AN: Hey my lovely people who are taking the time to read this and give it a chance, Thank you just doesn't seem enough. I'll keep this shorter than usual. I have been getting pissed around with my surgery and had it cancelled on me twice already. I go in tomorrow and hopefully 3rd time lucky either that or you will hear me have a temper tantrum from where ever you may live.
Thank you Shinata-Riyoko for being my awesome beta, and she's been mega busy with work and has fought through her tiredness to do this for me. As always Zoe I couldn't have the confidence to keep going without your support so thank you. Please accept my apologies for any mistakes and I hope you continue to enjoy. Thanks you guys.
Chapter 4
1:20pm August 19th
She heard the shot eventually, once her brain had allowed her to process it. The noise pounded in her eardrums. Flashing her eyes open, she watched as his lifeless body fell onto her. When she realised she was fine, other than the earlier rib fractures she knew she'd suffered, she hurriedly rolled him from her grimacing when the movement caused sharp pain across her chest. Lexie stood looking on in complete shock when Callie noticed her eyes were glowing differently again. She was now sure she hadn't imagined it last night. It had been too much weird she'd seen in the last 24 hours and she began to think that maybe she'd be getting fitted for a white jacket at least she'd constantly be hugging herself.
Her mind was brought back as she saw the paler skinned hand come into her eye line. Looking up she saw Arizona standing there with her hand out offering her help to her feet. Arizona was groggily nursing her head, her gun still in hand as she tried to keep the blood at bay with the back of her hand.
Callie took in the beautiful features of the other woman, looking up into intense blue eyes as she relaxed. The blood trickling down into view snapped Callie from her trance, a red gash just above Arizona's right eye due to her head hitting the table caused Callie some worry.
"Always go with the middle!" She smiled as she pulled Callie to her feet. Callie instantly pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and placed it over the wound as she took in that magical smile the blonde had. Time seemed to disintegrate for both women, as they seemed to move incredibly close to one another, so much so that they could feel each other's breath against their faces. Arizona felt herself involuntary suck in some air as the soft skin of Callie's fingertips stirred goose bumps within her. Not that Callie would have noticed as they shot down her back, but the touch was electrifying.
Breaking the spell, Arizona smiled thanks to the other woman, placing her hand over Callie's gently to accept the handkerchief before she moved over to where the boy lay. Arizona looked over the body, shaking her head in only sadness as she never seemed to notice anything weird about the boy's features. Callie looked at Lexie and then at the boy again as his skin slowly started to morph back to the sheepish boy they had met earlier. She looked at Arizona who apparently still hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary, as she said nothing. He lay there lifeless with a clean shot to the side of his temple.
"Middle? What are you talking about?" Callie finally remembered Arizona words before her touch had taken her concentration earlier as she rolled up her sleeve further up her arm and looked at the angry bruising that was appearing on her tanned skin.
"I had no idea if my shot would count…I can see three of everything! So I went for the middle" She shot Callie a smirk as both of them moved over and checked if Mark was okay.
"Lexie, I managed to ##* Derek, can you go outside and see if he or the paramedics are here yet?" Callie watched as Lexie nodded and then left, pulling out her cell on the way. Bailey had come up with codes for her staff when they came up against tricky situations. When one of hers were unable to call in. ##* meant call back up and provide medical assistance ASAP. Bailey had every member of her department wear dog-tags with a GPS signal in it, and since Callie's accident at a routine question and answer, her detectives had to wear a lightweight vest under any clothing when questioning. It wouldn't stop bullets completely but it would hopefully stop fatalities.
"Listen Arizona...I," Callie moved around stand in front of Arizona once more. "I mean thanks. You probably, you just saved my life." Callie took the handkerchief from her and found a dryer side before she placed it on Arizona's brow once more, mopping up the still bleeding gash. She stilled when Arizona lightly held her wrist and looked into her eyes seriously.
"You would have done the same for me. We're partners, I have your back." All joking, playfulness and sarcasm that had been apparent in every conversation the two women had previously partaken in was, for this moment, non-existent. Both women were taken by surprise when they heard the gravelly voice come from the in pain man they were both standing over.
"Woohoo, does this mean make up snogging?" He laughed before yelping in pain again that the movement had caused.
"Come on Sloan. Suck it up. Is that not what you said to me when I was shot?" Callie smiled brightly at her friend as she could see the pain in his eyes. Arizona moved away to give some more space as she saw the paramedics come in with the stretcher and Derek came at their back.
"Torres, Robbins can I take your weapons please?" Derek smiled gently at them looking at their injuries. "Please, go get checked over by the paramedics, I'll secure the scene. I'll meet you back at the precinct. Bailey will want to take your statements." Both women nodded and sighed as they both tried to make their sore bodies move out to the rig. Damn it more paperwork!
Derek watched them closely as they left before he then bent down and looked closely at the body. His attention was taken as members of CSU did a sweep, bagging shell casings and Marks sidearm that lay in a pool of his blood. He moved over to sit with his friend as the paramedics attached a mask to his face.
"You okay bud?" Derek looked at the blood soaked arm of Marks suit jacket as the paramedic began to cut the sleeve of the suit and shirt open to reveal Marks wound.
"Mmm, I'm going to say no, I'm staring at my bone and this is an Armani suit!" Mark giggled childishly as the shock set in.
"Really? Armani…it is a very nice suit!" Derek patted his shoulder as the stretcher he had been put on was lifted to full height. "You never know, maybe Bailey will pay for a new suit?" Derek laughed as Mark placed his head back against the frame.
*************1:51pm****************
Callie sat at the back of the rig talking with a paramedic as he assessed her arms. She watched the hustle of people bustling about around her. Again a crowd had developed and she watched as officers tried to contain the interested hoard. She heard Mark grumble something on his way past her, his gas and air mix already having the desired calming effect as he groggily giggled at the paramedic. She heard him singing to the paramedic who was carrying a little bit of extra weight around her ass and hips.
"I like big butts and I cannot lie, you other bruthers can't deny!"
Arizona sucked her lip in trying to hold the laughter as she approached Callie. "You do realise by the time he gets to the hospital he'll have a broken face to add to his list of injuries...Do you know any good plastic surgeons?" Callie laughed at the blonde as she scooted over allowing Arizona to take a seat next to her.
"So, truce!" Arizona held both her hands high waving the blood soaked material Callie had given her earlier in surrender and then quickly began to ramble before Callie had anytime to shut her down and she lost her nerve. "We have to work together, and I am really, truly sorry for my behaviour that morning. I never got the chance to explain. I really liked you, I mean I still do. It's just I was starting a new job, in a new city and I didn't want anything serious...when I woke that morning, I looked at you and I panicked because I could see myself wanting more. You're so pretty and beautiful and I'm sorry...I ran, I am really embarrassed Callie." Arizona looked at the brunette as she contemplated the words the blonde had just vomited over her.
"I tell you what, clean slate as long as you do me a favour?" Callie tried to keep the teasing from her voice as she looked at the bandaged head before she looked straight into her eyes as Arizona nodded a little more desperately than she had intended. She stopped suddenly as the pain in her head came on stronger.
"Okay, don't look over, but at my five o'clock. Black hair, Asian female, all black attire. I need for you to apprehend her. She'll continue to watch me so I'm going to just sit here. If I don't move she'll not notice you…I mean of course she'll notice you coz you're hot but…" Callie realised that she herself had begun to ramble. Arizona scrunched her eyes wondering if she was pulling her leg. Callie disclosed more as she saw the confused look. "She's a person of interest, I have seen her at more crime scenes than I can remember and if I move toward her she'll disappear. I have tried in the past and she just…poofs! Out of sight." Callie looked pleadingly with her and she watched the smirk appear across Arizona's face.
"Poof" Arizona raised her brows playfully, "No problem...One condition though?" Callie watched as Arizona's features became mischievous once more. "You let me take you out on a date?"
"Oh real professional Robbins!" Arizona smiled as she almost skipped past the huffing brunette.
"Well considering I'm doing you a favour and after I saved your life already today and all. I think it's the least you could do Detective Torres." Arizona's amused voice was heard as she moved over toward some uniformed officers with a huge smile on her face.
Callie's attention was drawn to her cell phone as she got a text message through from Meredith.
"Tox results- Not just Drugs in victims system, but the lab found zootoxins, like that of which you would find in snake venom"
Callie closed her eyes as the vision of Adam Pinster lunging at her, fangs and scales flashed her memory before she shook it from her head.
"What the fuck is going on?" she spoke to no one.
****************2:07pm*******************
Cristina stood at the back of the crowd. She thought it had been strange that Torres just sat talking with the paramedic or looking at the screen of her phone. She actually felt herself cringe when she realised she'd been played as she felt the presence behind her. She closed her eyes tightly when she heard the voice.
"Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to escort me to the precinct?" Looking back up toward Callie, the Latina was smugly smiling in her direction.
Turning around, Cristina came face to face with the Blonde that Torres had been talking with earlier and two other officers. "Why? I'm doing nothing worse than everyone else here watching? It's a free universe, I'm allowed to stand here and watch the world go by." Cristina sounded relaxed but with the distinct pissed off edge to her tone.
"Yes, that is true. However, you have been seen at the last five crime scenes and we would just like you to come down and answer some questions." Arizona smiled as the officer took one more step forward. "Now please come peacefully because I'm a hair puller and I've had a horrible start to my day. Ma'am, these two lovely officers will escort you to the station."
"Fine. Whatever!"
Cristina knocked past her making sure she made contact with her shoulder in an act of petulance. Arizona never stopped watching until the patrol car drove off and then she made her way back over to Callie.
"All checked out?" Callie nodded and smiled before standing and stepping in time with the pace Arizona had set. "Okay then we better get back to the precinct. On the way over you said Meredith hadn't found any DNA?" Callie stopped and looked at Arizona who seemed to have a strange expression.
"Yeah, she said there wasn't anything usable. Why? She actually just sent me a..." Callie was cut off by Arizona who wanted to get the words out before she held her tongue.
"It's just, I mean it was weird. And I don't want to step on anyone's toes, but is it not protocol to put the body in a body bag to protect any evidence from the elements? She didn't when the rain started. I don't want to point fingers but she may be the reason for lack of anything usable." Arizona clenched her teeth waiting for Callie's reaction. Meredith after all was Derek's wife and Callie had known them for years now.
"I'm sure there's an explanation." Callie tried to project enough faith in the woman, but even she herself had been finding things around the precinct weird recently.
*************3:42 pm****************
"Seriously felt as though I was back at school. Is she always this...scary?" Arizona laughed shakily as they walked down the hall after Bailey's debriefing.
"Yeah, she takes that seriously. She just wants the right account of what happened. Who discharged their weapon first, etc. It saves paperwork later and Miranda on our asses because she gets something sprung on her." Callie smiled as she held a door open for the Blonde as they made their way to the interrogation room they had been told the Asian woman had been taken too.
Arizona paused in front of Callie not moving. "Erm, there's no one in here Callie!" As she turned to face the now raging brunette, she watched as Callie growled and made off down the hall without saying anything. Arizona practically ran after her, catching up with her as she mumbled to herself. "Callie, where do you think she is? I'll go see if I can find the officers again…" Arizona was cut off.
"No! It's okay, I have a pretty good idea where she is!" Arizona watched in shock as Callie just turned and faced the Chief's door and barged through without knocking. Her eyes widened in horror as she heard the Chief's voice roar to life.
"Detective Torres, what the hell do you think you are doing?"
"Sir, with all due respect but who the fuck is this woman and why do you have her following me?" Arizona made her way into the doorway of the room to see the anger radiating off Callie as the brunette was pointing her finger at the woman. The Asian woman looked smug as she watched from the back of the room, drinking a coffee.
"Robbins, go wait outside I need to talk to Torres alone!" Arizona turned on her heels ready to leave the room when she heard Callie's voice loud and clear.
"No! She stays." Callie's eyes fixated on the man, she was not in the mood for his delay tactics.
"As you wish. Come in and close the door please. Take a seat." Hunt sat back, resting his head on the back of his chair. He swivelled slightly on his chair looking at Cristina who was looking amused by it all. "First of all. It's not me that has Yang here watching you."
"Cut the crap Sir. I saw the two of you the other night. What the hell has she got to do with my father and do you know something about his whereabouts?" Callie stood firm. Her knuckles whitened as she held on to the back of the chair. Arizona had already done as she was told and took a seat, sitting perfectly straight, as though waiting for the imminent telling off from the Headmaster and then detention.
"See, I told you she could see more than she was letting on." Cristina still stood smugly at the back of the room her voice came out almost adolescent, 'I told you so' as Hunt brought his hand out gesturing for Callie to take a seat. Finally throwing herself down like an unruly child, she huffed looking straight into the Chief's eyes.
"Sir I need to know what is going on; there is just too much crazy happening..." All members in the office were startled as the door flew opened revealing an overly agitated Lexie Grey. She walked straight over to the desk and threw her photographs in front of the chief.
"Sir, respectfully you have to tell her what she has to do; her bloodline is the only weapon we have! You know what is coming tomorrow." Lexie spoke to both Hunt and Yang, total regard for authority gone in her panicked tone.
Hunt picked up the photographs and inspected them closely. Looking at the symbol he sighed before closing his eyes tightly and passing it back to Cristina.
"She's right Cristina. It's time. There had been talk that he was finally here in the city or at least his generals are. Where was this taken Lexie?"
Callie and Arizona looked on in complete confusion as they heard this Cristina Yang woman swear and slam the picture on the table. Keeping her hands planted she kept her head towards the desktop as Lexie continued.
"Sir, it was hidden in the Graffiti in the alley, that's a digitally enhanced image to wheedle out all the irrelevant stuff. I came across one etched into what looks like a large industrial fridge in the kitchen of the bar. When I saw it, I had to go out and look for the Marker. He's in the city sir; that's one of his markers, he's finally made his way here. We know what tomorrow is."
"Shit!" Picking up his phone he shook his head while he dialled and waited for the other person to pick up on their end. "Shephard? Are you still at the scene? I need you to shut down the scene and let no one work it or any members of staff leave, I'm on my way over. Is Meredith still there? Great, put her on for me, thank you." Callie looked amazed that the Chief was shutting Derek down and taking lead. He looked up toward the younger woman "Grey, I need you to go get Karev, tell him to meet me out front and you come back and stick with Torres and Robbins." Lexie nodded and then left the room quickly.
"Karev isn't here Sir." Meredith spoke confused from the other end of the line.
"Sorry Meredith, I was talking to Lexie. I have Yang here and Torres, we have to tell her. Listen, the body is one of his, Lexie found his seal. I've told Derek to stop working the scene. Take the body to the morgue and tell me what he is, never mind about anything else I'm coming down personally once I get back from the scene. Give no one any information, only me do I make myself clear?" Owen stood up and gave Cristina a nod and exited the room much to the other two women's confusion.
"You know I'm fed up with this good guy nonsense. Why do we have to play by the rules?" Both Callie and Arizona looked on as the woman seemed to talk to herself. "The Human species is such a complex being, we can do so much yet our full potential is normally hidden in one little area of the body that hasn't been unlocked yet. I'm exceptional; the rules tell us not to disclose the potential." Both women startled as Cristina hit the table once more.
"Screw the rules…here begins the lesson." A shaky breath was expelled before she raised her head and opened her eye's revealing bright white light from them.
"For you to understand what is happening in the present we have to go to the past. Decades ago, there was an ancient battle between humans and creatures from the Mundial Debajo...the World Beneath."
