Chapter 6

Arizona drove towards the airport, intent on flying to New York to be with Callie, to see her daughter. To prove to the people conspiring against her that she wasn't going to fall to their tricks. She was smarter than that, she just needed to see Callie and everything would be okay.

Driving towards the airport the closer she got the worst she felt, she pulled over leaving the car making it to the bushes in time to vomit. She could smell rotting flesh, and engine oil, hear screaming, lots of screaming and feel blood leaking out of her mouth. Her breaths came in short sharp gasps, sending shooting pains into her head. The plane was going to crash, it was going to kill them all. She could smell the smoke, feel the air wizz past her head sending her hair flying. It was hard to breath. The pain in her leg was growing as tears ran down her face until she was screaming and rocking on the side of the road.

"Are you alright love?" A trucker had pulled over just behind her car he'd gotten out to check on her.

"Pppplnnness crrrrrsssshh" she repeated hysterically. she'd never been in a plane crash but it had been so real, so it had to be a warning, planes crashed, planes crashing in the middle of nowhere, rotting flesh, wild animals

"I'm going to call someone" the trucker said alarmed,

"Nnnnnn," Arizona insisted, they could track her, they'd follow her. The terror from the flash back was lingering. She had to get out of there, she had to find Callie, Callie would know what to do. She ran from the delivery driver getting back into her car, she would drive to New York. She'd walk if she had too, but she couldn't fly. Flying was a trap. Everyone knew planes were a death trap.

Ignoring the concerns shouts of the trucker she drove onto the I90 and just kept driving, New York was this way, Callie was this way.

She drove for 3 hours before her car started making strange noises, confused she carried on driving until it didn't go anymore. Determinedly she got out the car walking along the hard shoulder, it didn't matter how long it would take she'd get to Callie and Sofia. The fact it would take weeks to walk there didn't even cross her mind, she didn't care, she just needed to be moving, every step was a step closer.

A car pulled up alongside her,

"Hey sweetie do you want a lift?" An elderly woman asked her. Arizona hesitated, "I'm going to Spokane is that any good".

"Nnnnnww oooorrkkkk" she slurred, showing the woman her postcard.

"Well Spokane is a little closer, climb in" the woman said, Arizona hesitated but obeyed, this woman seemed friendly.

"I'm Margaret by the way"

"Aaaaarrrriiii"" Arizona slurred, getting frustrated halfway through the word and giving up with a sigh,

"Well hello Ari" Margaret said, "What happened to you honey? You look like you got attacked?" Margaret asked touched her head where the bandage was.

"Trrrrrrrkkk" Arizona said pointing to a truck that was passing, "crrsssh"

"A truck crash, oh sweetie, that's horrible, so why New York?" Margaret questioned,

"Ccccallllleeee, Ssssssssffff" Arizona slurred,

"No, I can't get those ones" Margaret apologised, Arizona turned over the postcard, Margaret had a quick glance, getting the gist, even as the postcard moved as the young lady, she had picked up struggled to hold it steady.

"Callie and Sofia are your family," she guessed, Arizona nodded.

"Fmmmy"

"Should you be here, I mean you look pretty beat up, I could take you to the hospital?" Margaret offered, Arizona shook her head,

"No, Fmmy" she repeated her eyes watering in fear, if Margaret dropped her back now everything would be ruined,

"Oh hun, we'll get you to your family, we will reunite you" Margaret promised, "Would you like to come to mine, I'll make you a home cooked meal and you can get some rest. Then I'll talk to my son, he is a trucker, I'm sure he or one of his friends is heading east."

Arizona nodded; she wasn't hungry but the promise of getting closer to New York was something she couldn't ignore.

Margaret drove noticing her passenger had fallen to sleep, it was a few hours to Spokane. It was clear her passenger had been through a rough patch. Margaret could see bruising to her face, half her hair was shaved, and a bandage wrapped around her head, she kept rubbing it as it was painful, and she guessed there was damaged based on the way she was talking. The woman was walking with a limp, up close Margaret could see a prosthetic leg. She didn't know what had happened but all she could do was drive her to Spokane and pray God would bless her on her journey wherever she was going.

Briefly she considered calling the police, before dismissing it, this girl needed her family, not prison and the local officers weren't helpful, they'd likely lock her up for something stupid or drop her off for a pysch hold. No she could help her better by making sure she got to her family.

Pulling up outside her house she gently shook her new friend's shoulder.

"Ari hun, we are here" she said. Arizona's eyes flew open, "It's okay, you're going to come inside get some sleep and tomorrow we'll try get you to your family" Margaret promised, Arizona allowed herself to be led inside, Margaret taking her hand, guiding her to the couch.

"I'll heat up some soup for us." She said going to the kitchen she returned 5 minutes later to find Arizona staring at the postcard. "Here you go hun, I made in myself" she said passing the steaming bowl to her passenger. Arizona took it her hand shaking, it dropped slightly, only Margaret's quick reaction stopped it going everywhere.

At Arizona's distraught look Margaret put the soup down and patted her knee.

"It's okay, you are recovering and its heavy. My husband had the same problem, God rest his soul. I'll be back in a jiffy" she took Arizona's soup out returning with a mug that had an extra-large handle "Try this" she suggested. Arizona took it finding it a lot easier, she managed the whole cup, her eyes drifting shut as she finished. "Not here hun, I have a spare room" Margaret said, helping Arizona stand leading her to a small bedroom with a single bed. Arizona undressed to bra and pants, slipping her leg off going to sleep almost instantly.

She dreamt about a little girl, the one from the photos, giggling, calling her mommy. Then her heart stopped, she was dying, and all Arizona could do was shout out orders praying she could restart it. A doctor stood in front of her, looking sad, "I'm sorry but there is no heartbeat" she said, "You've lost your baby, I know this is really difficult for you, can I call anyone, Dr Torres perhaps". She said, someone was screaming behind her, someone was screaming loudly, someone else was shouting they'd lost their shoe, why had they lost their shoe?

"Ari, are you okay?" someone said, a hand on her shoulder, "Ari, you were screaming," Arizona jumped as the screaming stopped, she realized the person screaming had been her,

"Mmmmm bbbbby" she cried, tears springing from her eyes, she had lost her baby. Sitting up Margaret hugged her tightly, as Arizona tried to sort out her memories, was it Sofia, had Sofia died, she could remember restarting a heart, but there had been no heartbeat, could both things be true. Was Sofia even alive? If so, who had died? And whose shoe had been lost?

"It's okay hun" Margaret rocked her slightly waiting until she had stopped crying, "Nightmare" She guessed, Arizona nodded.

"Bbbby hhrrtt beett aannnn shhhhoooee" she slurred,

"Hun, I can't understand you, go slower," Margaret encouraged,

"Bbbby"

"baby" Margaret repeated, Arizona nodded, slowly Margaret coached her through her nightmare.

"Okay so your baby didn't have a heartbeat, and there was screaming and a lost shoe" she summarised. Arizona nodded. "And are these memories or just stray thoughts?" Margaret asked, Arizona shrugged, she didn't know, was it the conspiracy, was it people going against her or was it something else.

"Well let's get you some breakfast while you mull that over, I rang my son, his friend Charlie has a load to Chicago, he'll pass through here in an hour," she said. "Which gives us enough time for breakfast".

Margaret proceeded downstairs deciding to make jam and toast, it would be easy for her new friend to grip and eat. She also packed a picnic, after all it was a 26-hour journey without stopping and Charlie would have to stop a few times. Arizona arrived in the kitchen.

"Breakfast is on the side; I made a fresh pot of coffee." Margaret said packing a slice of pie, 2 bags of chips, some fruit, 2 sandwiches, a pack of cookies and a chocolate bar. It wasn't a lot, but it would help keep her going on the long journey.

The sound of a horn outside signalled Charlie arriving,

"Come on hun, he can't hang around long" Margaret encouraged, she went outside Arizona following, "Charlie Foster as I live and breathe, you're a real sweetie for coming out this far, now I know you have a lot of driving but this girl is in trouble and you know how I like to help so here, to get some warm food on the way, her hands are wobbly so make sure it's easy to eat." Margaret instructed handing him $50, Charlie nodded, "And if you can when you get to Chicago try find if anyone is heading to New York can you do that."

"Yes Ma'am" Charlie said, he loved Mrs Margaret she'd taken him in when his parents had chucked him out, she'd got him a job with her son trucking, he owed her a lot so if she wanted him to drive a stranger on a route, he was already travelling on then it was the least he could do.

"Hey, I'm Charlie" he greeted as Margaret helped her into his cab.

"This is Ari, she is having some speech problems" Margaret said, Charlie took his first look at the new passenger, and he could tell why Margaret was so worried. She was pale and looking wobbly, a large white bandage was wrapped around her head, and half of her hair was shaved off. "But you'll have plenty of time to work on that" She instructed, Charlie nodded,

"Yes Ma'am" he said shutting his cab door, he pulled out focusing until they made it onto the highway.

"Ari, how did you meet Margaret?" he asked,

"Ggggggeee aaaaa llllffffttt" she slurred, Charlie shook his head, that sneaky old woman,

"She gave you a lift, she is always doing stuff like that, I had a stroke when I was little, my momma she left, so Mrs Margaret took me in, my co-ordination improved but my speech it took some time. I saw a specialist she gave me some tips to help would you like me to teach you?" he asked, Arizona nodded, not being able to speak was draining and frustrating.

"Okay, lets practice sounds, eee" he said.

"eeeee" Arizona repeated, "eeeeee" she said again,

"Great, now try Aaaaa" Charlie advised. They carried on with the word games for an hour before he sensed she was getting tired, he put the radio on allowing her to sleep for a bit. When she woke they did the word games once again.

7 hours later they pulled up at their first rest stop, Charlie parked jumping out of the cab helping Ari down.

"Rest rooms are over there," he said, "meet back in 30 minutes" Charlie left to stretch his legs and get them some food. He returned 25 minutes later to find Ari leaning against his truck. "I got you some chicken and fries" he said, placing them on the wheel to help her up into the cab before handing her the food.

"Where were we, zzzz" he said,

"seeee" Arizona tried,

"No Zzzzz" Charlie corrected; he drove for just over 6 hours to the next truck stop. They did the word exercises for a bit, and she slept the rest. He woke her as she stopped the truck.

"It has a motel here; I'll get you a room you need to sleep" he decided. Ari grabbed his hand, she didn't want to be alone, it didn't seem safe here.

"It's okay, I won't leave without you, I promise" Charlie said, "but you need sleep to rest and recover, and I can't drive for another 10 hours".

"Buutttttt" Arizona tried happier the word was coming out, "Neeewww Yooorrrrrkkk"

"I know you want to go there but I can't drive anymore, I'm sorry" Charlie apologised. Arizona sighed; she was desperate to continue but knew it was faster with Charlie than without. She followed Charlie to the motel. He booked a single room paying with the money Margaret had given him. Arizona stepped into the room, she slipped her leg off and her jeans planning to lie down for just a moment.

"You are nothing" Mark was shouting at her, "Nothing to my daughter, you're not her mother, you are nothing" he was shouting over and over,

"I hate you" the girl from the photo was saying, "I hate you".

"Suffocating" Now Callie joined in, "I felt like I was going to be suffocated" she repeated,

All 3 figures were circling her repeating the words over and over.

"I'm not nothing, I'm sorry" Arizona cried in her sleep, in her dreams the words were clear.

Knocking at the door woke her up. The sun was up,

"Ari are you awake we leave in 10" Charlie yelled.

Arizona sat up, regret it as the sudden movement caused her head to spin and her to feel a wave of nausea. She managed to grab the paper bin by the side of the bed to vomit it.

"kkkk" she replied wiping the residual vomit off her face. She put her leg on heading to the bathroom, she wanted a shower but needed her crutches. Wait… crutches she had never had crutches before why did she want them now?

She washed her face at the sink and her mouth out before, before stepping out, Charlie was waiting outside.

He was holding pancakes, "Here, I got you some" he said handing her a plate.

"Thhthh aaaaa kkksss" she slurred, her words clearer now as she focused on making each sound

"Your welcome Ari" Charlie said, he escorted her to the truck helping her to climb in. Arizona sat in the truck eating the pancake, it was easy to roll and eat even with the weakness and slight shaking in her hand.

Charlie began driving he wanted to finish his journey by tonight, he put the radio on, turning the volume up. This was his favourite song, and he sang along, soon Arizona was joining in, although she struggled to sing along it was the thought that counted.

They stopped 3 hours out of Chicago at a truck stop. Charlie had been thinking the whole journey about how to get her to her destination, while his passenger had been sleeping. Just outside Chicago he stopped the truck, gently shaking her awake.

"Ari, the train station is over there it takes you into the main terminal from there is a train to New York, if you go you can catch the next one, you'll be in New York this time tomorrow" Charlie promised.

He reached into his pocket pulling out $50, Arizona stared at him, tears in her eyes.

"I hope you find your family," he said, "Be happy Ari, and if you see Mrs. Margaret again make sure you tell her I looked after you".

Arizona nodded, squeezing his hand.

"And one more thing, here" he handed her his baseball cap, she put in on her head hiding some of her baldness.

"Ffannk eewwe" she said, she climbed out of the truck. She carefully crossed the road buying her ticket to Union station before catching the train to New York. Once on the train she leant her head against the coolness of the glass. Her eyes closing for just a second, trying to ease the aching pain in her head and the dizziness that had been building over the last few days.

She was driving, the car flying in clouds, Callie was singing, then suddenly the car was spinning out of control smoke was filling the cabin, they hit the trees, she felt the branches scrap her face, then a blinding pain in her leg. The car had crashed, into the woods, Callie was lying through the windscreen, Jerry was paralysed, he couldn't move, there was screaming lots of screaming and someone was shouting for a shoe.

She woke with a gasp rubbing her leg, why was she dreaming about a flying car, why was it crashing in the woods, who was Jerry? And why was someone looking for their shoe? Feeling nauseous she bolted from her seat fighting the dizziness to make it to the toilet in time to vomit.

Wiping her face she stood, fighting the dizziness, she was nearly there, she just had to hold on a little longer. Callie would know what to do, Callie would fix everything, Callie wasn't part of the conspiracy she couldn't be, she just had to hang on.

Hours after the train had set off and multiple stops later the tannoy finally announced "New York Grand central station".

Arizona stood using the seats for support, her head was hurting she felt dizzy, and her leg was swollen, making it hard to walk. Maybe she should have taken it off, but that didn't matter nothing mattered only seeing Callie and Sofia mattered now.

Leaving the train, she got caught up in the sway of commuters, feeling claustrophobic she left via the nearest exit. Outside was just as busy the noise was loud, making her head throb. She knew she was in New York, but now had to find the address on the card without any money, or any directions.

Unsure which direction to go, Arizona started walking hoping if she picked a direction she would stumble across the address. She knew from the postcard they lived near central park, but she had no idea which direction that was in. It was getting dark and cold, but Arizona kept limping, her leg was raw, and painful, she felt dizzy and had stopped to vomit a few times, but she knew Callie was close, she just had to keep pushing, she had to know they were safe. Finally, she found 51st street and 9th which meant she was one block from 10th. She found the building listed going inside pressing floor 20 on the lift. The movement of the lift made her dizziness worse she groaned as she leant her head against the coolness of the mirror, Callie and Sofia, she reminded herself. She left the lift finding only 2 doors on this floor, she knocked on apartment 5 hoping this was the right one, that Callie was inside.

The door opened.

"Arizona!" Callie looked good, sexy, Arizona smiled, she was here, she was alive!

"Cal…lleeeee" Arizona slurred, letting go of the door frame, the dizziness was worse as was the pounding pain in her head. Her determination and stubbornness had abated now she had seen Callie, suddenly she found blackness rising, she could hear Callie shouting, but she was too far away to reply, as she fell to the floor unconscious.

Arizona made it to NY, and to Callie and Sofia. Hopefully it wasn't to unbelievable,

Let me know