**WARNING** This Fic contains the subject of domestic violence.

I own nothing. All characters/storylines belong to Shonda. I'm simply 'borrowing' them.

Flashbacks are in bold italic.


Chapter One


"Yes, Mom. I'll call you in a few days. Please, I just want to get settled here first." Arizona sighed. "I know you want to come visit, but I've only just got here myself. Soon, I promise."

Ending the call she had been forced to endure for the past thirty minutes, Arizona made her way to the elevator and hit the button. Stepping inside, she felt an excitement building in her stomach. It was the first day of her new job. A new city, and a new job title, she couldn't ask for anything more.

Having recently gotten out of a relationship, she was ready to concentrate on her work. She was ready to be the surgeon she knew she could be, and she was ready to start a new life in Seattle.

Stepping out of the elevator on the Peds floor, she smiled as she made her way over to the nurses station. Not only was she an excellent surgeon, who had turned a lot of heads during her time as an intern, she was a great leader. Now, she stood in the corridor of her new hospital as Dr Arizona Robbins, Head of Paediatric surgery. It had taken a little time for the call she received almost three weeks ago to sink in, but now that it had, she was ready, and she was prepared to show Seattle Grace exactly what she was capable of.

Hearing her pager sound out, she looked down to find she was needed in the ER. Quickening her pace, she decided to take the stairs. She had always been athletic, and knowing that she would spend most of her time in an OR rather than working out, she figured that little exercise like the stairs could only be a good thing.

Reaching the ER, she was met with a number of nurses and paramedics. "Female, 11 years old, fell from her bedroom window. Clear signs of broken bones."

The paramedic went on to list the girls symptoms and injuries while Arizona checked her over. Satisfied with their review, she thanked them and got to work. Removing the bandage around the girls thigh, the blonde cleared her throat. "Page Ortho."

A short time later, Arizona was met with the most intense brown eyes she had ever seen. "Someone paged me?" Feeling her mouth dry up, she had no words. Watching as the beautiful Latina looking woman in front of her worked her magic, she stood back and glared. How could someone be so beautiful and so talented all at the same time? How could someone have the eyes of an angel, but the grip and the strength of a bodybuilder? How could someone walk into the room and instantly change the atmosphere? Arizona had all kinds of thoughts running through her mind right now. None of them clean, and none of them healthy. Get a grip, Robbins. It's your first day. Stepping forward, the blonde smiled at the Ortho surgeon. "Hi, Arizona Robbins."

"Um, you're new, right?" Callie furrowed her brow. "I'm sorry, that was rude. Callie Torres, Ortho." The brunette held out her hand. Soft pale hands meeting her own, she had never felt such a gentle touch.

"I am. Head of Paediatric surgery. It's great to meet you." Intense blue eyes locked their gaze with the woman in front of her. "Really great to meet you."

"You too." The brunette nodded as she continued to work on the patient in front of her. "Grey, book an OR. Her femur is done for right now."

"Sure, Torres." Lexie called down to prepare the OR while the nurses and the two surgeons went about checking her vitals. Pulling up the side rails, the women stood either side of each other as they wheeled the young girl into the corridor and down towards the lift.

It was going to be a long afternoon. One which Arizona was happy to spend with the brunette who had not only just walked into the room, but into her thoughts.


Five hours later, Arizona was scrubbing out of her surgery, and trying hard to remove her gaze from the woman through the glass window in front of her. Deciding that she shouldn't be staring at her, she stepped out of the scrub room and removed her cap. Braids still in perfect position, she let out a sigh and made her way down the corridor. Hitting the elevator button that would take her back up to the Peds floor, she tapped her foot impatiently. Come on, come on. Relieved when the doors opened, she stepped inside and found the elevator empty. Leaning her head back against the wall, she took a few deep breaths and tried hard to get the brunette off of her mind. Stuffing her scrub cap into her pocket, she opened her eyes to find Callie Torres jamming her hand inside the closing elevator doors.

"Hey, that was awesome in there. I don't think I've worked that easily with anyone in a while." Red lips curled into a smile as she too leant against the wall of the elevator.

"Thanks. Once I'm in the OR I just shut off. I close myself down and concentrate on what is in front of me." Arizona smiled back at the beautiful form in front of her.

"Yeah, I'm not one for all the small talk. There is plenty of time for that outside of this place."

"Oh yeah? So where does the small talk happen?" Blue eyes narrowed. "Do you have a local bar that everyone hangs out at?"

"Sure. Joe's. It's just down the road if you take a left at the entrance to the hospital. You should swing by, its a great bar." The brunette shrugged. "I think everyone is heading there tonight. It's one of the anaesthesiologist's birthdays."

"Awesome. I could do with finding my way around the place. I've only been in Seattle a few days, and it's going to be my home for the foreseeable so I guess there is no time like the present, right?"

"Right. Maybe I'll catch you there. I'm not sure what my plans are this evening just yet." Stepping out of the elevator, Callie gave the Peds surgeon a smile and a wave. "See you."

Closing her eyes, she couldn't believe how amazingly hot the woman she had just shared an elevator ride with was. You have to stop those thoughts, Robbins. She probably isn't even gay. Not everyone you meet is gay. Once again trying hard to forget the woman she had just spent five hours with, she was failing miserably. She was hot, she was dark, and she was mysterious. Arizona's ideal woman. Stepping out of the elevator she made her way down to the nurses station. Grabbing her charts, she began her evening rounds and hoped she would see the other woman down at Joe's later that night.


Strolling down the street, Callie felt her cell buzz in her back pocket. Rolling her eyes, she hit the call button and listened to the voice filtering through. "Hi."

"Where are you? You were supposed to be home a while ago." The angry voice sounded out.

"I've just finished up now. I had an emergency surgery which lasted five hours. I had to finish up the rest of my things before I just disappeared from the hospital." The brunette rolled her eyes. She wasn't in the mood for this argument right now but she knew her fiancé wasn't going to give it up easily.

"So you're on your way home?"

"Actually, no. It's one of the guys birthdays so I'm headed off to Joe's to meet up with everyone else." Callie spat back.

"Are you fucking other women, Callie? Or men for that matter?" Suzanne yelled. "I know what you are like when you drink. You can't keep your hands to yourself."

"You know what? I'm not doing this right now. I've had a busy day, so now I just want to unwind. Is that a problem?" Callie sighed. She was tired of the fighting, and she was tired of the unpredictability when she returned home after her shifts. Not wanting to rile her fiancé up anymore than she already was, she tried to calm the situation. "Look, I'll just have one and then I'll be home. Give me an hour, yeah?"

"ONE HOUR, CALLIE!" Her fiancé yelled before ending the call.

Stepping inside Joe's, the brunette quickly realised that she didn't really want to be there. She no longer had a social life, and the more time she spent with Suzanne, the more she wanted to run and never look back. No matter how much she loved her job, or the hospital, nothing was worth the endless fighting at home. Yes, she had loved Suzanne when they met. It had been easy and it had been new, but after spending the last two years together, almost one engaged, she wondered if there was something better out there for her. Someone who wouldn't accuse her and belittle her at every opportunity.

Heading over to the bar, she ordered a rum and coke before pulling herself up a nearby stool. She just wanted one drink. One drink, and a moment to herself. Feeling the dark liquid hit the back of her throat, she groaned at the taste. It felt good to be out, and it felt good to not have to think about anything for a minute or two. Feeling the intensity of the drink wear off, she remembered her fiancé who was waiting back at home. Suzanne was a business woman, and a very good one at that. She had never been one to take crap from anyone, and the longer Callie spent with her, she soon realised that anything that didn't revolve around Suzanne was classed as crap to the red head. Including Callie and her career, Callie and her family, and Callie and her social life. The brunette had never been one to party too hard. Sure, she had in her younger years, but now that she was only two years off thirty, she knew it was time to settle down and she knew that if she didn't leave her fiancé soon, their relationship would spiral out of control, and she would be the one who ended up hurt. Both physically and mentally.

"A penny for your thoughts?" A familiar voice called into the brunettes ear. Turning to find the source of the voice, she was met with the beautiful blue eyes of her new co worker.

"Hi." Callie sighed. "It's Arizona, right?"

"It is. Can I, um, can I buy you a drink?" The blonde smiled as she pulled herself up on the stool next to Callie.

"Oh, I'm good thanks. I have to get home soon." Checking her watch, she figured she had around twenty minutes left. The walk home would take ten, and she had already ended her fiancés call almost thirty minutes ago.

"But you don't have much of yours left." Blue eyes narrowed.

"Yeah. As much as I'd love to stay out, I can't." Tanned shoulders shrugged.

"Do you have kids at home or something?"

"No, a fiancé." Callie stated. "She's been waiting for me for quite some time, so I should really head off soon."

"Okay." Arizona smiled as she removed herself from the stool. "It was nice seeing you again. I'll see you around the hospital, yeah?"

"Sure you will." Brown eyes dropped their gaze. Callie figured she could become friends with her new colleague. She seemed nice enough, and although she was a little perky, that would do her fine away from home. Removing herself from the barstool, she slung her purse over her shoulder and made the short walk home.


Quietly slipping her key into the lock, Callie tried to make as little noise as possible. She had stuck by her word, and she had returned home completely sober, and on time, she hoped. Thrilled to see her apartment in darkness, she breathed a sigh of relied as she quietly closed the door behind her. Thank god she is in bed. Tiptoeing through the house, the brunette reached her bedroom. Slowly pushing the door open, she found her fiancé sat up waiting for her. "Uh, what time do you call this?"

"Um, I call it on time?" The brunette scoffed as she removed her jacket and began changing into her pyjamas. She hated pyjamas, but her fiancé had insisted on her wearing them because she wasn't comfortable having Callie naked incase anyone got into their apartment. Her body was for Suzanne's eyes only….apparently. Slipping into the bed, Suzanne sniffed her fiancé and furrowed her brow. "What now, Suzanne?"

"You've been around other women haven't you?" The redhead grit her teeth. "You just can't be trusted can you? I let you stay out an hour longer, and you still can't behave." Sitting up on her knees, Suzanne glared down at the brunette. "You make me sick."

"Woah, I barely had time for one drink. Where am I finding time to be with other women?' Callie scoffed as she turned away from the other woman, instantly regretting the words that had fallen from her lips.

"Look at me, Callie." Her fiancé demanded. "Look at me, NOW!"

Turning back over to meet the gaze of her fiancé, Callie knew exactly what was coming. Feeling the redheads hands wrap around her throat, the brunette braced herself. This was normal in their household, and although she had tried to leave on a number of occasions, the redhead who was currently restricting her airflow had always found a way back. Apologies and promises were what Calliope Torres had always fallen for, and tonight would be no different. "When will you realise that no one else wants you?"

Shaking her head, she coughed as the other woman's grip tightened. "I, uh-"

"Shut up." Suzanne spat. Removing her hands from the brunettes neck, she smiled. "Go to sleep, Callie. I can't bare to look at you. You disgust me."

Focusing on her breathing, Callie turned around and faced the wall. It hadn't been as bad as she had expected. Maybe Suzanne was too tired to fight tonight. Maybe she didn't care anymore and she was giving the brunette an out. No such thing existed in the world of Callie Torres, but right now, she was thankful that it had ended when it did. Closing her eyes, she prayed for the night to go as fast as possible. Another day at the hospital, and another day with what felt like freedom.


Standing in the locker room of the hospital, Callie glared at herself in the mirror. Suzanne never left marks, at least not where they could be seen, and although it could have been worse, the brunette was certain she could see the faint remains of thumb prints around the front of her neck. She usually chose not to go out anywhere, because the fighting it would bring with it was too hard. She had known exactly what was coming last night after she had been to Joes, but she just needed a moment to herself, and a little time to destress from the days events. What is wrong with me? Why can't I just leave. Shaking her head, she thought back to a time when she truly did love Suzanne. Things had been perfect, and happy, and Callie knew for sure that she wanted to spend her life with the redhead. Suzanne didn't like to socialise with the brunettes friends, and Callie had simply put it down to her being hard at work, or a little anti social. It wasn't a problem, and it wasn't something she had ever worried about, but when she began banning Callie from seeing her own friends, it did make the brunette think.

First it was just heated arguments every time she returned home from work, or her friends, or a conference, and then a slap here and there. The first time Suzanne laid her hands on the brunette, Callie knew it was her fault. She had forgotten to bring home takeout after Suzanne reminding her twice. Her fiancé had been working all day, and her forgetting their dinner wasn't acceptable. Sure, she had expected an argument the second she walked through the door, but it never came. Callie simply received the silent treatment. Until she opened her mouth to apologise. Apologising usually meant forgiveness and a little hug, at least in her past relationships it did, but Suzanne didn't do apologies. She didn't do forgiveness or flowers or birthday presents or dinner at a fancy restaurant. No, apologies meant you had done something wrong and when you done something wrong, all hell broke loose.

Closing her eyes as she remembered the first time the redheads hand had connected with her face, she took a deep breath. She didn't cry anymore. What was the point? Instead she would get on with it, because according to Suzanne, that's just what people do. People don't share their problems with their friends, people don't call their parents to come visit them. People 'get one with it'. Hearing the other woman's voice in her mind, she shook her head. She means well. I know she does. If I just don't piss her off, then things will be okay. I have to stop pissing her off, it's not fair to her. Slipping on her white lab coat, Callie straightened herself out and rolled up the sleeves. Today she would do her work, and she would be home in time to cook a nice dinner for her fiancé. Maybe suggest a movie night.

"You want to watch a movie?" Suzanne scoffed. "Why do you want to watch a movie?"

"Because it's what people do. You know, spend a little time together." Callie smiled as she sat down on the opposite side of the couch. "We used to watch movies together."

"What people? Who have you been talking to?" The redhead stood from her seat. "Have you been watching movies with other people?"

"What? No." Dark curls shook. "Forget I even mentioned it. I'll just go take a shower and head off to bed." Removing herself from the couch, Callie gave an awkward smile as she slowly made her way past between her fiancé and the coffee table. Suzanne didn't like to be touched unless she told Callie to, so right now, it was important that the brunette made as little contact as possible.

"Fucking movies." The other woman scoffed as the brunette stepped in front of her. "I've been working my ass off all day and you want to sit watching fucking movies. What are you….12?"

Deciding not to answer back, Callie continued on past her fiancé and made her way around the coffee table. Feeling a foot connect with her own, she tripped and landed face down on the hard wood floor. Groaning as she held her face, she was relieved to see that there was minimal blood, and she hadn't broken anything.

"You might want to watch were you are going. Try picking up your fucking feet." Suzanne laughed as she left the living room. Hearing the bedroom door slam shut, Callie shuddered.

She knew that her fiancé had just tripped her up, but she was forever finding excuses and reasons for the other woman's behaviour. She just wanted love from Suzanne. When Callie Torres loved, she loved hard. She was all in. Knowing that this was just a phase the couple were going through, she pulled herself up to her feet, and sighed. "She's tired. She's tired and I just can't help myself." Mumbling to herself as she crossed the short distance to the bathroom, she decided she would shower, and then creep into bed. Suzanne was right, she had been working all day, so right now, Callie would let her sleep. Tomorrow would be a better day.

"Dr Torres, Hi." A familiar voice called out down the corridor.

Turning to acknowledge the voice, Callie gave a slight smile. She couldn't and shouldn't be around anyone else right now. It wasn't fair to Suzanne. "Hi, Dr Robbins."

"Do you mind if I walk with you?" Blue eyes brightened.

"I, um, I have somewhere I need to be, I'm sorry." Callie gave a sad smile. As much as she would love to be friends with the new surgeon, she couldn't. She barely had time for her other friends, so right now, it was a no go.

"That's okay, I'm headed this way anyway." The blonde smiled as she fell into step with the Ortho surgeon. "How was your weekend?"

"Um, fine." The taller woman shrugged. The perfume of the Peds surgeon was comforting, and as much as she wanted to end this conversation, she couldn't. Something about the other woman was relaxing, and friendly, and that was something she hadn't experienced in quite some time. "Yours?"

"Oh, great. Just unpacking a tonne of boxes." Arizona rolled her eyes. "I didn't realise how boring unpacking could be."

"Yeah, it sounds really exciting." The brunette laughed.

"So I'm headed to Joe's later with Dr Karev. Would you like to join us? I don't know many people around here and I figured drinks is always a good place to start."

"Oh, I can't." Dark curls shook. "I have to get home."

"Oh. Again? You look like someone who enjoys a night out, but I never see you around." Baby blues stared intently. Narrowing a little, her gaze dropped down to the other woman's throat. "What happened to your neck?"

"Huh?" A tanned hand rested over the slight bruising. "What do you mean?"

"Your neck? It's bruised." Arizona furrowed her brow.

Swallowing hard, Callie felt herself panic. "Oh, I, um, I don't know."

"Weird. I'd have thought you'd know where bruising on your neck came from." Pale shoulders shrugged. "I guess I'll see you around, you know, when you don't have to get home."

"Yeah. Goodbye, Dr Robbins." Callie smiled as she watched the other woman walk away. Running her hand along her neckline, the brunette knew she had to talk to her fiancé. It wasn't the redheads fault that she had choked her. Callie shouldn't have been around other women in Joe's the other night. At least that is what the brunette kept telling herself.

She loved Suzanne very much, but she didn't like being her punchbag. She didn't want a relationship that consisted of uncertainty and fear every time she walked through the door. She had told herself the last time she left the redhead that she wouldn't allow it to happen again, but now it was. It was, and she felt stuck once again. Stepping into the elevator, Callie placed her head back against the wall and sighed. I have to find a reason for this bruising. Someone else is going to see it, and I don't have anything to give them. Straightening herself out, she smiled as a nurse entered the carriage. Today would be a good day. It had to be. Thinking about taking Arizona up on her offer, Callie figured that maybe she could tell Suzanne she had worked late. She wasn't a liar, and she wasn't a cheat, but she wanted to have a night out with friends. Scratch that, she will know and it will be worse when I get home. Shaking her head, she thought about the blue eyes that had found hers only minutes ago. She was beautiful. Arizona Robbins. Beautiful and probably married with kids.

Lost in her thoughts, Calliope Torres was torn.


Thanks for reading, guys. I know this is a hard subject, but it is something that has been on my mind for a few weeks now. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this fic.