A/N: Hello everyone. I noticed many of you have had trouble reviewing for the last few chapters. The website is saying you already reviewed. That is because I deleted the previous chapter 16, 17, 18 because they were my rants about the site trying to delete my account! And many of you commented on those very chapters, so that's why. Sorry about that. But you should be okay to review this chapter. Happy reading!


Stuck With You

Chapter 19

The blonde's frantic eyes shifted towards the obliterated building which was now a burning inferno of rumble and debris. Callie had to have made it. The brunette was right behind her. "Callie!" She shouted at the top of her lungs in desperation. Arizona was barely able to hear her own voice, which sounded like a mere whisper in her mind. The ringing in her ears had ceased to stop.

Arizona climbed shakily to her feet and looked around in a panic. "Callie! Where are you?!"

Still nothing. Just the crackling fire blazing from the building and the sound of Arizona's heart pounding.

Arizona's legs felt like led and the endless ringing in her ears was making her dizzy. She felt a stinging in her right hand and realized her hand was bleeding pretty badly over the knuckles. That was the least of her worries, however. The blonde staggered a bit as she began to move closer to the burning building. Fear gripped her heart and she felt as though she could not breath. All of her thoughts shifted to nothing but the worst.

"Callie!" she shouted once again, exhausting some of the energy she had left. Still no reply.

As Arizona drew closer, she squint her eyes, trying her best to see through the cloud of thick dust and smoke. She coughed as a puff of unwanted smoky air greeted her lungs. Debris and large pieces of the building were strewn all over the property, making it difficult to walk. Arizona felt her heart violently pounding against her chest. Callie can't be dead. She just can't be. Her eyes were still frantically searching when suddenly, through the mass of thick smoke and dust, Arizona saw a figure moving in the distance.

"Callie?!" she called.

Her only reply was some shallow coughing. Arizona moved towards the figure and soon thick black hair and caramel skin slowly came into view. Callie emerged from the cloud of dust floating in the air. In her arms was a little bundle of reddish-orange fur. Arizona's heart practically burst with happiness as she saw her partner stumbling towards her.

"Callie!" Arizona happily cried as she charged towards her girlfriend.

Callie faintly heard her name being called. She too was disoriented after the blast and was knocked to the ground. Her eyes finally came into focus amidst the smoke. The sight of blonde hair grabbed her attention and she smiled lightly. Arizona had made it. Pure relief and joy filled her. "Arizona!" she shouted back.

"Calliope!"

They both quickened their step and were finally within arm's reach of each other. That was when Arizona noticed Callie had a small streak of blood coming from her hairline.

"Callie, you're bleeding..." the blonde gasped.

"I'm fine..." Callie replied with a scratchy voice.

Arizona then looked down in the Latina's arms and glanced at the kitten they had seen in the building earlier. Arizona placed a trembling hand on the Latina's arm, just to make sure Callie was really there. "What happened? You were right behind me?" Arizona shakily asked.

The brunette slightly lifted the bundle in her arms. "When we were running..." she breathed. "I saw him out of the corner of my eye… he was by the factory floor doors. I couldn't leave him." Callie then gently placed the kitten on the ground and then looked into Arizona's eyes once again.

Arizona blankly stared back at her with an unreadable expression.

"I'm glad you're okay..." Callie breathed as she took a step forward, but suddenly she was forcefully shoved back. The brunette caught her balance and looked at Arizona, confused. Angry blue eyes were staring back at her.

"You went back for a cat?!" Arizona angrily shouted. "How stupid could you be?!" She shoved the brunette again.

"Arizona..." Callie was shocked by the blonde's outburst and her eyes widened in surprise. She was shoved again. "Arizona! Stop!" She yelled, grabbing onto the blonde's wrists.

The anger in those blue eyes soon melted into tears and Arizona was upon Callie within seconds. The blonde wrapped her arms around the Latina's neck and pulled her into a tight hug. "God… you had me so scared, Calliope…" Arizona breathed desperately. She held onto Callie for dear life.

Callie returned the embrace, understanding why Arizona lashed out. Her eyes closed tightly as she held the blonde against her. "I'm okay, baby…" she whispered.

"I thought you were…" Arizona voice strained as she couldn't finish her sentence.

Callie held her closer. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so, sorry…" But Callie was apologizing for more than just saving a kitten. She was sorry for dragging Arizona into this mess in the first place. This was all her fault. They nearly died because of her recklessness.

They pulled away slightly and looked at each other. Tears were shimmering in both of their eyes. Arizona gasped as Callie leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on the blonde's lips. Arizona smiled lightly as she understood the meaning of the action. They leaned their foreheads together.

"Let's go…" Arizona whispered.

Callie nodded, but then felt something brushing against her shin. She looked down and saw the kitten rubbing it's body against her and purring. Both Callie and Arizona had to chuckle at the sight.

"I think you have a new best friend," Arizona smiled lightly.

Callie bent down and picked up the kitten, holding it in her arms. "I guess so," she smiled. "Let's get out of here."

The three of them headed back to their car and drove away. Within a half hour, they made it back into the city. The ride was silent as both women thought of the events that had happened over the past 24 hours. As Callie drove, Arizona held the kitten in her arms.

The brunette finally broke the silence. "I don't know what I'm going to do with him," Callie said, nodding towards the animal in Arizona's lap. "I'm barely home enough to take care of a pet."

Arizona thought about that for a moment and then came up with a possible solution. "Maybe my Mom could watch him when you go to work."

"Really? She wouldn't mind."

"No, she loves cats. Especially, kittens. In fact, we used to have a cat back in the day. It should be fine."

"Alright…"

They were silent once again. Both of them were still shaken by what occurred at the old factory.

"Callie, what happens now?" Arizona asked, breaking the silence.

The brunette shook her head, knowing exactly what Arizona was referring to. "I don't know..."

Soon Callie was pulling in front of her apartment building and they piled out of the car. As they were walking towards the complex someone called out to them from behind. "Excuse me?" Both sergeants turned around to see a teenage boy standing there. His hair was shabby and clothes slightly tattered. He obviously lived on the streets. The young man held a skateboard under one arm and held a cell phone in the other hand. He held it out towards the Latina. "I was told to give this to you," he said.

Callie and Arizona exchanged looks. "What?" the Latina asked.

"This guy paid me a hundred bucks to give this to you, so here," he impatiently replied.

"What guy?" Callie asked in confusion as she took the mysterious phone.

"Don't know," he shrugged nonchalantly. "I did my job." And before either woman could ask anything else, he took off on his skateboard down the street.

"What the-" As soon as Callie looked down at the phone it began to ring. The brunette's eyes shifted up to meet Arizona's. The blonde was just as perplexed as she was.

"I guess you should answer it," Arizona said. She readjusted the position of the kitten in her arms and shifted her weight.

Callie swallowed nervously and hit 'Talk' on the phone, holding it up to her ear. "Hello?"

"Sgt. Torres. We finally have a chance to speak."

Callie immediately heard the thick accent in the man's voice.

"Who the hell is this?"

"Sergeant... there's no need to use that kind of language."

"Oh, sorry… who fuck is this?"

Arizona frowned slightly, as she listened to the one sided conversation.

"Now, now. Let's not get demanding. You're not really in the position. Did you like my little show at the factory?"

Callie's heart sank and her cop instincts kicked in. "You set the bomb..."

Arizona's attention perked up as she heard Callie's words.

"That's correct," he menacingly replied. "I'm happy to see the two of you made it out safely... and with a little hairball too, I see."

Callie's eyes began to look around them, trying to catch sight of anyone suspicious. The few people around them were walking by, going about their day, completely unaware of them. Callie covered the receiver of the phone so the mystery caller would not hear. "He's watching us..." Callie whispered to Arizona.

Arizona's eyes began to search the area.

"Look all you want, you'll never find me," the man on the phone laughed.

Frustration began to churn within the Latina. "Why are you after my father!" the brunette demanded.

"Your father?" He laughed once again. "I could give a shit about your rich Daddy. I just wanted your attention."

"Well, you've got it. Why did you try to kill us back there?"

"Try? I gave you plenty of time to clear that building. If I wanted you dead, you would be."

"Alright, enough games you son of a bitch. What do you want?"

Arizona stood closer to the Latina, trying to hear the other side of the conversation.

"I want my brother."

The Latina frowned. "Your brother?"

"Yes!" he impatiently shouted. "He's behind bars because of you!" The man took a few deep heaving breaths before continuing. "That has made me very upset..." he finished in a calmer voice.

Judging by his speech patterns and short temper, Callie was clearly dealing with a lunatic. She could feel it. "Who are you?" she asked again.

"I'm sure you can figure that out, Sergeant. до свидания (Goodbye)."

The line went dead.

Something suddenly clicked in Callie's head as she began to put the pieces together. She knew this man's accent sounded familiar… Russian. Arizona watched her partner closely. Her face etched in concern. "Callie, who was that?"

"I think I have an idea."


Not feeling safe enough to go into the brunette's apartment, Callie and Arizona immediately went to the station and informed the Captain about what had happened. This situation had quickly turned into something they knew they could not be handle on their own. They needed help. Webber quickly sprang into action, researching alongside Callie and Arizona to see who could have possibly put his best officers in danger. Meanwhile, Arizona assigned Kepner the task of watching over their kitten as they worked. With Callie's hunch on the Russian accent, they eventually found a suspect.

"Dmitry Petrov… " Captain Webber spoke as he tossed a thick manila folder on the table between Callie and Arizona with a heavy thud.

"Vladamir's younger brother..." Callie commented. Both she and Arizona began to skim the contents of the file.

"He's a dangerous man," Webber continued. "More dangerous than his older brother actually. He's an explosives expert who has terrorized many overseas, demanding money. And every time, he always manages to slip through authorities' fingers."

As the Captain spoke, the door behind him opened and a man in a suit and tie, shiny shoes, blue eyes, and well-groomed hair walked in. "And that won't won't be happening again, Captain Webber," he smoothly said.

Callie and Arizona eyed the new stranger curiously.

"Dmitry Petrov is one of the most wanted men in the world and there's no way we're letting him get away this time," he continued.

"And you are?" Callie questioned.

The man gave a small smirk at the Latina's forwardness and looked to Captain Webber.

"This is what I was going to discuss next," Webber began. "This is Special Agent Derek Shepard from the F.B.I. He will be taking over this case and we will provide him with any further resources from our department that he may need."

"Captain, this is our case," the Latina argued. "We don't need the Feds busting our chops." After Callie's relationship with Agent Eric Hahn, she had not been too fond of the F.B.I. ever since.

"This is out of our hands, Sgt. Torres. And it is way beyond our jurisdiction," Webber reasoned.

"He's after me. I'd say that's pretty damn well in our jurisdiction."

"Callie…" Arizona muttered, trying to get the Latina to calm down.

"I don't think you know who you're dealing with here," Shepard cut in. "Dmitry Petrov is a terrorist, a killer… and he's been wanted by the F.B.I., C.I.A., you name it. He won't stop until he gets what he wants."

"No, shit. He almost blew up me and my partner about 24 hours ago," Callie shot back.

"That's enough, Sergeant Torres!" Webber firmly stated.

Callie was about to say more, but Arizona placed a calming hand on her forearm. She knew if the brunette continued to speak to their superior that way things would not end well. The Latina caught a glance of Arizona's eyes and sat back in her chair. She raised a hand to her head and began to rub her temple.

"Sorry, Captain…" she muttered.

Arizona looked at the two men standing in front of them. "We're both still shaken up by what happened, Captain," the blonde explained.

Webber gave a short nod. "That's understandable," he said. He turned to the other man in the room. "Please continue, Agent Shepard."

The man nodded. "Dmitry has been on the most wanted list for over eleven years now. Each year he targets two major people. People of wealth and in high society… it's always been about money for him. One of his targets six years ago, Richard Motsepe, was a wealthy man in South Africa. Dmitry demanded money and Motsepe made the mistake of trying to play him. He set a trap for Dmitry's capture…"

"What happened?" Arizona asked.

"Dmitry bombed Motsepe's personal transportation vehicle. It killed him along with his wife and two children."

Callie and Arizona's hearts weighed heavily with reality. The brunette lowered her eyes and shook her head. The Latina hated that there were people that sick and evil in this world. Arizona's stomach turned at the thought of this sort of man targeting Callie. She would not know what she would do if the brunette were ever harmed.

"We've been trying to catch him for years and then suddenly… poof… he disappeared without a trace…" Shepard continued.

"He went into hiding…" Arizona said, looking at the documents.

Shepard nodded. "For about five years."

"But now he's back," Callie commented.

"Well, with your resent, successful and publicly notable bust of his older brother, you've apparently brought him out of hiding."

"But why is he only after Callie? I was there too," Arizona pointed out.

"I've taken that into consideration," Shepard said, locking his hands behind his body as he paced in front of them. "Dmitry has never threatened his targets in pairs. It's not his style. He tends to only target one single person at a time. Killers never break their patterns." He stopped his pacing and turned to Callie. "My guess is since Sergeant Torres shot his older brother in the leg, she was the cause of the initial take down. Thus, allowing Vladimir to be shipped off to prison."

Callie sighed heavily. "Lucky me…" she muttered. "How do we go about catching this guy then?"

Derek averted his gaze and glanced at the Captain.

"We're not," Webber spoke up. "Torres you're not working this case."

"WHAT?" Callie and Arizona questioned in unison.

"This is just too risking to have you out in the field. I want you placed in protective custody as soon as possible-"

"No! No way Captain!" Callie demanded, shooting up from her chair. "This man may be after me but I'm not hiding from him."

"There is no way I'm letting what happened at that factory happen again. You two were way out of line in the first place going out there on your own. You should have come to me first," he looked between the two women. "Torres, you will be placed in a safe house. In the meantime, Agent Shepard will be putting together a task force so we can track down Dmitry."

"Bullshit…" Callie growled as she stormed past the two men and out of the room.

Arizona sighed and stood up to go after the fired up Latina.

"Sergeant Robbins…" Shepard said, before the blonde could leave the room. Arizona turned to him. "I've looked at your record and saw that you're an outstanding asset to the Seattle police force. I'd like you on my task force."

Arizona knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity she had just been given. An opportunity that would inevitably open many doors and further her career and reputation. However, she had to consider Callie and think about how she would feel about this.

"Thank you for the opportunity, sir, but if Callie can't be on the case, neither will I. She's my partner and we stick together. I'll do anything to protect her."

Derek considered the Sergeant's words and gave a nod. "I understand that. I even respect it. But you would by missing out here. Let me know if you change your mind," he stated before leaving the room.

Arizona stood there a moment, hoping she had made the right decision. She shook her head and went in search of her partner. After a fifteen minute sweep of their floor, Arizona finally stumbled upon the Latina in a stairwell. Callie silently sat at the top of the steps, leaning her head against the cool metal of the stair banister. Arizona slowly walked up the steps, approaching the Latina.

"Hey, have you seen my partner?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood. "She's beautiful… chocolate brown eyes… silky black hair… full lips… she just stormed out on her superior and an F.B.I. agent like a badass."

Callie let out an unamused chuckle between her lips as Arizona sat beside her.

"The Captain is only trying to protect you, Calliope..."

"So, you agree with him?" Callie bitterly replied, never looking at the blonde.

"If it keeps you safer? Yes…" Arizona replied without hesitation.

Callie remained silent. She knew the Captain was right. Hell, everyone was right except her. She felt as though her whole world had been turned upside down.

"What the hell is happening, Arizona? Who would have thought my dream bust of a lifetime would turn out to be my worst nightmare..."

Arizona placed a gentle hand on Callie's back and began to rub soothing circles.

"This is bad, isn't it?" Callie softly asked.

Arizona had no answers, but she knew this was indeed a bad situation they were in. She linked her arm with Callie's and interlaced their fingers. She then placed her now bandaged hand over their linked hands and leaned her head on Callie's shoulder. No matter how bad the situation got, they would be in it together.

"I'm with you..." Arizona whispered.