**WARNING - CONTAINS THE SUBJECT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE**
Thanks for the follows and reviews I have received so far.
I don't own anything. All characters/storylines belong to Shonda. I'm simply 'borrowing' them.
A/N: The guest who suggests I finish my other stories first…. I have a lot going on in my head, and if I don't put those thoughts onto the screen in front of me, I feel a little crazy. I can handle three stories, I have a little extra time on my hands right now.
Chapter Two
Pulling out her cell, Callie held her breath. It had been over a week since Arizona had invited her to Joe's and now, she was tired of turning a potential new friend down. She loved her friends, and friends was something that had always been important growing up. Coming from a family with a lot of money meant that growing up was hard. Nobody wanted to hang out with the kid who lived in a mansion and had a personal cook, and no one wanted to sit with the clever kid at the front of the class. Callie Torres wasn't embarrassed about her upbringing, no, she was happy that her childhood had been filled with happy times and a lot of love, and she was happy that she had received a good education, but not having friends growing up meant that she was making up for lost time in her older years.
She had always put her friends first, that was, until a certain redhead came into her life and turned everything upside down.
"What do you want, Callie? I'm busy!" Suzanne spat down the phone.
"I, um, I just wondered if it would be okay to meet some friends down at Joe's later?"
"Friends? They're not your friends. They're your Co workers." The redhead laughed.
"Actually they are my friends, and they have been for the five years I've worked here."
"Well then, do what you want. You know how I feel about it but you insist on disobeying me."
"I'll only be a few hours. I've got a pretty light schedule today so I will be finishing on time." Callie tried to calm the other woman.
"Do what you want!"
Hearing the line go dead, the brunette sighed. I'm tired of this. This fighting and sniping. Checking the time, she had a little over two hours left of her shift, and all being well, she would soon be out of the hospital and on her way to Joe's. She had already decided that she would join her friends earlier on in the day, and whether Suzanne liked it or not, it was happening. She would deal with the consequences later. She would deal with the attack that was inevitable, and she would tell her fiancé exactly how she was making her feel.
Stepping into the elevator, she made her way up to the Peds floor, and hoped Arizona would still be up for tonight.
Later that day, Arizona sat on one of the numerous benches that lined the entrance to Seattle Grace. She would be lying if she said she wasn't a little excited to spend time with a certain Ortho surgeon, but she also knew that nothing could happen. The other woman was engaged, and she would never do anything to break up someone's relationship. She had been cheated on in the past, and she new exactly how much it hurt.
Catching sight of dark curls, the blonde smiled as Callie made her way over to her. She looked stunning. Callie Torres was very pleasing on the eye, and Arizona had never thought anything different, but over the past week, she had sensed something wasn't right. The woman who had the most intense brown eyes looked a little void, and tonight, Arizona would try to gain a little insight into her life.
"Hi." Pink lips curled into a smile. "Shall we go?"
"Sure. I can only stay a few hours though. I, um-"
"I know. You have to get home." Blue eyes rolled playfully.
God those eyes. They're like staring into the ocean. Shaking her head, Callie fell into step with the Peds surgeon and made the short walk to Joe's bar. Making their way inside, Arizona insisted on buying the brunette a drink and headed for the bar. "Looks like the others aren't here yet."
"Yeah, should I get us a table?" Callie questioned.
"Sure. I'll just wait for our drinks and then I'll join you." Arizona stated. "Get one towards the back."
Making her way through the growing crowd, Callie flopped down in her seat and placed her purse on the empty seat next to her. Knowing that Suzanne would likely smell the perfume of any woman her fiancé had spent time with, Callie thought it best to sit across from the blonde walking towards her.
"Rum and coke." Arizona placed a drink in front of the Ortho surgeon and took a seat. "So, how long have you been at the hospital?"
"Um, it's coming up to five years." Callie sipped on her drink. "How are you finding it?"
"Oh I love it. I mean, I'm a little out of my comfort zone with not having many friends just yet, but I'm sure once I get to know people, I'll love it even more."
"Yeah, they are a great bunch. You'll make friends in no time." The brunette smiled.
"Are you going to be one of those friends?" Blue eyes narrowed. "I'd love to get to know you a little more, but you don't make it easy."
"I'm sorry, I just have a lot on right now." Tanned shoulders shrugged.
"You mean at home?"
"Um, yeah I guess so. My fiancé, Suzanne, she um, she likes me to be home of an evening because she works weekends so we don't see each other much."
"That's nice. Have you been together long?" Arizona questioned as she sipped on her glass of white.
"Two years, engaged for one." Callie stated.
"So have you planned the big day yet?"
"No." Dark curls shook. "She's crazy busy with work right now so she doesn't have much time."
"Oh, what does she do?"
"She's a journalist." The brunette began playing with the edge of the beer mat. People don't want to hear your problems, so don't open your mouth. Her fiancés words played over in her mind. They're not your friends.
"Must be hard with all the working she must do. You know, to find some time to be together."
"Yeah it's hard." Callie lied. She loved it when her fiancé was away. It meant she had a little more freedom. "Sometimes nice to have a little time to myself though."
Arizona sensed there was more to this story, and as she was about to delve deeper into the life of Callie Torres, she was cut off.
"Not many friends here, Callie."
Hearing the voice behind her, the brunette froze. The action immediately noticed by the Peds surgeon eying her intently. "Hi, Suzanne. We are just waiting for the other guys." Callie rushed her words out.
Removing herself from her seat, Arizona extended her hand. "Arizona Robbins. Nice to meet you."
Deciding against shaking the blondes hand, the redhead eyed the gorgeous woman standing in front of her. "Yeah. Great."
Switching her gaze back to her fiancé, Suzanne cleared her throat. "Are you finished here?"
"Well, actually we've only ju-" Cut off by the redheads words, Callie sighed.
"Good, because I'm taking you to dinner. Lovely to meet you, um, Arizona, but we have to go now." Placing her hand on the brunettes shoulder, Suzanne waited for her to stand. Wrapping an arm around her waist, she dug her nails into Callie's side. "Come on, honey. Let's go."
Shuddering at the touch, Callie let a false smile was over her face. "See you at work, Arizona."
Arizona watched as her colleague and her fiancé left the table. Furrowing her brow, something felt off, and something told her that Callie's fiancé wasn't quite the love of her life like she first thought. Sitting back in her seat, she felt a worry settle in the pit of her stomach. I don't like her. Sipping on her wine, she made a mental note to speak to the brunette the following day. Sure she thought she was hot, but she got the impression that Suzanne knew that. Was Callie known to play around? Did Suzanne keep her close by because of it? The blonde didn't know what to make of their relationship, but she knew one thing for sure, she didn't like the redhead who had just eyed her up like she was some sort of home wrecker.
The following morning, Callie sat quietly in the living room, knees pulled up to her chest. Playing with the corner of the blanket she had covering her body, she tried hard to stop her tears from falling. Thankfully, Suzanne wasn't around, and she wouldn't be for the next five days. Having been called in on an assignment across the country, she had made sure that Callie was unable to leave their apartment. Closing her eyes, she prayed that something would prevent the other woman from returning early.
"So you're taking me to dinner?" Callie furrowed her brow. "How come?"
"You really think I'd spend my hard earned money on you? Especially when you've been sat like some fucking slut with that blonde?" Suzanne spat.
"She's just a new surgeon. How many times do I have to tell you that I don't want anyone else?" Callie gave her fiancé a sad smile.
"Callie. I'm not stupid."
"Do you have to be so horrible to me? I've done nothing wrong, Suzanne."
"Nothing wrong? I seen how she was looking at you." The redhead smirked. "Did you think you could fuck her in the toilets and get home without me knowing?"
"What? No!" Callie threw her hands up. "Look, I'm not doing this anymore. You promised me last time that this wouldn't happen again. You promised me that you wouldn't hurt me anymore."
Stopping dead in her tracks, Suzanne faced her fiancé. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah, I've heard that before. I'll just go to a hotel and you can stay at the apartment. I don't want to do this anymore. I can't do this anymore."
"Please, Callie. Come home with me." Suzanne begged. "We are good together. Come on, I have to leave tomorrow and tonight, I want to make love to you."
Eying the other woman intently, Callie tried to read her face. It had been over six months since her fiancé had so much as even kissed her, and right now, a little love and attention may be exactly what they needed. "You do? Why?"
"What do you mean, why? Because I love you, Callie. I love you more than anything."
"You don't hurt someone you love, Suzanne. You don't trip them up and choke them. You hold them, you cuddle them, you laugh with them. You haven't done anything to show me you love me in a long time."
"Please?" Green eyes softened. "Let me make it up to you."
Opening her eyes, Callie felt a cold chill run through her body. She had to leave. She couldn't stay with this woman any longer. Not only had she beaten her last night, she had now locked her in her own apartment and called the hospital and told them she was sick in bed. This is going to be so much worse if I don't leave now.
Most of her friends at the hospital were male and right now, she didn't need some macho guy throwing his weight around. Not after the punches she had felt connect with her body last night. Wincing as she leant forward, her ribs ached. Stretching for her cell on the coffee table, Callie groaned and held onto her stomach. "Fuck!"
This was it. She couldn't be in this apartment any longer. She couldn't allow her so called fiancé to hit her whenever she felt like it, and she couldn't deal with the pain coursing through her body anymore. Hitting her contact list, she brought up the number for the nurses station of the Peds ward and hit call.
Hearing her call connect, she waited for the woman on the end of the line to state her name and the department before clearing her throat and speaking up. "Hi, Dr Torres here. Do you happen to have Dr Robbins cell number?"
"Yes, one moment, Callie."
Hearing the clicking and the tapping of the nurses keyboard, she closed her eyes and thought about her next move. "Here we go." The nurse began reeling off the Peds surgeons cell number and waited for Callie to repeat it back to her.
"Thank you." The brunette put on her best voice before hanging up. Tapping the number into her cell from the piece of paper in front of her, Callie sent off a message.
Hi, it's Callie. I was wondering if you are free at all this afternoon?
Hey, I didn't expect to hear from you today, or at all for that matter. Yes, I've just came out of surgery. Nothing else planned for the afternoon. - A
Could you come by my apartment? I need your help with something.
Sure. Send me the address. I can be there soon. - A
Glancing down at the reply, Callie thought about it for a moment. Do I really want her here? Suzanne says that people don't care, so why would Arizona? Shaking her head, she sent the blonde her address and locked her cell. She had instantly taken a liking to Arizona Robbins. Not in a sexual kind of way, but more of a friendly capacity. Callie would never cheat on her fiancé, and although she did find the blonde extremely attractive, the way she had been feeling for the past few weeks kind of suppressed her urge to undress her with her eyes.
Arizona was the kind of person the brunette would have as a friend. Something about her left Callie feeling safe and out of harm. Something about her soothed any problems she had, and something about her screamed 'get to know this woman'. Removing herself from the couch, she slowly made her way into the bedroom and began placing some clothes into a bag. Catching a glimpse at herself in the mirror, the tears fell hard and fast.
The pain she felt as her body shook caused her to drop to her knees and hold herself. Never had she felt so worthless and to blame in all of her life. If I'd just came straight home from work. Her thoughts were in overdrive, and right now, she couldn't bare to even look at herself. She was embarrassed for the state her body was in, and was embarrassed for ever letting another person do this to her. Fucking worthless.
Hearing a light knocking on the door, Callie froze. Oh God, This is a bad idea. Wrapping a blanket around her half naked body, she made her way out into the living room. "W-Who is it?"
"It's Arizona." The perky blonde called out from behind the door. "You, um, you texted me."
"Yeah, um, I think I'm okay now. You should go." Callie tried to keep her voice calm. If Arizona didn't hear the panic in her voice, surely she would leave her be.
"Callie, you called me here for a reason. Please let me in." Arizona sighed. "I've left work to help you out, the least you could do is let me in."
"Please. Just go, I'm fine." The brunette sighed. She knew that Arizona probably didn't care, so why bother.
"Okay. I don't know why you called me here, but if you need anything, anything at all, just say."
"Really? You aren't just saying this because you feel sorry for me?"
"Why would I feel sorry for you?" Arizona questioned. "Come on, open the door."
"I can't."
"What do you mean you can't? Sure you can, just unlock it and let me in."
"I don't have the key. S-She, um, she locked me in." Callie scoffed.
"She what? Why would she do that?" The blonde placed her hand against the Ortho surgeons door.
"Because it's just something that she does."
"Should I call someone to come by with a key? Building manager perhaps?"
"NO!" The brunette shot back. "I don't want anyone else here."
"Okay, but Callie, if you want my help, I need to get in, or you need to get out. So?"
"Kick it in." Callie sighed. "Please, kick it in before I change my mind."
"Seriously? You want me to kick down your door?" The blonde laughed.
"Yeah. Hurry. She's away but she may come back." Callie wondered if her fiancé had even left Seattle. It wouldn't be the first time she had lied and tried to catch the brunette out.
"Okay, stand back. I don't want to hurt you."
Hearing those words fall from the blondes lips, Callie's heart races. She doesn't want to hurt me. That's sweet. Smiling to herself, she knew she had made the right decision in asking the Peds surgeon for her help.
Stepping back, Arizona placed one hand flat on the wall and turned her body to the side. Bringing her leg up, she connected her foot with the door as best as she could. Hearing the wood crack beneath her foot, she pulled her leg back and repeated the action again. Standing back against the wall, the blonde ran at the door and shoulder barged her way in. "Holy Sh-" She cut her own words off as she brought her hand up to cover her mouth.
"You said you wanted to be my friend?" Callie gave the blonde a sad smile. Wincing at the pain from her split lip, she held her hand to it. "Well, I kind of need one right now."
"Oh, Callie. D-Did she do this to you?" Tears fell from blue eyes.
"Yes, but it's my own fault." Callie shrugged. "Please, don't feel sorry for me. I done this to myself."
"No." Blonde curls shook. "Please don't say that. Don't ever blame yourself for this."
Moving closer to the hurt woman in front of her, she brought her hand up to her cheek and gently ran her thumb beneath a black eye. Feeling Callie flinch at her touch, she smiled. "It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm going to help you."
"C-Could you just help me get to the hotel please? My dad has a suite there so I'll stay there."
"Sure. You know you really shouldn't be alone right now. Y-You said she could come back?" The blonde furrowed her brow.
"Yeah. She came to the hotel last time I left. I just won't open the door."
"Callie, you cannot live your life in fear of her coming back. You can't lock yourself away." Arizona sighed. How could someone hurt another person like this? The second Arizona had laid eyes on the brunette she was instantly attracted to her, so now, to be stood here looking at her black and blue body, her heart was breaking. "Come on, let's get some things together. You can stay with me."
"Arizona, no." The brunette shook her head. "You have your own place that you are still getting used to. You don't need me there getting in the way. Besides, you must have someone special in your life. A boyfriend? Fiancé? Whoever they are, they don't need me there either."
"A boyfriend? Please. Wrong anatomy, Callie, and I could use the company." Pale shoulders shrugged. Watching as the other woman's eyes widened, Arizona panicked. "Wait, that's not why I'm asking you back to my place. I'd never do that. Yes, you are very beautiful, but you are taken and I would never do something like that."
Smiling, she giggled at a very flustered Arizona. "That's not what I was thinking anyway. I'm just pissed that I didn't figure out you were gay. I've been out of the game too long." Red lips curled into a smile. "Must try harder, huh?"
Smiling back, Arizona felt her stomach somersault. "Come on, let's get you out of here."
Later that day, Callie found herself sitting in her colleagues apartment. It was small, but it was cosy, and right now, it was all she needed to feel safe for the time being. Arizona had been more than welcoming, and at the moment, she felt a little out of place. "A-Are you sure it's okay for me to be here?"
Blue eyes looked down into brown as Arizona continued to clean the cut to the side of Callie's forehead. "Of course it's okay. You cannot stay in that apartment."
"I know but I don't want to get in your way." The brunette shrugged.
"You're not. There is plenty of room here for you." The blonde smiled. "You can stay here as long as you like."
Sighing, Callie dropped her gaze. Those eyes could stare into her soul, and as much as she loved that, she had to keep herself in the right frame of mind. Arizona was beautiful, and she noticed it the day she spent five hours in the ER with her. Unable to act on the feeling of the other woman trying to get to know her, she had blocked all and any thoughts of Arizona from her mind. Now, she was sat in her apartment while the blonde cleaned up her cuts caused by the supposed love of her life.
"I don't want you to get caught up in this." Callie's words came out of her mouth unexpectedly. "I mean, she can be mean, and I don't want her to hurt you too."
"I'm a big girl, Callie. I can handle myself." The blonde threw the other woman a wink. "Trust me."
"You don't understand. She gets what she wants, and she doesn't stop until she does." Callie's voice broke.
"Hey, please don't be upset. I told you I wanted to be your friend, and that is what is going to happen. I've called the hospital, and I've taken a few days off. Once you are feeling better, you should call the police." Arizona stated as she finished cleaning up the head wound. "There. Beautiful."
A blush appearing on bruised cheeks, Callie dropped her gaze and laughed. "Yeah right."
Arizona couldn't believe how down this woman was feeling. How anyone could treat the person they loved like this, she would never know. She had been raised to love hard, and never would she raise a hand to anyone she cared about. Bringing her hands under Callie's chin, she cupped her jaw. "You are beautiful, Callie. I've thought it since the day I met you. Had I known what you were going through sooner, I'd have got you out of there then, but I didn't, so now I'm going to help."
Staring into the most intense blue eyes she had ever seen, Callie felt tears forming. She had spent the past two years with a woman who only wanted to put her down and beat her, when there were people like Arizona out there. She could get lost in those eyes forever. She knew they would never be together, and she knew that Arizona was just being polite, but if they could have a friendship, she knew it would be awesome. "That's very kind, Arizona, but you have your own life to get on with."
Stepping away from the brunette, Arizona decided she wouldn't push their friendship. Callie would ask for her help if and when she needed it, and right now, that was good enough for her. "Okay. I just have one question and then I will leave you be for the night."
"Okay."
"After what you've been through, why did you let me touch you?" Blue eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?" Callie furrowed her brow.
"Why did you let me clean you up, and help you dress earlier? I've worked with victims of domestic violence before, and they would flinch if I even got too close."
"There's something about you." The brunette shrugged.
"How do you mean?"
"Something about you just calms me. I guess I trust you." Callie smiled.
"Thank you." Pink lips curled slightly as she moved towards the kitchen.
"For what?"
Sighing, Arizona turned to meet brown eyes. "Trusting me."
Thanks for reading, guys. This chapter was hard to write, but for now, Callie is safe. I look forward to reading your reviews and opinions.