Falling slowly
By jtmalone70 (Edited by freakycalzona)

Disclaimer: We own nothing and borrow lots. No, really... lots. Like every other character past or present on Grey's Anatomy which are the sole intellectual property of Shonda Rhimes, Shondaland and ABC.

Ratings: Overall R.

Story Information: This is Alternative Universe fanfiction. None of the characters have the occupations that Shonda Rhimes intended. We simply asked ourselves how career choices can change the directions of the characters lives, but not who they are as a person.

Summary: AU (Callie's POV) love comes when you least expect it

Editor's Note: All the credit to this fic goes to jtmalone70 of LE . com I just asked his permission to edit this one for our otp..

Chapter 9:

At twenty after twelve, a young girl from the main office came walking down the hall. I was talking to a student, when she stopped next to me.

"Ma'am, you have a visitor at the office."

I glanced at my watch.

"Already?" I mumbled, but with a broad smile.

Gloria looked up from her book.

"Yeah, go on," she said. "Only a few more minutes left."

"Thanks," I replied happily and jumped up from my chair.

As I made my way quickly to the office, I passed two boys walking toward Gloria. When they saw me leaving, they stopped in their tracks and frowned.

"Sorry," I whispered, as I zipped past them.

The main office was far on the other side of the building, so by the time I reached it, I was nearly sprinting and out of breath. But, when I turned the corner, there she was. Arizona was sitting on a bench in the hall with one leg crossed over the other, twirling her sunglasses in her hand. I came to a screeching halt, just as she turned to see what the commotion was. And, when she smiled at me, mine grew wider. Then she stood and picked up a plastic bag next to her, along with two large sodas in a cardboard holder.

"Hey, there you are," she said. "Hope you don't mind. I dropped by the sub shop on the way over."

I stopped in front of her, my chest heaving up and down, and continued to smile nervously.

"You ok?" she asked, giving me a funny look.

I nodded.

"Um, yeah... I was just... just on the other side of the building, when they told me you were here," I replied, pointing back behind me.

She held up the sodas and bag, saying, "So, where do you want to..."

"Oh, uh... We can go outside, if you'd like," I said. "There's a picnic table just around the corner, under a tree. It's a little shady there."

I think Arizona could sense my anxiety, as one side of her mouth slowly curled.

"Ok," she said, and then we turned and walked out the door.

We went over to the picnic table and sat across from each other, trying to make idle chatter.

"How was your morning?" she asked.

I poked a straw through the top of my soda and shrugged.

"Same as always," I replied, taking a long sip. "How was yours?"

Arizona took a bite of her sandwich and shrugged, as well.

"So-so," she muttered, holding up her hand and tilting it from side to side.

From that point on, the conversation slowly built to a more affable tempo. We talked about my job and hers, what we liked to have for lunch, and the things we remembered from when we were in high school. And, the same as with our previous conversations, this one never seemed forced or contrived, and I felt her interest in me was as genuine as mine in her.

Then she threw me a curve ball.

Just as I took a bite, Arizona dabbed a napkin at the corners of her mouth, saying, "You look really pretty today."

I stopped chewing for a second and swallowed.

"Thanks," I mumbled.

Then I slowly reached for my soda and cleared my throat, stuttering, "You, too."

Arizona grinned, as she chewed, holding her sandwich between her hands.

After that minor moment of strangeness, the conversation picked up where it left off.

We were sitting there talking, having cleared away the remnants of our lunch, with nothing between us save for the half-empty cups of sodas we held, when from inside the building a bell ring. Arizona sat up and looked over my shoulder, and then gave me a dejected smile.

"Guess lunch is over," she sighed.

"Yeah," I replied, fidgeting with my cup. "I better get going."

We stood from the table, and I followed her over to a trashcan. After she stuffed the plastic bag inside, she turned and smiled. It seemed like Arizona wanted to say something, but she hesitated, as if trying to choose her words carefully.

"Well," she said softly, brushing her hands together, and then jamming them in her back pockets. "Um... Thanks for lunch."

I shook my head, replying, "Oh... No, really. I mean, you bought, so I should, uh... I should thank you."

She chuckled and shrugged, looking down at the sidewalk.

The silence between us was quickly becoming uncomfortable for her, and me, as well. I hooked my thumb over my shoulder, saying, "I should probably get back..."

Arizona nodded and looked up, giving me a smile.

"Yeah," she mumbled.

I wasn't quite sure what to say or do, so, just as I went to say goodbye, Arizona took a deep breath.

"You know I'm a lesbian, don't you?" she asked.

I swallowed hard and nodded rapidly.

"Um... Yeah," I replied, still nodding. "Yeah, I knew that."

Arizona's head slowly bobbed up and down, as she looked down at the sidewalk again.

"I just... you know... didn't want to make you uncomfortable," she said softly. "Some people just..."

"No," I shot back, shaking my head. "No, not at all. That's fine. Really. I mean... yeah..."

My words tapered off, as Arizona stood there trying to smile.

"Ok," she said.

Then she put her sunglasses on and smiled.

"I should probably get back," she said. "Going to be a little late, as it is."

I nodded, but felt sad in how we were departing. Something didn't seem right. So, when Arizona turned to walk to her car, I called out. But before she looked to me, she quickly brought a hand to her face, as if wiping her nose, and then turned and folded her arms on her chest, slowly walking backwards. She smiled, and, when I went to speak, I suddenly wondered if she was crying. And then my heart went out to her, and I had this incredible urge to go over and hug her.

I cleared my throat and grinned, asking if it was my turn to by lunch next time. Arizona chuckled and gave a short kick of her foot. "Yeah," she said with a smile, pursing her lips and nodding.

I held up my hand, replying, "So... tomorrow? Same time? Same place?"

Arizona chuckled again, and I saw her lips quiver.

"Same bat channel," she said with a wavering smile.

Even from twenty feet away, I could see she was fighting back the tears. She gave me a quick little wave and turned to walk over to her car.

"Hey, Arizona," I called, biting my lower lip.

She was pulling her keys from her pocket and turned to me, just as she got to her car.

My words stammered, as they came out, but I looked at her saying, "Thanks... And... And I really, uh... I really like you."

Her torso jerked slightly, as she chuckled and gave me a wave. She stepped into her car, and I stood there watching, as she backed out, and, when she pulled away, she waved once more.

I turned and walked back inside the building. If I'd known how, I would have jumped into the air and clicked my heels together.

That evening, I was on cloud nine. I was happy and excited and full of energy. Over dinner, Sofia asked what got into me all of a sudden, and I told her. I told her how Arizona and I were becoming fast friends, how much I enjoyed her company, and how I felt as though this was going to be a turning point in my life.

I waited for Sofia to make some sarcastic remark, but all she did was smile and nod.

"Sounds like fun," she said, as she helped me wash dishes. "I always thought she was kind of a cool chick."

A cool chick: I liked the sound of that. Arizona was definitely very cool.