Chapter
Derek, Bailey, Richard, Meredith, Alex, Owen, Mark and Cristina all stood on the roof waiting for the helicopter to land. Richard had split them into two teams, after receiving the handover from Teddy. The scans and xray's had been sent over already, they just needed to confirm their conditions and their treatment could start.
Derek, Meredith and Alex would take Zola, while Bailey, Owen and Cristina would take Arizona. Richard would oversee the care. Mark sculked around the edge, desperate to have another chance to apologise to his best friend.
The helicopter touched down, the first out was Zola with Teddy. Zola was intubated,
"She started seizing at Seatac," Teddy handed over, shouting over the helicopter blades. "I intubated her, but she needs the drain unblocking urgently."
"Let's get her to CT, Meredith book an OR" Derek ordered, pushing the trolley to the lifts, Alex helping.
Next out was Arizona, she was unconscious, with an oxygen mask across her face.
"We need a CT and MRI of her leg" Callie ordered climbing out,
"And you both need to sleep" Bailey ordered, both women looked exhausted. "I want you to have at least 8 hours, Arizona is stable, we will get the bloods, x-rays and scans and when you wake up we can make a plan" she ordered daring Callie to defy her.
"Sounds good I'm wiped" Teddy agreed easily, although she'd napped on and off on the plane, nothing beat an actual bed.
"Come on, I'll drive you both home" Mark offered. Taking Callie's arm, "Blondie will be well looked after but you look dead on your feet."
"no, not with you." Callie said pulling away from Mark. "I'd rather walk"
"I'm sorry" he apologised again, "how can I make it up to you"
Callie stared back at him coldly,
"You can't" she said walking away from him still to mad to even think of forgiving him.
8 hours exactly she was back outside Arizona's room, Bailey intercepted her,
"We have the scans, and Atticus Link just arrived, you recommend him" she reminded Callie. "We have a plan."
"Okay" Callie said nervously,
"Arizona wanted to discuss it with you," Bailey opened the door. Arizona was sat up, her leg elevated.
"Hey, you came back" Arizona said, it was clear it had been a huge worry for her,
"Always" Callie replied easily, "I didn't fly halfway across the world to find you only to let you go here" she joked.
"Dr Link said he wants to remove the ex-fix, and put in a rod" Arizona explained, "I wanted to wait for your opinion" she asked Callie.
"Well, I'd have to see your scans," Callie said,
"Can you look?" Arizona begged. Callie nodded,
"Sure" Callie stepped outside, Bailey was waiting, with the scans loaded. Callie scanned through, agreeing the rod was the best option. Although she was horrified still by the bone loss, "she'll need strong antibiotics, but I think with rodding she'll be walking within 4 weeks, and back at work within 8" Callie guessed.
Plan agreed she stepped back inside.
"I agree with Link" she said confidently. "It's the best plan,"
"Is it what you would do?" Arizona asked, Callie nodded.
Alex knocked,
"Zola is out of surgery, it went really well, Shepard is staying with her overnight" Alex told her,
"That's great" Arizona praised, the relief taking over her, Zola was going to be okay. Suddenly it was worth it, her leg, the pain everything.
"Arizona?" Callie asked worriedly, Arizona opened her eyes noticing Alex had left. Callie was there holding her hand.
"Sorry," Arizona apologised, she hadn't meant to worry Callie,
"It's okay,"
"No, it's not, I have a lot of making up to do." Arizona said determinedly, "You came to find me, that means everything, but I left you, I was horrible and as soon as I am able too, I want to spend the rest of my life making things right".
"Arizona, you hurt me, I'm not going to lie, I thought we were forever, and you left me. But I wasn't 100% innocent, I made it clear I didn't want to go, I hoped once there I'd adapt, but this was your dream, you did so well getting the funding, I should have been more supportive." Callie said,
"No," Arizona denied, none of this was Callie's fault.
"I think we need to talk more, what you said to the documentary crew, you love me, and you wanted me to be happy. What you didn't realise is I need you to be happy, it doesn't matter where we are, which country I am in, I need you" Callie promised. "Now what I need right now is for you to get better, because we have some making up to do". She leant forwards kissing Arizona's hair.
The door opened, Link walked in,
"Hey, Callie, it's great to see you again" he greeted. They'd met several times before and had become good friends.
"Link, thanks for coming" Callie replied,
"So Arizona ran you through my plan?" he asked, sounding nervous. Callie nodded
"It's a solid plan, when can you operate?" she asked,
"Tomorrow, I'd like Arizona to have 48 hours of antibiotics before we operate, it means the metal work is less likely to get infected." He offered.
Again Callie nodded,
"How are her infection markers?" she asked,
"Better," Link offered her the chart with a nod from Arizona. Callie scanned it relieved to see it was improving.
"So tomorrow" Arizona interrupted, both Ortho surgeons nodded. "Great, now who is going to help me into a chair, I need to see Zola" She insisted. Callie and Link exchanged a look Callie telling Link he should say no as her surgeon, Link telling Callie she should say no as her girlfriend.
"Please" Arizona begged them both, "After I have my nailing I'll be bed bound for a few days, I need to see her"
"Fine" Callie caved. "I'll get a chair" she left the room and was back within minutes. Link was gone
"I don't deserve you" Arizona said staring at Callie, "I treated you terribly,"
"I know, but I care a lot about you, that has never changed. And I'm mad, you left me, but that doesn't mean I'm not here. I'm not totally innocent, I agreed to go to Malawi but you were right I never wanted to go. I should have come clean, we should have discussed it like adults. Once you are better, then we can work on our relationship more" Callie said simply. Truthfully Arizona wasn't in the best condition for the deep painful conversation they needed to have. Arizona gulped, but nodded respecting Callie's decision. She deserved to be mad at her, she deserved for Callie to hate her so the fact they could have a civil conversation was a miracle.
"Let's go and see Zola" Callie suggested, taking sympathy on Arizona who just looked more confused. Callie gently helped Arizona into the chair, she had made sure to get one with a leg extender and carried the weight of the legs when transferring. "Let's go" Callie ordered gently pushing the chair out of her side room and to the Paediatric ward.
Every few steps they had to stop with a nurse, or doctor, radiologist, patient greeting her. For Arizona it was getting overwhelming, the amount of people wanting to say hi, or telling her how amazing her TV show was. She ducked her head at the praise, she didn't deserve any of it. Not when she had hurt the person that meant more to her than anyone in the world.
Finally arriving onto the Paediatric ward she found Meredith and Derek sitting by Zola's bedside, a fresh drain coming out of her head. What was even better was her colour had improved and she was sitting in Derek's arms trying to grab a toy Meredith was holding out.
"Zola" Arizona cried, relieved at seeing the infant who had been so close to death looking so healthy. Recognizing the voice Zola instantly reached out with her chubby toddler hands.
"Arizona!" Derek greeted carefully handing the baby over. "the surgery went perfectly, we did a follow up MRI which shows no long term damage".
"Hello Zola" she said bringing the baby up to her chest giving her a wet kiss on the cheek, "how are you today, you are looking better" she said, Zola happily babbling in her arms,
"She is doing so well, if she keeps doing this well we can look to discharge in a week" Derek said happily, Arizona nodded frowning slightly, discharge, that was complex, there was no way Zola would flourish in Malawi, any complications she would die, but there was no way Arizona could look after her, not with her leg in such a bad way, not when her relationship with Callie was in still in a wobbly place.
"What?" Callie asked at Arizona's deep sigh, worried about her girlfriend.
"I have no idea what I'm going to do about her future, she can't go back to Malawi and our foster system is so overwhelmed, who wants a disabled baby? Arizona asked heart broken, while she knew as a Paediatric surgeon Zola was likely to have a great outcome, she knew to adoptive parents they'd see the hydrocephalus, the potential for more high cost surgeries and she'd like stay in the foster system forever.
"About that…." Derek and Meredith exchanged a look, Derek excited, Meredith more reserved but with an undercurrent of excitement as she tickled Zola's chin. "We'd like to be considered for her parents. I know we work long hours, but we can make it work, parents make it work all the time and we understand her condition," he babbled,
"You want her?" Arizona said feeling the tears of relief coming to her eyes,
"yes," Derek said earnestly, worried she was crying,
"That's awesome I'll make some calls in Malawi," Arizona offered, she knew the government in Malawi didn't like foreign adoptions, however these were exceptional circumstances, and she felt they owed her something, she had given them so much, they had a fully functioning hospital, a new program for training doctors and nurses, new CT, MRI and ultrasound facilities, because of her they had millions of pounds of investment and all she wanted in return was for Zola to stay in Seattle with a family who would be able to cope with any complex medical needs, in a health system equipped to deal with them. "There is one problem, Malawi won't consider any couple that isn't married…" Arizona trailed off.
Meredith and Derek exchanged a look, Derek raising his eyebrows hopefully, as Meredith sighed rolling hers.
"Fine" she said, "but no fuss, hospital chapel tonight, 2 guests each" she bargained, Derek nodded, Callie and Arizona shot pleading looks to Meredith, who again rolled her eyes as if this was a huge hardship, "You can come too, Lexie and Cristina" she said, counting to 4
"I want Mark," Derek replied awkwardly staring at Callie, he knew they weren't getting on but despite their differences throughout the years Mark was still his best friend.
"And Bailey, I mean if you don't invite her your life will be hell" Callie pointed out, Meredith groaned, this wedding was becoming huge,
"Fine, Bailey and Webber, and Alex too" She consented despite her wedding now having double the numbers,
"And Zola" Arizona added watching Derek tuck the little girl up in the bed, it was only fair the little girl got to watch her parents get married. At this Meredith smiled, the panicked look disappearing for a second as she looked fondly at her future daughter, reminding herself why she was going through with this pantomime.
It was a few hours later that Lexie entered the chapel, she was wearing a dress that was better suited to going out but was all she had in her locker, she held Zola who was wearing a hospital gown and was fast asleep, next was Cristina wearing her light blue scrubs, before Meredith entered, Richard on her arm, she walked passed Callie and Arizona, Owen and Teddy, Jackson and April, then Bailey and Alex, Mark stood next to Derek, they were both in their navy scrubs, the smartest dressed person was the chaplain.
"Derek and Meredith, I've been asked to make this quick, that you don't want long speeches but I have a few words.
Today is a celebration. A celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, of family, and of two people who are in it for forever. Two people who have made promises,
To love each other, even when they hate each other,
No running,
Take care of each other, even when they are old and smelly,
Forever,
Derek Christopher Sheperd do you take Meredith Grey to be your lawful wedded wife?"
"I do" Derek said staring dreamily into Meredith's eyes,
"Meredith Grey, do you take Derek Christopher Sheperd to be your lawful wedding husband?"
"I do" Meredith replied, confidently, squeezing Derek's hands needing his presence to stop her from running.
"Then with the power invested in me by the state of Seattle I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride" he said. Neither needed telling twice as they kissed until Bailey told them to stop, once done they hugged their guests.
As if sensing the moment was over three pagers went off,
"Trauma in the pit" Owen called, everyone went to get ready,
"Not you two it's your wedding night, we can cover" Webber ordered the newlyweds.
"I'll take Zola back" Alex offered going back to Paeds himself,
"I need to drop Arizona off" Callie said nodding at her girlfriend who had gone white and slightly shaky with the pain. She knew she had pushed herself to far but had been too stubborn to do anything differently.
Arizona said nothing allowing Callie to push her back and even lift her into bed.
"I love you" Arizona told Callie holding her close, "And I'm so sorry I ever hurt you" she apologised again.
"I love you too, and I forgive you. We have to stop this, looking back, I think we should go to therapy. We need to learn to communicate." Callie suggested, Arizona nodded happily, Callie still loved her, they could work on their relationship.
"I need to go, I'll see you later" Callie promised her pager going off again, she kissed Arizona's forehead running off.
Arizona closed her eyes, her heart felt like it was bursting, only 36 hours ago she had been facing the worst days of her life, Zola was dying, and although she had the skills to save her she hadn't had the ability facing her own disability. She thought she had lost Callie for good, her heart broken. Now Zola was going to be fine, and even had amazing parents, who would hopefully adopt her soon, and she had Callie, and with a lot of work she knew they were it forever.
One more chapter left, hoping you still like it.
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