Summary:
The human body is simple. When you break a bone, you get it set. When your appendix bursts, you get it removed. And then you modify. You adjust. You learn to avoid the danger, so you don't get hurt again.
When it comes to people, on the other hand, it's not as simple. When their hearts break, when their hearts burst, there's no clear method to repair the damage. When people are in pain, they sometimes go directly to the source of what hurt them, hoping that this time will be different.
Hoping that they'll be stronger. Better. Smarter. Kinder.
Better equipped to work through the pain and to be happy.
Stronger to prevent the next injury.
Sometimes, it's only wishful thinking.
And, other times, it works.
"Hey," Callie smiled as she walked into the lab. "How's the leg? Did you try it on?"
Arizona turned to her, clearly sporting the prosthetic leg. "So much better," she replied. "I didn't even realize that it was too tight before, but it's even more comfortable now."
"Good!" Callie chirped, pacing anxiously.
Arizona eyed her questioningly. "What's going on with you?"
And what could Callie say to that? I'm oddly nervous in your presence? I'm in love with you? I kinda sorta want to try again, even though I know it's a bad idea?
Callie shrugged spastically. "Nothing. Just...getting nervous about this presentation."
Arizona raised her eyebrows, promising, "Callie, you have nothing to worry about. They are going to love what you've done. I'm sure they'll donate millions."
Callie felt her stomach flip at the word "love." Which was crazy, she knew, but she couldn't help it.
"And," Arizona continued. "When you get nervous beforehand, because I know you will..."
Callie rolled her eyes, even knowing that it was true.
"Then I'll be there for you," Arizona finished, her dimples coming out in full force. "And, if you get nervous while you're in there, talking to everyone, just look at me. Pretend you're just talking to me."
Callie nodded, exhaling a relieved breath.
"I'm here for you. I always will be."
"What should we do tonight, Sof?" Arizona asked. It was rare that the three of them were all home with no work or school the next day.
"Yeah, Sof," Callie added. "You want to go out for ice cream? Or play Barbies together?"
Sofia adamantly shook her head. "I wanna go see Inside Out!"
Callie and Arizona turned to each other and shrugged. "Sure," Callie conceded. "Let's go!"
They decided to go to the movie theater that had always been their favorite. Rialto Cinemas was a small little hole-in-the-wall that only played two films at once, but it was a great place to go. It was unique in that, instead of standard movie theater seats, it had plushy, comfy chairs and couches for the audience to sit in.
"Alright, kiddo," Callie whispered as they walked through the blackness, searching for a seat. "It looks like it's a little crowded tonight, so Mommy and I need your help finding empty seats. Do you see anything?"
Sofia precociously scoured the crowded room until Arizona called out, "There's one!"
Quickly, the family made their way in that direction, only to discover that, indeed, there was only one empty seat. And, sure, it was an oversized armchair, but it still wasn't big enough to fit all three of them without crowding.
Callie frowned. "You two can fit on there. I'll just go stand in the back and look for something else to open up."
Arizona rolled her eyes at her ex-wife. Was she being serious? There was no way she would ever let Callie stand.
She plopped into the chair and sat down Sofia on her lap. Then, she deliberately scooted over towards the armchair's right arm. She patted the space beside her, indicating for Callie to sit down.
Callie's eyes widened. "Are you sure?" she asked carefully. "It's going to be a little crowded."
Arizona smiled. "As long as you don't mind, then neither do I."
Callie most definitely would not mind sitting so close to Arizona: their thighs kissing. Not wanting her ex-wife to think for even a second that the arrangement bothered her, she sat down in the empty space beside the blonde and their daughter.
She curved her shoulders, leaning forward and to her left slightly in order to try to conserve limited space.
"Are you okay?" Arizona worried. "Are you comfortable?" She leaned away from Callie as much as she could, trying to give her more space. But, even then, their shoulders and thighs were touching.
"I'm good," Callie assured her, her voice oddly high.
Arizona knit her eyebrows together, taking in the brunette's awkward positioning. Callie looked uncomfortable. Her shoulders were drawn up in an attempt to keep her arms from taking up so much room, but it was clear that she had no comfortable space for her right arm, with Arizona leaning back beside the back of the chair beside her.
Arizona knew a simple solution to the problem, and one they would have used without question when they had been together. Now, though, Callie was clearly choosing discomfort over additional physical contact—though they were already touching more of each other than they had in a long, long time.
"You can put your arm around me," Arizona offered, purposefully looking down at Sofia instead of meeting Callie's surprised eyes. "That is, you know. If you want to. Just if you think it might...be more comfortable."
And, contrary to what one may believe, she didn't make that offer selfishly. Sure, she physically ached for Callie's arm around her, but the brunette had a girlfriend, and the two of them had failed before, and...
Normally, she would have never, ever suggested it.
But the truth was, Callie did look uncomfortable. So whatever potential awkwardness or pain it would cause Arizona was worth Callie's comfort for the next hour and a half.
"Really?" Callie whispered. She cleared her throat. "I mean, it might be a little more comfortable..."
God, she wanted to touch more of Arizona. She wanted to touch all of Arizona, in a somehow chaste way. She just missed their bodies pressed together in a warm hug. And, for the moment, sitting in the armchair beside the blonde was the closest she could get.
Arizona nodded, leaning forward slightly to encourage Callie to settle her arm over her shoulders.
When Callie carefully did so, holding her breath, Arizona hesitantly leaned back against her.
Callie suddenly felt as if her entire body was imploding, as if she was suffering from a heart attack with how rampart her heart ran, but she worked at keeping her cool. "This is better," she breathed.
Arizona couldn't help but grin up at her. "Good."
Finally, the movie began and Sofia cuddled up to her mothers. Unconsciously, Arizona leaned into Callie, and she felt all her agitation fade.
Sidled up against each other, Callie felt a sense of calmness run through her after the initial unrest faded.
She felt good.
"Hi," Callie welcomed the suited donors. "I'm Dr. Callie Torres, and today, I am going to present you all with how I have revolutionized prosthetics."
The donors raised their eyebrows—partially in disbelief and partially in wonder.
Callie anxiously looked towards Arizona, who was seated in the corner of the room, behind the donors' long conference table.
Arizona offered a reassuring smile and nod, urging Callie to continue.
Callie picked up a prosthetic leg from the table on her left, holding it up for her audience to see.
"As you know, I first worked with carbon fiber, then aluminum but found that both materials were too heavy to be as functional as they could be," she stated. "In order to reduce its weight, this limb is hollowed out, forming an exoskeleton. Over that, there is only a thin, skin-like layer to offer a sense of normalcy to the wearer. It can be customized with patterns of colors to suit the client, or it can imitate the color of their skin."
Arizona watched as the donors' eyes widened.
Callie looked towards Arizona again, then continued, "The finished model is 3D printed and titanium dust particles that are fused together using laser sintering. Because of the targeted muscle reinnervation—the surgery that involves rewiring electrical signals in the stump—the electrical signals that are going down to the missing limb are rerouted into residual muscles that are still there. So, now, when wearers of prostheses like these have a natural thought about moving that missing limb, they are able to contract that muscle, and we are able to capture those signals and translate them into messages for the prosthetic limb; essentially, we are able to redirect the nerves to the devices."
A man raised his hand, interrupting, "You suggested last time that you were able to make a man walk fairly naturally with your carbon fiber prosthesis, but do you have proof of someone actually having sensation in a missing limb?"
"Yes, I do," Callie answered immediately, resenting the interruption. She waved Arizona forward, and the blonde stood up and began walking towards the front of the room. She kept her eyes locked on Callie, not liking the watchful eyes trained on her every move.
Once Arizona was standing beside her at the front of the room, Callie introduced, "Dr. Arizona Robbins offered to be my guinea pig for this one."
"A guinea pig with one leg," Arizona muttered under her breath, and the audience chuckled.
Arizona turned back and dimpled at Callie, encouraging her to continue.
"In a short training period, Dr. Robbins was able to maneuver her leg just by thinking about the movement. After several weeks, she was able to feel sensations of solids, liquids, pressure, and changes in temperature."
At that point, the donors were clearly amazed, but Callie wasn't done yet.
She proceeded to demonstrate just how much Arizona could feel and just how much it acted as a normal leg.
At the end of the presentation, they were met with enthusiastic applause.
"Thanks," Callie blushed.
Arizona clapped along with them—harder than anyone else.
Callie shone at her. "Thank you," she whispered.
As the donors filed out of the room and towards the chief's office to figure out the logistics of donations towards Callie's cause, Arizona stood beside Callie at the door, shaking hands and ushering everyone out.
As soon as the last white collar walked outside, Callie shut the door, leaping into the air (as much as she could with heels) and letting out an almost maniacal laugh.
Arizona couldn't help but laugh along with her. "That went well!"
"It went OUTSTANDINGLY." Callie exclaimed, her shoulders dancing.
"It did," Arizona agreed. "You know why?" A sly smile crossed her face.
Callie looked at the blonde, her face softening in suddenly nervous anticipation. "Why?" she asked.
"Because you," she paused, just taking in the immeasurable inner and outer beauty that was Callie Torres, "are outstanding."
Okay, so I'm just now realizing that this story is mostly fluff. Despite the fact that they're not together. Which is probably boring! Conflict makes things interesting, right? I just like reading happy things, so...
Who knows.
I just figure we have enough unhappiness on the show as is. May as well have some happy stuff here!
As always, thanks for reading. Update to come soon!