**WARNING - CONTAINS THE SUBJECT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE**
Thanks for all of your recent reviews. They truly do keep me inspired. You are all great, and I thank you all for taking the time to review. I know how busy life can be.
Sorry for the delay in updating. Thanks to anyone who is still patiently waiting, and continuing to read.
I own nothing. All characters/storylines belong to Shonda. I'm simply 'borrowing' them.
Chapter Fifteen
It had been a long day. One which Arizona would hurry up and end. Not only had she been called in for an emergency surgery, now, she was being asked to hang around a little longer should any other cases come in. It was a cold Seattle evening, and as the black ice began covering the roads, she knew it was likely to happen. Black ice. Her worst nightmare. Pulling out her cell, she sends off a quick message to Callie.
Hey, Beautiful. Staying back at the hospital a little while longer. How has your day been? - A x
Really? That sucks. I miss you, and it's cold. - Callie x
How can I stop it from being cold? - A x
Cuddle me. I've been waiting for one of your cuddles all day. - Callie x
Well then, I'll have to give you extra cuddles when I get home. I love you. - A x
I love you, too. - Callie x
Slipping her cell back into her pocket, she glanced around the Peds floor and sighed. There is nothing go here. Nothing! Feeling the boredom quickly set in, she decided to head down to the coffee cart and grab herself something that would keep her warm. Callie was at home, so coffee would have to do.
Hitting the call button for the elevator, she patiently waited and stepped inside. Finding Alex Karev stood with his back against the wall, she moved closer and smiled. "Dr. Karev."
"Hey, Robbins. You still here?"
"Yeah. Chief asked me to hang back. Black ice." The Peds surgeon shrugged. "Hate it."
"Yeah, me too. Right pain in my ass." Alex groaned. "No Callie?"
"No, she's at home."
"So, have you guys like moved in together or something?" Karev eyed the blonde.
"Yeah, we've been living together for a while now."
"A little soon don't you think?" He raised an eyebrow. "I always thought she got engaged too soon, but this is a little weird."
"Good thing it isn't any of your business, huh?" Arizona scoffed as she eyed the metal doors in front of her. She was right. It wasn't any of Alex's business, but she knew he was just trying to be a good friend. Something she suspected her girlfriend had been short of for some time.
"She over Suzanne then? I mean, tell me to mind my own business, but those two were joined at the freaking hip. Never without each other."
"Mm, yeah, she's well and truly over her. Joined at the hip, huh?" Arizona laughed. "Is that how they were?" The blonde couldn't help but feel a little angry at the ease of how Callie's friends spoke about the other woman. Like she was just another girlfriend. If only they knew the truth.
"Well, yeah. Don't want to get you all jealous, Robbins, but they looked hot together." Karev smirked. "Really hot."
Biting her tongue, Arizona stepped forward towards the door. They needed to open now. They needed to open before she said something she would regret. "Cool. Seems happy enough with me, though."
Leaving the young doctor stood in the lift, Arizona made her way out and stormed over to the coffee cart. Freaking hot together. What an ass! Ordering her usual drink of choice, she waited and thanked the barista.
It had been a long day, and right now, she didn't need the comments from people who had no idea what her girlfriend had been through. She would quite happily tell them what a bitch Suzanne was, but it wouldn't have done anything for Callie or her reputation. She knew how the gossip mill was around this place, and right now, her girlfriend could do without it. Holding her tongue was the best thing she could have done.
Slipping her key into the lock, Arizona loved the fact that she could come and go as she pleased, without having to knock for Callie to unbolt the door. Suzanne being behind bars was doing all kinds to her girlfriend's confidence, and to their relationship. Stepping inside her apartment, Arizona glanced around and found it to be empty. "Callie?"
"In here." The voice came from down the hall, the bathroom. "Taking a bath."
"Oh, okay. I'll see you when you get out. Take your time." Arizona called back as she placed her purse down and kicked off her shoes. Pulling a beer from the refrigerator, she placed her palms flat on the kitchen counter in front of her and sighed. She had wanted to come home all day. She had wanted to be with Callie on her day off. No such luck, and now, it was almost eight at night, and they would have to do it all over again tomorrow.
She hated that she couldn't spend her days and nights with her girlfriend, but both of them knew it wasn't as simple as that. They were doctors and badass ones at that, so the possibility of them being in each other's company the majority of the time was never going to happen. They hadn't spent an evening together, uninterrupted in over a week, and right now, Arizona just wanted to hold the brunette. Slumping down on the stool beside her, Arizona ran the palm of her hand across her forehead and closed her eyes as she felt a headache suddenly hit her. Like this day couldn't get any worse.
"Hey, Arizona?"
"Yeah?" The blonde furrowed her brow. "Everything okay?"
"No." Her apartment fell silent. Creeping closer to the bathroom door, she held her breath.
"Calliope, what's wrong?"
"I'm lonely in here. Care to join me?" Relieved to hear the words fall from the brunettes lips, Arizona let out the deep breath she had been holding.
"S-Sure." Nervous that Callie was just being kind, Arizona felt a wave of anxiety hit her like a train. They had never shared a bath together, and the blonde had no idea what she was so nervous about. She's been fucking you senseless for three weeks now. Get in the damn bath. Giggling to herself, she placed her beer down on a nearby side table and knocked gently. "Can I come in?"
"Please do." Callie husked.
Entering the warm, steam filled bathroom, Arizona fixed her gaze on the most beautiful body she had ever seen. She would never get tired of looking at Callie. Never. Pulling her top over her head, blonde curls fell around her naked, pale shoulders. Eying her girlfriend intently, she moved closer and slipped off her jeans, panties following. "You sure you don't mind me intruding?"
"You could never intrude, baby." Callie flashed her million dollar smile. That smile could stop people's hearts. "Besides, you look like you could use a soak in the tub."
"I definitely could." Arizona rolled her neck on her shoulders. "I need to relax."
"Well then, I'm your girl." Slipping back, Callie motioned for her girlfriend to join her in the steaming hot water. Watching as Arizona stepped into the tub, the brunette bit down on her bottom lip. Arizona's ass was enough to stop her breathing. Feeling her girlfriend settle down between her legs, the both let out a sigh of contentment.
Callie, enjoying every second of sharing her bath with Arizona, and Arizona, unsure of whether she could love the other woman any more than she did right now, they settled back, pebbled breasts pressing into a pale stressed back. "This feels so good." Arizona moaned. It wasn't sexual, although she would happily allow it to escalate.
"Yeah?" Callie smiled. "I figured you could use this. I added a little more hot water before you came in. You seem like someone who enjoys their bath a little on the scalding side."
"You did? That's sweet." The blonde sighed as she ran her palms up the wet toned thighs of her girlfriend. "And yes, I definitely like my water hot."
"Mm, that's good." The brunette moaned at her girlfriend's touch. It was soft, gentle. Something which she was quickly getting used to. "You know, I missed you a lot today."
"I missed you too, Calliope. More than you can imagine. I hate being at work when you are at home alone."
"That's cute, but I'm fine alone now. She is gone, and I'm happy here. It's nice actually." Tanned shoulders shrugged.
"What is? Being away from me?" Blue eyes glanced back and stared at the other woman.
"No. Knowing that I can relax at home without anyone bothering me, or me getting all anxious and needy."
"At home, huh?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to say that, but you know what I mean, right?" Callie lowered her voice, a little embarrassed for what she had said.
"You didn't mean it?" Arizona pouted. "That sucks."
"No, I mean I didn't mean to sound so blasé. I shouldn't have just assumed."
"Baby, you can assume all you like, that is fine by me." Pale shoulders shrugged.
"It is?" Red lips kissed the damp skin of Arizona's neck.
"Of course it is. I would love for you to call this your home." Arizona relished in her girlfriend's embrace. "I want nothing more."
"Oh. You don't?" Callie fake pouted. "That is such a shame." Tanned hands dipped and ran along the toned stomach in front of her.
"Well, I mean if you are going to touch me like that, it's totally fine." Blue eyes gazed back to meet deep brown. Deep brown that told her everything she needed to know about how their night would play out. "Totally fine."
"I'll bet it is." Callie stared lovingly at her girlfriend who was currently sat between her wet and naked body. "Any requests?"
"Just touch me, Calliope." Blue eyes closed as Callie dipped her hand between beautiful breasts. "God, your touch, I-It just does something, everything to me."
Pressing a kiss below the blondes ear, Callie moaned. "You mean everything to me, Arizona. You have no idea." Her left hand palming the blondes left breast, she brought her right up from between soft thighs to tug at a hardening nipple. "I love how your body responds to me." Whispering lightly in Arizona's ear, Callie ran her tongue along the shell and gently bit down on a fleshy lobe. "I want you, forever."
Groaning at the words falling from beautiful lips, and the touch of her girlfriend sending her mind into overdrive, Arizona arched her back. Never had she felt such pleasure from a pair of hands, and never had she dreamed that this woman would be lay in her bathtub with her. "You amaze me every day, Calliope." A pale arm flinging back, Arizona fisted a handful of dark hair and pulled the brunette closer to her. Lips pressing together, both women moaned into each other's mouths. It was unreal…The way they felt for each other after such a short amount of time. Pulling Callie as close as physically possible, Arizona sucked her bottom lip into her mouth. Pulling back when the need for air was presented to them, Callie smirked. "As much as I'd love to carry this on here, I'd much rather take you to bed, Dr. Robbins."
"Mm, Dr. Robbins? I like that." Arizona smirked as she released her grip on Callie's hair. "That is hot." Gripping the slightly warmed porcelain, the blonde removed her body from the tub. Stood naked on the bath mat, her blue eyes darkened at the sight before her. "Come on then, Dr. Torres. Let's take this to the bedroom."
"Oh, gladly." The brunette raised an eyebrow. "You, in bed with me? Oh yes."
Sitting at the nurse's station of the Peds ward, Arizona remembered the conversation had her overheard earlier and sent off a text to her girlfriend.
So, something is going down at Joe's tonight. Care to join me? - A x
Hmm, I'm not sure. I have a date with this really hot blonde and I'd hate to cancel. - Callie x
Oh, maybe next time then. - A x
She loved this. The back and forth with their messages. Th teasing. The way they implied that they were dating other people, when really, their bodies where for each other's eyes only.
Yeah, maybe. Might see you around, Dr. Robbins. - Callie x
Maybe you will. Who knows. - A x
Placing her cell back down beside her, Arizona felt a rush of love and want hit her extremities. Fingers tingling, and her face heating slightly, she knew this was all Callie Torres' fault, but he didn't care. She didn't care because it was hot, and it was amazingly easy with the brunette. No matter what Callie had been through in the past two years, she had been nothing short of amazing, and brave. Arizona had told her on multiple occasions that she didn't have to put on a brave face, but the brunette insisted that she wasn't. This was how she used to be. Long before she met Suzanne. Coming back to that original place, a place of self-worth and confidence, Callie was now thriving, and it was all down to a blue-eyed beauty in her life.
Happy with the progress that they had made over the past few months, Arizona knew it was okay to demand and tease her girlfriend. She didn't feel worried when she did so anymore. That was huge for them both. The fact that she could be a little raunchy in the bedroom meant that her girlfriend was moving on. Both mentally and physically.
Hearing her cell vibrate next to her, she glanced at the screen.
So I canceled that date. Yours seems much more exciting. A beautiful woman who I could never say no to has asked me out. How could I possibly refuse? Tell me the time and I'll be there. - Calliope x
Smiling at her cell, she felt the love hit her square in the chest.
Joe's. 7pm, sharp. The thought of having a beautiful woman on my arm is making me weak in the knees. Calliope Torres, I love you. - A x
Hmm, not as much as I love you. Don't tell the blonde that, though. I'll be in trouble. - Callie x
Don't worry, beautiful. I'll protect you. - A x
Later that evening, Callie found herself stepping inside of Joe's. The bell above the door signaling her arrival. Glancing around, she found a number of people she worked with at the hospital, and then, she settled her sights on a gorgeous blonde. Slightly unnerved by the unidentified woman standing close to her girlfriend, she threw her shoulders back and made her way over. "Hi, baby." Red lips met soft pink. "I missed you today."
"Mm, Calliope. I thought you would never show."
Blocking the view of the woman who had clearly been trying to pique her girlfriend's interest, Callie stood with her back to her and raised her eyebrow. "Were you keeping yourself busy while you waited for me?"
Furrowing her brow, Arizona glanced over her girlfriend's shoulder. "Her? You're joking, right?"
Giving a slight shrug, Callie fixed her eyes on Arizona. "Hmm, I don't know?"
"Oh please, I can do better than her. So no, I wasn't keeping myself busy." Pale shoulders shrugged. "Not at all. Not when I have a hot brunette in my bed every night."
"So, I've left a date for this. Why have you called me here?"
Unsure of Callie's mood right now, Arizona didn't want to push her right now. The games had to stop. "Oh, you know, just wanted to spend time with my girlfriend."
"You did?" Callie flashed her megawatt smile.
"Of course I did. More than anything."
"Then dance with me?" The brunette raised an eyebrow. "Please?"
Removing herself from the bar stool she had been occupying, Arizona followed her girlfriend onto the dance floor. "You know you freaked me out a little then."
Red lips pressing against the skin just below the blonde's ear, Callie groaned. "Why?" Placing her hands on pale hips, the brunette moved to the beat of the music and tightened her grip. She loved this. Being able to let herself go around her girlfriend without the punishment that came with it later in the evening.
"Did you really think something was going on with me and that woman at the bar?" Arizona pulled back and furrowed her brow.
"No. Don't be silly. I was just playing with you." Callie laughed as she tugged the blonde closer to her. Hips pressing into those in front of her, Callie felt a little guilty. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."
"It's okay." Arizona smiled. "You do know I'd never do that don't you?"
"Do what?" Callie furrowed her brow.
"Sleep with another woman." Arizona stated. "I'd never do that, baby."
"Huh? I know you wouldn't. I was just joking, seriously." Callie placed her hand's against either side of her girlfriend's face. "I trust you, Arizona."
"Okay. I just had to be sure you knew that. I know we've been joking all day, but I wasn't sure whether that was a joke or not. I wouldn't, I couldn't."
"Hey, I know you wouldn't." Callie's lips connecting with her girlfriend's, they gained a few cheers from the other customers in the bar. Smiling into their kiss, Callie moaned before pulling back. "That was nice. You know, not having to worry about who may see."
"Mm, it was. It was also very very hot." Blue eyes threw the brunette a wink.
"So, what's the plan for tonight?" Brown eyes narrowed.
"Well, I figured that since hearing your amazing voice, I'd bring you to karaoke." Arizona raised an eyebrow.
"You did?" Callie smiled. "I freaking love karaoke."
"Yeah, with a voice like that, I kind of guessed that to be your reaction."
Two hours later, and a large intake of tequila, Arizona watched her girlfriend grip the microphone in her hand. She is ridiculously hot! Throwing her a wink, Arizona glanced around their table of friends. "Have any of you heard her voice?"
"No, I can't say I have. She didn't usually join us for drinks, or karaoke." Meredith chimed in. "I mean, she did, but not after she met Suzanne."
"Yeah, she was always with us before she fell in love, then it just, well, stopped." Alex laughed. "Must have been busy at home." He threw the Peds surgeon a wink.
"Sure." Blue eyes narrowed. "Must have been."
Sipping on her wine, Arizona tried desperately not to open her mouth again. If she did, she would say something she would regret. She knew Callie was never at home enjoying herself, but her friends didn't need to know that. If the brunette wanted her friends to be in on the heartbreak and devastation she had felt during her two-year relationship with Suzanne, she would tell them herself. Sitting back, she took in the beautiful sound coming from the beautiful woman's mouth in front of her. "Awesome." She sighed to herself.
Wrapped up, so consumed by all this hurt
If you ask me, don't know where to start
Anger, love, confusion
Roads that go nowhere
I know that somewhere better
'Cause you always take me there
Came to you with a broken faith
Gave me more than a hand to hold
Caught before I hit the ground
Tell me I'm safe, you've got me now
"Shit, she's good." Karev sat, slack-jawed. "Holy crap, Robbins."
Smiling as their friends took in her girlfriends sound, Arizona gave a nod in agreement. Yes, she is awesome. She is freaking amazing, and none of you have any idea just how much I love this woman. Arizona had never felt so much love for another person. Body aching, unconditional love.
Would you take the wheel
If I lose control?
If I'm lying here
Will you take me home?
Could you take care of a broken soul?
Will you hold me now?
Oh, will you take me home?
Oh, will you take me home?
Oh, will you take me home?
Oh, will you take me home?
Oh, will you take me home?
Hold the gun to my head, count 1, 2, 3
If it helps me walk away then it's what I need
Every minute gets easier
The more you talk to me
You rationalize my darkest thoughts
Yeah, you set them free
Watching the brunette saunter back over to their table, Arizona gave her a dimpled smile and motioned for her to sit down next to her. Tugging on her hand, she laced their fingers together and hovered around her ear. "I love you, Calliope Torres."
Leaning into the kiss the blonde had just placed below her ear, Callie smiled. "I love you, too."
"You know, Alex Karev has some obsession with you and Suzanne. He always makes a comment."
"How do you mean?" Brown eyes met blue. "What has he said?"
"Oh, he just bangs on about how happy and in love you were, and it's freaking annoying." Arizona shrugged as she spoke behind her glass, and out of earshot of anyone else.
"Oh, he does?" Callie raised an eyebrow. "Hey, Karev?"
"Yeah?" Alex glanced over towards the brunette, smiling as he sipped on his beer. "That was awesome, Torres."
"Arizona says you are all for Suzanne? That right?"
"What? No, I mean, she was kinda hot, in a weird way, but I like Arizona. She's nice." He threw the blonde a wink.
"Maybe I could get you her new address." Callie shrugged. "I mean, if your into that kind of thing."
"What kind of thing?" Alex scoffed.
"The whole 'writing to chicks in prison' kind of thing." The brunette snorted. "You seem like that sort of guy."
"She's in prison?" Meredith jumped into the conversation. "Why? What did she do?"
"Which time? The time when she-" Cut off by Arizona's hand gripping her wrist, Callie turned to her girlfriend with a 'what?' kind of look.
"Callie, don't." Arizona gave her a sad smile. Lowering her tone, she moved a little closer. "You don't have to do this."
"Sure I do. I'm not comfortable with people assuming that I was happy. Especially when it is you they are saying it to."
"You want to know where Suzanne is? Why I'm not madly in love with her like you seem to think?" Callie turned her attention back to her friends sitting around their table.
"She's really been locked up?" Karev questioned and narrowed his eyes. "You just yanking my chain?"
"Nope. She's locked up." Callie gave a nod.
"Dude, why?" Alex sat in closer.
"Well, it could have been a number of things." The brunette shrugged as she took a sip of her drink. "Maybe it was when she choked me? No, that went on for quite a while." Dark curls shook. "Oh, I know. It must have been when she smashed my face against the wall. I think she kicked the shit out of me after that."
Shocked, Arizona felt tears forming in her eyes. She had never heard Callie sound so sure and so adamant to get the truth out there. Unsure of what to do, she simply linked their fingers and tightened her grip. So long as her girlfriend knew she was there for her, she would allow her to continue.
"W-What?" Meredith furrowed her brow. "She did what?"
"Yep. Not so hot now is she, Karev?" Callie scoffed.
"Fucking bitch." He shot back. "How could she do something like that. Why didn't you tell us?"
"Why? What would you have done?" Brown eyes stared intently.
"I don't know. We could have got you away from her." He shrugged, anger clearly written all over his face.
"I got out once, but I went back eventually." The brunette settled back in her seat and took in the crowd. "It took seeing someone like Arizona to finally realize that what I was in, what I was subjecting myself to…well, it wasn't worth the pain and the hurt. She got me out." Callie ran her thumb along pale knuckles. "And it was the best thing that ever could have happened to me."
"How long is she away for?" Meredith questioned.
"A year."
"And how much longer does she have left?"
"About seven months." Brown eyes glazed over at the thought of her getting out. Shit! Seven months. That doesn't sound so long away when I say it out loud. Callie suddenly felt very small. Sinking further down into her seat, she felt void. Everything around her disappeared, and suddenly, everyone sounded like they were underwater.
Noticing the panicked look in her girlfriend's eyes, Arizona placed her hand on her shoulder and gave her a sympathetic look. "She's never coming anywhere near you again, Calliope. I promise you that."
"I know." Callie smiled. "Just didn't realize how soon it is. I mean, it's not that soon, but it's nice having her locked away. I don't have to worry about her whatsoever while she is on the inside."
"And you don't have to worry about her when she's out either. Your friends will also protect you. That's the one good thing about having to watch you say those things before."
"I'm sorry I had you listen to that." The brunette gave a sad smile and a squeeze of Arizona's hand. "I didn't think. I'm sorry."
"Hey, don't ever apologize for bringing up your past. Everyone has one, sure, yours was shitty, but don't ever apologize. I Love you."
"I love you, too."
"Maybe once you've given us another song, we could head home? If you'd like to." Blue eyes focused on the woman in front.
"Yeah, that would be nice." Callie gave a nod in agreement. "I don't mind if you'd like to stay, though?"
"I'm happy to do whatever you want. As long as I'm with you, I don't really care." Arizona shrugged before pressing a kiss to Callie's lips.
"Well then, one more song, and we are heading home. I, um, I'd quite like your arms to be wrapped around me as long as possible tonight. I've missed you too much lately."
"Perfect."
Thanks for reading, guys. As always, reviews are welcome and encouraged.