Chapter 12
Arizona woke to someone reading, badly.
"From then on, Matilda would visit the library only once a week in order to take out new books and return the old ones." The voice said, Arizona frowned, she knew that line, she'd read that book, she had it on her nightstand and was reading a chapter every night with mommy, while waiting for daddy to come home. Forcing her eyes open she closed them quickly with a groan as the bright light hit her face.
"Arizona" a voice said, and the bright light that burnt her eyes even though they were closed dimmed, a hand brushed through her hair. Bravely she opened her eyes again, pleased to find this time it didn't hurt her eyes.
"Mommy," a small voice said, Arizona recognized that voice, but struggled to place it, why was she calling her mommy, she wasn't a mommy she couldn't be.
"Arizona" Another voice, Arizona forced her eyes in that direction, seeing 2 brunettes on the chair next to her, obviously mother daughter pair, the daughter had been reading to her mom. Confused she continued to search the room looking for clues as to what had happened. Who were these people?"
"Arizona do you know who I am?" the older woman asked, Arizona studied her, she didn't know her couldn't name her but what she did know was the overwhelming feeling of love.
"I lvvve uuu" she said sincerely, the brunette smiled, her whole face lit up, she had an amazing smile.
"I love you too" she replied,
"And I love you mommy" the smaller brunette said, Arizona frowned, mommy, she was a mommy, she couldn't be a mommy, but somehow, she knew that the little girl was her whole world, her heartbeat for the child next to her, if only she could remember her name.
"What do you member mommy?" Sofia asked, "Do you member story time, and cuddles, and princesses, and playtime" Sofia asked, Arizona nodded, she didn't but didn't want to upset her daughter.
"Do you member my favorite color?" Sofia asked, Arizona frowned shaking her head no.
"It's okay, you like red, mamma likes blue, I like purple best, purple is red and blue together, I want a purple dog for my birthday" Sofia said bouncing on her hair. Arizona nodded along,
"Do you member our favorite cake?" Sofia asked,
"Choccc?" Arizona guessed, chocolate had always been her number 1 choice,
"Yay, Mamma, mommy hasn't lost that ball" Sofia cheered. Arizona looked confused, she didn't remember any balls, Callie smiled,
"Inside out, it's a Disney film, I think we brought it" She offered.
Arizona nodded, as Callie loaded the DVD, Arizona watched as long as she could, the film explaining her memories perfectly. Just like Riley she knew the trauma of moving locations, a new school, new friends all the time. She wondered what her core memories were?
It was at home, with her mom they were making Christmas cookies, that had just cooled after coming out of the oven. Mommy was there dancing with Tim, as rocking around the Christmas tree played, suddenly, they heard a ho, ho, ho, Santa came into the kitchen, but it hadn't been Santa, no daddy had come home. Santa had brought daddy home for Christmas. It had been the best Christmas ever, mommy, daddy, Tim and cookies.
Opening her eyes, 7 year old Arizona looked down, to see an adult body and a missing leg. That couldn't be right! She didn't remember being an adult and didn't remember losing a leg! Where was mommy, and daddy and Tim, why was she in hospital? Who was with her? What had happened to the snow outside?
"No" she moaned, this had to be a dream, "no" she screamed getting more distressed as she sat up her head spinning, nausea building. What was going on, why was everything wrong? "Mommy, daddy help" she begged, wondering who the people were around her.
"Sofia, go outside for a minute" Callie ordered, grabbing a vomit bowl just in time to catch Arizona's meagre stomach contents. With her other hand she gently caught her remaining hair bringing it out of her face. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked as Arizona fought to try and get her breathing under control. What had happened?
"Leg, ollldd" Arizona said distraught, (my leg, I'm old)
"Oh sweetie" Callie said understanding her straight away, Arizona hadn't remembered she had lost her leg or aging as she had it was no wonder, she was panicked. "what's the last thing you remember?"
"Cooooookeeeeess, moooom" Arizona said still frustrated at her speech, wondering who this woman was?
"Making cookies with your mom?" Callie checked, Arizona nodded, "how old are you?" she asked, Arizona frowned, she was 7, but that didn't sound right, she was far too big for 7, and she had boobs, but thinking any further made her head hurt. "It's okay, you don't have to answer that" Callie offered seeing her discomfort.
"Want mooommmy?" She asked rubbing her head, Callie gently moving her hand away from her bandages. She too wished Barbara was here,
"You are a doctor, and a patient's relative attacked you, he hit your head causing a brain bleed, your memories have been slightly scrambled," she explained, Arizona frowned, she was a doctor, when did that happen?
"Weeeeerrr mmmommmm?" she asked looking around, if she was hurt her mom should be here, that's what mom's did. The brunette's face fell,
"She'll be here" she promised, "She is coming".
Satisfied her mommy would be there soon and feeling tired she squeezed the warm hand she was holding, she had no idea who the woman was who was sitting with her, but she made her feel safe and loved, like mommy did. Closing her eyes drifting off to sleep, hopefully things would make more sense when she woke.
"I don't Amelia she just seemed really young" A voice was saying as she started to wake up.
"I wouldn't worry, the memories will flow back at different times, it only becomes a problem if she stays that old" the other voice said,
"Is that likely to happen?" The first voice said,
"I don't know" the second voice sounded upset, "the area of the brain that was damaged is fickle, and there is still some residual bleeding there, but if we go in again, we will only cause more damage, we just need to give it time".
Arizona felt herself falling down into sleep, feeling sorry for whoever they were talking about.
"Anyway, you were damn stubborn, but so is she. Too stubborn if you ask me, you were too stubborn to ask for help, when you needed it, trying to be strong when the world was falling apart. She was too stubborn to ask for help too, trying to hold everything together, neither of you were talking. Stubborn"
"Uhh" she said fighting to open her eyes,
"Hey there"
Arizona blinked forcing her eyes open, a small doctor in navy scrubs was standing next to her bed,
"Easy there" she said passing a straw over, eagerly Arizona took a sip of water, amazed how it soothed her throat. "Do you know who I am?" the woman asked, Arizona frowned, why did everyone want to know who they were? She studied her, she did look familiar, but she just couldn't place her, she guessed a doctor,
"dddcccccc" she said, closing her eyes for a second, her head pounding, she saw a small boy, the doctor next to her was crying, he was dying, the transplant had failed, they had done everything, and he was still dying.
"Jjjjjjaaccckks" she said, remembering the name of the case,
"I told you then and I will tell you now his name is Jackson, Jackson Prescott," the small woman described,
"Diddd" Arizona cried, remembering his cardiac monitor flatlining, his mother crying over his body.
"No, we saved him, it was very close, but we got organs," Arizona frowned as the memories came back running to the OR, the procedure going nearly perfect.
"Bbballlyyyy" she said, remembering the doctors name,
"That's right, Miranda Bailey".
"ppaeeddss ffffelllowsssssshhiippp"
"You wanted me to, you were very persuasive" Bailey explained, Arizona nodded, she could remember chasing the small surgeon, she'd have been awesome in Pead's. As the memories came back as did the gorgeous brunette. Where was she? Distressed Arizona sat up, wanting to find her,
"Cclleeeee" she said, where was Callie? Why wasn't she here?
"You can say her name no problem" Bailey grumbled, "she is eating, showering and getting at least 6 hours of sleep".
"Callie" Arizona repeated, trying to climb out of bed, her mind instantly taking her to a conspiracy, they were trying to keep them apart.
"Damn stubborn" Bailey muttered placing a hand on her shoulder, "She'll be back, soon".
"Noooo" Arizona moaned stubbornly fighting to get up as much as she could with wires and tubes and a weakened left side. "Callie mmmmmminne"
"We know, trust me," Bailey replied, fighting the urge to roll her eyes, Arizona ignored her she had to see Callie, why were they keeping then apart. "Easy, you're going to pull your drain out" Bailey said, Arizona ignored her, she needed Callie, why were they separating them, her mind fought for an answer. What was the last thing that had happened? Why was she in a hospital bed? There were flashes of memory, but nothing concrete, all she knew was that she wanted Callie. "She is with Sofia; she is putting her to bed" Bailey said suddenly.
Arizona frowned but stopped fighting, Sofia, who was Sofia, she was important, even saying the name filled her heart with love.
"Sooof?" she asked pouting, why was her Callie putting another woman to bed,
"Sofia is your gorgeous daughter" Bailey explained, pulling out her phone showing her a picture,
"beuuuful" Arizona said, holding the phone, marveling at her daughter, she was clearly Callie's, but she was perfect,
"She is," Bailey agreed.
"Wannnaa noooo" Arizona said, wanting to know everything about her daughter, she had a few random images but was struggling to place them, a baby 23 week's whose heart wouldn't start, a Princess costume, swings, laughter,
"Okay, I'll tell you about her," Bailey agreed again, anything to keep the blonde in bed, "Sofia was born at 23 weeks, you saved her life, she was a fighter, she had open heart surgery a few weeks later. She loved you; you were the only one who could get her to settle overnight, Mark and Callie called you the baby whisperer, I think they were jealous. She went to day care here, and I'm surprised any of you got any work done, you were always sneaking down for cuddles, somehow, she got Callie's eyes and hair, Mark's nose but your dimples" Bailey reflected realizing Arizona had gone to sleep, "I hope you get you memories back soon, you've all been through so much" she said gently adjusting the quilt. Sitting back down opening her paperwork, being chief meant there was always something to do. Plus, the advantage of her being here meant Callie had to stay away and spend a night sleeping, hospital chairs weren't designed for a good night's sleep, and they needed her to be on top form to bring Arizona back.
It was several hours later, Miranda had drifted off when the door opened,
"It's my turn, you need to sleep". Richard ordered, Miranda nodded knowing he was right, it was 3am, and she had surgery in 5 hours.
He sat in the chair making a note they needed to buy new ones for the neuro ICU, with more lumbar support,
"I hope you wake up past the time when you cry every time you see me" he reflected opening up his own paperwork.
Arizona didn't stir, even as Callie and Sofia entered at 9. Sofia climbing on the bed,
"Morning mommy" she said. "We had pancakes for breakfast, but mamma doesn't let me have as much syrup as you" Sofia pouted.
"Because mommy has a sweet tooth" Callie remarked, it was an ongoing dispute that they had and she missed days she was outvoted.
"Uh huh cus syrup and nanna's are the best" Sofia said factually.
"Hmmm ppnncakkees" Arizona hummed waking up,
"Mommy," Sofia cried joyfully hugging her,
"Hey Arizona" Callie greeted, standing from the chair so Arizona could see her.
"Love you" Arizona said, "an Soff, and caaaeess"
Callie laughed, typical of Arizona to add pancakes in there too,
"We love you, and if Amelia says it's okay, we can bring you some" she offered pleased Arizona's speech was also improving.
"Mellia?" Arizona asked frowning,
"Derek Shepard's little sister, also a neurosurgeon" Callie explained, internally sad Arizona's memory was still lagging,
"ok" Arizona said acceptingly, "head hurtsss" she said ignoring her IV to rub her bandage Callie gently capturing her hand to stop her knocking out her drain.
"I know, you've had surgery, I can get the nurses to give more pain meds" Callie offered.
"Noooo" Arizona protested, "sllllugggggghhh" she tried, frowning as the word wouldn't form, nevertheless Callie nodded, well aware Arizona hated pain pills.
"They make you sluggish,"
Arizona nodded her agreement. Happy Callie understood her, Callie always understood her.
"Mommy, you haven't seen my dance" Sofia interrupted, she'd been doing ballet lessons in New York and really wanted to show her, "Please mamma, you said I could show her" she begged. Callie nodded getting her phone out pressing play.
Sofia instantly got into position, to anyone watching it wasn't the best but to the 2 mom's it was the best dance they had ever seen.
"And that's all I can remember" Sofia said stopping to both mom's clapping loudly. She giggled and bowed.
"goooood" Arizona praised,
"Can I still do ballet here?" Sofia asked Callie curiously, "cus I liked it in New York"
"Sure, they have lots of dance classes here, and Mr Trevor's says you can still be on the football team" Callie promised, Arizona frowned trying to keep up with the discussion, why were they talking about here and still being on teams, had they moved away? She searched her brain, trying to find any memories, instead finding scattered images, that made no sense, she fought trying to put them in a timeline, feeling a blinding pain in her head, shouting, alarms, the cry of mommy, the sounds getting further away, swirling above her head, as if she was falling down a drainpipe until blackness as her whole body began shaking.
Had to end on some drama, do you think she'll be okay? will she wake up better or worse?