AN:/ Here is the new chapter. It might be an emotionnal one, and I hope you'll enjoy it. I want to thanks the readers who are taking a few minutes to review. Don't hesitate to leave your impressions!
Jax is still in the place, helping me. Thanks xxxx
...
« Dear Calliope,
If you are reading this letter, it means I'm gone.
I know you must be devastated because I know you are in love with me. But I couldn't live anymore. You betrayed me, and you left me.
You have lied to me, letting everybody make fun of me. You humiliated me.
I was so worried when you left home. And then I found you at your crippled crazy ex-wife's place?
How do you think that made me feel?
I went crazy. I didn't know how to reach you. You were avoiding me at work, you weren't taking my calls...
And then you texted me those horrible words: « Leave me and my family alone. You are crazy. We are done for ever. »
And that was the point of no return.
I began to follow you. I saw you and the kids going to dinner with her.
And I know she was doing everything to get you back even if you didn't want that.
I saw her. It made me sick to my stomach. I wanted to kill myself, I just wanted to die.
And I guess, if you're reading this, that is exactly what I've done. But before that happens, I have to be sure she won't bother you again. So, I did what I had to do.
Because if you couldn't be with me, you can't be with her either »
...
« Callie... Callie… wake up... » Mark patted his friend's shoulder.
The poor woman had fallen asleep a few hours prior, in the waiting room, looking extremely uncomfortable.
Her neck was sore, so she rubbed it slowly trying to ease the pain and opened her eyes.
« I just talked to Stanfield. » Mark said as Callie immediately gulped. « She made it. She is still very weak but she made it out of the OR alive. »
Callie jumped up and hugged Mark tightly. She was relieved of course, but she was also terrified.
« Have you spoken to Barbara? » She asked.
« Yes, she is with her, holding her hand. » Mark said. « So now you are going to come with me. We are going to my place, and we are going to have lunch with Lexie and the kids. Okay? »
Callie nodded. She was grateful Mark was making the decisions for her right now.
She was unable to think straight.
The only thing on her mind is that Penny had tried to kill Arizona. Her crazy ex-girlfriend had stabbed an innocent woman, the mother of her kids.
The guilt was crushing her. The letter she had read had devastated her, she had to face her children and that terrified her.
Barbara had been very shocked by the revelation. She has asked Callie to give her a moment to process the news.
Callie understood perfectly.
As Mark and her were about to leave the waiting room, Barbara appeared. She wiped the tears from her eyes quickly, before approaching Callie and embracing her.
The taller woman was totally stunned, not expecting for her ex mother in law to look at her, let alone hug her.
She closed her eyes, and let the pain, the anger, and the tears roll freely, holding onto Barbara for dear life.
Barbara raised her head and took a long breath.
« She's so pale... » She said, sadness and exhaustion in her eyes. « The doctors say she's a fighter, but she's not off the hook yet unfortunately. They said she needs rest and close supervision until she wakes up. »
« We were going to Mark's. I need to talk to the kids. And I don't know how to do that... » Callie cried.
« Tell them their mommy is injured, an accident happened and that the doctors are doing everything they can. » Barbara smiled weakly.
…..
The ride back to Mark's place was tense and then Callie burst into tears. She was feeling guilty about everything.
She felt guilty for bringing a sociopath like Penny Blake into her life, into her children's lives, she felt guilty about Arizona, she was barely alive because of that same person. She was also feeling immense guilt and remorse for her part in Penny's suicide.
The tears were blurring her vision, and she was stuck, all the emotions of what happened in the last few hours overwhelming her, making it difficult for her to think straight. .
Arizona was so pale and vulnerable on that hospital bed, the unbearable noise of the machines which were keeping her alive were hammering in her mind.
And now she would have to put on a brave face and smile at her children, trying to tell them the impossible.
As they parked the car in front of Mark's house, Callie could see Olivia and Travis playing with Lexie, totally carefree and so innocent.
Mark opened the door and helped her get out.
« Don't panic Torres, Lexie and I are here, you stay with us as loong as you need. We are family! » Mark said, hugging his friend.
Callie wiped the last remnants of tears from her face and put her jacket back on. They walked in a heavy silence to the doors, and as soon as Mark opened it, Travis and Olivia ran to their mother.
« Mama! » the little girl yelled. « We eat a pizza! »
Travis noticed the weird smile his mother was giving them. It felt fake and wrong.
« What is it Mama? What's wrong ? » the young boy worried.
« Come on Kiddos, Mama and I have some things to tell you, let's go sit on the couch. » Mark said, taking Olivia in his arms.
They settled, Callie between her two children, Mark and Lexie sitting at the end of the couch.
« What's going on Mama? » Travis repeated.
« You know we were with mama yesterday night, and it was great right ? » Callie said.
Both children nodded. They could feel something serious had happened.
« Well, your Mommy was in an accident when she got back to her house. » Mark continued. « I was at the hospital with your Granny and Mama to take care of her today. »
« But you said you were paged for an emergency at work... » Travis frowned.
« Is Mommy okay? » Olivia asked, her eyes already filling with tears.
« She... Granny is with her right now, and Auntie April too. » Callie said, her voice cracking, seeing the worried looks on her children's faces escalating.
« She's injured. She had been in the OR and the doctors have done everything to help her. She's sleeping right now, and she will be for a few days. She needs to rest, a lot. » Mark explained. « She's fighting to get back to you as fast as possible. »
« I want to see her. » Travis said, standing up and walking to grab his coat, as Olivia sniffed. « I need to see her. Can you drive me? »
« We can't buddy. You can see her in a few days, but she's in the ICU, and children can't go in there. » Mark said, as he stroked the young boy's hair.
« I don't care. She's my mother, I have the right to see her! Please Mama! » The little boy burst into tears, and Callie rushed to embrace him as he cried loudly.
Lexie took Olivia in her arms.
The little girl didn't understand everything but seeing both her brother and mother crying was too much for her.
« MOMMMMMYYYYYYY » She screamed suddenly, Mark rushed to Lexie's side, asking her to take the little girl upstairs to try and calm her down.
« SSSShhhhh... » Was all Callie was able to say as she embraced her son tightly.
« Come on buddy, come here. » Mark said, opening his arms and hugging both mother and son. He kissed Callie's hair and tightened his embrace. « Mommy is a fighter; she's going to be okay. »
…..
A few hours later, Arizona was still laying in the ICU, April holding her hand and talking to her.
Barbara had left to take a shower and get some sleep, and the red head felt helpless.
Seeing her best friend's body laying lifeless, her skin so pale, dark circles under her eyes, and the machines around her were hard to watch.
« You survived a plane crash Arizona, don't tell me this little thing is going to beat you. Remember the residents used to say you were immortal. And I know they are right. » She sadly said. « I know life has been hard, I know you've been down and that you didn't deserve any of this, but you have to come back. Travis and Olivia, they need you. You are their sunshine. They love you so much... And you're my best friend. You know I don't have a lot of friends. I want to be selfish for once. So, fight and come back to all of us. »
The door opened, April expected to see Barbara, but it was Callie.
The brunette didn't even look at April and walked to Arizona's bed, leaning in and kissed her on the mouth, lightly, just a brief peck.
« Hey... » Callie finally greeted a stunned April.
« Hey... »
« Is there any change? » Callie asked. »
« No. Nothing new. » April replied. « Barbara went for a nap a little while ago. She was exhausted... »
Callie nodded, as she sat on the opposite side of the bed to where April was. She could feel the redhead's eyes on her making her feel awkward and uncomfortable.
« You can say it Kepner... » Callie said. « You can say it's my fault... »
« Callie, I didn't... »
« No, but you are thinking it, and for what it's worth, you are right. » Callie sarcastically said. « I am the only reason this happened, and now my children are traumatized, they might lose their mother, and everybody is going to blame it on me, and I deserve everything I get coming to me... »
« I have never thought that Callie. » April snapped. « It's not about you here, it's about my best friend, the mother of your kids. I don't care how or why, it just happened. And now, we need to be united for her. She needs us, so I know that you believe in God, and I would love it if you joined me in saying a prayer. »
« But she doesn't believe in God... » Callie retorted.
« I know, but that's not a problem. » April smiled as she took Callie's hand in hers. « What matters is that we are going to say one for her, because She's an amazing person, she saves children and babies. God knows who she is... »