Chapter 9

Callie watched Arizona walk out the door and found her seat back on the couch. She stared at the letter that still lay unopened on the coffee table in front of her. Callie didn't know what to do or who to talk to. For some reason one person came to mind. She pulled the new Blackberry from her pocket and searched the contacts until she found the name she looked for and began sending a text.

Hey. I know this is a little, a lot, weird, but can you talk?

Callie sat with her head back on the couch waiting for a response. She finally heard the buzz of her phone.

Um, yeah. For you anytime. You ok? Arizona told me about the phone.

Callie, a lot quicker than she could understand, replied.

I'm fine. Just confused. Need some advice….bout Arizona.

Quickly a response came.

Sure. You may not remember me, but you are my sister and would love to give you advice….on Arizona.

Callie sent her reply.

Thanks. I know that we talked a lot through texting, but I just need someone to tell me. If Arizona came back, if I hadn't been hurt, would I have just forgiven her?

The reply was the longest Callie had waited on Aria for a response. Aria wanted to make sure that she gave her sister the right advice. Said it the right way. She wanted Callie to listen to her.

At first probably not. She left you in a airport and you didn't understand. You were hurt. She didn't text or call to check on you and you were devastated. Truth is she wouldn't have been able to hear from you. She was there just trying to survive you. I think you would have been angry, you would have took your stand, but Callie you loved her. I have never seen you love like that.

That wasn't a hard statement for Callie to believe.

Did you know about the award?

A simple question that got a simple reply.

Yes. Are you angry?

Callie replied.

A little. I understand why she felt that way, but she should have been honest.

Aria's reply come quick.

She loves you. At the time, it was the only choice.

Callie decided that everyone was going to tell her the same things. Talking to one person was like talking to anyone else. She loved Callie, Callie loved her it was all the same.

Thanks for the talk. You can text me anytime you want.

Callie's phone buzzed one last time.

I will. Thanks. I loved talking to you. I miss and love you, Callie. I am glad that you seem to be doing better. Arizona is good for you. She loves you. Go easy on her, ok? Bye.

Callie put the phone down and laid back on the couch. As she started at the ceiling she knew that somewhere she should be grateful. She just couldn't find it.

It had been a hard day. Working with Hahn was a disaster, but she was now gone. Her pt was transported and thank god that meant Erica went him. Arizona barely had a moment to think when a person was walking with her. One person on each side. Arizona looked from Mark to Teddy. "What?"

"What happened?" Mark asked almost sounding nervous.

"I told her."

"You told her what?" Teddy asked. "Everything?"

"Everything. Now if you two don't mind I would love to not think about this for a minute." Arizona snapped.

"But she know?" Mark questioned again. "She knows that you left her because of the award."

Arizona stopped and turned to Mark. "Yes! That is kind of what everything means. Now I would like to talk about something else." A look of shock came over Mark's face. Arizona realized that she had just yelled at him causing everyone in the hall to stop and look. Arizona turned to them and gave a half hearted smile until they began to go about there business, it was then she turned to Mark. "I'm sorry. I just can't anymore today. Please."

Mark noticed the tears that were starting to form. He took a deep breathe. "I have a nine year old that is here. Injuries were from a car accident and I need a consult if you don't mind."

Arizona smiled. "Thank you." She took the chart that Mark held out.

"Your welcome. I'll met you in there." Mark said walking off.

Arizona turned to Teddy. "I hate that I yelled at him."

Teddy place a comforting hand on Arizona's shoulder. "Don't worry about it. I am pretty sure that he has done something today to be yelled at for. Mark's fine. You are reaching your limit with all this."

"I look at her, Teddy and all I want to do is running into her arms and wake the hell up from this nightmare."

"I understand. This must be awful on you both."

"Yeah, I am going to check on.." Arizona quickly looked at the chart. "MaKayla. I'll talk to you later."

Teddy watched her closest friend walk away and mumbled. "Good lord." As she turned to walk back to Cardio.

Callie wondered around the apartment trying to make some or any sense of what her life was now. So many people had told her about the day Arizona left, but no one offered the vital information that Arizona had left Callie for a reason. A reason to Arizona anyway. Callie still wondered how she would have felt had the accident never happened. Would she now be more understanding than she was, or less.

Callie shock her head to try and stop the commotion that had now taken over her brain. The unknowns were too much for Callie. The not knowing how she would feel. She may never remember everything about Arizona, what if she didn't? Would it matter? Arizona loved her and she had loved her. Callie determined then and there that was all that mattered. Callie only knew that she wanted to be around Arizona, with Arizona. What may or could have happened didn't matter. Suddenly all that mattered to Callie was how she felt about Arizona now.

Callie knew that she only had a couple of hours before Arizona would return home from work. The one thing that Callie retained was the amazing ability to cook. Callie quickly pulled the refrigerator open and began to put together a surprise dinner for Arizona.

"I know. I know. You don't want to talk about it, but…."

"Teddy, don't." Arizona interrupted as she was working on charting for the day.

"You need to talk to someone. I just want to make sure that you are alright."

"I am fine." Arizona said in less than a chipper voice. "Please Teddy. I need for you to respect this."

"Alright." Teddy said as she sat back onto the couch beside Arizona and waited.

"You know. What the hell was I suppose to do? Destroy her career? Take her off to another country and hope that she isn't just someone in the way over there? It's Pediatrics that is lacking over there. Not Ortho, but Peds. What was I suppose to do? When I realized I made a huge mistake, it was too late. Then Mark called about the wreck…"

Teddy interrupted. "Breathe Robbins." Teddy smiled. "You loved her. You did what you did for her. Maybe she would have gotten lost over there, but still she was hurt. The fear that you have is justified."

"What if she still doesn't understand. I look at her and I love her so much that it is killing me. I am so afraid that when she remembers that she will still be angry. Then I start all over again. I just don't know what to do. What do I do?"

"What ever happens you go with what is in front of you. If you feel that you need to put your feelings on the shelf for a while, then do that. If not, then don't. She may never remember how things were. You have to live for now with her."

"She could break me."

"Then let her break you. You can't live in fear Arizona. You don't know that it will happen. What if she surprises you?

Arizona walked into the apartment and was immediately shocked that she smelled food. Arizona was surprised and happy that Callie was feeling herself more. She closed the door and Callie turned to look at her. Arizona took in the site that was in front of her. Callie had set everything out at the bar and the lights in the apartment were dimmed. Arizona noticed the wine glasses and her heart jumped at the possibilities that maybe Callie had remembered something.

Callie spoke when she saw Arizona smile. "I just thought that maybe you needed a decent meal. Well I hope that it is decent. I seem to remember how to cook. Which is a good thing. I may not remember shit, but at least we won't starve." Callie tried to laugh.

Arizona tried to keep her smile as she realized that Callie was just being nice. "Thank you."

Callie noticed the disappointment on Arizona's face and tried to talk about something else. She grabbed the wine and put both bottles on the bar. "I found these. I am assuming the white belongs to you. There is almost a whole bottle. The red is almost gone, so I assume I did that."

Arizona chuckled. "Right you are."

Callie loved to hear Arizona's laughter. She watched as Arizona laid her purse and keys down on the table by the door. She then walked to the bar and stood watching Callie put food on a plate. Callie turned around and stretched across the other side of the bar placing the plate on the bar and pouring Arizona's wine in a glass next to the plate. Arizona continued to watch. "Go ahead. Sit. Or are you gonna stand during the entire meal?" Callie laughed as she watched Arizona come out of her daze and have a seat.

Callie took another plate, putting her food on it and walking around the bar and taking the seat next to Arizona. Callie sat down and poured a glass of wine while noticing that Arizona was yet to take her eyes off of her. Without turning to look at Arizona, Callie spoke, "You gonna continue to stare at me or are you gonna eat."

"I'm…..I'm sorry." Arizona looked down at her food. "It looks wonderful." Arizona tried to contain herself as she moved the chicken piccata around her plate. It made her think of the night Callie had made her grand speech. Arizona looked up trying to find something to say before she was sure to start crying. She noticed on the refrigerator the letter from Harper Avery was stuck there by a magnet. She smiled. She was so proud of Callie.

Callie broke the silence. "So, how was your day?"

"It was ok. Busy, but ok."

"Anything interesting happen."

"No. Alex was caught in the on-call room with April Kepner." Arizona grinned. "Erica left shortly after I went back this afternoon, so my day got much better."

Callie couldn't help but grin. "You really don't like her do you?"

"I find that when I look at her I want to throw a brick at her." Arizona loved to hear the laughter that came from Callie. "So how was your day?"

"Really? Um, I am so over soap operas. You would not believe. There is this gay couple on one of the shows and they broke up and then one girl sleeps with her guy friend and now she is pregnant. God, will that storyline ever get old?"

"That's what you get for watching that stuff." Arizona couldn't help but notice Callie smiling. "What?" As Callie put a piece of food in her mouth. Arizona noticed a huge smile on her face still. Callie began to chew slower. God that mischievous grin. What was Callie thinking? "What?" Arizona asked again sounding was trying hard not to laugh. "What?""That look is almost frightening. What are you thinking?"Callie's grin just grew wider. She was trying so hard not to laugh "Nothing. Is the food good?"

"It's wonderful." Arizona said not taking her eyes off Callie. Callie was looking her right in the eyes and held her gaze. "O.k. then why are you still looking at me like that?" Callie had a look like she could almost devour Arizona. "Damn it, Callie. What is it?"With the same sexy grin Callie revealed her secret. "Lets just say that all the flashbacks aren't that bad."Arizona felt her face blush. As she throw her napkin at the woman to her left yelling "Calliope!""What? It isn't my fault. They come back however they want. But I really do have say." Callie stopped and finally gave in to the laughter. "Damn girl. I didn't know you had it in you."Now Arizona was really blushing. "Stop Callie!" Arizona got up, but Callie still looked her up and down. Arizona grabbed one of the pillows off the couch and covered herself with it. "That pillow is not doing any good. I can still see it.""Calliope, stop it. I mean it. Stop thinking about it."Callie closed her eyes while laughing. She had a look on her face like she was really trying to concentrate. "What are you going to do about it. I'll just say that I'm thinking of something else." Callie finally stopped teasing. "Come on, Arizona come back and sit down. I'll stop. I promise." Callie patted the seat of the chair. "Come on. Finish your food.""You don't see me sitting here giving you a hard time." Arizona said as she made her way back to her seat. "I mean I have seen you too." "Yeah, but I don't care." They both laughed.

"You wouldn't."

"Hey, I am sure that I should be offended by that comment."

"You wouldn't be." Arizona laughed.

"I mean, really? Pizza?" Callie shook her head thinking about the memory.

"You said…."

"Sorry. Sorry." Callie looked over at Arizona with lust in her eyes that Arizona hadn't seen in long time. "I'm sorry. I am trying I really am. Now that I have seen it, I can't get it out of my mind."

Again Arizona was looking those big, brown eyes that she so easily got lost in. She quickly turned away. "The food is good."

Callie smiled. "Thanks. I am glad that you like it."

Arizona turned to Callie and was lost again. "I love it." Arizona regretted the words the minute they came out.

All Callie wanted to do was be close to the woman who's blue eyes had her mesmerized. Callie got up out of her chair and walked to the ipod dock. As music started to play, Arizona watched Callie walk toward her and extended her hand. "Dance with me, Arizona."

I know that you all gonna want to kill me right now. I wanted you guys to hear a song first before this evening continues. I hope that you all don't mind but I made added a link to a video for the song so that you could hear it. It's an older song, so I wanted to make sure you had heard it. The next chapter is almost complete so I will post again as soon as it's done. Thanks for reading and in the next chapter I break one of my major rules with writing.

.com/watch?v=TLuGbMd5v2Y