"Hello," a small women with dark hair greets the couple.
"Hi Doctor Rockhill. How are you today?" Callie questions with a smile.
"I'm fine, how about we take a seat?"
The couple nods and sits down in the love seat.
"As I'm sure you both know, I look into nonverbal signs as well as verbal. I'd like to address something I notice right off the bat. You are holding hands, so it's clear you are connected as a couple. It is also very clear that Arizona doesn't want to be here. You are turned towards Callie, shutting me out; while Callie is looking directly at me and shutting you out. I take it Callie is the only one that wants to be here?" she says.
"I think we need help. Arizona doesn't," Callie says.
Rockhill nods.
"I'm here because Calliope thinks this can help."
"I understand Arizona. But for this to work I need you to be willing to put forth the effort; right now I don't see you doing that."
Arizona nods, "I understand. I can do better."
Arizona straightens her back, facing the woman. She smiles when Callie gives her hand a squeeze.
"So, Callie told be before that she isn't staying with you?"
"No. She thinks she's going to hurt me," Arizona says.
"Has she before?"
"No. Well not on purpose."
"Arizona," Callie mumbles.
"No Callie, it's fine. Can you tell me what you mean by that?" she questions.
"Calliope went through a lot. She sometimes has moments where she accidentally hits me. She would never hurt me on purpose and I know that."
"And you think that is normal?"
"I know it is. People who go to war always have something that sets them off. I just need to be with her to figure out exactly sets her off and avoid it."
"Arizona, as a doctor you know that is not the way to deal with these things. PTSD is a very real thing that cannot just be avoided."
Arizona sighs and leans back into the back of the love seat.
"I can see I upset you, I'll allow you to think about that while I ask Callie some questions, okay?" Rockhill looks to Arizona for permission.
"Okay."
"So Callie, do you remember hitting your girlfriend at all?"
Callie is taken aback at the bluntness of the question, but quickly recovers.
"No. I just kinda black out. Then I feel really sick. Arizona kept it from me for almost two months. I was going crazy trying to figure out who would want to hurt her. Then I put two and two together."
"You don't remember anything from those times?"
"I kinda do. It's really, uh, blacked out though. I have bits and pieces here and there. I remember the man who raped me there, yelling at me to do something. And then I see Tim, Arizona's brother, I see him too. He's like really close to me and he's grunting. But I don't know."
"You see my brother?" Arizona questions.
"Is there a reason you didn't tell Arizona this?" Rockhill questions.
"Um, she never really asked."
"True," Arizona mumbles.
"It sounds to me like you are having flashbacks to whatever happened while you were held captive. I would like for us to bring this Tim in and talk to him. Perhaps he knows some more about this."
"Oh no."
"We can't have him here."
"He doesn't live in the area, there's no way," Arizona explains.
Rockhill nods.
"Okay, well I'd like to put Callie on something to hopefully help keep the blackouts away. I'd also like for you to move back in with Arizona. You don't have to sleep in the same bed, but I feel like you need her help also. Is that okay?"
"Sounds good," Callie nods.
*A week later*
"I can't stay there anymore. I tried Rockhill," Callie says as she walks into their meeting.
"Hello Callie," she says, looking up confused.
"Look at my girlfriend. I can't stay there and know I'm doing this to her," Callie says as Arizona walks in.
Rockhill gasps at the sight of the blonde. A cut lip, a bruise above her left eyebrow and dark purple coloring around her neck.
"I'm fine. Mark said so himself!" Arizona argues.
"Listen to her! I can't do it! I'm sorry. I can sit here and talk all day about it but it doesn't change the fact that I'm beating my girlfriend half to death!" Callie says.
"Okay, I understand. Please take a seat."
They sit down on the love seat. Arizona reaches for Callie's hand but Callie pulls it away.
"I know what I'm about to suggest is going to come as a shock to you two, but I think it may be needed. I would like you two to take a break. Not living together, no talking and no sex."
"No way!" Arizona blurts.
"For how long?" Callie questions.
"I'd suggest at least a month. It will give you both time to figure out some stuff without worrying about the other."
"Okay." Callie says.
"I'd like to still meet with both of you, just separately while we are doing this."
"No! I don't want to do this," Arizona argues.
Callie sighs, turning to the blonde.
"Arizona please. I can't stand this," Callie says.
Arizona brings her hand up to Callie's cheek, gently stroking it.
"I don't want to not be with you," Arizona whispers.
Callie reaches up, gently touching the side of Arizona's face.
"I know baby," she mumbles, "but I can't live with myself knowing I did this."
She ghosts her fingertips over the bruise over Arizona's eye.
"And I did this," she mumbles, running her thumb over Arizona's lip.
Arizona opens her mouth to say something, but the look in those brown eyes stop her. She nods and leans in for a small kiss.
"I love you. That's why I'm doing this," Callie whispers.
"I love you too Calliope. If this is what you need I'll do it," Arizona sighs.
"Thank you baby."
"Okay, now let's make it real," Rockhill says with a sad smile.
"I'll talk to you in a month baby," Callie says.
"I'll still be loving you at the end of it."
"As will I."
They share another chaste kiss.
*Two weeks later*
"Have you done as I asked?" Rockhill questions the blonde.
"Yeah. I went out with my friend Teddy. We had a few drinks, and I didn't ask her how Callie was."
"You know I'm friends with Teddy too right? I don't want you to lie to me."
Arizona rolls her eyes, "I may have asked once or twice. She didn't tell me anything though."
"Well we are making progress at the very least."
*A week later*
"I think I was raped more than once."
Rockhill nods, "it is entirely possible. It must have been hard over there. Your brain does try to help you forget some of the pain. Once you do remember it all the blackouts should get better. I also think that we may need to keep you and Arizona apart a little longer than we said at first. You are both doing so well and I think if you two got together you might fall back into the blackouts. Is that something you'd be willing to do?"
"Yes. I love Arizona and I miss her so much, but I just can't control it around her," Callie admits.
"I understand completely. I'll let her know of this. I'll make sure she knows that you miss her, but this is for the best of you two as a couple."
"Thank you Rockhill," Callie smiles.
*Two weeks later*
"I can't do this any longer," Arizona cries into her phone.
"Phoenix what are you talking about? It's like three in the morning?" a very sleepy voice says from the other end.
"Tim, I need my brother here. I need you here," she sobs.
"Okay Zona, I'll be on the next flight, okay?" Tim says, sitting up with all sleep gone.
"I- I don't want to bother you."
"Arizona, if you need me I'm going to be there, okay? I'll do all I can after what happened over there. I promise you."
"O-Okay," she sobs.
"Zone, just try to go to sleep. I'll be there soon, I promise," he whispers, already on the computer to get the plane tickets.
NOTE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT STORY BELOW YOU WANT ME TO DO NEXT.
1. Callie is Queen and Arizona is their number one thief. But is that all Arizona is?
2. Voted out
3. Callie is pregnant and on a plane when it crashes. Arizona lives nearby the crash site. Will all be okay?
4. Voted out
5. Arizona sent to space to get away from Zombies. Callie made best of what she could still on Earth. What happens when Arizona comes back to Earth?