AN :/ new chapter for you. Are you still on board? I Hope so! Love to get your feedback!
« Where is she? Where is she? » Callie was yelling at the nurse who wasn't giving her any information about her ex-wife. « I don't care about your stupid protocol! She's the mother of my kids, her own mother called me! »
« I'm going to ask you to calm down Ms. » The nurse warned. « I'm telling you I can't share any information. You are not her family. »
Those words made Callie see red. She couldn't stand here and wait for some random nurse to give her permission to see Arizona.
« Callie! » She heard Barbara Call her from further down the hallway.
She rushed to join her. The poor old woman was still wearing the clothes she had on earlier, they were covered in Arizona's blood. Callie gasped, realising the injuries were serious by the quantity of blood on her ex Mother in law.
Barbara wanted to embrace her, but she couldn't in the state she was in. Callie looked at her sadly and sat down with her, grabbing her hands.
« What happened? » Callie asked.
Barbara had just said that Arizona was in an accident, she didn't give her any more details.
« She was stabbed…..twice, in the back. » Barbara explained, tears in her eyes. « I think she was coming home from the movie with you and the kids, and she got assaulted on her front porch... »
Callie gasped again. She didn't expect to hear that. What on earth was happening?
Why, when things were getting a little better between them, did another tragedy occur.
« Did.. Did you see anything? » Callie asked, her voice shaky. « Was she conscious when she got to you? »
« I didn't see anything. I heard a scream and she fell in my arms when I opened the door. She .. She was awake for a while, but she couldn't speak. I don't know what happen... » Barbara burst into sobs.
« I need to call Mark. » Callie said. She was trying her best to not break down. « I'm going to ask him to come here, he knows the chief, he might have more success than us at getting some news... And you need to get changed Barbara. I'm going to ask them for some scrubs for you, and maybe somewhere you can take a shower. »
« I'm Okay Callie... »
« No Barbara, you're not. How can you be? » Callie smiled sadly. « I'm here with you. You are not alone. Mark will be here soon, and we are going to do whatever you need to help.
« I can't lose her. Not after already losing Tim and Daniel... » The vulnerable woman confessed.
« You won't lose her. We won't lose her. » Callie patted her shoulder. « She's survived the worst. She had two kids to look after. She's going to be okay... »
….
« It's really serious... » Dr Standfield explained to Mark, Barbara and Callie as he came out from the OR. « She lost a lot of blood. She coded three times, but we got her back. She has a severe hemopneumothorax. The good news is that her heart wasn't touched. But her lung was really damaged. We have patch it the best we can, but we are going to monitor it closely. The next 48 hours are going to be crucial. »
The three of them remained stunned. It was not fair. Why did Arizona have to go through another traumatic event… it just wasn't right.
« Can we see her? » Barbara asked, breaking the heavy silence.
« She's in the ICU. She needs to rest, and we don't know when she will wake up. » Standfield explained. « We had to do a tracheotomy so she could breathe. You can go. But only one person in the room, and no more than 10 minutes. »
« Thank you, Frank. » Mark said gratefully to his colleague as he nodded and walk away.
« I'm going to take you to the ICU Barb. » Mark said. « You can sit and talk to her; she'll be able to hear you. »
« I'm not sure I can... » Barbara confessed. « I want to see her. But I don't know if I can stay and see her like that... »
« Let's go... » Callie said, grabbing Barbara's arm gently. « We are going to go to her room, then you'll decide whatever you want to do. »
The trio walked through the unfamiliar hallways of Seattle Presbyterian Hospital.
Arizona had been working here for more than three years now and it felt so weird to see Doctors and nurses they barely knew take care of her.
Once they were in front of Arizona's room, Barbara couldn't help herself, she burst into tears. She stood for a long moment in front of the large glass window, looking at all the machines surrounding her daughter. It was too much for her.
« I can't. I'm sorry. » She said Mark helped her walk to the nearest waiting room and grabbed a chair for her, followed by Callie.
« It's okay Barbara, take all the time you need. » Callie reassured her.
« I can't go in there. But I think someone should. » Barbara said. « Callie, will you? She needs someone she loves near her, but I'm not ready. »
« I... I don't know if it's my place... » Callie replied, taken aback by the offer. « I mean, I would like to, but ... »
« Please... » Barbara pleaded. « She needs someone... »
« OK... OK, don't worry I'll go... » Callie replied.
She walked back to the room and took a deep breath before entering. She walked in slowly and looked at her ex-wife's body lying in the bed.
What had gone wrong again? Why her, why Arizona?
What was she going to tell their children? The day before, they were happy, they spent time with both their mothers, everything was good for them…and now one of their moms was here, lying in a bed teetering between life and death, surrounded by machines helping her breath, helping her stay alive.
« I can't do it without you Arizona... » She said, instinctively taking her hands. « I can't... I don't know why it happened to you. It's not fair. You are an amazing woman, a great mother, a wonderful doctor... I... We need you. The kids can't lose you, your mother... Your friends... Me... »
She sighed, wiping the tears away from her eyes. Arizona seemed to be sleeping peacefully.
« And me, I can't lose you. Not now. Not when we are communicating, finding our way back. » Callie said. « You can't and you won't because … I need you to live. Can you live for me? »
And then suddenly all the machines began to beep, the noise startled her... Callie jumped in surprise as two nurses rushed to Arizona's side.
« What's happening? » Callie asked, totally shocked.
« You need to get out Ms. » A nurse said firmly. « Now! »
A doctor arrived quickly when Callie was outside the room, watching the scene unfold, feeling totally useless and scared.
Hearing the noise, Mark joined Callie and gasped. This couldn't be happening.
He took Callie in his arms as the woman broke down in tears.
« We need to get her to the OR ! NOW ! » the surgeon asked as they wheeled the bed out of the room and rushed to the nearest elevator.
Mark and Callie stood in the hallway, mouths agape and frozen. They didn't really know what to say, but they needed to inform Barbara about what just happened even if they didn't really know WHAT just happened.
….
One hour later, they were still in the waiting room, not knowing how Arizona was doing. They were silent, not really knowing what to say to each other. Barbara was totally exhausted and was having trouble staying awake.
« You should get some rest Barbara. » Callie said. « It's been hours since you came here, and I promise we will wake you up when the doctors give us any news. »
« I don't know dear. I have to be there if someone shows up. » Barbara replied.
« I'm going to find you a blanket and maybe a pillow. So you can sleep here ? » Mark offered and the older woman accepted.
She was trying to be brave but the stress and the time passing without any news about her daughter was doing a number on her.
« Do you want a coffee or something to eat? » Callie worried, seeing the poor woman's face turning very pale.
« Maybe tea would be a good idea? » Barbara replied in a whisper.
« I'm going to get you one, I'll be right back. » Callie smiled at her and got up. She was walking to the nearest coffee cart, not really knowing where it was.
She remembered she must call Lexie. She had the kids at her place, and they would certainly be beginning to ask what was taking their mother so long to get them.
She had told them she was called in for an emergency with their uncle Mark and that their mommy was also at the hospital.
Thinking about them made her heart sink. What if Arizona didn't make it, how could she ever tell them such terrible news. And what about her? How could she live in a world without ….
And then it hit her... it was like a flash bulb going off in front of her eyes.
How could she live in a world without the love of her life? Arizona was the love of her life. She remained stuck in the middle of the lobby, a hand resting on her mouth and tears rolling freely but weirdly a smile appeared on her cheeks.
She was still in love with Arizona, nothing was more obvious than that. She had never really stopped loving the blonde surgeon. She stepped to the side, looking for the wall for support.
« Are you okay Miss? » a nurse said worriedly, seeing her falter.
« Yes, I'm okay... » Callie replied. « I'm sorry, I'm all right. »
The nurse nodded and continued on her way, Callie's phone vibrated in her pocket.
The ortho surgeon grabbed it, not recognising the number calling her.
« Hello? »
« Hello. Is this Dr Callie Torres? » A male voice asked her.
« Yes, that's me. Who am I speaking to? »
« Dr Torres, I'm calling you because you are mentioned as the emergency contact for Penelope Blake? » the man stated.
« Oh... I was, but I'm not anymore. We... we are not a couple anymore so she must have forgotten to change my name... » Callie replied, annoyed but at the same time worried. « What is going on? »
« Listen Dr Torres I don't know how to say this. I'm the head of Dillard medical centre. I have to inform you that Penelope Blake was found unconscious in a motel room. She had taken a massive overdose of medication, and her alcohol levels were extremely high, we did all we could but unfortunately, we were unable to save her. I am so sorry to inform you that we lost the battle and she died. »