A/N: Well guys, this is almost it! This journey Babyjamo and I took you on is about to end. Within the next week, you'll be getting the last chapter and the epilogue. Thank you all so much for your continued support and interest in this story. Babyjamo, thank you for being a great co-writer! Working with you was a blast and I would love to do it again :) For now, let's all get a beer/wine and celebrate this story ;-)
Chapter 16: Now or Never
Twenty minutes later, Callie was sitting at the bar nursing a drink, absentmindedly playing with her straw. She had come to the club with Mark, Lexie, Ben, and the Interpol team minus Carina, who was on her way back to Italy. The brunette was deep in thought about poor Carina and Andrea when she heard the familiar booming voice of her partner.
"Tina!" Mark spoke loud over the sunny Reggaeton beat while he casually leaned against the bar next to Callie. "Unless there is a hot señorita in your glass, I think you're looking in the wrong place," he grinned mischievously and wiggled his eyebrows once Callie's eyes met his.
The Latina FBI Agent had been nursing her drink for way too long and Mark had personally seen at least three women that had been eyeing her. There would not be a lot of conquering going on if Callie just sat at the bar all night.
She was tempted to tell him that she was just not in the mood, but on the other hand, she did not want to be a party pooper. It was their last night in Spain and she should enjoy it. Who knew when she would have the chance to come back here. She downed her drink and got up. It was game time.
"Why are you even here, Sloan?" She said as she patted him on the shoulder. Ever since Carina had allowed him to get closer, he had been a one-woman kind of man. And even though it was still early days, Callie had never seen Mark so hooked. Since the Italian agent was not around and Mark was not on the prowl, it was almost confusing to see him here. But the same could probably be said for her. She was out of her element too.
"Just checking on my buddy," he replied. "You umm, you don't seem yourself," he added, looking a little worried all of a sudden. "I just wanted to make sure you are ok."
She flashed him a fake smile. "I'm fine."
"Torres," Mark said in a knowing voice "You do know that I've seen you turn down three hot women in the last hour and that my friend...is not 'fine'...," Mark gestured with his fingers when he said the word fine, "...behaviour. That is not normal!"
Callie let out a sigh and swirled the melting ice in her glass. She really did not want to get into a big discussion with Mark about this now, but the truth was she was not fine. She had not really been 'fine' from the minute she had laid eyes on the Arizona Robbins nearly three weeks ago now.
Picking up her glass she quickly downed the contents and turned on her seat to face her partner. She knew he was just looking out for her, but she did not want to talk about feelings right now.
"Mark Everett Sloan...whilst I thank you for your concern, I can assure you that I am 100% fine. I'm so fine in fact that...ohh look at that…," Callie smiled as she looked down at her hand and started clicking her fingers to the music. "Ohh look what's happening…," she added, standing up from her bar seat and starting to move her hips. A broad smile formed on Mark's face as he watched his partner dancing in front of him. "Come on...let me show you how fine I am," Callie said as reached down and took Mark's hand before leading him to the dance floor where he twirled her around before they found a spot to dance. They had done this many, many times before and it showed. Callie had to initially force herself but quickly found herself actually enjoying the moment and the thoughts that had been nagging in the back of her head were gone momentarily as she let herself get lost in the music.
They danced together and as the song's pace changed to a slower beat, Mark pulled her closer for a slow dance. "Why are you even here, Torres?" He asked. The Latina was a badass and had a poker face for miles, but Mark could see right through his partner. It had taken some time to be able to read her, but he had turned it into an art form. And right now, her mind was miles away. 3.2 miles away to be precise, where a certain blonde CIA officer was probably doing homework or whatever good girls did on nights like these.
They danced for a few songs before Mark gestured to his partner that he needed a drink and left the brunette on the dancefloor. As he waited for the barman to take his order he watched with a smile on his face as he saw the redhead barmaid that Callie had gone home with the other night tap her on her shoulder and exchange a warm hug with the American.
Mark was chatting to Ben Warren at the bar when he spotted a familiar blonde head bobbing its way through the crowded room. Shit, Gizmo was here and things were about to get a lot more interesting. As Arizona ducked and weaved her way past people, she spotted Mark and Ben and eventually made her way to where they were standing.
"Hey, boss!" Ben said warmly as he gave the CIA Officer a quick hug, they were after all off duty. "I didn't think you were coming"
"Yeah well, I had a change of heart," Arizona responded before looking over in Mark's direction. "Mark," the blonde said by way of a welcome.
"Special Operations Officer Robbins" Mark replied with an over-the-top smile, while casually leaning against the bar. He had taken this position so he could look at Callie on the dancefloor as well as Arizona standing right in front of him. Whatever was about to happen, he wanted to have front-row seats to it. "How lovely of you to join us. What can I get you to drink?"
"Please call me Arizona," Arizona replied with a business-like smile, determined to not show the wise-ass that he had irritated her already with his greeting, "and I'll get these. What is everyone drinking?" She took orders from Mark and Ben, who ordered for Lexie who was in the restroom and then did a quick scan of the room. "And...umm...what about Torres?" She asked out loud. "What will she have?" Arizona would have guessed bourbon, but after she got the coffee order wrong the other day, she didn't know anymore.
"She'll take a bourbon with…"
"One ice cube" Arizona finished Mark's sentence without even thinking, the words coming out from the memory bank where she stored all things Callie.
"Ahh, you remembered. Cute!" Mark said with a playful smirk generating a blush on Arizona's neck.
"Just a guess," Arizona responded, trying to play the situation down.
"Riiiiight!" Mark replied not believing the blonde for one moment.
Once the drinks had been dished out a toast was made and as Arizona took a sip of her wine she turned and in what she hoped was a casual way, scanned the bar looking for the brunette.
"Where is Torres?" she eventually asked.
"Why are you so keen to find Torres?" Mark asked, raising a suspicious eyebrow.
"Oh no reason...I...umm...just wanted to have a quick word, anyway her ice is melting," Arizona responded matter-of-factly, her eyes scanning the room.
Mark's height advantage over the CIA officer gave him a clear view of the dancefloor where his partner was still dancing away, the redhead's arm currently wrapped around the brunette's waist.
The tall FBI Agent might think he was the smoothest guy around, but Arizona was onto him. Her eyes followed Mark's and through the sea of bodies, she finally saw Callie. Fuck! Arizona thought to herself as she watched the redhead push up close to Callie and whisper something in the FBI agent's ear. Arizona felt her stomach drop as she watched Callie burst into laughter at whatever the other woman had said. As upsetting as it was watching Callie dancing with another woman, she couldn't break her gaze. A gap in the packed bar appeared and Arizona could now see the brunette clearly as she moved in time to the music. She looked so sexy when she danced and as torturous as it was to see, she was frozen to stop, unable to look away. Every time the redhead moved near Callie, touched Callie, a pang of jealousy seared through the blonde like a red hot stake to her heart.
What the fuck was she thinking? This had all been a massive mistake. That emotion she had occasionally seen in Callie's eyes, had not been what she herself had been experiencing, not at all. Arizona may have been feeling a strong desire for Callie again, but as she watched the brunette dance with the stranger it was dawning on the CIA Officer that she had mistaken lust and passion for anger. Hatred even! It was clear now that as much as she had wanted to come and talk to Callie, to tell her exactly how she was feeling, it was too late. That ship had sailed six years ago. Arizona was left standing as the wake of the disappearing ship crashed over her.
Taking a big gulp of her wine, she put the glass on the bar and turned to speak to her team. "Sorry guys...I've umm...I've just remembered I left something out of the incident report...I'm gonna go and...you know…," Arizona gestured to the exit.
"What?" Ben said, raising his eyebrows. "You've just got here! Can't it wait until tomorrow?"
She hated lying but she wasn't about to tell them the real reason why she was leaving so quickly. Although the way Mark was staring at her, she suspected that he probably knew.
Arizona gave her IT officer a small smile, "you know me Warren, always the perfectionist right? I just wouldn't enjoy it knowing that I umm hadn't done it right..but hey…. don't let me stop you guys having fun..," the blonde reached into her purse and pulled out a wad of notes which she handed to Ben "here….this should sort the drinks out for the rest of the evening."
Ben and Lexie tried to convince their boss to stay a while longer, but as Arizona's glanced one last time over in Callie's direction she knew she needed to get the hell out of blonde cursed herself as she turned and started making her way back out of the bar. Some guy grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close to him asking her why she was leaving so soon.
Arizona quickly removed his arm and in perfect Spanish told him where to go, before she pushed open the heavy metal door and walked back out into the night. She bent over and took some deep breaths as she tried to stop nausea that was rising up inside her. She should never have listened to Addison, never followed her heart. Arizona felt tears start to spring in her eyes as she realised how foolish she had been. Why on earth would Callie be interested in her? You stupid, stupid woman she cursed herself before turning and heading back to her apartment.
##
Callie gestured to the redhead whose name she was still trying to recall that she was taking a timeout and headed over to join the rest of the team who were knocking back shots. Ben pulled Lexie onto the dancefloor, leaving the two FBI agents alone.
"Oh hey, Tina!" Mark joked. "So nice of you to join us. I figured that was the last we'd seen of you for the night"
"Uh huh. No way. I told her our dancing was staying in the bar tonight," Callie explained.
Mark gave his partner a knowing smile and handed the brunette her glass of bourbon.
"Ahhh you got me a drink! How sweet...but you know...I'm still not interested in you Sloan," Callie teased with a wide grin. Her mood had changed a lot since she first came in. Dancing had always made her feel better and right now it showed.
"Ha ha. Very funny. I'll have you know that I am not interested in you, Torres. I'm strictly a one-woman man now," He replied with a smug look on his face. Callie might be too stupid to realise what she wanted, but he was not and was flying to Italy tomorrow to support Carina.
"Wow!... Is Mark Sloan in luuuurve?" She teased her partner, but she was secretly happy that he and Carina were giving things a go. The Italian was good for him.
"Shut it, Torres. At least I can see something good when it's right in front of me and I'm going for it."
Callie raised her eyebrow and pursed her lips. "Ouch," she said as she mockingly put her hand over her heart. "I didn't mean to step on your loved-up heart. You know I think Carina is great."
"Seriously?" He asked, pretending to be offended "how old are you?"
Callie chuckled and finished her drink before pulling her friend into a hug "I'm kidding Mark. I'm really pleased for you guys. You know I think Carina is great"
Mark beamed at the mere mention of her name "Yeah, she is."
"God knows what she sees in you, you douchebag!" Callie dogged the playful slap that her partner directed her way.
"Anyway, enough about me Torres…" Mark said keen to bring the conversation back to the bigger issue "Do you think it's time Tina maybe hung up her dancing shoes?"
"Huh?" Callie responded not following.
"You know… as much as I've enjoyed our nights out together other the years...I wonder if it's time the Turner settled down a bit as well...maybe tried having a long-term relationship, hell just any relationship!" Mark stared at his friend and waited for the response but although Callie's eyes narrowed, she remained silent.
"I've found someone who I want to have more with, and given the fact that Gizmo was here looking for you earlier, I'd say you have as well!"
"Wait what?" Callie looked around the immediate area, "Arizona is here?"
"Was," Mark replied matter of factly.
"What do you mean was?" Callie's mind was racing at the fact that the blonde had been in the bar.
"As in past tense Torres, you know...like no longer here!"
"Seriously Mark…" Callie's mood had instantly changed. "What...what did she say, why did she go?"
"Well, she bought us all a round, said she had something she wanted to speak to you about, but then when she spotted you on the dancefloor with a certain redhead she all of a sudden realised she had to go and do more work," Mark explained
"Crap!" Callie said, reaching over and taking Mark's shot glass from his hand and knocking it back, wincing as the strong liquid slid down her throat. Why did it seem everything in the world was against them? Timing certainly did not seem like their strong suit.
Mark shook his head. "You know you're an idiot right?"
"Excuse me?" Callie replied in an irritated voice. She loved Mark but now was not the time.
"You heard me, Torres. You're an idiot." Mark flashed Callie one of his most charming smiles, his eyes challenging her to take the bait.
Callie just raised her eyebrow at him.
Mark explained. "This bad guy, who killed hundreds of people, punches you in the face, makes you fall down frickin' steps and you're fine. But some girl makes a mistake and hurts you and you sulk for seven years. You're an idiot."
Callie's brows furrowed and she narrowed her eyes. "Really, Mark? It's more complicated than your tiny man-brain can comprehend."
"Callie…" Mark never used her first name and so it sounded alien coming from his mouth, but he clearly wanted to make sure she listened. "You know I love you...like take a bullet for you, love you...so what I'm about to say, I say because I want you to be happy. Gizmo has the hots for you, Torres, even I can see that, and don't get me started on the way you look at her. I know it's complicated and she hurt you, but can you honestly hand on heart stand there and tell me you weren't thinking of her while you were dancing with redhead over there."
Callie stared hard at her partner and opened her mouth to speak, but then admitted defeat and shook her head.
"Didn't think so." Mark saw the fear in those brown eyes but knew he needed to keep pushing Callie.
"I get you are protecting your heart, but don't do it at all costs…don't let what happened before ruin something that from where I stand, both of you want. I swear if you don't damn well go talk to blondie now, I'm asking Derek for a new partner."
Callie absolutely hated it when her fellow agent was right, and as much as she tried to deny it, he was right. Callie did still have feelings for Arizona and as much as she had tried to fight them, they were too strong to deny. Callie held her friend's gaze momentarily before she quickly grabbed the man by the face and placed a quick kiss on his lips before heading towards the door. She needed to know what Arizona had wanted to talk about, and if she did not go for it now, she knew she probably never would.
###
It was almost midnight when Callie arrived at the apartment building that had been home during the assignment. The slight buzz she had been experiencing in the bar was quickly disappearing and the clearer her head got, the more she felt like running. Fuck! What was she doing? This was a mistake. She was making a huge mistake right? As the brunette stood outside the closed door going over and over why she was here, she remembered what Carina had said about life being too short. She had spent too much time running already, and if she did not face Arizona now, she was probably going to spend another seven years wondering what if. She bit her lip and knocked on the door.
It was quiet for a while and just as Callie had decided she could undo this mistake and turned to leave, she heard someone approach on the other side of the door.
"Callie?" Arizona said with a surprised look on her face as she opened the door to see the brunette walking away. No running now, Torres, Callie thought to herself as she slowly turned around to face the blonde. She felt her heart rate increase as she took in the sight of Arizona, who was standing at the door in a short silk dressing gown. She simply could not stop her eyes as they ran up the blonde's bare legs.
Callie opened her mouth to speak, but realised she didn't actually know what she wanted to say, so in a panic she waved her hand and with a goofy smile said, "Hi".
"Hi," Arizona responded, still shocked to see the FBI Agent at her door, her mind racing as to why Callie was there. "Do you...ummm...wanna come in?" She asked as she took a step to the side to make space for the brunette to pass.
