AN: Well, I really hope you're all still following and interested in this fic – despite what I think has been over a month between updates! Life has a lot to answer for sometimes. :-)

I am sorry, I hate to leave it too long between parts, I know it's really difficult to remember the fic and where the last part left things.

Nevertheless, a part is better than no part, right? This one has a little bit of everything, something to slowly progress the storyline but probably nothing of too much interest to anyone! Sorry about that, I do assure you that not every part from now on will be like this. I just don't like to rush things.

A warning exists for a short sexually explicit scene and few expletives thrown in throughout the part. Just a few though.

Thanks for sticking with it! Cheers, Author's Tune

Part 6

Resting the hardback novel she was reading open on the bed, Arizona drew the covers back and sat on the edge. She removed her loose fitted basic t-shirt first, tossing it across the room where it just caught the edge of the desk chair. Though seldom used for sitting, it was mostly their makeshift laundry hamper. Reaching behind her back, she unclipped the two clasps on her bra and similarly, haphazardly flung it in the same general direction. It fell to the foot of the bed before slipping slowly to the floor.

Standing, Arizona unbuttoned her jeans and slid them down her legs, stepping out of them and walking to fold them over the back of the chair. She leant over and picked up her discarded bra, looking at it in indecision before returning it to the end of the bed. Curling her thumbs into the hips of her panties, she pushed them down her thighs until she could remove her left leg and then the right. Striding toward the bathroom, she dropped the underwear into the overflowing old plastic clothing basket on route.

Opening the bathroom door, she was greeted with a rush of steam and the just audible sound of Callie softly humming over the running shower water. Smiling to herself, Arizona padded to the shower and opened the glass door, meeting Callie's eyes, wide in surprise.

"Oh, hey," Callie mumbled lightly, shampoo covered hair gathered at the top of her head and soapy bubbles tracing her forehead.

"Am I welcome?" Arizona asked, teasingly. She earned an eager nod in response.

"Of course. Always." Callie stepped a little to the side, allowing Arizona to dip her face under the spray and warm her body with the heated water. "Too hot?" Callie asked.

Shrugging, Arizona turned her back wet her shoulders. "It's fine. Good actually." She rolled her shoulders under the soothing sensation in emphasis.

"You want me to rub those shoulders?"

"Nope," Arizona said slowly, shaking her head. "It's your turn; you spoil me too much."

Callie rolled her eyes and reached out, fingertips trailing over Arizona's neck and down her chest. She gently ran the length of her sternum, baby finger catching the edge of Arizona's nipple before her hand came to rest, lingering over Arizona's slightly hallowed stomach. "Never…but I won't argue with the massage. My shoulders are killing me."

Arizona laughed lightly, abdomen moving slightly at Callie's almost ticklish touch. "You want to condition first?" she asked, grabbing the conditioner off the shower ledge and holding it poised in the air.

Callie nodded and tipped her head back under the water, soap sliding over her neck and down her back, bubbles disappearing down the drain. Arizona squeezed a large amount into Callie's hand, returning the bottle and patiently waiting. "Ready," Callie declared after a few moments, standing so that water still tumbled down her chest. She grinned in expectation, dancing her hips and earning a childish giggle from Arizona.

"Really?" Arizona asked, snaking her fingertips up the base of Callie's skull and into her hair. "This treatment is in properly?"

Callie's eyes drifted closed automatically, head lolling back as Arizona worked her fingers through her hair. "Hmmm, maybe now," she murmured. Arizona slowly dropped her hands, running them down Callie's arms before she wrapped her arms around Callie's middle. She settled for a moment, lips pursed against Callie's shoulder blade, breasts pressed tightly against her back. "You okay?" Callie asked, rubbing Arizona's forearm.

Arizona nodded. "I'm good," she responded, oblivious to Callie's slightly gritted teeth at the phrase. "You're so beautiful, you know that," Arizona murmured. "I'm lucky to have you." She tightened her hold for a brief second before releasing her hands, lingering as she deliberated between body washes. Finally choosing a thick milky butter, she squirted a generous amount over Callie's back and arms, breathing in the cocoa and vanilla scents that flooded the small space.

Taking a few minutes, Arizona worked her thumbs over Callie's tight muscles, loosening her neck and shoulders, working her way down her spine and back up again. Callie moaned randomly, sensual sounds that both encouraged and pleaded for the attention to continue. "Really good, " she purred, her own arms limp at her side, just occasionally brushing against Arizona's thighs as she was moved slightly.

"Good," Arizona answered, keeping one hand pressing into Callie's lower back muscles while the other snaked around her hips. "I want you to feel super relaxed."

"Super?" Callie asked, stepping back so her body pressed into Arizona's.

"Mmmm, yep. Super relaxed." Breathing heavier with a hastening libido, Arizona gathered some more soap and continued to move her fingers over Callie's bare skin, stopping to focus on her ample breasts.

Callie smiled and exhaled heavily, dropping her head back to Arizona's shoulders as her nipples were slowly worked until they were aroused, tight and hard. Arizona's other hand continued to sporadically knead at the muscles in her back, sliding from the top of her shoulder and around the edge of the blade, haphazardly ending up at the curve of her buttock. "Should we move this to the bedroom?" Callie asked seductively, words slowly drawn out from where she leant back against Arizona's body, eyes still closed.

"No," Arizona husked in response, fingernails almost scraping up the outside of Callie's thigh. "Here is perfect," she added, her own soapy body pressed against Callie's back as she turned her ministrations on the taut abdomen.

"We'll run out of hot water at this rate," Callie murmured, breathing fast and moaning as Arizona toyed with the small strip of curls between her legs.

She teased her for a long minute, running her fingers through the soft hair and tapping lightly at her swollen lips whilst the other hand worked feverishly, alternating between rolling each nipple between her finger and thumb. "I think," Arizona whispered into her ear, sliding her middle finger along the length of her, "that we have a few minutes of heat left yet."

Whimpering in satisfaction, Callie reached behind her and tried desperately to seek out Arizona's centre, earning a few brief gasps, as she awkwardly made contact but struggled to maintain a rhythm. "Not an easy position," she offered softly, smiling as Arizona's touch elicited an involuntary roll of her hips. Losing herself, Callie panted softly, eyes falling to observe Arizona's fingers tracing tight circles around her clitoris. Arizona expertly brought her closer to climax and then slipped inside of her, just the tips of two fingers curling inside her entrance. She moved them slightly, tugging and pulling gently before resuming her focus on the bundle of nerve endings that was evoking an endless flow of nonsensical mutterings and escalating sounds.

With a moment of clarity, Callie gripped Arizona's wrist, removing her fingers from her breasts and pushing their hands behind her and between Arizona's legs. She was forceful almost, water splashing over them as they swayed into the flow from the showerhead. "I like to hear you," she explained disjointedly, feeling the back of Arizona's hand sliding against her backside as she clearly accepted the subtle request to self please.

"I'm happy to just focus on you," Arizona whispered into Callie's ear, hot breath snaking over the cartilage.

Releasing a long, deep moan, Callie swallowed heavily, aware that Arizona had resorted to a feather light touch over her clitoris to delay an inevitable tumble into the peak of her pleasure. "Nah ah," she articulated. "Not how this works," she gasped out, moving her hands to toy with her own breasts as Arizona panted in her ear and nibbled sporadically on the lobe. She quickly worked on herself, touching in a way that she knew would rapidly bring her to match Callie, the direct repetitive flicking sensation. "Are you…ah, can you…shit," Callie murmured, eyes now closed and pelvis pitching at will.

"Calliope," Arizona drew out, voice muffled as she pressed her lips into the skin behind her ear. Her fingers on Callie seemed to lose focus, halting and starting as she distractedly worked herself closer, each pleasurable sound between them, now in unison.

"Arizona," Callie mimicked a moment later, a warning of the barest of margins. Arizona moaned her encouragement, a round of blurred yesses that were gasped from the back of her constricted throat.

With a loud groan, Callie dropped a hand from her breast and held Arizona tightly to her centre, a single finger still pulsing against her as she rode the proverbial wave of indulgent climax. She was vaguely aware of Arizona cursing into her ear and the small bite mark on the nape of her shoulder that she was earning as Arizona followed rapidly behind her. They shuddered together, involuntary movements; skin on skin.

They breathlessly regained a consciousness, bodies pressed tightly together and hands still buried in the thick warmth of arousal. Arizona had her face pushed tightly against Callie's back, submerged in the wet and still conditioner covered dark hair. Her chest was moving in heavy lurches as she sought to regain both the strength in her legs and the air in her lungs.

Callie found her voice first, drawing Arizona's hand away from her centre and shadowing it over her lower abdomen. "This water is getting fucking cold."

"Mmmm?" Arizona murmured in reply, moving her other hand to Callie's hip. "I hadn't noticed…"

XXXX

"Hey, do you want to watch a movie or just whatever is on tv?" Callie yelled from the kitchen towards their bedroom, where Arizona was trying to locate her favourite sweatshirt from the depth of their unsorted hopefully clean laundry.

"Oh I don't care, your choice. Watch one of those reality shows you've recorded."

"Nah, you hate them. We can watch a movie, something with a happy ending."

"And make you sit through it on your night off? Don't be crazy," Arizona stated strongly, emerging in the doorway, struggling with a feather pillow, case half on.

Callie muttered under her breath from the kitchen and Arizona gave her a cautious glance. "I said I would change the sheets Arizona, you're supposed to be relaxing."

"You made dinner, I'm done with relaxing. I'm bored with relaxing."

"But you had a crap day, chores can wait. It's not like they go anywhere. You need to slow down, okay."

Arizona sighed heavily, knowing Callie was referring the brief rush of tears she had tried to hide earlier. Arriving home from work that afternoon, Arizona found tucked under their apartment door, a small red envelope. Inside was Emily's contact details, the motel she was staying at, room number and various phone numbers. She was frustrated and not really upset, but still, the tears had fallen as they had come to do so, without her explicit consent. As tears will. "I'm fine."

Callie internally swore; at least she wasn't good. "Excellent then, drop the pillow and go settle on the sofa. Look, I'm joining you," she insisted, dropping the last dish into the drying rack and striding directly to sit on the lounge.

Arizona reluctantly followed, tossing the pillow across the half made bed and settling next to Callie, who patted her lap and guided Arizona to lie on her. They stayed in that position for a couple of minutes as Callie worked her way through various channels before settling on the advertisements between films on the movie channel. "You've been walking on eggshells Callie. I don't want you to constantly be walking on egg shells," Arizona said finally, breaking the silence. She had spent the time in quietness going over the phrasing in her mind, unsure of how to quite articulate what it was she wanted to emphasise.

"I'm just trying to take care of you, Arizona. Be supportive, and generally just nice; that's the way it's meant to be. I should get to look after you sometimes, even if you don't like to let me." Callie knew she had been extra attentive and probably far gentler than she usually was. And she was particularly making an effort with the smaller things, stopping for an impromptu kiss and affectionate hug; making breakfast in bed and leaving the remote control on Arizona's side of the bed. She wasn't great with words, they tended to come out far harsher than she intended, but when it came to actions, she was much more rehearsed.

Knowing that Callie couldn't make out her expression from their position, Arizona scowled to the empty room in front of her. "We haven't even been back together that long, or had a chance to talk about it at least. There should be more weekends away and hot sex or dinners out and late night dancing. I feel bad."

"What? That wasn't hot sex just before?" Callie teased, fingers lightly toying with Arizona's hair, smoothing it out across her own stomach.

"Yeah and there should be more. That should be the stage we're at, not this crappy place where you have to constantly check up on me and keep your phone glued to your hip. You didn't ask for this."

"I didn't ask to be in a real relationship and to be able to support my girlfriend?" There was an incredulous tone to Callie's voice, like a part of her felt that Arizona was just messing with her, mucking about.

"Not really, not like this anyway. I'm trying to be more spontaneous, happier."

"What the hell? Are you being serious?" Callie felt anger immediately simmer, a combination of disbelief and exasperation.

Arizona shrugged, moving her elbow to lift her head and shoulders from where they rested on Callie's lap. "Sorry."

It was the lack of response that drew Arizona's attention first, after seconds passed where she moved to sit on the sofa and kept her gaze fixated on the black screen of the television. She could hear Callie s uneven breathing and she waited, expecting a verbal challenge, an onslaught of desperate words. They remained absent, silence hauntingly obvious.

Arizona's head only shot up at the realisation that Callie was moving, hoisting herself off the low couch and around the side table. A glass of water caught the edge of her wrist and tumbled to the ground, bouncing and spreading water across the rug. She cursed under her breath but stepped over it, the leg of her pants wet as she stumbled awkwardly towards the bedroom. "Wait, Callie?"

Halting quietly, Callie turned back; barely registering Arizona's shocked expression at her tear filled eyes and marked cheeks. "Don't," she muttered, licking her lips and shaking her head. Holding an index finger out in front of her, she pointed at Arizona, hand trembling midair. "Don't you ever do that again."

With her mouth slightly ajar, Arizona's forehead creased in confusion. "What?" she asked softly, as if trying to comprehend the sudden change. "What's wrong? What did I do?"

Squeezing the bridge of her nose, Callie shook her head and cupped her mouth. She wiped at her face with the back of her hand, more salty wet tracks replaced those brushed away. "That little shower performance Arizona. I don't need this freakin' idea of a perfect world or pretty flowers or whatever crap you think I want."

"I don't understand," Arizona whispered, sliding off the chair and walking tentatively towards Callie, unsteady as she stepped slowly, warily.

"You don't do that just because you think it's what I want or need. How do you think that makes me feel? Do you really think I'm some teenager who is going to bail if things are tough for a while?"

"No. Not at all, I didn't mean that; I didn't mean…" Trailing off, Arizona sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to do something for you; to thank you. You've been amazing, solid. I wanted to thank you, that's all."

"Thank me? Firstly, I don't need gratitude. And that wasn't what you said; you said you were trying to be more…whatever it was. Happy. You think I only love the happy you?" Arizona stared back at her, nervously pressing the pads of her fingers together with one hand whilst the other twisted a strand of hair at her neck. "I'm not her, okay. I'm not even remotely her."

"I know. I'm sorry."

Wiping at her nose, Callie shook her head. She was tired and frustrated, exhausted; and the woman she intimately knew was suddenly everything she had never been. Defeated and lost, frightened and guarded. "You have to know that you don't have to fit some image, that you've concocted in your mind, just to please me. I'm not going to up and leave; and if I do want the confident and happy side of you back it's because I want it for you. I want you to be okay because of you, us; not because it feeds my sick ego."

"I know, I do. I don't mean to screw this up; I'm not trying to. Everything is just messed up," Arizona swallowed heavily, feeling her throat tighten and a knowing burn quell her eyes. She raked her fingers through her hair, hesitant to step forward and into the warmth of her partner.

"Do you understand that I'm right here?" Callie's words were articulated slowly, painfully; with each syllable emphasised.

Again, confusion etched into Arizona's features; shoulders tensed, frown lines exposed. "Yeah, I get that; really. I'm sorry."

Callie released a frustrated groan. "Please stop apologising."

"I made you cry." Arizona's voice was soft, barely audible and her own eyes were glazed with unshed tears. "We're fighting and I, I don't want to upset you." Her words had the opposite effect and she watched cautiously as Callie dropped her chin to her chest and covered her face. Her ragged breathing echoed through the room. "Callie?" Earning no direct response, Arizona padded forward until she stood in front of her, slightly taller with Callie slumped back against the back of a dining room chair. Shadowing Callie's forearms, Arizona trailed her fingers up her arms and over her wrists, stroking the skin at the back of her hands where they pressed to her face. "Please tell me why you're crying, I don't want to fight."

"We're not fighting," Callie muttered, dropping her hands to expose a red and blotched face.

"What did I miss?"

"Nothing," she replied quietly, hands moving to rest over Arizona's hips as she bowed her face to her shoulder, blond curls pressing into her flushed face. Crying quietly, Callie gradually lost the tenseness that had engulfed her body, muscles slowly relaxing as she felt herself being enveloped. Arizona remained desperately silent, releasing a few rogue tears when Callie's fingers gripped at her shirt and the shoulders under her palms trembled.

Wordlessly soothing her, Arizona rhythmically ran her hands over her partner's long brown hair and down her spine. She patiently waited, stomach churning with a sense of apprehension and uncertainty; yet at the same time, it felt familiar and secure. For a moment, she couldn't recall the last time that she had held Callie in her arms, but there was a resilience that the sensation elicited; a strength. Callie had been such a constant over the previous weeks, unwavering in her consistency and stability. Not once had she reacted with Arizona, and it was suddenly obvious that Callie had been living her own façade. She wore her heart on her sleeve and her emotions ebbed and flowed, it was everything that made her unique and completely lovable. It wasn't the unemotional, nonreactive person that Arizona started to fall completely in love with that night at the bar. It was the half laughing, sarcastic and tearful woman that kissed her back.

"Calliope," she murmured towards Callie's ear, her voice catching slightly. She felt Callie shift her hold, moving her arms to wrap around Arizona's back and hold her tighter. "You going to stay like this all night?"

Callie hiccupped a laugh. "Yep," she said, muffled against Arizona's neck.

"Do you want to talk?"

"No." Arizona smiled lightly, though she sustained the slow movements of her hands, seeking out Callie's smooth skin at the edge of shirt, to comfortingly rub her thumbs across. "This is working for me right now."

Moving slightly, Callie withdrew her face and rested her chin on Arizona's shoulder. 'Are you okay?" Arizona asked softly.

With a slow exhalation, Callie said, "Guess it's me that owes the apology now, hey?"

"Oh don't be ridiculous, not a chance. I'm a little confused, but I'm okay with that."

"Might have been my turn to be the crazy one."

Arizona laughed lightly. "Seems fair; I think I've held that stage for a while now."

"You can have it back you know, after tonight." Callie's eyes closed as she felt her upper body being distinctly swayed and her breathing began to even out; wearied.

"Mmmm," Arizona murmured, noncommittal; it wasn't like she wanted it back but there was a sense of inevitability. "Anyway, what do you need? What can I do?"

"We can't stay here all night?" Lightness had returned to Callie's tone, though her complexion was clearly stained with tears when she slowly leaned back, fingers still joined behind Arizona's back.

Pausing momentarily, Arizona absorbed the evidence of Callie's distress. She swallowed her guilt and nodded. "Perhaps the warmth of our bed might be a little better, don't you think?"

Leaning back in, Callie squeezed tightly and deliberately breathed in the aroma of Arizona's freshly shampooed hair. "God I love you, so much."

Arizona nodded, blinking away the swell of emotion. "Me too…me too."

XXXX

The foyer of the hotel was fancy, large spaces and sparkling white furniture. The reception desk was overpowering in its simplicity and the white leather lounges housing suited men with laptops and iPads had likely never held a nursing infant or chocolate loving child. Her short heels on the tiled floor commanded more respect than she would likely have received had she presented in scrubs and Heelys.

When she entered the elevator, she smiled wildly, dimples on display, at the middle-aged man with a stomach that stretched the buttons of his branded business shirt. "Good Afternoon," she stated, fumbling in her purse.

"Hello," he offered in return, reaching into his back pocket and withdrawing a room card. "Can I assist? Which floor are you on?"

Forcing a blush, she nodded. "Ninth please, thank you. Women's handbags, can never find a thing." He swiped his card across the sensor and pressed the ninth floor; it lit up green.

"My pleasure. Perhaps I'll see you at the bar later on." Earning a wide grin and nod, he shrunk to the back of the elevator, leaning against the metal railing and watching intently as she exited, styled hair bouncing only minimally as she walked.

Her knuckles wrapped against the solid door before she had opportunity to hesitate; strong, loud vibrations reverberated. Hearing footsteps, she drew in a calming breath and formed fists at her side before releasing them. And then the door was opened.

"Arizona…" Shock registered on Emily's face and her eyes travelled from Arizona's immaculate formal presentation to the shuddering ice in the whiskey glass in her spare hand.

"Don't speak," Arizona instructed, clenching her teeth at the heat rising up her neck. "You do not get to speak to me." Emily stared back at her, tank top askew and jeans loose at her waist. "You will leave Seattle. You will not attempt to see me again, I do not want to see you. I do not want to see you. Do you understand? I don't want to see you."

They stared at each other, an unknown communication seeming to occur. Slowly, Emily smiled and Arizona's forehead narrowed, lines exposed. "Have you told her?"

Heart rate increasing, Arizona shook her head. "What?"

"Have you told her, that you still love me? She needs to know."

"Screw you. Go home Emily, just go home."

Arizona was aware that the room door had not been closed as she strode quickly down the hallway, knowing that Emily's eyes were fixated on her. She rounded the corner and pressed at the down symbol on the lifts, repetitively punching the button with her index finger. Rushing in as soon as the doors opened, she forced them closed before selecting the ground floor, grateful for the empty elevator as she leant forward and tried to gather her breath.

Her hands shook and the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth where she bit heavily at her lip. But amongst the haste to remove herself from the building, was a small sense of pride and the tinniest glimmer of fight. She had raised the question for herself; could she possibly, after all this time, take back control?

XXXX

"No no, I don't think you understand. I lost it, Mark. Fucking lost it. Like some hormonal teenager or prepubescent tantrum. I'm sure it was exactly what Arizona needed amongst all of her emotional trauma and work and trying to hold herself together. I was sobbing Mark, on her shoulder."

"And?" Mark prompted, arms crossed at his chest, and feet stretched out in front of him and crossed at the ankles from where he sat on the lower bunk of an on call room.

Callie paced in front of him, hands gesturing wildly. "And what? Are you even listening to me this afternoon?"

"Oi, easy. Innocent party in all of this. You've been ranting for…" Mark held his wrist up dramatically to check the time. "Fifteen minutes, and I just don't see the problem."

Callie sighed dramatically but offered a smile, able to see in some ways, how ludicrous she was being. "You're meant to listen to me rant, just like I'm meant to be able to support Arizona, without losing the plot."

Mark rolled his eyes. "Yes, Callie. You just forget that minute aspect known as being human. And it's not your style, you rant and rave and cry and yell, how long did you think you could pretend to be this weird perfect emotional object? An inanimate object at that."

"You thought I was being false?"

"Well not false, that's your words. But Arizona knows you, not just the very nice lesbian sex side of you, but you and who you are. Did you really think she wouldn't be freaked out if you didn't show any feelings for months on end?"

"Thank you Mark, for acknowledging that there's more to me than my genitalia." Mark grinned slyly and held his hands palm up in the air. "Right, so what you're saying without actually saying it, is that I'm ranting about nothing?"

"Look," he muttered, pushing himself off the chair and standing in front of Callie, hands firmly squeezing her upper arms. "I think that both you and Blondie are adult enough to realise that you're both human. I would suggest, as much as you might be interested in taking it on board, that you don't hide what you're thinking from her. Tame the anger, don't scare the crap out of her, but otherwise, you're being a little over the top."

Callie softened physically in his hold, nodding. "I just want to look after her, make her feel safe and secure and as normal as possible despite this maniac floating around. What I don't want, is her trying to pretend and trying to please me because she thinks it's what I want or what will keep me around or I don't even know what the hell she's thinking."

"Come on Torres, you're not that naive. She's probably got all these issues coming up about how she had to try and keep the peace all the time, no stress and no drama. Now she's thinking that there's all this happening and how long will you stick around for? Has she ever even had someone that has been that constant?"

Staring back at him wide eyed, Callie opened her mouth to speak and then closed it again. Mark nodded in pride, as if confident he had nailed the issue and all was sorted. And it was, as ineloquent as he was, the core of the issue was there on a platter and Callie knew it. And there was little she could do than put in the time, ride the storm and simply stay. "Crap," Callie muttered heavily, "I hate it when you're right. Bastard."

"Love it, you love it."

"Hmmm."

"So, are we good? Little meltdown sorted?"

"Yeah yeah, sorted."

"Great, then off you go, go and find Robbins. Play nice." Mark released his grip and took a step back, smoothing his scrub pants.

Callie nodded and retrieving her phone from her pocket, checked the screen for messages. "I would, but I can't actually find her. Had a message saying she was off the grounds for a bit and would text when she got back, nothing as yet. Suppose I should go pretend to be working."

"Ah, pretending to work. I've mastered the art; part of being an Attending in fact." Walking towards the door, Mark put his hand on the door handle before turning back. "So, would it be funny if I walked out of here with my shirt on backwards and doing up my pants?"

Shaking her head, Callie laughed and following Mark out the door. "You missed that boat Mark, but for the record, the Sloan method lives on."

Chuckling as he made his way in the opposite direction down the hall, Mark turned back, yelling after Callie with a juvenile cheer. "Lesbianism will never be the same!" Callie ignored his comment; bar the middle finger she flicked in the air over her shoulder. "Oh, I'm good," Mark added, muttering self gratitude as he strode confidently away. "I'm so good."

TBC…