In The Mind's Eye II, The Sequel

Disclaimer: This is an AU story that combines The Godfather and Greys Anatomy together. I borrowed these characters, I own nothing.

Chapter Three

Something To Talk About

Several minutes later after speaking with her wife on the phone, Arizona thought that maybe they needed to move to a different hotel. They had been there since early Friday evening, and Callie would most likely figure out where the call came from. So, she packed up the small amount of belongings she had and explained things to to boys.

"We are leaving. So I need you both to get your stuff and set it by the door. Gavin, help your brother please." Monty was younger, and he needed a little more help than Gavin. After all, Monty was only four years old.

"Where are we going? Can we go to that store with the Ferris wheel?" Gavin asked. The consierge had told them about Scheels. And, he wanted desperately to go and ride the indoor Ferris wheel.

"Yes. If you get packed really fast we will go by and ride on it." Promising anything at that moment to get her children moving swiftly out the door, Arizona agreed to Gavin's idea.

"Yes!" Gavin threw his hands in the air. The sign of victory was on his face. He loved this new found freedom that he and Monty very rarely experienced.

An hour later, Gavin, Arizona and Monty all rode the Ferries wheel at Scheels. It was a huge store with anything you wanted from fishing gear to boating...this store had it all. "Can we buy that?" Gavi asked his mother.

Close observation showed Arizona exactly what Gavin wanted. It was a picture of a water trampoline. Arizona knew there was no way to take that with them today, so she told her son her idea.

"Why don't we get someone to come back for it another day? That's a very big box Gavin. I can't lug that and we don't have room for it."

"Can we get it later though?" Gavin asked.

Agreeing to purchase the water trampoline later, Arizona nodded her head. "Yes." She wasn't sure how safe the item was, but she agreed.

Settling down in a much smaller hotel in a small nearby town just outside of Reno, the trio once again unpacked their bags. "I wish we could go to the rodeo on this trip too." Gavin commented as he looked at a horse magazine that they had purchased at Scheels.

Gavin had often expressed an interest in horses and wanted to take equestrian lessons. But Callie had alway denied that wish. The brunette had continued to hold out on allowing Gavin to take riding lessons. Afraid her son would get hurt, the brunette mother expressed her concerns about both of their sons being around horses. And Callie certainly didn't want them to be involved in any sports like jumping, or any races.

"Well, my sweet child you are in luck. I picked up these from the concierge desk just for you." Smiling as her son's eyes widened, Arizona laughed as Gavin ran to look at the much acclaimed rodeo tickets.

"We are really going to the rodeo tomorrow?" Gavin asked as he held the tickets in his small hands. The three pieces of paper were like gold to the little boy that was very much infatuated with horses and cowboys.

"That's the plan. I think it sounds like a fun idea." Arizona supported her son's equestrian enthusiasm. She had pushed for them to buy a horse and hire a trainer to work with Gavin. But her wife had always overruled her on that. This would be the closest thing he could get to seeing them in live action, and Arizona was going to do her best in making his dream come true. If this were Monty, and he had expressed interest, she would have done the same thing.

"I want to go too." Monty called out. He wasn't as big of a fan of horses, mainly because he heard his mother talk about how you could get hurt while riding if you weren't really careful. So in his young mind, he wanted to play it safe. Just like Callie. But, he wanted in on this trip, because he shadowed Gavin as often as he could.

"Of course you are going bug. We are going to have so much fun. Now I need you both to go to sleep so you will be ready for the Reno Rodeo. Ye Haw!" Arizona laughed as she tickled her sons and kissed them both goodnight.

"Mommy?" Monty quietly spoke.

Fearing that the little boy who was very sheltered and extremely pampered by his brunette mother was about to ask about Callie, and why they hadn't seen her yet and when that would take place, Arizona hesitantly answered, "Yes Monty?"

A serious face, just like that of Callie's, turned into a mega-watt smile that was a duplicate copy of the brunette. "You're silly mommy."

Smiling back at her son that she loved with all of her heart, Arizona answered. "Goodnight. Sweet dreams. I love you both with all my heart."

"Love you too." They both answered. And within minutes, they fell fast asleep.

Around nine o'clock that night, Tom entered the living room where Callie and Carmela sat. The television was turned on, but the sound was on mute. Neither of the two women had spoken a word. Both lost in their own little world, yet that little world was vastly connected. Both mother and daughter were thinking about the boys, and Arizona. What they were doing? Were they safe? How much longer would this quiet house that was always filled with the sounds of laughter continue to be...quiet. Sometimes quiet is needed. It's enjoyed. It can even by envied by a person that doesn't have enough quiet in their lives.

And then again, quiet can be a dreadful noise. Filling the rooms of a home with emptiness. Sadness. And, gloom. Gloomy was what Callie felt at the moment when Tom entered the room, but that was about to change.

"I have a location. They pinged her phone. It came from a tower near the Reno-Tahoe Airport. She must be in Reno."

"RENO! What in the world is she doing in Reno? Oh my God! She is probably boarding a plane." Concern etched across tanned features as Callie leapt from her leather chair and rushed upstairs.

Knowing that he already knew the answer to the question he was about to ask, Tom asked it anyway. "Where are you going?"

Spinning around at the top of the stairs, the brunette answered. "Where the hell do you think? Reno!"

On the drive to the Reno-Tahoe Airport, Callie called Arizona's parents. It was late in Washington, but she didn't care. If Arizona was flying out, she would most likely be heading to her parent's home. And if that was the case, Callie wanted to know. She was entitled to know. Arizona had her kids. They may have been the blonde's children, but they were hers too.

Hearing her mother in law pick up the phone, Callie immediately asked, "Have you heard from Arizona?"

"I have already told you she is not here and has not called." Barbara spoke in a snappy tone. Which was most unlike the older woman. Her husband was very sick now, and had multiple strokes since having the small stroke four years prior. Daniel was practically bedridden and required much assistance. Arizona and the kids had visited often and were in Washington just before she became pregnant with Gabby.

"I am calling the police in Nevada. It has been two days and you still haven't located her. This is ridiculous Callie." Barbara's patience with Callie was about to come to an end. The brunette had insisted she would find her wife and children herself, and Barbara didn't think that was such a good idea. And, with there still being no sign of her daughter and grandchildren, Barbara was ready to involve someone else in this search.

"She called me Barbara. I have spoken to her earlier this evening. Arizona is fine and they are all safe. But she won't tell me where she is." The desperation from the brunette's voice bled through the phone.

"What?" The older woman asked.

"She left me. I am tracking her now. I think she is in Reno?" Callie answered. She didn't want to admit it to herself or even say it out loud, but it apparently was the truth. Her wife had left her.

"She left? What did you do to her to cause her to leave?" Those accusations were enough to cause Callie to lose her control. She was tired, frustrated, and Callie wasn't about to take it off of Barbara Robbins.

"I didn't do anything! I have given your daughter everything! Don't you dare insinuate that I am the cause of this!" Callie screamed into the phone. Abruptly ending the call with her mother in law, Callie begin to cry.

Tom kept quiet as he heard his friend weep. He did feel sorry for Callie. But he also felt sorry for Arizona too. "Hey, don't let her get to you. You have been good to Arizona. But, as dangerous as this business is, and I get that it is very dangerous, it wouldn't hurt for you to lighten up a little on her. She can't be kept locked away Callie. Just because you are afraid something will happen to her. She has to live a little. It's alright to protect the things you love. It is. But maybe you need to just let some things be. Just let her be Callie. And you can't keep the boys so sheltered. Let them have some friends over. Loosen up just a tad. Maybe that is the answer to solving this. She has told you numerous times and you don't listen to her."

"Tom! I do listen. And I can't believe you are taking her side! I cannot believe you would turn on me." Wearing the face of hurt and surprise, Callie looked at her lifelong friend. A friend that hadn't always agreed with Callie, yet had chosen to remain silent. Up until now that is.

"I am not turning on you. I am trying to help you see the other side of this. Her side. Because all you see is your side. And you are not wrong in your side. You're not. But there are always two sides Callie. You can't be so focused on something, then fail to see the other side that stares you in the face. I am not saying to turn Arizona loose like she is now. I realize that Arizona, Gavin and Monty are in danger on their own. I realize that very well. But, keeping them so secure, while that's a good thing, has also caused this. It has pushed her away. I know it. And whether you want to admit it or not, deep down, you know that too."

"So this is all my fault?" Callie asked Tom. She really wanted to know his true feelings. After all, he seemed right ready to share them now. Why stop? Right?

Sighing, "Yes and no," Tom answered as he continued to look ahead. He knew that Callie could explode after his revelation. But, he was too deep into this conversation to back pedal. And, it was the truth. He had given Callie advice over many years, but never once had he told her the truth like right now. It was a bit of a surprise to the brunette.

Callie didn't respond. Unbelievably, the brunette kept quiet. Tom looked from the corner of his eye to see what she was doing. Nothing, that's what Callie was doing. She sat there with her hands in her lap, as she stared out of the passenger window. She silently staring at the lights as they passed the outskirts of Reno.

As Callie sat there, she thought, how could Arizona do this to her? Had she been too hard on her wife like Tom said? Her own mother hadn't even said that to her. At a time like this, Callie wished she had Carlos to talk to. His advice was always the best. Always sound and alway accurate. Why did he have to die so soon? Why couldn't his heart beat just a few years longer? And speaking of hearts, why did her's have to ache so badly tonight?

Arriving at Reno-Tahoe International Airport around ten o'clock at night, Callie and Tom parked the car across from the terminal building and walked to the entrance.

"She has probably boarded a plane by now. You drive ridiculously slow." Callie was in the worst possible mood. How could Arizona even consider flying out of the state with their children? That was a rule breaker for Callie.

"Callie, all we can do is walk around and look. We don't know what flight they are on. They would have to fly to San Francisco or Seattle or somewhere else, and then fly out from there to Washington. I checked her debit card and nothing has been swiped. She probably used cash, but I am just not sure that she would even do this Callie." Tom wasn't entirely sure the blonde would have chosen this route.

Tom knew Arizona and this didn't feel like a decision that she would make. She was too smart for this. It would be very foolish on the blonde mother's part to leave the state with her children. No, not impossible at all. Just really foolish. This sort of behavior would not hold up well in front of a judge, if in fact it even come to that.

Tom just hoped this all turned out well. One thing he knew for sure was Callie Torres. As mad and frustrated as she was at this moment, one sight, one touch of her children's hands, and that would melt much of the tension that had enveloped the brunette mother's mind. As for how she would deal with Arizona...that might be an entirely different matter all together. But, Arizona was carrying her child. That alone, would most likely be her saving grace, Tom thought as they walked around.

"Purchase a ticket. I don't care to where. Just get us past security." Callie put her glasses on as she looked at the flight board. She never wore her glasses, except in situations that required severe straining of her eyes. She didn't think they looked good on her. It wasn't her choice of style. Arizona had told her she looked sexy in her glasses the night before she left to leave for Cuba. Arizona said that Callie needed to start wearing her reading glasses more. And tonight, she had done just that.

"Callie!"

"Jackson. Anthony. Have you seen any sign of them yet?" Callie asked. Tom had called Jackson and Anthony, two of their employees here in Reno. Jackson and Anthony, worked at one of Callie's casinos here. One of her many casinos here. In fact, in the town of Reno, as of late, there weren't too many hotels that housed casinos that the brunette didn't own.

"Nothing. We drove around the entire airport and checked the hotels parking lots nearby. No sign of the black Cadillac Escalade." Jackson answered.

"We walked inside here, but to get further you need a ticket. I can't believe Arizona would do this," Anthony chimed in. "She always seemed a little uptight and bitchy, but..."

Oh, that comment didn't set good with Callie at all. "Do not call her a bitch!" Callie stepped close to Anthony's face and snapped the young guy immediately. She may have been mad and infuriated with her wife at that moment, but no one would call Arizona that name.

"Sorry," Turning to look at Jackson, Anthony took a step back from Callie. Sensing he should just keep quiet, the tall dark headed man did just that.

Once past the security checkpoints, Callie and Tom walked most every square inch of the airport. "Did we look over there?" Callie asked.

"Already been there. Nothing. Callie we've covered every inch of this place, they are not here." Tom resigned himself to the fact that tonight, they would probably not find them.

"Why the hell then did it say that the call came from this area?" Callie snapped at Tom. She felt as if this were a wild chase that was leading to absolutely nowhere.

"Maybe she was in the area and then she left. I don't know. Let's just leave and ride around and in the morning, and start searching the hotels." Tom encouraged the brunette to give it up for the night. After all, a fresh start was better for all of them. You think better when you have a clear mind.

"No. She is around here somewhere." Meeting back up with Jackson and Anthony, Callie barked out her orders. "You," pointing at Jackson, "Take this picture of Arizona and go into every hotel in Reno and show it around. Ask if they have seen her and two small little boys. If I own the hotel, tell them I sent you and I want to know if they are or have been there. And let them know that there is a nice reward out for anybody with any helpful information."

Pointing to Anthony, "You go with him, drive around the hotel parking garages and see what you can find out. Anthony was obviously the lesser of the two men chosen for this, but Callie knew that if her name was thrown around in Reno, if her wife was here, there would likely be more answers given.

The next morning...

"When are we going to see Mama?" Monty whined. It was in the early hours of the morning and the small boy missed his mother. They alway woke up early. Monty was accustomed to rising with Callie every morning. The two had their own rituals. Callie would still rock Monty to sleep and sing to him most nights. He was her baby. He loved his blonde mother immensely, but there was a bond between Monty and Callie that, he and Arizona just couldn't quite reach. And every morning, he would climb into bed with his mothers, always snuggled between them and enjoying the much deserved attention that the little fellow demanded.

"Soon. Very soon." Arizona answered her son. "You want to come and snuggle with me? I'm not mama, but I give really good snuggles too." Of course that was all that was needed for little Monty go jump into his mommy's bed. Hearing sniffles come from her son, she pulled him in really close. Monty was holding his teddy bear that Callie had given him on her last trip out of the state. She had flown to California and brought him back a very cuddly teddy bear. It was brown in color and had a tiny set of plaid pajamas that matched Monty's.

Hearing her son cry broke Arizona's heart. "Don't cry. I love you so much. Do you know that?"

"Yes. But I want to see mama. When is she coming home? When are we leaving?" The questions that Monty asked Arizona were more than the blonde could bear to answer. Sure, she wanted space. She wanted time away from her life. But, how do you do that with children involved? What happens when there are two mothers? Two mothers that love their children equally. How does that work? How are the children to not be affected by their parents being apart, or better than that, constantly fighting?

"Do you want me to call mama and let you talk to her?" Arizona asked. She knew this could make things much worse for Monty and for Callie. Her wife would likely become enraged if she heard from her sons but was continued to be kept from seeing them. But seeing Monty upset, she forged ahead anyway. After all, it was just a phone call.

"Uh huh." Monty answered his mommy while wiping his tiny nose.

Powering up her cell, Arizona reached for a tissue to clean Monty's face up. "Okay, she should be answering any minute."

"Hello?" The gruff voice of Tom came through the line.

"I want to talk to mama." Monty answered back.

"Monty? Where is your mommy? Where is Arizona?" Tom asked. He wasn't sure why Monty was calling and the sound of his voice sounded as though the little boy was upset. And naturally Tom feared the worst.

Answering Tom's question immediately, the blonde said, "I am right here Tom. Can you please get Callie. Monty wants to talk to her."

"Sure. Are you alright? Where are you?" Tom and Callie had stayed at one of Callie's hotels in Reno for the night. They were walking to the car, when the brunette felt for her cell phone. Realizing that she must have left it in her room, Tom had went to retrieve it for her while she waited in the lobby.

"We're fine Tom. Please get Callie on the phone." Seeing Monty dance around with excitement as his mother was about to come on the line, made Arizona smile. And, it made her feel quite ashamed.

"Is mama on the phone?" Gavin asked as he walked into Arizona's room.

"Yes!" Monty shouted to his brother. Jumping up and down on the bed, Monty could hardly contain his enthusiasm. And that made Arizona feel happy. To see her sons so happy was a little bit of magic and a little bit of heartbreak. She would have to return them. She would. They couldn't stay apart from Callie many more days.

"Okay, stay on the line for a minute. Callie left her cell phone and I am walking into the lobby now." Tom replied. Hearing the excited children brought Tom a lot of hope. He thought that finally this was all about to come to an end. And, that brought the man a lot of relief, and some amount of concern.

Lobby? Oh that wasn't good, Arizona thought to herself when she heard Tom say that. That word meant that her wife was probably in a hotel somewhere. Which meant Callie and Tom was most likely hunting them. Today might be her day of reckoning, and she wasn't really quite as ready to see her wife as her sons were. Handing the phone to Monty, Arizona got up and began to get dressed. Keeping the bathroom door cracked, she could hear the heartfelt reunion.

"Monty?" Callie asked as she took the phone from Tom's hands. She was in a state of shock and disbelief. The voices she longed to hear were finally no longer a dream but a reality.

"Mama! It's me mama! It's Monty and Gavin!" Monty screamed into the phone as he sat down on the bed. They had been apart before, but never had they gone this long without talking. It was only three days, yet it felt like a lifetime. Monty was ready to have this long overdue conversation with his brunette mother. He had to tell her everything they had done and seen so far on this trip with their mommy.

Gavin sat next to Monty and spoke into the phone. "Hey mama! Are you back from your trip?" He too was excited to hear from Callie. He loved his mother very much.

"My babies. I love you both so much! So..So..Much! Blow me a kiss." Kisses flew through the lines, as mother and sons expressed their love for one another.

"When are we going to see you?" Gavin asked Callie.

Not wanting to upset her children because she wasn't even sure Arizona knew that they were calling, Callie held back. "Soon. Very soon."

"That's what mommy says too." Gavin replied to Callie.

"Gavin, how long is soon?" Monty had no sense of time, after all four is a very young age.

"Mama, how long is soon?" Gavin wasn't even sure himself. Soon can mean a lot of things. Sometimes it is impossible to define how soon is soon. Soon isn't exactly a specific time frame. It could mean today. Maybe tomorrow. Or even next week. Soon could even mean months from now. It all depends on the situation. And who was in charge of that situation at the moment was Arizona. Who by the way was still listening on the other side of the bathroom door.

Stepping out with fresh clothes on, Arizona was ready to start the new day. Either way, no matter how this day ended, she would face it and some how get through this mess that she seemed to be so deeply enthralled in. After all, she had started it. She was right the day she left...It was all on her now.

Hearing Callie's voice caused Arizona to stop and listen. "Soon is soon. That's all I can say right now. Is mommy right there? Can I talk to her please," Callie asked her sons.

"I want to talk to you mama. Guess what we did. We rode the Ferris wheel. And, me and Gavin ate some candy." Monty told his mama proudly. It was the most action they boys had in quite some time.

Adding to the information his brother had just given Callie, Gavin continued in much more detail. "It was rock candy mama. They had all different colors. I bought a whole bag full for you too. And the Ferris wheel at Scheels is fun. Mommy said we can buy the water trampoline there when she sends one of the guys back to pick it up. Can uncle Tom go by and pick it up for us?"

Realizing that Scheels was in Sparks, a few miles outside of Reno, Callie took her note pad and scribbled the words, "Drive to Sparks," and handed the paper to Tom. Understanding, Tom steered the Tahoe in that direction.

"That sounds like fun. I have been to Scheels once myself. But I have never ridden on the Ferris wheel." Callie told her sons as she and Tom headed toward Sparks. Little did they know that Arizona had left that area the evening before and was now North of Reno. She and Tom were heading east. East was the direction Sparks was, in comparison to Reno. Unfortunately, Callie was headed in the wrong direction. Or was she?

"We are going to the rodeo this morning. It starts at ten." Gavin announced much to Arizona's horror. Arizona closed her eyes as she could just imagine what her wife would say to that. And, now Callie would know exactly where they were going today. They had an hour and a half to get there, so Arizona began to pack up.

"You're all going to the Reno Rodeo?" Callie asked as she motioned of Tom to pull over. Callie realized they were headed in the wrong direction. Maybe she needed to head there and wait for her wife and sons to arrive.

"Yes!" Monty squealed. Confirmation to his mother was important. Looking to Arizona, Monty said, "But mommy said we can't ride. We are only going to watch. And, we get to see a bull." Confused by what he had heard Gavin say last night, Monty inquired, "What's a bull mama?"

Callie held the phone away from her mouth and pressed the mute button. Quickly announcing Arizona's plans, Callie told Tom, "They are going to the Reno Rodeo this morning. Turn around."

Taking her phone off of mute, Callie asked to speak to her wife once again. "Can I please talk to mommy? I really need you to hand the phone to her for a minute and then we can talk again okay Monty?" Knowing her son was unlikely to do this, Callie decided to get tough with him if she had too. She had to talk to Arizona. But Gavin was having no part of that.

"Mommy's packing." Monty told Callie as he watched Arizona walk around in the living room. Hearing his mother call for Gavin, Monty said, "Hey Gavin, pack my stuff too. Don't forget Mr. Bear." Throwing his stuffed bear at the door, Monty returned to to his mother on the phone. "What you doing mama?"

Hating to hurt her baby's feelings, Callie talked to him for a little longer. "Monty I am in the car driving. What are you doing?"

Throwing his head back on the pillow, Monty placed is left arm under his head. He had seen his mama do this a thousand times while she talked in bed on the phone, and he was just following suit. "Nothing really." Monty answered. He had nothing more to say, but he would not hand over the phone. It was a usual thing that happened when Callie was away. Bribing the little boy had always worked in the past and that was usually the only way to get him off of the phone with Callie.

"Monty. Listen to mama. What hotel are you staying at? Do you know?" Callie asked. Maybe she could get some information out of him, since little Monty apparently wasn't in the mood to pass the phone to Arizona.

"I don't know. It's not as tall as the other one Gavin said." The small child answered truthfully. Then he had a brilliant idea, as all kids do at times. "Hold on and I will ask mommy."

"NO! Don't ask mommy." Callie yelled into the phone. But, it was too late.

"Mommy, mama wants to know what our hotels name is." Waiting for a response from his blonde mother, Arizona shook her head and continued to gather their stuff at the door.

Answering Callie's question as best he could at his age, Monty said, "She didn't say mama. She's busy." Hearing his name called by Gavin, Monty said, "I gotta go. I think we are leaving. You want me to call you back?"

"I want you to hand mama the phone Monty. NOW!" Called commanded her young son. Enough with the games, Callie knew that if this call ended she night not get them back again for a while. And it would take a little time to track this call.

Understanding the tone of voice he just heard, Monty ran to Arizona and handed her the phone. "She's mad and her wants you." Of course, that helped Callie out a lot. Thanks Monty.

"Callie..." Arizona answered.

"Arizona please listen to me. Where are you?" Callie interrupted.

Resigning herself to the fact that this was it, Arizona told Callie how she wanted this all to be handled. "I promised Gavin and Monty that I would take them to Kid's Day at the Reno Rodeo. It starts at ten, and then after that is over, there is a bull riding competition and several other events. They want to go. You cannot take that from them. It will crush them Callie. So please just let us do this." Arizona knew the brunette's detest for the rodeo. She understood her wife's hatred for horse back riding and that her wife would most likely be mad. But, a promise is a promise. And she intended to do this event for her sons.

"Fine. Where are you?" Callie quipped.

"Why don't we meet you there at the arena? We will wait at the front gate. I promise. But, you have to promise me that you will let them stay and watch." Arizona didn't believe Callie had honest intentions here, but her sons were obviously missing Callie. Especially Monty. And another day of not seeing his mama would most likely mean one of the little boy's famous meltdowns. Those were not pleasant when they happened. And there was only one person that could calm them down. Her name was Callie.

Agreeing to the rodeo, Callie said, "Agreed. Now where are you?"

"At a small hotel just North of Reno. We are checking out as soon as we walk downstairs." The blonde answered.

"And you are heading directly to the arena. Correct?" The brunette confirmed with her wife. She didn't want any funny business. No tricks. Callie was ready for this too all end today.

Once again the blonde answered honestly, "Yes."

As she received that confirmation, Callie had the last words on this conversation. The last words that would replay over and over in the blonde's mind in the coming days. This was a conversation that Callie intended to have with her wife today, and it was a decision that the brunette knew in her heart was the right thing to do. "Alright I am holding you to that Arizona. I will meet you at the front entrance. You and I have something to talk about."

"At the end of the day, there are some things you just can't help but talk about. Some things we just don't want to hear, and some things we say because we can't be silent any longer. Some things are more than what you say, they're what you do. Some things you say cause there's no other choice. Some things you keep to yourself. And not too often, but every now and then, some things simply speak for themselves."