AN: So, once again, I got distracted by a small scene, and made it a long scene, then got too tired to write what I had planned. I attempted to push through it, but it didn't happen, so I just split this chapter, so that I could post something. The good news is, the next chapter is about half written, so it should be up in the next few days. I hope you like this chapter, which is kind of filler, and I'll talk to you guys soon. As always, I hope your day is phenomenal.

"Dammit!" I cursed quietly as I knocked over another lamp. It had been two weeks since the fire, and two days ago I had been cleared to use my walking cast and one crutch to get around. Let's just say…it isn't going well. I'm about as graceful as a fish out of water. "Argh!" I grunted, failing to pick up the lamp without risking falling on my ass.

"I got it."

I jumped at the sound, despite the fact that it was a disgruntled whisper.

Arizona swiftly scooped up the lamp and placed it back on the table. Gazing briefly at me, she turned to leave, adding, "You probably shouldn't be back at work yet."

"Yeah, probably not," was all I could think of as a reply. We hadn't really spoken since the hospital that day. All the guys came to visit, but she hadn't. Not that I really blame her. She saved my life, and I bitched her out. And, once again, proving she was a woman of her word, she seemed to be waiting until I apologized. I hate that. I'm not used to people holding out on me, forcing me to do what I need to do.

I hobbled downstairs, at a pace a sloth would snigger at, finally bursting into the kitchen, out of breath. "I made it." I deadpanned to the group.

"I'd say congratulations if I agreed with your decision to be at work," Mark commented as he bit into an apple.

"Yeah, Torres, you should be home resting still," Avery added.

"I agree, and I'm the tough one," Alex uncharacteristically added.

Chancing a glance at Arizona, half expecting her to chime in, I raised my eyebrows in challenge. She just shot her eyebrows up in response, clearly sending an 'I told you' my way.

"Guys, just give me a break, okay? I couldn't sit at home or in the hospital doing nothing anymore. Obviously, I can't do much, but at least this gets me up and moving around, so I feel less injured and like I'm moving forward. So, please, just forget that it's too soon and let me live out this little delusion?" I pleaded.

The guys all shrugged and nodded, seemingly willing to let me be for now. "I can still do some things to help out. I can…I can cook!" I exclaimed proudly.

The men simultaneously cheered loudly and definitely over enthusiastically, mocking my triumph. I thought I saw a slight smirk cross Arizona's mouth, but it was gone before I could be sure.

"Whatever, if I start now, I can have something ready for dinner." The men (and Arizona) grinned as they filed out to finish the day's chores.

I began to slowly gather what I needed to make my famous lasagna. I began to boil water and grate cheese. Everything took at least twice as long with my leg in a cast and side still very bruised and tender, but I was getting there. About twenty minutes into it, I moved to grab the tomatoes and slipped on a fallen onion and wound up bracing my hand on the red-hot stove top. "Shit!" I yelped, both struggling to right myself and fanning my hand wildly in the air. In a déjà vu fashion, a voice startled me, making me whip my head around.

"Hold still for a second," Arizona commanded, putting a firm hand on the small of my back, while lightly grasping the wrist of the burnt hand. She used the hand on my back to guide me to the sink, flipped on the water, and tenderly eased my throbbing hand under the cool stream. After a few seconds, her left hand trailed to my hip, pushing softly, trapping me against the counter to help hold me up. We stood face to face, our hips resting on the edge of the sink, while my left and her right hand slipped in and out of the water.

I bit my lip as I surreptitiously studied her. She kept her eyes down, watching our hands. Her features were calm, not angry or particularly worried, just…protective? Nurturing? Content? Confident? I wasn't sure which exactly. I couldn't or wouldn't admit it out loud, but the feel of her thumb tracing random patterns on the inside of my wrist and the gentle pressure of her hand on my hip had my heart fluttering and stomach flipping. These were not generally exciting touches, but I could feel heat sparking from them nonetheless. We were only about a foot apart, the warmth from her body was threatening to fully caress my body, and I wanted so much to step more fully to her. But, pride and obligation had me rooted to my spot.

We stood motionless and silent for a few minutes, until I shifted my weight, which moved my shirt just enough that her fingers slipped onto the bare skin of my hip. Without permission or warning, I gasped, almost silently, but loud enough for Arizona to snap her eyes up to mine. I gulped, embarrassed and guilty.

Stilling her thumb, but not removing her hand from its place on my now burning skin, she raised her eyebrows and cocked her head, clearly waiting for something.

"I'm sorry," I blurted out.

I guess that's not what she was expecting, because she looked a little surprised. But, she stayed quiet, waiting for me to continue.

I sighed, I hadn't planned on apologizing, but I think I panicked at the thought of her removing her hands from me. "We're not even really talking right now, because I was a bitch, yet here you are…helping me anyway…I'm sorry that I yelled at you that day. I was scared and it was easy to take that out on you. I had started to think that I wasn't going to make it out of there, and I thought of how close I-we came to losing you and-" I cleared my throat, knowing that I couldn't honestly finish that sentence, "Well…thank you. For coming back for me, and for helping me out with this tragic accident," I gestured to my lobster red hand, a small smile pulling at my lips.

Her blue eyes held mine for a moment, before she grinned and nodded her head, "You're welcome, and I accept your apology. Thank you."

I grinned back at her, realizing how much better I felt with that weight off of me.

She looked down at my hand and gingerly raised it out of the water, she lightly ran her fingers over my palm, "How's your hand feeling now?"

Against my better judgment, I let my eyes flutter shut at the sensation and answered her honestly, "Great, with you doing that, I forget that it was hurt at all."

I slowly opened my eyes to gage her reaction to my confession. She smirked softly and decided to bypass the comment, "Well, it's just a first degree burn, you'll live. But, to avoid future tragedies, you should not fall on hot stoves."

Her eyes glittered at me, teasing a smile from me. "Thanks, you're super helpful." I rolled my eyes, and regretfully let my hand slide from hers. "Instead of doling out unsolicited advice, you could help me cook dinner."

Arizona looked hesitant, "Um…I don't really cook."

I couldn't help but laugh at her crinkled nose and scrunched eyebrows, "That's cool, you can keep me company, and just hand me things so I can avoid falling on the hot stove."

A gorgeous, dimpled smile spread across her face, "Deal." My heart skipped a beat at her enthusiasm to spend time with me.

An hour later, my sides pinched and cheeks ached from laughing harder and more than I ever had before. It surprised me at how easily we fell into comfortable banter when we didn't put unnecessary pressure on the situation. It felt good to be with her. Easy. Showing her my technique in the kitchen and sharing silly stories had been great up until this moment. Now, I was glaring at the head of golden curls with disgust and disbelief.

Arizona smashed a hand over her mouth, desperately trying to hold in the giggle that would inevitably escape. "Calliope, I'm so sorry…I tried to warn you…I don't cook…"

Seething, I slowly wiped at my face and glanced down at my shirt, "Arizona…all I asked you to do was stir the sauce…stirring is not cooking…and somehow….somehow you made it-" I gestured helplessly down my body.

"Explode?" Arizona offered before erupting in laughter. "Seriously, it's all over you!"

I stared at her as she clutched her sides and continued to giggle at the hilarity that was me. I really was covered in my homemade sauce that had taken almost an hour to make, and I should be mad or frustrated that she may have ruined it and definitely ruined the shirt I was wearing. However, I couldn't be angry with the beautiful woman in front of me, looking completely happy and knowing I felt the way she looked after this afternoon. Gradually, I lost the battle with my glare and it morphed into a wide grin. "I see you think this is funny, but I'm not so sure…let me check."

Before she could register what I had said, I took the spoon out of the pot and flicked it in her direction. Bright red sauce Picasso-ed her pale green shirt, face and hair. She was right, it was pretty damn funny. I burst into laughter at the look of shock and amusement on her previously gleeful features.

She gasped, "Calliope Torres! Mine was on accident! That was just rude!"

I might have believed she was angry, if she wasn't already raising the spoon to retaliate. Dodging behind the table, I narrowly missed the glob of sauce flying across the room. "Hey, we are not having a food fight in here!"

"Watch me!" She dipped the spoon in again and aimed-

"Torres!" The captain's voice broke through our little bubble. "Just what in the hell do you think you are doing?"

Not yet out of my blissful little world we had created, I answered a little childishly, "She started it!"

Arizona snorted and turned away.

The Captain glared at me, "I doubt that. Get this mess cleaned up, this is not elementary school. Start acting like an adult, Torres." He stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

I stood gaping at the door, while Arizona suppressed giggles. "That was so not fair, he didn't say anything to you!"

Arizona grinned, "I didn't save his life, that's all you. Bitch, Callie."

"Ha ha. I guess, we should clean up." I tossed a kitchen rag at her and grabbed one for me and began to wipe the sauce off my face and shirt. Arizona did the same.

She looked up at me and smiled, "You missed some." She walked over and swiped my hair, ear and shoulder. I tried not to notice that her fingers brushed my cheek and tickled down my neck.

"Thanks, you missed some, too." I ran the rag over her hair, 'accidentally' letting my fingers trail through the silky strands. We were standing very close by this point, and as per tradition we let our eyes find each other's and lock. Thankfully, before the tension could rise to an uncomfortable level, Webber bellowed for Arizona to come out to the truck.

Arizona glanced over her shoulder, "Duty calls. Thanks for letting me help you cook. I had a good time." She grinned teasingly.

"Yeah, you were a big help. But, I had a good time, too." I smiled shyly as she backed toward the door.

"You know, there's a 90's Karaoke night at Joe's next Thursday. I know how you love your 90's…we should go." She smiled softly, seeing my slightly panicked expression, "I mean, all of us, of course."

I grinned, "Sounds like it'll either be horrible or fantastic. I'm in."

Arizona beamed, "Great…oh…you…" She pointed to my neck.

"I what?" I asked confused by her lack of words.

She strode back over to me, "Have some sauce still on your neck." Looking into my eyes and hesitating only a moment, she leaned over and slid her tongue over my throat just below my jaw, licking the sauce off. Her breath danced across the now damp area, creating a delicious sensation.

I think I literally forgot how to breathe, which is why I only sharply inhaled, not letting the air go until she was several steps away. My heart was racing and every inch of my skin was tingling. I could feel excitement and pleasure wash over me, shoot down to my toes and speed all the way back up. What. The. Hell. Was. That?

She definitely didn't miss my expression, which was half arousal and half fear. Clearing her throat she shifted her eyes between me and the floor, "Um, sorry, that was…I just…"

Not wanting her to think I was mad, I attempted to casually wave it off, "No, it's fine…uh, no worries…I think the Captain is waiting for you…" I finished lamely.

Arizona grinned, obviously embarrassed and flustered, "Yeah…" As she backed out the door, she added, "Really good sauce, though." And, she was gone.

My pulse finally started to return to normal as I stared at the door. Situationally speaking, that wasn't good, but it felt pretty damn right.

AN: For those of you that are dying from wanting them to kiss or something, it makes me happy to know that I'm writing something that actually causes tension, that means something's working. It's coming soon, don't worry, but I'm trying to stick to my plan. And, I personally think, it'll be worth the wait. Although, I know what it's like to be reading a story that's got you screaming at the computer, so I am sorry for that.