The Great Escape - Part 7
Title: The Great Escape
Author: IAdoreCallie
Pairing: Callie and Arizona
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Secrets and revelations.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this fiction, nor do I have any rights in regards to them.
Arizona heard the front door slam and knew that Callie had not had the best of days. Shifting further under the blankets she tried to make herself as small as possible. Bringing the book she was reading higher, to cover her face, she waited with a smile, for Callie to breeze in and start her tirade. Arizona would see how many paragraphs she could read before Callie noticed that she was not staring at her. It always seemed to stop Callie ranting better than paying full attention and being the devoted audience.
Sure enough Callie strode into the room followed by a happy Ali. Ali never seemed to understand when Callie was in no mood for having her face licked by kibbley breath. As Callie stormed towards the dresser, Arizona beckoned for Ali to jump up on the bed and subtle cuddles were given when Callie's back was turned. Ali soon calmed down and watched with interest as Callie paced back and forwards across the carpet.
"He is unbelievable! I mean, he is a total ass! I cannot believe that man is in charge of a hospital!" Callie was throwing the contents of her pocket onto the dresser as she continued "Budget! His budget seems to keep him in new office furniture but we can't get the upgrades we need in Ortho?!" Arizona was two paragraphs down already and Callie appeared to be steaming from her ears. " In that meeting for over 4 hours! 4! What a total waste of my time! He knew before I even went in there with the proposal that he was going to say no. He knew. So why did I bother making all those stupid charts?" Arizona fought to keep her mouth shut as she had been the one to put all of Callie's data into charts. It gave her something to do. She was proud of them, so felt a little indignation that the Chief had clearly not even cared. But she wouldn't bite. Best to let Callie scream this one out and then Arizona could calmly discuss it with her. It was a far better plan than riling her up and Callie going in and getting fired for opening her mouth.
Arizona was two pages down before Callie turned on her. "You aren't even listening!" Arizona heard the bathroom door slamming and counted in her head... 5....4....3....2...1 "What the hell is so special about that book that you are ignoring me?"
Arizona laid the book down on the sheets and slipped out from beneath them to sit on the edge of the bed. Looking up at Callie she could see the fury, but that inquisitiveness that was Callie's natural instinct. "I'm not ignoring you sweetie. I am just not sure what you want me to say. You know Richard Webber is the biggest Political Puppet out there. If the Board say no money, he will say no money. Even if he agrees with you. He has rocked the boat too often and been kicked in the jewels for it. He won't rock it until he knows for sure he is close enough to dry land that he won't drown." Arizona patted the bed beside her. The red was leaving Callie's cheeks as reason sank in slowly. Dropping with an exasperated sigh she lay on her back, her legs dangling over the edge of the bed. Folding her arms over her head, Callie lay silently, letting her frustration seep away. Arizona lay beside her stroking her hair. "You'll get the money, one way or another. Maybe we could hold a fundraiser?" Callie let out a bitter laugh between her arms and then fell silent.
It was a good five minutes before either of them spoke again. Callie rolled onto her belly and picked up the book Arizona had been reading. "So whats this trashy novel about?" Arizona smirked and snatched the book from Callie's fingers.
"Its not trashy... Well it is a little. But I needed something to keep me entertained." Arizona perused the cover again and lay the book down on the bed. "Its about these two actresses. They play lesbians on a TV Show but one of them is married. Turns out they have started to fall for each other for real and are using their scenes to secretly be together. They obviously can't come out and just be together as well, one is married ... which is such a cliche for lesbian romances... And even if they did, the network they work for would pull the storyline they are playing. Which apparently is crossing borders and well liked." Arizona pursed her lips and looked at Callie who watched her back with amusement. "What?" Arizona quirked an eyebrow and folded her arms across her chest "It sounded interesting to me OK."
Callie shook her head and fought back a smile "No no, that sounds great. Totally unrealistic, but sounds great." Callie crawled off the bed and walked towards the bathroom. Calling back over her shoulder "I don't see why you need fictional romance, when you have me. I am the queen of romance. Goddess if you will." Arizona heard the shower start and smiled softly. Callie was right, she was the queen of romance. Managing to surprise Arizona on numerous occasions. As the shower continued Callie called out over the sound of the water "Oh and the Chief said he is looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. Was there something you wanted to tell me?"
Arizona winced and regretted not asking Richard to keep their meeting quiet. She had nothing per se that she needed to keep a secret, but Callie was still a little protective and Arizona was not looking forward to the debate. "I am going in to see what are the stipulations for getting back to work. I assume there will be therapist time and a full check up. But I feel fine and I am ready to get back to being the Pediatric Awesomeness that I am." The water had stopped and Callie was strolling out of the bathroom. Dripping wet, still soapy and completely naked. "Well I like that look." Callie's face said she wasn't in the mood for joking.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Arizona lay back into the pillows. "I don't suppose saying that I thought it would be a nice surprise would work?" Callie's eyes narrowed "Nope, guess not. Its my decision Calliope. I feel like I am ready. If I can take your animal tendencies then I can handle getting back to work with no problem. I will talk to the therapist or whatever they want me to do. But I need to be getting out of this house and back to what I love. Or you are going to come home to find your closet has been re arranged for the third time this week. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just didn't want that glare.... Though I didn't expect it to come with wet, soapy nakedness. Perhaps I should have brought it up sooner." Arizona flashed a smile and Callie slipped from the bed towards the bathroom without a word. Arizona chewed her upper lip and looked down at Ali "Guess mommy isn't getting any tonight. Nope." Ali perked her ears but decided to fall asleep rather than confirm Arizona's suspicions.
"Just would have been nice to hear it from you. Thats all." Callie was wrapped in a towel and looking saddened in Arizona's direction. Arizona felt guilt welling up in her chest. She didn't want to make Callie feel bad. As with so many situations between them, she should have just come clean to start with and saved Callie from having to give the puppy eyes. Callie was rooting through her dresser for a pair of shorts when she picked up something from the top "You still haven't opened this?" Arizona looked over and saw the envelope that Carlos had left her. Shaking her head she picked her book back up.
"I didn't see any rush in it. Its probably just another gift check. It took you four months to cash the last one he sent you." Arizona buried herself in her book as she heard Callie rip open the envelope. Paper shuffled and a long silence filled the room. Ended by a small muffled gasp.
"I think you need to see this." Callie stepped over to the bed and settled beside Arizona, laying the paper over the top of Arizona's book. There wasn't a check but what appeared to be legal documents. Arizona slowly began to read, her brows furrowing the further down the page she read.
"So let me get this straight... He has set up a trust fund for IVF treatment for us?" Arizona stared at the paper, unable to believe what she was reading. They weren't even married yet and Carlos had already paid for their first child.
"Turn the page." Callie flipped off the top sheet to reveal another signed document beneath.
"And a college trust fund, for all children we may have. Is he insane? We haven't even dealt with the wedding yet. Kids aren't on the horizon for a while. I wonder what made him want to do this now?" Arizona turned to look at Callie who was deep in contemplation. "Maybe you should call him. Tell him thank you... This is well... huge. But there has to be a reason behind it." Arizona stared at the papers as Callie slid from the bed and reached for her cell phone.
Arizona had no idea what to think. She wanted children but didn't expect for Carlos to be footing the bill for IVF treatment. She wasn't even sure if that was the route they would take. They had been considering adoption. It was a big, no massive gift. But there had to be something going on for Carlos to be giving it now. Hopefully Callie would get to the bottom of it.