Arizona's palms were sweaty, her heart was racing and beating so fast and loud she was pretty sure you could hear her coming for a mile away. She had never been so nervous about anything before in her life until now.
She was nervous and scared to raise her hand and knock on the door to Callie's Government Issue two story house. When she got back to London and heard about what happened she tuned everything around her out as she made her upstairs to her office. After a series of threatening phones to the South African government she was able to find out that Callie was at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Johannesburg. That was a small sigh of relief that she as at one of the best hospitals that the country had to offer. She had just gotten out of a successful surgery when Arizona called, but for the time being she was considered too unstable to fly.
Two surgeries and three weeks later, Callie was given the okay to make the long haul flight back to London. The only catch was she was nowhere near done with her hospital stay. Although Chris Hani Baragwanath was the best hospital in South Africa they weren't as technologically advanced as Addenbrook in London. So there was still a lot left to do to help save Callie.
As much as it pained Marshal Webber to see his team hurt, mainly Arizona, Mark and Bailey he had to forbid them from going to back to South Africa to be by Callie's side. Arizona usually had a take-charge take no shit attitude, but ever since she found out about what happened in South Africa she became quiet and reserved. When Mark and the others came back, Mark exploded on Arizona when she asked where and how Callie was doing. Usually General Robbins wouldn't stand for being yelled by someone that was underneath like a first lieutenant, but she didn't do anything she just sat there for twenty minutes as Mark yelled at her for everything that she did to hurt not just his best friend, but for someone who became a sister to him throughout their years together.
Once Callie was back in London all bets were off, Marshal Webber couldn't say or do anything to his scare his team from not leaving the base. But that's what happens when you pick the best of the best, fear means absolutely nothing to them. Most of the Rainbow team came and went, but for Mark and Arizona they were there all the time, minus 4 to 5 hours when they were doing drills.
It was another three weeks before the doctors said that it was okay for Callie to go home, but it would still be awhile before she could return to her normal duties at Rainbow. Which lead to a nervous Arizona on Callie's doorstep, all the times she was by Callie's side Callie was knocked out because she was heavily medicated, but now that she home she would probably be awake, and probably not want to talk to her. The last time the spoke with each other, Callie accused Arizona of being in love with her ex. Arizona closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she lifted her arm and knocked on the door.
…"CEO of iQon Technologies Robert Stark was found dead at one of his warehouses in Brazil. It is believed that the CEO committed suicide after a warrant for his arrest was issued 3 months ago. Robert was wanted for several different tax evasion schemes. He owed up to $ 2 billion in taxes and fled to Brazil to escape these charges. Once the warrant became international, the CEO decided to end his life to escape all these charges for good. In other news Operation Iraqi Freedom ended today as the last of American troops crossed the Kuwait boarder"… "Last week on the Real Housewives of Beverley Hills…"
"I was watching that," Callie said with a light groan. Somehow while she was sleeping on the couch she moved from her lying on her back to lying on her stomach.
"Really? Because you were balls deep in the couch two seconds ago." Aria said from the love seat with the remote in her hand. "Why do you want to watch this crap? The government has already produced a cover story on Robert Stark. The public will never know his true intentions and how he really died."
"I know," Callie slowly managed to sit up straight on the couch before she ran her hands over her face and through her hair. "But BBC News is ten times better than this Real Housewives of whatever city bull shit." Callie pointed up to the T.V.
"Yeah, well you have been home for the past three weeks. I think it's my turn to have the remote." Aria looked over to Callie who just rolled her eyes. "Oh, it will be fine Calliope. They also say the first hour is the most painful, and then it is all down hill from there." Aria smiled at Callie.
"Really? You won't let the wounded war vet that fought for your freedom have the remote?"
Aria shook her head while looking over at Callie, "Yeah, and you can stop with the I don't respect our soldiers because that is not true." Aria paused for a moment, "I didn't make you enlist in the Marines, that was all you. Plus I am truly grateful for everything you guys do, I mean without you these lovely ladies wouldn't be able to make complete fools of themselves on national television for people like me to watch." Aria turned her attention back to the TV.
"One episode."
Aria gave a light chuckle, "Callie we are cities behind."
"Cities?"
Aria shook her head in the positive. "I have been working double shifts, and since I don't celebrate a lot of English holidays I have been getting time in a half at work. Then you had to go get yourself shot making me have to take care of you in my free time leaving me with no time to watch the Real Housewives."
Callie just gave a long deep sigh, "How many cites?"
"Well we are only three episodes in the Beverley Hills series, then after that we have Atlanta, Orange County, New Jersey, and New York."
"Oh, hell no."
"What are you going to do about it? I have the remote, and you can try and fight me for it but with you being shot you have leveled the playing field." Aria smiled at Callie who was just glaring at her. "One poke in your scar tissue and you will be on the floor crying like a baby."
Callie was about to say something when there was knock on the door. "I'll get it," Aria said as she got up from her sit. "And I will take this with me." She said with a grin as took the remote with her to the front door.
The house became silent which Callie learned to hate while she was been home alone for the past few weeks. "Hotel Babylon! Let's watch Hotel Babylon I know we have seen every episode, but that is something I can sit through and not want to kill someone."
"Or your could watch Footballers Wives." Callie's head snapped to the living room opening when a voice came from that direction that was not Aria, Mark or Sloan's. "If you like Hotel Babylon you'll like Footballers Wives." Arizona said with a soft voice and small smile.
There was silent again, there was so much to be said but the ladies didn't know where to start or be the first to break the silence. "I brought you blue and purple orchids, as a get well gift." Arizona paused and looked down at the flowerpot for a moment, "Your favorite colors with your favorite flower."
Callie was looking straight ahead with a perplex look before she turned her gaze over to Arizona. "How do you know my favorite flower? I never told you."
"I may or may not have abused my power of authority over Mark to get him to spill the beans about you."
"Yeah well he should have told you not to waste your time with getting me orchids. When I take care of them they always die after flowers fall off. Never could figure out how to keep them alive after that, and just kind of gave up after a few years of trying."
"Actually the secret is ice cubes." Arizona said as walked into the living setting the orchids on the coffee table before taking a seat next to Callie with out even thinking about what she was doing. "Give it 2 ice cubes every other week in the summer and give it 5 ice cubes once a month in the winter."
"Did Julie tell you that?" Callie responded coldly.
"CALLIOPE!" Aria yelled from the other room.
Arizona's head dropped for a moment before she responded, "No it's okay Aria, I deserve it. Whether you saw me kiss Julie or not, it wasn't fair to you. That argument changed directions so many times I didn't know if I was supposed to be mad, upset, happy or sad. But that's not a valid excuse, I hurt you and I'm sorry." Arizona paused again to collect her thoughts. "You were right. 14 years is a long time to be with someone, and I feel like the way Julie and I said goodbye the first time wasn't enough, it didn't really get our points across. But when we were in the hospital, yelling, talking and crying to each other, we finally hit that moment were we knew we weren't meant to be together. "
The house was silent again after Arizona spoke, but the silence didn't last that much longer. "I really do like you, Callie, a lot. And these past couple weeks when you were still in South Africa and here in the hospital it made me realize how much I really like you. I have really only known you for a month or two, but it feels like I have known you my whole life." Arizona closed and then opened her mouth a few times trying to figure out what she going to say next. "I'm not saying that we pick things up from where we left off before South Africa, but I would like to be your friend. I want to get to know you through you and not through abusing Mark. We could take things slow and see where we end up afterwards."
It took Callie a few moments to digest everything that Arizona said before she came up with an answer. "I would like that actually."
Arizona was looking down at her lap before she looked up over to Callie with a huge smile on her face. "Great," Arizona said, when she looked at Callie, Callie couldn't help but to smile as well.
For the forth time that afternoon the room fell silent, for Callie and Arizona they were looking at each intently. Both were trying to fight the urge to lean in and kiss the other. It was a classic battle between mind and body, and for both of them body won. Callie was the first to slowly lean in and Arizona soon followed. There lips were just inches away from each when the TV, which was paused pass its limit began to play causing the two women jump apart.
"'This is all bull shit to me!' ... 'Well this is who I am!'"
"The Real Housewives? Are you are you serous?" Arizona asked with a chuckle.
Callie could do nothing but give Arizona a shocked look before shaking her head, "No, I hate this show. Aria, she loves The Real Housewives series, all of them."
"Lies!" Aria said with a grin as she passed by the living room opening and walked into the kitchen for a moment. "She loves The Real Housewives." Aria reappeared holding a bag of white cheddar popcorn as she leaned against the right side of the living room opening. "She loves them so much she thought about auditioning for The Real Housewives of Washington D.C."
"Oh, what stopped you?" Arizona said with a small grin.
"She was still active in the military and didn't want to give the Marines a bad name. Quite frankly I think if Callie were on the show it wouldn't have gotten cancelled. A closeted Mo in the military, great drama." Aria answered.
"Mo?" Arizona went from looking at Aria to Callie.
"Homo," Callie whispered right before she closed her eyes wishing that Aria's entrance in their conversation was nothing but a dream.
"Oh, that's interesting."
"It's not," Callie shook her head looking at Arizona before turning to Aria, "It's not I'm trying to get her to stop." Callie made a face and nodded at Aria asking quietly to get lost.
"Alright I get the hint, I'm leaving. You shouldn't be embarrassed about liking The Real Housewives, everyone has guilty pleasures, isn't that right Arizona?"
Arizona just shook her head agreeing with Aria, "Footballer's wives."
"Well I'll let you get back to your TV show," Arizona said as she started to get up from couch.
Callie grabbed her hand before she could walk away, "You're not going to say?"
"If you're watching that," Arizona pointed at the TV still playing The Real Housewives, "then no."
"Oh, we're not watching Real Housewives." Callie pulled Arizona onto her lap; she clenched her jaw and trying to hide the groan when Arizona's elbow brushed up against her chest.
"Callie-" Arizona started.
"What? The doctor said I need to start doing more physical activities to ready myself for my return to Rainbow. And you can't get more physical than this." Callie said with a smirk before she leaned in kissed Arizona.
"COME ON!" Aria yelled from the kitchen. "What happened to being friends and taking it slow? I don't think this constitutes taking it slow!" Aria made her way to staircase to go upstairs to her room.
"Yeah, and I don't think I asked for your commentary!" Callie yelled back.
"That's it, its official I'm moving out!"
"About damn time!" Were last coherent words that were said in Callie's house for the rest of the evening.
