This Morning Sky [7/?]
Title: This Morning Sky [7/?]
Author: abandonedmem
Fandom: Grey's Anatomy
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Set around 7x10. Arizona is presumed dead after an accident in Africa, but Derek finds himself with an amnesiac patient that bears a striking resemblance to Seattle Grace's favorite Peds attending. Now Callie has to remind Arizona who she is.
Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners.
A/N: I hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving! Once again, thank you all for reading and reviewing this story. It means a lot and I’m glad you’re enjoying it. The next chapter is what this story has really been leading up to and I hope to have it up shortly. Enjoy!
February 14, 2011
“And this is one of the first pictures we took together.” Callie handed Arizona a photo of the two of them at the park. They had gone for a walk between shifts and got caught in the rain. Callie remembered the way Arizona burrowed into her side to keep warm as she held out her arm to take the photo. “Aww, it’s our first picture,” Arizona had said as she held the screen up for them both to see. Callie had kissed her then and forgot about the cold.
Arizona studied the photo in her hands. They both looked so happy. She noticed the way she clung to Callie with her head resting lightly on her shoulder and the bright easy smile of the brunette. The edges of the photo were frayed and bits of tape were folded over the corners. It had probably been taped to Callie’s locker or maybe even her own before she left for Africa. She wished she could remember this day, but other than the feelings of warmth and longing the photo triggered nothing in her brain, just as the other fifty pictures Callie showed her failed to.
Callie had been patient with her, reliving the memories in glorious detail and answering every question. The blonde loved hearing the stories, but it was like learning about someone else’s life.
“It’s okay,” Callie said picking up on her unease. “You don’t have to try so hard to remember.”
Arizona realized she was staring and the photo with her brow furrowed from concentration and eased her grip on the picture. She gave the other woman a soft smile. “It seems like a great memory.”
“It is. I can take you there if you like. Derek will be releasing you soon.”
“I’d like that.”
Arizona watched as Callie’s hand drifted to the silver heart necklace she always wore. It was a gesture the brunette did often. “What’s the story with the necklace? You’re always playing with it, especially when you’re nervous.”
“Oh.” Callie’s hand froze around the necklace as she peered down to look at it. “It was a Valentine’s Day gift from you actually. I got you the same one. It was completely on accident, but we thought it was cute.”
“Isn’t today Valentine’s Day?”
“Yeah, I guess it is.”
“You wouldn’t happen to know where mine is, would you?”
Callie’s brow furrowed as she thought. “You had it with you at the airport before . . . before you left. I’m not sure what happened to it after that. Teddy brought back all your things when she went to Africa. We have them in storage if you want to go through them.”
Arizona’s parents had asked Callie to go through their daughter’s things for them. She hadn’t been able to bring herself to do it yet and, save for a few t-shirts, all of Arizona’s things still sat in storage. Callie’s pager went off, startling both women.
“Damn it. There’s a 911 in the pit. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’ll see you tonight though?”
“Of course. There’s no one else I’d want to spend Valentine’s Day with.”
/ / /
February 16, 2011
Arizona was more than ready to get out of the hospital. Tonight Callie was going to take her to dinner then for drinks at Joe’s. Though they hadn’t defined it, in Arizona’s mind it was definitely a date. She was nervous, but couldn’t wait to be with Callie in a different environment. Recently, Callie had steered their relationship into the platonic zone. There was limited flirtation and innuendo and when they touched it was only in a comforting handhold or a friendly hug. She knew the brunette was trying to distance herself to keep from getting hurt until they could figure this out, but Arizona wanted to start moving things along. She craved physical contact and wanted to see that desiring glint in Callie’s eyes. More than that though, she wanted to kiss her. She wanted to kiss her so badly and hoped tonight would be the night for that.
Arizona knew it was time to stop looking to the past and start focusing on the present. It had been a while since the surgery and she still had no memory of her old life at all. Derek had apologized to her the day before for not being able to deliver her memories as promised. “You gave me a second chance at life. That’s really all that matters,” she had told him. If Derek was giving up hope, then she knew it was time she did too. She loved hearing Callie’s stories and seeing pictures, but she did it more for Callie’s sake than her own. Arizona didn’t want to dash the other woman’s hopes, but tonight she was going to start focusing on new memories rather than old ones.
“Hey.” Callie appeared in the doorway and found the other woman rummaging through a duffel bag. “You ready?”
“Yeah, sorry. I was just looking for something,” Arizona said throwing a few items back into the bag. She grabbed her coat and followed the brunette out the door.
“You look great, by the way.”
“Thank you. I hope I’m not underdressed. This is the nicest shirt I had.” Arizona wore a simple blue top that made her eyes pop. Callie loved when she wore blue.
“It’s perfect.”
“So tell me about this restaurant. Do we go there a lot?”
“Actually, it’s a new place that opened a few weeks ago. I figured we could try something new and give you a break from memory lane.”
“I’d like that.”
They didn’t bring up Arizona’s memories at all during dinner. Instead, they talked about Callie’s surgeries and the fight she and Karev broke up in the pit. Arizona brought up an article she read in the paper and asked Callie about the book she was reading. It felt like a real first date, not that Arizona would really know, but she felt like they were making progress.
By the time they got to Joe’s the bar was packed with people from the hospital. Teddy, Owen, Cristina, and a few surgeons Arizona hadn’t met were sitting at a table in the middle of the bar. Teddy waved at her as they walked in, but Callie grabbed her hand and led her to a table in the back. She motioned at Joe to bring them drinks then turned to look at her with a small smile.
“I hope you don’t mind, but all they are going to do is ask questions and I just want to spend time with you.”
“No, no. I don’t mind at all.”
Callie’s grin grew as their drinks were dropped off. “You know they’re staring at us, right?”
“I figured they would. Let’s give them something to stare at. Wanna dance?” she asked extending her hand to Callie. The brunette took it and let Arizona lead her past their friends to join the handful of couples on the dance floor. The stereo played some pop song, Rihanna or Lady Gaga she guessed, and she tried her best to stay in rhythm with the music. Even without her memories Arizona knew she wasn’t the greatest dancer. Callie, on the other hand, was. Arizona was hypnotized by the brunette’s hips and the way her whole body moved in perfect harmony with the beat.
Callie reached out and placed her hands on Arizona’s hips with a knowing smile. “Like this,” she said guiding her to the rhythm of the song. The blonde moved closer to Callie and wrapped her arms around the other woman’s shoulders. Their eyes connected and Arizona imaged the lust and passion she saw in Callie’s were reflected in her own. She imagined them doing this before; dancing and drinking at Joe’s then heading back to their apartment to act on the passion. It was a ghost of a memory that was long gone before it even had a chance to resister and if not for the look Callie was giving her, Arizona might have been convinced that the memory was more than her imagination. Instead, she watched Callie’s eyes drift down to her lips as she slightly licked her own. Arizona leaned in until her face was mere inches away from the brunette’s and closed her eyes as Callie closed the distance. She was surprised when Callie’s head turned slightly, dodging her lips. “Do you want to take this somewhere else? Our audience is growing.”
Arizona snuck a look at their friends’ table to see that more surgeons had joined them, including Mark who had a grin on his face and winked in their direction. All eyes were on them, not that Arizona cared. All she could think about were the brunette’s lips and how close she had been to kissing her. “Yeah, sure,” she said a little breathless. Callie took her hand and led her out of the bar. The cool Seattle air hit them and Callie let go of her hand to put her jacket on. Arizona’s first instinct was to just grab her and kiss her, something she’s sure she’d done a thousand times, but the mood was effectively killed. They walked back to the hospital exchanging awkward small talk.
“What happened tonight?” Arizona blurted when they finally reached her room. “Things were going so well and I don’t understand what changed.”
Callie fidgeted with the zipper of her jacket and refused to meet her eyes. “I just didn’t like everyone staring at us. I didn’t want an audience.”
“I know you well enough to know when you’re lying. What’s the real reason?”
Callie was silent for a moment. “It just felt so familiar. The way we danced and how close we were. I forgot that things were different and when I was about to kiss you all I could think about was how I never thought I’d be able to do that again. Those feelings just confused me.”
“But I’m here Callie. I didn’t die and I’m right here, but you pull away sometimes and tonight is not the first time it happened.”
“I know and I’m sorry,” Callie said finally meeting her eyes. “But deep down it kind of feels like I’m cheating on you with you. I know it makes no sense and you are her, but at the same time you’re not. And I know that it shouldn’t matter because at least you are alive, but every time I think about getting closer to you all I can think about is how you are not my Arizona.”
Arizona noticed Callie’s eye’s fill with tears and she took a step closer to her. “But I can be. I know this is confusing for you, it is for me too, but I think it’s time you face that those memories probably aren’t going to come back. I already have. I’m ready to start a new life Callie. I’m so tired of living in the past. I’m missing out on how wonderful the present can be.”
“What?” Callie said taking a step back and giving her a disbelieving look. “Are you giving up?”
“I don’t see it as giving up. I’m just moving on.”
“No. Come on, Arizona. Don’t you want to remember your life? I want you to remember. I need you to remember.”
“But I don’t Callie,” she said, her voice displaying her growing anger. “I don’t need to remember. We could waste months hoping for something that is never going to happen. I’ve lost over thirty years of my life and I don’t want to lose any more.”
“I can’t believe this,” Callie said taking another step back. “I-I . . .” The brunette stopped and started at Arizona a moment before abruptly turning and walking out the door.
“Callie! Callie, wait,” Arizona called, but didn’t chase after her. She knew there was nothing she could say right now to calm Callie. The other woman needed time and space to process everything and Arizona was going to give it to her.
/ / /
February 18, 2011
“I thought I might find you here,” Mark said entering the on-call room and sitting on the bed next to Callie. “How are you holding up?”
Callie groaned next to him and rubbed a hand over her face. “I don’t know. I still so confused.”
“I get that. I mean, if it was Lexie I’d be confused too, but I’d still love her and want to be with her. You still love Blondie, don’t you?”
“Of course, I do. Since she left for Africa, all I’ve wanted was for her to come back. Then we thought she died and I dreamed that she was alive and we’d find each other again, but my brain just can’t get over that she doesn’t remember our first kiss or the struggle for her to want kids. I can never ask her what she said to my father to make him accept us because she’d never admit it, but I know she talked to him. I’ll never know why she left for Africa. I’m just so mad that she’s giving up.”
Mark nodded. “I know. You’ve got a short window here Cal, so you’re going to have to figure it out soon.”
“What do you mean?”
“Because she’s leaving in,” he checked his watch “three hours and you’ll have decide what you want to do before then.”
“She’s leaving!?” she asked sitting up.
“You didn’t know? Derek released her this morning and she’s flying back to Boston to meet with her parents.”
Callie bolted out of bed and headed to Arizona’s room. She found the blonde signing papers next to the nurse’s station. “You’re leaving?” The question came out louder than she intended and Arizona led her into her room and shut the door so they’d have some privacy.
“Yes. I’m going to see my parents in Boston. Thank you for keeping them updated, by the way.” Callie had been in contact with Barbara and Daniel since she found out Arizona was alive. They wanted to get on the first plane to Seattle, but Daniel had recently had knee surgery and couldn’t fly so Callie had given them regular updates.
“Why?”
“You know why, Callie. I want to give this thing a shot, but you obviously need some time to come to terms with the fact that I’m not going to get my memories back. Without you there’s really nothing for me here. Plus, I think it’s time I see my parents. I’m sure they’ve been through Hell.”
Callie was speechless. She noticed the packed duffel bag sitting by the door and lost it. “You can’t leave me again.”
“Hey, it’s okay,” the blonde said as she moved to wrap the crying woman in a hug. “I’m not leaving forever. We just need time to assess the situation. I’ll come back in a few weeks or you could come visit me in Boston.”
Callie clung to Arizona. “The last time you left you didn’t come back.”
“I’ll come back. I promise.”
Author: abandonedmem
Fandom: Grey's Anatomy
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Set around 7x10. Arizona is presumed dead after an accident in Africa, but Derek finds himself with an amnesiac patient that bears a striking resemblance to Seattle Grace's favorite Peds attending. Now Callie has to remind Arizona who she is.
Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners.
A/N: I hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving! Once again, thank you all for reading and reviewing this story. It means a lot and I’m glad you’re enjoying it. The next chapter is what this story has really been leading up to and I hope to have it up shortly. Enjoy!
February 14, 2011
“And this is one of the first pictures we took together.” Callie handed Arizona a photo of the two of them at the park. They had gone for a walk between shifts and got caught in the rain. Callie remembered the way Arizona burrowed into her side to keep warm as she held out her arm to take the photo. “Aww, it’s our first picture,” Arizona had said as she held the screen up for them both to see. Callie had kissed her then and forgot about the cold.
Arizona studied the photo in her hands. They both looked so happy. She noticed the way she clung to Callie with her head resting lightly on her shoulder and the bright easy smile of the brunette. The edges of the photo were frayed and bits of tape were folded over the corners. It had probably been taped to Callie’s locker or maybe even her own before she left for Africa. She wished she could remember this day, but other than the feelings of warmth and longing the photo triggered nothing in her brain, just as the other fifty pictures Callie showed her failed to.
Callie had been patient with her, reliving the memories in glorious detail and answering every question. The blonde loved hearing the stories, but it was like learning about someone else’s life.
“It’s okay,” Callie said picking up on her unease. “You don’t have to try so hard to remember.”
Arizona realized she was staring and the photo with her brow furrowed from concentration and eased her grip on the picture. She gave the other woman a soft smile. “It seems like a great memory.”
“It is. I can take you there if you like. Derek will be releasing you soon.”
“I’d like that.”
Arizona watched as Callie’s hand drifted to the silver heart necklace she always wore. It was a gesture the brunette did often. “What’s the story with the necklace? You’re always playing with it, especially when you’re nervous.”
“Oh.” Callie’s hand froze around the necklace as she peered down to look at it. “It was a Valentine’s Day gift from you actually. I got you the same one. It was completely on accident, but we thought it was cute.”
“Isn’t today Valentine’s Day?”
“Yeah, I guess it is.”
“You wouldn’t happen to know where mine is, would you?”
Callie’s brow furrowed as she thought. “You had it with you at the airport before . . . before you left. I’m not sure what happened to it after that. Teddy brought back all your things when she went to Africa. We have them in storage if you want to go through them.”
Arizona’s parents had asked Callie to go through their daughter’s things for them. She hadn’t been able to bring herself to do it yet and, save for a few t-shirts, all of Arizona’s things still sat in storage. Callie’s pager went off, startling both women.
“Damn it. There’s a 911 in the pit. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’ll see you tonight though?”
“Of course. There’s no one else I’d want to spend Valentine’s Day with.”
/ / /
February 16, 2011
Arizona was more than ready to get out of the hospital. Tonight Callie was going to take her to dinner then for drinks at Joe’s. Though they hadn’t defined it, in Arizona’s mind it was definitely a date. She was nervous, but couldn’t wait to be with Callie in a different environment. Recently, Callie had steered their relationship into the platonic zone. There was limited flirtation and innuendo and when they touched it was only in a comforting handhold or a friendly hug. She knew the brunette was trying to distance herself to keep from getting hurt until they could figure this out, but Arizona wanted to start moving things along. She craved physical contact and wanted to see that desiring glint in Callie’s eyes. More than that though, she wanted to kiss her. She wanted to kiss her so badly and hoped tonight would be the night for that.
Arizona knew it was time to stop looking to the past and start focusing on the present. It had been a while since the surgery and she still had no memory of her old life at all. Derek had apologized to her the day before for not being able to deliver her memories as promised. “You gave me a second chance at life. That’s really all that matters,” she had told him. If Derek was giving up hope, then she knew it was time she did too. She loved hearing Callie’s stories and seeing pictures, but she did it more for Callie’s sake than her own. Arizona didn’t want to dash the other woman’s hopes, but tonight she was going to start focusing on new memories rather than old ones.
“Hey.” Callie appeared in the doorway and found the other woman rummaging through a duffel bag. “You ready?”
“Yeah, sorry. I was just looking for something,” Arizona said throwing a few items back into the bag. She grabbed her coat and followed the brunette out the door.
“You look great, by the way.”
“Thank you. I hope I’m not underdressed. This is the nicest shirt I had.” Arizona wore a simple blue top that made her eyes pop. Callie loved when she wore blue.
“It’s perfect.”
“So tell me about this restaurant. Do we go there a lot?”
“Actually, it’s a new place that opened a few weeks ago. I figured we could try something new and give you a break from memory lane.”
“I’d like that.”
They didn’t bring up Arizona’s memories at all during dinner. Instead, they talked about Callie’s surgeries and the fight she and Karev broke up in the pit. Arizona brought up an article she read in the paper and asked Callie about the book she was reading. It felt like a real first date, not that Arizona would really know, but she felt like they were making progress.
By the time they got to Joe’s the bar was packed with people from the hospital. Teddy, Owen, Cristina, and a few surgeons Arizona hadn’t met were sitting at a table in the middle of the bar. Teddy waved at her as they walked in, but Callie grabbed her hand and led her to a table in the back. She motioned at Joe to bring them drinks then turned to look at her with a small smile.
“I hope you don’t mind, but all they are going to do is ask questions and I just want to spend time with you.”
“No, no. I don’t mind at all.”
Callie’s grin grew as their drinks were dropped off. “You know they’re staring at us, right?”
“I figured they would. Let’s give them something to stare at. Wanna dance?” she asked extending her hand to Callie. The brunette took it and let Arizona lead her past their friends to join the handful of couples on the dance floor. The stereo played some pop song, Rihanna or Lady Gaga she guessed, and she tried her best to stay in rhythm with the music. Even without her memories Arizona knew she wasn’t the greatest dancer. Callie, on the other hand, was. Arizona was hypnotized by the brunette’s hips and the way her whole body moved in perfect harmony with the beat.
Callie reached out and placed her hands on Arizona’s hips with a knowing smile. “Like this,” she said guiding her to the rhythm of the song. The blonde moved closer to Callie and wrapped her arms around the other woman’s shoulders. Their eyes connected and Arizona imaged the lust and passion she saw in Callie’s were reflected in her own. She imagined them doing this before; dancing and drinking at Joe’s then heading back to their apartment to act on the passion. It was a ghost of a memory that was long gone before it even had a chance to resister and if not for the look Callie was giving her, Arizona might have been convinced that the memory was more than her imagination. Instead, she watched Callie’s eyes drift down to her lips as she slightly licked her own. Arizona leaned in until her face was mere inches away from the brunette’s and closed her eyes as Callie closed the distance. She was surprised when Callie’s head turned slightly, dodging her lips. “Do you want to take this somewhere else? Our audience is growing.”
Arizona snuck a look at their friends’ table to see that more surgeons had joined them, including Mark who had a grin on his face and winked in their direction. All eyes were on them, not that Arizona cared. All she could think about were the brunette’s lips and how close she had been to kissing her. “Yeah, sure,” she said a little breathless. Callie took her hand and led her out of the bar. The cool Seattle air hit them and Callie let go of her hand to put her jacket on. Arizona’s first instinct was to just grab her and kiss her, something she’s sure she’d done a thousand times, but the mood was effectively killed. They walked back to the hospital exchanging awkward small talk.
“What happened tonight?” Arizona blurted when they finally reached her room. “Things were going so well and I don’t understand what changed.”
Callie fidgeted with the zipper of her jacket and refused to meet her eyes. “I just didn’t like everyone staring at us. I didn’t want an audience.”
“I know you well enough to know when you’re lying. What’s the real reason?”
Callie was silent for a moment. “It just felt so familiar. The way we danced and how close we were. I forgot that things were different and when I was about to kiss you all I could think about was how I never thought I’d be able to do that again. Those feelings just confused me.”
“But I’m here Callie. I didn’t die and I’m right here, but you pull away sometimes and tonight is not the first time it happened.”
“I know and I’m sorry,” Callie said finally meeting her eyes. “But deep down it kind of feels like I’m cheating on you with you. I know it makes no sense and you are her, but at the same time you’re not. And I know that it shouldn’t matter because at least you are alive, but every time I think about getting closer to you all I can think about is how you are not my Arizona.”
Arizona noticed Callie’s eye’s fill with tears and she took a step closer to her. “But I can be. I know this is confusing for you, it is for me too, but I think it’s time you face that those memories probably aren’t going to come back. I already have. I’m ready to start a new life Callie. I’m so tired of living in the past. I’m missing out on how wonderful the present can be.”
“What?” Callie said taking a step back and giving her a disbelieving look. “Are you giving up?”
“I don’t see it as giving up. I’m just moving on.”
“No. Come on, Arizona. Don’t you want to remember your life? I want you to remember. I need you to remember.”
“But I don’t Callie,” she said, her voice displaying her growing anger. “I don’t need to remember. We could waste months hoping for something that is never going to happen. I’ve lost over thirty years of my life and I don’t want to lose any more.”
“I can’t believe this,” Callie said taking another step back. “I-I . . .” The brunette stopped and started at Arizona a moment before abruptly turning and walking out the door.
“Callie! Callie, wait,” Arizona called, but didn’t chase after her. She knew there was nothing she could say right now to calm Callie. The other woman needed time and space to process everything and Arizona was going to give it to her.
/ / /
February 18, 2011
“I thought I might find you here,” Mark said entering the on-call room and sitting on the bed next to Callie. “How are you holding up?”
Callie groaned next to him and rubbed a hand over her face. “I don’t know. I still so confused.”
“I get that. I mean, if it was Lexie I’d be confused too, but I’d still love her and want to be with her. You still love Blondie, don’t you?”
“Of course, I do. Since she left for Africa, all I’ve wanted was for her to come back. Then we thought she died and I dreamed that she was alive and we’d find each other again, but my brain just can’t get over that she doesn’t remember our first kiss or the struggle for her to want kids. I can never ask her what she said to my father to make him accept us because she’d never admit it, but I know she talked to him. I’ll never know why she left for Africa. I’m just so mad that she’s giving up.”
Mark nodded. “I know. You’ve got a short window here Cal, so you’re going to have to figure it out soon.”
“What do you mean?”
“Because she’s leaving in,” he checked his watch “three hours and you’ll have decide what you want to do before then.”
“She’s leaving!?” she asked sitting up.
“You didn’t know? Derek released her this morning and she’s flying back to Boston to meet with her parents.”
Callie bolted out of bed and headed to Arizona’s room. She found the blonde signing papers next to the nurse’s station. “You’re leaving?” The question came out louder than she intended and Arizona led her into her room and shut the door so they’d have some privacy.
“Yes. I’m going to see my parents in Boston. Thank you for keeping them updated, by the way.” Callie had been in contact with Barbara and Daniel since she found out Arizona was alive. They wanted to get on the first plane to Seattle, but Daniel had recently had knee surgery and couldn’t fly so Callie had given them regular updates.
“Why?”
“You know why, Callie. I want to give this thing a shot, but you obviously need some time to come to terms with the fact that I’m not going to get my memories back. Without you there’s really nothing for me here. Plus, I think it’s time I see my parents. I’m sure they’ve been through Hell.”
Callie was speechless. She noticed the packed duffel bag sitting by the door and lost it. “You can’t leave me again.”
“Hey, it’s okay,” the blonde said as she moved to wrap the crying woman in a hug. “I’m not leaving forever. We just need time to assess the situation. I’ll come back in a few weeks or you could come visit me in Boston.”
Callie clung to Arizona. “The last time you left you didn’t come back.”
“I’ll come back. I promise.”