"It's only two weeks baby…fourteen short days…"
"And fourteen very long and lonely nights!" Callie pouted and mumbled as she looked down and scuffed the ground with the toe of her boot…her arms were folded tightly against her chest and she was refusing to make eye contact with the other woman.
Arizona sighed as she reached out with one arm and gently pulled at Callies hips, bringing her wife closer to her as she whispered. "I know honey…I'm gonna miss you to. So, so much. "
Callie tilted her head a fraction and looked sideways at Arizona, but her arms remained locked around herself. "Not as much as I'll miss you" she mumbled again
"It's not a competition Callie!" Arizona chuckled softly, stepping a fraction closer as she brought her other hand up to rest on Callies other hip and gently turned her wife so she could look straight at her. "I don't wanna go…you know that…but it's a big deal…a really big deal! And right now the hospital needs this kind of a boost" She paused then smiled shyly as she added, "besides…I'm still hoping Meredith will hold true to her promise and take Sofia for u…so you can fly out and join me for the last few days, maybe the weekend added on to if we're really lucky….….then it will be just you, and me…uhmmmmmmm…. some sexy lingerie…hmm?"
Her eyebrow arched and Callie couldn't stop the slow smirk that spread across her face as she felt the familiar tingle her wifes flirting always brought. As much as she truly loved her daughter…the idea of it just being Arizona and her, locked in a hotel room…for three whole nights, maybe more…with lingerie…maybe champagne…oooh and strawberries…instinctively she bent forward and kissed Arizona, her smile spreading as she felt her wife pull her closer, their hips meeting as Arizonas hand slid slowly around her waist and skimmed the edge of Callies jeans. Callie let out a small sigh of frustration as Arizona pulled back. She brought her hand up to stroke Arizonas cheek and pull her closer for another kiss, frowning when her wife giggled and whispered, "Callie…we are in a public place…you get any hotter and we'll be asked to leave!"
"Good!" Callie said quickly…"that means you'd miss your flight and couldn't go, and I don't have to alone for two weeks!" Callie sighed as she said quickly "We've never been apart for this long before!"
Arizona smiled softly and reached down to take Callies hand. " Baby, that's not true and you know it!"
"No, I refuse to count the times we both spent in hospital…." Callie said shaking her head quickly, "because we got to see each other…every day…so that…that doesn't count! It doesn't! And that…that's the only time we have been apart"
Arizona sighed and nodded a fraction, biting her lip to stop herself from reminding Callie of the time her wife had thrown her out…after all,she had deserved it…! Arizona had cheated…she'd hurt Callie…and almost destroyed herself….! But, being the amazing woman she was….IS, Callie had not only forgiven her but had put her heart and soul into rebuilding their marriage…! So, no, thought Arizona…no need to remind her of the past...what we have now… is far too special. Stronger. So instead Arizona bent forward and gently kissed Callies cheek, smiling as instantly Callie turned her head and captured Arizonas lips in a passionate and desperate kiss. She couldn't help herself, she could get lost in her wifes love, spend all day just wrapped in her wifes embrace, but the jarring public tannoy announcing the last call for the flight to San Francisco reluctantly pulled her back to reality. "Callie, baby…I have to go. I have to" She stepped back and bent to pick up her hand luggage, then quickly reached up to plant a sweet gentle kiss on Callies lips as she whispered. "I love you, and I'll miss you"
Callie blinked back unexpected tears as she finally let go of her wifes hands but with a small laugh she told her. "Go…be brilliant…be…awesome…be…amazing!"
"Tell Sofia every night that I miss her and love her!" Arizona called as she handed over her boarding pass, "and don't let her sleep in our bed every night…bad habit to break!"
Callie nodded and waved, she kept on waving until Arizona disappeared from view, then turned and slowly started to walk back to her car. Her heart ached with the thought that her wife would be gone for two whole weeks, but Arizona was right, this was a big deal…a crazy big deal. Arizona had always been well respected in the field of paediatrics, but when an old colleague had casually got in touch with her for an informal consultation…the whole thing had spiralled. Arizona had been able to provide several important factors to help his research in gene splicing…in turn Arizona had used some of his theory for her on going research into short bowel syndrome…and boom…a break through! The really amazing thing had been that on the day her colleague had travelled to Seattle to discuss face to face with Arizona the implications of the new research, a school had been hit by a runaway bus….not amazing good…but amazing in that Robbins had left her research partner high and dry and had more or less taken over in the ER…Head of Paeds became head of trauma when so many tiny humans needed help….she had been innovative by necessity….creative through demand…and thankfully..100% successful…! Her star struck research buddy had stood on the side-lines and watched it all…and then gone home to write up a five page article on the wonderful and miraculous Dr Arizona Robbins! Her caring nature, the top class stature of the whole Paeds ward at Grey-Sloan Memorial…her amazing surgical success rate…all topped by her continuing to not only carry out her own research but willingly help and assist any one who needed her advice, invaluable considering how knowledgeable she was on all things Paeds .
Suddenly, Arizona had found herself pretty much centre stage…and after the Harper Avery fiasco surrounding Yang, the hospital itself found itself back in favour and receiving more research enquiries and grants…admittedly aimed mainly at Paeds…but again Arizona had been clever...and had diverted some of the funding to Ortho…claiming that her research would benefit hugely from the support…as it would from the diverted funds she also made to Cardio and the reinstatement of Baileys Gene therapy Research. Yup, Callie thought with a proud smile as she climbed in her car and started the engine, her wifes fame had been a shot in the arm for the hospital…but even better…it had finally brought her wife the recognition she so richly deserved, and the shot in the arm to her confidence had done wonders for the woman herself…she was almost….perky again! With a small smile Callie nodded a fraction…maybe fourteen nights apart wasn't such a big price to pay after all. Arizona deserved this…and Callie was proud….and missing her already!
[xx]
Arizona took two deep breaths as she fastened her seatbelt and pushed herself back into her seat. She smiled nervously at the air stewardess, who was walking along checking that everything was safe and ready to go, then closed her eyes and took another couple of deep breaths, just as her counsellor had told her to do. But really, Arizona just wanted several large Brandies and maybe a sedative or two…yup, she thought, that would get me through this just fine. The engine started and automatically her hands flew to the arms of the seat and gripped on to the armrests. She was already starting to hyperventilate and the plane hadn't even left the tarmac. "Not good Robbins" she muttered to herself, "not good at all!"
Suddenly she felt a hand rest on hers and a voice whispered in her ear. "They lock up people who talk to themselves ya know!"
She smirked as she loosened her grip on the arm rest and clasped onto the offered hand instead. "You can try having me locked up and you still won't get your hands on my department Karev!"
"Yeah" he grinned back, "and you breaking my hand won't keep me from trying either Robbins! Sooner or later, you're gonna be moving on to bigger and better things….and I am just gonna sweep on in like the King of Paeds that I am….. and take on over!"
"Moving on? Oh no…no… no…I aint going anywhere Alex Karev…research or not I'm staying in Seattle...so you my friend…are stuck with me" She grinned mischievously at him and softly added. "Oh yeah…ha!"
She meant to tease him, and he tried his hardest to look put out…but truth be told she could never guess just how happy her playful promise made him feel. He could tell her body was gradually relaxing, their banter had distracted her enough to have her breathing levelling out, her vice like grip was loosening on both his hand and the arm rest. "Relax …you got this" he whispered
"It's only the second time I've flown since…well ya now…give a girl a break Alex…I'm allowed to be a little nervous!" she muttered, flinching slightly as the plane jolted the landing gears back into place
"I know…but I'm here ok? I'm right here…where I will always be….I got ya covered Robbins…I'm here!" She closed her eyes tight and nodded, her grip tightening just a bit to acknowledge him before relaxing again as she focused on her breathing. A minute or so later he tapped her gently on the shoulder. He smiled as she looked at him then pointed up as the PLEASE FASTEN YOUR SEATBELT sign was switched off…Her "Thank God!" that she whispered made him chuckle, as did the fact that straight away she caught the Stewardesses attention and asked for two large Brandies, before turning to him to ask what he would like to drink. After ordering a beer, he turned to look at her, and with a raised eyebrow asked "TWO large Brandies Robbins?"
Quick as a flash she held the palm her hand up to him, palm facing him as she said. "Hey hey hey…no Karev…just…uh… no okay? I didn't wanna come to this stupid Conference…I didn't wanna go view some research project…I didn't wanna have to get up and do some sort of stupid presentations on my job as if everything I do makes me some sorta Wonder Woman… I really didn't wanna leave my wife and daughter…and I DIDN'T wannna fly…following me so far?" He nodded but before he could say anything she carried on…"The rest of the board pushed me into doing all this…the board wanna line me up as some kind of superstar…so not my thing…but I'm doing it…cos the hospital needs me to…HOWEVER…it just so happens that there will be some old Med School buddies of mine going to this Conference…good friends that I email and write to but haven't seen for a long time…SO…if I HAVE to be here…if I HAVE to be trotted out like some kinda walking Wikepedia of Paeds…then I am also gonna have some fun when I can…where I can…while I can…starting…" she grinned as the stewardess placed the glasses of Brandy on the trays in front of them….she reached for one and quickly knocked it back, before looking back at Alex and finishing…"starting right here, right now!"
"Seriously?" Alex asked as she quickly downed the second Brandy, before reaching for his beer and chugging half the glass. "Seriously!" he muttered as she belched slightly before passing the glass back to him.
She grinned at him. "It's First Class all the way baby…and the drinks are free…so…c'mon…wotcha waiting for?" She turned and sweetly asked the passing Stewardess for the same again….while her back was turned Alex picked up what was left of his beer and quickly gulped it down , winking as Arizona smirked at the empty glass
Arizona may have been intending to party whilst she could…and the few drinks she had already knocked back had certainly calmed her nerves…but she also knew when to keep control…so now…a good hour into the flight…she was sat nursing a tonic water and watching a year old movie. She glanced up as Alex returned from the bathroom…smiling as she saw he was also carrying a can of soda…not another beer. Seems she had taught her protégé well! He tried to watch the movie, but suddenly leaned over and asked. "You're seriously going drinking with your old buddies ? I mean …am I invited to?"
Arizona chuckled. "Invited? Oh no Alex…no…you're not!"
"Well what the hell am I supposed to do while you're out partying? Sit in my hotel room and read the Gideons Bible?"
Again Arizona chuckled. "Ahhh…yeah! And that…well that's just an added bonus to me! You see…I happen to know you helped Dwight write his report on me…and I happen to know you passed on details of some of our more…unconventional surgeries…and you made sure to give him some of the parent details so THEY could sing my praises…traitor…!"
"You deserve the recognition Robbins…I…."
"YOU disturbed my cosy little life!" she laughed. "All….this…this three ring circus I'm being wheeled through…is all because of you! So instead of doing the innovative surgeries…instead of being there for the tiny humans…I am on my way to a 14 day bore fest…which is why Dr Morgan is in charge of my Department and I insisted that YOU had to come with me…! It's also why YOU get to stay in every night…on your own….preparing our presentations and going through all our notes….and pondering on the consequences of snitching on your mentor…"
"But…"
"Ah ah ah….shhh"
"I…."
"Ah ah Alex….keep schtum…and maybe….just maybe…I might let you out for a drink or two…maybe!"
He looked at her and frowned…then saw the unmistakable sparkle in her eyes that had his own smile light up his face. "Uhm…these buddies…male? Female…?Gay? Straight? Hot?"
Arizonas eyes sparkled even more as she whispered. "Why do you care…you're with Jo now!"
He chuckled as he whispered back. "What happens in 'Frisco…stays in 'Frisco…deal?"
"Karev! I'm a happily married woman….nothing is going to happen!" she laughed and playfully punched him
"Uh huh…so if you get so drunk I have to sling you over my shoulder to carry you to your hotel room…or you're so hungover you have to hide in the bathroom for an hour…I can tell Callie all the details when we get back?
She glanced over at him again and pretended to think about it…before holding her hand out to him to shake as she whispered. "Deal…FYI…my friends…? Male and female…straight…and hot…VERY hot! But remember….what happens in 'Frisco…."
"STAYS in 'Frisco" he finished before settling back to watch the end of the movie. Oh yeah, he thought to himself….party in San Francisco time….whooooo yeah!