Chapter 1:

Arizona Robbins

U.S. Marines Corps, Afghanistan

27 August 2015:

She jumped out of the humvee and landed in the hot dry floor with a thud.

She took off her helmet, it was the first time in hours that she could finally breath some fresh air. The helmet, the Rangers, everything was keeping her so hot and it was practically unbearable. She remembers the first time she worn her uniform, she thought she was going to faint. The little water she drank, she sweated it right away.

She passed her hand through her hair, she had to cut her hair when she enlisted. Before it was a little past her shoulders, but now it was above her shoulders... at her neck.

She hurries inside the makeshift camp they had to quickly set up for her and other surgeons so they could take care of the injured.

It was a hard day for them today. She was going through a city with five soldiers and two other surgeons to go to another camp were they were needed when they were suddenly ambushed in a narrow street. They didn't see anything, she was just able to hear the piercing noise of the bullets passing near her.

She saw two of three soldiers who were walking near the humvee fall on the ground. The last one of them quickly jump in it while shooting blindly.

People were on the street, innocent people who were getting shot because they had the misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Arizona's heart broke when she saw a mother with her child on the ground... blood everywhere, their eyes lifeless, dead.

Shaking her head from the bad thoughts, Arizona heard someone calling her name.

"Robbins! We need you here!" It was Doctor Evans, the Trauma surgeon on their unit. They were three in total- Evans, Altman, and herself. She met Altman when she had enlisted, they did their basic training together and haven't been separated since then.

Teddy Altman was her rock. She doesn't think she would have been able to hold on this long if it wasn't for her.

There was another person very important for Arizona too in this unit. Her brother. Timothy Robbins was her other best friend, he knew her and she knew him like the back of each other's hand. He joined her unit a year ago. She was so happy to be finally with him but she was also very scared.

He always teases her because he has a rank superior to her and she hates having to take orders from her little brother. He enlisted when he was 18 and she joined after she finished Med School.

When she got near Evans he told her that they had two children in a critical condition. She quickly got to work doing her best to save these children.

At the end of the day, just one child survived and his state was still critical. She feared an infection especially with the condition she was forced to operate him on.

She came outside of the tent that was supposed to be an OR. She realized that a lot of people had joined them in the ten hours she spent operating.

The camp they had set was definitely bigger and better than the first camp site.

She saw Teddy and her brother talking with other soldiers sitting at a fire. She started walking toward them.

"Hey Zona!" Her brother said enthusiastically. "What do you think of our home for the next three days or so?"

"Well it's so much better that the little tents that were set at the beginning. And stop calling me 'Zona' you know I hate it!" She said with a pout making everyone laugh. Despite the atrocities she had seen since she had been here she still kept her childish behavior which everyone was grateful for. It all kept them entertain. The playful banter she had with Tim and Teddy help everyone keep their spirit high.

"Teds, can you show me were I sleep" Arizona said wining making Teddy roll her eyes "Don't roll your eyes at me Theodora that's mean!" Arizona said crossing her arms. Which made Teddy roll her eyes again making everyone laughed at them.

"Third tent on the left." Teddy said hoping that Arizona would find it easily because she didn't want to stand up.

"Thanks, good night everyone." Arizona said waving.

She found the tent pretty easily. She quickly cleaned herself and changed into comfortable clothes.

She settled into her bed, lying on her back looking at the ceiling. She turned on her side and reached with her hand for her pants that was thrown down next to her. She put her hand inside the front pocket and retrieving the picture inside. Arizona settled back on her back and looked at the picture of the beautiful brunette whom she had broken the heart so many years ago.

On the picture the brunette was blowing her a kiss and the more she looked at it the more tears gathered in her eyes. She kissed the picture and put it under her pillow. After wiping her tears, she turned on her side facing the wall and closed her eyes, hoping that sleep would come quickly and take her to happier times and where she had the opportunity to choose her future.

6 years ago:

Arizona came home after a long day of classes. The end of the year was near and soon she and her awesome girlfriend would graduate and become doctors! After so many years of hard work and sleepless nights.

She lived with her girlfriend in an apartment off campus, but it was still near it.

When she came home, it was late and all the lights were turned off. She went to the kitchen and saw a plate wrapped in aluminum paper with a note on it.

'I waited for you as long as I could... but I have an early class tomorrow.

Hurry up and come join me in bed.

I need my cuddle buddy.

Love you'

She smiled at her girlfriend thoughtfulness and adorableness but it quickly vanished when she remembered why she had to come home late in the first place.

She put the plate in the fridge not feeling hungry and went to there bedroom.

She went in the bathroom as quietly as possible without waking the sleeping girl. Even if she knew she wouldn't wake up, if the world was turned upside down. That girl could sleep through anything.

She got ready for bed and when she was finished she slipped under the covers. She scouted toward her girlfriend pressing her front to her back, wrapped her arms around her and intertwined their legs.

Feeling the bed dip because of someone else's weight and the pleasant warmth of the body wrapping itself around her, the brunette began to stir with a smile tugging on the corner of her lips. She turned around in the other woman's embrace and nuzzled her nose in Arizona's neck.

She started peppering kisses on the skin she found available getting a moan out of the blonde.

"Mmm… aren't you supposed to be asleep?"

"I was but then a goddess slipped in my bed and woke me up." The brunette said pushing Arizona on her back.

"A goddess, uh?" Arizona questioned lifting an eyebrow at the girl brunette above her.

Nodding at Arizona she said "You're lucky my girlfriend isn't home yet, she can be very jealous." She then attached their lips together in a slow and passionate kiss.

"I better hurry then." Arizona said winking and removing her girlfriend's tank top.

"I guess you do." The brunette said straddling the blonde hips and unclasping her bra before kissing Arizona again.

An hour later, Arizona laid awake in bed with her arm around her girlfriend who had her head resting on her shoulder, sound asleep. She couldn't sleep, she kept thinking about the conversation she had with her father that evening.

How was she supposed to break the news to her girlfriend without ruining everything? Without breaking her heart?

"What the f-" Arizona exclaimed jolting awake. She was drenched from head to toe, her first instinct was to look up and she saw the tent was intact. Looking in front of her she saw Tim holding a bucket with a proud smile on his face, and Teddy next to him bent in half from laughter.

"What the hell guys?!" Arizona yelled standing up.

"We tried to wake you nicely but you wouldn't bulge and then you started moaning, so we had to do something about that." Tim said shrugging his shoulder and pointing at his sister's crotch while Teddy laughed harder.

Arizona had enough of Teddy laughing at her so she took the thing nearest to her -her boots- and threw it at Teddy who successfully avoided it.

"You're just a band of assholes!" Arizona huffed and then stood up, grabbing her boots and putting them on.

"Boo, you're no fun!"

"Shut up and leave my tent so I can get ready!" Arizona said shooing them out of her tent.

Once they were out of her tent, she started getting reading for the day ahead. She put her jacket on and was about to come out of her tent when she remembered she forgot something. Quickly she went to her bed and retrieved the picture under her pillow, casting a last glance at it she put it inside the pocket just above her heart.

Later in the morning, Arizona was sitting on Teddy's bed watching her friend pack her things.

"I can't believe your leaving me here and with Timmy nonetheless!" Arizona said with a pout.

"Come on, it's your brother, you've known him your whole life." Teddy replied still packing her things.

"Yeah, but you know us. We're always fighting and without you being the peace maker it's gonna be worse. Especially the first few days when he's gonna be all sad and missing his girlfriend."

"You know your tour is almost over, I could find you a spot at the same hospital as me, if you wanted to? I'm sure they would take you right away, you just have to say the word." Teddy said looking at her friend. It wasn't the first time that she brought up the subject and Arizona always shot her down telling her that she'll think about it. She had the feeling that this time wouldn't be any different. Her feeling was proven right when a few seconds later her friend told her that she would think about it. She had a lot of thing to take in consideration before taking a decision.

After lunch, they had to pack up camp and leave for base camp. A helicopter came to take Teddy while they were all packing their gear and after some teary goodbyes and a promise to call as soon as possible, Teddy was off to the United States leaving her boyfriend and best friend behind.

When they were in the truck heading for their base camp, Arizona was siting quietly in the back with the other surgeon –Evans- and two soldiers. Her brother was in the passenger seat talking with the driver about only god knows what.

She was thinking about what Teddy told her. Maybe she could finally settle down somewhere and have a normal life. Her father wouldn't be able to say anything since she's done everything he told her to do.

Truth be told she was over the army and couldn't wait to leave next month when her tour is over. After a few minutes of thinking, Arizona's mind was made. She was going to call Teddy and tell her that she has decided to try and get the post that her friend told her about. She also needed to have a talk with her brother.

Upon arriving at base camp Arizona was immediately needed in their superior office.

"You asked for me sir?" Arizona asked at the door.

"Robbins, have a sit please." Colonel Marshall said mentioning to the chair in front of Arizona.

"What can I do for you, sir?" Arizona started fidgeting when the colonel didn't say anything for a moment. She was holding her breath waiting for him to say something. She hated authority, she was always nervous and stressed and searching for anything that she could have done and put her in trouble.

"Something was brought to my attention that concerns you. I would need for you to tell me if it is truth or if it is just some horrible rumor." The colonel said, his face cold as ice.

Arizona swallowed, she was cursing herself thinking that someone told the colonel that she was gay.

Not able to say anything, Arizona just nodded signaling for the Colonel to tell her what it was about.

"Someone told me that while in the shower they saw that you had something that shouldn't be were it is…. What I'm trying to say is, are you intersex Dr. Robbins?"

Arizona looked at him with her eyes wide, and tears began to gather in her eyes. She didn't know what to say, from all the things she thought he could ask her, this was the last. It's been ten years since she's been a Marine and she was always careful. She was able to make it in the Marines thanks to her father and brother who were very respected.

This couldn't have been a worse timing. They had to find out a month before she was free. They couldn't find out at the beginning, before she sacrifices her whole life!

"Well, I'm waiting." The Colonel voice brought Arizona out of her thoughts.

"It is true sir, it's not a rumor." Arizona said looking at him in the eyes, she wasn't ashamed of who she was and she couldn't do anything even if she wanted to.

She was looking at the Colonel who seemed to be deep in thought probably trying to find what to do with her.

"I hope you understand that I can't keep you here anymore Robbins, even if you only have a month left. Normally you would have to leave immediately, however, since I know and respect your father and for all the service you provided to us, I will let you finish this week and say that we made a mistake and that you contract was actually terminated this week and not next month. Nothing about your condition will be disclosed or mentioned"

"Uh… thank you, sir" Arizona said standing up and leaving the colonel's office.

'One week' she thought.

However, neither of them knew that she wouldn't make it till the end of the week…

A/N: so here's the first chapter, let me know what you think, if you like it or not.

I'm going away tomorrow and I wont have wifi so I wont be able to update until August 20th. The next chapter is already written I just need to edit it. I'll try to post it as soon as I'm back.