A/N
Just a quick disclaimer – some of the stories that Callie refers to in this chapter are inspired by real life but are all fictional. If anything does resemble a true story too closely, then it's entirely coincidental and not my intention
Also, for the purposes of this story, I'm pretending that some of the wider coverage of societal issues hasn't yet got the coverage that it has in 2020 (hopefully that makes sense when you get to the relevant bit of the chapter!)
The look on Arizona's face as she stepped out of the hospital doors was worth every cent that Callie had spent on the dress. Her jaw dropped, and she stood frozen for the best part of a minute, her eyes running up and down her girlfriend's body.
"Holy fuck" she breathed.
"I take it you approve?" the brunette smirked.
"I…god, yes…I don't even have words to describe how hot you are right now"
"I can't believe I've made the great Dr Robbins speechless"
Arizona shook her head "And I can't believe that this incredible….goddess…is actually my girlfriend"
"I'm all yours"
Callie sauntered over to the blonde, letting her lips brush against Arizona's in a ghost of a kiss. As she stepped back, she waited for the blonde to slowly blink her eyes open.
"You…god you just take my breath away" Arizona murmured.
"How about you go get changed and then I can take you away?"
"You know I'm meant to be taking you out to celebrate?" the blonde pointed out as she took the bag containing her clothes from Callie.
"How about you let me take you out" the brunette stepped forward to whisper in Arizona's ear "and then later I let you take me?"
"Calliope" the blonde took a sharp intake of breath "did I ever tell you that I love the way you think?"
"You might have once or twice" Callie laughed.
"You wanna come inside while I get changed?"
"I think that's probably a good idea" the brunette nodded down at her outfit "but I'll stay out in reception. I don't trust myself to be alone in a bathroom with you right now"
"I think that's probably a very good idea" Arizona winked, leading the way back into the hospital.
Callie took a seat in the waiting area, her bravado from outside wavering slightly as she was alone and suddenly felt very on show. She certainly got a few double takes, and even though most looks were admiring, they still made her feel uncomfortable and she desperately hoped that Arizona would reappear soon.
Thankfully her prayers were answered, and clearly the blonde was just as keen to get out of there as her, as she emerged in a little over ten minutes, looking flawless.
"Wow" a wide smile spread across the brunette's face as she stood up to greet her girlfriend "I think it's my turn to be speechless"
"I should let you pick out my outfits more often" Arizona winked.
"Let's get out of here"
The blonde smiled, linked her arm with Callie's and letting her lead her out of the hospital.
"So…where are you taking me?" she tilted her head to look at the brunette.
"Well I figured the nice outfits deserved an outing to a nice cocktail bar"
"Ooh ok, I like this plan. But please tell me it isn't far?" the blonde asked hopefully.
"Like two blocks, why?"
"Because while these shoes may be super pretty, they're also super painful"
"Shit I'm sorry" the brunette apologised "you wanna go home and change?"
"No" Arizona laughed, shaking her head "I can cope with two blocks. And then a cocktail or two should take enough of an edge off for me to make it through the night"
"Ok. But if they get too much, tell me and I'll…give you a piggyback or something"
"In this dress?" the blonde raised an eyebrow.
"Are you saying it's not gonna end up over my head tonight?"
Arizona swatted her away "That's a totally separate matter and you know it"
"So just to be clear…that isn't off the cards?"
"Nothing's off the cards when it comes to you" the blonde replied huskily.
"Damn" Callie shivered.
"You cold Calliope?"
The brunette shook her head "I can assure you, I have quite the opposite problem"
"You're hot for me, huh?"
"Like you wouldn't believe"
"Oh I believe…I've been wet since the second I saw you in that dress and every time I look at you I get even wetter"
"Fuck" Callie growled "did you have to say that as we literally got to the bar?"
"This place?" the blonde nodded up at the brightly lit doorway to the left of them.
"You know it?"
"I think I've walked past but never been in before. So I'm excited to try it with you"
The brunette nodded for Arizona to go in first, and stepped up closely behind her to whisper in her ear "There are many, many things that I want to try with you"
The blonde swallowed, closing her eyes briefly to compose herself before stepping into the bar. They were shown to a booth, and Callie immediately smiled to herself when she realised that the lighting inside was far dimmer than the brightly lit doorway.
"So here's a couple of menus for you guys" the waitress said, handing a sheet to each of them "you want me to give you a few minutes?"
"I actually already know what I'm having" Callie smiled, turning to the blonde "do you need some time to look babe?"
"You order and I'll choose quickly" Arizona returned the smile.
"Ok I'll take a classic margarita" the brunette asked the waitress.
"Sure thing, frozen or on the rocks?"
"On the rocks please"
"And salt on the rim?" the waitress asked.
"Yes please"
The waitress turned to Arizona "And for you ma'am?"
"I…" the blonde bit her lip, giving the menu another once over "I'll take a Singapore Sling"
"Ok perfect, I'll be right back over with your drinks"
"Sticking with what you know, then?" Arizona turned to the brunette as the waitress walked away.
"Absolutely" Callie grinned "and you're obviously after your nightly sugar fix"
"Well…" the blonde rested her elbows on the table, leaning in closer "I haven't been able to get my first choice of fix yet tonight so sugar will have to do for now"
"Oh is that so?" the brunette raised her eyebrows.
"Yes" Arizona let her tongue flick out over her bottom lip, watching as it drew the brunette's gaze "but before I get that…fix…you have to tell me about the pitch. I've been really patient"
"Ok" Callie laughed "I guess you have. I just…I guess I just worried that you might tell me it was shit, and it really was the only thing I had, the only thing that I felt like I could really put me in…and then I also kinda didn't want to jinx it"
"Did you really think I would say your idea was shit?" the blonde asked with a frown.
"I think you would have been honest"
"Fair" Arizona nodded "but clearly it wasn't shit, so now you can tell me"
"Ok fine. So" the brunette blushed, taking a deep breath "I'm going to be writing about toxic masculinity and the high school jock hero worship phenomenon, and its impacts on wider society"
The blonde's brows raised "You're…going to write about Eduardo?"
"In a way" Callie bit her lip "I haven't decided quite how close to home to go yet. I guess that depends on a few things. You, being one of them"
"Ok, we'll park that bit of the conversation for another day" Arizona interjected.
"Thanks" the brunette smiled "but basically I was thinking back to stories I've read over the past few years about jocks that have got away with truly terrible things, and all because they're seen as heroes. Rape, murder even, and it all gets brushed under the carpet, or they get a slap on the wrist, because they're an athlete and nobody wants to jeopardise their future. And then I thought about how that same problem seems to perpetuate throughout society. You only have to look at the things that some celebrities do, and get away with, to know that there is something fundamentally wrong. And inevitably, it's women and people from an ethnic minority background who pay the price"
"Wow" the blonde reached out to take Callie's hand "that's quite the pitch"
"There were…" the brunette inhaled, trying not to cry "so so many terrible stories that I found. And once I started reading, I couldn't stop. It made me realise, you…we…were lucky, in a way. And it makes me sick to say that, but…"
"I understand" Arizona said softly.
"The things that some of these girls went through…and it was like nobody cared. All they cared about was protecting their precious jocks. And so I have this opportunity…I want to give them a voice"
"You're incredible" the blonde moved round in the booth so that she was close enough to kiss Callie on the lips "I don't think I've ever felt this proud"
"I…" the brunette shrugged, looking down in embarrassment "it's just a pitch. I mean, I haven't even started writing yet"
"I don't care" Arizona said firmly "What I'm proud of is your heart, your motivation. The fact that you thought of this in the first place"
"Oh"
"Have you thought about where you're going to start?"
"Research. I've already reached out to some of the girls who've posted their stories online to see if they'll talk to me. Even if it's anonymously"
"That's a great idea" the blonde smiled enthusiastically.
"And I uh…" Callie continued nervously "I'm planning on trying to track down Alex"
"Karev?"
"Yeah. Is that a terrible idea?"
"No" the blonde shook her head "I actually think it's a great idea. I mean, even if he doesn't want to be part of the story…it would be nice to hear from him"
"Absolutely. I just…I guess I'm worried that he might not appreciate me dragging up the past. Like…we have no idea how all that shit really affected him"
"I think you reach out…and if he isn't interested, then you don't push it, and just walk away. At least that way you'll have tried" Arizona reasoned.
"Yeah…yeah, you're right"
"Here we go ladies"
Both women looked up as the waitress returned to their table with two glasses on a tray "One margarita on the rocks, and one Singapore Sling"
The two women thanked her as she placed the glasses down, along with the check for the two drinks. Before Arizona could protest, the brunette took out her purse and pulled out sufficient notes to cover the tab plus a tip for the waitress.
"Fairly sure I'm meant to be treating you" the blonde pointed out.
"Yeah, well you've been treating me the whole time I've been in New York, and I just got paid, so…"
"Ok fine. I guess I'll just have to treat you in other ways" Arizona winked, picking up her glass and taking a long sip of her cocktail.
"Now that I definitely won't argue with"
"But you would argue about me paying for stuff?"
"Oh absolutely" the brunette grinned, sipping on her margarita "I'm not backing down when it comes to treating my woman"
As the blonde took another sip of her drink, Callie dropped her hand into the small space between them before letting it come to rest on the blonde's knee. Keeping her eyes on Arizona's, she picked up her glass with her free hand and drank from it. As she placed the glass back down on the table, she let her fingers wander higher up the blonde's exposed thigh.
Arizona cleared her throat, taking another sip of her drink as she felt the brunette's fingers slide under the hemline of her flowing skirt. Seeing Callie smirking, she suspected that the outfit choice may have been somewhat deliberate.
"So" she smiled "I didn't think you were a fan of the colour pink?"
"I don't think it really suits my personality. You, on the other hand…" the brunette's voice trailed off as she slid her fingers higher.
"Me…"
"On you it's perfect"
"Is that so?"
"Uh huh. Perky, soft, warm…" Callie's hand moved higher still, and the blonde parted her legs just enough to let the brunette's fingers reach her inner thigh "welcoming"
"Calliope…"
"Yeah I can totally work with pink if it's on you. Or, you know, off you. Either way"
Her finger slowly traced along the edge of Arizona's underwear, and she smiled at the blonde squirming in her seat.
"I can't...you can't..."
"How was your day?" the brunette changed the subject suddenly.
"What?"
"I asked how your day was"
"Callie I can't…" the blonde took a deep breath, trying not to react as one of Callie's fingertips faintly brushed over the thin fabric of her underwear "not while you're doing that"
"Tell me about your day" the brunette repeated.
"It was uh…" Arizona gasped as the brunette increased the pressure between her legs "good. It was good"
Callie smirked, taking a long sip of her margarita "Is that all you have to say? Surely there was more to it. Any good surgeries?"
"No"
The brunette began to draw circles with her fingertip on the outside of Arizona's underwear, feeling the fabric growing damp "Come on, you can do better than that"
"Calliope" the blonde practically growled, picking up her drink and downing what was left of it "I need you to take me home. Because I am dangerously dangerously close to spreading my legs and letting you take me right here. And I'm fairly sure that would end my career"
"Fuck" Callie gasped, downing her own drink and jumping to her feet "Your place or the hotel?"
"Mine. It's closer"
"Let's go. Now"