The man looked up, incredulous, eyes transfixed on the female with anger coursing through his veins. He was on the verge of combustion when he noticed the trauma surgeon behind the blonde, strategically blocking his exit.
Nice one, Hunt.
Observing that his focus had changed, enraged blue eyes moved to meet his gaze, they bore into him, unblinking, unmoving. It was like a serpent hovering over its prey, waiting for movement before it reacts. She was daring him to move, it was a game of chess.
"Wh- who the hell are you? And what-"
Move made. "I'm Dr Arizona Robbins and this is my colleague Major Owen Hunt, you may know his friend, and my wife, Dr Callie Torres", she crooked her neck, "ring any bells?". The accountant stood back, visibly nervous due to trauma surgeon's presence, but didn't break eye contact with the peds surgeon who remained motionless. Owen had started to creep forward, effectively closing the exit opportunity.
The surgeons were winning, pinning back the 'King' who ultimately was their pawn.
Simon's first question was directed at the stoic man, "what the hell are you doing here?", then eyes back on Arizona, "and who the hell are you?". The blonde scoffed, she began a very, very slow walk around towards the back of his desk, where he would be well within range. She had transformed from a low laying serpent to a stalking, land-roaming hunter. You can use whatever animal analogy.
Ultimately, Arizona was the Apex predator.
With both surgeons on the prowl, Simon quickly reached for his office phone, but before he managed to get the receiver to his ear, Owen ripped the chord from the wall.
Pawn annihilated.
"Wh- what the hell do you want? Who do you think you are coming here? Stay back or I'll- I'll-" His focus was mainly on the man behind which considering their history, wasn't a surprise. Plus, why would he worry about a slim, 5 foot 4, blonde woman with dimples?
More fool him.
Arizona was indeed told to 'hit fast and hit hard so you only have to hit once', but she had surgeon hands now, tiny humans and incubated humans needed her. Callie needed her.
So, she didn't hit.
Instead, she reached for the accountant's shirt, just under his tie, and got a firm grip. With lightning speed, she twisted the smooth buttoned-down cloth and pulled the man downwards, closing the space between his windpipe and shirt so it was quite… snug. The quick move near enough rendered him defenceless, his heightened state of panic after seeing Owen evident. She managed to angle him down, so his cheek 'rested' on his desk. She didn't have the strength to lift him, or the height advantage, but those delicate girly hands could sure squeeze tight.
Arizona's voice was cold. "Now, I know you'd quite happily hit me Mr Johnson, I know all about your adversary to hitting women, but you see, with my friend, Major Hunt over here, I don't think you have the balls to do anything". The accountant's position meant he couldn't meet her eyeline, but with great calm and assertion, she leant down whispered into his ear. "But me? Oh, you have no idea what I could do to you. I could grab a scalpel and slowly, meticulously, painfully, slice open part of your manhood and feed it to the dogs. I could get one of the wealthiest, angriest men in America to end you, without a single care. I could make it quick or slow, painless or so painful you'd wish you'd have accepted the castration from me right here, right now."
Owen recognised they were treading thin ground but ultimately knew the man wasn't going to report this 'meeting'. Being held against a desk but a perky, tiny blonde? That wouldn't do his manhood any good; and this man was clearly all about perceptions. It wasn't lost on Arizona that if the trauma surgeon wasn't nearby, this man could easily overpower her. She was running on adrenaline. After delivering her threat, she straightened up, arm still holding his face to the desk, grip tight as ever. "To answer your question, as I said, I'm Dr Arizona Robbins, and I was in the picture you tore up, the picture of me and my family."
His voice was raspy, but he managed to challenge the blonde, "Callie wasn't married-"
Probably not the best thing to say in this situation but here we are. Her grip tightened, "I really wouldn't focus on that aspect if I were you Mr Johnson." It was at this point she noticed Simon was starting to find purchase on his chair, to get some support to allow him to redirect his strength. He wanted to get rid of the blonde's grip and hold off the man looming behind.
But an Apex doesn't allow for that.
After catching his movement, Arizona expertly balanced on her artificial limb and kicked the chair away with her right foot. As a result, he remained standing in the awkward position, left completely vulnerable, back arched downwards.
The Queen had taken out the King's last line of defence.
She continued as if nothing had happened. "Now tell me and Major Hunt why you thought kicking a woman, already on the ground, so hard that you cracked some of her ribs, was a smart move? Are you that insecure that you got jealous of lil ol' me?"
Noticing the slight… blue-ening? That even a word? Of the man's lips, Owen decided to step in and slowly released Arizona's grip. "Come on Colonel, I think this man's learnt his lesson, he won't bother your family anymore." He viewed the weakened state in front of him, he fixed an icy glare, "we're not going to have any more problems here are we Mr Johnson, I trust you're satisfied this meeting concluded in an amicable manner?". In a very surprising admission, the man simply nodded. Owen was right, he wasn't going to admit he was rendered immobile by a woman.
As he led the blonde out, she turned round to face the man she'd just humiliated and left him with one parting promise. "I swear, if you ever go near my wife or daughter, touch them, breathe the same air as them, look at them, again - I will end you, in every single way possible."
With that, the two surgeons left the room, satisfied their message had been received.
Check mate.
After their 'meeting' with the accountancy firm(!) Arizona dropped Owen off and made her way home. She had to think up an imaginary consult and how to break the news to her person that they're probably going to have to watch Frozen for the umpteenth time that night.
Those damn brown eyes.
xxxxxxxxxx
Before they knew it, a week had passed, a week since they'd agreed to be each other's person. There were some awkward moments, but mainly happy times, comfortable silences, doubled-over laughs, quick pecks, heated make-out sessions, family dinners and a lot of love & care. Arizona would not let the brunette lift a finger, she wanted Callie healed & fighting fit as soon as possible, even if that meant she'd be moving out quicker.
Whilst neither had any doubts on their want to reconcile, both had experienced a moment of 'awakening'. It reaffirmed their dedication to making it work this time. Seemingly inconspicuous events lead to inward promises that they would not let this opportunity go.
Arizona's moment was when she arrived home after a genuine consult whilst on call. She knew she'd missed dinner and Sofia's bedtime but was hoping her person was still awake. As she withdrew the keys from the lock, the sight before her was everything she wanted and everything she never knew she wanted. Her two beautiful girls, the spitting image of each other, cuddled together on the couch, sleeping. After staring at them for a few moments, she slowly crept into the kitchen, struggling to keep tears at bay. The type of tears she hadn't shed since her wedding day; happy tears. After she'd composed herself, she spied a note on the side, in Sofia's handwriting it read 'me and mummy made you dinner, I hope you like it. Love from Sofia xxxxxxxxx' and underneath there was a scrawl 'it's chicken carbonara, in the fridge, hope my rock star likes it x'. Arizona chose not to hold back the tears this time as she laughed at the note and withdrew her dinner from the fridge.
This is what happiness was.
You are not letting this go, Robbins.
For Callie, it was during evening play time, only reserved for Saturday nights. Her girls had set up shop in a pretty substantial fort in the front room. She could hear the giggles, the tickling, the happy squeals coming from within and decided to sit back and bask in its warmth. Every now and then, both occupants would pop their head out and ask for the brunette's comments.
"Mummy, Sofia said she's been a good girl and deserves extra ice-cream, is that right?"
"Mummy, tell Mumma I cleaned my room!"
Two minutes later.
"Mummy, Sofia said she wants to go to bed extra early tonight, is that right?"
"MUMMY DON'T LISTEN TO MUMMA I DIDN'T SAY THAT"
Two minutes later.
"Mummy, mumma said she is the best cook in the house, I think she's wrong."
Raising an eyebrow as she lifted her head from the overhanging sheets, Arizona addressed their daughter but exchanged knowing grins with her person, "err, mumma is definitely not that silly baby girl."
After several more of these, Callie had enough of sitting back. She manoeuvred her way to the fort's 'door' and asked, "Mija, can I join you and mumma in your fort?" The girl stuck her head out and silently contemplated the request. Without answering her mother, she went back inside and consulted with her joint occupier. After some teasing, the little girl's head popped back out.
"Mumma said yes, but only if you bring snacks."
"And donuts!" came a shout from within.
The brunette smiled near enough ear to ear, "of course little miss, whatever you want". Yes, this is what she wanted, all she wanted. As she went to retrieve some popcorn, donuts and ice cream from the kitchen, she wiped away a few tears that had formed in the corner of her eyes. This playful side of Arizona had been lost, she thought maybe forever. But seeing her person & their daughter interact as a mother and child should, meant everything. She knew it then, without a shadow of doubt, they were her family. She loved them more than anything and would not go a single day without telling them that again. Playing the unofficial arbitrator in their fun-loving antics melted her heart and at the same time, made her whole. She was complete.
This is what happiness was.
You are not letting this go, Torres.
They both knew they were a long way from settled, but my god were they as determined as ever.
Next step? First date.
