Chapter 14- Callie

It's been almost a month, I have never been so happy, I have pretty much been living there. After work I'd drive the 10 or so miles and be welcomed with smiles and dinner. I even wake up in the mornings with a smile on my face, if you know me, you know getting me up in the morning is usually a task on its own. But when I wake up here, by the time I get done with getting ready someone always has breakfast ready. I can't forget the best part. A goodbye kiss from Arizona, who I was falling more in love with every day. I'm now sat behind my desk, trying to find financing for a couple who really wanted this car. "dammit another no" I groan and click around. "there's got to be something out there" clicking around, I submit their application to another bank. And sit back and wait, sometimes it came back right away, other times it took a bit. I'm startled when I feel someone standing in the doorway, I look up. "oh you're actually here"

"why wouldn't I be?"

"I stopped by your house last night" he pauses "you weren't home" I shake my head "you weren't home the night before, or the night before that" he stops "I talked to Mr. Webber, he's a nice man"

"what do you want daddy" I meet his eyes

"so you do remember" he says coming into my office, I let out a sigh, how the hell could I forget "Mr. Webber said you haven't been home in almost a month"

"I've been home" I say, long enough to grab some clothes, I inwardly smile.

"not according to Mr. Webber"

"why do you care? I make it to work that's what really matters"

"you've been with the Robbins haven't you?"

"does it really matter" I say, I already know how he feels about Daniel he doesn't need to remind me.

"well you tell me" I look up at him "that Alex, is no good" he shakes his head. I have to hold back my laugh, he thinks I'm with Alex, he's gonna have a heart attack when he finds out the truth. I see him turn and shut the door "Calliope, your mother and I didn't raise you to be some tramp, who runs off every night to spend with a guy who has nothing"

"this has nothing to do with Alex"

"it has everything to do with Alex" he says I can tell he's trying not to raise his voice "he's a nobody, fuck his family didn't even want him"

"daddy, please"

"no, he's a nobody and I don't want you with him" he starts going off, I'm only half listening "I forbid it"

"you forbid it" I'm getting pissed now "I'm almost 42 years old, father, I think I'm old enough to make my own decisions"

"no you're not" he says "Alex Karev is no good"

"its not Alex" I shout, I'm sure I can be heard outside even with the door shut, I see his face change, then laugh "the old man? Calliope" he shakes his head.

"it's not Daniel either" I sit back in my chair letting out a deep sigh. A glance at my computer tells me the financing came through, but I'm in the middle of this argument. My dad is quiet, and I look at him "what?"

"you're not to go out there again you hear me"

"how are you going to stop me" I ask leaning forward "I'm an adult, you have no control over me"

"I'm not only your father, I'm your boss, and if you insist on continuing this relationship, then I'll have to terminate your employment"

"I got one better" I stand so abruptly that my chair rolls back and tips over, reaching for my bag, and turning toward him. My face is level with him "I quit" I say quietly and open the door.

"Calliope get back here" I hear him call after me, but I ignore him "Calliope" I hear as I walk out the front door. Once I'm in my car, I quickly start it and drive off. You'd think I'd feel like shit, just quitting my job, but no, I actually feel liberated. It was a nice day, so I roll the windows down, and turn on the radio, smiling when Pink comes on singing about raising her glass. "thank you" I say and put the peddle down, as I hit the black top that will bring me to the love of my life. My song is interrupted by a phone call, but I hit the ignore button, and sing loud with the music, another call comes through. I sigh and hit the ignore button again, and this keeps happening until I pull my car into my parking spot, turning it off, I reach for my bag to find my phone. 14 times he tried to call me, 5 from his cell, 4 from the phone in my office, 4 from his office, and once from my moms phone. Clearing the notifications, then hitting the power button, I don't need my phone here anyway. My bag in hand I get out of the car. "hi baby" I say as Pen meets me, she's gotten so big in the last month. I lean down to scratch her ears "where's Zo?" I have taken to calling her by her nickname, unless we're in bed. Pen barks and trots off in the direction of the kennel. I figured she'd be in there working, so I follow the dog, my dog. And there she is, knee deep in dog shit. I have to laugh when Pen runs up to her, and almost knocks her over "dammit" she curses "go away" she must have heard me laugh, she looked up. "hey"

"hi" I smile

"what are you doing back already?"

"oh you know, just quit my job"

"you what?" she says leaning the shovel against the wall and walking towards me.

"I quit" I say

"um, why?"

"well" I sigh, she's now standing in front of me, I see her look around, reaching for me she drags me into the office. "sit" she points to the chair, I do as I'm told "now explain"

"well" I say "I was working, and my dad came in" I could tell by the look on her face I really didn't need to go on, but I did anyway, explaining what happened. I can see her face change when I tell her that he assumed I was with Alex, then him forbidding me to come here. She takes a deep breath "Callie, you can't just quit like that"

"too late" I shrug

"what about your house?"

"I'll sell it and move in here, I've been here every day for the last month anyway." I could tell she liked the idea of me living here, but I could also tell she was about to lay into me. Standing "I don't need a lecture from you too, ok, it's just a job, I'll find another one, or I won't it doesn't matter I have a lot of money in savings, and selling the house" which I've been thinking about anyway, "I don't need to work"

"alright" she sighs, I reach out for her "I'm full of dog shit"

"I don't care" I pull her into me, she smelled of dog shit and Arizona. But oddly I didn't mind it. She wraps her arms around me and kisses me. "we'll figure it out, but go change I need help with the kennels, and dad and Alex went to town"

"so we're here alone?" I ask, looking at her with that look

"yes" she says "and none of that, I, we have work to do, since you no longer have a job, you get to help out here" she says kissing me again and moving away.

"fine, mom" I pretend to pout, she looks at me and laughs "don't you forget it" she winks "go change, you don't need your good clothes wrecked" I nod give her one more kiss and make my way to the house.


My version for Carlos in this story is... If you'd seen One Tree Hill, I'm picturing him as Dan Scott. Especially in future chapters. Thanks again for reading.