AN: Just a little one of Christmas Tale. Hope you enjoy! It is not linked to any other stories, and all the usual disclaimers apply!
Feliz Navidad! Happy Christmas!
Callie sighed as she looked out of the window. The snow was coming down thick and fast, the earlier light flurries now turning to heavy swirls that danced passed the window and obscured her view. She shivered slightly as she took another sip of her coffee before wrapping her hands around the mug and hugging it to her as she let out yet another sigh. She jumped as she finally heard a voice behind her say. "Earth to Callie…come in Callie….YO…Torres! Do you want a top up?"
Callie smiled as she looked over at Meredith Grey and nodded before walking over and passing her now nearly empty mug over. "Thanks!" she mumbled as it was filled and passed back
"Really coming down out there huh?" Meredith nodded at the window before flopping down into the nearest armchair
"Hmmm" Callie said as she sat down in the chair opposite. "There are weather warnings out all over the city. The day centre staff are staying over so I am going to keep Sofia here, safer than traveling in this. At least ONE of her mothers has some sense!"
"Huh?"
Again, Callie sighed. "Arizona. She is out there in this" she whispered before nervously taking another sip of coffee and glancing quickly at the window
"Say what?!" Meredith gasped. "Why? Where? And again, why?"
With a mirthless laugh Callie explained. "She got called to Seattle Pres. Their Peds surgeon is stuck out in the sticks somewhere, and the hospital had a patient come in with complications to a previous surgery"
"So, they called Arizona?" Meredith asked quietly as she saw Callie hesitate
"They called Arizona" Callie nodded. "And I told her she shouldn't go, I TOLD her the weather warnings were for snow blizzards and ice. I told her she should say no…I told her, and she said, she said" Callie took a deep breath before smiling bitterly and with a shake of her head finished. "She said I had no right to TELL her anything. Ever again. No right"
Meredith stared at her friend for several long seconds before whispering. "She has a point. She's a grown ass woman Callie. She can make her own decisions now…."
"They are the WRONG decisions Meredith!" Callie said quickly. "Wrong. Crazy. And frankly, dangerous and irresponsible!"
Meredith gave a small grin and laughed. "Do you know what you sound like? A wife! That's what you sound like!"
Callie slumped down in her chair and took another sip of coffee before glumly saying. "I am so not that anymore! Arizona has made that perfectly clear!"
"I thought you left her?"
Callie shook her head. "I, I left the situation. I left, what we had become. But I still love her. I do. I, I always will. I just, I, I don't know if love is enough!"
Meredith nodded and bit her lip before muttering . "Tell me about it!"
"I'm sorry!" Callie gasped as she quickly sat up and reached over to rest her hand on her friends knee. "I'm being selfish. I forgot. It's just, I was hoping that Arizona and I were getting better ya know? We were, being friends and getting to know each other, starting over I thought! But, seems I was wrong!"
Meredith scrunched up her face and looked at her friend waiting for more details
Callie slumped back into her seat before telling her. "We, we fought. Tonight. Before she left. Before I even knew she was going out in this weather, we fought. Then when I heard she was going to Pres, I barged in here, and we fought again! Things were said. A lot of things, and I don't know if she meant them, if I meant them. But we had been doing so good, and now…."
"Now?"
Callies face crumpled and she bit back a sob before looking at Meredith and saying. "I think I have lost her. I think…I really think, that we are over. WE are done. And I, I don't know, I can't, I don't…I don't know how to stop loving her so damn much, and just let her walk away from me. I can't, let go! Not, completely. But tonight, tonight…she was letting me go. She was…pulling away from me. And I couldn't stop her!"
Meredith nodded and waited a moment before asking. "What was the fight about Callie? What did she say?"
Callie came barging into the Attendings Lounge, already knowing that she would find Arizona there, Alex had told her she would find Arizona there. "What the hell Arizona! She yelled as the blonde woman looked up and went to smile, the smile faltering as the tall brunette glared at her. "I have just seen the staff rota. You put down to do a double over Christmas! What were you thinking?"
Arizona shrugged before saying quietly. "I was thinking I would rather be here than sat at Alexs watching him and Jo making gooey eyes all morning….or sat at Merediths making everyone feel uncomfortable about me being there! I was thinking it was better all round for ME to work, and let Alex have some time off. And I was thinking it would make life easier…for you"
"For ME?" Callie laughed. "How does your pulling a double make MY life easier?"
Arizona sighed and made a point of studying her shoes before mumbling. "It is easier for Sofia ok! She, she won't want to leave her toys and presents and the comfort of her home on Christmas Day! YOU won't want to have to keep one eye on the clock wondering if I am on my way to pick her up. And I can't sit at home knowing she is with you, laughing and singing, whilst I sit in some ones guest room on my own!"
Callie blinked rapidly as Arizonas words hit her. She was right of course, Callie didn't want to see her daughter go anywhere on Christmas Day. But then, she hadn't planned on it just being the two of them. With a slight cough Callie shoved her hands in her pockets and pursed her lips before saying. "I wanted to….to invite you to the house. Home. For Christmas Day. I wanted you to be with Sofia, to be there for dinner and playing. I wanted you there!"
"YOU wanted!" Arizona laughed. "You wanted to be free, you wanted to be so much more, you wanted to breathe. No Callie. No. You didn't want me there. You just didn't want to share Sofia!"
"Not true!" Callie hissed stepping forward and pointing her finger accusingly at Arizona. "Not true and you know it! I have been willing to share, I have never tried to stop you seeing her, never! YOU were the one who chose to work Thanksgiving, now you plan to work Christmas! It is not me not sharing Sofia, it is you avoiding her, and she misses you. SO much. But don't you blame me. Don't you ever blame me!"
Again Arizona chuckled. "Ok, fine!" she smirked. "NONE of this is your fault!" she added sarcastically before going to stand up and walk away, sensing Callie was only just keeping her temper under control. "None of it!"
Callie reached over and grabbed her arm. "I am not saying that. I'm not talking about US Arizona, I'm talking about our daughter!"
Instantly Arizona pulled free and glared at Callie. "I know that! Of course I know that. But I am TRYING to do the right thing here! Maybe when she is older, she will understand more, and it will be ok for her to move between the two of us. I should have my own place by then and she will have somewhere to come to. But right now, she is so young. And so excited! She will be tired after a long day, and if it's anything like her birthday she will want to play with every present and watch every film until her eyes close. She won't want to be dragged to a cold car and brought to another house. She will just want….her own bed…and you"
Callie stared at her before asking softly. "Will you at least come over for a little while on the day? To see her open some presents? Let her know we are ok together, and we BOTH love her?"
Arizona stared back before whispering. "I'd like that. I'll, I'll try"
"You can watch her open the presents off you if you like!" Callie smiled
"Uhm" Arizona shrugged slightly before saying. "I was kinda well, Alex and Jo are going away at the weekend. And it IS my weekend with Sofia, so I thought…well I thought I would do another Christmas Day for her. Just the two of us. Spend some quality time together you know!"
"This weekend?" Callie asked quickly
"Well, yeah!" Arizona nodded. "IT IS my weekend."
Callie swallowed and licked her lips. A tell tale sign of her sudden discomfort. Noticing it all, Arizona stepped forward and muttered. "What?"
"Uhm" Callie gave a weak smile. "My dad. He uhm. Well, he is coming to visit, this weekend! He wants to see Sofia, spend some time with her!"
"You're kidding me right?" Arizona whispered. "Please, say you're kidding"
"I'm not!" Callie shrugged a fraction. "He has some time off between Christmas and the New Year, and wanted to spend it with his Granddaughter!"
"Well, how long is he here for?"
"He gets in Friday night, heads home Monday afternoon"
"The whole weekend?" Arizona gasped. "He is here the whole weekend…so you want me to stay away? Not to see Sofia? So she can see your dad?"
"He IS her Grandfather!" Callie said snippily. "He has a right to see her!"
"Which is obviously more than I do, despite your words. What was it Callie…I'm willing to share? I have NEVER stopped you from seeing her? On your terms though huh? After all…you are her REAL mother. And me? I'm just a name on a piece of paper that means nothing in a court of law if you decide to cut me out of her life! So how can I argue? "
Callie gasped. "I would NEVER do that! And you are as much her mother as I am!"
Arizona pursed her lips and asked. "So, if it was your weekend, and you hadn't seen Sofia all over the holidays, and MY parents were coming to visit….would you let me have her?"
Callie opened her mouth to answer, and hesitated as she realised her truthful answer would be no. She didn't need to say it. Arizona saw it in her eyes and merely nodded before pushing to walk out of the room. "It's fine Callie" she said sadly as she hesitated by the door. "I won't interfere. I understand. Best I walk away now, whilst she is little….she'll forget me soon enough, maybe it is for the best…"
"WHAT?" Callie cried as she stepped forward and slammed the door closed. "What are you saying?"
Arizona bit her bottom lip and fought for control. "I'm saying, that I understand. I won't fight you. Perhaps…perhaps it would be better if, if…."
"If WHAT Arizona?" Callie hissed
Arizona went to answer but the sound of her pager cut in and she sighed as she looked at it. "911, gotta go"
"This discussions isn't over!" Callie called out as Arizona raced away. "It is SO not over!" she added softly once the blonde had disappeared from her sight
"Wow!" Meredith gasped as Callie finished telling her. "So, Arizona is really being considerate there huh?!"
"What? NO!" Callie gasped. "She was avoiding Sofia! How is THAT being considerate?"
"Hardly avoiding her if she was planning the weekend with her!"
Callies eyes went wide. "Oh, so you think I'm mean, for asking her to give up her weekend for my dad?"
"No! But I think she had every right to be pissed at you, and there are some people that would have said no, but she didn't! Because she didn't want a fuss or to make life difficult for you. She may not be your wife anymore, but she is still looking out for you, and that's, that's sweet! And neither of you said anything too mean, so it is all repairable"
Callie gave a slight grimace and then a smile
"What did you do?" Meredith asked as she realised there was more to this
Callie saw her talking to one of the paramedics. "Are you crazy?" she hissed as she pulled at Arizonas arm and tugged her closer
"I'm getting deja-vu!" Arizona said to no-one before turning to glare at Callie. "What have I done THIS time?"
"There are blizzards out there. Thick….THICK snow. And it's cold. Dangerously cold. Yet, here you are gearing up to travel to the Presbyterian! Are you crazy?!"
"The storm warnings aren't until early hours of the morning, I'll be back long before then. Kid needs this op, and I'm the only one with the experience to do it. I have to go!"
"No. No you don't. You WANT to go. You love the adventure, the ego boost…"
"So what if that's true!? My ego has taken a fair beating recently in case you hadn't noticed!"
Callie laughed. "Typical Arizona, keeping busy to run away from her problems!"
"Callie!" Arizona laughed. "There is a tiny, TINY human that needs my help! This is NOT about me running away! And I HATE the cold, so I wouldn't be going if I didn't have to!"
Callie shook her head. "There is a tiny human HERE that needs her momma"
"Don't do that!" Arizona whispered back. "Don't try to make me feel guilty about Sofia. I am doing the best I can here!"
"Really? If you were so sure you were doing the right thing all the time then why could I make you feel guilty?"
"I said don't try Callie, not that I DO feel guilty…I don't!"
"Well maybe you should. She cried on Thanksgiving because you didn't come to see her, and I will be damned if you make her cry Christmas Day to. Be there Arizona!"
Arizona shook her head. "I will try, but you don't get to tell me what to do anymore. We're through remember? Now if you'll excuse me…I have to go"
"That is dangerous and stupid, going out in this weather Arizona. And you know it is! You can't go"
"And you can't tell me what to do anymore!" Arizona spat back as she pushed passed the brunette and started to walk towards the door, grabbing her bag and jacket on the way.
"Fine, run away. Just like you always do! Sofia would be better off without you anyway!"
Arizona froze before slowly turning to look back at her soon to be ex-wife. "What did you say?" she asked quietly
Callie was irrational with anger. Arizona just wasn't listening. So, before she could stop herself Callie blurted out. "Maybe it would be for the best if you did turn and runaway, maybe she would be better if you weren't here, if you just…ran away, and left us alone!"
Arizona stared at her, her jaw clenched tightly before she whispered. "Maybe she would!" before turning and walking slowly out into the snow and the cold night air
"Ouch!" Meredith winced. "Low blow Callie!"
"I know!" Callie replied sadly as she turned to look back out of the window, sighing again as she realised how fast the thick snow was swirling round outside. "I know"
[xx]
Some five hours later and Callie found herself back in the lounge, drinking more coffee, and staring out of the window at the world blanketed in white. She stretched a fraction, feeling her muscles ping back into place after a long surgery. She glanced at the wall clock and back at her watch before fumbling for her mobile and hitting the auto call, hissing in frustration when the call went straight to voicemail again. "Dammit Arizona!" she muttered before adding. "Call me ok, please! We…I need to talk. I….I'm sorry!" Callie clicked the phone off and whispered to herself. "I'm so sorry"
[xx]
Arizona cranked the heater up on the car again and squinted through the windscreen. There were no other cars on the road, not that she had seen since leaving Seattle Pres a little over forty minutes ago. The surgery had gone well, and with the adrenalin still flooding her system she had checked the roads and decided it was safe to travel home. She had only been driving for ten minutes when she realised her mistake! The Pres was the opposite side of Seattle to Greys-Sloan. And the only way to get from A to B, was to drive across some of the more…mountainous areas of the city! What had been a clear sky and light coating of snow in the car park, morphed into snow drifts and a near white out. She was tempted to pull over and wait it out, see if the blizzard would ease up, if the visibility would improve, but she knew that to stop the car now would be to risk getting stuck, so instead she kept going, kept her speed low and a tight grip on the wheel, her eyes focused 100% on the road ahead. She briefly bent forward to switch on the radio, figuring some music would help her focus, maybe she could sing along. Instead, she found a news programme, with the presenter gravely announcing several road closures, including the road Arizona had just left. "Great!" She muttered to herself as she switched the radio off. "So no turning back! Should have listened to Callie!" she said out loud, then laughed at herself. "But then, that's what got me into this mess in the first place!" She shook her head and bit her bottom lip a fraction before slamming her palm against the steering wheel. "Dammit, focus Arizona, don't think about Sofia or Callie right now. Don't think about them at all. Just….focus!"
She slowly steered her car around a sharp bend, knowing she was approaching a bridge she gently applied a little more gas, yelping in surprise when a woman seemed to appear from nowhere on the side of the road ahead. Hitting the brakes and fighting briefly to stop her car skidding out of control, Arizona brought her car to a halt and wound down her window, wincing as the icy blast of wind bit against the skin on her face. "Hey!" she yelled over the howling wind. "Hey, you ok?" she asked as the woman staggered forward and leant against the drivers door.
"Oh thank God!" she gasped. "Please….help me! My husband and son, they are in the car. He misjudged the bridge, lost control of the car, please, help them!"
"Get in!" Arizona said quickly watching as the woman staggered round and fell into the passenger seat. "Are you ok? Are you hurt?" Arizona asked as she cranked the heater up again and pulled the blanket from the back seat around the womans shoulders
"I'm fine" she said shivering slightly but giving a small smile. "Thank you, oh thank you for stopping!"
Arizona smiled before putting her car back in drive and carefully pulling away. "Here" she said as she passed her mobile over to her passenger. "Try dialling 911. Let them know where we are and what has happened"
The woman nodded and pressed the numbers several times. "No signal!" she whispered sadly
"Keep trying" Arizona told her as she controlled her car going into the incline of the bridge before slowly stopping as she glanced at the gap in the wall
"Who is Callie?" the woman asked
"What?"
"Callie. Who is she? Only, you have several messages from her!"
Arizona frowned. "Not important right now. Just keep trying 911. You stay in the car" she instructed as she reached over to get her heavy jacket on and pull up her hood. "You need to get warm. I will go and see if I can do anything. Can you pass me my torch form the pocket there? Thanks. Uhm, what's your name?"
"Clarice!"
"Hi Clarice, I'm Arizona, and I am going to do all I can to help your family, ok?"
The woman nodded and watched her rescuer trudge of into the blizzard before whispering. "And I am going to do all I can to help yours Dr Arizona Robbins"
