Callie woke up before the alarm. She tried to go back to sleep, but only felt restless, so she decided she might as well get up. She stepped out of her room and was about to enter the bathroom, but stopped to listen for signs of Arizona being awake. Nothing. Better that way; no awkwardness to avoid, Callie thought.

She drank a cup of coffee, and ate some toast. The house was quiet as usual, but somehow it felt like an intruding silence to Callie, because she knew there was someone else there with her; someone who could break that silence.

Waking up earlier than usual, combined with the fact that her car didn't give her any trouble, meant that Callie was actually on time for work this morning. She had made up a perfect explanation for staying home yesterday: food poisoning, which she made sure to explain to everyone at lunch time, including her boss. Maybe she was overdoing it, but she wanted to make sure no one suspected anything. Then again, why would they.

Callie's day was pleasingly un-eventful. She had a lot of time to think about last night, and realized that the tension she had felt was all her own doing. She shouldn't have projected her own insecurities on Arizona. Especially since Arizona was the one who was in need of kindness and understanding; not Callie. She decided she needed to talk to Arizona and apologize when she got home. Callie asked if she could leave a bit earlier, since she wasn't feeling all that well (probably due to dehydration she said).

Before she left, she picked up some groceries and other things that she thought might be needed at home; both for Arizona, and for herself.

Arizona woke up panting from a nightmare. She remembered where she was and turned around in her bed. She couldn't go back to sleep, but it was nice not getting up right away. She couldn't hear Callie moving around, and considering the time, she had probably left for work some time ago.

Arizona eventually made her way from the bed to the bathroom. The visible bruising around her neck looked worse than it felt, but that also meant that it would soon start fading away. She uncovered the wound and was happy to see it was healing nicely, so she decided it was better to leave it like that and not put on any new plasters.

She found a small carton of yogurt that she had for breakfast. To Arizona's satisfaction, she was able to eat the yogurt with a spoon. It appeared the swelling around her throat must have gone down, resulting in her being able to move her jaw without inducing pain. She wanted to try out her voice, and even though she was a little apprehensive, she had to try it all the same. She tried saying hello. At first it only sounded like a croak, but when she had gotten used to the feeling, she managed to speak a hoarse version of a hello.

Since she felt much better today she decided it was time to get back to reality. Someone had, after all, tried to kill her.

At first she hadn't understood how they had been able to find her. She had been very careful with covering her tracks. Then she had realized that the call she had made, had been a mistake. She had thought she could trust the people she worked with, but apparently this problem went deeper than she could have ever imagined.

She had had some time to think about what to do next, and had decided her best option was to get in touch with someone low profile, and even though she was reluctant to talk to Joanne again, she felt she did not have a choice.

The advantage with Joanne was that no one at the bureau had known about their relationship. Because of the rules about dating co-workers, they had needed to keep it a secret. At the time, it had been a hassle, but in the light of recent events Arizona would gladly go through it again if it meant a chance at getting out of this mess alive.

Since Joanne was probably not under surveillance, Arizona decided to send her a message. Fortunately, they had already made up a silly system back then to be able to contact each other at work without giving away any clues about who they were talking to. It was stupid, and childish, but it served its purpose.

She went on Callie's computer and started composing an e-mail to Joanne.

"I know it's been a while, but I'm getting married and I would love it if you could come. I want to talk to you, if you wouldn't mind giving me your number again?! Love, Z."

Arizona read through it again, and pressed the send button. She was hoping the whole marriage thing would make Joanne curios enough to give Arizona her number.

Arizona shut down the computer, leaned back, and looked out the window at nothing in particular. Now to the next problem, she thought, how would she explain the name on her driver's license to Callie?

Callie put the key in the front door. As soon as she had seen her house from her car, she had started feeling nervous about initiating a talk with Arizona, even though she knew she shouldn't.

She looked into the living room expecting to see Arizona sitting there, but she was nowhere to be seen. Callie exhaled. She put down her bags on the kitchen counter, then she went to stand in the hallway to try to listen for signs of Arizona being awake.

She heard the water running: Arizona was taking a shower. Callie went back to the kitchen, and started emptying the bags.

Callie was just about to put a carton of milk in the fridge when Arizona appeared from the hallway. Arizona and Callie both froze when they saw each other. Arizona was wearing Callie's bathrobe. Strands of her short blonde, now moist, hair were half covering her eyes. Callie closed the fridge. Now or never, she thought, and started talking before Arizona had a chance to even move.

"Look, I need to apologize for last night."

Arizona seemed interested in what Callie had to say, but still didn't move.

"I was completely insensitive and selfish."

Arizona gave Callie a look of surprise.

Callie didn't seem to notice any of Arizona's reactions, she was too occupied with her own speech. It was as if she thought she would lose her thread if she looked at Arizona.

"I was just so overwhelmed with everything that had happened, and I didn't quite know how to react, you know?! So I just, sort of, closed off. And that was very selfish of me since you are the one who has really gone through an ordeal. So will you please forgive me for being... an ass?" Callie had her head bent down but frowned, and glanced her eyes at Arizona as she added the last two words.

Arizona was still donning a look of surprise. Callie turned her head towards Arizona. "What?"

"Ranting much?!" Arizona managed to say out loud in a hoarse voice.

Now it was Callie's turn to look surprised. "You can talk!?"

"Since the age of three." Arizona smiled.

Callie rolled her eyes, and sighed out a "You know what I mean."

Arizona nodded. "No need to say sorry, I am so thankful that you helped me, and that you let me stay here."

Callie smiled. That went better than expected. "I bought a bunch of stuff; come here." She went over to the counter. Arizona followed her, and when she walked up beside her, Callie could smell her own shampoo on Arizona's hair. It smelled better on Arizona than it did on her, she thought.

"Here, I bought you a toothbrush." Callie gave it to Arizona.

"Even if you're not staying for long, there is no need to neglect dental care." Callie turned her head slightly to the side. Arizona smiled. So did Callie.

"Thanks." Arizona looked down at the bathrobe she was wearing. "Do you think I could trespass further on your hospitality and borrow some more clothes? I haven't had the chance to wash mine yet."

"Sure!" And then, might I interest you in some food?"

"Absolutely!"

Callie gave some clothes to Arizona, and went back to the kitchen to start cooking. She poured herself a glass of wine, and threw together a simple pasta dish with a quick garlic and basil tomato sauce.

They sat down by the kitchen island.

"It smells great" Arizona said, and served herself some pasta, and sauce. "It tastes great too."

Callie smiled. "Thank you."

They didn't talk much as they ate, but when they were both finished, Callie decided to bring up the conversation about what had happened to Arizona again.

"Has he done this to you before?"

"Who?" Arizona didn't understand what Callie was referring to.

"Your boyfriend. I take it this wasn't the first time?!"

Arizona caught up with Callie's line of thought. "Eh, well, it's not the first time I have taken a beating that's for sure." Not a complete lie, but not entirely the truth either.

Callie looked slightly shocked. "Why didn't you leave him?!"

Arizona felt this conversation was heading in a direction she did not feel comfortable with. "I'm sorry I don't want to talk about it. It's nothing personal, OK?!"

Callie nodded "I get it."

They spent the next couple of hours in the living room talking. Actually, Callie was the one doing the talking. Arizona was fine with listening to Callie talk about her co-workers, her mother, and later, the story of how Callie had moved back here when her father had died about two years ago.

Arizona could see Callie tearing up when she talked about her father's death. She explained how she had lived at her mother's house at first, but they had fought a lot, and also Callie had wanted a place of her own – it's hard moving back home when you're used to living in your own place – so Callie's friend Mark's uncle had this house he would let Callie rent.

Arizona wanted to reach over and give Callie a hug, but she wasn't sure how Callie was going to react, so she decided against it. But there was something intriguing about Callie, although Arizona didn't quite know what it was about her that made Arizona feel that way.

Callie had stopped talking, and was looking in front of her at nothing in particular. She was lost in thought.

Arizona thought this was a good time to change the subject "Thank you again for the wonderful dinner."

Callie looked up and smiled "You're welcome."

"Could I use your computer again, I just want to check my e-mail."

"Go right ahead. And you don't have to ask me every time you want to use the computer."

Arizona smiled and went over to the computer. Callie went into the kitchen, and put the dishes in the sink. She would take care of that tomorrow.

Arizona was happy that she didn't have to explain her wallet to Callie, and her luck continued: she had received a new e-mail from no one other than Joanne. There was no message for her to read except Joanne's number. Arizona took a pen from the desk and wrote down the number on her wrist. She would excuse herself, and then use the phone in her bedroom when Callie went to the bathroom.

Arizona came back into the kitchen. Callie was drinking some juice. "Do you want some?" She offered.

"No thanks, I think I'm going to call it a night actually." She walked up to Callie and put one hand on her shoulder "Thank you again for your kindness, and the delicious food." She smiled.

Callie wasn't sure what made her do it. The proximity of Arizona's body, the smell of shampoo on her hair, or the glass of wine Callie had drunk earlier. Maybe it was the fact that she had opened up to Arizona about her mother, but she felt she could trust her, so she leaned in and gave her a hug.

The hug lasted longer than she had first intended, but Arizona didn't resist, she had put her arms around Callie as well, and it felt good. But finally Callie knew she needed to let Arizona go to bed, so she drew back and wished her a good night.

Arizona looked calmly at Callie and said: "Sleep tight."

Arizona walked away towards the bathroom. Callie leaned back against the counter, and tried to understand what had just happened. I haven't felt that way since... She shook her head, and drank the rest of her juice, then went to her room.

Arizona brushed her teeth, and went into her room. She heard Callie walking into the bathroom, so she hurried to the phone. She dialed Joanne's number.

"Yes?"

"Joanne?!"

Silence, and then "What the fuck Arizona! Married?!"

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but no." Arizona didn't feel she had time to tease Joanne since Callie would soon go into her own bedroom, and she couldn't risk her over-hearing Arizona speaking on the phone.

She asked Joanne to please forget about their history together for five minutes, and just listen. That was quite a daring thing to ask of Joanne, but Arizona couldn't waste time on yet another argument, so she barely waited for Joanne to reply.

Arizona told Joanne she was in big trouble, and that she would not ask Joanne to help her if it wasn't an emergency. Joanne did believe Arizona on that one.

She explained how she had been set up, and now someone was trying to get rid of her. For life. Arizona didn't have time to get into details, but she knew there were people on the inside that were involved in this. What she didn't know was who and how many. She needed Joanne to look into all files marked with 485. She told Joanne that it was imperative that she be careful not to tell anyone about what she was doing.

"Wait a minute. You're saying that someone is trying to kill you, and you think it's someone on the inside?! Arizona, maybe you're not getting married, but this is not funny."

Arizona sighed. "Joanne, I swear on my life I am telling the truth."

Joanne snorted. "That doesn't mean much."

Arizona rolled her eyes. "Fine, I swear on anyone else's life but mine then. You have to believe me, and I am sorry to drag you into this mess, but what the hell am I supposed to do?! I don't know who to trust."

"But you trust me?" Joanne asked in disbelief.

Arizona hesitated, but then offered a sincere "I do, Joanne."

With that, Joanne agreed to do it.

Arizona heard Callie walking out of the bathroom and into her bedroom.

"Sorry, I can't talk any longer. Thank you again, and I will call you as soon as I can. Be careful Joanne!" Arizona hung up before Joanne had a chance to reply.