Arizona was walking down the hall, she had just finished a 6 hour surgery. She was very uncomfortable. Her prosthetic was rubbing and she was fearful of a blister. Her back was aching and she was hungry. Which isn't new. She was always hungry nowadays. She was headed towards her office. She hoped she had food in her mini-fridge. She found a yogurt and a banana. She made it to her couch and took off her pants so she could take off her leg. She did have swelling and it was red and the beginning of a blister that would grow before the day was finished.
There was a knock on the door and it opened slowly, Bailey peeped her head in "Arizona? Hey, are you okay?" She walked in and saw the swelling. She took out her phone and sent a text and sat down next to the blonde. "I stopped by to talk to you about your leave and it looks like I'm right on time."
There was a knock on the door and Meredith walked in. "Hey, what's wrong. I brought some ice." She walked over and placed the ice on her wife's residual limb. "Babe, this looks really bad."
"It's fine, it's actually been much worse." Arizona said in between bites of her banana.
Bailey said "Robbins, what are you trying to prove?"
Arizona looked up "Excuse me? What are you talking about?"
Meredith sighed "Arizona, you don't have to push yourself. Pregnancy is hard."
Arizona was not happy "Oh I see what this is. You all think that I'm not capable of doing this. Both of you worked while you were pregnant and I can't recall either of you stepping back early." She really wished she had her leg on so she could get up and walk out.
Bailey said "Arizona that is not what we are saying. But you do have extra challenges."
Arizona was steaming now "No that's not what you mean, say what you mean chief. I'm disabled. Right? Is that it? Because guess what? That's discrimination. And considering this hospital is the reason that I am disabled I'm sure the foundation wouldn't be happy to hear all about the discrimination of the poor crippled one legged board member doctor." She huffed and closed her eyes and put her arm over her face. She hated to be treated differently because of the leg.
Bailey snorted "Arizona, get the stick out of your butt and listen to me. No one is saying you can't do your job. I am saying you don't have to. Now, open your eyes." She waited "I said open your eyes. Now look at your leg. You have extra challenges. No one is saying that because we think you are weak. I am saying this because you are strong. You've endured more than your share of pain and misery and there is no reason for you to be miserable."
Meredith had been quiet this whole time, she finally said "Arizona your body is changing so much right now and I hate to see you in pain. Can you please just consider it maybe?"
"Okay, fine." Arizona winced loudly. Both Meredith and Bailey looked at each other and Meredith said "Arizona? What was that?"
"It's nothing, I've been having little muscle spasms in my back for the last hour or so." Arizona replied.
Bailey took her phone out and sent another text. "Arizona? Does it last long?"
Arizona looked at the chief "What are you talking about?" It dawned on her what they were thinking "Miranda, I am only 7 months. There is no way this is labor."
Right then her office door opened and Gwen was standing there with a wheelchair "Come on, let's go."
Arizona sighed really loudly and said "I can't believe all of you. Miranda, Meredith I am just tired and hungry and grumpy." But she didn't argue as Meredith and Bailey helped her into the wheelchair as her leg was still too swollen to put her leg back on. Bailey put a blanket across the blondes lap to cover her and said "Keep me posted, take all the time you need."
Meredith locked up Arizona's office and the three left to go find an exam room. Gwen asked "How long have you been experiencing the back pain?"
Arizona said "Its only been about an hour or so. But really it's not labor. It's from my leg. I was in a long surgery, my leg was starting to hurt, so I shifted a lot. This caused my back to ache. It's happened before, even before I became pregnant."
Meredith and Gwen helped her up on the table. Meredith kissed her wife "Can we just let her check you out please?" Arizona nodded and Meredith turned to Gwen "Don't check her out too much okay?"
Gwen shook her head and smiled "Meredith, let's check out your wife." They hooked Arizona up to a fetal monitor and Gwen lifted Arizona's shirt. She applied gel and began the ultrasound. All three women stared at the screen and watched as the baby came into view.
Arizona teared up "She's sucking her thumb."
Meredith smiled and said "Well this one will need braces." She kissed her wife on the forehead.
Gwen listened to the heart beat. She took Arizona's blood pressure. "I don't think it's labor. I'm going to keep you hooked up to the monitor for a little while longer, and then you are to go home and get in bed." She looked at Meredith "See if you can get this one to rest."
Arizona scoffed "Gwen, I can promise you I will prop my leg up when I get home. But, I am not going on bed rest. This isn't related to the baby. This is because of my leg."
Gwen looked at Meredith "How do you put up with her being so damn stubborn?"
Meredith smirked "Are you sure you want to go down this road?"
Gwen said "Arizona, I know it's your leg. But it is pregnancy related too. You've gained weight." She put her hand up to prevent Arizona from interrupting. "I'm not saying you're fat. But it has affected your limb and your prosthetic. Most women, by the time they get to their 7th month, they begin to waddle due to all the extra weight. It helps them keep their balance. You can't do that without affecting your limb, so as much as I hate to say this, you may need to consider an early leave. Not bed rest, but just take it easy. It's going to get harder for you to get around and there is no reason for you to make it harder on yourself. I'll leave you two, you can get dressed and go home. Just think about it okay?"
Arizona nodded. Once Gwen left and it was just her and Meredith in the room she broke down. Meredith held her wife and let her cry it out. "Sweetie, why are you crying?"
Arizona sobbed "I don't know."
Meredith held her tighter and said "Oh baby, let's get you home."
