Chapter 1

Callie snuck into Denny's clinic, keeping her head low, and avoiding eye contact with everyone. Since Erica had left her without saying goodbye, she had been trying to avoid everyone. She knew what they would be saying, poor Callie Torres, her husband cheated on her, so hurt by George's action she turned gay, swearing off men forever, only for her lesbian lover to leave her after only a few months of dating without even saying goodbye. Callie Torres what a loser, or even worse, poor Callie Torres. She was broken, undatable, the laughingstock of the hospital, she hated it, she hated the mocking glares, the conversations that ended as she approached. She felt 3ft tall and she hated that. It felt like being back at school, being the unpopular loser, all she needed now was for a bully to stuff her into a locker and her life would be complete.

Even though her best friend Mark Sloan told her to walk tall that was easier said than done. Currently it was taking absolutely everything she had to get out of bed, to get dressed and come to work, she wasn't ready to walk tall, not when even breathing was taking so much out of her.

Arriving at the desk a nurse greeted her, Callie smiled politely, the nurse while very competent loved to gossip, and she could almost see her eyes glinting at the free news she was going to get. Squaring her shoulders and trying to stand tall, Callie tried to ignore it, trying to make sure there would be no fresh gossip from her.

"Bed 3, real sweetheart, perky little thing. Obvious domestic violence, judging by those handprints, she is denying it, but you can tell. I have an instinct for this type of thing. Dislocated shoulder. One of the interns tried to relocate it, and failed, idiot, I wouldn't let him try again, idiots all of them, and that poor girl, she has been through enough" the nurse rolled her eyes, her distaste for the intern evident, "anyway, how are you? I heard about Erica," she asked "I never liked her, she had narrow eyes, you can't trust people with narrow eyes" she continued.

Callie gave a tight smile, keeping her professional face on, "I'm fine" she lied as she took the notes walking to the cubicle, she loved most of the nurses, and always tried to be nice and friendly but this one was annoying, and Callie knew she'd be spreading gossip and dreaded to think about what she was saying. Instead, she tried to focus on the patient in front of her. It was much easier than thinking about the present.

"Arizona Robbins?" she asked, pausing her pace as she saw the stunning blonde sitting awkwardly on the bed. Her brilliant blue eyes meeting her own. Callie felt her heart race slightly, and her breath hitch as she checked out the beautiful woman in front of her, she was exactly Callie's type, and she was stunning! But she was a patient, with considerable effort Callie pulled herself out of her daze, just as the blonde answered,

"Yes, Dr Torres I presume" She asked, smiling,

Callie nodded, as she noticed the dimples, what an amazing smile, before noticing the rest of her patient. The handprint bruises to her upper arm, one her wrist there were more bruises, a different age to those on her upper arm, lastly visible there was a bust lip to her face, she fought the urge to gently brush her fingers against the bruised lip, or rub the bruises, that would be inappropriate, was it possible to fall in love at first sight? Or was this backlash from Erica, Arizona was blonde, and pretty just like Erica. Not like Erica a little voice in her hair said, she is smiling and a lot hotter! She is sex on legs.

"What happened?" she asked, getting her pen torch to check her pupils pleased to see them both react, Arizona sighed, she had told this story several times now, and it was getting annoying, Callie could tell she was getting frustrated and smiled hoping to ease her displeasure.

"I do self-defense lessons, sometimes it gets a bit intense, today I was twisting out of a grip and felt my shoulder go" the blonde said easily,

Callie bit her own lip slightly, it was plausible, but a bit too convenient, and a bit too quickly, like it had been rehearsed, something wasn't ringing true, and even after everything she had been through Callie always trusted her instincts when it came to clinical judgements.

"Okay, but if that's not the truth, then there are other organizations that can help you," she offered, trying to stay non-judgmental and open hoping the blonde would confide in her.

"Thank you, but I don't need help, everything is fine" Arizona promised, Callie sighed, the refusal had come too quickly and too firmly, she was now convinced someone was hurting the blonde in front of her. "Or it will be when my shoulder is back in, please tell me you are more competent than that intern" she begged, despite trying to remain professional Callie grinned,

"I am" She reassured, "first we need to give you some analgesia, I'll write some morphine and we can give some Entonox".

"Entonox only," Arizona begged, "I need to have a clear head".

"For your self-defense lessons?" Callie snarked, her perfectly plucked eyebrow raised to her credit Arizona didn't flinch, instead staring back at Callie,

"Exactly" Arizona agreed, giving Callie a full-blown smile complete with dimples. Callie took a step back, those dimples were dangerous, she could almost feel herself doing whatever the blonde wanted, but knew she had to stay professional. She handed the Entonox over waiting until the blonde had taken a few breaths before gently grabbing her arm.

"On 3" Callie warned, quickly pulling it back in joint, feeling the satisfying clunk as it fell back into joint,

Arizona groaned in pain, taking a deep breath on the gas, she felt as it went in,

"Great you did it" she praised the young orthopod, giving her shoulder a slight wiggle, going to get up,

"Wait, where are you going?" Callie asked confused, gently placing her hand on Arizona's shoulder, to stop her moving anymore, not ready to discharge her patient,

"home" Arizona replied, shrugging awkwardly, only moving the one arm, although back in its socket her other arm was too sore to move too much.

"Not yet, I need Xray's to confirm its in and you need a sling" Callie ordered, her patient sighed, rolling her eyes slightly,

"Look we both know it's in, we both heard the clunk, the pain has eased, and an X-ray is just a formality, we both also know you brought a sling with you when you came down, and if you put it on, I can be on my way in less than a minute" Arizona argued with an annoyingly perky tone, especially when she was right.

"I'd still like an x-ray" Callie said, she didn't really but was desperate to try and keep the beautiful blonde safe, even just for a few more minutes.

"I understand, but I really need to be going now" Arizona replied, picking up the sling.

"Self-defence lessons to get ready for" Callie snarked, she couldn't help it, she hated not being able to do more, especially when she was still feeling strangely drawn to this woman. If she was feeling off kilter earlier it was much worse now, Arizona had sent her spinning,

Arizona gave her a sad smile, as she stood up, Callie helped her putting the sling on, gently pausing to brush her soft blonde hair out of the way, smelling the scent of strawberries,

"Seriously, Arizona, if you need help, all you have to do is say," Callie begged, Arizona smiled sadly,

"I'm okay Dr Torres, I don't need help, everything is under control and super awesome. Thank you for your help" Arizona said, impulsively hugging the Ortho doctor careful not to jar her arm before walking out.

Callie stood in the clinic, watching her patient leave. She sent a silent prayer that she wouldn't be seeing the young women back in her ER again but knowing she would, and next time it would be a lot worse, until she either found the strength to leave or her abuser killed her.

New story, and i'm taking guesses, Self defense or domestic abuse, if the second who?