A/N: Good news I don't have to work night shift starting June 1st, and they are hiring more people which means quicker updates yay! Anyway here's chapter 7, hope you guys enjoy.
Chapter Seven
In a heartbeat both Teddy and I take off for the maternity ward, which is only one floor above us. We take the stairs two at time, and we enter the floor with ease because I'm one of the staff members that has access to this floor, with me be a pediatric surgeon and all.
In the page, Callie said they were in room 632. When we get to the room we see that the door is still open, and a group of nurses are walking in to the room with Dr. Jo Wilson. Teddy rushes into the room and joins Addison's side.
Teddy is on Addison's right side, because Callie is on Addison left side. From the looks of it she is refusing to let go Callie's hand, and now Teddy's hand.
I'm still standing in the doorway when Jo turns around to face me. "I know Addison is having a breech baby, and you have done more breech baby surgeries than me, but Addison has told me that she only wants Callie and Teddy in the room while she is delivering the baby. If there is a problem and surgery needs to be preformed than you can enter room."
"If I'm in the room, I can help so surgery isn't an option." I reply back with a little bit of confusion in my voice.
"I know, and that is what I said to her, but she's pregnant and we both know that logical thinking goes out the door when the mother enters the third trimester." Jo replies with a shrug. "Before you protest, let me say this. One she's my boss, two, next to the maker of the tiny humans, pregnant women come in a close second on people you don't want to upset." Jo pauses of a moment, "It's been a rough couple of days for me, can I end at least one day on a happy note?"
"Alright," I say under my breath. "I'll be right outside if you need me."
"Thank you, Dr. Robbins," Jo mouths to me as she closes the door on me when I'm far enough out of the doorway. I walk over to wall that is right across from Addison's door and lean up against it. I put my hands in my lab coat pockets as I tilt my head back and stare up at the ceiling thinking about absolutely nothing. I know it seems a little selfish, but I have a lot on my plate right now. I just need time to think, and prioritize my long list of shit to do.
"Hey…Arizona," Lexie says with some slight confusion. She looks at Addison's closed door before she looks over to her right, at me still leaning up against the wall. "Shouldn't you be in there? I thought Addison was having a breech baby?" Lexie says as she points to Addison's door.
"Yeah, but Addison only wants Callie and Teddy by her side while she gives birth. If things get complicated then I'm allowed in the room."
"Oh," Lexie says as she nods her head and moves to lean up against the wall next to Addison's door right across from me. When she up against the door she also copies my position, with her hands in her lab coat pocket and her head tilted back a little bit.
"Where's Mark?" I question when I noticed that it has been just the two of us for about 15 minutes.
"Don't get me started, Arizona." Lexie says as she shakes her head.
"Is everything okay?" I ask with genuine concern.
"He's being ridiculous right now." Lexie says with a sigh. "He's working his usual 12 hour shift, because we don't have kids, but he's working a lot of overtime so he can stay far away from his loved ones because he thinks he has something to do with the Road Truck Killer, killing."
I give Lexie a blank stare as I slightly nod my head. Looks like Mark and I have the same theory. It doesn't hurt to see what information he knows, because he might know more than me.
"Why does he think that?" I question.
Obviously I can't talk to Mark directly so I have to talk to the next best thing, his wife.
"A good 50% of the people who have been killed by The Road Truck Killer, Mark knew. They were either classmates or teammates back from when he was in high school, college and medical school." Lexie pauses for a moment. "When the police were questioning him about the death of Sloan and Joseph he said something to them about knowing some of the victims. They said they would look into but we haven't heard back from them since the wedding."
I don't say anything as I nod my head at her again. It doesn't surprise me about the Seattle police department not following up what could be a possible lead, looking into Mark's past could be long and daunting but it could lead them to the killer. And since looking into another person's past is a lot of work, the Seattle police department won't do it. Their not really the best police force in the country, which is one of the reason why I chose to take the job here when it was offered to me.
"They do have to work with a lot of different agencies, including the government, which could be long hard process because the government needs to make everything more complicated." I say.
"I guess your right," Lexie says with a sigh. "Hopefully Mark will let go."
Seeing how Amelia Shepherd was just found in Callie's office, I'm going to say it's going to be long time before Mark lets this go.
The two of us enter another round of silence as we wait to hear any news about Addison and her baby. For another 10 minutes Lexie plays with phone across from me while I get lost in my thoughts.
A good 5 minutes into our silence is when I feel the Passenger start to stir in the backseat. He won't sit still, and he is constantly whispering and hissing. After working with this…thing…I know based off his actions that I'm being watched, but he doesn't know from where and from whom.
As the minutes pass his movement picks up and his low whispers turn into loud incoherent grumbling. He's close to finding the thing on the floor that doesn't belong. Finally 2 minutes later, he suddenly stops moving and he stops talking. He's perfectly still and perfectly quiet.
Nurse's station on your right…
I stand up a little straighter as I turn my head to the right and look over at the nurse's station. Half way through my second scan is when I find Julia Canner. Julia is looking down at a tablet that doesn't belong to the hospital, as she pretends to chart. Seattle Grace Mercy West uses Microsoft Surface Pro RT tablets and Julia is using an iPad. Secondly Julia is not authorized to be on this floor. Her badge should only give her access to the pediatric floor, not to the maturity and NICU floors as well. There's a flaw in my fortress and that doesn't sit well with me.
For the first time in the 5 minutes that I have been looking at Julia she finally looks up from her tablet, and there should be know surprise when I say that she looks over in this direction. However, she jumps a little when she sees that I'm looking right her. You can tell by the look on her face that I scared her. In a matter of seconds she grabs her tablet and makes a beeline for the doorway.
If my best friend's wife wasn't having a breech baby you could bet your ass that I would have followed her.
After about an hour, Lexie gets a code blue page and rushes off the floor. I wait for another 10 minutes before I go downstairs to get my tiny humans. After I get the kids from daycare, we go downstairs to cafeteria where I let them eat pizza, cheeseburgers, fries, chocolate cake and cookies, or 'Crap' as Callie likes to put it. After our extremely unhealthy dinner we go outside and play in the snow. For an hour in a half the kids and I build a snowman and try to build a snow fort, which turns into the four us having a snowball fight. Once we tire ourselves out from playing in snow the four of us go upstairs to waiting room on the maturity floor.
When we enter the waiting room I see that there is another family waiting inside the room. A husband and wife are sitting on my left side on a couch that is up against the window. They have two kids that could the same as William and Jackie. Their kids are on my right side playing with building blocks in the small play area for kids.
Usually my tiny humans are very sociable and will go up, play and make new friends with other kids, but not today. Instead they follow me as I walk up to another couch that is up against the wall that is right in front of us. The three of them allow to me lie down first, which is on my back with head up against right arm of the couch. After I get situated is when the three of them proceed to climb on top of me and find place to lay down. Sofia is lying down by feet with her head on left arm of the couch and her back is facing the back part of the couch. In true diva fashion, Jackie pushes her brother off my chest so she can curl up and sleep there, and this time William doesn't cry about it because with seconds he is passed out in the crook of my arm between the back part of the couch and me.
When we all get comfortable is when we all start to drift asleep. I hear the wife of the other family giving a loving "aw", while her husband just lets out a chuckle. In the middle of my nap I hear the door open and I hear the other family leave the waiting room. After the family leaves it takes me about 30 minutes to fall back asleep, I'm on the verge of sleep when I hear the waiting room door open up again. I hear Callie's loving gasp, followed by clicking noises as she takes a few pictures on her phone.
After our photo shoot with Callie, she proceeds to wake the four of us up. She tells me that Jo was able to get the baby to turn around on its own and that Addison delivered a beautiful healthy baby girl. When the kids finally wake from their nap Callie leads us to Addison's room.
When we get to Addison's room I see Teddy standing at the end of the hallway looking through the nursery window at her daughter. The kids follow Callie into Addison's room while I walk down the hall towards my best friend. When I get to Teddy she doesn't say anything to me, but she knows that I'm right there next to her. For the next few minute the two of us are quiet as we watch the nurse perform the usual health tests on Teddy's daughter. When the nurse is done running her tests she turns around and proceeds to carry Teddy's daughter back to her crib. After she places the baby back in her crib she looks up and out the window to see Teddy and I standing there. With a smile on her face she waves for us to come in.
You get VIP treatment when you are best friends with head of the pediatrics, the NICU and the maturity ward. Using my badge we enter the nursery with ease. The moment we step through the door, we go for the hand sanitizer before we make our way over to Teddy's daughter. Together we both look down, in silence, at the adorable semi-sleeping baby.
Teddy turns around to the face the nurse who is standing behind us filling out paperwork. "Can I hold her?" Teddy asks.
The nurse turns to face us and with a smile on her face she nods her head, before going back to filling out paperwork.
Once Teddy gets the approval to hold her daughter she leans down and picks her up for the first time. Teddy has light smile as on her face as she slightly rocks her daughter back and forth. While Teddy is holding her daughter I look down at the front of her crib to see her name.
"Madison James Montgomery," I say. "I like it."
Teddy doesn't say anything as she looks up for a moment. At first I thought it was kind of weird that Teddy was silent for so long, but in that moment I can see why. There is so much terror and fear in her eyes right now.
"Um, Dr. Robbins?" the nurse says from behind Teddy.
Teddy and I don't say anything as we both turn to look at the young nurse.
"I know I'm not supposed the leave the babies unattended, but I have to give this paperwork to Dr. Wilson. Can you look after the babies while I give her this paperwork?"
"Yeah, I can look after them for a moment," I say with a light smile.
"Thank You," the nurse says as she quickly runs out of the room to look for Jo.
The minute the door closes behind the nurse, Teddy looks at me. "I can't do this." Teddy blurts outs, which upsets Madison and she starts to cry. "See, I made her cry." Teddy says she looks away from me to look down at her upset daughter.
"You'll be fine, Teddy." I say as I walk up to Teddy, and take Madison out of her arms. When Madison is in my arms, I lightly tap her back and rock her back and forth.
Madison seems to like this because within 10 minutes of me rocking her back and forth, she stops crying. I continue to rock her back and forth, as I take a closer look at her. She has dirty blonde hair with a slight red tint to it. I think maybe when she is 5 or 6 she might be a full-blown red head like Addison. Her eyes, which are growing heavy with sleep, are a grayish blue, like all newborns. The grey tint in her eyes lets me know that she will probably have green eyes like Teddy in nine mouths.
After 5 more minutes of rocking, Madison falls asleep in my arms. "I-"
"Shh," I cutoff when I hear Teddy start to raise her voice again.
"I'm not cut out of this," Teddy continues in a whisper. "I don't have a single material bone in my body. I didn't want kids, Addison did. I was perfectly happy with it just being the two of us, for forever. Science was even on my side in this situation." Teddy points to herself. "Addison has no more eggs, I'm infertile. But somehow she took my eggs and made it work." Teddy says as points to Madison.
"You can do this, Teddy." I say to her as I look up from Madison to look at Teddy. "I believe in you. I believe that you will be a great mother. It's not going to be easy. She'll make you want to pull your out. But you'll love every minute of it." I pause as look back down at Madison. "And you're not in this alone. You have Addison and Callie, who are super mega ultra moms. Like super hero moms." I look up from Madison when I hear Teddy laugh at my last statement. "And you have me, and I think if I of all people can be a mom. I think you can too."
Teddy gives me a light smile before she walks up to me, and looks down at her sleeping daughter. "You want to hold her again?" I ask
Teddy nods her head before she lifts up her arms and takes Madison out of my arms. Teddy holds her daughter, while I just watch the two of them for the next the 5 minutes, which is when the nurse returns.
"Your daughter is 100% healthy Dr. Montgomery," the nurse says to Teddy.
Teddy just smiles at the nurse before she looks down at her daughter. "Did you hear that Madison? You are a perfect, healthy, beautiful baby girl." She whispers before she gives her a kiss on the forehead.
I don't say anything as I just smile at my best friend.
The nurse walks over to door and opens it for Callie, who I didn't see standing in the window trying to get our attention. "Arizona, we have to get going because the kids are getting tired." Callie says when the nurse opens the door for her.
"Ok," I say with a smile. "See you later, Ted. And I will definitely see you later," I say as I look down at Madison who is still sleeping.
"Congrats again, Teddy, and I'll see you later." Callie says when I finally reach her side.
"Thanks," Teddy whispers before she goes back to giving her attention to her daughter.
After we say goodnight to Teddy and Addison, Callie, the kids and I walk out towards the car so we can go home for the evening. The amount of silence in the car is a little on creepy on side. The radio is off; Callie is staring outside her window. The usually noise twins are passed out in the front row, and I see Sofia is nodding off every now and then. Looks like I wore them out pretty good this afternoon while Addison was giving birth.
At the moment the snowstorm has stopped, but the road are still pretty bad. Not all the roads have been plowed and salted so I drive on the slow side to be safe. On our usual 10 minute drive from the hospital, turns into a 45 minute drive because all the roads I take to get from the hospital to the house have not been plowed or salted. We passed 7 accidents on the way the home.
When we finally get home, the twins refuse to wake up and get out of the car so Callie and I unbuckle them and carry them into the house with Sofia following us in a zombie like state. Callie is walking in front of me carrying Jackie with Sofia walking on her right side, and I'm in the back carrying William.
"Sofia, sweetie. After I put your sister upstairs in her room would like me to make you snack before you go to sleep?" Callie asks in a soft loving motherly voice.
"No, thank you." Sofia says while shaking her head. "I'm still full from dinner."
"Really?" Callie questions, "what did mommy feed you guys while I was gone?"
UH-OH
"Mommy let me have a cheeseburger with French fries, two slices of cheese pizza, chocolate chip cookies and a big piece of chocolate cake."
When Callie turns around to glare at me, I suddenly fine the paint on the walls of the house we've been living in for the past 5 years really interesting.
The rest of the walk upstairs to the bedrooms is done in complete silence. I manage to slip in William's room first unnoticed, since his room is the first room on the left side.
"Sofia, get ready for bed. When we are done putting your brother and sister to sleep we will be in kiss you goodnight." Callie says before she walks into Jackie's room, which right next William's room.
"Ok mama," Sofia says as she walks into her room.
I change William into his pajamas and put him in his bed, while Callie does the same thing with Jackie. We finish at the same time and together we walk into Sofia's room. Sofia has changed into her pajamas and has passed out in her bed with lights still on. Callie and I both give her kiss on the head before we turn off the lights and leave her room.
The minute we step out her room, Hilton and Roxie run back and forth between the top of the staircase and me, letting me know that they have to go outside.
"I'll take them outside," I say as I follow them downstairs and to the back sliding glass door.
After about 10 minutes of running and playing in the snow, Roxie and Hilton come back inside. I dry them off the best I can before we join everyone back upstairs. When I reach the top of the stairs I turn to my right to enter the master bedroom, which is the first room on your right. Hilton follows me into the master bedroom, while Roxie continues to the end the hall and enters the last room on the right, which is Sofia's room.
Callie is already in bed sleeping by the time I get back upstairs. Can't really blame her for being tired, it has been one long weird day. I change into my pajamas in the walk in closet, before I join Callie in the bed. Hilton is lying on the floor by my side of the bed. Hilton knows that she not allowed on the bed if she is wet.
I get into bed and turn off my light. When I roll over to face Callie is when she starts to slide over towards me. When her back hits my front is when she stops moving, her left arms reaches behind her as she searches for my left arm as well. When she finds it she grabs my arm and wraps it around her.
I don't say anything as I just bring her closer to me and squeeze her hand. Callie get's more relaxed with my arm around her, and falls a sleeps within seconds. While Callie sleeps I just lie awake holding and looking at her. Once upon a time, Callie would spend hours talking my ear off about her feelings of Amelia Shepherd, and how it is wrong that someone did that to her. In fact she would've mentioned the death of Sloan and her son, but she has been quiet about that as well. Either she's venting to someone else, or she's slowly evolving into my mindset where she doesn't really care unless it evolves her immediate family.
Callie, The Road Truck Killer, Julia Canner, Sofia's Dark Passenger, and Nick's hateage towards Callie keeps me up for a good hour. Sleep is not coming anytime soon, so I manage to slip out of bed and make way downstairs to the study with Hilton by my side. The study is just passed the basement doorway, across from the laundry room next to the garage door.
Currently the study is filled with Callie and Derek's research. There are stacks of books and papers on robotics, orthopedics, and neurology everywhere. I manage to move some of stuff out of the way so I can get to the computer. While the computer boots up think of my list of problems and prioritize them. Since innocent people are dying, I decide to look into the list victims that were killed by The Road Killer.
5 hours later I reach a confusing and frustrating dead end. It confusing because Lexie and Mark are correct, every victim that has been killed so far has been in contact with Mark Sloan. But Mark Sloan has always been a somewhat popular guy, so I know he has made lots of friends in this lifetime, so what makes these people so important?
The frustrating part is the fact that I have spent the past 5 hours looking into these murders and I have gotten nowhere. I have no leads or clues to point in some direction, which is something that has never happened before.
With a sigh I move on to the next important thing that has been presented to me. The black 2015 Toyota Avalon that was sitting outside of my house and then showed in my twisted dream about Amelia Shepherd.
After a 2 hour search I reach another frustrating dead end. I don't know I'm frustrated about this one. The only thing I know about the Avalon, is it's a black 2015 Toyota Avalon. With no knowledge of the driver or the license plate number, I will come up empty-handed every time I search for it.
I let out a frustrated sigh before I slam my fist on the desk causing Hilton to jump up from her sleep. I turn to look at Hilton who is just looking up at me. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." I say her.
Hilton lets out a huff before she lies back down, and starts to drift off back to sleep. I'm about look into Julia Canner when Callie steps into the study. "Hey you," I say when I see her standing there.
"Hey," she says back in the groggy voice.
I can't help but smile. I always think that my wife is gorgeous, but think she looks stunning when she just gets out of bed. She has on a pair of black and white plaid pajama pants and white v-neck tee shirt. Her hair is in a messy ponytail and she has no makeup on her face. I don't know how she does it, but she wakes up gorgeous everyday.
"What doing up so late?" I ask.
Callie gives me a small look of confusion. "It's 6 o'clock in the morning, Arizona. We have to get ready for work. Brightwater cancelled class today so we can somewhat take our time this morning."
I go from looking at Callie to look at the upper right corner of the computer screen to see that it is 6:15 in the morning. I've been up all night getting nowhere in my search for this Road Truck Killer.
"Have you been up all night?" Callie questions when she sees me look over at the clock.
"Guess so," I in a whisper.
"What were you doing down here?" Callie takes two-steps forward fully entering the study.
"Guilt," my response gets an eyebrow raise from Callie. "Ever since Nick has asked me to help with this Road Truck Killer case I have been putting it aside, and now Amelia, Sloan, and Joseph are all dead. Maybe if I actually helped when Nick asked for it Amelia, Sloan, and Joseph might be alive and just fine."
Callie just crosses her arms and lightly nods her head. "Did you find anything?"
"No," I say as I lean back in my chair. "But maybe I could have stumbled onto something that could have helped Nick because he has been looking into these murders longer than me."
"Well there's nothing you can do about it now, they are in the past. The most you can do now is find this person before they kill another person."
"Yeah, your right." I whisper.
"I'm always right," Callie says with a small grin, which I return.
"Mama," Jackie whines as she walks up to Callie and tugs on her pant leg.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Callie asks as she leans down to pick up Jackie.
"This side of my nose works, but this side doesn't" Jackie says as she points to the left side of her nose, before pointing to the right side. "And my head hurts."
Callie puts her hand over Jackie's forehead, "oh, honey, you have a fever." Callie says as she walks out of the room with Jackie. "Let's get you back upstairs in bed." Callie's voice starts to fade as my two girls walk upstairs.
After Callie and Jackie leave the study, I turn off the computer and return Callie's books and papers back to the way I found them. Once I'm done I stand up to leave when a rush of fatigue hits me like a brick wall, today is going to be little rough. When I try to shake my head to shake off my fatigue, it only makes it worse. I get light headed and stumble back in my chair for a moment. After I get my bearings back again I stand up and leave the study.
I walk into the living room to see Sofia sitting on the couch playing some video game on Callie's iPad, with Roxie under her feet. "Hey baby girl." I say as walk further into the living room.
"Morning mommy," Sofia says, never taking her eyes off of Callie's iPad.
"Where's your brother?" I ask when I notice how quiet it is.
"Upstairs still sleeping." Sofia says as the taps on the screen repeatedly. "I tried to wake him up, but he just cried and pushed me away."
"Ok," I whisper as I nod my head. When I nod my head I get light headed again.
Note to self, keep head moment at a minimum today.
I let Sofia finish her game in peace while Hilton and I walk upstairs and enter William's room. William is still lying in bed with his face buried in the pillows. I walk up to his bed and sit down on it with my back facing his headboard.
"Come on little man, its time to get up." I say as I rest my hand on his back. The minute I place my hand on his back is the minute I know he has a fever like his sister.
"No mommy," William whines as he sits up so he can lay in my arms. "My head hurts when I move it, and my throat hurts when I shallow." He says as he rests his head against my chest and curls up into a tight ball.
"Okay," I say with a yaw. " You get some rest for right now and I'll be back with something to make your head and throat stop hurting…"
I had every intention of getting up and getting medicine, but with my back up against William's headboard and the warm pressure from his body curled up on my chest is enough to make me fall asleep with my son in his room.
I don't know how long I was out for but I don't wake up until I feel the pressure of William leave my chest and stomach. "Yeah, all three of them are sick," Callie, says into her cell phone as she puts a slumbering William back into his bed.
She grabs my hand and leads out of his room and into our bed. "I could leave her at home with kids, but when Arizona gets sick she becomes useless to society." Callie says into the phone as she pushes me down on the bed.
That is untrue; I'm not useless when I get sick. And I'm not even sick; I'm just a little tired. Nothing Coffee, energy drinks and 5 hour can't fix.
"Trust me we've been together for 10 years, she will just cocoon herself under the covers and just sleep for hours. She will not get up for anything or anyone." Callie is quiet for a few minutes before she nods her head. "Okay, thanks for understanding, Owen. See you tomorrow hopefully." Callie says before she hangs up the phone.
"Callie, I'm not-"
"Shut up and lay down." Callie cuts off. "You're tired, and you are not working or operating on tiny humans when you're tired. So shut up and get some rest."
I'm about to protest, but Callie gives me a stern look almost daring me to challenge her. I've learned my lesson from previous encounters like this, and I do as I'm told. Within seconds of my head hitting the pillow, I'm down for the count.
A few hours after I fell asleep, I'm awaken by the smell of bacon. My love for bacon is just as strong as my love for Snicker Bars. As I get out of bed I look at Callie's alarm clock, it's 3:30 in the afternoon. About an hour before Sofia has to go to therapy. With Hilton by my side, I check on both William and Jackie who are both knocked out in their beds. After I check on the twins I go downstairs. I hear and smell Callie making a late lunch, and I hear the sounds of Sofia and Zola giggling in the basement.
I enter the kitchen to see Callie's back facing me while she puts food on four different plates. "Hey you," I whisper as I walk up behind her and slide my arms around her waist.
"Afternoon," Callie whispers as she leans back into my arms, "How did you sleep?"
"Just fine," I say before I kiss her right cheek. "What are you making?"
"Well the girls wanted cheeseburgers for lunch, so I made cheeseburgers with sweet potato fries, and I made you a bacon cheeseburger because I know how much you love bacon on your cheeseburger."
"You know me so well," I say as I try to grab a fry off my plate.
Callie just slaps my hand away, "go tell the girls that lunch is ready, and then you can eat your food."
"Yes, ma'am" I say as I walk away from Callie and walk towards to basement doorway. "Girls," I yell down the stairway, "lunch is ready."
"Ok," both Sofia and Zola yell back in unison.
I'm walking back into the kitchen as I hear both of their footsteps run up the stairs and into the kitchen. The girls run pass me and over to the dining room table where Callie set their lunch. The second the two of them sit down they begin eating. When I finally reach the table they are almost half way done with their lunch.
During the last half of their lunch the two of them begin to gossip at mach speed, leaving Callie and I extremely confused as we try to keep with their conversation. Right as I finally decipher the first word at the beginning of this conversation, is when the two of them finish eating and run back downstairs to the basement to play.
For a good 5 whole minutes Callie and I stare at the empty seats on my left side where the girls were once sitting. The two of us don't saying anything as we slowly turn our gaze to each other. I open my month to say something, but Callie cuts me off.
"If you're going to ask me about what they just talked about," Callie pauses as she points to the empty seats. "I have no idea. They lost me at 'the'."
I just nod my head slightly, "I suddenly feel very old."
Callie just nods her head in agreement with me. Together we slowly finish eating before I help Callie clean the kitchen. After we get done we walk into the living room and turn on the TV. I'm in the middle of finding something to watch, when Lexie and Bailey walk into through the front door.
"Hey, Callie. Sorry I'm late, this one was being fussy when I was trying to put on his jacket."
"Oh, that's ok Lexie. Zola is downstairs with Sofia at the moment and the twins are upstairs sleeping. If they are hungry when they wake up there is chicken soup in the refrigerator. And there is left over pasta for Zola and Bailey if they get hungry as well." Callie says as she gets up from the couch and walks over to the basement.
Callie walks downstairs for a brief moment and returns with both Zola and Sofia. The two of them say their goodbyes before Sofia, Callie and I are in the Tahoe and driving to Sofia's pointless therapy session.
Callie directs me to a small office building right in the middle of downtown Seattle on Westlake Ave. They have a three floor parking garage under the building and some how we manage to find a parking spot on the first floor.
Dr. Fowler's office is on the fifth floor of this building. Dr. Fowler and 5 other adolescent and pediatric psychiatrists have rented the whole fifth floor. When we walk off the elevator we see a receptionist and a wall right behind her with a door on her left side and a door on her right side. We let Kelly; a young woman in her late twenties with long dark brown hair, know that we have an appointment with Dr. Fowler at 4:30.
She types something on the computer and points to the door on our left side, and tells us to take a seat in the waiting room. We walk through the door and enter a somewhat large typical pediatric waiting room. There is play area with toys and blocks in front of a large fish tank that is directly across from the entrance door. There are children's books scattered about and the three TVs in the room are tuned into the Disney channel. Callie, Sofia and I take a seat in the three chairs that are up against the wall to our left. Sofia sits between us, but she sitting more on the right side of the chair closer to me at the moment. When I take a seat is when I notice another clear glass door on the other side of the room in front us. It leads to hallway with several doors on the either side. I'm guessing that is where the offices are.
We are in the waiting room for approximately 10 minutes and 37 seconds when Dr. Fowler walks through the glass door and walks right up to Callie, Sofia and I. According to Callie, Dr. Fowler is a 45 year old woman and is the best in the pediatric psychiatry world. Let's just say after one glance at the 45 year old doctor, time and gravity defiantly worked against her. She is no more than 5'5; she is walking that fine line between being average and being over weight. She has a very round face with a pointy nose, and her eyes have a hazel tint to it.
"Hello Mrs. And Mrs. Robbins," she says as she shakes both of our hands. "And you must be Sofia."
The second Dr. Fowler says Sofia's name, I hear a low protective growl come from my Dark Passenger. My genuine smile turns fake as I watch Dr. Fowler like hawk as she makes small talk with my wife and tries to talk to my daughter.
"How old are you, Sofia?" Dr. Fowler asks as she kneels in front of her.
Sofia doesn't say anything as she slides closer to me. She grabs my left arm and buries her face in my arm trying to hide from Dr. Fowler.
"It's ok, Sofia," Callie says as she reaches over and places a hand on Sofia's back. "She's not going to hurt you."
Sofia doesn't say anything she takes her face out of my arm and looks up at me. "Mama's right, baby girl." I pause as I look down at Sofia. "She's not going hurt you," I would never let that happen. "She just wants talk to you about a few things. That's all."
Sofia lightly nods her head before she turns to look at Dr. Fowler, who is analyzing our interaction with a fine toothcomb. "I'm seven." Sofia says softly.
"Wow, you're seven?" Dr. Fowler says, "That must me you are in the second grade right?"
Sofia slowly nods her head.
"My niece used to be in second grade." Dr. Fowler says.
The word used lingers in the air, as the Passenger and I listen for more clues to way we don't like her.
"You said used, what happened to her?" Sofia questions.
"Well she graduated from the second grade and now she's in the third grade." Dr. Fowler says with a smile.
Liar…
Sofia is quiet is for a second as her face becomes blank and emotionless. "I don't believe you."
"SOFIA!" Callie yells.
"No, it's ok," Dr. Fowler, says looking over towards a furious Callie. "How about we talk some more in my office." Dr. Fowler gets up, and we start to follow her as she leads us to the glass door on the other side of the wall.
Callie is fuming, while Sofia grabs my hand hoping that I'll be able to save her from an angry mama.
Sorry kid but when you piss off the warden your on your own.
We make it to the glass door when Dr. Fowler turns around to face us. "I think it would be best if you stayed out here, Arizona."
"Why is that?" I immediately question.
"Sofia is looking to seek your approval on everything she does. I think that if you are with us her answers and responses might be tainted, and for me to understand and help your daughter. I think you shouldn't be back there with us."
Sofia starts to squeeze my hand when she hears that I'm not allowed into the office with her and Callie. "Hey baby girl," I say as I lower down to one knee. "You'll be fine, I promise. Mama will be there with you the whole time. This lady only wants to ask you a few questions. After you answer them we can go home and watch Frozen, Ok?"
Sofia just nods.
I give her a light smile before I grab her arm and pull her in for a hug. "You know I would never let anyone hurt you, your siblings and your mama, right?" I whisper so only Sofia and I can hear our conversation.
"Yes mommy, that's why I want you to come with us." Sofia whispers back.
"Believe me if I could, I would be back there with you guys, but I can't go. Mama will protect you, and you know that if something happens all you have to do is call my name and I will be back there in a heartbeat."
"Ok mommy," Sofia says as she steps back away from me.
After our hug, Callie and Sofia go to Dr. Fowler's office while I go back to my original seat staring at the glass door waiting for my wife and daughter to come back out. I'm staring that the door for approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes, and 24 seconds when Callie, Sofia and Dr. Fowler wave for me to enter through the glass door.
Callie and Dr. Fowler are finishing up their conversation when I walk through the door. When I enter the hallway, Sofia immediately joins my side while she grabs my hand. "I want to see her again next week, and I want you plan for a good thirty minutes where it's just Sofia and I. I want to work our way up to having a full session without you or your wife."
"Ok," Callie says with a head nod. "Thank you so much for your help."
"No problem," Dr. Fowler says with a smile. "See you next week, Sofia."
Sofia doesn't say anything as she tries to hide behind me. It would seem that Dr. Fowler is afraid of me because she doesn't push Sofia for a response when she hide behind me. She just gives me a tentative smile before she turns to walk to her office.
Callie pays the receptionist an ungodly amount of money for this session before making her next appointment. Quietly the three of us walk back to the car and start to make the drive back home.
"I know I didn't ask when we were upstairs, but is next week at the same time good for you?" Callie asks when all three of us get into the Tahoe.
"I don't know why your asking mommy that question, because I know your not going back there with me." Sofia says with a little bit of sass in her voice.
"What did you just say?" Callie asks in stern raised voice, as she turns around to face Sofia.
"I said. I'm not going back there." Sofia says as she crosses her arms and leans forward to challenge Callie.
It looks like Jackie isn't the child in this household to inherit Callie's sass.
"I don't care, you're going back to see her next week and you better stop with that attitude, young lady." Callie's voice not only gets louder it gets stronger as well.
"And if I don't stop with attitude?" Sofia pushes.
"You'll find yourself grounded for the next two weeks." Callie says back.
"Oh no, I can't hang out with Zola after school or watch dumb Disney movies with my brother and sister. I'm really missing out on life, mama." Sofia says in sarcastic voice.
"SOFIA SLOAN ROBBINS!" Callie flat out screams.
"Hey," I finally say as I grab Callie's hand to calm her down. "Sofia knock it off, and show your mother some respect."
"Why are you siding with her? Didn't you see Dr. Fowler's shadow too?" Sofia says with to me.
"Her shadow? What shadow?" Callie questions in confusion.
"There was a shadow that was following Dr. Fowler around, mama." Sofia states, "her shadow was mean and scary, and wanted to do bad stuff to you and me."
Callie is speechless as she shakes her head while looking back and forth between Sofia and I.
"The shadow," Sofia says as she looks at Callie, "it's the same shadow that follows mommy around." Sofia says with slight irritation.
"Sofia, your mother is about 10 seconds away from slapping you, and I'm about to let it happen if you don't stop with attitude." I say as I turn around to look her.
When I look at Sofia, she immediately shrinks down her in her sit. "Sorry mama," Sofia whispers while never taking her eyes off me.
"Don't look at me, look at her." I say as I point over towards Callie.
Sofia lets out a small sigh before she turns her attention over towards a still upset Callie.
"Sorry mama," Sofia says to Callie while looking right at her.
Callie just nods her head slightly accepting her apology. "I want to know about Dr. Fowler's shadow and mommy's shadow." Callie says.
"Even through Dr. Fowler's shadow is big and mean, mommy's shadow is bigger and meaner than Dr. Fowler's shadow."
"Why are you afraid of Dr. Fowler's shadow and not mommy's shadow, since mommy's shadow is bigger and meaner?" Callie questions.
"Because mommy shadow doesn't want to hurt us. He just ignores us. But if he doesn't like someone he gets big and mean and sometimes scary."
"So Dr. Fowler's shadow, wants to hurt all three of us?" Callie says.
"No, not mommy, just you and me." Sofia says as she points to Callie and then herself.
Callie nods her head once, "does mommy shadow know that Dr. Fowler wants to hurt us?"
Sofia just shrugs, "I don't think so. Mommy's shadow doesn't like Dr. Fowler and puffed up when she came into the room."
Callie decides to drop the subject as she turns around to face the front windshield. When Callie turns around I turn on the car and start our 15 minute drive back home.
"Mama?" Sofia says right when I pull out of the parking garage.
"Hmmm," Callie says still looking straight ahead.
"Am I grounded?"
"Yes you are, for the next two weeks." Callie replies.
"Oh," Sofia says from the back seat. "So that means I can't go to Rachel's birthday sleepover next weekend."
"Yep, you will get to the spend the whole weekend upstairs in your room while Jackie, William, mommy and I watch dumb Disney movies without you."
"Okay," Sofia says with defeat.
Our car ride home is about 13 minutes because there is not a lot of traffic, and for those 13 minutes the car ride was completely silent. When I pull onto our street, I hear The Passenger let out snicker. A smile creeps on my face when I see the reason behind the Passenger's snicker. Callie and I have a visitor in the form of a black 2015 Toyota Avalon, parked two houses down facing our house.
The last time I spotted the Avalon, I scared it away before I could get any information about it. So this time I decide to play dumb and pretend that I don't see it as I pull into our driveway and into our garage. When I turn off the car both Callie and Sofia quietly get out of the car.
"Go to you room, young lady," Callie says when we enter the house.
Sofia doesn't say anything as she takes off running upstairs to her room.
Sofia is already in her room by the time Callie and I enter the living room.
"Hey guys," Lexie says as she sits up from the couch and puts the TV on mute. "Meredith came by and got Zola and Bailey about 20 minutes after you left. I fed the twins some soup and we watched cartoons for about an hour before the passed out again. They are upstairs in their rooms asleep."
"Thanks so much, Lexie." Callie says with smile.
"No problem," Lexie says with smile. "I should get going because Mark is at home and the last time he cooked dinner, he almost killed us." Lexie was with a chuckle.
Callie laughs as well before she gives Lexie a hug goodbye. After Lexie leaves Callie goes upstairs to check on the twins while I turn my attention over to the love seat where Hilton and Roxie are lying down.
"You guys want to go for a walk?" I say to them.
The minute I say walk the two of them dart up and come running over towards. They start to jump and get more hyper when I grab their leashes by the garage door. With their leashes on and several poop bags, we leave the house through the garage door.
I usually walk the dogs in a giant circle along 24th AVE starting from the left, however, the Avalon is on my left and I know if I start to walk towards the Avalon I will spook it again and be left empty handed again. So instead of turning to my left for our walk, I turn towards my right.
I walk down Hamlin St, until I reach 24th AVE. When I get to 24th AVE I turn right, Roxie and Hilton take their time smelling and peeing on everything. Finally after about 10 minutes we finally make it the part of the road where it forces you me a right turn. When we turn right we walk in a straight line for what feels like hours because during this part of our walk we came in contact with 2 other dogs, and for some reason the dog owners wanted to strike up a conversation with me. After my conversation with two different people, we make it the other end of the 24th AVE where it forces you to make another right. During this leg of the walk, Roxie and Hilton take their time as the find the perfect lawn to poop on. Once both of them poop, we walk in the straight line again until we reach Hamlin St.
When we get to Hamlin St. we take another right and start to walk back towards the house. As we walk back to the house, the Passenger and I start to get very happy as we sneak up on our unwanted visitor.
I am a few feet away from the house when the Avalon finally realizes what is happening. The Avalon turns on and drives away from me, but it's too late. I already have the yellow license plate with numbers WG7 4Q5 committed to my memory.
A/N: Do you know how the killer is? I do ;)