Author's Note

I'm not sure if this might be triggering for any of you so i figured it wouldn't hurt to leave a disclaimer that there are mentions of depression and some heavier stuff in the upcoming chapters.

Sunday evening

"No, tell mom I promise I'll get there on time...Yeah I'm heading out the door... Tim 's already on his way... Yes dad I know... I'll be there by 5:00 sharp... I love you too, bye."

She released a sigh when she hung up. Her parents had been on her about this dinner for a month and there was no way they were letting her get away with not coming.

Arizona called Tim quickly , thankful he picked up on the second ring.

"Tell me you're almost there... Stall for me. Dad is gonna rip my head off if I'm not there on time and Mom will probably disown me if I'm not there when she's ready to set the plates and I haven't even showered yet... Thank you, I owe you one."

Throwing the phone on the bed she rushed in the direction of the bathroom, but not without stubbing her toe twice on the way there. "Shit!" she stumbled the rest of the way.

"I'm here! I'm here!" Everyone looked up from the kitchen to see a slightly out of breath Arizona coming through the door.

"Finally. They were about to send out a search party, you better come up with a good excuse by the time Dad starts on you." Tim whispered in her ear.

"Mom, Dad." she tried to stall their attack by going in for a hug from both. "How are you? I missed you."

"It's 5:20." Her father stated giving his best Colonel stare.

"Yeah I know. I was..." she decided starting off with an excuse wouldn't work. "I brought you and mom a gift." She smiled a lopsided smile. It felt like staring into the sun looking into his eyes. Arizona knew he was scanning her, deciding if he would let her free, she didn't even want to take a glance at her mother.

Truth be told she didn't have an excuse. She spent the entire day in bed and somehow was tired. That was the case this entire week, she only left home to take Pop for walks and she was back inside.

"Hey, remember Ari met someone? I promised them you would catch them up. Why don't we all help mom take out the food so we can get to eating?" Tim leaped in to save his sister.

Although trying to keep up their hard expressions they abliged beginning to take things to the dining room table.

With the late arrival well forgotten, the family sat enjoying the small get together, they shared laughs and exchanged stories as the parents spoke of retirement life.

"Word around the street is my daughter is seeing someone." the Colonel started.

Arizona gave Tim a poisonous glare knowing even if she hadn't said anything her brother and bestfriend kept her parents well informed.

"I hope she's better than that last one, I knew she wasn't for you. I saw her the other day... Daniel you were there weren't you?..."

"Can we...!" She cleared her throat, not meaning to speak so loudly. "Can we stop talking about Shay please?" Her parents openly expressed their dislike anytime they got the opportunity although Arizona tried her best not to reflect on that part of her past.

"What's this new girl's name and why haven't we met her yet?" Barbara was usually the all supportive parent. Sometimes her excitement reached higher peaks than Arizona's.

The smile on the blonde's face as she thought or a certain burnette didn't go unnoticed. "Her name is Callie. She's a P.E. teacher at the school I work at."

"You have to invite her over some time, I need to make sure she's a fit soldier for my baby girl."

She rolled her eyes playfully at her father. "I would rather your line of questioning not scare her away. I promise you that Teddy already did enough of an interrogation for both of you... Tim did you tell mom about that girl you were gushing about from the gas station?" She gave him an devious grin, knowing Barbara's questions would go on forever.

Tim gave her look that said he would get his revenge.

The night continued with the family laughing, all worries appeared forgotten.

Two Weeks Later - Saturday

Callie - Hey, are you ok? I know you said you. didn't feel well but I tried calling yesterday and you didn't pick up and I haven't heard you since. 8:30

Arizona had called in sick the entire week, luckily this week was the last for this term and she finished the syllabus last week. Callie was starting to get worried, the blonde hadn't replied to any of her messages yesterday and an uneasy feeling settled in her stomach once she didn't answer her calls either. The burnette didn't quite buy Arizona being sick either which helped fuel her worry.

Callie - Could you just let me know you're ok? 8:35

Callie - I'm coming over. 8:36

She couldn't stand wondering how Arizona was doing and not being able to see for herself.

Knock

Knock

The door opened revealing a woman with a paler than usual cast, her weight loss only hidden by the oversized shirt she wore.

The blonde didn't bother saying hello instead retreating back to her room making a gesture Callie assumed meant for her to close the door behind her. She was left in the living room to take in the appearance of the apartment on her own, it wasn't in the least bit unsightly but she could tell Arizona hadn't been maintaining the clean appearance she had grown accustomed to whenever the two spent time together there.

"Hey buddy. What's up?" She gave the dog a head rub.

There were a couple of dishes in the sink and on the counter and Callie could've sworn the bowl of cereal on the table in the living room had been there from the last time she came over. The fridge still had the left over soup the burnette made for the blonde on Monday when she heard Arizona was sick. From the looks of it Callie assumed she didn't do much of anything this past week, she leaned on the kitchen counter with her arms folded thinking about how she should approach this, if the blonde might need more than just her help, professional help.

Everyday went the same, the only thing letting her know a day was ending was the sun's shadow disappearing from behind the curtain she couldn't bring herself to open. She managed to drag herself up enough to walk Pop and occasionally take baths, everything else seemed like a task that would take too much of her effort.

She knew she needed help but she couldn't explain what she felt in a way that made sense somewhere other than in her mind. Arizona felt it was easier just convincing everyone she was ok, she couldn't even get herself to believe it anymore, she stopped bothering to check her phone once she realised that.

She thought of the burnette outside who she knew she would at some point have to talk to, she'd learnt it wasn't easy to get her to back down.

She slipped into sleep at some point.

"Arizona?" the voice gave her a slight scare out of her sleep.

Callie stepped into the room and took a seat on the bed in front of her not saying anything.

Arizona sat up a bit. "You didn't have to come check on me, it's ok." it sounded a little defensive.

"Would you stop saying that?" She tried her best to give reassurance that it wasn't a task to do it. "What's been going on?" Callie asked softly.

A shrug came from under the blanket.

"You still haven't been eating." it wasn't a question, it was evident. "Where is your mind at? I'm trying to help but I'm a little lost."

"Well so am I Callie! Don't you think I would've helped myself if I knew what I needed?! Everyone wants answers and I don't have any." the blue eyes showed a pool of emotions. "I don't know, ok?" her pent up frustration was finally coming to the surface.

Arizona looked down at her hands that were now tightly gripping the sheets, she noticed they were trembling along with the rest of her body. Suddenly she couldn't control the emotions coming over her and her body's tremors became more apparent to the other woman in the room who was seated right next to her bearing a concerned expression.

Her breathing quickened. She struggled to take a full breath, it felt like someone had their foot pressed on her chest. Her gasps for air became more desperate as she clutched her chest hoping to take in a satisfying breath.

"I can't- I can't breathe..." was all she could get out as tears flowed down her face.

Callie removed the clammy, trembling hands from their tight grasp to the chest and took them in her own. She put her palm to the pale chest. "Hey. Can you feel that?" She raised her voice a little to get her attention. "Just focus on my hand on your chest, ok?" She placed one of Arizona's hands over her own. They sat like that for a while just focused on the rise and fall of her chest, her breathing now under control.

Another Author's Note

I'm going to end this chapter here but there will be a continuation, I just didn't want it to be too long-winded. I'll try my best to have the next chapter finished the end of the day.

Y'all can feel free to leave your thoughts and any suggestions in the reviews, I always appreciate your responses.