Disclaimer: This is AU. I do not own any of the characters from Grey's Anatomy, this is purely imaginative writing most of the contents might not be true or match with how things work in reality bear with me this is just an imaginative work.
A|N: This is my first writing so please be nice with the criticism, I pay a lot of attention to details so the story might be stretched a little but with time I'll start to adjust and make it all come together, I'm open to your thoughts and opinions, this story is purely creative. Enjoy!
Pairing: Callie|Arizona
Chapter 1
Staring through my huge window out into the Seattle horizon, its moist and cold air pressing and washing softly on the glass frame, I have worked in this firm for over 3 years and eachtime it rains I can't help but admire the view of the city, it has been one of my favorite things ever since I moved from Miami. The sound of the rain and the momentary loud strike of the lightning is something I have come to like, makes me appreciate the art of verbal silence. Speaking of silence they seem to lack respect for that in this firm, or maybe its just my assistance; a young asian woman who always looks angry and has the worst attitude ever, curly black hair, average height and a remarkable brain, was considered the luckiest Senior Partner for snagging her as an associate, then I heard a sharp knock on my door shortly after the door opens slightly and the asian woman sticks half her body in and I heard her clear her throat,
"Errr Callie?" without turning my gaze from the view of the city I shoot back at her for breaking the beautiful silence
"WHAT?!"
"Geez! Who peed in your cheerios?" she said with an eye roll I didn't need to see to know about
"Cristina! Do you need something?" now my gaze fixed on the new presence in the room with a look that almost passes for loathing
"Easy on the stare down Medusa, Webber needs your presence in his office says he has a case for you"
"Why didn't he just give it to you?" I said now leaving my sweet spot that viewed Seattle's beauty to sit behind my desk that backed the view, I stared right at the woman infront of me
"When I start reading Webber's mind I'll send you a memo of his thoughts and feelings"
"Get out of my office! Now Cristina, before a vase meets your face" I said trying to feign some seriousness but with Cristina you cant help but chuckle
"He wants you there NOW Callie" she said and then closed my door and she was back to her desk just right outside my door.
Richard Webber wasn't a man that liked being kept waiting, he makes a request he wants it done yesterday. One of the best lawyers out there and he's not one of my biggest fans, actually he's not a fan at all and he doesn't do much to hide it. So I ruffled through some files on my desk did a little to clean up the messy desk and closed some tabs on my laptop and got up to leave, made my way up the elevator and up to his floor and after a couple more walks I made it to his office and I could see through the glass door he was having a conversation with a man, I turned to his assitant a short woman with a gun for a tongue, and a stare that makes my skin burn, they are a team and she's also one hell of a lawyer and one of my good friends,
"Morning Miranda, he wants to see me?
"Oh yes, just walk right in he's been expecting you for a while"
"He has someone in there" I said pointing to the back on the head that looks a little familiar but can't quite place my finger on it
"Just go in he's waiting, oh and Torres?" she called just as I was about to enter the office making me turned back to face her slightly "Happy Birthday drinks on me tonight", couldn't help but smile at her and mouth a silent thank you to her as I walked into his office. As I made my presence known by entering, Webber's head snapped in my directly and a wide smile covered his face, I looked back and wondered if it was directed at the other person that entered but I think its for me cause the other person seems invisible and I make my way deeper into the office and they both stand up and face me, then I recognized the man; British, late 50s but doesn't look a day over 40, his black hair perfectly coifed just well to show his highlights, black pinstrip expensive suit with his initials imprinted on his pocket square, on italian leather lace-up and his cologne was very manly, that is Robert Donohue one of the firm's largest clients and Richard and Carlos' old friend.
"Torres sit down, you recognize Robert don't you?" the older man said with a friendly tone that keeps surprising me at every turn
"Yes…Yes I do" I replied taking the man's hand for a handshake then taking a seat next in the other empty chair beside the man, didn't really understand the scene exactly so I decided to ask "Cristina said you had a case for me?" there is it again another smile, what is up with Richard?
"Yes I do" then he cleared his throat and gave Robert a cryptic stare and Robert was on his feet, straightening his suit and on his way out of the office and telling me and Richard to have nice day as he was out of the office the smile on Richard's face was gone oh now that's the Richard I recognize, "I'm sure you know Robert Donohue very well, he is one of our largest clients and one of the wealthiest man in Seattle, 4 sons who love trouble and he pays tons to legally get them out without long term damage, which in turn powers this beautiful firm"
"Richard I'm pretty aware of that, Mark and I have gotten them out of a bunch of those problems"
"Okay good, this one is rape. His youngest son Matthew has been accused of raping an 18 year old girl and she doesn't have the best past and I want you to fix it I don't want this to smell a court room" his face ice cold and serious
"What exactly are you asking me to do Richard?" his cold face was mirrored back with the same expression from me
"You're one of the best fixers I know, entiled arrogant, pompous, crass and cocky but you are good at what you do. He was drunk, things like this happen and low-lifes try to make a life out of it. I want this to go away without media coverage."
"Tell me about her past how bad is it?"
"Shoplifted a couple times and some other things that are now your business" he threw the case to my side of the table and gave me a look that had no emotion at all, "can you handle this?"
"Consider it done" I said with sheer cockiness as I made my way out of his office, walked in into the elevator and into my office and fell heavy into my chair, looking over the case when I heard
"So what happened? Webber finally fired you?" I snapped my head up to see the muscular 6 foot tall man with a grey hair, which is mostly highlight, in a white collar shirt with its sleeves rolled up to his elbow that looked like it was made for him and him only, tucked neatly into black pants and a suade lace-up, he was leaning against my door frame with a smile I would never get used to. "Yang said you got summoned" he moved into my office and sat down on a sofa at the left side the meeting area of my office and put his leg up on the coffee table his head leaning on the back on the chair with his attention to me
"Remind me to fire Yang" I stood up and joined him on the sofa and let out a heavy sigh, "he wants me to defend a rape case"
"That's piece of cake right? You can do that in your sleep"
"Yeah! Just looking over a couple things and I have another case to close in a couple hours, nice shirt I didn't know you and Lexie had a date?"
"I dress this nice on others days too"
"of course you do!" I said in a rather mocking tone which gets an eyeroll from him "whats the occasion" I said after giving him another glance
"Its your birthday Torres, I made reservations at Giovanni's tonight we're having dinner"
"OH thank God thought you would be planning a surprise party or something, Teddy was rather weird this morning"
"No! surprise parties are hostile, people jump out and scream at you, never comes to any good" he said with a look at almost seemed like he remembered when it happened to him, I just gave a light chuckle and placed my head on his shoulder
"The kid I'm defending? I hate to think he actually raped the girl and Webber wants it to go away, I hate overthinking everything sometimes"
"That's not the job Torres, actually it's the opposite. Why would he ask you to do that if the kid is guilty?"
"Robert Donohue makes a request? Richard shifts the earth to make it possible"
"Oh! Had to defend a theft case a couple months back too, his children need to get locked up" I gave a giggle in agreement and our conversation was cut short when a skinny tall blonde in a skin tight skirt and blue sleeveless satin top, her blonde hair falling over her shoulder and black red-bottom pumps walked into the office and made herself comfortable behind my desk
"Hey birthday girl? Cristina said you got fired"
"Remind me to fire her, come over here Altman. Mark was telling about dinner tonight"
"Oh God Mark you are so fort knox right now, that was meant to be a surprise" the skinny blonde said making her way over our side of the office and sitting opposite me and mark with her legs crossed
"I hate surprises, I'm not putting my friend through the horror" he said his gaze at the ceiling, we both gave him a puzzled look
"Childhood party trauma?" he asked Mark which got an eye-roll from him, "Callie I'm inviting a friend for the dinner is that okay? Has Jamie called yet?"
"Yes! The more the merrier, Bailey might want to come too, even Yang with the fat mouth can come too and NO! shes expecting a grand apology for missing her show" I shrugged
"You're not even dating anymore so what do you care? The black goose or something right? Where they dress in feathers and tutus and hop all over the stage" Teddy said with so much indifference in her face showing her obvious disinterest in ballet
"I really don't get the whole thing and they move so slow and then they start spinning and spinning and twirling, that's the tiring part" Mark added
"Black Swan! You know what's good about dating a ballet dancer?" I asked just out of the blue which made both of them stare at me expecting some deep explanation "they are super flexible in bed" I added, they both kept staring at me like I just asked both of them to strip naked, the laughter suddeny ripped through the office from the 3 of us. The whole scene was interrupted when Cristina stepped in,
"Callie, your 10:00 clients are here in conference room 3 and the background check on the rape victim is ready for you"
"Thank you Cristina, guys the job calls I will see you both at lunch?
"Oh I'm leaving right now, have to pick my friend up from the airport she's new in Seattle" Teddy said standing up and making her way out, "but I will see you tonight"
Mark made his way out of the office too with a quick peck to the cheek and a promise to meet me for lunch, and with that my first case for the day was set and my game face was turned on.
"Morning! Okay firs…." I was interrupted by this bald, short man in a grey suit and horn-rimmed glasses
"My client will be seeing you in court if this issue doesn't work out in her favor"
"Mr.?" I asked unruffled
"Nelson"
"Never interrupt me again Mr. Nelson is that clear?" he gave a nod and I continued "And your client cant go to court cause right now she's really lucky she's not in jail so shut up and do what you quacks do best and listen" he relaxed into his chair and didn't say anything, respect established!
"Your client is facing potential jail time if she doesn't refund my client for his painting and repairs that's all he's asking for"
"My client owes your client a refund for the painting and nothing else"
"Let me remind you Bob, that she sold him a painting that belongs to her husband who left her for 5 months, and he came back with thugs and trashed my client's house and him before taking the painting"
"My client is filing for dessertion"
"Bob I know you're a quack but I'd expect you to know you cant file for dessertion until its been over year" I said with a condescending tone that got a disgusted look from Nelson
"You're not allowed to speak to me like that"
"That's why a mediating room is better than a court room, I can say that" he asks for more time to discuss with his client who was sitting across from me rather reserved, their back and forth argument seem like it went on for days and I couldn't stand the wait, "Nelson we are wasting daylight my client can sue your client for misinformation"
"What are the options?"
"Your client can keep the painting, my client wants a full refund and money for repairs"
"Where is the compromise, you're not leaving my client with anything that favors her right now"
"She should be happy he isnt suing her for selling merchandise that wasn't hers"
"Okay, my client doesn't have that kind of money she is going to need some time to pay up"
"2 weeks and I'll be taking this to court where she will be paying more and maybe facing some jail time"
"Okay, she'll find a away to pay up for that and the repairs" after more arguments and more intimidating law terms were thrown round the room and harsh words, she finally agreed to have the money read in 3weeks and nothing more"
"Here sign this" I pushed the paperwork finalising their agreement to the deal and after signing he stands up and buttons up his jacket and his brief case and his client who seemed quiet through the entire thing was right behind him, just as he was exiting the conference room with his hand on the handle and the door slightly open he turns and says,
"Its Donald Nelson, not Bob"
"Okay Bob, have a pleasant day" I closed the folder infront of me and walked up to him, gave him a smile and gave him a pat on his shoulder as way to belittle him and then I said,
"Are you going to open the door Nelson or are you just going to stand there" the loathing and need to punch me across my face was evident but I wasn't one bit bothered, he opened the door his knuckles pale from grabbing the handle so tight out of anger, with a cocky smirk I walked out and made my way down to my office.
Walked into my office it already 12:23, and walked over my desk and looked over the file for the rape victim and her files had a lot of red flags that would allow me move through the case like breeze, have her seem like a gold-digger. Read the file for hours and forgot about lunch until a text came in.
-been waiting at Johnny's for a while now, you better have crashed your car somewhere that's the only explanation for the delay- Mark
Took a peek at my watch and saw 2:30 and cleared my desk shut down my laptop, and put on my coat and I was out of the office and out of the building, Arrived at the café and walked in it wasn't crowded so it was easy to spot Mark, an angry looking Mark staring at his watch and at the door, walked to our table and gave him an apologetic smile,
"Its your birthday you get a pass on this, what you having? Salad?"
"Hell no! had enough plants this month I think I want chocolate cake with strawberry frosting and a lot of coffee"
"Been a while we had that you want to split?"
"Yes please" Mark told the waiter our order and turned his gaze back to his phone, "so who is the friend Teddy went to pick? That's making her miss this?"
"Never met her, Teddy did say her name was Alabama or something" he said without looking up from his phone
"I'm sure she didn't say it was Alabama"
"Then it has to be Alaska, yes I'm 100% sure that's it" then waiter came back with the order and he's stuffing his mouth with a fork full of cake
"Her parents woke up and decided to name their child Alaska? That's just child abuse" we both laughed and the rest of lunch was spent teasing eachother and talking about cases and our schedule, we both left and Mark detoured to see Lexie in the hospital where she works and I went back to the office.
Behind my desk again for the third time today and the work keeps piling and cases keep creeping into my schedule, massaging my left temple while reading through some cases when for the third time again today a certain asian woman is interrupting something,
"Err Callie? Webber wants to see you and I think he's fuming some hot steams right now"
"Okay I'll go in a few" I said returning back to my reading
"Maybe he's about to fire you, can I come and watch your bitch baby tears?"
"Yang! Get out, get…. Get out!" her laughter was loud and a little annoying but I think I'm starting to get used to her even after a year I'm still trying but I wont trade her for anyone else. After a couple minutes I checked my watch it was 5:35 and I was due off work in a couple hours so I walked up to Richard's office for something I can only assume would be unpleasant.
"Richard? You asked for me?" he didn't look up from his paperwork or acknowledge my being there, "Richard I'm standing right here"
"Sit down" he still didn't look up from his work, I sat down and made myself a little comfortable, "You and Derek have this arrogance I really don't understand it and I know it's because you're both remarkable lawyers, but it ends now Torres"
"I don't understand Sir, what exactly is this about?"
"Donald Nelson has this verbal assault claim out in the wind for you and Derek, If its one lawyer I can dismiss it but two? It sticks. You are both going act contrite to him"
"I really don't see why…" my defense was cut short
"Don't let me remind you how you got here Torres, your richie rich parents put you in this firm now stop acting like an entitled brat and make do for your errors"
"Yes Sir"
"You're dismissed" he said with a wave of his hand and he was back to his paperwork, I was on my feet and at the door with one stride and my hand on the knob when I heard "Oh and Torres? One more claim like this and I'll have you benched and I want to here what Dad has to say" my back still to him and my jaw clenched, he was the only person with the words to tip my calm self off I opened the door and was out and back to my office and into my chair and then my door opened without even knowing who i yelled,
"Cristina not now!"
"okay, are you okay? Want to talk about it?"
"NO!"
"oh thank God, feared you'd say yes anyway I'm off. See you tomorrow Boss" and she was out of the door and the I realized the dinner was in a couple hours and I had to get ready so shut down my laptop and put a couple files in my bag to work on at home. And I was out of my office soon after, which was already starting to look empty which made me guess tonight wasn't going to be just dinner. Got into my car and I was on my way home and Webber's words eating up my mind and making me really angry, thumbs drumming up beats on the steering uncounsciously cause my thoughts were all over the place, didn't even realised I was in garage until I was pulling out my car keys, I walked into the house that used to belong to me and my girlfriend till she moved to New York for better dance company and I guess we just respected eachother's careers enough not to put pressure on the split, some of her boxes still litter the house which now seemed empty and really quiet. Walked upstiars into my room and out of my work clothes and into the shower to wash away the stress of the day and put on some free clothes and walked downstairs it was just 6:00pm and the dinner or party or whatever Mark had planned was for 8 so I plopped down into my living room couch and brought out all my files, poured myself a tall glass of red and put on the TV but the volume reduced for some background sound, read over the rape case over and over and I was sure I had all I needed to clear this without breaking a sweat. Time seemed to pass by so fast when you have a party you don't want to attend on the itinerary then a text came in.
_Picking you up soon. Please tell me you're ready and looking amazing be there in 20 – Mark
20 minutes? I was out of my chair and upstairs in record time and going through clothes, went through formal, too formal, casual, a little too casual, too inappropriate to 'I don't think this is it' and more clothes being thrown all over the place until the purple, knee length, tight dress winked at me it was like I could hear it say 'pick me Cal, pick me' and I paired it with black heels and that was it, perfect!
Make-up was complete, hair was a little curly with a side fringe, grabbed my coat and back downstairs just in time to hear the knock, opened the door and his face lit up and his eyes scanned me up and down and a weird smile crossed his face,
"If you weren't so gay and I wasn't in love with Lexie we'd be tearing a hot one right now" he said while sounding so…Mark about it
"You're a dirty, dirty old man" he took my hand and we walked into the car, "it's a surprise party isnt it?" without staring at him I could just feel it
"Altman would have my balls on a pike if I told you, but hint; try to look a little surprised when they yell "SURPRISE""
"How's that you not telling me?"
"Telling you what?" he said with a fake clueless expression
"You're a good friend Mark, just the best"
We arrived outside Giovanni's just in time and put my game face on because I'm sure Teddy would have my head also if I didn't act surprised or close to tears cause I was raked with emotion, we walked right in and as expected, "SURPRISE!" I could have gone to acting school and made it out with a star had the siganture hand to chest, fake gasp and raised eyebrow look on and sold!
"Oh my God you guys are the best, I wasn't expecting this at all"
"You liar, you're going to hell" Mark whispered into my ear before walking away into the restaurant, getting hugs from random people I have never met but worked with and then Teddy walked up to me,
"That didn't fool me I know he told you. UGH! He cant be tight-lipped to save his own skin"
"Oh he tries, this is amazing by the way Thank you"
"You're Welcome, did Jamie call?"
"How about we don't talk about her tonight, I want to drink and have fun its my birthday damnit!" I said as I took off my coat and walked to the bar with Teddy not far behind, walked over to the bar and boozebag a.k.a Teddy ordered a whole bottle of tequila after 4 shots I was ready to actually have fun which I rarely get to do but all the while I couldn't stop staring at a particular blonde at the edge of the bar,
"Hey boozebag who's that?"
"Oh that's my friend the one I told you I was going to pick up"
"Oh Alaska! Mark told me about her"
"Alaska? Seriously? You two are unbelievable come on let me introduce you"
We walked over to her and the closer we got the more this woman seems breathtaking, she has blonde curly hair its short and edgy, she looked a little tired my guess from the flight here but that didn't do anything to decrease the glow, she had on a red black lowcut top with a grey jacket on and white denim pants and cute loafers, she looked amazing, she was having a conversation with another person and a smile on her face which showed her dimples, she couldn't get any cuter if she tried.
"Hey Arizona, you're okay?"
"Yeah I am" her eyes moved from Teddy to me and up and down like she was waiting for more words out of Teddy
"Oh sorry this Callie Torres the birthd…" her semi-drunk rant was cut off by me
"Callie Torres" stretched out my hand for being polite's sake
"Arizona Robbins" Arizona not Alaska! That's better. she took my hand for a shake that lasted a little more than normal
"Okay, mingle I will see you two in a few Henry is here" she was gone before I could even blink
"So you work with Teddy? Same field?"
"Yes and No, shes a Paralegal and I'm a fixer, more like a mediator"
"You hate the court rooms don't you?" she said with a dimpled smile
"Hell yes! So you're new in Seattle, what do you do?" I took a sit on a bar stool right beside her
"YES, I'm a writer the new scenery helps with inspiration I guess"
"Well you couldn't have picked a better place Seattle is beautiful and you know what helps in new locations?"
"No, what's that" again with the dimples that keep grabbing my attention
"A wonderful tour guide, I know the most amazing coffee shop eevr in Seattle"
"We writers do love our coffee, it's a little hard to refuse when you go there" we both let out a little chuckled and she gave a nod
"So when do we start this tour?"
"How about Saturday? I have the whole day off and there are a lot of other places you need to see"
"Saturday sounds perfect, I'm eager already" if I didn't know any better I'd say this our little banter seemed like flirting but I wasn't sure if she was on my team or just really friendly
"Nothing with alcohol"
"You're real right? I mean if I poke you right now you're not going to disappear" her laughter was cute
"Fine! Il have a vodka tonic" its really nice how easy our conversation flowed, no awkwardness or silent moments and like every good moment I have been having that day there was always something ruining it, more like someone,
"Hey Boss" said the asian woman holding a bottle of tequila and was obviously tipsy
"I thought you were going home, how did you end up here"
"I wasn't going to tell you I was leaving to attend your party now was I"
"With your fat mouth? That wouldn't have come as a shock" I said with deadpan face
"You don't pay me enough for this"
"Maybe I should fire you"
"You wouldn't dare, you'd be lost without me. I'm the best you have believe THAT!...nice to meet you blondie" and she walked off to where Meredith Grey was sitting obviously tipy too and they say lawyers are uptight, they havent seen those two at a bar.
"That's errrr your"
"Assistant"
"She's….umm…she's a …"
"It's okay you can say it"
"A bitch!" we both laughed and I have to admit that's one truth I can deny
"So do you…" my attempt to actually find out if shes just super friendly or actually on my team was interrupted yet again
"TORRES! TORRES!" Mark was calling me from a table not too far from the bar and gesturing for me to come over and judging from the crowd at that table I'm going to be listening to law jokes and puns all night, gave her an apologetic smie and she gave an understanding nod as I got up to leave
"Nice to meet you Arizona"
"Likewise Callie" and another shake and I was leaving to meet up with Mark and Derek and others at the table, "hey! Happy birthday" she said with a smile that I am fast becoming a huge fan of. Got to the table and Miranda was telling a story about a case that obviously had everyone's attention so I joined in to listen but with my thoughts tied to a certain blonde, at a particular point laughter ripped throughthe entire table but I wasn't really listening. The rest of the night was spent guzzling alcohol and making jokes I glanced to the bar later on but the blonde was gone.
I have a feeling I'm going to be seeing a lot of her
Am I heading down a good path? Your opinions count and your criticism is taken under compliments.