Chapter 7

It had been 2 weeks since Arizona had last been in Seattle Grace hospital. She missed seeing the sexy Calliope Torres, but Dr Sloan was right, she couldn't infringe on her life, it wasn't fair. Tim was her problem and her problem alone. She was the one who refused to give up on Tim and she was never going to stop caring for her brother, if he hurt anyone else, she'd never forgive herself. She couldn't date, she couldn't go out more than she needed to, it wasn't fair to Timmy or to anyone knew coming into her life.

Things were getting better. Slowly, since she had last been to Seattle Grace Tim had only hurt her twice, once was her fault, she fingered her bruised jaw. She'd known waking Tim from his night terrors was a bad idea, but she just couldn't listen to his screams anymore. She'd shaken his shoulder he'd responded by hitting out, catching her chin. After seeing stars for a few seconds, she had managed to shake him out of him dream. The other bruises were on her arm, she'd been trying to end the drawing time for lunch, Tim was having none of it and after asking politely he'd just pushed her out of the way twisting her arm in the process.

Still, things were better, the routine was set still stood, as long as there were no deviations everything was fine. Arizona helped Tim dress, they went on their walk, returning she pressed play on the cartoons while she went to make breakfast. Going back, she passed him the jam on toast while she had cereal. She placed it on the side table, sitting down on the sofa, she felt something hard lodged behind her just as the TV channel changed from Scooby doo to a war film with lots of shooting, Arizona tried to stand but as she moved, she hit the volume button, with her hip the gunshots and shelling got louder,

Tim screamed standing up, "no, no, no" he screamed, Arizona managed to grab the remote switching it off, but the damage was done. He was gone the toast and cereal went flying. Timmy began hitting her, kicking her, fighting for his life, Arizona tried to stop him, tried to fight him but was quickly subdued no match for his military training. Arizona's last thought was of the beautiful brunette and how much she had messed up before she passed out.

Arizona came around still lying on the floor, everything hurt, the events from earlier came back to her, Tim had attacked her badly, she knew she was really hurt.

"Tim" she called amazed how weak her voice sounded, he appeared standing at the door, "Tim, I need you to help me stand," she begged, he didn't move, "Tim, please," he came over, moaning at the blood. "It's okay Tim, I'm okay, I know you didn't mean it, I'm sorry" Arizona reached out with her less painful arm, grasping his leg, "Please" he bent down gently lifting her, "okay Tim, I need you to carry me, to where we walk, in the morning" she begged holding her phone, once she got there she could call for help, if she called for help in the house they'd arrest Tim and it wasn't his fault, he didn't mean to, it was her fault, but she knew the police wouldn't see it like that. As he carried her, she got out her phone, Tim couldn't stay here alone, she called the one person she knew she could trust with Tim, the one person who could defend themselves against him.

"Nick, its Arizona, I need you to meet me at Seattle Grace, its urgent" she said to his voice mail hanging up fighting a wave of nausea. Arizona fought to stay conscious as Tim gently carried her, if she lost consciousness then she would lose everything.

"Here Tim, can you put me here" Arizona begged, as they got to a point in the woods where the road was visible, Tim did so gently placing her down on the ground softly, "okay, now I need you to go home, stay at home," Tim hesitated gently stroking her hair, making no effort to move, needing him to go before she lost consciousness Arizona took a risk,

"That's an order solider, home base pronto" she said channelling her father and the tone he always used, it worked as Tim took off.

Waiting until he left Arizona took out her mobile dialling 911,

"Help, I need an ambulance she said, I'm on mountain road, by the 791-road marker" she said, struggling to stay conscious,

"Ma'am can you tell me more about your condition?" the operator said,

"I've hurt my chest, abdo, head and wrist" Arizona said, "I don't think I can stay conscious any…."

"Ma'am, ma'am" the operator repeated, ordering an immediate aid truck to attend.

Arizona was vaguely aware of shouting, flashing blue then yellow lights, then the voice of an angel, was she going to heaven, she tried to say hello, tell them what had happened but struggled, instead feeling a light touch on her forehead, the noise quietened, she began floating and everything went black.

The first thing she noticed was nothing hurt, it was like floating on a cloud. Second was someone was holding her hand, and the angel was back and calling her name. With great effort she forced her eyes open, finding the soft brown eyes of Calliope, she looked worried,

"Dr Torres" Arizona said, trying to sit up, to comfort the young doctor, as suddenly she was overwhelmed with pain, everywhere. She tried to take deep breaths but found that only made the pain worse. A soft hand on her arm drew her attention.

"Easy, you broke your ribs" suddenly she felt relaxed, the pain had eased, she noticed the PCA morphine drip button in Callie's hand and gave a grateful smile.

"They nearly killed you, 3 broken ribs, a concussion, a pneumothorax, ruptured spleen, liver lac, a broken displaced radius and ulna fracture" Callie recited. Arizona winced slightly; she knew she'd been beaten badly but hearing it in such a blunt manner was harrowing.

"It was an accident" Arizona protested, it really had been, she hadn't meant to switch channels, she hadn't meant to trigger Tim. She knew gunfire would be a trigger, she knew loud noises were a trigger and somehow, she had done both in a few seconds.

"You have a boot print on your abdomen, next to your surgical scar and a tube sticking out your chest where myself and my colleagues just spent 4 hours saving your life. Did he accidentally tread on you, after he kicked you so hard, he broke your ribs?" Callie asked, getting annoying, Arizona shrank back in the bed, remembering what Dr Sloan had told her, she'd made Callie care about her and now she was worrying. Arizona hadn't meant to worry anyone; she hadn't meant for any of this to happen.

"It wasn't like that; it isn't his fault" she defended. As a nurse entered the room, Arizona relaxed grateful of the distraction, this was getting intense, and she was so close to spilling everything.

"Dr Robbins, I'm sorry to interrupt but there is a man here, he says he is your husband." Husband! There was only one man who would call himself that, Nick, he must have gotten her voice mail. He could take care of Tim while she recovered, it would solve a lot of her problems. Someone would be there with him, Tim couldn't be left alone, and she couldn't fathom discharging herself not now.

"Can he come in?" she begged turning her baby blues onto her unsuspecting Doctor.

"Sure" Callie said, she seemed even more upset, Arizona didn't know why, instead focusing on Nick who arrived in his uniform, he walked over hugging her carefully making sure he didn't make her injuries worse.

"Yuma, I am so sorry" he apologized, Arizona let herself go, she felt safe in her best friend's arm, safe to start letting herself feel the trauma, and the pain. Her brother had nearly killed her and while it wasn't his fault. Part of her still felt betrayed by him. Tim had promised to always protect her and now he was the one she needed protection from.

"It's not you that has to be sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry".

Suddenly Calliope stood.

"I'll be back" she said glaring at Nick, if looks could kill, he'd be dead. She slammed the door leaving them alone. Unable to stomach watching the beaten woman apologize to her abuser.

"What's her problem?" Nick asked sitting on the vacated chair. Arizona rolled her eyes, sometimes he was so blind.

"I look like I've been beaten, and you say you are my husband, she probably thinks you've been using me a target practice" Arizona explained. Nick leant forwards, gently taking her non broken arm squeezing her hand gently. When he had heard her phone call, he had dropped everything, she was his sister, maybe not by blood. She also never normally asked for help, so this was huge.

"Phoenix, what happened? I can see someone beat you pretty bad. Tell me, I'll make them pay" he promised. Arizona sighed,

"I wish it was that simple, its Tim, you know about his brain injury?" she checked, Nick nodded, he knew, he had been there and still had nightmares over it. Tim screaming as a loud explosion sounded. Nick had been injured to, but his had been minor compared to Tim. "He gets triggered, and he doesn't know how to handle it, his fight or flight kicks in, and well, it's rarely flight" she explained,

"So, all this" Nick gestured at her bruises, "Was Tim" his fist clenched, as he fought his temper, he knew the Tim he knew and remembered would never do this, not to his sister. "I should have been here, why didn't you call me sooner?" he asked sounding hurt, Arizona blushed, staring around the room trying to organize her thoughts, trying to find the words to explain.

"It wasn't this bad" Arizona protested sounding weak even to herself, "I know the triggers, today was just an accident, it was my fault, I triggered him".

"This is more than an accident, he nearly killed you" Nick said he voice raised, "Arizona, you need help".

"I know, that's why I called you" her voice was small, meeker than he had even heard her. It brought his anger levels down, as she began to cry.

"Okay, what do you need me to do" Nick asked resigned, gently wiping a tear from her face, he knew from the moment he got that voice mail he'd end up doing whatever Arizona wanted him to do. He'd never been able to refuse her anything not since he'd gone to his best friend's house and found her with dimples and pig tails. She was his little sister; he'd do anything for her. Arizona gave him a relieved smile, so glad she had called him.

"I need you to look after Tim, just until I am discharged," Arizona begged.

"Done" Nick said, that was easy. Tim was his brother, not by blood but by love, and that bond had been hardened in war.

"Thanks, there are some things you need to know, his triggers" Arizona began, "Loud noises, heat, spices, any foreign languages, aeroplanes, sand, being touched, I mean not all touches, just ones he isn't ready for, khakis, green clothes, turbans, the smell of petrol, dogs barking, umm" Arizona paused trying to remember all the triggers,

"That's a lot to remember" Nick said rubbing his head,

"Yeah, if he gets triggered then rain, rain really helps, and singing, he likes Queen".

"It didn't rain in Iraq" Nick noted, that would help, anything that reminded him of Iraq would trigger Tim too.

"It's the only thing, otherwise just get behind a door, its buys some time, he doesn't remember to be angry for long, especially if you remove the trigger." Arizona listed, Nick sighed,

"Yuma, it's a lot to deal with." Nick rubbed his head, at her worried expression, "but I got this, its Tim, I know your dad gave you both all that good man in a storm jargon, but remember, we are a team, let me be on your team".

Relieved Arizona gave him her address, Nick left, ignoring the glares from the staff at the nurse's station. He knew what they were thinking, and didn't care, that would be the last time Tim hit Arizona, at least if he had anything to do with it. He appreciated that he was her brother, and that a care facility might not be ideal, but there had to be a better less dangerous option one that didn't involve his sister nearly dying. It was time to go to their house and assess the situation for himself then make some calls.

OKay, so we know who Nick is and how Arizona got to hospital, next up we see Arizona recovering, will Callie continue to help, or will Arizona's 'husband' scare her off.

Please review, it's my birthday tomorrow so a review would be a great present