Title: Back at One
Author(s): y0ungalaska & BrennaAimee
Rating: Ranging from PG to M
Disclaimer: The characters belong to Shonda Rhimes and ABC. We own nothing but our ideas.
Summary: "It's so incredible, the way things work themselves out and all emotional once you know what it's all about."
A/N: Hey! Sorry for the lack of an update, life is definitely kickin' butt right now. We're back on and working on the 'meat' of the story now! Thank you to all who have commented and stayed along for the ride, we do hope that you enjoy this chapter and know that the best is yet to come! The comments are like air to us :) Thanks again and we hope you enjoy! – y0ungalaska
A/N: Hey Ya'll sorry about the lack of update, hope it's worth the wait. Sometime life catches you off guard and we are working on another chapter. We love reviews, we love knowing what you are thinking so, if you feel generous leave a little something. ;) Enjoy. -BrennaAimee
Chapter 5:
Callie watched on in the doorway as Javier took off for the airport. Her father had called three hours prior, asking for Javier to fly down to Miami for an urgent business deal. Again, he would be gone for a week. Waving to her husband, she began to close the door until she saw the silver Lexus pull into the driveway next door. Re-opening the door, she made her way out to the front lawn just as Arizona was exiting the driver's side.
"Hey stranger!" Callie called out with a wave. Arizona smiled as she first looked to the front door and then made her way quickly over to her neighbor.
Greeting Callie with a hug, Arizona spoke, "Hey yourself. Sorry, I haven't been around much lately. Work has been crazy. Getting back into the swing of things and all…"
Callie squinted for a moment. Had Arizona just blatantly lied to her? "I know how that can be; especially just starting out in a new place and all." Callie's focus shifted to her neighbor's front door as it crept open. "Other than that, how have you been? I haven't really spoken to you since the party."
Arizona's attention was now focused on James, who stood in the doorway smiling. Turning her attention back to the Latina she smiled, "It's been good. We've been good. Just getting used to living in a new place and finding my way around this town. You know, for as small as it is, it's easy to get lost here."
The two women let out a laugh. "Very true," Callie waved to James who had made his way out to the car and began taking bags out of the trunk, "Well, I should let you get back, but we should hang sometime this week? Javi just left for another business trip and I'll be pretty much bored out of my mind when I'm not working."
"Absolutely, Callie. Just give me a call." And with that, Arizona was off. Callie stood for a moment in her place before making her way back into the house.
Work had been incredibly tense the last two days. Case after case and no one was willing to compromise. No one was ever willing to compromise. Callie sighed as she sat in her office, looking over the documents for the Johnson vs Teller case. It would be so simple if the Johnsons would just agree that it was their own fault that the jewelry was lost, but no, that couldn't be the case. The Johnsons wanted the Teller's to pay for said jewelry because it was lost on their property. Another case of drunk and 'I can't find my belongings'.
Sighing again, Callie looked up as her assistant made his way into her office. "How's the case going?" He asked as he took a seat across from her.
"Not going is more like it." She tossed the file on her desk and drug a hand across her face. "Tell me something Brad, if you were at a party, got drunk and somehow you misplaced your jewelry, no matter the cost, would you automatically tell the house owners that they had to replace it?"
He picked up a piece of candy and popped it into his mouth. "Firstly, who would get drunk and misplace their jewelry? I mean, I get it if your earring falls off or whatever, but an entire set? Sounds like a set-up to me."
Callie laughed at her assistant's view on the situation. Brad was a younger man; standing about five foot eleven, semi blonde hair, and a smile anyone would die for. He was very easy on the eyes and he was also gay. "I just…I don't understand how it could at all be the Teller's fault if it wasn't their responsibility. The Johnsons' admitted it themselves; they were three sheets to the wind. That jewelry could be anywhere."
"My pick would be somewhere in their home. I mean, come on, seriously? You go to a party, get sloshed, and then all of a sudden, wake up and realize that your jewelry is missing and immediately blame it on the other couple? Did they even thoroughly look for it? I doubt it."
After a few moment, Callie clasped her hands together a bit loud, startling her assistant. "That's it! Brad, you are a lifesaver!" Rising from her chair, she embraced him rather strongly before exiting the office.
After another hour of mediation, Callie had finally gotten the Johnsons' to back off. It had taken everything in her, but she had made it clear that if the couple wasn't going to look for the jewelry and if it wasn't something that was incredibly special, that they would most likely end up with nothing. The Johnsons' reconsidered their take on the situation just as fast as they had made the accusation and before long, the four of them had settled on the fact that it was only Mrs. Johnsons' fault and that if it needed to be replaced, she should be the one to replace it. Sometimes, Callie thought, these cases came with the simplest conclusion but people were too stubborn to notice.
The clock read 5:45 and Callie was completely exhausted of work. The only thing on her mind was going home, taking a bath, eating and watching a movie. A little wine would be involved in there as well. As she pulled her cell out of her bag, she dialed Arizona's number and waited for someone to pick up.
"Hello?" James answered.
"Hey James it's Callie. How are you?"
"Good, good. How about yourself?" He asked.
She pressed the unlock button to her all-black Challenger and got in. "I'm good. Thank you for asking. Is Arizona around, by chance?"
"Um," he paused for just a moment before continuing, "you know, I think she's in the shower at the moment. I can have her call you back if you'd like?"
"Absolutely. Thank you, James." The line disconnected and Callie slowly made her way home through the Southern California traffic. As she pulled into the driveway, she saw the Silver Lexus pulling out of the driveway next door. With a wave, Callie made her way up the walk and into the house.
Arizona watched as the black charger pulled into the driveway next to hers and her husband pulled off in her car. There was an emergency with a brothering company and he was called to help. When the job took him more than a few towns over, he took Arizona's car.
Arizona went into the kitchen and began making herself dinner. She hadn't talked to Callie in a couple of days and was wondering how she was doing, but she pushed that thought away long enough to finish making her dinner. She sat down at the island and began to eat. It was so quiet throughout the house, she quickly became lonely. She finished her plate of food and put away the left overs. She took time to hand wash the dishes, giving herself something to do. She looked around the house for something to clean but was unable to find anything considering she liked to keep the house spotless so James wouldn't have to do anything around the house. She hated her days off now because things like this happened. When she wasn't working it was because they had moved. She had plenty to do every day to get the house in order. She soon decided to curl up on the couch in the living room and flip through channels.
After flipping through the channels she finally got bored with the only things that were on. She picked up her phone off the table and dialed Callie's number. Callie picked up after the first two rings. They soon fell into a comfortable conversation discussing their week and both inquiring about the others spouse. Talking to Callie reminded herself of talking to her friends when she was young; they stayed on the phone for hours. Soon Arizona heard the car door shut outside and with promises to hang out in three days, since Javi would still be on business and James had to start a new assignment which meant he would be working late, they hung up the phone. James opened the door quietly and came in. Arizona knew he had come in because she could smell his cologne from the living room.
"Hey Baby."
"Hey," James breathed out as he put down his work bag and waltzed over to the couch only stopping to take off his boots and put them on the shoe holder in the small hallway. He stripped off his jacket and threw it over the recliner as he turned to lift the blanket Arizona was under. She leaned up on the couch and he put his leg behind her and his other bent and down on the floor. Arizona leaned back as James wrapped her in his arms and kissed her on her hair.
"How was work?" Arizona turned in his arms to lay on him and listen to his heartbeat.
"Stressful, they may call me back in tomorrow. Some of my guys are working all night trying to help."
"Do you want me to heat up some dinner?"
"No, I grabbed something on the way home. I just want to lay here with you and watch tv."
"That is definitely doable." Arizona smiled up at James.
By 11 the couple had fallen asleep on the couch and was woken up by James's phone going off in his pocket. He pulled it out making sure to keep the screen facing him. "It's work." He said as he wiggled his way off the couch, gave her a chaste kiss, and stepped into the next room to take the call. Arizona listened intently as James whispered on the phone.
"I can't tonight. . . I came for you earlier . . . I know . . . Fine, just let me say bye to Arizona." She barely overheard. James sighed and walked into the living room. "I have to go they need me back. Apparently, they don't know what they are doing."
"Oh . . . ok." Arizona watched as he passed her and went into the bedroom. He came back and had changed into clean work clothes. He grabbed his bag, slipped his shoes on, walked to Arizona gave her another kiss, and walked out the door. She didn't even have a chance to say bye or she loved him. She looked around wondering what just happened and what she just overheard. She looked at the clock and willed herself to go to sleep as she had to show four houses the next day.
The next couple of days consisted of Callie and Arizona seeing each other in passing and spending the nights talking to each other on the phone for hours at a time since James was at work. This night the plan was for Arizona to go to Callie's. She got ready and walked next door and knocked.
"Come in," she heard from the other side of the door. She opened the door and made her way in carrying a bottle of wine. She walked into the kitchen where she knew Callie would be. They greeted each other with a hug and Arizona slid onto the stool as she watched Callie make her way around the kitchen cooking, occasionally stopping to let Arizona test taste something. Callie finished cooking and they duo sat down to talk and share a meal. Callie got up to take their plates and her phone started vibrating on the table.
"Arizona, can you see what that is? I'm washing dishes." Arizona grabbed the phone, saw it was a text, and walked in to the kitchen with Callie.
"It's a text."
"Would you mind reading it to me?" Arizona opened the text and read it to Callie.
"It's from Javier. It says, hey baby I just wanted to let you know I'm thinking about you. I love you." The biggest smile appeared on Callie's face. She loved when Javi sent those texts to let her know she was on his mind as much as he was hers. It was something she loved about him.
"Can you reply I love you too?" Arizona nodded and typed the text and sent it. She felt a tinge of jealousy at how happy Javier and Callie were. She wished her relationship with James was like that. The only time James text her when he was at work was if he needed something, which was hardly ever. Javier sent a text back saying he hoped Callie had a good night and that he missed her, which made Arizona even a little more jealous, even though she thought it was completely adorable. The ladies went into the living room and got stuck on stories of their childhood and their families. They spent the next few hours laughing and genuinely enjoying each other's company. When Arizona finally looked at the clock it was around 10:30pm and Arizona knew James would be getting home soon, so she decided to say her goodbyes and leave. This week was fun, but Javi would be back tomorrow and James was off for the day so both planned to spend time with their husbands.
The couple of days were fairly stressful for Callie. She had a few cases and they took both days before anyone would compromise. Callie was in such a good mood because Javi had arrived home two days ago and she was finally off on time. Tonight was going to be her night with her husband. She got in her car after work and sped to the house. To say that she missed her husband was an understatement. The first night he came home she usually took off so they could spend the day together, but that didn't happen this time. She went to the house and started dinner. Javi came in right as she finished. They ate their meal sharing loving looks both happy to be in one another's presence. They watched a movie and fell asleep in each other's arms.
The next morning Javi woke up and began getting his things ready to get in the shower. He woke Callie up with a kiss on the forehead right before her own alarm went off as he had become accustomed to doing. She got out of bed and began putting her clothes on. Javi got in the shower and Callie went into the bathroom to brush her hair and teeth and do her makeup. Javi's phone started ringing on the counter, playing her father's ringtone.
"Cal, baby, can you get that for me?" Javi said quickly finishing up his shower so he could get the phone.
"What could they want? You just got home two days ago, what could honestly be wrong now?"