Chapter 6: Hearts Wishes
Callie's POV Present Day September 21 8:30am
Callie was washing the truck with Mark, enjoying the sunshine, and warmth of the Indian summer. The last few weeks have been a total hell since having the huge blowout with Arizona. Today was the first day she actually smiled a bit, knowing tomorrow was her birthday and all the guys were taking her out after their shift was over. She was hoping that Arizona would show up at Joe's with the rest of the group, and that they could work through this rift.
"So Torres, how's it feel to be turning 33? Any wishes for the birthday girl?" Sloan asked as he rinsed the truck off.
"It feels the same as 32, and yes I only have one wish. Hopefully it will come true tonight."
"Blondie coming tonight? That's good cause I don't think I can handle another night of drunken, sobbing, sniffling Torres!" Mark laughed as he squirted Callie with the hose.
Callie threw a sponge at him, "Listen, I'm not that bad, and it's not like I haven't heard your sorrows over Lexie a few months back!"
Mark and Lexie had gone through a rough patch and Callie had helped Mark see that the young Medic was just what he needed. He was in the same place Callie is now, and she wasn't going to let him forget it.
"Yeah, that was a bad period. I'm so glad Lexie took me back; I was going crazy without her. You know Torres, Blondie has a valid reason to be scared. We don't have the safest job, and you especially of late have seen your share of close calls." Mark over the past year became one of Callie's best friends. During work they started to partner up with each other and started going to training to together as well as just hanging out. It was nice to have someone who understood the stress that sometimes happens after calls, and could talk about it with. Even though he was the "man-whore" of the company, Mark had a soft side and Callie really respected him.
Mark had a point; the last few months have been overloaded with tragedy, not only for the department, but her personally. Callie knew that Arizona feared the proverbial "knock at the door", but she couldn't give up her dream, her career because of the danger. It was the danger that made it so addicting. She hoped to quell all the blonde's fears tonight. She just received the letter this morning and she hadn't yet told anyone the news. As they finished drying the truck, the alarms sounded.
"Rescue 73, in the Hillcrest Heights section. 1101 Cooper St. a dwelling, reported people trapped."
Mark and Callie jumped into their gear, and took their place on the truck. After arriving they were informed that an elderly couple were possibly still inside. Callie followed Mark inside but after reaching the second floor Mark found one of the victims and started to head out with him.
"Torres, I'm taking this guy out. Finish sweeping this floor and report back to Command." Mark said as he carried the man down the stairs.
Callie finished searching and began to head back down the stairs, when she heard a faint "Help" coming from above her. Looking at her gauge and seeing she had about 7 minutes of air left, she decided to do a last sweep of the 2nd floor. She turned to climb back up the stairs when everything shook violently. As she fell backwards, the only thought she had was of Arizona.
Arizona's POV Present Day September 21 9:15 a.m.
Arizona was working a double shift at the hospital. She had been pulling extra shifts since her fight with Calliope. Sleeping at home was proving to be impossible without the Latina, so spending her time at the hospital, helping the kids was all she could do. Today was proving to be extremely difficult for her since Calliope's birthday was tomorrow. Teddy stopped her in the hallway to see if she was going to Joe's tonight for the birthday celebration. She pulled Arizona into an on-call room.
"Robbins, you have to go. If you don't you'll just be here miserable, and that's not good for you or your patients."
Teddy was Arizona's best friend. Teddy was the attending for Cardio, and lately her shoulder to cry on. Arizona spent many a nights on Teddy's couch recently eating doughnuts and spilling her heart out. She missed Calliope so much. She knew that she had no right to ask her to change her career. To transfer to a less risky profession, but she just couldn't take another flag draped coffin. After Danny, her whole world changed. Watching them bring him home like that was horrific and she swore she'd never do it again. The possibility of Calliope being in one of those coffins frightened her to death. She told this to her and pleaded to make a choice, her or her job. Callie had left the apartment stating she wouldn't choose between the 2 loves of her life. Now after these past few weeks of not being able to sleep, eat, or even feel remotely human, her resolve was fading. She needed her Calliope. Her touch, her smell of Lavender and Vanilla, her body, oh God did she miss her body. Those sexy curves and ample breasts. Without her she really wasn't living, kind of just existing. Arizona must have been grinning, because Teddy leaned over and smacked her on the head.
"Hey, what was that for?" Arizona cried as she rubbed her head.
"You were thinking naughty thoughts, instead of performing naughty thoughts. Stop being so damned stubborn and talk to her. It's a risk everyday you walk out your door. People die Arizona, but don't be a person who died because she let the love of her life walk out. If you ask me, you two being away from each other is more dangerous than any fire could be." Teddy stood up and hugged her friend, as she walked out of the room.
Arizona just sat for a few moments, thinking of how this raven haired woman captured her heart, owning her soul. Releasing a deep sigh and closing her eyes she let the memory of their first night together overtake her.
1 Year Ago: Arizona's POV
Arizona was finishing her 3rd surgery of the day, when she looked up at the clock and saw it was 6pm. She began to smile and think about Calliope. For the past week they have spent a lot of time together having lunch and performing rounds. She was amazed at how great Calliope was with the kids. How when she told them of her adventures in the department she made all the sirens and noises. The children were fascinated, as was she. Arizona found herself being enchanted by the woman. All week she was learning more and more about the Latina.
At first, she looked at Callie's personnel file sent over from the Fire Department. Calliope Iphigenia Torres, born September 22, 1978 to Carlos and Maria Torres. One sister Aria. Born in Miami. University of Maryland graduate of Fire Science, stand out softball player. Joined department June 21, 2005 as Paramedic. Medal of Valor winner, Humanitarian Award Winner. Several CPR saves as well as multiple stork awards.
Arizona loved Callie's given name, finding that it suited her lovely face. The first time she used it was during their morning rounds. Callie was giving her best impression of a fire engine, when she was becoming a little too loud.
"Calliope, you need to tone it down a bit." Arizona stated as a matter of fact.
"What did you just call me? How did you know my real name? Only my parents call me that!" Callie exclaimed,
"Did you really think that I would have let you up here without doing some research? The department sent your file over."
"Great, well I guess it's ok that you call me that, it does sound kind of nice when you say it."
They both just smiled at each other. From that point on she was her Calliope. Most of the week had gone by so fast that before Arizona knew it was Friday. Calliope asked if she wanted to come out with some of the guys from her company and ER staff. They were meeting at Joe's for drinks later tonight. Arizona jumped at the chance to see Calliope in a social setting. They have flirted back and forth all week and incidental touches and longing glances were taking their toll on Arizona's body. She walked around in a constant state of arousal, which makes pretty much everything you do difficult, especially surgery. Calliope pushed every nerve to the breaking point and all they had done was flirt.
"I'll meet you here about 7. We can walk over together if that's ok?" Callie asked
"Sure, great, I'll see you at 7." Arizona answered back, and the rest of the day she found her thoughts lingering on the steamy raven haired firefighter. Even Bailey noticed the change in Arizona.
"Dr. Robbins, if I didn't know any better I would think you were on drugs." Bailey commented as the scrubbed out of their last surgery. Miranda Bailey was a "call them as I see them" woman. She enjoyed seeing the change in Arizona, but still didn't know what or who was causing the change.
"I'm excited for going out later on. It's been ages since I enjoyed a night out." Arizona informed
"Mmmmhmm. Is that all? Well it's great you're finally enjoying yourself. All work and no play," Bailey began before Arizona finished her sentence.
"Makes me a dull girl, yeah I haven't been interested in socializing since arriving here, but Calliope asked me and it sounded kind of fun." Arizona smiled as she said Calliope's name and that's all the clue Bailey needed.
"So, Torres? You got a thing for Torres?" Bailey said shaking her head and walking out of the room. Arizona just felt a wave of fresh desire ripple through her at the very mention of Calliope.
Arizona hurried home to take a cold shower and change for the evening. She spent a half hour trying to pick out an outfit that accented her features while not showing too much. She ended up choosing a blue long sleeve v-neck shirt that highlighted her eyes, and revealing some cleavage, with black skinny jeans. She rounded the outfit with knee high black boots. Leaving her hair down and letting the curls naturally dry, the check herself in the mirror one more time and left to meet Calliope. Walking into the lobby she searched for the Latina, only to have her breath catch when she set her eyes on her.
Arizona stopped in her tracks to take in the sight before her. Calliope was wearing a low cut red sweater, showing those luscious breasts. She wore blue jeans that showed her curvaceous ass, with a black leather jacket. She had applied some eye make-up, and lipstick, that brought out those sweet lips that Arizona long to feel all over her body. Shaking her head Arizona pulled herself together and walked over to where Callie was standing.
"Hey, you look beautiful Calliope." Arizona said as she stared into those deep brown eyes.
"Thanks, you as well. Are you ready to go, the guys are waiting for us already." Callie answered and began to walk towards the door. Without hesitation Callie opened the door for Arizona, and reached out for her hand, which made Arizona feel even more butterflies. Hopefully before the end of the night she would know every inch of the gorgeous Latina's body otherwise she would be in serious need for a cold shower.