Hi everyone, I'm Penny (waves enthusiastically from behind the screen). I'm a bit nervous to be posting my very first story. Hope you like it. (glad nobody can see me biting at my nails) I guess I'm very nervous. I usually hide in the background and lurk so this is really a big deal for me and my anxieties are out of control. I appreciate all types of reviews because they're encouragement and I'm not going to lie, I really need it. If it's not worth continuing, feel free to kindly let me know and I'll junk it. Thank you for your time.

So here goes nothing. (deep breath and release)

Eye-Do

Arizona hadn't had a client in months and she was quickly eating away at any savings she had stored away for a nice vacation. Bitter and annoyed at herself for being so picky, she realized if she didn't take a client on soon, she was going to lose everything. But she also couldn't do anymore cheating clients. They were needy and emotional and way too many times came on to her after finding out their husbands were indeed the cheaters as expected. In that way too many times she found herself in bed with her clients way too many times, too. It was a perk of the job but it also killed any clients from returning to her in the future. They were either embarrassed of their actions, especially with another woman, or they became needy and Arizona had to cut ties with them and any future business. Teddy kept telling her to stop sleeping with the women but it was easier for her. She didn't have to do the dating scene or internet scene or worry about any future chance of I do being in the picture.

Aside from the lack of incoming funds, Arizona liked her life as it was and there was nothing and nobody who was going to change that.

"Boss, there's a kid on line one who wants to hire you." Alex buzzed into her office.

"The door is open, I can see you, there is no need to use the intercom." Arizona responded.

Alex swiveled around in his chair, rolled his eyes, returned the phone to his ear and with a goofy grin, continued. "Name's Sofia Torres. Says she's thirteen but has money to pay you and since I haven't seen a paycheck in 4 weeks, I vote for you taking it."

"You sleep in my guest house, eat my food, use my cars of which I supply the fuel. You drink my alcohol, entertain your lady friends in my pool, and don't have a single bill to your name. I think you'll be fine for a while longer because I'm not taking on a kid."

"Look, she sounds pretty frazzled and wants to talk. Humor her at least. It'll give you something to do while I go grab lunch."

Before Arizona could respond, Alex jumped from his chair and was out of the door leaving her no choice but to answer the phone.

Cradling the receiver between her ear and shoulder, Arizona grabbed a pencil and notepad before she answered the call.

"Case Closed, private investigative services, this is Arizona Robbins."

"Hi Mrs. Robbins, my name is Sofia and I was hoping you could help me with a problem."

The girl sounded young and Arizona knew this was going to go nowhere. Doodling on the paper, she decided to humor the girl. At the very least she would solve somebody's problems today since her own weren't going anywhere.

"Hi Sofia. You can call me Arizona. What can I do for you today?" She said with a cheerful voice.

"I need to hire you for your services. I have a trust fund so money shouldn't be a problem. I've done my research and you are who I want." She said so matter of factly if she didn't sound like a kid, Arizona wasn't sure she was speaking with one.

"Well, Sofia, my services don't come cheap and as you can't sign a contract, there might not be much I can do for you. Why don't you tell me what is going on. Boy problems at school? Do you think your dad is having an affair? If you're looking for your birth parents, I can't help you with that until you are no longer a minor." Arizona explained.

The young girl huffed into the phone and Arizona could feel the child rolling her eyes.

"I'm 13, if my boy problems needed a private investigator at this age, I'd have no hope for the future, Ma'am. I don't have a dad and don't need a dad. He donated some sperm in a cup and my mom bought it and here I am. I know mom's my mom because I look like her. I have a real problem and if you are going to treat me like a child, I'll find another private eye to help me out."

"Slow down, I didn't say I wouldn't help you but this is my job and I need to make sure you aren't playing games with me, Sofia. Why don't you tell me what I can help you with today," Arizona offered in hopes to quickly end the phone call.

Deflating some, the 13 year old came out in Sofia. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. I'm just worried is all. My mom hasn't been acting right lately and it's scaring me," she confessed. "I was hoping I could hire you to find out what is going on with her. She used to be so happy all of the time and now she's always sad. I asked her what was wrong and she puts on this fake happy face and tells me "nothing" and I know it's not nothing, Arizona."

She heard the fear in the girl's voice and felt for her but at the same time it wasn't really a case. Some times people were sad.

"Sofia, you know it might be a better use of your money to do something for your mom, cheer her up. Even if I found out why your mom was sad as you put it, it isn't going to change anything. Adults go through tough times and we just wait them out," Arizona tried to explain. She knew those feelings all too well and she also knew, or at least hoped they went away.

"Please Arizona. I will pay you your normal fees. I just really need to find out why my mom is so sad. I don't want her to be sad. She's a great mom and great doctor. She's a surgeon. And she's a great person. She's pretty and does all these things to help other people and she takes care of me all by herself. She's always taking pro bono cases at the hospital even if it gets her in trouble. Last year instead of a family vacation, we volunteered for Habitat for Humanities and helped build houses. Her last girlfriend wanted to send me out of the way to a boarding school and mom dropped her faster than you can say goodbye. She's such a good person and I don't want her so sad. I just really want to help. Please," the young girl begged.

Unable to say no to Sofia after all of that, Arizona decided to handle things differently.

"How about this, I'll do what I do, try to see if there's something there, and if it's not an adult problem, you pay me. If it's something your mom doesn't need you knowing, I'll make sure she'll be okay for you but I won't tell you what's up and you won't have to pay me, okay?"

The silence on the other end of the phone told Arizona that Sofia was thinking about it. She realized she probably wasn't going to get paid for this gig but the girl was upset and really convincing. Truth be told, Arizona was intrigued anyway.

"Deal!" Sofia squeaked out.

"Okay, Sofia. Do me a favor and call back in about an hour and my assistant will get all of the information from you. His name is Alex, you spoke to him earlier."

"Thank you, Arizona. Bye."

"Wait." Arizona hoped she stopped the young girl from hanging up. "What's your mom's name?"

"Dr. Callie Torres. She's the orthopedic surgeon at Seattle Grace Hospital." Sofia stated proudly.

"I'll talk to you soon, Sofia. Bye." Arizona hung up the phone. A small grin formed on Arizona's face. Orthopedics, huh? She knew exactly how she was going to handle this one.