Hi all, this is my first delve into Fan Fiction and I'm always Callie & Arizona end game. This is set around Season 14, basically two years after the divorce. There was no custody battle, Callie is still firmly at Grey Sloan. All characters don't necessarily fit into the 'real' Grey's timeline, but that's why it's fiction, I get to include the ones I like and excuse myself for any errors.
So the timelines are probably skewed in here at points, no doubt some typo's flying about and there may be some phrases that are quintessentially English. Hopefully it'll still make sense, we do have some weird ones. We're all here for the love of our girls, there are a lot of C&A fics out there and I've been inspired by so many. I really hope you enjoy the ride.
Overview - Callie is injured and taken to Grey Sloan for treatment. The event causes her & Arizona to process their relationship and what it means going forward. Actions are determined by emotions, events and your village. Set two years after the divorce, no custody battle.
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My temple's throbbing, I'm straining to look forward, all I can see are furniture legs and lower cabinets through a darkened haze. What the… am I on the floor!? No I can't be, a chair maybe, but it's a low chair if so. No, I'm clearly on the floor for whatever reason. Time to get up.
Callie attempts to grab onto something to pull her up, the kitchen counter seems slightly out of reach but it's worth a go. OUCH. THERE. A shooting pain. A pain so sharp and instant that it momentarily completely paralyses her, she falls to the ground in agony clutching her sides.
What the hell…?! What's happened?! What was that pain? Why can't I pull myself up? Oh my GOD WHERE IS SOFIA?!
"SOF…"
It hits again, the sharp pain, she's incapacitated physically and verbally, she needs to stay laid supported on the ground. But she can't. She can't because she is a mother and her priority is her mini-me, the extension of herself, the one she will protect at all cost. With a mixture of wincing, silent screams and hisses through clenched eyes, she makes a second attempt to get up. It's painful and disorientating, but by making a slight lunge upwards, she's able to grab hold of one of the kitchen stools. Victory. She slowly pulls herself up, steading the chair against the kitchen top so it stays in place and supports her weight.
She's up, she's dizzy and unsteady, but she's a mum, there is no exceptions to the rule, her priority is her daughter. She attempts again "SOFIA!", it's louder but weaker, she knows it's about volume rather than conviction, she needs to know where her baby is. She has scanned the room several times when she was finally up-right, but her child was nowhere to be seen.
Why can't I see her? Why isn't she responding? Why am I on the floor? Why am I in such pain? Unless…
She turns to the door in an instant, it's shut. Whilst not a certain declaration she hasn't been victim to a home invasion, the fact her phone is on the side next to her, the TV is still in place and she's still wearing some jewellery, the evidence that the door is closed gives her some reassurance. Maybe Sofia is just in the bathroom. Or she has her headphones on, or maybe deep in conversation with Zola or Arizona. One thing's for sure, she's certain she can't move, not without stumbling.
What the HELL happened?! Think Torres, you're a badass surgeon, (recently) double board-certified, Harper Avery winner and you mastered how to set up your new TV in minutes, you're a god(ess).
She reaches for her phone, wincing again.
Why does it hurt so much to move?! Did I slip on something, crash into a cabinet, crawl to the kitchen and collapse? No, that's absurd. What would I have slipped on anyw… TORRES. FOCUS. Sofia.
She unlocks her phone but forced to use the PIN, it didn't recognise her face. At least she remembers it, small mercies. The screen that appears is a text from Meredith with her one still visible if you scroll up slightly. The fact it's open there is a good indication it was fairly recent.
Callie: "Thanks Mer, Sofia loves a sleepover at yours with Zola, are you okay to pick her up after school? Arizona is in surgery and I'm expecting Simon soon, but can delay if needed"
Meredith: "No that's fine, I've just picked them up and they're in Zola's room setting up a fort. See you tomorrow, good luck with Simon!"
Okay good, Sofia is safe at Mer's, my main concern is sorted, now how the hell did I end up on the kitchen floor in so much pai…
Then it hits. Hits hard. They say PTSD lays under the surface and it only takes one, potentially inconspicuous event, to trigger. It's the same for a memory, a recent memory, one you didn't know you had. Simon. Words flash but coherent sentences can't form.
Simon. Dinner. Frustration. Sofia. Veterans.
Anger. True, true anger. Pain. Gut. Face. Floor.
He had beaten her. The accountant had beaten the surgeon. Beaten so hard she had lost consciousness.
No no no no… NO! I'm Callie Torres, I don't get into abusive relationships, I don't put up with crap, I don't put my daughter at risk. You know this Torres.
But the memories are there, somewhere. She needed to get a better look at herself and by now the adrenaline had taken over and she felt no pain, only determination. She takes a deep breath (wincing, there is still some pain) and makes the short walk to her bedroom, her floor to ceiling mirrors will answer some of her questions, it never lies.
She makes it with only a stumble or two and turns on the light. Walking forward to the mirror, she sees a reflection of someone else. Hair knotted, swollen eye, dried blood on lips, shirt slightly torn and face white as a ghost. Who is this person? After a short time, it sinks in. It's her, staring at a beaten version of herself. She has been beaten and her hazy memory indicates it was by Simon, the guy she had kinda been seeing, but not with much commitment. She can't remember specific details right now, that will have to wait.
She needs help. Part of her wants to clean up shower & change but she knows she has to follow the correct process. Callie Torries doesn't hide, skip steps or withdraw into herself. After seeing the damage to her face, she starts to think, the continued wincing at every movement is down to broken or cracked ribs. Was she KICKED when she was down?
Phone. Meredith. Help. Hospital. Get it DONE Torres.
She makes her way to the kitchen, unlocks the phone again and taps on Meredith's name, still up from earlier. She doesn't clock the time now or of the text, but she hopes she's still near her phone to hear it. Four rings and it's answered, pretty good.
"Hey Callie, what's up?"
"Mer… I need you… hospital… been beaten… can you… you come… get me?"
Not a second thought, "I'm on my way"
The phone clicks off, Meredith didn't hesitate. Callie knew her friend would be round quicker than a flash, only one other person may have got here sooner but you know, surgery.
Callie couldn't quite perch herself on a stool but she could semi stand up straight holding onto the kitchen counter. Her phone was in front of her and Meredith would be able to locate her keys, a coat etc. She just needed to stay upright, don't panic or pass out and try to regain some memories.
She waited for what seemed like hours before she heard a key in the door. All village members had spare keys, it's what you did at Grey Sloan. Meredith entered, looked at her friend and her face fell.
"Oh Callie…"