Chapter 20

Moving Katie to Carson Hospital took a little longer than they thought it would. It is now Thursday evening and they are just getting settled in Katie's new room.

"Callie, Teddy just texted me and her and the girls were wanting to know when would be a good time to come visit."

"Oh. Um, anytime, I guess."

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah."

Walking over to where Callie is standing, she wraps both arms around her and rests her chin on Callie's shoulder. "How about I tell them maybe to wait until tomorrow and then maybe only one at a time?"

"Yeah. That sounds a little better."

"I know sometimes having a bunch of people all at once is a little overwhelming. Because people come with questions we don't always have answers for."

"You seem to know what I'm thinking sometimes before I know myself..."

"I'm just trying to put myself in your shoes. And that's probably how I would feel."

Callie reaches up and rests her hands carefully on top of Arizona's. "So, I might need to talk to Teddy or Mandy tomorrow and find out about those faults of yours, because I'm still not seeing any."

"Well, lucky me then. I don't want you changing your mind about me just yet."

"I don't think there's a chance of that happening."

"Are you hungry? I could and grab us something?"

"How about this... I'll let you grab us something if you promise you will go home for a little bit tonight."

"Well, how about I grab us something and then we will talk about it?"

"You are going to be stubborn about this, aren't you?"

"I'm not trying to be. But I just... I want to be here."

"Go grab some food, then we will talk about it."

While Arizona is grabbing some food, Callie takes a minute to call her dad and let him know Katie has been moved. "Hey dad.."

"Calliope. How are things going?"

"They are good. I just wanted to let you know we moved Katie back to Carson."

"Well, I'd hope so. That's what we wanted."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, when Mark called, that was the plan. That's why I paid to rent the equipment."

"Wait... Mark called you?"

"Yeah. I thought you knew."

"No. I didn't know you knew anything about it. You... paid to rent the equipment? It wasn't a loan?"

"Oh, no. We have it rented for as long as you need it. I might just buy it though."

"So, Mark asked you to do that?"

"Yes. He said that new doctor that Katie has arranged it all. He said she was from Carson and wanted her closer to home. That way she could manage her care better."

"Did he say anything else?" At this point, Callie is a little concerned that her best friend might have told her dad something she isn't ready for him to know."

"No... that's about it. Why? Is there something else I need to know?"

"Not at all daddy. I um, I need to go," Callie says as she sees Arizona walk back in. "I need to grab some dinner while it's hot."

"Ok. Your mother is busy this weekend, but I actually have some free time on Sunday. I might fly in for a visit. It's been too long."

"Oh, you don't have to do that. I mean, I know your busy." Callie is having an internal debate on how hard to try to convince her dad not to come for the visit right now.

"Usually I would agree. But… I will plan on seeing you Sunday if nothing changes."

"Dad… really, you could just wait and maybe she will wake up. You can come then."

"I can do both, Calliope. Let me know if you need anything. I love you both and I'll see you Sunday."

"I love you too, dad."

Hanging up the phone, Callie sighs. If she wasn't stressed out enough, now she has to worry about a visit from her father.

"Everything ok?" Arizona asks, as she hands Callie a container of food.

"Oh, just… peachy."

"So I take it you don't want your dad to visit?"

"Oh, it's not that I don't want him to, it's just, there's a lot going on."

Nodding, Arizona pulls a chair over closer to Callie.

"Sooo… you didn't tell me my dad is the one footing the bill that allowed us to bring Katie here."

"Um, yeah."

"Yeah. My question is, why didn't you tell me?"

"Are you mad?"

"Not mad. But I kind of wished you would have talked to me about it. I mean, I'm grateful for him doing it, but sometimes if he has a hand in something, he thinks that it gives him some kind of say in the matter. It's like, he sees it as a license to interfere. Does that make sense?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize it would be a problem. Mark is the one who told me if we needed anything to let him know, and he would talk to your dad. He said money wouldn't be an issue and if it was for you and Katie, he would do whatever needs done. But he also said sometimes you don't like to ask your dad for things, so I assumed it was because you're independent. I didn't think about there being other reasons. I'm sorry."

"I should have known Mark would be behind it."

"Callie, Mark was just looking out for you. And I thought this would be easier. Especially on you. It's stressful enough to go through this, let alone being hours away from home. If you guys are here, like a said, you have a village to help you. I didn't want you to be alone, Callie. I'm sorry though, I should have talked to you first. I just assumed Mark knew you well enough to know what you would be ok or not ok with. I really am sorry," Arizona says, as she sits her food container down, afraid Callie is upset with her.

"I know Mark means well, but he doesn't always look at things from my perspective. I'm just worried my dad will come here this weekend and make a big deal about what he thinks I should be doing with my daughter."

"I'll make sure I don't do anything like that again. I didn't mean to potentially put you in a spot."

"Like I said, I'm not mad. I know you didn't know. You were just trying to do what was best for us. But, in the future, I would rather you run things by me before asking my dad."

"Ok. I can do that."

"Well, you need to pick that container back up and eat before it gets cold."

"Yeah, it probably won't be that good the way it is…" Arizona says, laughing.

"So, it looks like you are going to meet my dad."

"It looks that way," Arizona says, as she watches Callie pick at her food. She has an idea of what else might be going through Callie's mind, she just isn't sure how to ask about it.

"He is a loving dad, but a protective dad."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Sometimes."

"Callie, I know you are worried enough about Katie and now you are worried your dad might try to put his two cents in. But I have a feeling you are now worried about me and your dad. I know we are new and if the circumstances were different, I wouldn't want to be hidden. But, in this case, I think I need to just be Dr. Robbins this weekend. It will give you a little breathing room and when Katie is better, then you can tell him. But I don't want to make this weekend more stressful on you."

"It's not fair to you to do that."

"Callie, this is more than just you telling your dad about me. This is you coming out to your dad, period. And I have been there. It can be a daunting thing to come out to your family. This needs to be done on your time. Not because he happens to be coming here this weekend. So please, just wait."

"I don't want to hide you, Arizona."

"You aren't. You are just waiting for a little bit. That's all."

"It seems like it. I just, I know it will cause an argument right now. My parents are catholic and I know they aren't going to approve. I just, I'm torn. Because even though you are telling me you are ok with me waiting, I just… it doesn't feel right."

"Am I Katie's doctor?"

"Yeah."

"Did we know each other before this so we can at least say we are also friends?"

Laughing, Callie says, "I don't know that we were ever friends. I think you and I both know it was always supposed to be more than that."

"I'm not disagreeing. But, I still think we can go with me being Katie's doctor and your good friend. Because I love spending time with you. Talking to you, getting to know you… I hope if this works out, that we do become not only whatever is meant to be, but that we also become best friends. Because I think that's how it should be. That whoever you are with, that when everything else is taken away, that there is a friendship there. I want that for us."

"Wow. When you get going, you really put it all out there, don't you?"

"I'm sorry. That was probably too much. I didn't mean to freak you out. Especially over cafeteria food."

"Arizona, there is no 'freaking out here'. I think we both look at it the same way. So, as long as you are ok with it, I'll let you be Dr. Robbins this weekend. But, when Katie is better, I promise we will tell him."

"I'm ok with that. Because, you know why?"

"Why?

"Because, if you are telling me we will tell him when she is better, it makes it sound like you might keep me around for a little while. And I like the thought of that."

"Yeah. Maybe."

"Maybe?'

"Yeah, maybe. Maybe I need to get your lasagna included in this deal at least once a week or something," Callie says, smiling.

"Callie…the way you moaned when you tried it, I will make it for you anytime." Arizona says with a smirk.

"I didn't moan…"

"Oh, good lord, yes you did."

"Arizona… that was a few weeks ago. Really… you remember what I did when I took a bite? Yeah, right."

"Callie, I could say something but your daughter is probably listening. I don't think you want me to say what I really want to say right now, so remind me to tell you when there aren't little ears listening."

Smiling, Callie nods. "Fair enough. But… I do want some of that lasagna soon. Especially now that we are back home and you have a kitchen close by. Which, you should be getting home to. You have spent the last five nights on a crappy couch. You should really go home and get some rest. A good night's rest."

"I don't want to leave. I took the week off and I would really rather stay with you."

"Arizona, you are going to go back to work exhausted next week, and it will be all my fault. I don't want that to happen. So go home, get some rest, and come back tomorrow."

"Well, I could argue the same about you and how you need a good night's rest. If she were to open her eyes, you don't want to miss it because you are exhausted."

"I'm not leaving. I can't."

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course I do," Callie says, looking down at her now empty hands. Neither she nor Arizona ate much of their food and both sat their containers on the table a while ago.

"Then let's compromise. Let's read to her and spend some more time here with her. In a little bit, I will order a pizza since neither of us ate, and then you and I will both go down the hall to the on-call room, where there will be nothing going on other than eating pizza and sleeping. And we will both get a good night's rest and be back in here first thing in the morning."

"Arizona, what if she…"

"Callie. Even if you stayed in here, you would still be asleep. You would still miss whatever is going to happen. The nurses will know where to find us. I promise. And I promise I will keep my hands to myself. But, I understand if you don't want to leave. I just think it would benefit you to get some sleep. This is just the beginning of a long road. You need to pace yourself. But, it's whatever you want to do. I'll understand either way."

"Ok."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Really. So, where are those books? Because I'm pretty sure four-year-olds can roll their eyes when they get tired of listening to old people talk."

"Speak for yourself. I'm not old."

"Well, that's kind of subjective…"

Arizona stands up, grinning. "Let me grab some books. I'll be right back."

After spending a few more hours reading to Katie and talking about just anything, Arizona convinces Callie to go ahead and leave for the night, with the promise to return first thing in the morning. Arizona places a call for the pizza and then grabs their stuff. She leads Callie to the on-call room and leaves, so that Callie can get changed, then she goes to grab the pizza from the lobby and pick up some drinks.

When she walks back in, Callie is already changed and sitting on the bed, with her legs criss-crossed. "You know, at some point we need to go back to healthier foods. This greasy food you have been giving me this week is spoiling me."

"What? You mean you never eat pizza?"

"No. I do, just not five times a week," Callie says, laughing. "You eat like a professional college student."

"Yeah, I should probably do better. To be fair, I usually do eat better than this though."

Sitting down by Callie, Arizona kicks her shoes off and opens the pizza box, digging right in. "Oh, I needed this. That crap from earlier was awful."

"Yeah, it kinda was," Callie agrees, chuckling.

The women eat about half of the pizza and then set it off to the side. Callie scoots back up to the top of the bed and rests her back against the headboard. "That was good. Not as good as we had the other night, but it was good."

"The next time we go back to the city, we will have to order another one."

"Sounds good," Callie says,

"I need to change. I'll be right back." Arizona hops up and heads to the bathroom. She gets changed and makes her way back out to find that Callie has already pulled the covers down and climbed in.

"Are you sure, Callie?"

Callie doesn't answer, but pulls the covers back for Arizona to get in. Arizona nods and then makes her way to the bed. For some reason, she is more nervous about just laying beside Callie than she has ever been about actually sleeping with someone. She smiles to herself at how different this is, and how happy it makes her.

"What?" Callie asks, watching as Arizona makes her way over and climbs into bed.

"I'm just… nervous."

"You? Nervous about sleeping with a woman? Huh. I think that should be the other way around here…" Callie chuckles.

As Arizona gets settled, she takes a deep breath. "You aren't just any woman, Callie," Arizona says, rolling onto her side to face the brunette. She takes her hand and rests it on Callie's face. "You are the most amazing woman. You, you are unbelievably strong. You are a wonderful mom. You are an amazing doctor… and I know because I read more about you after you moved here."

"What?"

"Hey. I was intrigued by you. You were all... telling me off and stuff and unbelievably hot doing it. I was just, mesmerized by you."

"You sure didn't act like it," Callie chuckles. "You were so… cocky? And then, I loved to aggravate you. Do you know when you get flustered, you wrinkle your nose?"

"No I don't," Arizona tries to deny.

"You do. And I just couldn't get enough of it," Callie says, reaching up to touch the spot on her nose, where she wrinkles it. "Right there…"

"You don't know what you are talking about."

"There it is!" Callie says, touching the small wrinkle and laughing.

Arizona reaches up to grab Callie's hand and brings it to her mouth to kiss it. "You have a beautiful laugh. I haven't gotten the chance to hear much of it, but it's the most amazing laugh I have ever heard."

"You know… I would ask if you are always this cheesy, but I don't think that is the case. Is it?"

"No. It's never been my thing. I've never been with someone who made me want to be… cheesy."

"You are so different than the bossy, irritable woman I first met."

"I'm glad you can finally see a different side of me. Roll over."

"What?"

"Roll over, please?"

Smiling, Callie shakes her head but does as she was asked. "See, still bossy," Callie says laughing.

"Well, type A personality here. It does come with the territory," Arizona chuckles. "I know I said I would keep my hands to myself, but is it ok if I hold you? I don't have to…"

"I wouldn't want it any other way," Callie says, as she reaches behind her and pulls Arizona's arms around her.

"Mm…" Arizona says, scooting in a little closer. "I could get used to this."

Sighing, Callie learns back into Arizona a little more, leaving no space between them. "Me too," Callie says, quietly.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah. I've just, never slept with a woman. This feels… different."

Arizona isn't sure where she is going with this and starts to get a little nervous. "A good different or bad different?" she asks, quietly.

"Definitely good." Callie ponders how to say what she is thinking though. She decides getting to the point is just going to be easier. "Arizona, it isn't exactly a secret that you are used to… more, when you are with someone. And I don't mean that in a negative way. But, I can't promise when I will be ready to take that next step. So, please be patient with me."

"Callie... Don't do that. Don't compare this to anything else I've had before. Because I can tell you that this is different, but in a wonderful way. And I couldn't be more grateful for that. I would be lying if I said I didn't find you absolutely beautiful and that I look forward to that. But… I'm not in a hurry. Because I really think this is worth waiting for. Every part of you is worth waiting for. Laying here, like this, with you, is more fulfilling to me than anything else."

"Thank you. And for the record, I find you beautiful too."

"We will wait as long as we need, for you to be ready."

"Thank you."

"No need to thank me, Callie."

As the women start to drift off, Arizona has a thought pop into her head. "So, your real name is Calliope?"

"Um, let's not talk about it…" Callie mumbles, sleep starting to overtake her.

"I like it. It's beautiful. Just like you."