**WARNING - CONTAINS THE SUBJECT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE**

Thanks for all of your recent reviews and follows on this fic. It means the absolute world.

I own nothing. All characters/storylines belong to Shonda. I'm simply 'borrowing' them.

Chapter Eleven is up. Enjoy.


Chapter Eleven


Crossing the street, donuts and coffee in hand, Arizona hummed to herself and thought about how quickly she could pack boxes. She hated being in the place that her girlfriend had been abused in, and she hated that Callie wanted food. She does love her food. Arizona laughed to herself. But she could have just waited until she felt like taking a break. We could have gone to the coffee shop together. The blonde struggled as she stepped inside the apartment block, and straight into the elevator. Hitting the button that would take her to the top floor, with her elbow, she watched the doors close and she stood back against the wall. She loved having the day off with Callie, even if it was to get all of her things from her abusive ex fiancés place.

She would be lying if she said she hadn't hoped for the locks to have been changed. Sure, Callie would have been without her stuff, but they could buy new stuff. It's just stuff. Reaching the top floor, she made her way out of the elevator, almost dropping the box of donuts balancing on her palm, and took a left. Noticing that the apartment door was still open from when she left she quietly made her way down the hallway. The last thing she wanted to do was startle her girlfriend who was currently going through her things in her old apartment. The apartment she had shared with her abusive ex fiancé. Yeah, that wouldn't be a good idea. Deciding she would quietly enter, she poked her head around the door, and her heart stopped. It stopped because there was complete silence. It stopped because she had to think of her next move. It stopped because Suzanne was in front of her, with her back to her, and it stopped because her girlfriend was currently being held up by her throat, against the wall.

Blue eyes met brown, and as Callie's eyes widened, Arizona shook her head and motioned for her to look away. She didn't want Suzanne to know she was there. She didn't want Suzanne to make a move as she approached. So, she quietly stepped back out into the hall, placed their donuts and coffee down on the corridor floor, and removed her jacket. I'm not ruining this because of that bitch. Straightening herself out, she quietly entered the apartment, tiptoeing. She could hear Suzanne mumbling words in Callie's ear, and although she couldn't make out what it was she was saying, she could see the tears rolling down the brunettes cheeks. Mouthing 'It's okay' to her girlfriend, Arizona gave the brunette a nod, tilted her head and mouthed 'don't move'.

Moving closer, she noticed the bruising becoming more evident around Callie's right eye, the blood trickling from her nose, and Suzanne's grip beginning to tighten around the brunettes beautiful throat. Knuckles turning white, Arizona had to do something. As much as she didn't want to cause a scene in front of Callie, she knew she didn't have much choice.

Fists clenching, Arizona felt her blood rushing to her head. If she wasn't careful, she would kill this woman, that she was sure of. Head rolling from side to side, Arizona reached out, gripped onto the deep red hair in front of her, and forcefully pulled the other woman back and off of her feet.

Callie sliding down the wall and holding her throat, she tried to breathe. She was about to have a panic attack, and that was something her body couldn't deal with right now. Breathe, Torres, breathe. She wanted to cry, but she couldn't. Her body wouldn't allow her to. Not only had she reacted to the situation the way she always had, but her body remembered the other woman's touch, and so she couldn't cry. She had no tears left for the woman who beat her daily.

Settling her breathing down, she looked up from her lap to find Arizona straddling the other woman on the floor in front of her, pale hands wrapped around her neck. Feeling like she was outside of her own body, Callie watched on as the sound around her disappeared.

Grip tightening around a scrawny neck, Arizona smirked. "How does it feel? How does it feel to be unable to breathe?"

Watching as the other woman's face quickly matched the colour of her hair, Arizona laughed, hard. "You are fucking pathetic." One hand removing itself from the neck it so desperately wanted to break, the blonde pulled her arm back and forcefully connected her fist with Suzanne's face. "I don't know how many times I have to tell you to stay away from my girlfriend."

Landing punch after punch, the blonde stopped herself before she caused too much damage. Standing, she removed herself from the other woman and stood looking down at her. "Call the police, Calliope."

Placing her foot on Suzanne's chest, Arizona turned around when she got no reply from her girlfriend. Dark curls shaking, Arizona furrowed her brow. "Callie?"

"No, we can't. If I call the police, you will be arrested too. You've just beaten her, and you are a surgeon. You will lose your job."

Suzanne laughed at the words of her ex fiancé. "She's right, you've just fucked up, Arizona."

Forcing her foot down further into Suzanne's chest, Arizona looked back down at her. "Shut your mouth. You don't get to say another word to me. If you do, I will kick the shit out of you."

"Baby, call the police." Arizona gave a sad smile. "I cannot and I will not allow this woman to walk the streets anymore. I'll kill her before she does."

Getting to her feet, Callie used the wall to support her body. She really did want to call the police, but she knew how Suzanne could be with her words, and she knew that she would be going back to Arizona's apartment alone. The woman was messed up, and she would take the blonde down with her. Callie was sure of it. "I can't."

"Then I will." Arizona stated as she removed her cell phone from her back pocket. Hitting 911, she waited for the call to connect and gave in the relevant information. Thanking the operator, she ended the call and slipped her cell back away. "Sucks to be you, Suzanne."

"Yeah, right. You are the only one who doesn't have a mark on you. I'll tell them you beat both of us."

"Tell them whatever you want, while you still can, because I swear to god, if I ever see you again, I will fucking kill you." The blonde spoke through gritted teeth. "It's over for you, I can promise you that right now."

Turning her attention back to her girlfriend, she felt the guilt rising inside. She hated that she had just beaten another woman, no matter how bad she wanted to, and although she had warned Callie that this would happen, it didn't make her feel any better about it. "You okay?" Her words were quiet and uncertain. Not only had she just beaten Suzanne, she had done it in front of the woman who had been suffering from two years of domestic violence.

Gaining a slight nod from the brunette, she watched her back away from them both and sit on the floor in a corner further away.

The devastation rising inside of Arizona was almost too much to take. She could see that Callie was frightened and she knew she was now probably terrified to even be in the same room as her. The woman who had promised to protect her and show her how she should be treated. The woman who was stood above Suzanne, foot deep in her chest. Mouthing 'I'm sorry', Arizona closed her eyes as the tears threatened to fall. She hated that the woman beneath her foot had made her do this, and she hated that she had allowed herself to do it. That's us finished. No way is she ever going to trust me now. Arizona understood that she only had herself to blame for this, and if Callie never wanted to see her again, that was fine. She wouldn't push her, and she wouldn't force her. It was her life, and she was free to decide who she did and didn't want in it. Arizona knew she had now just become one of those people on Callie's list who had let her down. She had let her down after everything she had promised her. You fucking idiot.

"Hello? Police."

Callie breathed a sigh of relief as she caught sight of three officers appearing that the door. A female officer immediately making her way through the living room and to Callie, she lifted her from the floor and took her away from the situation.

Still stood with her foot on Suzanne's chest, Arizona watched as a male officer approached her. "We can take it from here, miss." Removing her foot, she stood and waited to be cuffed. Noticing the expression on the officers face, she furrowed her brow. "Ah, Miss Marshall. You've been quiet for some time."

Pulled up to her feet, Suzanne smirked at Arizona. "Why are you arresting me? She's the one who beat us."

"Nice try, Suzanne. You are the one with the domestic violence record, and I'm sure this lady here is squeaky clean. "Are you okay, miss?" The officer turned his attention to Arizona.

"Y-Yeah, um, we have a protection order out on her. I came back here to find her beating my girlfriend. H-Her ex."

"Okay. Your girlfriend will need to be checked out down at the hospital, and you should get your hand seen to, but if you'd like to make your way downstairs, she is with an officer."

"Yeah, sure." The blonde gave a nod. "We are doctors so we can see to ourselves. Callie has been doing that for some time."

Leaving the apartment, Arizona made her way down in record time. There was no time to wait for elevators, so she took the stairs. She needed to know that Callie was okay. Even if she never wanted to see her again, she had to know that she was okay.

Stepping outside, Arizona's heart broke as she watched Callie's beautiful brown eyes widen at the sight of her. Stopping herself from moving any further forward, the blonde shifted her weight from left to right and placed her hands in her back pockets. I've fucked this up. Giving the brunette a sad smile, she watched on as Callie dropped her gaze to the floor. Arms wrapped around herself, she looked terrified. She's scared of me. Oh god. Tears fell from blue eyes. "I'm sorry." Arizona repeated the words barely above a whisper to herself. She wasn't sure who she was saying them to, but she felt she had to say it.

Watching as Callie was guided into the back of a police car, Arizona's heart sank. The brunette couldn't even look at her, and she only had herself to blame. She never should have retaliated. She wasn't that kind of person, and she knew it. Callie knew it, or at least Arizona hoped she did. The police car pulling away, the blonde rocked her own body and tried to find some sort of comfort for what she had done. What she had just ruined between them. She trusted you. You have ruined everything.


Sat at home, knees up to her chest, Arizona couldn't stop the ache which had settled in her stomach some hours ago. She had sent Callie a message, and although she knew she was in the wrong for ever laying her hands on Suzanne, the blonde couldn't help but think that she had done the right thing. If she hadn't intervened, Callie would have been hurt worse than she already had been. Sure, she could have tried reasoning with the redhead, but in that moment, as she caught Suzanne with her hands wrapped around her girlfriend's throat, she didn't have time to stop and think about the consequences of her actions. Yes, she felt awful, but she also felt a slight relief.

A relief that she had shown Suzanne that she wasn't scared of her. A relief for the fact that the redhead was now behind bars, how long though, she didn't know, and a relief that Callie was now hopefully free from the other woman, for good. She cannot get away with this anymore.

The look on Callie's face imprinted on her brain, the tears fell once more. Picking up her cell, she reread the message she had sent her almost two hours ago.

Callie, please get in touch. I need to know you are okay. If you never want to see me again, I understand, but please tell me that you are okay. I never should have left you, and I never should have done what I done. It was wrong of me, and I will be forever sorry for that. The only comfort I can take from what I done, is knowing that she cannot hurt you anymore. I want you to be happy. I want that more than anything, and I hope you can be. You deserve someone who will give you the world, and more. You deserve someone who will not get angry and retaliate when the going gets tough, and that clearly isn't me. I thought I could be that person, and I thought I could spend my life with you, but I have let you down and I have let myself down. I'm sorry. Please know that. Arizona. Xx

It was true, she had let herself down. She had never been a violent person, and she had never been involved in fights growing up. Yes, she could use her mouth and her words well, but that was usually as far as it went. The fact that she repeatedly punched Suzanne today left her feeling sick, and at one point, she questioned whether she was even any better than the woman she had attacked. Deciding that she couldn't bare to think about it any longer, she lay down and pulled a blanket down from the back of the couch. A blanket which had the perfume of Callie on it. A blanket which they had shared most nights for the past three months.


Squinting as the brightness hit her eyes, Callie found herself outside the police station, and alone. She didn't know how to react to what had happened today, and she needed someone to talk to. The officer who brought her in to make a statement had offered the brunette therapy, but Callie had quickly laughed the suggestion off. She didn't need therapy, she needed to be alone. She needed to be alone to come to terms with what she had witnessed today, and although she knew Arizona would never hurt her, the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach and the image of her girlfriend on top of the other woman wouldn't leave her.

Turning left, she made her way to her safe place. The hospital. Pulling out her cell, she found a notification of a message she had received from Arizona, but she couldn't read it right now. She needed to truly think about things, and she needed to find someone she could trust with her problem. Bringing up the contact list, she hit M and searched for the person she knew would give it to her straight. Miranda Bailey.

Do you have a couple of minutes? I need to talk to you. - Callie

Sure, I'm in the attending's lounge. - M

I'll be there in a few. - Callie

Dipping her head and lifting her hood, the brunette made her way through the entrance of Seattle Grace and prayed that nobody else saw her. Deciding she would use the stairs, she turned right at the elevators and pushed through the double doors. It was quiet in the stairwell, and it was what she needed right now.

Meet me in the stairwell. I need to talk to you alone.

Reaching the floor where she knew Bailey was, Callie took a seat on the top step and waited for her friend to join her. She knew Miranda would be shocked when she seen her, but she was the only person she believed she could trust right now.

Hearing the door creak open behind her, Callie fixed her gaze on the stairs below her.

"Torres?"

"Hey, Bailey. Thanks for coming. I'm sure you are busy."

"Well yeah, I'm kinda busy but it seemed urgent. What's going on?"

"Take a seat." Tanned hands patted the spot next to her.

"Um, okay."

Turning to face her friend, Callie waited for the reaction to her injuries.

"What the hell happened to your face?" Miranda furrowed her brow. "Who done this, Callie?"

"Suzanne."

"Like, Suzanne your fiancé?"

"Ex fiancé. We haven't been together for a while. I was dating Arizona Robbins."

"Peds surgeon? Perky? Pain in my ass?" Miranda tried to lighten the situation. If she didn't, she would hurt someone. How could anyone do this to another person? Bailey was struggling for words right now.

"Hey, that's not nice. She's great." Callie chuckled.

"How long has this been going on, Torres?"

"Two years." Callie sighed. "I've been dating Arizona for a few months. She was the one I called when I'd had enough. I had to get out."

"So how has this happened?" Miranda continued to question the taller woman. "How did she get to you?"

"She asked me to collect my things from the apartment. She was leaving town for work."

"And?"

"We went by this morning to pack up my things. I asked Arizona to go get us some donuts, you know from that coffee shop?"

"Mm, the nicest."

"When she left, Suzanne was there. She had been there all the time. In the bathroom. I guess she thought I'd go alone."

"So Arizona left to get donuts and that's when she done this?"

"Yeah. She came back before it got a whole lot worse, but um-" Callie shook her head. "She attacked Suzanne."

"Good! Give that girl a damn medal." Miranda stated as she slapped her knees. "She's a keeper, Torres."

"She is?" The brunette furrowed her brow.

"Damn right she is. If you can find a woman who will protect you like that after only a couple of months?" Miranda scoffed. "She loves you, Callie."

"Woah, you're getting ahead of yourself a little, don't you think?" Callie laughed as she raised an eyebrow. "Ow!" The brunette felt a searing pain through her cheekbone. Backhanded.

"Not at all. She saved you months ago, and now she's just saved your ass again. Where is she?"

"I don't know." Callie's voice broke. "I think she thinks I hate her. I don't, I just don't know how to get past this."

"Well first of all, you need to take a little time for yourself. I'd offer you my place, but well, ain't nobody getting time to themselves when little tuck around." Miranda laughed. "Or maybe you should talk to her. Tell her how you're feeling."

"She could have lost her job, Bailey. She could have lost her job, and it's all my fault. All I do is cause trouble. Maybe she is better off not seeing me. She has so much ahead of her, and I'm just some freaking mess."

"That's not true, Torres. You know it." Bailey stated. "You've been through a lot, and sure, violence is never the answer, but have you thought about how Arizona felt when she seen you like that? How upset she must have been to lash out in front of you?"

"No, I guess I haven't."

"Not just anybody puts their job on the line for someone else. You know that, right?"

"I know but she really went for it. I could hear the anger in her voice. I know she was only protecting me, and she had warned me that she wouldn't hold back should Suzanne ever come around again, but I didn't expect it to happen."

"When Arizona came in, what did she see?" Miranda questioned the other woman.

"Me against the wall with Suzanne's hands around my throat."

"Well then, there is your answer."

"It is?"

"Yeah. Can you imagine how she must have felt seeing you being choked? Put yourself in her position. Just for a minute. I know if it had been me, I'd have grabbed a rusty knife and stuck it right in." Bailey shrugged, nonchalantly.

"Well thank God it wasn't you. We wouldn't be sat here, we'd be looking at a murder charge." Callie laughed. "Thanks, Bailey."

"For what?"

"Talking."

"Yeah well if you ever keep something like this from me again, I'll kick your ass myself." The shorter woman shrugged and stood before straightening herself out.

"You know where I am if you need anymore words of wisdom." Bailey smiled. "Just talk to her. You don't even have to see her. Just call her, or throw her a quick text. Let her know where you are and that you're okay, because you will be you know. You will be okay."

"I know." The brunette sighed.

Bailey was right. Arizona had been purely protecting her, and although she was questioning the blondes intentions, she knew it was all bullshit. She knew Arizona would never hurt her, and she knew that she would never find anyone as willing to help in her time of need.

She knew what she had to do, and she knew where she should be. With Arizona.


Thanks for reading, guys. Keep the reviews coming. You are all little bundles of inspiration. I have a free weekend and I intend to shower you all with update after update.