Author's Note: Wow! I'm really glad you're all liking the story so far! I don't know if you can tell by reading this, but I'm having a blast writing Callie as a lawyer. I have big aspirations for her. I wanted to thank you all for your kind words and encouragements. Reviews certainly help me keep writing. Enjoy!
Arizona Robbins had a normal, happy childhood. She was raised in a middle-class American military family. By the time she was born, almost two years after her older brother, her father decided it was time for a change. Instead of continuing on active duty as a Colonel in the United States Marine Corps, he chose to be with his family and made himself an integral part of training new marines. While this had his family moving from state to state on an almost annual basis, it also allowed Arizona's mother to stay at home and raise her two children. Needless to say, the Robbins weren't poor. They had enough money for everything they needed, and a little extra. That was usually put towards a weeklong family vacation every couple of years, where they'd take a road trip across the country or rent a house by the beach.
Now, sitting in a black Cadillac Escalade, pulling up beside jet with Torres Inc. painted along the side in neat, red lettering, Arizona could only gawk. This was very much out of her depths.
Addison Montgomery, on the other hand, didn't seem in the slightest bit phased. "Cal, what's with the name tag? Did your dad worry you might lose it?"
The brunette and the redhead both laughed. Callie turned towards Arizona in an attempt to clarify, cocking her eyebrow in a way that made the blonde's heart flutter. "My dad has never been one for subtlety," Her perfect lips quirked into a smile.
This kind of world, with private jets, drivers, and assistants, was lost on the pediatric surgeon. Even now, while Arizona could afford more than ever before, she was still very financially cautious. It was a habit. The two other women grew up like this, with lavish lifestyles and unlimited resources. It was complete and total culture shock for the blonde.
"Is your dad a lawyer, too?" Arizona asked, before berating herself for asking such a stupid question. Why would a lawyer have Torres, Inc. scrawled on his private jet?
"No. God, no. My mother is, though, so we do our best to keep him out of trouble." The brunette explained with a warm laugh.
Addison saw the blonde's still-confused expression and clarified. "Have you seen the dog whisperer?" Arizona's eyebrows furrowed further in confusion. What did Cesar Millan have to do with anything? "Her dad is sort of like the CEO whisperer. Big companies all over the globe call him, and he goes in and fires people and fixes things and gets paid way too much."
"I see." The blonde nodded. It was like she was on a whole new planet. None of this was familiar or comfortable for her.
The trio left the plush SUV, and climbed the steps to Callie's plane. The interior was very modern, with polished chrome, white walls, and black leather seats. It was immaculate and spacious.
"Feel free to take a seat. Breakfast is made to order, so just tell the chef what you want when he comes by. What are you in the mood for?" Callie asked, seating herself across the aisle from her companions, crossing her legs as her entourage moved to sit in the row of seats behind her, one handing her a vibrating black iPhone.
The attorney looked at the screen and scoffed, rolling her eyes at the caller ID. "Sorry, ladies. I have to take this," and with that shapely long legs carried her towards the back of the plane. After a moment the brunette began yelling angrily in perfect Spanish. Arizona thought it might have been the sexiest thing she'd ever heard.
"Él puede ofrecer lo que quiera, pero yo todavía no voy a tomarlo." The brunette spat, pacing in frustration, yet somehow never faltering in her ridiculously high heels. "…¿Por qué no? ¡Porque es basura completa! No estamos de sedimentación cuando puedo ganar con facilidad." She paused and let the person on the other end of the line try to reason, before she began again at a speed too great for Arizona's high school level of Spanish comprehension. "¡Bueno, no me importa si no están listos para el juicio! Mi tiempo es más valioso que el suyo y cada persona en la corte! Dile que cuando yo aterrizo, debe estar listo. No soy una mujer paciente." And with that the brunette hung up the phone. [He can offer whatever he wants, but I'm still not going to take it. …Why not? Because it's complete trash! We're not settling when I can easily win. …Well, I don't care if they're not ready for trial! My time is more valuable than his and every person in that courtroom! Tell him that when I land he better be ready. I am not a patient woman.]
Addison and Arizona didn't need to understand the language to know what had just happened. Callie totally shut someone down. Clearly, she was very good at her job.
When the brunette returned to her seat, her face red and flushed, she exhaled noisily. "Sorry about that! What are we thinking for breakfast? I could really go for an omelet." Arizona and Addison could only gape at the woman before them.
XXX
The flight lasted just over two and a half hours, during which Callie had an egg white omelet with pesto. Addison opted for eggs benedict, hollandaise on the side, while Arizona had the world's largest Belgian waffle with an even larger coating of whipped cream and berries. The food was incredible. How they got all of the ingredients onto a private jet was beyond Arizona.
It quickly became very clear that Callie was so much more than a reputation; she was incredibly smart, focused, and experienced. She was so prepared that Arizona wondered if she even slept, considering it hadn't even been twelve hours since Addison called her about Arizona's case. While they ate, they discussed the case, and Callie explained that even though Abigail Samuels' surgery wasn't technically hospital approved, her parents signed a waiver stating that they understood the possible complications, and couldn't hold the outcome against Arizona. Callie was certain that the contract was still valid, even without the hospital's corroboration, so it shouldn't be too difficult to get the criminal charges dropped. The civil case, on the other hand, was probably going to take a few more weeks to strategize for. It wasn't a pressing concern, however, as the soonest possible trial date would be at least six months in the future. The court system wasn't exactly prompt.
Callie offered to bring her companions to her motions hearing upon their landing, but warned them it would be very crowded. A famous singer died and her family was suing her doctor for dosing her painkillers incorrectly, though Callie knew she had the case in the bag, as the singer was a known drug addict. Arizona and Addison politely declined, and said they'd occupy themselves for the morning.
Finding a nearby coffee shop, the duo decided to start their morning there. As Arizona was pouring a disgusting amount of sugar into her cup, Addison turned to her. "So, what do you think?"
Arizona could feel herself blush. "Of Callie? She seems," any appropriate adjective for the brunette beyond ravishing slipped her mind, "…competent."
Addison couldn't stifle her laugh, trying to make eye contact with the blushing blonde, which she expertly avoided. "You think she's hot!"
"I just- I- I can't help it! She is hot! It doesn't mean I also don't think that she is cocky, hubristic, and a general pain in the ass!" Arizona retorted, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity.
"Arizona, that's not over-confidence. She's that good. At everything." The redhead was almost as taken with the brunette as the blonde was.
"You're the one teasing me for crushing on her! You're obviously head-over-heels!" The blonde's tone played defense.
Addison just laughed. "Not like you are. I wasn't caught staring at her breasts!" The blonde looked down at her coffee and blushed violently.
"I am just really, really proud of her. She's come a really long way since I first met her." Addison smiled sadly, much like Callie did the day before. Before the blonde could inquire why there were so many sad smiles, Addison changed the subject. "I think she's single, by the way," and with that she wiggled her eyebrows at her companion suggestively.
"Addison!" Arizona reprimanded. "She's my lawyer! That's got to be unethical. Plus, how do we even know she bats for my team?"
Addison chuckled. "She bats for them both. Trust me."
Arizona suddenly looked up at the redhead, shocked and intrigued. She grinned wickedly. "Addison Montgomery! You and Callie did the-"
Addison suddenly went bright red, shaking her head vehemently. "Shhh! No! Not like that! Well, there was a kiss - a singular drunken kiss - but we don't talk about it..."
Arizona couldn't stifle her laugh. "Montgomery, I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised!"
Addison just shook her head in disbelief. "Grow up! I was in med school! What I've been trying to say is that her last serious girlfriend broke her heart. She's finally ready to move on from that, so here's your chance! Stop gawking at her like a fish and get your wooing pants on!"
Arizona was laughing in earnest now, making the redhead duck her head into her coffee cup. "Did you just say 'wooing pants'?" She managed between fits of laughter.
Addison finally looked up, her face red. "I don't know! Do that thing you do! The one where you bat your big blue eyes and smile adorably and turn everyone gay for you! Your results have been pretty impressive! Who knew there were so many lesbians at Seattle Grace?"
Arizona couldn't hide her complacency. "Thanks for that. I needed a laugh," she said, becoming more serious once the laughter died down. "I don't know what's wrong with me. Usually I'm sexy and suave and confident. I don't usually have this problem but when she's around I feel like I'm sixteen and I've just seen a girl's breasts for the first time and I don't know what to do. My hands shake and I can't think straight. It's horrible."
It was Addison's turn to laugh. "First of all, I did not need the mental image of teenage Robbins and her first trip to second base!"
The blonde just shrugged. "Suit yourself, but my batting average has always been and continues to be pretty spectacular," she retorted, a smug smile on her pink lips.
Addison just laughed to herself.
"What?" The blonde inquired, mildly offended.
Addison looked up at her with a sideways grin. "I never thought I'd live to see the day where Arizona Robbins met her match."
Before Arizona could find a response to the seemingly accurate statement, Callie Torres and her impeccable timing walked through the door. Her entourage closely followed, the three assistants trying to coax the press to stay outside. Callie obviously wasn't kidding when she called the case high profile.
"Hey! I hope I'm not interrupting anything," the brunette said, a little out of breath, pulling off her black blazer and claiming the open seat. All Arizona could think about is the fresh coat of dark red lipstick that graced her mouth. Addison, on the other hand, was dumbfounded by the fact that Callie was finished with her case already.
After a moment, Addison brought Callie's gaze up from her iPhone. "What happened? Why are you here? How did you know we were here?"
Callie shrugged nonchalantly, methodically adjusting her shiny dark hair using the mirror on the wall. "Oh, I got the case thrown out. It was easy. And you being here was a lucky guess."
Addison and Arizona both smiled at her, awestruck for the umpteenth time that morning.
One of Callie's assistants handed her a large coffee and a handful of artificial sugar packets. "They say these are terrible for you, but given the amount of coffee I drink, I could sugar myself into a diabetic coma without them. I really hate unsweetened coffee."
Arizona just blinked, captivated by the brunette, while Addison rolled her eyes. "I suppose it's better than smoking," the redhead replied, elbowing Arizona purposefully and raising an eyebrow.
"Dr. Robbins smokes?" The brunette inquired with a tone of incredulity. Arizona's heart lept at the sound of her name coming from Callie's lips. "I find that hard to wrap my head around." The quirky smile on her lips made Arizona's thoughts start to jumble.
"O-only occasionally!" Arizona glared daggers at Addison, who was snickering under her breath. "On very, very rare occasions when I know I'm going to be in trouble because I have issues with authority and I get so stressed-"
"You should probably knock it off for the time being," Callie interrupted, sipping her coffee. "Smoking doesn't sit well with juries."
Arizona, all of a sudden, found a way to channel her nervousness into anger. Callie's holier-than-thou response infuriated her. Sure, she was also furious at Addison for mentioning a very personal flaw that she was ashamed of, but the way that Callie brushed it off without a shred of understanding or humanity pissed her off.
Being pissed off was much better than floundering and flailing. She was almost thankful for Callie's insensitivity. She was beginning to think the brunette may not have flaws, so this leveled the playing field just a little.
"You know," Addison began. Arizona could see a wicked glimmer in her eyes. Uh-oh. "Archer mentioned he's in LA for a conference. I should go pop by and see my dear brother." The redhead stood up, grabbing her designer purse from the empty chair beside her. "You guys should head back to Seattle without me. I will catch a plane later."
And with that the redhead sauntered off, but not before shooting Arizona a wink to match the mischievous grin on her face.
The two women were left at the table alone, Callie's assistants far enough away but certainly not out of reach. All Arizona could think was that it was going to be a very, very long flight home.
