The car ride back to the apartment is filled with silence. After wheeling Callie out of the hospital, the three surgeons hadn't talked as no one really knows what to do or say. Callie simply stares out the window watching Mark slowly pull out of the hospital car park and head across the road to their apartment block. Her head moves from side to side as she watches the cars drive past. Mark glances at Arizona through the review mirror, questioning Callie's actions. Arizona shrugs her shoulders, unsure of what to make of Callie's actions 'It's raining' Callie mutters into the empty car. 'It doesn't rain in the desert; it's just hot and sandy. And I really hate sand.' And as quickly as her comments start, they die and the car falls back into that awkward silence. Arizona is silently thankful that Callie lives so close to the hospital, the uncomfortable car ride is quickly over.
Stepping into the apartment, Callie immediately heads towards the coach and gingerly sits down. She doesn't even bother saying goodbye to Mark who continues to stand in the doorway. Arizona turns to Mark to say goodbye.
'You'll be alright?' he asks, concern written all over his face.
'Yeah, it will be easy to get her to bed, all I will have to do is stand near her and she'll go' Arizona replies, pain lacing her voice. It's hard to believe that the once 'stable' couple at the hospital have become this. Mark puts a comforting hand on Arizona's shoulder.
'It can only get better; you'll get through to her. And I'm right across the hall if you need any help' He says as he turns and enters his apartment. Arizona steps into the apartment, closing the door behind her.
'So, are you hungry or anything Calliope…Callie?' She asks, hoping that she can at least get Callie to acknowledge her existence. Praying Callie looks up, she continues to stare and the blank TV screen completely ignoring Arizona's question. Arizona sits down across from of the coffee table, forcing Callie to answer her.
'I think I'll just go to bed. I'm pretty tired' Callie finally replies. 'Where will you be sleeping?' Pain radiates from Arizona's chest at Callie's insensitive comment.
'Christina's room, she and Owen are staying at my apartment for the time being' Arizona replies in a quiet voice. 'Can I check your dressing before you turn in at least?' She questions. Callie nods her head in affirmation. Moving to sit next to Callie on the coach, Callie shrinks back away from her. 'You'll need to take your shirt off or at least lift it up for this'. Callie gingerly starts to lift her shirt while attempting to hold in the moan of pain. Arizona, noticing the pained look on Callie's face takes over the shirt lifting operation. In too much pain to argue, Callie lets Arizona lift her the shirt up. Grabbing the shirt out of Callie's hand, Arizona moves it upwards, past the swell of her breasts and over her raised arms. Intentionally, Arizona drags her hands along her skin with this movement. The groan of pain Callie had been emitting has changed to a moan of pleasure which she tries to stifle by bitting her bottom lip. Arizona smirks at what she can still do with a simple touch. Changing the dressing just in case, Arizona intentionally touches Callie more than necessary.
'All done' Arizona says. 'Do you need some help getting changed?' Arizona smirks again as Callie blushes at this comment as she looks anywhere than at the blonde.
'No! No, I can handle that' she replies loudly. Stepping away from Arizona, Callie turns and heads towards her room.
'Goodnight Arizona' Callie says as she enters her bedroom, closing the door behind her. For the first time since Callie returned , Arizona truly smiles. That was the first time Callie had directly addressed Arizona. Previously, it had been talking at Arizona, telling her to go away, to leave. Glad that progress has been made, Arizona settles down on the couch, savouring the moment of Calliope being here.
In the bedroom, Callie's mind whirls as she curses Arizona and her smooth hands. Glad that she managed to stifle the moan, Callie sinks onto her bed as she prepares to turn in for the night. Except Callie couldn't shut her mind down as all she could think about was Arizona. Going without sex for going on 6 months and she suddenly found herself incredibly horny. Lying down of the bed, Callie's mind drifts away as she thinks out the previous escapades her and Arizona had got up to. Slowly drifting off, Callie hopes that her dreams are filled with these not so innocent memories.
Later that night, Arizona is startled awake. Glancing at the clock on the wall, she realises that several hours have passed since Callie turned in for the night. Instinctively as a surgeon, she knows that something isn't right. Then, Arizona hears it, whimpering coming through Callie's closed door. Heading towards her room, the whimpering turns into her muttering, 'No…go back, we have to go back. Please, go back.'
Slowly opening the door to Callie's room, Arizona can see her thrashing around in her bed. Rushing towards her, Arizona gently shake Callie's shoulder, attempting to wake her up.
'It's just a dream sweetie. Calliope, please wake up.' Having no luck, Arizona starts to shake her harder as she notice that tears are streaming down Callie's face. 'Come on babe, wake up.' Finally straddling the thrashing around body of Callie, Arizona furiously shakes Callie, mindful of her injured side. Suddenly, Callie's eyes shoot open as settle on Arizona above. Moving off Callie's body, Arizona gently stroke her face as she attempts to console the distraught woman, 'It was just a dream babe, its ok, your safe here.'
'Not a dream, a memory' Callie replies still looking at Arizona while she wipe the tears off Callie's face. Looking at Callie, Arizona can see the pain and anguish that radiates out of her as she attempts to control her emotion.
'Shhhh, it's ok' Arizona replies staying close to Callie. 'Do you want to go back to sleep, or get up for a while.'
'Sleep' as she lays back down. Realising that this conversation is over, Arizona gets up and moves to leave the room.
'Please don't leave me, lay next to me? Please' Callie asks in a small voice. The fear of being left alone overrides Callie's want to put space between the two of them. Turning to face Callie, Arizona can read the fear in her face.
'Sure, I'll stay' Arizona replies, lying next to Callie leaving a reasonable distance between the two of them. Arizona sees Callie's shoulders relax as she drifts back off to sleep. Arizona lets out a small smile as she realises that some things never change – Callie can still fall asleep at the drop of a hat.
Waking up the next morning, Arizona sees that sometime during the night the two women have both moved to the centre of the bed. They've become tangled up in each other as they slept. Callie's arm is thrown over Arizona's waist and their legs are tangled up in each other's. Arizona's head is resting in the crook of Callie's neck. Breathing in the scent that is all Calliope, Arizona slowly start to move away. She didn't want Callie to freak her out if she woke up and found them in this compromised position.
'I'm awake' Callie says, breaking the silence in the room.
'Oh, ah sorry' Not bothering to be subtle any more, Arizona moves out of Callie's grasp and looks up at her. Callie's face is strangely blank. Usually Arizona can read Callie like a book and decipher how she's feeling. But Callie continues to stare at Arizona, her hand fiddling with the bottom ofArizona's shirt.
'What's on your mind?' Arizona asks, feeling the need to break the silence.
'Do you really still mean it, after all that happened? I mean, I get it if you don't. But you're here, in this apartment. I don't understand, I'm not worth it, not now. You must know that…' Deciding to stop the drivel that is flowing from Callie's mouth, Arizona places her hand over Callie's mouth.
'You're worth it. I know this won't be easy. But you need to let me in. I love you and I meant everything that I said. I want to be with you, I want a family with you. Please, Calliope let me in. Let me be your person. But I also need to know, what changed. Last night, you couldn't get away from me fast enough and now you're questioning our relationship and letting me sleep to next to me. You can't be like this, hot and cold.'
'I felt safe, for the first time in months, I truly felt safe. So, I guess it's worth the risk, letting you back in. I love you, but can we take this slow. I'm scared Ari, I'm so scared.'
'It'll be ok, we'll get through this together. I promise.' Arizona says as she pulls Callie's face towards her own. 'I love you, with every fibre in my body, I love you.'
'I love you too'.