R.I.P. Dr Arizona Robbins, M.D., F.A.C.S. 1976 - 2016. Beloved mother, daughter and friend. Do I get it mentioned on my gravestone they never located my body?
"Hi… you… too," she attempted casual but came out awkward, "how you been?"
Callie looked at her, perplexed. "Seriously Arizona?"
She looked at Callie and pulled an awkward face, she didn't know where that came from either.
"I'm good thank you, just here to see my Calliope after your call. I appreciate you letting me know, I know this daughter of mine would not have told me of this… incident."
Panicked, Callie blurted, "I didn't want to be an accessory to murder."
"Mija, there is always a healthy amount of distance, it would not come back to me."
Arizona, under her breath, "good to know."
Carlos continued; eyes focused on his daughter. He started calmly but became increasingly enraged as he went on. It didn't faze Callie, but Arizona was listening intently, shifting every now and then trying to displace the nervous energy. "Mija, Arizona tells me you were beaten by some man you had been seeing, a 'Simon', is this true?" He gave a stern look, "be careful how you answer me Calliope, I will know if you are lying. No one hurts my little girl, it's one thing to do it emotionally…", he looked at Arizona.
Non-dimpled, nervous smile.
Hello, yes, that would be me he's referring to.
Then back at his daughter, "…but physically? Mija, it is not acceptable. I won't have it, a Torres does not stand for such a thing, this man must be taken care of."
Callie sighed; she had been on the end of Carlos Torres threatening someone who hurt her before. She'd seen him physically go after George, offer to have Arizona taken care of and she's pretty sure he had something to do with her the prom date (who stood her up) disappearing. Family relocating to Orlando? Hmm…
"Daddy", she sighed, "I really can't be 100% sure, my memory isn't completely back. I can't deny or confirm if what Arizona said was true or not", she gave her ex-wife a pursed, angry look, "but regardless, you are not doing anything, it doesn't matter. I'm not going to have a man's blood on my hands…"
"I mean technically it wouldn't be you, I'm the accessory here, I called you dad-"
"Arizona!"
"Sorry", she stepped back, "continue."
"…I don't want blood on my hands, I know you Daddy, I know what you could do, but I'm not that person, you can't seek revenge on my behalf, I'm a big girl. This guy, whoever done it, needs to go through the legal system, be brought to justi-"
"Justice?! Calliope, you know there is no such thing. I will have him taken care of. I have made some enquiries", he again turned to Arizona, who had taken a few steps towards Callie this time, trying to offer some back up, but her nerves were failing her, "Arizona was helpful enough to tell me he spoke to you at the coffee shop, so I've had someone wait there fo-"
"DADDY, NO! No you do not stalk or hurt this man! I told you; I don't even know for certain it's him. You can't go round threate-"
"Who said anything about threatening mija? Threats are just mere words."
Callie couldn't take this anymore, she was sore, tired, and was sure her coffee Arizona was holding was getting cold. She took a deep breath, gestured for her coffee and took a sip.
An awkward silence filled the room, Arizona wasn't entirely sure of her place, but stayed next to her wife.
"Daddy, listen to me." She inhaled, she had a lot to say "I am a double-board certified, orthopaedic and trauma surgeon. I'm head of a department, I have been in the Peace Corps, I own part of this hospital, I'm a member of the board, I have a Harper Avery award for my work with Veterans, I have built Cartlidge from nothing, I designed prosthetics to help the injured LIVE their lives, I have jointly raised a wonderful daughter, YOUR nieta, formed amazing relationships with my co-workers and just been approached to act as a medical counsel for the Seahawks and Mariners. I am ordering you, call off any hit, cancel any plans you, stop these crazy thoughts of yours to seek revenge on my behalf. I don't need it daddy, I don't want it, and I expect this to be the last I hear of it."
Arizona smiled proudly.
That's m'wife right there.
Wait, what about the Seahawks and Mariners?
Carlos, looking unmoved, took in all that his daughter said. She was right, she had achieved so much, all without using his money or their name, she had started from scratch. Calliope Torres was not a fan of nepotism.
After she had calmed down somewhat, she was hungry and wanted her banana nut muffin. At that moment, she believed in telepathic communication, because Arizona reached for the bag and handed it to her most amazingly awesome wife.
"Daddy," she sighed, "please, please do not do anything that will cause this guy harm, that would put a man's death firmly in my hands." At that point, she played to his weakness, Callie Torres knew where to hit, "and I would have to face my daughter every day, your granddaughter, knowing the man who loves her most in this world, had a guy killed." Desperate, "Daddy, please."
Her anger had subsided, she was desperate that her tactic had worked. She was aware her power play gave her upper hand, but it was her last card, and she was vulnerable. The strength she thought she had moments ago, completely gone. Her father was yet to say a word.
He looked at Arizona, "Arizona, can you give us a moment please?"
Oh no, her issues with authority figures, her guilt about the cheating & affair, the knowledge the man in front of her could, and had OFFERED, to have her taken out, was paralysing. She looked at Callie, as if to ask her preference, but failed to register an affirmative. Damn, she was alone.
"No."
"Excuse me?"
Callie's head shot up.
"No, Mr Tor- Carlos, I will not give you a moment with Calliope. She has made it abundantly clear that you are not to 'put a hit out' on this, this, man" (ha, what man hits a woman?) "and so I'm not leaving. YOU can leave…"
RIP me, again.
"…but I'm not leaving her side."
She took a step forward.
Don't cry Robbins.
"I love and respect my wife more than anything, and agree with her on this. Yes when I called you, it was for the purpose of having the man's body found in a canal-"
"ARIZONA!"
"But Callie is right, whoever did this needs to be brought to justice, and I'll be damned if I let my daughter have a relationship with someone who puts hits out on people."
"You told me on the phone you would 'smash his face in and end his life' if you found him."
Callie's focus remained on Arizona; did she hear that right?
Haha, oopsie, guilty again Arizona, "yes, I did, but I've had time to reflect, who does that help? It doesn't help me, you, Callie or most importantly, your granddaughter." She went from firm to pleading, "Carlos, be reasonable here, this is not the way things are done. We have a duty, as the people who care about Calliope the most", she was at Callie's side, her arm placed around her shoulders as to solidify their joint stance, "to look after her and respect her wishes."
There hung that silence again.
Carlos pursed his lips, eyes moving between his daughter and his ex daughter-in-law, the old Carlos Torres may have just shrugged off their plea and continue with his plan. But they were right, they were a family, he had a nieta, the little girl he adored with all his heart.
For her part, Arizona stood firm, she held her stiff upper lip and wouldn't let her wife go.
Callie could see the wheels in her father's head turning, was Carlos Torres really about to accept their request and stand down? Call off the hit? Or not order one? Whatever stage he was at. He was definitely at a stage.
Without words, he slowly walked to his daughter. He placed a tender hand on her shoulder and looked her in her eyes, whatever he was about to say, Callie knew it would be his final decision.
"I won't order the hit."
Arizona's leg went, if she didn't have one made of metal, she may have completely collapsed. Thank God for her wife's strong shoulders too, she was definitely taking the blonde surgeon's full weight at that comment.
Callie gave a loud exhale and thankful smile, her eyes filled with tears.
She whispered, "thank you Daddy" and tentatively leaned in for a gentle hug. Ribs.
Carlos pulled back and straightened his jacket as if to signal his pending departure. He was satisfied she wasn't in immediate, life-threatening danger, which was his main concern. He gave Arizona a small nod but made one more, sincere threat before he left.
"Not this time, but if anyone hurts my nieta-"
"Oh we'll take them out ourselves."
Callie nodded without hesitation, "We'd end them."
They looked at each other, something had just clicked between them.
Carlos gave a wry smile, "I'm pleased to hear."
They said some further goodbyes, Callie sank into her bed and Arizona crawled to sit on the chair next to it, how she had remained upright during that exchange she'll never know. They had jointly taken on Carlos Torres, and won.
Collapsed on the seat, "I can't feel my leg."
"I can't believe we just did that."
"We're awesome. Right?"
Callie looked at her, a smile as wide as the sky, "right."
More silence filled the air, but not the awkward one they had just faced, but full of beautiful oxygen, they could breathe in comfort again. Trying to lighten the mood, and not entirely sure this was the right time to approach the topic of them (the adrenaline was pumping), Arizona put her coffee on the table and grabbed her breakfast.
She took a bite, "mmm, so good."
"I know," Callie looked at her wife (and there goes the ex), "who's on next shift? I think we both deserve a rest."
Arizona, mouth full of food, pulled out a piece of paper from her lab coat.
She dimpled.
"Me."
