Wow guys.. Did we not like that last chapter? Not much response at all.

So glad you liked Callie's dream. I thought it was just too sweet.

Happy Labor Day to my fellow Americas.. And everyone else.. Happy Monday! :) I'm spending this holiday at home relaxing and hopefully finishing chapter 26 :) Only 24 more days to the premiere of Season 11. Yey!

Thanks for your continued support! You guys are awesome!

Chapter 24

The following morning Arizona came wheeling a wheelchair into Callie's room. "Whose ready to bust outta here?" Arizona grinned. "Everything has been taken care of. So what do you say I get you home?" She said, closing the door behind her.

"I say that's the best thing I've heard in a long time." Callie said. "Help me change real quick?" She asked, sitting of the edge of the bed, pulling out her clothes from the overnight bag that Teddy had brought in earlier. There was no way she could bend over to put her pants on herself without a searing pain shoot across her torso.

"My pleasure." She winked. Picking up Callie's pants from the bed, she slid them up her legs, stopping at her knees. "Here, lets get you up. Just brace yourself on my shoulders." Arizona said, taking Callie's hands in hers and gently helping her up from the bed.

"Oh fuck, that hurts." Callie said more to herself.

"I know, baby." Arizona said, placing Callie's hands on her shoulders to stabilize herself. "Hold on." She said, slightly bending down to pull Callie's pants up around her waist.
"There." She said placing her hands on her girlfriends hips. "Lets set you back down... Need help with your shirt?"

"No, I think I can get it." She said, reaching to untie the string around her neck holding her gown on. "Yea..yeah no.. no, I can't do it." She groaned, trying to raise her hand behind her head.

"It's okay. I got it." She said, untying the string and sliding down the gown. Revealing Callie's bare chest. Gasping when she seen Callie's abdomen for the first time since that night.

"Oh, Calliope." She whispered, seeing the large purple and red bruise that marred Callie's body. Lightly skimming her fingers over top the skin. Feeling Callie flinch at her touch. Tears filling her eyes.

"Please don't. Don't cry for me." She said, wiping Arizona's eyes. "I'll be okay."

"I know..." She said shaking her head clear of those bad thoughts.

"Okay, were all set." she said after helping Callie with her shirt.

"Bruised and cracked ribs are a bitch." Callie groaned as Arizona helped her sit down carefully in the wheel chair. "Take me home, baby."

"Gladly." Arizona said leaning down for a light peck on the lips. "I love you, Calliope."

"I love you, Arizona." She said cupping her face. "Now, come on." She said lightly patting her cheek "I hear my comfy couch and a season of The Golden Girls calling my name."

Shaking her head. "You and that damn show." She giggled.

"Hey, you love it too. So shush. Nothing comes between me and that show... Except maybe a hot blonde, but whatever."

"You're so incorrigible. Let's get your beautiful butt home." She said throwing the overnight bag in her arm.

Thirty minutes later and a bunch of 'get well' wishes on their way out of the hospital, Arizona was finally getting Callie settled at home. "Easy does it." She said, sitting Callie down on the couch. Seeing Callie wince in pain as she tried to pick her legs up and place them on the couch. "Let me." She said, helping Callie lift her legs to lay on the couch. "I'm gonna run upstairs and get your favorite throw, and your pillow. Need anything else?"

"I want your pillow." She replied. Seeing Arizona give her a sly look. "It smells like you." She blushed. "And it helps me relax."

"I know what you mean." She said turning on the TV and DVD player. "I like your pillow when I'm not feeling so great too." She said kissing Callie on the nose. "I'll be back with your stuff, then I'll make you some homemade soup. How's that sound?"

"Sounds good. Thanks, honey." She said as Arizona went upstairs. Hearing a knock on the front door. "Damnit.." she groaned. "Come in!" She yelled to the entrance way of their home next to the living room.

Hearing the front door open, "Calliope?" She heard as footsteps came into the room.

"Daddy? What are you doing here?" She questioned. She had told her mom and dad that they didn't need to come, but seeing him made her wish she hadn't convince them otherwise. "You didn't have to come all the way out here to check up on me."

"I had to fly to Portland last minute for a conference and I couldn't come all the way out here and not stop to see my little girl first." He said sitting down on the edge of the couch next to his daughter.

"How are you Mija?" He asked, taking his daughters hand.

"I'm okay... sore, but okay. Arizona is taking good care of me."

"How is she? And her parents? This has got to be a terrible time for them, having to reopen old wounds."

"Arizona is being so strong, daddy, but I know it must be hard. Her parents seem okay, but I think they're masking it in front of us though."

"I need to give Daniel a call. See if there is anything they need." He said hearing footsteps enter the room. "My lawyers are already in contact with The Seattle PD. So neither of you need to worry about anything. Let me worry about that."

"Thank you, Carlos. This means a lot to us and my parents." Arizona said, placing the items in her hands down at the foot of the couch.

"It's the least I could do. I have some of the best lawyers in the world working on this. We're going to bring justice to your family. And if all goes as planned, we won't even have to go to trial." He said, pulling Arizona in for a hug.

"Thank you so much, Carlos." She said into his shoulder.

"Yeah, thank you Daddy."

"You are welcome. I only ask one thing from you, Arizona."

"Anything."

"Take care of my Calliope."

"I will. Always." She said, winking at her girlfriend.

"Okay, I have to get going." He said bending down and planting a kiss on his daughters cheek. "I'll be in touch." He said leaving the house.

"Will you take a nap with me before you start dinner?" Callie asked once Arizona got her settled in.

"God yes. I could so use a nap." She sighed. Laying down on the couch with Callie.

"Easy.."

"Sorry.." Facing each other, Arizona snuggled into Callie, as she wrapped her arms around Arizona. "Mmm.. I'm missed this." She said relaxing into Callie. "Feeling your arms around me.. It's heaven."

A week had passed since Callie had been released from the hospital. Most days they just laid on the couch watching awful cable TV. Some of their friends stopped by on the weekend to check on Callie. Mark had stopped by every evening after work to check on the girls. He would never admit it but that night absolutely scared the shit out of him.

Arizona had Teddy cancel all Callie's patients for the next two months. There was no way she would be returning to the hospital before that, with her injured ribs. Sometimes the slightest movement made Callie winded, causing her severe pain in her torso. Avery, thank goodness for Arizona, took over her cases for the next month. She didn't want to leave Callie at home by herself yet, when she could barely manage to get off the couch or bed herself to use the restroom.

The day Callie had retuned home, her and Arizona had had a talk about Alex Karev over dinner. Later that week Arizona had went to check on him. She was shocked how well he cleaned up. He looked like a totally different person.

Inviting him over for a special dinner to thank him for what he had done, Arizona had just took the Italian chicken out of the oven.

"That is probably him." Callie said, hearing the doorbell ring. "I'll get it." She said sliding of the stool she sat in, watching Arizona scurry around in the kitchen making dinner.

"Sit down, Callie. I'll get it." She said walking down the foyer to their front door. "Alex, please come in."

"Thank you for having me over."

"Thanks for accepting. Were excited to welcome you into our home. Come on, dinners almost ready." She said leading him into her kitchen where Callie was sitting at the island.

"Alex, welcome to our home." Callie said as the two walked into the room. "I'd get up and greet you properly, but.. I'm still slow moving." She said pulling out the stool next to her. "Sit."

"Alex, would you like a glass of wine?" Arizona asked placing the dish of roasted tomatoes on the island.

"I'll take a beer if you have it." He said sitting next to Callie.

"Sure do. They're in the fridge. Help yourself." She told the well groomed man. She couldn't believe how handsome he looked in the pair of jeans and a t-shirt. And Arizona doesn't particularly think any man is handsome. Maybe it was because he was Callie's and her knight and shinning whatever.

"Wow, Karev. You clean up very nice." Callie said looking the man over.

"It's all thanks to you guys. You don't know how much I appreciate what you've done for me."

"Sure we do, because we appreciate you just as much for what you did for us."

"Thanks... You have an amazing place here." He said trying to change the subject.

"You work anywhere, Alex?" Arizona asked after they finished their meal. She had already collected the dinner dishes and had them washing in the dishwasher as they sat around the island drinking wine and beer.

"No. Not at the moment." He said sitting across from Callie and Arizona sipping on his third beer.

"Callie and I have been talking, Alex. And we would like to know if you would come and work for us at the clinic and around here?"

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, Alex. We've been needing someone for a while now and haven't gotten around to looking. And we both feel you're the man for the job. So how about it?" Callie asked, placing her hand on top of Arizona's that rested on her thigh.

"What would the job entail?"

"Well, there's a lot of things. First thing I personally want, are lights up outside the back entrance of the building. Also cameras installed at the front and back entrance." Arizona said squeezing Callie's leg.

"I'd be happy to do that."

"Just odds and ends that need done around the clinic, like maintenance work. Landscaping here and pool work in the summer."

"Yes, yes. When do I start?" He said excitedly. He had been trying to find work for months. But no one would give him the time of day.

"Well, we'd like for you to work Monday through Friday, nine to five. Also.." Arizona said looking at Callie who was giving her a nod to continue. "...we wanted to know if you wanted to keep the apartment? We'd continue to keep the bills paid for the next few months until you get on your feet. Then you'd start paying us rent?"

"Are you freaking kidding me?" Alex said. His mind reeling from all this new information. He had never met two people more humble. He was blown away by these two generous women.

Both girls smiling at Alex's excitement. "No Alex. Were not freaking kidding you. We want you to accept our offer. Please." Callie insisted.

"Hell yes, dude.. Chics.. Hell whatever. Yes."

"Well I don't go back to work for at least three more weeks. I want to stay here with Callie for a while. So I'll hold off on starting you at the clinic until I can show you around. But you can start here tomorrow if you want? You can install the new security system."

"I'll be here first thing in the morning." He said taking a long swig of his beer. "You two are freaking awesome." He said, standing from his seat. "I need to get home. Gotta rest up for my big day tomorrow."

"Let me run you home. No sense in having to call a cab." Arizona said standing from her stool.

"I'd appreciate that." He said, putting on his jacket.

"Come on babe. Let's get you in the family room." She said, taking Callie's hand and slowly walking her into the living room.

"You know, you don't have to lead me from room to room." Callie said, Even though she was eating up all the attention her girlfriend was giving her.

"Calliope. You're a terrible liar. You are loving every second of this." She said lifting Callie's feet up on the sofa.

"Yeah, so." She shrugged.

Laughing, "I'll be back in twenty. Want anything while I'm out?" She said kissing red lips.

"Umm.. Yes.. Can you stop and get me an Oreo blizzard, please... And go ahead and get something for yourself too." She said grinning.

"You are far to kind." She said walking with Alex out the door. "Don't forget, Mark should be over anytime to check on our stitches. I'll be back in a few.. I love you." She said blowing Callie a kiss.

"I love you so much more, Be careful baby." She said as Arizona closed the front door.

The doorbell ringing startled Callie awake. She hadn't meant to fall asleep, but with her pain medicine she was on it was hard to stay awake at times. As she finally managed to get her sore body off the couch her phone started ringing. Picking it up off the coffee table she noticed it was Mark calling.

"Hey, Mark. What's up?" She said yawning through the phone.

"Torres. Where you at? I've rang the doorbell a few times."

"Sorry, Mark. Arizona ran Alex home and I must have fell asleep watching TV. Come on in, the door should be open." She said, hearing the front door open.

"Torres." He yelled seeing Callie sitting back down on the couch.

"Hey, Mark, hey Lex." She said seeing Lexie walking in behind Mark. "Come on in." She said motioning to the other couch. "I'd show you around Lexie but I'm sure as soon as I do Arizona would come in and have a cow."

"That's okay, maybe next time." She said sitting down on the opposite couch. "We can't stay long anyway."

"Whose Alex?" Mark questioned. Sitting on the coffee table in front of Callie and pulling out gloves from his doctor bag.

"He's the guy that knocked the attacker off Arizona." She said, as Mark used tissue forceps to remove her butterfly stitches. "We had him over for dinner, kind of a thank you for what he did."

"Well, that's nice." Lexie said, handing Mark some alcohol wipes to clean up the dried blood on Callie's scars.

"Yea, he had no job and no place to stay. So since you guys opted outta my apartment, we figured we could help him get on his feet. It's the least we could do for what he did."

"Had no job? As in he does now?" Mark asked.

"Yeah." Callie said hearing her front door open again, revealing her gorgeous blonde, giving her a warm smile, as she walked on past the family room and into the kitchen to put the ice cream in the freezer. "He now works for us. We have him doing maintenance around the office and here."

"That's amazing, Callie. You guys are awesome." Lexie said, now handing her boyfriend the scar cream.

"Your healing great Cal." He said, rubbing the cream on her forehead, then her left cheek. "The swelling has went down considerably. You shouldn't leave a scar. Use this two times a day for three weeks." He said handing the new tube to Callie.

"Thanks, Mark."

"Okay, Blondie. Your turn." He said sliding down the table to sit in front of Arizona, who was now sitting beside Callie. Using the forceps to pulled the stitches off Arizona's forehead, and cleaning up her wound. "Yours is looking amazingly well too Blondie. Damn your doctor must be a brilliantly talented man." He said as Arizona punched him in his stomach, playfully. "Hey I don't have to take this abuse. I get enough of that at home." He purred, making a growling noise towards Lexie.

"You old perv." Callie teased.

"Hey watch the old remark." he said, placing the scar cream right above Arizona's eye. "Alright, same goes for you. Use this cream twice a day for three weeks." he said handing her a new tube as Callie's iPhone starts ringing.

"Hey Daddy." she said picking it up, seeing her father's name flash across the screen.

"Mija, I'm just going to cut to the chase, I'm calling with some news about the case." Carlos informed her.

"Hold on just a second, dad." she said, carefully standing from the couch. "I'm going to take this in another room." she said whispering to Arizona. Walking into the kitchen to talk to her father. "What's going on daddy?"

"Well, the cops are saying this wasn't a thought out attack, they're saying its just a random attack."

"Random. Huh." she scoffed rolling her eyes. She thought it was a little too coincidental that the man who attacked her just so happened to be the same man that attacked her girlfriend and murdered her brother almost two years prior. "I don't see how the hell this is random daddy." She said to her father. She hadn't mentioned it to Arizona, but she thought that this man may have been watching them for a while, planning this attack to get to Arizona. "I don't see how the same man that attacked Arizona and killed Tim, just so happened to attack me also." she said in anger.

"I understand mija." he said trying to calm his daughter. "They've gave me the name of the man."

"What is it?"

"Dave Conley."

Tears began to fall from her eyes when her father gave her the name. Not because she knew the name or anything, but because she can finally put a name with the face of that son of a bitch.

Hearing Callie sniff on the other side of the phone broke Carlos's heart. He couldn't stand when his daughter was upset. And hearing her cry when he was all the way across the country tore his heart into pieces. "Mija.. Please don't cry sweetheart. We will get this man put away, do you hear me."

"How daddy?" she said between tears, wrapping her free arm around her body, trying to ease the pain in her ribs from crying. "What if this just turns out to be some… some random guy… and.. and they can't match the DNA evidence to Tim's murder. He will walk daddy. Sooner rather than later, he will walk." she said getting louder and angrier. "And then what if he comes back to do the job he started."

"Mija, darling. Please calm down… I understand you're upset, I do honey, but you said Arizona is positive this is Tim's murderer right?"

"Yeah, she's… adamant it's him, bu..but daddy. What if it isn't?"

"Then we will cross that road when we come to it, Calliope. But the cops and my lawyers are almost certain it's him. We're just waiting on the test results to come back. We'll figure it all out then, okay mija? Lets not worry about what might or might not happen okay?"

"Okay." Callie spoke quietly, tears still falling from her face.

"I'm going to let you go, mija. I'm going to call Daniel and let him know what I've found out. I love you, honey."

"I love you too, daddy."

"Give Arizona my love." he said before hanging up. Hearing the phone go silent, Callie put her head in her hands and began to cry harder, letting the sobs take over. She was scared as hell that this man was going to walk free sooner rather than later. And knowing that he could be out there on the streets again terrified the shit out of her and broke her heart for Arizona and her family.

"Hey, Mark and Lexie just left. He said he'd…" Arizona said, walking into the room. Noticing her girlfriend bent over crying near their kitchen island. "Calliope? Baby? What's wrong, honey?" she asked rushing over to Callie. "Hey.. Hey.." she said talking her in her arms. "What happened?" she questioned her inconsolable girlfriend. "Was it your dad?" she asked, feeling Callie nod her head in her neck. "What did he say?"

"He was calling to let us know what was going on with the case... he said the guys name is Dave Conley.. And he said, that the cops say it… it was just a random attack." She cried.

"Why are you crying, baby?"

"Because.. how the hell could they think this random, Arizona?" she said angrily, while her girlfriend held on to her. "You ca.. can't tell me this is just a coincidence. I'm sorry, but this just doesn't sound logical to m.. me." she said still letting her tears fall. "And.. I.. I'm scared, Arizona. What if this turns out to be just a random guy and not Tim's killer.. What then? He gets a little slap on the wrist because he hit me and you, then he's free to come back and finish what he started? I'm so scared, Arizona... I'm trying to be strong, but I'm scared he will get off scoot free and it will tear us apart. I can't lose you." She sobbed.

"Oh, Calliope." Arizona soothed, rubbing Callie's back gently. She wanted to cry right along with Callie, but she knew she needed to be the strong one right now. Everything she's saying could easily happen, but she knew it wouldn't. She was one hundred percent positive that he was the man who killed her brother. She's heard that distinct voice so many times in her dreams, she would never mistake his voice. "I'm scared too, baby." she whispered in her girlfriends ear. "Seeing that man again... just brings back some terrible feelings I have inside of me. Feelings I've buried deep down.. But now those feelings are only tripled, because he hurt the one thing that makes my life worth living… he hurt my baby. He hurt you, Calliope and that scared me so much. But you know what?"

"What?" Callie sniffed. Squeezing her eyes shut, holding on to Arizona for dear life.

"I'm not scared that he'll be set free, because I know with every fiber in my being.. that it's him. I feel it inside me. When the DNA results come back.. It will be a match. And I'm NOT scared of what it will do to us if by any chance it is negative." she said, pulling out of the embrace to hold Callie's face in her hands. "I will not stand by and let that son of a bitch rip us apart, do you hear me? I love you and you love me. None of the rest of it matters, okay?" Seeing Callie nod, she leaned in and laid a soft kiss on red, wet, salty lips. "Come on, I'll run you a hot bath and then after we'll have ice cream in bed. How's that sound?" She said wrapping her arm around Callie's waist and leading her into their in suite bathroom. Getting the temperature just right she filled the tub up using some lavender oils to help relax Callie.

"Will you join me?" Callie asked sliding off her pants and panties.

"Ha, seriously? You think I'd miss a chance of getting naked, hot and wet with THE Calliope Torres?" She said winking at Callie before she stripped her clothes.

"This feels nice." Callie said sinking into the hot water.

"Oh my god, I didn't know how bad I needed this. It feels good." Arizona said, pulling Callie back to lean on her chest. "Mmm.. Now it feels amazing." She said nuzzling her head in Callie's hair.

"Mhmmm." Callie said resting her head on Arizona's shoulder.

"You feeling better?"

"Yeah, you always make it better." She said turning her face into Arizona's neck inhaling her scent. "I'm sorry I was a sobbing mess."

"Don't ever be sorry, baby." She said cradling Callie's face to her neck. "I'm sure I'll have my days too. They'll be times when you want to scream and cry an..."

"...You mean like just a few minutes ago." She chuckled.

Feeling Arizona's body shake under her, Callie lightly pinched her side. "I'm sorry." She giggled. "But yes. They'll be days when I want to scream, cry and curse the world too."

"And I'll be there to hold you." Callie whispered laying a light kiss on Arizona's chest.

"That's how I know we'll be alright." She said kissing Callie's forehead. "Because when I'm weak, you are strong." Arizona said hugging Callie tight.

"Too tight." Callie winced.

"Oh, right.. Sorry."

"So.. These past two weeks have been so busy we've not discussed what we're going to do for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's our first major holidays together." Arizona said excitedly.

"Gosh, I completely forgot. Oh I just love watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Thanksgiving is my all time favorite holiday. There's just something about the fall weather and family gatherings that just make me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside." She said snuggling into Arizona's front.

Running her fingertips lightly up and down Callie's back, "I love me some Thanksgiving, but Christmas is the best holiday, Calliope. The snow, the decorations, the lights, shopping, picking out the perfect Christmas Tree and decorating it together." Arizona said. "I can't wait to make all those memories with you, babe."

"Mmm. Me neither." Callie said sleepily.

"My.. Uh parents usually have a dinner at home in the evening. Do you.. maybe want to go?" She asked hesitantly. She didn't want to miss out on Thanksgiving dinner with her parents, especially since Tim's gone. She didn't want her mom and dad to be alone. She tried to always spend the big holidays with them. But if Callie couldn't make it she wouldn't make her feel bad for missing. "I mean, I don't know what you usually do.. This is our first holiday and all... Do you go to your parents house in Miami or.. Or your frien.."

"Arizona.. You're rambling."

"Right, sorry. Will you come to my parents house around six o'clock on Thanksgiving with me?"

"Yes, I would love that. I usually go to Meredith and Derek's. They have an early dinner for everyone. Will you come with me?" Callie asked with a yawn.

"Yes, of course. Come on let's get you to bed and we'll finish this talk." She said lifting herself out of the tub and putting on her robe. "Come on sleepy head." She said helping Callie out of the tub.

"You still want your ice cream?" Arizona asked after getting Callie into bed.

"You want to share with me?" She asked.

"Yeah, I'll eat some."

"Okay, but that also means you have to share yours with me tomorrow." She winked as Arizona left the room.

"Okay, so Thanksgiving afternoon we're going to Meredith and Derek's. And that night we will go to my parents. What about your parents?" Arizona questioned. "Don't you do anything with them on Thanksgiving?" She asked as they laid in bed, eating Callie's Oreo ice cream.

"No, I haven't in a long time. We try to get together on Christmas, but I've not been able to do that the last few years because I was a resident." She said playing with her spoon.

"Oh.. Well what do you want to do about Christmas and New Years?" Arizona asked, flipping through the channels on the TV.

"Well, I was thinking. This is going to be our first Christmas together and in our home. What do you think about having our friends over on Christmas Eve and maybe have some finger foods or something?" Callie asked. She really wanted to start new traditions and spend Christmas in their home.

"I think that sounds awesome." She said, throwing the empty blizzard cup in the small trash can beside their bed. "What about Christmas Day? I.. ah.. I understand if you want to go to your parents, but I don't think I can leave my parents alone. Not on Christmas." She said, hoping Callie wouldn't get mad at her for not wanting to leave them.

"I wouldn't want you to leave them, not on Christmas. You're the only child they have left and I would never ask that of you." Callie said. Arizona felt immediate relief at her girlfriends words.

"So what are we going to do? It's not fair to spend both holidays with my parents and not spend any with your mom and dad." Arizona asked.

"I was wondering... What do you think if we invite my parents and sister and your parents over and have a big dinner here in our home?" She asked, rolling carefully on her side. "I want to spend Christmas with you in our home."

"Yes.. Callie yes. Do you really think your family will come?" She asked turning to face Callie.

"Yeah, they wanted to come last year, but I had to work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I'm sure they will be ecstatic to come and celebrate with us." She said, swiping Arizona's hair out of her face.

"Do you care if I have Teddy come for dinner on Christmas Day also? I mean.. I know she'll come on Christmas Eve, but she's always been like a sister to me and I want her here?"

"Of course, we can even invite Alex too if you want. I don't want him to spend Christmas alone. I'm sure he doesn't have anyone."

"Do you think my parents would mind if I ask him to dinner on Thanksgiving?"

"You're asking me if your parents would mind inviting over the man that saved me and their daughter from a terrible man? Of course they wouldn't. I'm sure your mom would be excited to have more people to cook for."

"Yeah, you're right." Arizona said snuggling close. "Goodnight, Calliope." Arizona said with a soft tender kiss.

"Goodnight baby. I love you." Callie said wrapping her arms around Arizona.

"I love you too."

Whose ready for some holiday fun!?