Arizona's POV
A week after Arizona told Chief Webber that she accepted the offer and did the test she was told that she passed and was being promoted to Captain. To celebrate her promotion, Alex bought four boxes of donuts and shared it among the members of the department in an impromptu party. She thanked them all and went to call her parents; they both congratulated her and told her how proud they were. As soon as she ended the call she dialed Callie's number. The phone was answered by a nurse who told her that Callie was in surgery, Arizona asked her to have her call when she was finished. After placing the calls she went back to her desk where she began clearing away her things to move them to her office. Alex took the liberty of helping her to pack the boxes. Pulling open a drawer he found two picture frames, one of a younger Arizona and a younger male replica of her and the other of Arizona, a petite, red-haired cop and a tall, slim, blonde woman.
Arizona turned around to see the man looking at the pictures, "The picture on the left is of me and brother, Timothy. He died in Iraq a couple months ago. The other picture is of me and my best-friends, Reed and Teddy, Reed is the shorter."
"Your ex-partner," she nodded as he stood up and handed the pictures to her, "I'm sorry for your loss, both of them."
She took the frames from him and placed them in the box she had just finished packing, "Yeah, me too. I kinda took it hard, but you already knew that. They were the closest people to me and they both went; Reed right after Timothy."
"Yeah I heard," he placed his hand on her arm, "If you need someone to talk to I'm here for you. I know psychiatrists can be really pushy and annoying."
She gave a small laugh, "Thanks, Alex. I know where to find you if I ever need to talk," she nudged him, "You'll be my second in command after all."
His eyes lit up and a grin spread across his face, "Seriously? Robbins you are amazing!"
"I know," she smiled as he pulled her in for a hug, he quickly pulled back and cleared his throat still smiling at her.
They carried the boxes into the office, Arizona thanked him and asked to be left alone to unpack, Alex obliged and went back to his desk. She sat in the chair and began looking over a file she found on the desk, halfway through the documents her phone rang. She smiled when she saw the caller ID.
"Hey how's your first day back at work?" she breathed into the phone, the smile not leaving her face.
"Stressing but I'm happy to be back," the voice on the other side responded.
"Okay that's great. Guess we have something to celebrate then."
Callie laughed, "We're gonna celebrate me going back to work?"
"Yeah and me getting promoted," she said while holding the phone away from her ear. She heard a delighted scream from the woman and laughed.
"Congrats, Arizona. I'm so proud you and so, so happy."
"Thanks, Cal. So with those things to celebrate, I'm taking you out on another date tonight. What'd ya say?" she put her feet up on the desk in front of her and crossed them at the ankles, leaning back in her chair.
"I have no objections to that, Captain Robbins," Arizona could hear the smile in Callie's voice, "Formal, semi-formal or casual?"
"Casual. Wear something comfortable."
"Where are we going?" the enthusiastic surgeon asked.
Arizona smiled smugly, "You'll see when we get there."
"That's not fair, Arizona," Arizona imagined the pout forming on her lips and laughed, "You knew where all our previous dates were being kept."
"That's because I asked and you can't deny me cause I'm adorable," Callie scoffed at her statement.
"Sure, Arizona. If that makes you sleep at night," Arizona heard a door slam on the other side of the phone.
"It does," her smug smile returned.
"Ari, I gotta go now, have to do a consult because as you know, I'm the best," more persons were heard talking to Callie.
"That you are. See you later."
"Later," the line went dead and Arizona placed her hands behind her head and released a sigh of contentment.
The two women had come far since their first meeting that Monday morning, more than a week ago. There was no denying it, Arizona was falling for the Latina, and she loved it. She was not lying when she told Tim and Reed that the woman made her happy and she could see that she had the same effect on the Latina. She enjoyed spending time with Aria as well. The two were a lot alike but had their distinct differences; Aria was usually the more reserved of the two. After responding to Calliope's question by going on a date the day after she was taken home, the three women had spent a lot of time together. She was at the apartment every evening after work, what with Callie recuperating and Aria's meltdown.
Arizona went through the rest of the day unpacking and going through files of closed and opened cases. She went through the file for the bust that she had led her team to more than a week ago. The District Attorney's Office had almost enough to convict the men and woman but needed more concrete evidence. She dismissed this and moved on to another file, "That's the DA's problem now."
After perusing through the files she had a talk with all the members of the department, stressing the point that to make the department more effective than it already was they had to trust each other and work together. She also told them of the promotion of two team-members, Karev and Kepner, these decisions were approved by the Chief when she spoke to him. Karev was made her second in command and April was promoted to Lieutenant. Both were beaming after Arizona had made the announcements, April even tried to hug her. She spent the last hour and a half of the day in a meeting with Chief Webber, Alex and Captain Williams, the head of Seattle Immigration Department.
At the end of the meeting Arizona spoke to Alex quickly and then made her way home to get ready for her date with Callie. She took a long showering washing away the work day and soothing herself for the better part of the day. As she stepped into the bedroom her phone rang, Aria.
"Hey, Aria! What's up?" the blonde said while holding her towel with her free hand.
"Hi, Arizona. Oh, nothing much," the young woman sang into the phone, "Just noticed that Callie was getting ready, you guys going on a date?"
"Yeah and tell Callie that I'm still not telling where," she laughed as she heard the woman stutter.
"She says she still isn't going to tell you!" Arizona laughed even harder when Aria shouted to Callie. "She's pouting and she looks mad," Aria told her sister's date.
"Tell her I'll make it up to her tonight," Aria relayed the message and Callie heard a few Spanish words before Aria returned.
"She says you better. Oh, when you're 'making it up to her' can you go to your place please, for my sanity," Aria pleaded with her and Arizona and Callie laughed.
"Sure. Gotta go get ready for your sister. Tell her not to hurt you too much, you're still my favourite."
"Yay!" Aria responded in an Arizona-esque manner.
Both women hung up and Arizona placed another call before getting dressed. "Everything is in place…Yay!" She got ready and drove over to Callie's apartment, all the time telling herself that it would be perfect and Callie would love it. "I swear if she doesn't I'm gonna strangle that guy." Before making her way upstairs, she placed a call and beamed when she was told that everything was set. She ran up the stairs and knocked on the door, Aria opened it giving her a kiss on the cheek. Arizona walked in and looked around, no Calliope. She walked towards the bed room.
"I gave up almost two hours to get ready Calliope, and –" she forgot what she was about to say as she opened the door and saw her. "That's hot!" she said eyeing the form-fitting black jeans on Callie's hips and the low-cut, blood red blouse she was wearing. Both pants and blouse accentuated every curve perfectly, causing Arizona to drool over the woman, although that was not very hard.
Callie kept her face towards the mirror, applying the last of her mascara, "You like?"
"A lot" Arizona breathed stepping closer to her.
"Great," she threw down the mascara and closed the gap between the two and placed a soft kiss on the blonde's lips, "Let's get going then."
Callie led them into the living room where Aria sat watching an episode of Winter Wipeout. Callie grabbed her bag and gave Aria a kiss on the cheek, "Don't wait up."
"I won't," she turned to look at her sister, "Remember you're going home with her tonight. I get to sleep peacefully."
Arizona laughed. "Like she said, don't wait up," she winked at Aria before closing the door.
The drive was anything but quiet, Callie continued to ask where they were going and Arizona continued to avoid answering. Fifteen minutes later she pulled up to Dominoes, jumped out of the vehicle and opened Callie's door. The look on Callie's face was priceless, there was incredulity written all over it.
"You did not get me all dressed up to go get pizza," she raised an eyebrow and glared at the shorter woman who laughed. "Arizona Robbins! I cannot believe you!"
Arizona held the door open for her and shook her head, blonde curls jumping from left to right. Callie's arms were tightly placed across her chest, she was obviously not happy. Arizona moved in front of her, a somber expression on her face, "I promise, I didn't take you out to a pizza shack."
"Then where are you carrying me, Arizona?" She winced at the use of her full name being said in Callie's angry tone.
"Please Calliope trust me. I wouldn't do something I didn't think you'd like," she tried to get her to look into her eyes; to see she was being honest with her but Callie kept looking away. She sighed as Callie kept her arms in place and pouted.
Arizona stepped up to the woman behind the glass, "Collecting for Robbins," she gave her a dimpled smile and handed her the money.
"Are you gonna do that to every cashier, whether male or female?" She turned to face the woman who had whispered in her ear in a similar manner over a week ago.
"I can't help it if I was grown with manners, Calliope," she smiled and placed her arms of the brunette's shoulders.
Callie rolled her eyes and placed her hands on Arizona's hips, "Sure manners. You just like torturing people with that adorable smile of yours," Callie pulled her closer to her.
"Not really, I just like doing that to you," Arizona said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Callie scoffed, "Your dimples don't torture me, I'm immune to you," they watched as another couple collected their pizza and left.
"Oh really now?" she raised an eyebrow and smirked. Immediately she gave Callie her best smile. The brunette smirked and after a few seconds looked away. Arizona shifted so that she was before her again. Callie tried looking away again while Arizona laughed at her, "I think your immunization is wearing off. You might need to get a booster shot."
"Oh whatever," she bowed her head and kissed her date. They pulled apart when Arizona's name was called. The cashier smiled at them both as Callie helped Arizona to the vehicle. They got in and were on their way once more.
Callie's POV
He Arizona drove beyond the city limits and reversed between two expanses of trees. She went up the side of an incline but stopped to check how far back she had gone (using the rear view mirror was almost impossible). She realized that she was at the perfect distance, it was impossible to see over the brow of the hill from where she was standing. She went to Callie's door and helped her out and then went for the boxes. With Callie's hand linked with hers and two boxes of pizza in the other, Arizona made her way up the hill. She heard Callie gasp and felt her hand being released as the woman walked towards the scene before her.
"This…this is beautiful, Arizona!" she turned and looked at Arizona, holding out her hand to her. The blonde grasped her hand once again and made the last steps up.
The lookout was amazing, the view was beautiful but it had had been transformed into a wonderland. There were candles spread all around, giving off enough light to make it romantic. The orange flames flickered among the green stalks and illuminated the makeshift bed in the middle of the clearing. The dark shadows playing over the cool crisp sheets. In front of the bed were more lighted candles set out in an 'A' and a 'C'.
"Wow, you are amazing, this is amazing. Thank you," she took the boxes from Arizona's hands and placed them on the bench before the bed. Callie pulled her in for a passionate kiss while the flames danced all around them. "Perfect." They pulled apart slightly and made their way to the bed, Arizona flat on her back with Callie above her. The kissing continued for a few more minutes until Callie's hands snaked under Arizona's blouse and the blonde pulled away. Callie would be lying if she said she was not a bit hurt and offended but she told herself that Arizona had to have a reason for doing that.
"How about pizza first?" Arizona spoke up, her voice shaky.
"Um, sure. Yeah pizza first," she rose up and got the boxes from the bench and placed them before them on the bed. They each took a slice and ate in silence until Callie noticed that Arizona had spaced out.
"Penny for your thoughts?" she nudged her slightly trying to break her gaze with the far off city.
Arizona turned her piercing blue eyes to her and shook her head vigorously before she spoke, "I was just thinking about the last time I was here with Tim, Reed and Teddy. We were playing golf and Tim sent one of the balls soaring through the air, the next thing we heard was a car alarm going off. He drove down quickly and found the owner and told him sorry, he was very irate. Of course us girls were laughing and neither Tim nor the man found any of it funny," she stopped and wiped away a tear.
"This was you guys' place?" Callie asked taking another slice of pizza.
"Yeah, we spent many summer days here and when Tim came back and Teddy flew in this was the first place we went," she looked into Callie's brown eyes, "You're the first person I've ever carried here. The only other person to be here who wasn't a part of the group was Tim's fiancé."
Callie gave her a small, shy smile, "Thank you again for bringing me here. It's amazing."
"You're here because you are amazing, Calliope," she continued staring into her eyes, "You've helped me to feel better in a week than I have in months, you helped me to see things…better." She leaned forward and pressed her lips to Callie's cheeks. Callie sighed and took a chance; she pulled her into her and kissed her again. She felt her flinch but then relax into the kiss. "Why?" Callie ignored this once more and instead asked how it was possible for her to set up everything between the time she left the precinct and picked her up.
"Simple, I got Alex to set up everything after I left this evening," she shrugged her shoulders and pulled a blanket over her legs.
"Oh, that was very nice of him," she nodded feeling a bit uncomfortable. "Damn, what's happening? She doesn't feel it anymore? No! She said that I helped her. We're still good. I hope," She glanced over at Arizona who was gazing at the stars, "Something's up. Ask her. No, she'll tell me when she's ready, that is, if she thinks that I need to know." Callie found a place beside the blonde and stretched out, this was the first time that she had encountered uncomfortable silence with the woman and she did not like it at all. Come on Torres, do it. Just ask and get it over with."
Callie closed her eyes, "Arizona?" she waited for a response before continuing.
"Yeah?"
"There's something I want to ask you," she took a breath, "Are you...Is...Is everything okay between us? I'm just asking cause you've been quiet for a very long time and I...I don't know what to think. If things aren't okay, you...you can tell me. I won't take it the wrong way or anything like that. I just wanna know." She took another breath and felt Arizona's eyes on her. She chanced a glance and saw that Arizona was trying to suppress a laugh. "What?"
"You're cute when you do that. Everything is perfect between us, Calliope. There's just something that I've been thinking about for a while now." She returned to her position, gazing p at the stars, "I've just been thinking, that's all," she almost whispered the words.
"Is it okay if I ask what these thoughts have been about?" Callie propped her head on her hand and turned to face her. Arizona opened her mouth to answer but before any words came out, Arizona's cell phone cut her off.
She reached for the object from its place in the grass beside her and checked the caller ID. It was the precinct. She turned to Callie who told her that it was okay to take the call, she nodded and got off the bed before walking a few steps forward.
"Robbins...what!" Arizona shouted into the phone and Callie winced. She began pacing in front of the bed. "How the hell did that happen? Wasn't he being guarded?...Fucking assholes!" she ran her hands through her hair. She paused and closed her eyes her hand still making its way through her blonde curls. They flashed open in horror staring at Callie, she signalled her to get back to the van, the brunette complied after giving her a worried glance. "How did they let him get that far? Damn it, I'm on my way. I'm going to the apartment, I'll call Karev to meet me there..." That was the last of the conversation that Callie heard. She was sitting in Arizona's van when her phone rang, the caller ID said Mark. She answered.
"Callie, I'm sorry to bother you on your date but it's Aria," before Mark could continue she interrupted him.
"What happened to her!" she was becoming frantic. She heard the man take a breath, "Mark! What happened to my sister?" She felt tears beginning to form.
"Some guy came and attacked her. Lexie and I heard her scream and came over. When we came out he was running down the stairs, I couldn't catch him."
"Is she alright? Where is she? Mark!" she spun around trying to look out the back window. She saw Arizona's silhouette approaching the van, she was still on her cell. She opened the back door and threw the pizza boxes on the floor.
"She's fine, she got a knock to the head and we took her in. Derek said she's okay and we're at my place. I just called the cops,"
"That's probably why Arizona looked at me like that. Aria!"
"Thanks I'm on my way," she hung up and tapped on the window to get Arizona's attention. She looked in and hung up as well. Arizona ran her hand through her hair before opening the door and sitting. She looked at Callie and pulled her in for a hug.
"Come on, let's go," she started the engine and made her way to the apartment. The traffic was still heavy and so Arizona turned on her siren, clearing a path for them. "I called Alex and he should be there by now. What'd you hear?" Callie did not answer, Arizona glanced at her and saw she was staring blankly out the window beside her. The blonde put her hand on Callie's leg to draw her out of her thoughts.
Callie snapped around to her, "Aria. Mark said someone attacked her and she...she hit her head but she's fine. Derek checked her. I should call my parents. That's what your call was about wasn't it." She stared at Arizona who simply nodded.
"A guy that we took in last week, the night of the accident, he escaped while they were transporting him. Apparently he made his way quite quickly to your apartment." Callie saw her hands tighten around the steering wheel.
"She's upset...or scared."
Arizona continued, "Does the name Juani Cortes del Rio mean anything to you?" Callie gasped and shook her head.
"No, no, no, no, no!" Aria...he's Aria's ex. That night she was crying she told me that he got her involved in drugs, she was his mule but she got out. They had a drop but she got out before that. I think it was..."
"...on Tuesday." Arizona finished the sentence for her, Callie's eyes wide with fear. "Bastards! They're the same guys who hit you that night, the same ones that my team apprehended. That girl in lockup could have been Aria. Fuck!" Arizona slammed the breaks hard as she stopped in a parking space in front of the apartment complex. Both women ran from the vehicle, Callie up the stairs and Arizona to two officers and red-headed woman and a short dark-haired man who Callie presumed to be Alex. Running up to Mark's apartment Callie saw her apartment had been taped off by police. She turned her head away and rushed into Mark's apartment. She saw Aria sitting on the couch talking to an officer while Mark stood behind the Latina holding Lexie in his arms. Mark and Lexie looked up when Callie walked in, she stumbled towards them, her eyes still on her sister.
"She's…she's okay," Lexie wrapped her arms around the older Torres.
"Yeah. Derek said she'll be just fine, she just needs to rest."
"Thanks guys for taking care of her," she walked to and hugged Mark.
"Any time, Torres. We're just glad she's okay," he kissed her head.
Arizona walked in and sat beside Aria who gave her a weak smile.
"You okay, sweetie?" Arizona asked kindly.
Aria nodded without saying anything and Callie sat beside her. Aria turned to her sister, "He found me Cal. I knew he would, he found me."
Callie put her arm around her shoulder, "I heard darling and I'm sorry that he did. Arizona has her team on it, they're gonna get him again. I'm so sorry that he found you and hurt you."
"You told her?" Aria whispered.
"Yeah, she kinda put two and two together. I told her what she didn't know," Callie felt Aria get tense.
Aria turned to Arizona, "I didn't do anything. I got out before they made the drop," she turned back to Callie, "Por favor, dile que me cree, Cal. Yo no hice nada esa noche." (Please tell her to believe me, Cal. I didn't do anything that night.)
Callie said to her sister, her eyes fixed on Arizona's blue eyes, "Ella cree que, Aria," (She believes you, Aria)
"Aria, we have people out there right now searching for him. We're gonna get him." She placed her hand on Aria's back and closed her eyes.
"Robbins!" Callie and Arizona looked up at a dark-skinned man.
"What's up, Avery?" Arizona answered.
"They got him! He was hiding in a dumpster behind a Chinese restaurant," he said from the open doorway.
Arizona nodded at him while rubbing circles on Aria's back, "Thanks Avery. You and Alex get down there and make sure he doesn't get away another time."
"Yes, Boss," he took off down the hallway.
"See Aria, they got him. He can't hurt you now. They're gonna make sure he stays locked up," Callie whispered in her sister's ear. Arizona got up and went to a corner of the living room to make a call. Callie sat watching her and soothing Aria simultaneously.
Almost an hour later, Callie and Aria were getting settled in a penthouse suite at their Uncle's hotel. Aria sat on her bed talking to her parents about what happened while Callie was pacing thinking of the day.
"Just when things were going right! Shit!"