"super slow day in the pit."
"now you jinxed it! never say it's slow."
"i just need to cut into someone."
⌦ .｡.:*
When Callie and Arizona reach the ambulance bay, Owen is already screaming orders as the paramedics rush two young girls in. Callie looks down at the smaller one, pausing for a second as she looks down at the sobbing child. "Torres, head out of the gutter!"
She sighs, following the girl in. "Trauma 1!" She commanded, her voice strong but reassuring. "Jane Doe, approximately 9 years old. Sitting in the passenger seat of an SUV when it was ran off the road by a drunk driver. Contusions to the chest and arms, and some suspected internal bleeding. Left leg is in bad shape, as well as the right elbow."
She looks down at the young girl, and smiles reassuringly. "Hello, I'm Dr. Torres, what's your name?" The girl meets Callie's eyes, but doesn't respond before passing out from the pain. "Push 10mg of morphine!" the doctors busily began working on the young girl.
⌦ .｡.:*
Callie and Arizona studied the scans, their expressions sad. The images revealed severe damage to the young girl's leg, the bones shattered beyond repair. The doctors exchanged a solemn glance, understanding the weight of their decision.
"It's the only option, there's nothing salvageable." Callie murmured, her voice heavy with regret.
Arizona nodded silently, her heart aching. "It's the best chance for her future," she said, her tone tinged with sorrow.
In the serene calm of the operating theater, Callie and Arizona chatted about their own things.
Arizona reached for a scalpel, a soft smile gracing her mask. "You never fail to impress me, Calliope."
Her cheeks flushed slightly, making her thankful for the mask. "Coming from you, that means a lot. You are the best, super magic smile and all." she replied, her voice tinged with affection.
Their conversation flowed effortlessly from patient care to personal matter, their words mixed with laughter and stolen glances that spoke volumes in the peace of the moment.
"You know," Arizona began, her tone playful, "I still owe you that Gilmore Girls rewatch we've been talking about. Maybe this weekend?"
Callie smiled up at her. "Hating on Dean with you is my favorite pastime my love."
.｡.:*
Callie strolled into the Addison's recovery room. She flashed a warm smile and stood next to the bed in a comforting manner.
"Hey, Addison! How's my newest rockstar doing?" She greeted cheerfully, trying to cheer up the young girl.
Addison managed a weak smile, her eyes conveying the mix of emotions she was feeling. "Hi, Dr. Torres. It's... different," she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Callie nodded, her tone softening. "Yeah, I bet it's a lot of emotions right now. Want to talk about it?" she asked, leaning in attentively.
She hesitated, fiddling with the edge of her blanket. "I'm scared. Will I ever be able to do things like before?" she murmured, her fear evident.
Callie nodded in understanding, feeling terrible for the young girl. "You know, sometimes life throws us curveballs, like forgetting your umbrella on a rainy day. It sucks, but it's not the end of the world," she said with a slight grin.
Her wide eyes blinked, surprised at the analogy. "But... my leg's gone," she whispered, tears welling up.
She leaned forward, her voice gentle. "It's like football. Your leg was part of the old playbook. Now, we're rewriting the game plan. You've got an amazing team to help you learn new moves ok?" she said, her words laced with encouragement.
She chatted about prosthetics, throwing in a joke about superhero legs that made the little girl giggle despite her circumstances.
"It'll take some practice to be honest. Like everything else in life, it's pretty much an acquired skill. But trust me, you'll rock it," Callie continued, her optimism infectious. Addison wiped away her tears, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "You really think so?"
Callie winked playfully. "Absolutely! And hey, you get to pick the coolest designs for your new leg! How many kids your age can say that?" she remarked, trying to lighten the mood.
They dove into a discussion about potential designs— pink, blue, glow in the dark. The child's laughter filled the room, a welcome relief from the earlier sorrow. "You're gonna be a trendsetter, Addison!" Callie exclaimed, mimicking a catwalk strut that had Addison in happy bursts of laughter.
As the conversation shifted, Callie shared her own mishaps growing up, recounting stories of resilience and newfound strengths that stemmed from unexpected challenges. "We're in this together, Addie," She said, her tone genuine. "You'll amaze yourself with what you're capable of."
Addison's anxiety began to fade away, replaced by a sense of hope. Her new doctor's casual demeanor and relatable stories made the daunting situation feel less overwhelming. "Thanks, Dr. T. You make it seem a little less scary," Addison admitted, her smile genuine.
Callie smiled gently. "That's what I'm here for. We'll navigate this adventure together ok?"
.｡.:*
After consoling Addison, Callie made her way downstairs to the older girl's room.
Mark meticulously tended to Isabella's burned arm, his expertise evident in every precise movement.
After a minute or two, the girl's eyes popped open as she turned her head to face her arm, her eyes widening slowly. "What the hell? That is.. not an arm. Th-That is not an arm."
Mark slyly smiled, "Don't worry, it's a little burnt up I'll get it right back to normal."
"Ever tried aloe vera? My mom swears by it for burns," Callie suggested in a sarcastic manner.
Isabella eyed her skeptically. "Aloe vera? In a hospital? Groundbreaking."
Mark suppressed an amused smirk at the young girl's sarcasm. "Torres, let's stick to medical solutions we can find in this century."
Isabella, despite her discomfort, couldn't help but snicker. "Maybe I'll plant an aloe vera garden for my next car accident." Callie beamed proudly. "See, Mark? She's up for my prescription!" Mark shook his head in amusement. "Do you see this arm right now? I'm an artist."
Curiosity flickered in Isabella's eyes as she observed the playful banter between the doctors. "Is this a daily routine for you two? You guys are like a married couple, get a room." Callie grinned widely. "Oh, absolutely! We're work married, you get it." The young girl nodded in response.
As Mark finished bandaging her arm, he gave Isabella some final instructions. "Keep it covered for a few days, and it should heal up well, you'll be here for observation the next 48 hours." Mark explained, maintaining a professional tone.
Isabella nodded, a hint of a smirk on her lips. "Thanks, Dr. Sloan. I'll ask a nurse for aloe, doctor's orders."
Callie laughed a little in response, then the girl straightened out. "How's my sister?" Her smile dropped a little, as she looked between Mark and the girl.
"She's recovering, I think she was sleeping when I left." Isabella seemed satisfied with that response, until a bubbly hello washed over the room. Arizona sat on a chair next to the bed, "Do you need anything sweetie?" Isabella shrugged.
"Water would be nice I guess, thanks." She took a drink using her good arm, sighing in relief. Arizona smiled seriously, "Is there anyone we can call kiddo?" Isabella sighed in response, shaking her head.
"Mom or dad? Grandpa? Grandma? Cousins, aunt, uncle?" Arizona questioned curiously to which Isabella shook her head again. "You two should really have someone here, for support and all."
The girl just looked at her, slightly annoyedly. "It's fine." Arizona sighed, trying to begin again. "I said, it's fine." The three doctors sat in silence for a while before Isabella shut her eyes, drifting back to sleep.
"I'm going to go call Social Services!" Arizona smiled, leaving Callie and Mark chatting away for a while.
.｡.:*
The next morning, Callie was checking up on Addison, who was in a delightfully good mood. "So, what do you like to do in your free time?" She asked the young girl while adjusting her I.V. bag. "Hm, well.. I liked to dance, not sure if the peg leg will allow me to continue."
Callie smiled reassuringly, "Trust me, you can do everything you set your mind to. Kinda cliché, but true." Addison smiled, looking out the window at the rainy gray skies. "Does it ever stop raining here?" She raised an eyebrow to Callie, who shook her head in response. "Never. I'm from Miami, the change was definitely hard." She made a sarcastic face which caused Addison to laugh.
Downstairs, a social worker was sat in front of Isabella's bed. "Hello sweetie, can you answer some questions for me today?" the young girl nodded silently, staring out the window.
The social worker began the interview, asking tons of questions, many of which Isabella answered sarcastically or just didn't answer. "Look, I just don't think you'll get what you want to hear from me. Put us with a new family or something I guess, but nothing is wrong." The social worker jotted some notes down before picking up her briefcase to leave.
She briefly said goodbyes to the young girl, concluding the interview as she left the hospital room. She was soon replaced by Arizona, who was holding two cups of jello and spoons as she sat on the edge of the bed. "It's red, your favorite!" She handed a jello cup and spoon to Isabella, who graciously accepted the snack with a smile. "Thanks, you really didn't have to do that."
Arizona made a sarcastic angry face and gasped, "Oh but I wanted to!" Isabella laughed a little, eating the jello. "You're cheery for 7am," Isabella smirked, and Arizona shrugged, chewing. "Guess I've been waking up early for so long with work and all."
"No no, it's good, I like it!" She smiled up at the blonde, while tying her short, black hair into a ponytail. Arizona sweetly gleamed in return, before throwing their cups in the trash. "Dr. Sloan will be in to change the gauze on your arm soon, and I'll be back later ok kiddo?" Isabella nodded. Arizona pat her on the shoulder before leaving the room.
.｡.:*
The Seattle rain pelted against the windows of their cozy apartment, a comforting background noise accompanying the tired sighs of Callie and Arizona as they finally returned home after a long shift at the hospital. The warmth of their home greeted them as they shed their coats, the aroma of their vanilla candles beckoning from the kitchen.
Sinking into their couch, they exchanged weary but knowing glances over coffee. Thoughts lingered of Addison and Isabella, the resilient children who had found themselves in need of a loving home.
"They're really something else, aren't they?" Callie murmured, her gaze fixed on the rising steam from her cup of coffee.
Arizona nodded, a crease of concern marring her brow. "Addison's smile could light up any room and Isabella's strength is just.. inspiring."
"They deserve more than just medical treatments; they deserve a real home, support, a family." Callie remarked, her brow creased in concern for the young girls.
Arizona's soft blue eyes met Callie's, a glint of understanding passing between them. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Talking to social worker?" Callie responded, her voice tinged with cautious hope.
A quiet, contemplative moment enveloped them, their hands finding each other in the quiet glow of the dimly lit living room.
"They deserve a chance at a real home, a chance to heal beyond the confines of that hospital," Arizona declared, a determined look shining in her eyes. "And we... we can give them that."
A spark of realization burned within Callie, the exhaustion of the day fading into the background. "We've talked about this, Arizona. Starting a family together."
"We'd make a great team, just like in the ER," Arizona responded, determination coursing through her. "And those girls? They'd have two moms who happen to be doctors, ready to face any challenge."
"I don't know, do you think it's like.. a good idea. That's kinda a lot." Callie sighed.
Their decision hung in the air, heavy with hope and uncertainty, as they shared a tender moment.
"I love you, Calliope," Arizona whispered, her voice tinged with emotion.
"I love you too, Arizona," Callie replied, a newfound sense of determination shining in her eyes as she softly kissed Arizona on the forehead.
"We should talk to a social worker, I want them as soon as they leave the damn hospital!" Arizona laughed, a grin spreading across her face.
A/N: i rewrote this whole chapter to make the story go a little faster and be less repetitive! Keep voting and reading, love you guys!