DINNER & DIATRIBES. . . JACKSON AVERY!

chapter twenty-eight: it's a long way back

Not for the first time, Briar is all but living in the hospital. With Callie facing a long recovery, and her goddaughter in the NICU, she doesn't have any intentions on being anywhere else.

At one week old, Sofia Robbin Sloan Torres weighs in at 1 pound, 1 ounce. A fact that terrifies Briar, just as much as it awes her. She's so small, yet so strong: surviving despite all the odds being stacked against her. No one could deny that she's Callie Torres's baby from that fact alone.

Briar spends half her time holding Sofia's tiny little hand through the hole in the incubator, and the other half with Callie. Sofia is at Level III, meaning that she has constant monitoring: from the NICU team, but also from just about every nurse and doctor at the hospital, everyone wanting to be there for the parents by supporting their baby.

Briar's entire camera roll is filled with photos and videos of Sofia. She has pictures of her, Mark, and Arizona holding her hand and sitting by her incubator, all of which get sent to the group chat with them and Callie. She can't wait for the day Callie is added to those pictures, but for now she snaps them every second she gets, knowing that Callie relies on them to show her her baby while she can't see her personally.

Briar knows how much it's killing her to not see her.

Every time they show her a picture or video, there's immediate joy that turns into grief over not experiencing these moments herself, and it's heartbreaking to witness.

Currently, she's sitting against the wall outside of the NICU, staring through the window at Mark who's sitting and speaking to her. She left when he came in, since she's been trying her best to give him and Arizona space while still being supportive.

"Hey, how's she doing?" Jackson asks her, standing above her and looking into the NICU.

"Great." Briar answers with a pleased smile, before taking another bite of her lasagna casserole. She's made more casseroles in the last week than she has in her entire life (which is saying a lot, since she'd grown up poor), only going home to whip up meals for her, Mark, Arizona, and now Callie, since she's recovered enough for the lighter ones. "She only stopped breathing once, and she started up again really quickly. She's improving a lot."

"That's amazing." He says genuinely, and she gives him a small smile before her eyes go right back to her goddaughter–not that she can really see her, since she's so small and covered in wires and tubes. "When's the last time you slept?"

"What time is it?" She asks back, because she has no idea. When she isn't by either Callie or Sofia's side, she's been mostly on ortho, performing surgeries that Callie currently can't. She's thrilled that Richard finds her capable of so many solo surgeries, but she wishes it wasn't at the cost of Callie's health.

"Uh, 7." He answers, checking his watch, and Briar hums.

"So it's been about . . . 30 hours. Not bad." She says lightly, before looking up at him. "I heard you're helping Chief Webber with his islet cell trial today. That's exciting!"

"Yeah, I honestly can't wait." He tells her, sounding excited. "What about you? Anything exciting?"

"Knee replacement and ACL reconstruction." She tells him, taking another bite before leaning her head back against the wall. "I still have two hours though, so I'm going to be here until then."

"Do you want me to bring you anything?" He asks her, sounding concerned, and Briar tilts her head as she thinks about it.

"Can you grab me another blanket from my room and bring it to me tomorrow?" She asks, knowing that he's going to be going home tonight. "I should really swap them out. Thanks, Jay."