Disclaimer: I own none of these characters; they all belong to Shonda Rhimes and the producers of Grey's Anatomy. Don't sue me, please.
Hope you guys like this chapter - For Sheik Sheik and all the awesome readers.
In a review to Chapter 10 I was told that the timeline is a little confusing. I'm here to sort that out. All the events in the story occur in chronological order but not right after the other (i.e. not one day after another) some events occur a week or more after the events in the previous chapter. This is all done to help progress the story and not allow C & A to fall helplessly and hopelessly in love after a few days. Hope you guys understand, if you need further explanation just send me a PM and I'll get to you.
Callie's POV
Callie had a restless night. She woke up at the slightest sound around the apartment and Aria, who was scared after that evening, slept in her bed. At two in the morning she was awoken by her pager, she groaned and told Aria to go back to bed. She changed into her scrubs and the hotel's busboy carried her to the hospital, "It's great when you're the owner's niece." She arrived at the hospital and was met by a fourth year resident who was in charge of the ER that night.
"What'd you got?" Callie asked the short wiry man.
"Male, thirty-four, involved in a head-on collision, bus versus car. Severe bone damage to both legs and the neck. He's in three." The man pointed to the door and walked away from the surgeon. Callie walked into the room and began her assessment; he was definitely in need of surgery.
Three and a half hours later and Callie was out of surgery. The man, Greg, suffered from tachycardia on the table and so she had to close up to try again later or the next day. Callie was now frustrated, it was five-thirty, she had a long night, her sister was scared senseless, her apartment was trashed and there was no way that she was getting in until the next day and most frustrating of all, something was up with Arizona that the blonde refused to talk about. "Fuck this, fuck all of this!" Callie was walking around the Ortho floor searching for an intern or a resident to send for a cup of coffee for her, she found none. "Of course, no one wants to do Ortho!" She opened the door to an on-call room, looking to get some rest. There was a second resident in the room who she ordered, very angrily, to hurriedly get her a cup of extra black coffee, "That's so Arizona." She fell asleep for a few minutes before her sleep was disturbed by the resident returning. Callie grabbed the cup from the wiry man and quickly gulped it down. She tried to fall asleep again but failed miserably.
A few minutes later, Callie found herself walking aimlessly around the hospital once again. She decided to visit the NICU and spend some time with Nathan, a baby boy whose mother had died after giving birth and his father had left the woman during her pregnancy. Callie had met the child when she was checking on a patient of hers. The nurses had allowed Callie to sort of adopt the baby, she named him and spent a great portion of her time with him; the child was drawn to the Ortho surgeon as much as she was drawn to him. She donned the "Sickly," pink gown and walked into the room that belonged to her young friend.
"Hey there, baby," Callie cooed to the child as she took him from his crib, "You look happy to see me." Nathan placed his fingers in his mouth and smiled at the woman whose hands were now behind his head and back. Callie walked over to the rocking chair before the crib and sat still smiling at the child. "I missed you so much," she ran her hand through his dark hair as Nathan continued to chew on his little fingers. "You remember my little sister, Aria?" Callie took the small grunt that the baby gave her as a yes, "Well, a really mean and bad guy attacked her last night but she's okay. We're staying at a hotel now, no where nice as my apartment but it'll have to do," Nathan reached up and placed his hand on Callie's cheek, she laughed slightly, "You wanna comfort me? You just have to lay there and be as cute as you can be." Nathan's eyes closed slowly, his hand gently slipping down the woman's face and resting on her collarbone. Callie rocked him to sleep and slightly dozed off herself. She was awoken by a nurse who had come in to feed the baby. She handed over the little boy, kissed his forehead and left the room. As soon as she left the room Callie took off the gown and pulled on her lab coat. She took out her phone and saw that she had spent over an hour with Nathan, it was now seven fifteen, and that she had four missed calls, one from Arizona and three from Mark. She rolled her eyes on seeing the number of times her best friend had called her. Callie pressed Arizona's name as she stepped into the elevator.
"Hey Cal," Arizona sounded tired, the perky that her voice usually held was gone.
"Hey you. You okay?" Callie did not wait for a response, "You sound tired."
"I am. After I left you and Aria at the hotel I went to the precinct and worked straight until one thirty and came back in at five," Callie heard Arizona stifle a yawn on the other side of the phone.
"Hmmm, not liking the sound of that Arizona," Callie poured herself a cup of the coffee in the Attendings' Lounge.
"I have to do it, Cal. I get paid for it," Arizona gave a sarcastic laugh. Callie mumbled a response.
"Dinner at my place tonight and then you'll get some sleep, either in my bed or wherever you prefer," her tone was serious and left no room for argument.
"Ohh, sorry Cal. Teddy's coming in tonight from Boston and she asked me to pick her up. If she's okay with it we'll drop by."
"Oh okay," the disappointment was evident.
"But how about lunch? Just me and you, wherever you want to go," Arizona was in placating mode and Callie knew it.
"That sounds great. Your place?" Callie was happy once again, "Or as happy as you can be after waking up at two in the morning and having nothing but bad coffee."
"My place? You wanna go to my apartment for lunch?" Arizona sounded surprised.
"Yeah, I've never been there so why not? You said I could choose where," Callie stated in her matter-of-fact tone.
"Okay…so my place it is. I'll pick you up at twelve thirty."
"Alright, twelve thirty it is," the two exchanged goodbyes.
Callie decided to call Mark. "What's up, Sloan?"
"Do you know how long I've been calling you? I was worried sick and all I get is a 'What's up, Sloan?'" Mark began to berate her and Callie laughed, "What's so funny?"
"You. I'm fine, I got paged in a two this morning and I've been here ever since, crazy tired."
Mark sighed, "Okay, good. I'll get you some coffee at Starbucks on my way in, if you see Lex tell her I'll get one for her as well."
"Thank you, Mark. Can I have one of those twisty donuts as well, please?"
"Anything for the lady," with that he hung up and allowed Callie to go about her day. Thirty minutes later Callie was going through her patient charts at the nurses' station when a cup was placed before her. She thanked him profusely and took a long sip.
"Aria okay?" he asked after she removed the cup from her lips.
"Yeah, she's doing okay; scared but okay," she looked back at the chart that was in her right hand.
"Okay. So when are you guys moving back in?" he turned and leaned against the desk, his legs crossed at the ankle.
"I'm not sure. I'll ask Arizona if she knows anything."
"Speaking of Officer Blondie, how was the date last night?" Mark asked raising an eyebrow inquisitively.
"It was amazing," Callie gushed, "Until it got a little awkward and then we got called away." She went on to tell him about the clearing, its view, the candles and the bed. When she mentioned the bed Mark cut her off.
"So did you get any?" she glared at him and hit him with the chart in her hand.
"What was that for?" she continued to stare at him.
Her gazed fell and she began talking again, "There was something up with her last night," she took another sip from the cup before continuing, "She seemed…tentative. Like she wasn't sure; she was second guessing."
"She didn't say what was bothering her?"
"She said everything was fine but I know that there's something she isn't telling me. She pulled away from a kiss twice!"
"Have you tried talking to her about it? Maybe it has nothing to do with you, probably it's just something personal."
"Maybe it is. I'll ask her at lunch," Callie finished the cup of coffee in her hand and looked at her best friend again.
"Lunch huh? If you bring her here maybe you can sneak her into an on-call room and get…ouch! That hurt even more," Mark vigorously rubbed his arm.
"Good, pervert!" Callie laughed.
"What? I just can't believe you haven't you know. With Hahn –"
Callie was immediately in his face, "Don't you ever talk about her!" Her finger was jabbing into his chest and anger radiated from every inch of her body.
Mark held up his hands, his expression was pure surprise, "Sorry, I'm sorry. I thought you were over her, with Blondie and all."
She backed down and took up the chart once more, "Sorry. I don't know where that came from."
"It's okay. She hurt you. It's okay," he placed his hand on her arm and gave a gentle squeeze and a smile.
"Thanks Mark."
"Anytime. I gotta go check up on a patient before surgery. Tell Blondie I said hi," he turned and began walking away.
"Okay, Mark. I will tell Arizona you said hi," she laughed as her best friend gave her a thumbs up and walked further away from her. "Thank God for friends like Mark."
Arizona's POV
"Cal, I'm in the parking lot."
"I'm on my way down; I'll be there in about two minutes."
True to her word, Callie appeared at the passenger's door not long after. She slid into the seat and gave Arizona a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Hey. Sorry, I got called for a consult," she settled into her seat, "Last minute."
"It's fine. Life of a rock star surgeon," Arizona shrugged and backed out of the space.
"I guess," Callie responded causing both women to laugh.
"Why are you over thinking this? She's amazing! You two have something wonderful, why stop and think now? Take a plunge, 'Zona!" She drove to her apartment, Callie doing all the talking, or singing. She was happy that they could have their quiet moments without feeling uncomfortable, "Well most of the time." She remembered the night before when they both sat in awkward silence; she did not want that anymore with Callie.
They walked up the stairs together, "You're in luck. I stocked up on food when Teddy was here, so we got lots to choose from." Callie laughed at her comment. Not a minute later they were standing in front of Arizona's door, searching for the key.
"You know, for someone so impeccably tidy and organized –" Callie began with a smug smile on her face
"Don't you dare say it," Arizona retorted, her hands still moving through her bag, "I can find it, it's in here somewhere." Callie laughed and shook her head.
"I can bust the door down for you," she turned to lean against the wall, her hands folded loosely across her chest.
"Thanks but no thanks," the blonde looked at the woman who was standing there in her navy blue scrubs. "I got it!" Arizona had searched through two smaller compartments of her bag and exclaimed in triumph when her fingers connected with the elusive key.
Arizona pushed open the door and walked in but Callie froze in the doorway, shock registering on her features.
"What?" Arizona turned and looked at her.
"It's so bright in here," she looked at the lime green walls of the living room and the darker green curtains to match, "It's like a rainbow puked in here. No disrespect though." She quickly added the last statement after seeing the pointed look that Arizona gave her. "I know you have your…perky side and your happy moments and I like them, I do…but my God Arizona," she waved her hands around the room, "I wasn't expecting this. This is like ultra perky and happy and rainbows and stuff." She returned her hands to her side and looked at Arizona who did not look happy at all.
"Well, now that you are finished criticizing my décor and color scheme, which I happen to really like and think is awesome," her face remained stoic but Callie's took on an apologetic look, "Let's just eat." She turned and walked into the kitchen which was separated from the living room by an archway. Callie closed the door behind her, put her bag on the table beside the door and walked after Arizona.
Arizona heard her footsteps on the tile and refused to turn to look at her. "Arizona, I'm deeply sorry. I wasn't criticizing, honestly. I was just…surprised."
"I know. I'm a blonde, female cop, I got that whole badass thing down; people find it extremely weird that I have the whole perky, blonde thing going on as well. I'm used to it by now. Women are either turned on by the cop thing and turned off by the perky or vice versa. Story of my life." She still did not turn to meet Callie's eyes. Instead she took out pots and pans, unsure of what she was doing. "This is why I over think this. She's probably like them all, like Joanne!"
Arizona felt Callie's body behind hers and she immediately became tense. Callie wrapped her arms around her and held the blonde close. "I'm not turned off by either. I love them both because they help make you, you." She turned Arizona towards her and kissed her. Arizona pulled away again. "No!" She moved towards the fridge and looked inside.
"You can't always fix things with a kiss, Calliope." Her tone was serious.
"I know that –"
"But you can this time if you cook," she closed the door and looked the Latina in the eyes.
"Ummm, seriously?"
"Yes, Calliope"
"Okay," she shrugged her shoulders and pointed to the chair, "Sit. As of now this kitchen is mine, you're here to sit and watch."
"Fine by me," Arizona skipped to the chair and sat with her elbows on the counter and her head propped up in her hands.
Callie turned to her, "What were you planning on making, Captain?"
Arizona smiled sheepishly, "I have no clue, I just putting on a show to impress the pretty lady in my kitchen." She turned her head to the side slightly and smiled at her. Callie laughed and turned back to the stove, shaking her head.
"You are something else, Arizona Robbins."
Arizona sat and watched Callie work for a little over twenty minutes before a plate was placed before her, "What's this?" she asked the Latina.
"It's a quesadilla. It's got chicken, cheese, onions, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, oregano and a Greek vinaigrette dressing."
Arizona bit into it, "Damn Cal. This is amazing!"
"Damn she is amazing! Best part is that she's mine! Woah, Robbins. You just claimed her but you're afraid to call her your girlfriend?"
"Glad you like it," she sat in the chair beside Arizona and leaned in to whisper in her ear, "Cooking isn't the only thing I'm, as you say, amazing at." She winked at Arizona who almost choked on her second bite of the quesadilla.
"She's nothing like Jo. She wouldn't hurt me, not intentionally."
"Is that so?"
Callie nodded, "Yup. As you know I'm a rock star surgeon," Arizona nodded. "I've been told that I'm a really good kisser," Arizona nodded emphatically. "I'm an amazing friend, if I do say so myself." Arizona smiled at her. "And last but by no means least," Callie leaned in to whisper in her ear, Arizona shivered at the physical closeness between them, "My back rubs are out of this world." Arizona gave a nervous laugh and Callie chuckled.
"Then why are you so scared to let her know how you feel? You're being a wuss, Arizona!"
"Wow, so not what I was expecting," said before pushing the final piece of the quesadilla in her mouth.
"Really? What were you expecting?" Callie was looking at her, her brown eyes were laughing.
"I don't know…you in bed," Arizona turned her gaze to the crumbs that were left on her plate. "Wuss!"
Callie laughed, "You wanna find out?" Arizona's blue eyes shot up to meet Callie's, excitement making them bluer than usual. Arizona felt Callie's finger gently make their way up her arm and under the sleeve of her uniform, burning right through her skin.
"Oh yes I would!"
Arizona's lips parted to release a gasp as Callie's hand moved to her knee and up her clothed thigh.
"Cal…" Callie looked up at her and Arizona saw lust and passion burning in her eyes. "I should, no need to stop her. We can't do this, not now." Arizona willed her hand to move over the Latina's ceasing her exploration; Callie looked slightly peeved and very confused. "I'm sorry, Calliope but not now. It should be special, you know, our first time together."
Callie looked directly into her eyes, "Down into my soul again!" "It would be special for me because it's with you."
"Cal –" she was cut off by the ringing of Callie's pager. Callie gave her an apologetic look and went to retrieve it from her bag. Arizona was placing her plate in the sink when she heard Callie swear. She went out to see what was wrong.
Callie was pulling out her phone when Arizona began to speak, "You need to get back tp the hospital?"
"Yeah ASAP," Callie responded gathering her bag, she quickly ran to the kitchen and picked up the last two quesadillas and returned motioning for Arizona to come along.
"Okay, let's go," Arizona said picking up her bag.
They left the apartment, another conversation between the two unfinished.
