Chapter Six
Callie
"Hey Cal!" Teddy stopped and turned around. Callie stopped and walked toward Teddy as she jogged over and met Callie. She handed her the black hoodie that she had been forced to give up earlier. "Thanks for the hoodie and for your help."
"No problem. I almost had a heart attack when Owen entered the men's quarters." Callie replied with a smile. "How did you guys manage not to get caught?"
"Oh we ahhh...hid under the bunk bed. Arizona got way more of a show than she bargained for." Teddy laughed.
"What do you mean?" Callie asked.
"Let's just say when Owen came back to talk to you, he was commando." Teddy smiled as realization landed on Callie's face. Callie chuckled loudly before she replied, "Ew, he was commando while I was talking to him?"
"Yep" Teddy laughed earnestly now.
"And you and Arizona saw his umm package?"
"Oh yea. I thought Arizona was going to vomit or pass out, it was priceless."
"You've seen one you've seen them all." Callie shrugged not understanding the big deal.
"Well yea, I guess but if it's the first one you've seen, it might be a bit of a shock."
"You've never?" Callie asked.
"Callie, I'm thirty and not a nun."
"You mean? Arizona? Really? She's hot. She's never had a boyfriend? I mean, I know she's gay but before she knew she was gay?"
"Callie, she's known she was gay since she was like eleven or twelve, that doesn't leave much time for boyfriends, does it?"
"Oh my God, she's never slept with a man." Callie just realized.
Teddy couldn't help but roll her eyes. She placed a hand on Callie's shoulder as she passed her to head toward her quarters. "And to think I thought you were the smart one of the group."
"Only when it comes to surgery. Women...I'm completely clueless." Callie responded over her shoulder. She heard Teddy laugh lightly before she waved goodnight. Callie walked back to the barracks with the zip up hoodie in her hand. She was sincerely hoping to find Arizona and explain what happened.
As Callie entered the barracks, she quickly gathered her bathroom necessities and pajamas and made her way to the latrines. She surveyed the small area but caught no sight of blonde curls or piercing blue eyes. Arizona was either already in bed, in one of the showers or stalls, or doing a very good job of avoiding her. Callie brushed her teeth, stripped out of her clothes, pulling her pajamas on, and washed her face before she returned to the barracks. She decided to forgo the shower for tonight in hopes that she would get the chance to talk with Arizona if she was still awake. Callie quickly scanned the barracks and again, found no trace of the woman she was looking for. Sighing, she climbed up to her bunk and looked over to the bunk next to her to find blue eyes staring at her.
"Hey, I was hoping I'd see you." Callie said with a smile before continuing, "Teddy said you got the Hustler, so mission accomplished."
"Yea, got it and hid it in case they come to steal it back. Thanks for being a lookout." Arizona replied but with no real emotion. She did not want the brunette to have any reason to think she had any effect on her.
"It was kind of fun." Callie replied with a wide smile. Arizona's heart raced at the magical smile but at the same time she felt it break a little as she remembered the sweet kiss she had witnessed between this woman that she had a strange magnetic pull toward and her very good looking, man in a uniform brother.
"Goodnight Callie." Arizona said, the smile falling from her lips as she rolled onto her right side with her back now facing Callie. Callie's smile faltered as well. She wanted to say more but Amelia Shepherd was watching her yet again and there were far too many people around who would overhear a no doubt awkward conversation. Deciding she really had no other choice, Callie lay her head down and whispered a "Goodnight Arizona."
Callie spent the weekend trying to find a rare moment to be alone with the blonde so she could explain things. Friday had been so busy at the hospital for both of them that she hadn't even thought of seeking the blonde out until they were both back to base where Arizona was very adept at avoiding any situation where she might possibly be alone with the Latina. The weekend passed much the same way. Though none of them were at the hospital this weekend, Arizona found plenty of things to keep her busy and unavailable much to Callie's growing frustrations. On Sunday, Callie watched Arizona play in her first soccer game with Teddy, as promised, and she had to admit, she was quite good and it was pretty hot to watch.
Callie was deep in thought as she sat in the dirt with many of the other doctors and personnel that were not scheduled to be at any particular place at the moment. She thought about what she wanted to say to the blonde and wondered why she even felt the need to explain herself. She had been here for only two weeks and she had Erica and Tim both express interest in her and then she had basically jumped Mark. It was a bit overwhelming, realizing she was feeling what she was feeling for a woman she barely knew. And then Arizona's own confession of wanting to kiss her on Thursday night had been enough to send her head reeling. But instead of being overwhelmed, she felt happy, like something clicked into place for her with Arizona's confession. She no longer wanted to tap down these feelings she was having, in fact, she was more than ready to explore them. The trouble was, she wasn't sure Arizona wanted to be the one she explored them with. And even if she did, they were in the middle of a war zone. This was no place to start up a relationship. Did she want a relationship with the blonde? Her head said not to get too far ahead of herself but her heart screamed, yes that is exactly what you want, Torres.
She lifted her head up once again to pay attention to the game as she heard the shouts around her increase in volume. Her eyes found the field just in time to see Teddy dribbling the ball toward the goal. She passed the ball to Arizona who dribbled it a bit further up field before passing it back to Teddy. The two of them seemed to be able to communicate on the field together well without words.
"Watch this, this is their signature move. They were soccer stars back in high school." Tim said, plopping down next to Callie. Well that explains it then, Callie thought with a smile.
Callie looked up as Teddy did some fancy footwork and then kicked the ball hard, Arizona receiving it and then sent it soaring into the net. The team surrounded the two blondes and high fives were shared all around. Dr. Minnick who had somehow ended up on their team picked Arizona up and spun her around. Arizona laughed in delight and Callie could feel the jealousy rise like bile in her throat.
"I didn't know just anyone could join the team." Callie said to Tim, a scowl forming on her face. Though now that she looked closer, she could see that Lexie and George were both on the field as well as a few other surgeons.
"Umm yea, it's open to everyone but some of these guys...err...chicks...umm people are pretty competitive. We also do a softball tournament a few times a year. It's really just for fun and to blow off some steam. Why? You looking to join?"
"Yea, maybe I am."
"You didn't strike me as the soccer type." Tim replied nonchalantly.
"I've never played before. I'm not really the sporty type. I mean I follow sports and I can play softball and beach volleyball but that's the extent of it. I generally like to be a spectator or help with injuries on the sidelines."
"So, you joining so you can pick my sister up and spin her like that then?"
"Shut it." Callie said rolling her eyes as she stood and wiped the dirt from her butt.
"I'm sorry about the other night, Callie." Tim said in earnest as he too stood.
"Tim, it's ok, really."
"I know you say it is, but I still wanted to apologize. I jumped to a conclusion about you liking me back when you are really struggling with something. I didn't mean to add to your confusion and I would never want to make you or anyone feel uncomfortable. I do like you, Callie but that doesn't mean we can't be friends."
"I know and I appreciate that. And I do like you too, Tim. But how I feel about Arizona, I can't explain it."
"Arizona is a lesbian and she is very comfortable with that, now anyway, but she wasn't always. When she was twelve, she was starting high school instead of seventh grade. She was already different from other girls, they were bigger, older, and unimpressed with the twelve year old showing them up on tests and in the classroom; which didn't win her over many friends. And having my little sister in the same grade as me, getting better grades than me, didn't do much for me either. But Arizona was also realizing she was different in another way, she was attracted to these girls in the locker room. She fantasized about the lead cheerleader instead of the football star. When she confided in me, I readily accepted it. It didn't change who she was to me. She was still my smart, sweet, perky, pain in the ass baby sister. And I was still her buddy, still her protector, still her big brother. So if you need a buddy, I'm here."
"Thanks Tim." Callie replied with a genuine smile. She hugged him tightly and he returned the hug.
"Callie?"
"Yea?" She asked as she broke the embrace and stepped back again.
"You and Arizona should talk. Have a real conversation. I think you would have a lot more in common than you think." Tim said with a smile.
"We will, if I can ever get her to talk to me that is."
"She can be stubborn. Don't tell her I said that." Tim said making Callie laugh at the thought of his six foot, muscular frame being a little scared of his petite sister.
Tim walked with Callie as the two headed toward the barracks. As they approached, Tim waved goodbye to Callie and set off to find Nick to collect on the bet the two shared on the outcome of the soccer game while Callie returned to the barracks. She hoped Arizona would come to shower and change and maybe then she would get a chance to speak with her. But just like the two previous days, it seemed like Arizona was continuing with her disappearing act.
Giving up after over half an hour of reading the same page of her latest thriller, Callie got up and made her way to the entertainment hall. Cristina had invited her to a game of pool with some of the other residents. She had previously declined because she was hoping to get a chance to talk with Arizona plus, let's face it, pool is better played with a pitcher of beer. But she refused to sit and mope over Arizona for the rest of the day so here she was entering the hall and joining the group of rowdy, sober pool players.
"Hey! Look who showed up!" Alex yelled as he threw his arm over her shoulders.
"Yo, Carpenter, nice of you to join us." Cristina said.
"You any good at pool, Callie?" Meredith asked.
"I've played a game or two."
"Excellent. You can be George's partner. And then we will have four full teams and won't have to take turns playing each other or make anyone sit out." Jackson said as he hugged April around her neck and pulled her to his side.
"Sorry you got stuck with me, George." Callie said with a playful wink before she turned and asked, "So who are the other teams?"
"Alex and Izzie, Jackson and April, and of course Mere and me." Cristina replied.
"Ok, enough chatting, let's get this tournament started. Iz and I will take Callie and George first." Alex said.
Callie allowed Alex to break and then waited patiently as he sunk two striped balls. She allowed George to take the first turn for their team and watched him get a solid in before missing the next ball. Izzie, surprisingly was very good and made an impressive bank shot but nearly sunk the eight ball then scratched, sinking the white ball with her next shot. This meant it was finally Callie's turn. Deciding how she wanted to play this, she made up her mind quickly as Karev cockily said, "I'll give you a free shot since you're an heiress and not used to games like pool. Wouldn't want you to chip your manicured nails."
Playing along, Callie batted her eyelashes and bent over the table making sure to wiggle her best asset as she threw her head over her shoulder and said, "My hero," before clearing the pool table of the remaining solid balls and then sinking the eight ball.
"Wow, Callie, I didn't know you could play!" George exclaimed, delighted at his luck of landing Callie as his partner. The four from the other table turned and watched in amazement. Callie had planned to not show off her pool skills quite yet but the cocky smirk she wiped of Alex's face was well worth her showing her cards earlier than she liked.
"Beginner's luck." Karev challenged.
"Maybe." Callie shrugged.
After several more rounds, Callie and George won against every team before people started individually challenging the pool shark. It was pretty clear to everyone that this was not just beginner's luck for Callie, even Karev couldn't deny it. After nearly a dozen wins, Callie promised she would play again the following weekend but she needed to put an end to the madness for now. She walked with Meredith, Izzie, and Cristina back to the barracks where they continued to rave about Callie's skills.
"Where did you learn to play like that, Cal?" Meredith asked.
"My dad is a businessman, he had lots of deals made in our home. My sister and I had to entertain ourselves somehow. We would challenge Daddy's business partners and make money off them. Mami didn't approve but Daddy always got a good laugh out of it."
"So, I'm thinking, pool tournament." Cristina says.
"Yea, girls against guys this time. We have Callie as a secret weapon and men always underestimate women at this sort of thing." Izzie added excitedly.
"And instead of betting money, we could use it to scrub in on surgeries." Cristina added, stopping suddenly, "This is genius. Yes, this is going to work."
"I didn't agree to this." Callie reminded them.
"But you will." Meredith smiled.
"And why would I do that?"
"Because we can talk you up to the blonde beauty that won't talk to you. Plus, we probably could persuade her to play." Crisitina added.
"Fine." Callie agreed, stomping back into the barracks as she heard the three women behind her high fiving like children. How did she always get roped into these things?
Entering the barracks, Callie did a quick scan for the blonde they had just been talking about, but just as the previous two days, she was making herself scarce. Sighing to herself, Callie gathered her bathroom caddy and made her way to the showers. She was going to have to think of a way to get Arizona to talk to her.
By Monday, Callie had given up hope of getting Arizona alone. She knew 100% without a doubt that she was avoiding her. And she knew she wouldn't get a chance to speak with her again today either as the purple group was manning the medic tent back at base while Callie's group was at the hospital. At least they were teamed with the yellow group today which meant that Callie would get to spend some time in the nursery with Addie. Entering the nursery after the usual morning debriefing, Callie and Addie made their way over to the cribs where Adam and Mali were sleeping. Pulling out their stethoscopes, they each listened to a baby's chest. Motioning for Callie to come over to the baby girl's bassinet, Addie said, "Listen to her chest."
"She has a murmur?" Callie asked.
"She does."
"Are you thinking she has a heart defect?"
"Dr. Robbins thinks so."
"But murmurs can be harmless, right? I mean they are fairly common."
"That's true. Up to 1% of newborns have a heart murmur. And Miss Mali has not had any cyanosis, tachypnea, or tachycardia since Thursday." Addie replied.
"But Ariz..uhh Dr. Robbins is still concerned?"
"She is. She would like a pediatric cardiology consult but we don't have that luxury so Dr. Hahn is going to consult with us on Mali. She does not seem to like Dr. Robbins very much." Addie said, watching Callie out of the corner of her eye.
"Omg aren't you just delicious, look at those big brown eyes." Callie cooed at the little girl as she felt Addie's eyes on her. She replied without looking at Addie, "Erica is very good at what she does. Mali will be in good hands. And we both know what Dr. Robbins is capable of. She won't be able to deny her talent once she sees it for herself."
Deciding to drop it for now, Addie changed the subject slightly, "They really are cute, aren't they? Dr. Robbins has really impressed me. She's young and eager to learn but she is very smart, advocates for her tiny humans, and is creative in her treatment plans. I think her time in Malawi and her time here in this program will really benefit her patients and her in the future. When she's not such a new attending, I may try to convince her to do a fellowship with me or Dr. Herman in maternal fetal medicine."
"She was pretty amazing with them last week." Callie replied, feeling a sense of pride for the woman she was growing to care for even if they barely knew each other.
"Do you like her?" Addie asked her friend, careful to be sure that none of the other doctors presently in the nursery were close enough to overhear.
"I do, oddly enough. I know she's blonde and she's perky but she's a great teacher and an excellent doctor from what I've seen so far. I can't help but like her."
"She's earned my respect and I admit, I like her too despite the blonde and perkiness, but that's not what I meant and you know it, Torres. I think you like her, like her."
Callie rolled her eyes at her redheaded friend. She could deny it all she wants but Addison always did have a way of getting the truth from people. It was a gift she had. Maybe it was the staring while smiling at the same time that freaked people out.
"Why would you think that?" Callie asked, deciding to go with a neutral, safer answer.
"Well, I think she's interested in you, for one. She asked me about you last week while we were both topless in here. She seemed both surprised and disappointed to find that you haven't dated women before, at least to my knowledge, you haven't." Callie shook her head so Addie knew she hadn't, "I may have downplayed our friendship a bit. I just felt bad for her and plus it has been a while since we have had lunch or been able to catch up. And then there was the whole cafeteria debacle on Thursday at dinner. You seemed like an overprotective, pissed off girlfriend."
"She asked about me?"
"Yes and it looked like her puppy died when I told her you only rode the sausage train."
"Ugh, Addie, why would you tell her that? And for the record, I was not like an overprotective girlfriend, they were being childish and Arizona was choking."
"Ummm because it's the truth and also, I didn't know she was asking because she was interested. She also made a bit of a scene at lunch with Dr. Sloan. He may have said something to her about seeing her without a shirt on while we were doing kangaroo therapy and she said something along the lines of 'I'm not sure what Callie sees in you'. I'm not sure what that was about but she seemed upset."
"I did see her say something and then leave abruptly but I couldn't tell what. I was going to go after her but Eliza stopped me to talk about a case she was curious about." Callie looked awkwardly at the ground, avoiding Addie's gaze before continuing, "She caught Mark and I in a supply closet kissing last week. Which was probably exactly what it looked like but you know Mark. He's a shameless flirt and a hell of a kisser. And it's not like we haven't slept together before when we were all in New York and then again for a while in Seattle. It didn't mean anything, I was trying to figure some things out. I've never considered the possibility that I am bi before. And then she and Teddy roped me into being their lookout for some crazy scheme they cooked up and Arizona's brother, Tim came up to me while I was keeping lookout. He flirted with me a bit and then he almost caught them so I told him I wanted to talk. I meant about me liking his sister but he thought I was confessing that I like him so he kissed me. I may have forgotten where I was and what I was doing. It was an innocent kiss, a sweet kiss. I enjoyed it for a moment before I realized what was happening and told him that I didn't want to be kissing him because I like his sister. But Arizona saw both kisses and now she's avoiding me. I haven't had a chance to explain."
Addie fixed Callie with a glaring stare and Callie smiled nervously. This is why Addie had the nickname of "satan", she looked downright evil and the devil wears prada right now. It made Callie's palms sweat even though Addie was her friend.
"Callie, can you blame her? She likes you and you are all over the place. You have a big heart but you give out love like it's candy. She doesn't trust you. And why would she? She's known you for two weeks and you've already kissed two people."
"I also kissed her. A few hours before she caught me kissing her brother." Callie groaned realizing how this might look. Callie looked up in shock as Addie's hand swatted the back of her head.
"Hey." Callie whined rubbing the back of her head with her hand. "That hurt."
"Well, I'm hoping to knock some sense into you." Addie replied before walking away to check on the other babies.
Deciding to keep her distance from her abusive but right friend at the moment, Callie
ventured over to Meredith, Cristina, and Izzy and helped them finish assessing the babies. She had grown to like Cristina quite a bit and Cristina and Meredith had hit it off from the start. Izzy was another perky one but she was alright. Callie smiled, despite her confusing feelings about Arizona. They were all doing well here and she was making friends. Suddenly, she realized she was extremely happy and she knew she was going to get a chance to fix things with Arizona even if it meant they would only be friends. Being only friends with her would suck but Callie knew that even if they were never a couple, she couldn't imagine not having the blonde in her life to some capacity now that she knew her.
The rest of the morning passed quickly and was filled with half of Callie's group and half of the yellow group rounding with Dr. Koracick and Addie on the women's ward and the pediatric ward. As they were getting ready to head to lunch and switch groups, it became apparent to the doctors that many of the children were sad and upset by Arizona's absence. Arizona was more than a doctor to them. Many of them were orphans with no family or their family was too poor or too ill to be with them in the hospital. She had become a teacher to them; she was maternal at times, she cared about them and they felt that. She taught them math by including them in figuring out their medication dosages. They got anatomy lessons with the skeleton the kids had named Count Scapula and x-rays she would show the children. She had patience to teach them about diseases and taught them silly games when they were sad. It had been Friday since the last time she had been there to read them a story as was her custom everyday before lunch and again before she left for the night barring any emergent cases or surgeries.
"But Dr. Arizona is gone many days." A little boy about the age of four cried when Addie explained that Arizona was not at the hospital today because she was working at the medic tent back at the base.
"I miss her stories too Bahiri." A little girl of about seven or eight sighed as she wrapped her arm around the crying boy.
"What was she reading you?" Callie asked. Though there was an interpreter present, she was surprised at how little most of the children required it.
The little girl grabbed a book off the shelf and brought it over to Callie, handing it to her hesitantly. "I'll be gentle and give it back." Callie promised.
The girl handed over the book and Callie smiled as she looked at the worn cover of a very loved book. She opened the front cover and smiled wider as she was overcome with emotions at seeing that the inside cover of the Magic Treehouse was branded with the very carefully written letters only a small child could write "Property of Timothy and Arizona Robbins". Callie wondered if the careful penmanship that she was reading belonged to Tim or Arizona. It was so like Arizona to donate books from her own childhood to this hospital and once again, Callie found herself falling just a little more in love with her. Callie sat on one of the beds with her back against the metal frame and patted the spot next to her for the little girl to sit down. Callie felt small hands pat her legs as the little boy lifted his arms so he could be placed on the bed; Callie scooped him up and plopped him gently on the bed but he surprised her by climbing into her lap, his thumb stuck in his mouth. Slowly, other children started gathering around, a few brave enough to sit on the bed but the majority choosing the floor due to both lack of space on the bed and lack of trust in the new doctor. Callie smiled as she noticed even a few of the much older children gather around for story time, she found herself feeling overwhelmed by her emotions. It was at that moment that she realized how much Arizona meant to her patients and how much they meant to her. She always went above and beyond for her tiny humans.
"Where did you leave off?" Callie asked the little girl as she gained her composure.
"Chapter eleven." An older child from the back of the crowd responded shyly.
Callie read two chapters to the children before lunch was served as she couldn't promise to come back again before leaving for the night as Arizona made sure to do. Before leaving them, she turned to them and promised that Arizona would return in the morning.
"Thank you Dr. Callie." the little girl said happily, throwing her arms around Callie's waist. Callie looked down as she felt little arms wrap around her legs and then back up quickly as she felt more arms wrap around her torso. Suddenly Callie found herself in the center of a big group hug as "Thank yous" rang out by small voices. Her heart swelled and tears once again filled her eyes. She promised herself that she would read to the children if she could whenever Arizona couldn't, it was the least she could do for Arizona and her tiny humans.
"Please tell Dr. Arizona that we miss her much." A teenage boy said as Callie was leaving.
"I will. And I know she misses all of you as well." Callie promised before she joined her group in the hall.
"That was really sweet of you, Callie." Meredith replied as the group headed down the stairs to get a late lunch thanks to Callie's story time.
"It was nothing, besides, how can you say no to sick kids?" Callie replied.
"Easily. They are snotty, poopy, little germ magnets. Plus even Leah, is smarter than them." Cristina replied.
"You don't like kids?" Callie asked.
"Nope."
"Well, I thought it was very sweet, Callie. And I think Arizona will think so too." Meredith said, not realizing the impact her words had on Callie, or maybe she did. She hadn't considered what Arizona's reaction to what just happened would be but now that Meredith brought it to the surface, she sincerely hoped that she would be happy enough to give Callie a chance to explain herself.
Arriving back to the base that afternoon, Callie decided for the first time in four days she would not seek out the blonde. She hoped, if all went well, word would get back to the blonde if not tonight then tomorrow by the kids themselves and Arizona would seek Callie out. That was a lot of hoping, wishing, and if's but Callie was feeling the magic of peds today so she was optimistic that this plan would work much better than pursuing the blonde had.
Callie held back her smile as she was walking back to the barracks after supper that night and saw the blonde standing a few feet ahead waiting for her. Callie closed the distance between them and they both continued to walk toward the barracks for a moment before Arizona broke the silence.
"Can we go for a little walk and talk?"
"Sure." Callie replied, gesturing with her hand for Arizona to lead the way. Arizona walked along the buildings until they reached the fence that marked the perimeter of the base and they fell into a comfortable pace, both remaining silent. Arizona seemed nervous as she played with her fingers that hung down in front of her.
"You've been avoiding me." Callie said, unable to take the silence anymore.
"Yes." Arizona replied as she instantly stopped fidgeting. Callie hadn't expected her to be so direct, she expected excuses and avoidance of the truth.
"Care to tell me why? I mean, I think I know but I'd like to be sure."
"Tell me what you think the reason is."
Deciding honesty was the best policy, Callie reflected back on the conversation she had with Addie only that morning, "Well, I haven't earned your trust. You saw me kiss Dr. Sloan last week and then I kissed you the next day. And then that night your brother kissed me. Which was a misunderstanding and we talked and it turns out he's a really nice guy but I realize how this must look. And I know there's the awkwardness with Erica Hahn and I, she hasn't been friendly towards you according to Addison."
"Your rambling is adorable but you're right, I don't trust you. You do all of these incredibly sweet things like you did for my kids today. You have an amazing heart but how do I know I'm not just another Mark Sloan or Erica Hahn to you?" Arizona asked.
"You don't."
"Plus, I'm not sure what you're doing with my brother but I don't like that he got hurt in all of this. He really likes you and I saw that kiss, Calliope."
"I know. I like Tim, I really do. But I like you more. I'm just confused because I've never done this before. With a girl, I mean. But I want to, with you."
"You like me?"
"Yea, I do, I thought that was obvious, though now that I think of recent events, I could see where you might be confused. But I am ready to experience whatever this is." Callie replied and she could see that something in Arizona's demeanor had changed.
"Callie, this is an exciting time for you and I'm so happy for you, yay." Arizona offered a fake smile and a little excitement with her body language and then continued, "I figured out I was gay when I was twelve so I've never really questioned my sexuality. I'm sure it's confusing and exciting at the same time to realize you are attracted to a woman for the first time. This is so new to you and I deal with newborns everyday at work, I don't want to in my personal life. Not to mention, we are in a war zone and when this trip is over, you will go back to Seattle, and I will be back in Malawi for another six months to a year before I can return to Seattle."
"So, what are you saying? You won't date me because I'm bisexual? Or because I'm not experienced enough?" Callie asked, slightly offended.
"Callie, we can't even date. There is no where to go on dates. We are in Afghanistan where being gay is not just frowned upon, it is illegal. Even if there were a place to go on a date, we couldn't, not here."
"You still didn't answer my questions."
"Yes to both. I mean I have no problem with people being bisexual. But you have never been with a woman. This isn't just an experiment to me, this is my life. And I really like you, Callie. A hook up with you wouldn't be enough so if you decided that this isn't what you want, I couldn't take that. I think it's better if we stay friends. Maybe when we are back in Seattle together we could go on a date."
"How am I not supposed to be offended by that, Arizona? You called me a newborn and are judging me for being bisexual with not enough experience for you. Did you forget that you had a first once too? Or did that little black book of yours make you forget? I'm not the one that is about the hook ups, Arizona."
"Callie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. There's nothing wrong with being bisexual. I didn't mean to imply there was. I like to keep things casual. It works for me. That's how I've been able to be successful and keep work separate from my personal life. I've only had two serious relationships ever and neither ended well. After that, I just decided casual is better." Arizona tried to explain seeing that she had hurt Callie.
"Maybe the fact that I have had more relationships than you, makes you the inexperienced one. I've been engaged, did you know that? I've worked with the Peace Corps. I volunteer working with high school and college athletes. And maybe you believe that doesn't count for experience, which makes you the immature one." Callie said coolly before she turned and walked away. Callie was crushed and offended. She knew there was truth to what Arizona said but it didn't mean it didn't hurt or that she wasn't disappointed. If experience is what Arizona needs then maybe that's just what she will have to do; prove that this isn't just a phase to her.
Callie avoided going back to the barracks just yet, though she really wanted a hot shower and a good cry. She needed a moment to herself to work out these feelings and this anger. The day had started out so promising and ended so awful. She couldn't explain why she had such strong feelings for this woman she barely knew but they were there and didn't show any signs of going away. She had thought that being friends with Arizona would be possible but now she wasn't sure. The thought of her adding even a single name to that little black book of hers was enough to make Callie want to vomit.
Before she realized where she was, Callie found herself at the women's quarters where Teddy and Addie, as well as Erica Hahn, were staying. Callie gathered up her courage and knocked on the door. Relief washed over her as the redhead answered the door. She didn't think she could handle a round with either of the blondes at the moment.
"Callie? What's wrong?" Addison asked, immediately alerted to Callie's emotional state.
"Not here." Callie replied as she saw familiar green eyes looking at her from her spot on her bed through the crack in the door. The last thing she needed was for Teddy to go back and tell Arizona that she was a big fat crying inexperienced newborn.
"Ok." Addie said, slipping out the door and following Callie as she resumed her path back along the fence.
Addie took in Callie's appearance with concern. She looked as though she had been crying or was on the verge of crying, maybe both. Her body language suggested she was upset and maybe even a little pissed off. Addie kept up with her brisk pace easily and waited patiently for Callie to speak. Finding a quiet area along the fence but behind a shed where they were out of sight, Callie sat down and let the floodgates open. Addie quickly dropped to her knees and pulled Callie to her chest, rubbing her back and making shushing noises in an effort to comfort her.
"Shhh...shhhee caaaallled meee…" Callie cried out between sobs.
"What? Callie, I can't understand you."
"She called me an inexperienced newborn." Callie repeated. Though she was still crying, she had calmed the sobbing enough to get the sentence out.
"Who? Arizona?" Addie asked. Callie only shook her head in confirmation and then continued her sobbing.
It took the patience of a saint and a lot of coaxing before Addison was able to calm her old friend enough to get the whole story from her. Once Callie was exhausted and dehydrated enough to stop sobbing, she filled Addison in on her conversation with Arizona. Addison was an attentive listener and an even better best friend, tossing in a "What a bitch" at the end for Callie's benefit.
"Do you think she might have a little bit of a point though, Callie? I mean, I'm on your side, always and I hate that she made you cry, and I will have a talk with her about all of this but I think she's just as scared as you are."
"Scared? Why would she be scared? She's been with plenty of women."
"Yes, but she doesn't commit. She doesn't do relationships. From what you told me, it seems she is scared that she wants that with you. She said a hook up with you wasn't enough, right?
"Yea..So? I'm the one person she won't hook up with?"
"I think it's a good thing."
"What do I do, Addie?" Callie asked.
"The way I see it, you have a few options. Option one, you be an adult about it and accept what she says and move on with your life, avoiding her at all costs. Or, option two, go old school and you take your hot Latina self and make her realize what she's missing out on. Make her regret the day she told Callie Torres that she was an inexperienced newborn. Or option three, which is my personal favorite, we get drunk and you have a pity party and then you prove to your girl that this is what you want. And maybe make her a little bit jealous, just a tiny bit as payback for calling you a newborn and insulting you."
"Have you seen her Addie? She's gorgeous. Not to mention smart, funny, kind, and basically perfect."
"I admit, she's quite stunning but don't sell yourself short, Torres. You are a catch. You are stunning with your Latina curves and you have the brains and personality to match. Any man OR woman would be lucky to have you! And don't you forget that!"
"You making an offer Ads?" Callie teased
"Ha, you wish. Although, the way my love life has been going, maybe switching teams wouldn't be a bad idea." the two friends laughed at this.
"Well if my little experience tells you anything, women are so not any better." Callie snarked.
"Come on. I have some chocolate left and wine stashed in my shampoo bottle."
"Montgomery, you dirty little rat! You've been holding out on me!" Callie said with a grin as she helped Addie to her feet. "So this wine, red or white?"
"Shampoo or conditioner?" Addie asked with a smirk.
"Addie, I like the way you think." Callie giggled.
Callie and Addie returned to Addie's quarters where Addie gathered her bathroom caddy and the two made it to the main latrines which were bigger than the small bathroom shared at the women's quarters. They did not want to alert suspicion by drinking wine straight out of the shampoo bottle so the two locked themselves in a shower stall. Once in the stall, they started the shower, stripped down to their bras and panties, and sat in their towels in the steam drinking wine from dixie cups and cooking up a scheme for Callie to make Arizona jealous, all in good fun of course. The more wine they drank, the crazier the ideas became until they were both just giggling like school girls. All in all, it was very therapeutic and the awkward stares they received as they left the shower stall together clad only in skimpy towels was well worth it.
"I believe the jealousy train has already started, ready or not." Addie whispered into Callie's ear as she noticed a pair of brilliant blue eyes watching them emerge from the shower stall together. Making their way to the sink to dress, Callie avoided eye contact with the blonde but Addie noticed the red rim around her eyes and felt a slight twinge of guilt. She really did like Arizona but her loyalty was to the Latina so she pushed down the guilty feeling as they passed Arizona. Addie thought she might enter the same stall the two had just vacated but she was surprised to see Arizona waited stubbornly for another stall, allowing April to go ahead of her and take the empty shower.
Callie could feel daggers shooting into her as Arizona sent glances her way but her alcohol clouded brain didn't mind, in fact, she felt as though adding fuel to the fire was a brilliant idea. Knowing exactly what she was doing the next time Arizona's eyes landed on her, Callie dropped her towel, revealing her naked tan skin that was clad only in the bra and panties that she and Addie had kept on beneath their towels in their makeshift sauna. Arizona's skin flushed and she quickly averted her eyes. Callie upped her game and began rubbing her coconut pear body lotion over her bare skin. She smiled to herself as Arizona glared at her then turned and left the bathroom without a shower.
"That was just mean." Addie giggled, feeling the wine cloud her better judgement as well.
"Really mean not to mention inappropriate." Amelia said suddenly from the corner of the room. Then, rounding on her ex-sister-in-law, "And you, Addie, I thought you were better than playing games with someone's emotions."
The pair watched Amelia storm out after Arizona. They shared an awkward look and then erupted into giggles, the wine taking full effect on them. Callie walked Addie out of the barracks and watched her walk to the women's quarters before she turned and went back to her bunk and climbed up. She turned to face Arizona's bunk out of habit but she noticed it was empty. Placing her headphones in her ears, Callie closed her eyes and fell asleep.
A/N: Next chapter may be posted later this week if I can get chapter nine together. I'm always a few chapters ahead of you guys so I have to refresh myself when I'm editing. My beta is in her senior year of college so I've been abandoned. Bare with me. Also, since you have all been so wonderfully patient, you will start to see much more Calzona after this chapter. This wasn't my favorite chapter to write but I feel it was necessary. Thanks for sticking it out with me.