Thanks for all of your recent reviews. Means a lot. So, there were a few ways I could have taken this chapter. I'm sure some will be happy and some not, but that's always the way, right? Can't please everyone.
Enjoy!
I own nothing. All characters/storylines belong to Shonda. I'm simply 'borrowing' them.
I Will Be
Stepping out into the hall, Callie noticed an eerie silence fall over her girlfriend's apartment. She knew she had heard Arizona moving about, but she was nowhere in sight. Moving down towards the bedroom door, she found it to be cracked open, with no blonde inside. "Arizona?" Desperate to hear her girlfriend's voice she held her breath. Nothing. Shit! She's gone. Checking the closet, all of the blonde's clothes were still there.
"Where the hell is she?" Mumbling to herself, she returned to the living room and picked up her cell. Calling her girlfriend's number, she silently prayed that the blonde would answer.
"Hello, Calliope."
"Suzanne?" Callie sighed. "She's with you?"
"Of course she is. I'm always in demand, baby." Suzanne laughed, causing Callie's body to shudder. "Surprised it wasn't you when I opened my door. Thought you had decided to give us another go."
"Where is Arizona?" Callie spat.
"She's here, you know, getting down and dirty with me."
Knowing exactly what that phrase meant, Callie hit the end call button and ran down the hallway. Throwing on some jeans and a shirt, she pulled on some shoes and made her way to the apartment door. Shit! I've had too much to drink. Knowing she couldn't drive, she removed her car keys from her pocket and slammed the door shut.
Running down the stairs and out into the street, she stopped to give herself a moment to think about the best route. Knowing that the back alleyways would get her to her old apartment quicker, Callie took off sprinting. Down and dirty meant trouble. It always had. Suzanne would use that term in front of their friends when she was angry with Callie. She would suggest they go home and get 'down and dirty'. Those nights always ended with bruises and broken bones. The brunettes.
Knowing that Suzanne's apartment was close by, Callie stopped and took a couple of breaths. Shit, I really need to work out. Maybe I'll try out that running with Arizona. Smiling at the thought of doing just that, Callie pulled herself from her own mind and continued on her journey to the redhead's place.
Reaching the apartment building that held all of her awful memories, Callie closed her eyes and hit a few different apartment numbers. Gaining entry, she ascended the stairs three by three and reached her old floor in record time.
Shoulder barging the door open, she gasped. Her ex-fiancé sat smirking, and her girlfriend slumped down the wall, busted lip and visible bruising.
"What the hell did you do?" Callie yelled at Suzanne as she made her way over to Arizona.
"You should really teach your girlfriend some manners, Calliope." Suzanne laughed. "Terrible mouth."
"Fuck you!" Running her hand along the bruising of Arizona's cheek, she closed her eyes and sighed. "S-She backhanded you." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. She knew the signs. She wasn't stupid. Arizona had been hurt, because of her, and right now, her heart was breaking. I knew this would happen. I told her in the beginning that this would happen.
"Yeah, she did. Hurt like a mother." Arizona groaned. Getting up to her feet, she winced as she bent from the middle.
"Baby, look at me." Tears filling brown eyes, Callie was struggling. Helping Arizona to her feet, she leant her against the wall and moved around the couch to where Suzanne was sitting. "You fucking bitch."
"Oo, harsh, Cal." The redhead smirked. "That all you've got?"
Lunging forward, she threw herself at the redhead now struggling beneath her. "Fuck you!" Landing punch after punch, Callie's behaviour was nothing short of animal like. Blood on her knuckles, she wasn't sure if it was hers or her ex-fiancés. Gripping her by the throat, and pressing her thumbs in, her face was just inches from the redhead's. "You ever lay a finger on her again and I will kill you. You can fuck with me all you like, but you won't ever touch Arizona again."
Wiping the blood from her lip, Suzanne coughed and caught her breath. "Pretty sure she said the same thing not so long ago." Laughing, the redhead stood. "Wow, didn't know you had that in you. Bitch."
"Drop dead, Suzanne. Seriously! Do us all a favour, and just fuck off." The rage evident in Callie's face, Arizona stumbled over to her and pulled her off of the other woman.
"Cal, come on. She's n-not worth it." Wincing at the pain in her face, Arizona was pretty sure she had a few broken bones. Jesus, she was stronger than I thought. I still could have taken her, though. Knowing that Suzanne had the power in her being to do this only turned her stomach more. Now that she had felt that backhand, she knew exactly how much her girlfriend had suffered.
"She's right, Cal. You should probably go before you make things worse."
"Me? Oh, I think the police would be thrilled to see your handy work." Callie scoffed.
"Leave it, Cal." Arizona pulled the brunette back. "Please. Let's just go home."
Why is she being like this? Why isn't she fighting? Glancing back at blue eyes, she found them glistening. "Arizona?"
"Please, can we just go home?"
"Okay." The brunette gave a nod in agreement. Stepping away and towards the door, Callie grabbed Arizona's jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. "I'm not finished with her, though." Giving her ex a hard stare, she could have sworn she found fear in green eyes.
"No, you are." The blonde sighed. "Suzanne is leaving Seattle, right?" Her stare switching to that of the redhead, Callie too followed her gaze.
"Y-Yeah." Suzanne breathed out. Holding her face, she gave Callie a sad smile. "Goodbye, Calliope."
"What do you mean she's leaving?" Furrowing her brow, Callie looked between the two other women.
"What is going to happen if you don't leave, Suzanne?" Arizona questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"The police will be called and I'll be going back down for a hell of a lot longer." Realising what she had done, Suzanne was finally beginning to get the message. Knowing that she could be back in jail as soon as tomorrow, she decided to call it quits. She'd lost, she knew that. She'd beaten Arizona, and she'd finally had Callie stand up to her. Now? Now she left. She left before she had nowhere to go. She fully expected the couple to call the police, and right now, she figured it would be best to quit while she was ahead.
"Correct." Arizona gave a nod. "Now, if I see you around here again, I swear, I'll kill you. With my bare hands. You may think you have won, but trust me when I say that I am not scared of you." Giving the brunette a nod and a small smile, Arizona limped out of the apartment and moved down the hallway.
Still stood in her ex-fiancés apartment, Callie couldn't believe what she was hearing. She's leaving? She's really leaving? "You know what? I actually believed you tonight when you apologised, but you're no different to how you were a year ago. That woman you've just hurt? She is the most important person in my life, and I can't believe you did that. Y-You, you make me sick, Suzanne. Please, don't come back."
"I'm sorry." Admitting defeat had been hard for the redhead. No matter how much she wanted to continue this fight, she knew she couldn't. She had to give up. If she didn't, she would spend the rest of her life in jail. "Bye, Cal. I'll be gone within a few days."
Quickening her pace, Callie tried to catch up with a limping Arizona. Maybe she doesn't want to be around me. Understandable. Not giving in, Callie puffed and panted as she finally fell into step with the blonde. Not even knowing how to approach the situation, the brunette simply walked quietly beside her girlfriend.
Twenty minutes later, the couple reached the main door of their apartment building. Sighing, Arizona unlocked the door and stepped inside. About to take the stairs, her body screamed against her wishes and caused her to push the button for the elevator. Stepping inside, the couple were yet to exchange two words with each other. Running her bloodied fingers through blonde curls, Arizona felt the ache in her face heighten. Jesus christ, I could kill that bitch. Pulling on a fake smile, she moved down the hall, gingerly, and slipped the key into the lock of their apartment door. Stepping inside, she shrugged her jacket off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor.
Not even glancing back, she stumbled off down the hallway and approached her bedroom door. Reaching the safety of her bedroom, she closed the door behind her and moved towards the bed. Allowing her body to flop down, she didn't even bother to change. She had no energy left. Her body screaming for her to seek medical attention, but her mind telling her otherwise, she poured a glass of scotch, knocked it back, and closed her eyes. I seriously need to sleep. Maybe I'll feel better in the morning.
Feeling the bed dip beside her, she held her breath and hoped Callie wouldn't start up the conversation she couldn't bare to have right now. Sure, she had gone to Suzanne's apartment and yes, she'd been foolish to do so, but she didn't an 'I told you so' right now. She just needed tomorrow to come. She needed her girlfriend to just sleep beside her. Nothing more. Nothing less. She knew why she had allowed Suzanne to do what she did, and right now wasn't the time to explain it.
"Arizona?"
Please, not now. Not like this. Choosing to ignore her girlfriend, it broke her heart, but she had nothing left inside. Tonight she had been beaten. Tonight she had been attacked by the one woman she was supposed to protect Callie from. Tonight? She felt embarrassed. I should never have gone there. Keeping her eyes closed, she waited for the brunettes breathing to even out. But it didn't.
"Arizona, I know you aren't sleeping," Callie stated as she placed her arm around the midsection of the blonde.
Wincing as the pain shot through her body, Arizona closed her eyes as tight as possible and refused to let the tears fall. Shit!
"Oh God." Removing her arm from the blonde's waist, Callie's voice broke. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you."
"S'Okay." Arizona breathed out. "Go to sleep, Callie."
"I can't." A sob escaped from red lips. "I-I need to know that you are okay. That we are okay."
"I'm okay." The blonde sighed.
"A-And us?"
"Go to sleep, Cal. Please." Trying to position herself, Arizona groaned as she shifted slightly.
After a couple of minutes, she noticed her girlfriend's breathing had evened out. Too frightened to even make herself comfortable, Callie stayed in the position she was in. Grazing her fingers over the white material of the blondes bloodstained shirt, Callie fought back her tears. "I'm losing you. I know I am. But I love you, no matter what happens, I love you more than anything in this world."
Her heart breaking and her breathing quickening, Callie knew she was about to lose Arizona. She knew that this whole situation was about to beat them. She'd tried to not get involved in the beginning. She'd tried because she knew that this would be the end result. Problem was, she had fallen hopelessly in love with the blonde haired blue eyes surgeon, and right now, the thought of ever losing her was enough to rip her heart from her chest.
Slipping out of the bed, she quietly left her girlfriend's bedroom and made off down the hall and into the guest room. I don't belong in there with her. She's far too good for me. Settling back into the cold, lonely bed, Callie let the tears fall freely. The tears she had been holding back since she had met Suzanne in the bar bathroom. The tears caused by her heart ripping in two. Knowing that her girlfriend didn't want to even hold a conversation with her right now was slowly killing her inside.
Is this it for us? Am I too much to handle? Is my life too much for Arizona to take? Knowing that them separating was a strong possibility, Callie pulled the cover up over her and cried until sleep took over her.
"Hey, Boss. You okay?" Karev questioned as he caught sight of his mentor sitting on an ER bed.
"Yeah, um, I need someone to come take a look at me. If Callie shows up, don't tell her I'm here." Her cell had been buzzing for the past thirty minutes, and right now, she wasn't feeling up to the conversation she knew would ensue. She was feeling awful and knowing that she could have taken Suzanne last night was playing on her mind. Why hadn't she fought back? Because she hoped that Suzanne letting her anger out on her would spare Callie from it when the time came. Yes, she had taken the beaten so that her girlfriend wouldn't have to anymore. But there was also a whole other reason for her allowing it to happen. It hadn't been her intention as she made her way to the redhead's apartment, but during the fight, something told her to allow it to happen. Something told her that this could finally be the end for the three of them and their situation.
She knew that the redhead was a liar. She knew her apology was meaningless. But… if Callie wanted to believe it to be true, that was up to her. She wasn't going to ruin her idea of a happy ending. She wasn't going to destroy her hopes of one day being able to walk by Suzanne on the street without fear of reprisals.
Knowing that she had taken that beating left her feeling a little calmer than she had the previous night. Calmer, but in a whole lot more pain. Did it hurt when Callie suggested that she was jealous of her ex-fiancé? Yes, more than anything. Did it hurt when Suzanne attacked her? A whole lot more.
"What the hell happened to you, Robbins?" A concerned look washed over Alex's face.
"Callie's ex… she, um, she's back." The blonde shrugged. "Just, stop asking questions, Karev and do your damn job."
"Sure, uh, let's get you up to x-ray." He gave a nod. He knew his boss didn't like her private life being exposed for the entire hospital to see, and right now, he wasn't sure he wanted to hear the details of the attack.
"Fine. Just hurry it along. I want to get home." She scoffed.
"Sure. No problem. I'll have you out of here in no time." He smiled. "You're okay, though, right?"
"I'm fine." A slight smile appeared. Shit, that hurts. Wincing, she cleared her throat and tried to remain calm.
Not too long later, Arizona found herself waiting for the results of her x-ray. The familiar sound of Alex Karev's footsteps causing her to straighten up, she gave him a hard stare as he approached. "Well?"
"No broken bones, Boss. Severe bruising, yes, but nothing else."
Breathing a sigh of relief, Arizona gripped onto the bed as she climbed down. "Thanks, Karev, I have to leave."
"Woah, what do you mean leave?"
"Relax." She rolled her eyes. "I mean I need to leave the hospital. Got something I have to do."
"You call me if you need anything, Robbins. Anything at all." He gave her a knowing look as he watched her leave.
That shit is seriously messed up. Why she didn't kick her ass I'll never know.
Stood outside a familiar building, Arizona had been here once or twice. Never because of her own actions, though. Pulling back the thick glass door, she stepped inside and watched the swarm of people rushing around.
"Ma'am, are you okay?" A concerned officer stepped up in front of her. "Do you need help?"
"No. I just need to report an assault." Arizona smiled. Her busted lips significantly more swollen than the previous night.
"Yes, of course. If you could follow me, I'll have someone speak to you soon."
"Thank you." She gave a slight nod and followed the officer into a private room.
I have to do this. I have to get rid of her. She will go down for a whole lot longer this time. You are doing the right thing, Robbins. Knowing exactly what she had done last night left the blonde feeling a little smug. Did she really think I would just walk away and leave her to her own devices? She's more stupid than I thought.
Pulling out her keys, Arizona slowly walked down the hall and to her apartment. Knowing that her girlfriend was on the other side caused an anxiety to settle in the pit of her stomach. She's going to think that you can't protect her. Knowing that what she had done was stupid, the blonde sighed and slipped her key into the lock.
Pushing open the door, she found Callie pacing the floor and muttering in Spanish. It was only a little after 10 am, but she felt like she had been awake the entire night. "Hey." Placing her keys down on the coffee table, she moved into the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of water. Searching for something to stem the pain, she found what she was looking for and knocked back two tablets.
"Where the hell have you been?" Callie yelled, her voice about to break.
"I had things to do." Dropping her gaze, she trained her eyes on the water bottle in front of her. "And I'd appreciate it if you didn't start shouting."
"That's all you have to say? Seriously?" Scoffing, Callie took a seat on the couch and turned her back on her girlfriend. "How could you be so stupid, Arizona?"
"Excuse me?" Blue eyes narrowed. "What the hell does that mean?"
"You. You went to Suzanne's place last night and now look at you." Unable to meet the blonde's eyes, Callie pulled her feet up on the coffee table and crossed her arms over her chest.
"I'm fine, Callie." Sighing, she moved into the living room and took a seat opposite her girlfriend.
"How am I supposed to comfort you when I can't even touch you because of the pain you are in?"
"I don't need comforting. I'm okay. I went to the hospital and it's just bruising." Giving the brunette a sad smile, Arizona couldn't believe how stupid she had been. She wasn't about to tell that to Callie, though.
"Show me."
"Show you what?" The blonde questioned.
"The bruises. Show me."
"I, uh, I'd rather not." Blonde curls shook.
"Please, Arizona?"
Standing, she lifted her top over her head, wincing at the pain and closed her eyes when she heard the gasp fall from red lips. "Oh god."
"It's just bruising, Callie."
"Why did you go there? Why couldn't you just leave it alone? I told you what she was like. I told you, and you insisted that you could handle yourself."
"Uh, I can handle myself." Arizona spat.
"Sure, and that's why you came off worse."
Moving closer to the brunette, she took a seat beside her and laced their fingers together. "Calliope, what do you think would have happened if I'd have hit her? If I'd have beaten her?"
"Well, she'd have gotten what she deserved. That's for sure." Callie scoffed.
"Yeah, and I wouldn't be sitting here right now. I'd have been locked up. I'd have been no better than her. Trust me, if I'd have wanted to hurt her, I quite easily could have."
"I don't understand why you put yourself in that position. This is going to ruin us. I know it. I told you from the beginning that we shouldn't be together. That we couldn't be together. Last night? You confirmed that for us."
"Woah! Hold on." Removing her hand from the brunettes, Arizona stood. "Y-You're leaving me? Because of her?"
"I can't protect you from her, Arizona. You can't protect yourself from her. And I'd never expect you to. She hurt you last night, and I can't even bare to look at myself because of it. This is my fault. I knew that was a bad idea. How are we supposed to get past this? How are we supposed to be okay?"
"Because we are okay, Callie." Giving a sad smile, she continued. "I went there last night to ask her to leave. She admitted that her apology was meaningless. Told me that she wasn't going anywhere. I couldn't bare it. I couldn't bare the thought of knowing that she would always be around."
"You should never have gone to her place."
"I know, but I did." Pale shoulders shrugged. "But, this? The injuries? You could say they are self-inflicted. I mean, yes, she did beat me, but I let her."
"Why? Why the hell would you do that?"
"Because I've just been down to the station, and they are heading to Suzanne's place now. She was on parole. She has a restraining order. She's been out for barely a week and has already reoffended. What do you think is going to happen?"
"S-She's going away again?"
"Yes. For a long time." Arizona smiled. "Face it, Callie. We'd never have been able to get rid of her. I had no intentions of fighting with her last night. The first time she lay her hands on me, I'd thought about retaliating, but if I had, you'd have lost me. I'd have been locked up. I couldn't say it had been self-defence. I'd willingly gone to her place so do you really think the police would have let me off? Because I don't."
"S-So you done this for me?" Brown eyes widened. "Y-You took a beating from her, for me?"
"For you, and for us," Arizona stated. "I can't have her around, Calliope. I can't watch you all hours of the day. I can't protect you the way I want to."
"Wow."
"Now do you see why I had to pull you off of her? If you'd have messed her up anymore, she'd have probably got away with it." She smiled. "Oh, and nice fists."
"I know this sounds terrible, but it felt good. Hitting her, it felt good. If you hadn't have been there, I'm not sure I'd have stopped. I just, I felt better for it."
"Now, now, Rambo. No more fighting. You need to keep those hands safe so you can be the bad ass surgeon that you are."
"I'm sorry about last night." The brunette dropped her gaze. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't mean to imply that you were jealous of her."
"That hurt, you know. That really fucking hurt."
"I'm sorry."
"I knew it was a lie. I just, I didn't think you would ever believe an apology from her. I guess I was just shocked."
"I don't think I truly believed it. I mean, I wanted to. I really wanted to. But I know her better than anyone and I guess deep down, I knew it was all a lie."
"Please don't ever forgive her, Cal. Even if we aren't together, don't go back to her. Please."
"I won't." Callie smiled. "I'm sorry that you got dragged into all of this again."
"Hey, it was my own doing this time. If we'd have left it, she would have shown up at some point. I was just… speeding things along."
"Have you taken some time off work?"
"Yeah. I've taken the week off. I'll see how my ribs are after that." Smiling, Arizona slipped her top back on and groaned as she felt the sharp pain through her chest. "You okay if I go take a nap?"
"Sure." Pressing a light kiss to swollen pink lips, she pulled back and gave the blonde a nod. "Dinner tonight?"
"That would be nice," Arizona responded as she slowly made her way down the hall. "I won't be too long."
"I love you, Arizona."
"I love you too."
Giving herself a couple of minutes to take in everything she had just been told, Callie let the hot tears she had been holding in fall. God, I can't believe she did that. She got rid of her, for me. For us. I can't believe I acted out last night. I have so much making up to do. That girl is the only one for me. She will only ever be the one for me.
Thanks for reading, guys.
So, I had a few wanting Arizona to get hurt. A few wanting Callie to get hurt. It was a tough decision but I decided to continue on the path I'd always planned for this section of the fic.
I'm fully prepared for the good and bad reviews. Seriously, though, as much as we all wanted Arizona to kick the crap out of Suzanne, why would she? Why would she risk her job and her reputation for someone like that?
Keep the reviews coming. Cheers! X