Calliope
I take her out of the hospital, pushing her in the wheelchair as I walk across the crosswalk that led to our apartment, rolling her beside me.
"No, Calliope!" Arizona says suddenly as we get to the other side of the sidewalk.
I pull over to a corner in the sidewalk. I get on my knees in front of her, setting a hand on her upper inside thigh.
"What is it, baby?" I ask in a soft voice.
"She's down there. She's waiting for me." Arizona says, panicking, her breathing speeding up.
"No, baby." I say, taking her hand. "It's just you and me. She won't get to you."
"No, you don't know. They're there. They're taking me away from you! They might take you too!"
I leave her wheelchair, walking into the lobby of the apartment, sure that she sees me. "See? Nobody's gonna take me."
"No, Calliope! No. Come back!" She shouts.
I run back outside to her, laying my hand on her face and bending down in front of her. "I'll protect you." I whisper.
A single tear falls down her cheek. "Okay."
I wipe it away, then smile at her. Standing up, I push her inside and into the elevator, up five flights until we were on our floor. I roll her down to the end of the hallway.
506
Getting to our house, I unlock the door with my key and push her in.
"Welcome home!" I say softly, closing the door behind me.
She stood up, wobbling. She straps on her prothetic and steps forward.
"I remember this."
I smile at the imperfectly perfect woman in front of me. "I hope so."
"This is home." Arizona says. "This is safe."
I nod. "You're right. Nobody is going to get to you. Not here. Not now. Not ever."
Arizona nods.
"Can you tell me what happened?" I ask.
"Cal, they hurt me. Isn't that enough? Do you really have to make me relive it?"
"Yes." I say. "Because is going to come out sooner or later."
She shakes her head. "Can I just be happy for a couple of days? Then I'll talk."
I took her hand and kissed her wrist. Then I nuzzled it against her cheek and kissed Arizona's palm. Az leaned into her and I enjoyed the quiet, giving her the moments she asked for.
