Lynx: A Callie Torres Story

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Jada's heart was pounding out of her chest as she ran into the hospital. Callie had called her a few minutes ago and said she needed to get to the hospital immediately. The only thing Jada knew was that her wife was okay. Her first thought was that something had happened to Callie, but she was immediately reassured that her wife was okay.

One of the interns led her to a room on the pediatric floor where Arizona and Callie were hovering over the patient's bed like hawks. Callie had started working with Arizona a lot more recently since the two couples had become friends. Anytime Arizona needed an orthopedic surgeon, Callie was her go to girl. Jada was happy the two were at peace after what happened a few years ago. Being around Arizona and Kate was fun. They went out on a double date almost every week.

Jada had a really good conversation with Arizona the previous week about Callie. Arizona again reiterated how horrible she felt for what she did to Callie, and asked Jada to make sure she protected their Calliope for the rest of their lives. Although she hadn't told her wife, her and Arizona talked about the ex couple still having feelings for each other. Arizona's response was similar to Callie's, she agreed that their time together made them better for other people and better as friends. Arizona also told Jada that she loved Callie. Not in love kinda love, but the love that two longtime friends shared with each other.

Kate came barging past Jada with a clipboard. "Hey Jada."

"Hey Kate," Jada replied as her eyes moved to her wife that had just noticed she was here.

"Jada!" Callie moved from where she was standing to embrace her wife, revealing on the hospital bed what Jada assumed was why her wife needed her here so quickly.

Jada didn't want to know how or why when she saw the patient. Her heart dropped. Before Jada had a chance to look longer, Kate said, "I've tried everywhere for hours, and there's nobody that can take her."

On the hospital bed sat a toddler who couldn't have been older than 3. She was badly bruised, her wounds already stitched up, and a cast on her left arm.

"Jada come with me," Callie whispered before leading her wife out of the room.

"Callie, what happened to her?" Jada asked, struggling to get the words out.

Jada was glad when Callie spared her the details and just got to the point. "Her dad beat the shit out of her," Callie said quietly. "And her mom."

"Is that why there's police in the lobby?"

Callie nodded. "Yeah."

Jada had no problems getting in. The desk lady knew her personally now and didn't even ask any questions when she came in. Jada did get teased as the lady liked to boast about how she was the reason Jada and Callie got back together. If it weren't for her making that call to Callie, against policy, Jada would've had to really try to find her wife.

"Her mom is here too," Callie added. "Her injuries are a lot worse. She's going to be here a month at the least."

Jada's jaw dropped and Callie continued. "She doesn't have any family here besides mom and dad. No place can take her right now and I'm not letting her end up at a homeless shelter at two years old. We've tried every possible place around here, even some in Canada and Oregon. If we can't find someone to take her, she's going to be released to her dad."

"They can't do that."

Callie hugged Jada again. "The police haven't found any evidence that he was the one that abused them. But after what her mom said I have no doubt. The police are serving a search warrant and have him for questioning right now, but if they don't find any damning evidence she'll be released into his custody and I will not let that happen."

"You want to foster her?" Jada asked in clarification.

"At least until her mom gets released, or a place opens up, or if a real foster family is interested in taking her in."

"Yes Calliope," Jada replied. "I don't even know all of it and I don't want to think about her going back to that man." Callie nodded in agreement as Jada added, "you can protect her better than anyone."

"We will protect her better than anyone," Callie corrected.

"Callie!" Arizona called from in the room.

Jada followed her wife back into the exam room where they now had the little girl drinking a juice box and eating some crackers.

"The DNA tests didn't find a match," Arizona stated. "The bastard was smart."

"I don't want to go with daddy," the little girl said quietly, but loud enough for the doctors and Jada to hear.

Jada watched her wife sit down beside the young girl. "You're not going with your dad," Callie reassured her. "I promise that."

"Mommy then?"

"You're mommy's going to have to stay here for a little while," Callie explained. "She's hurt just like you, but the best doctors in the world are helping her get better right now."

Jada felt her heart melt at how sweet her wife was with kids. She was a natural. And it made Jada excited for when they had kids of their own.

"Did you help mommy get better?"

Callie nodded. "I helped her arm get better, just like Dr. Robbins and I gave you that nice pink cast."

"I like it," the girl replied. "What's your name?"

"I'm Dr. Torres," Callie answered with a smile across her face, trying her best to cheer the little girl up.

Jada and Arizona struggled to hold in a laugh when she tried to pronounce Callie's name. "But," Callie added. "You can call me Callie because you're special."

The girls face lit up. "Callie!" she called over and over.

Jada was about to cry as she stood at the door watching her wife and the little girl.

"Why am I special?" the girl asked.

"Well Claire," Callie started. "You did so great for Dr. Robbins and I when you let us put on your cast. You were one of the best patients I've had!"

Claire set down her snacks and moved to hug Callie's arm. "And Claire, while your mommy is getting better, how would you like to stay with me and my wife for a little while?"

The little girl burst out in excitement. "It fun!" she screeched.

"Jada."

Jada made her way towards the side of the hospital bed beside her wife. "This is my wife Jada," Callie introduced her to the little girl. "She's going to hang out with us."

"Yay!" Claire yelled and began to crawl over to Jada.