Chapter 13

They pulled up outside the rehab centre. Already Arizona loved it set in between the mountains and woods, they had driven passed fields of horses, next to the car park, they could see a whole field of vegetable beds, and several people doing a painting class while others did some kind of martial arts. She could tell from looking most of them had some physical or mental disability, from missing limbs to limbs that dragged or moved in abnormal ways, to shaven heads, or like Tim's head's that were missing part of their skull.

"Dr Robbins" a man walked out of the building holding his hand out, "Welcome, I'm David Jobs, I run this place,"

"Arizona please and this is my friend, Dr Calliope Torres" she introduced,

"Callie please" Callie insisted glaring at Arizona, "only my father and Arizona call me Calliope".

"Let me show you around, then we can talk, I know I can say the right words but seeing our clients is believing" he said, taking them into the kitchen. "We have 50 clients and high trained staff on duty at all times, we hire ex-military normally as most of our clients have come from there. We find ex-military are great at reading situations and if one of our clients becomes triggered, they can calm them down." He explained, "The clients are engaged in classes based on their interests, we have cooking, gardening, tai chi, painting, knitting, music, dance, swimming, aerobics, horse riding, horse care, board games, gaming computers, wheelchair basketball, a fully adapted gym, we have several rescue pets as well that we've trained to become service dogs, we find they really help to calm our more nervous clients. We also do lots of trips out, so some of our clients have gone to the Sealife centre today" he explained as they walked around, "Tell me about your brother" he suggested,

"Tim has a frontal brain injury" Arizona began, patiently David held his hands up,

"Sorry, I should have explained better, what does your brother enjoy?" he asked, Arizona smiled, it had been a long time since anyone had cared about the activities Tim liked, now all everyone seemed to care about was his injury.

"He loves painting, and gaming, but not too long, he used to love animals, we go on a walk or run every morning and he stops if we see any wildlife from birds, to deer, to rabbits. He used to go to the gym every day before, except for if we were based at the coast, then he would swim. Mom used to joke he was half fish; she could never get him out of the water." Arizona reflected smiling sadly as she thought of the good memories, mourning the man Tim used to be.

"He sounds like he'd fit in here" David decided, "most of our clients get referred here acutely needing rehab, we have nurses, physios, and specialist OT's. After the acute stage has been completed, we meet with the client and their family to decide on the next steps. We have several options, over here is our long term residential block, then we have our respite care area, people can come and stay for 1 week every month, we have our emergency respite area, for clients whose main career is unable to care for them, for example they've been hospitalized themselves, then finally we have several day visitors, they come here for the day, for some its once a week, for others its 5 times. But like I said, you don't have to decide anything now". He offered pausing noticing the blonde was crying, tears running down her face. "I'm just going to check on the horses, I'll be over there" he said pointing to the stables, leaving the two women alone.

This wasn't the first time a relative had become emotional seeing this place, the relief knowing there was somewhere safe to send their relative could be overwhelming, especially if they had been struggling, and by the bruises, cast, and awkward way she held herself he could tell, she had been struggling a lot.

"Hey," Callie comforted, holding Arizona carefully, making sure she didn't jolt her ribs, but tight enough to hold her. "It's okay, if you don't like it…." She began trying to think of alternatives,

"No," Arizona sobbed, "No, it's not that, I love it" she continued, Callie just held her confused, why was Arizona this upset if she liked the place,

"I'm crying because I was stupid, I never even looked for anything else, I went to one place hated it and thought that was my only option. I put myself through hell trying to cope alone, but I'm not alone. I have my mom, and dad, Nick and…." Arizona trailed off hoping she wasn't being too assumptive.

"Me" Callie offered, "I'm here, I know we have just met, but I feel things for you, I have never felt for anyone before".

"Me too" Arizona agreed, "and this place, its perfect, Tim is going to love it" she said confidently, she knew her brother better than anyone else, he would love it here, she loved it here. Everything about this place screamed Tim. Callie nodded, this was an amazing place, she could see why Derek recommended it. "Let's go" Arizona insisted, wanting to see the horses close up. David was stroking a white mare at the stable door.

"Hey" he greeted,

"We love it, we want Tim to come here for his rehab" Arizona begged, "I don't know when he can be discharged, but I know he will love it".

David nodded, "we have space, let's go to my office" he suggested, entering the office he had the paperwork ready.

An hour later the women left, having warned David there would likely be another tour, with retired Marine Major Daniel Robbins, and Captain Nick Rodgers, as well as mother bear Barbara Robbins coming soon. David had laughed, apparently that was normal.

Getting back to the car, Callie bit her lip nervously,

"Hey, since your banned from the hospital today do you fancy going out, I mean if you want, we could get dinner or something?"

Arizona smiled, showing her dimples, her heart fluttering,

"Calliope, I would love too" she agreed, Callie matched her grin excitedly,

"Great, I know this amazing place, it does the best burgers, and I know you said yesterday you were craving one, I was thinking before we could go for a walk, get to know each other?" she asked,

"I'd love that too" Arizona agreed "but on one condition" she bargained, nervously, Callie nodded,

"I want to hold your hand when we walk" Arizona begged, again Callie nodded, that was an easy one, she too was desperate to feel Arizona's soft skin.

They got in the car Callie driving,

"This is our first date, right?" Arizona checked "I mean I'm reading this right; we are dating now?" Arizona checked, Callie nodded,

"I hope so, I want to call you my girlfriend, I want to take you out on dates, hold your hand in public, I want to be the one who makes you smile, who wipes away your tears. I know this is early, but I have never felt like this about anyone before" Callie replied, putting her cards on the table. Arizona smiled, sighing happily, Callie's words were music to her ears.

"I want the same". Arizona agreed, she itched to lean over a kiss Callie, who was desperately trying to keep her attention on the road. Instead, she gently placing her hand on Callie's knee, enjoying the hitch in her breathing.

They pulled up a short time longer, Callie led the way through the growth, making sure to go slowly, aware Arizona was still recovering and enjoying the hand holding. After a short walk they came across the viewpoint with a small bench overlooking the whole of downtown Seattle.

"Wow, it's beautiful" Arizona whispered, Callie nodded not looking at the view, but the blonde,

"Yeah" Callie agreed "You are" Arizona blushed, as she leant forwards again. Arizona moaned as their lips met, before reluctantly pulling away. They had nearly got caught that morning, and she wanted it to be special when and if they went to the next step not sitting on a bench on a little used trail.

Callie grinned, sitting next to her placing an arm around her. As the just sat watching the world until Arizona began to shiver, even with the warm body next to her the coolness of the Seattle evening was chilling.

"Maybe we should go and eat" Callie suggested, struggling to hold herself back as the blonde pressed deeper into her. Arizona nodded; the pancakes had been a long time ago, and her stomach rumbled on cue. She rubbed it trying to encourage it to be quiet, as Callie laughed,

"Let's feed the angry bear" she joked. "You are going to love this burger place" she promised. Arizona took her hand, allowing Callie to help her back to the car, even in the car she kept her hand on Callie's knee, desperate to keep contact.

After the burgers, Callie drove Arizona back to the hospital,

"Do you want to come?" Arizona asked nervously, "Tim would love to see you again" she said, truthfully, she just wasn't ready to say goodbye yet.

"Sure" Callie agreed feeling the same way. Somehow, even if she spent a lifetime with the blonde, it wouldn't be enough.

Inside the hospital Arizona waited until they got to the lift and the doors closed, before leaning over to Callie,

"Thank you for coming with me," she said gently placing a light kiss on Callie's lip, "I know my life is a mess, but I really enjoy spending time with you," she whispered. Callie snorted, life being a mess sounded familiar, she remembered just weeks ago finding out her husband was sleeping with his best friend, then Erica leaving her without so much as a goodbye, she was a mess, or she had been until she met Arizona.

"Anytime, us messes have to stick together." Callie risked another kiss, as they walked out the escalator.

"I want to take you on a proper date, I mean this was wonderful but looking around rehab centres isn't my idea of a proper first date." Arizona begged.

"Okay, Arizona Robbins, I'll let you take me out, although with all the lunches we've been to I feel like this is our 30th date, not a redo of our first" Callie joked,

"No, the hospital canteen is also not a date. Calliope Torres who have you been dating?" Arizona asked shocked, "you are beautiful, sexy and talented, you deserved to be wooed, and I am going to woo you, are you free tomorrow night?" she asked, Callie nodded.

"My shift finishes at 4."

"Then I will pick you up at 7" Arizona promised as they entered Tim's room.

"Zona" Tim cheered, "Callie,"

"Hey Tim, mom, dad" Arizona greeted. "We love it and think Tim will love it there. It's got everything and it retrains vet's too. I spoke to Dave; he runs it, and he said you can tour it whenever. Tim can go there for a trial period to do his acute rehab and then we can re-evaluate" she explained, feeling guilty. They had found a rehab centre and although she had just been to see it there was no way she would send Tim there, so now she had found a rehab centre she felt like a hypocrite.

"Okay sport, we'll have a look" Daniel offered not saying anything,

"I'm sure it will be lovely" Barbara complimented,

"It is they have dogs and horses, and music and art." Arizona explained. "And it's really open, with forest and mountains".

"Arizona, we will have a look not that it matters as you have already decided" Daniel snapped.

"Tim chose me, dad, he trusted me" Arizona replied back just as sharp keeping her voice down to not trigger her brother.

"Enough, both of you, we will go over tomorrow and have a look, I'm sure it will be lovely, and Tim can go for a few weeks, if he doesn't like it we can re-evaluate, as a family this time" Barbara compromised,

"Yes dear" Daniel replied meekly,

"Yes Mom" Arizona said at the same time, while Callie tried not to giggle, it was clear who the boss was in the Robbins household, and it wasn't the scary Colonel or award-winning Pediatrics surgeon who wore the trousers.

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