The Great Escape - Part 5
Title: The Great Escape
Author: IAdoreCallie
Pairing: Callie and Arizona
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Camp Torres is no fun for a recovering Arizona.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this fiction, nor do I have any rights in regards to them.
The house was silent. Far too quiet for Arizona's liking. It had been a week since she had broken down and tried to tell Callie what was going on in her mind. True to her word Callie had not spoken about the whole ordeal since that night. Arizona was grateful for that, but the silent words spoken through looks between Callie and her parents drove Arizona crazy. Not that she didn't appreciate the efforts that Callie's parents had gone through to make sure she was ok. Before all of this, Arizona was sure that Maria Torres would have been more than happy to let Arizona fall down several flights of stairs. Now she came out of the walls like a specter anytime that Arizona got near them.
Her body felt fine. The only pain remaining was that lingering in the back of her mind. It would never leave, but it could be muffled if she tried hard enough. She wasn't sure that she was ready to go back to work just yet, as running on the treadmill was a little uncomfortable so dragging a bed around and rushing all over the hospital might be a little bit of a stretch. Not to mention the memories might rush back with visual stimuli. Relaxing in the yard in the morning sun suited her fine for the moment. It gave her an excuse to start writing the thesis she had been toying with for years but never had the time to write.
Reclining back on the lounge chair she flipped the screen of her laptop open and smiled as a picture of her and Callie in Hawaii appeared on the desktop. She would give anything to be back there. She would give anything to go back to normal. Callie's parents could go home, please, and she and Callie could take full advantage of being a couple in love. She had the nasty feeling that Callie's mother was only lingering so that she could be on hand as soon as any mention of the wedding cropped up. They had not officially announced their engagement as far as Maria was concerned. That would involve news articles, parties and stress. Arizona would be content to down a few tequilla's at Joes with their friends, but when that was suggested Maria almost blew an artery in her neck and so Callie diplomatically stated that Arizona was just talking through the meds. She didn't mean it.
As the warm sun stroked her face Arizona smiled at the thought of Callie. She had been the best mistake Arizona had ever made. The mistake being to blow her off so easily when Callie suggested they go on a date. Newborns can really surprise you. As she looked around the yard she pondered what it would look like with swing sets and toys littering the lawn. There was a twinge in her stomach as she thought of their children. Sasha's face swam into her memory. Usually it resided in her dreams but whenever she contemplated children Sasha was there. The child that never stood a chance. Shaking her head to clear the thoughts, delicate golden curls fell across her forehead. She closed her eyes to regain her composure and lock away the tears and noticed how unaturally quiet everything really was. Carlos and Maria were out at the store, they were restocking the cupboards and freezer before they were scheduled to leave at the weekend. Callie was taking Ali for a walk, which Arizona knew was a front for going to talk to Mark about Arizona's denial. It didn't bother her, Callie could talk about it all she wanted, as long as it wasn't to Arizona.
The biggest challenge to her composure lay upstairs in the closet. Her journal had not been touched since she had regained her memory and she aimed to keep it that way. That small book contained all the joy, pain and despair that needed to be locked away. Guilt pulled at her stomach as she thought of all the devoted attention that Callie had paid to keeping a record of everything. But reading it would push Arizona too far. At night she would look at the closet door and imagine the journal inside staring at her with red eyes. Burning at her soul and willing her to open its pages. Begging her to unlock its secrets and spiral down into its void of torment. She was stronger than that and would not give in to its seductive calls.
As she thought of this a sliding sound behind her and a sudden wetness on her cheek let her know that Callie was back and Ali was pleased to see her. She ran her fingers through Ali's chocolate fur and ruffled her head. "Hey you. Shouldn't you be exhausted?" Ali's tail wagged enthusiastically and her eyes glistened. That puppy never tired.
"She might not be, but I am." Arizona turned to smile at Callie and laughed as Callie held up a snapped leather leash. "Broke half way around the lake.. I chased her for the other half." Despite her best efforts Arizona was overcome with giggles as she pictured Callie chasing the puppy around the park. Arizona stepped up from the lounger and walked into Callie's defeated embrace. Picking a leaf from Callie's bedraggled hair and wiping a bead of sweat from her brow, Arizona rewarded Callie's efforts with a slow, lingering kiss. She felt like she was seducing Callie behind the bike sheds at school and they would be caught at any moment, which was a risk, but it was worth it. "I need to look like an idiot and lose the dog more often if this is my reward." Callie gave a cheeky grin and brought Arizona back to the lounger.
"You need a shower." Arizona wrinkled her nose playfully as Callie squeezed her tight, rolling off the lounger and laughing loudly as Arizona tried to escape Callie's attempts to pin her. Arizona slipped lose and backed towards the pool nestled under the trees at the far end of the yard. Arizona loved moments like this. When the worries could all be forgotten and they could simply let loose and enjoy their lives. Callie inched towards Arizona with a mischievious smile. Arizona played scared but she felt the grass change to tile and knew she was inches away from victory.
Callie's arms wrapped tightly around Arizona and Arizona was "tortured" with a kiss that took her breath away. For a moment she forgot her entire reason for breathing. She didn't need to. Callie was her air. But as the breeze brought the smell of excertion, Arizona remembered what she needed to do. Spinning them around until Callie's back was to the pool she broke free from the kiss. Leaning back in Callie's arms, she dropped her head, looked up through her lashes and brought her hands to cup Callie's face. "I really do love you. You amaze me Calliope. You are my everything." Callie's arms loosened their hold on her and began to softly stroke Arizona's arms.
"I love you toooooooooooo" A loud splash ended Callie's sentence as Arizona gave a light push and sent Callie backwards into the water. Arizona couldn't see Callie surface, through the tears of laughter, but she could feel the heat of fury burning at her skin from feet away. Wiping her eyes she opened them to see Callie clinging to the side looking murderous. "I said you needed a shower!" Arizona pleaded through her laughter as Callie began hauling herself from the pool.
"That water is frrreezing Arizona. You suck." Arizona's laughter stopped as Callie's voice held none of the humor she expected. Callie dragged herself onto the tiles and lay there for a moment on her back. Arizona crouched over her and looked down apologetically. She thought it was funny, but apparently Callie wasn't feeling the moment. Arizona crawled to lay ontop of Callie, she was drenched but it didn't matter, laying with her knee between Callie's thighs and her face nuzzled at Callie's neck, she hoped that Callie would forgive her for her prank. "I'm sorry. I was only messing around." As momentum and laughter hit her senses Arizona realized the double cross a moment too late. Callie was right, the water really was cold.