hurt fighting bad guys. I'm going to be just like him when I get big."

I lost the fight to hold in my tears as I watched this little guy beam up at his dad. The same dad smiled softly, and extended his hand, " Lieutenant Brian Lumer."

A bit shakily, I reached up. Then, I grasped his hand and shook like the daughter of a military man, "Dr. Arizona Robbins."

"I'm sorry my son was so forward. He can't quite understand why talking about severe injuries isn't everybody's favorite thing." With a nervous chuckle, he finished, "I apologize if he bothered you."

With a glimpse at Callie I discovered that she was wiping tears from her eyes, so I cleared my throat, "No, uh, no bother. Actually, I am very grateful that he came over here."

Ryder flashed me a toothy grin as his father nodded with a smile. When they started to walk away, Ryder turned back, "You should put jet packs on your chair! It would go sooo fast!"

A loud laugh came from the woman next to me while I failed to hold in my own tentative, but broad, smile. That was, maybe, the last thing I expected to come from today. When the male duo was out of sight I turned back to Callie. She suddenly stopped giggling and looked intensely at me, almost surprised. Getting uncomfortable under her scrutinizing gaze, I mumbled, "What?"

She shook her head slightly, "Uh, nothing…you have dimples."

My brows furrowed, and I could feel a mild blush tickle my neck at her expression of interest directed at me. "Um, yeah, I do. So?"

Callie coughed lightly, "I just haven't seen them. That's the first time you've smiled around me."

I rolled my eyes, and snapped, "Let's just finish and get out of here."

"Oh, come on. You're going back to surly and pouting? This outing has been pretty good." Callie said in exasperation.

"Whatever you say, Calliope." I grumbled pointedly.

"Yeah, you can't actually call me that. It was an informational peace offering, not intended for use." Callie said sharply. "No one calls me that, except for my parents when I'm in trouble."

"And, now, me." I shot back as I threw olives in the cart.

"No."

"Yes."

"We're going to do this, again?"

"I guess, that's up to you, Calliope."

"You know what? Fine. But, this isn't over."

"Fine."

AN: Well…what did you think? Still good?