Scar Tissue (Part One) -- Chapter 12
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Scar Tissue (Part One)
Chapter 12/12
Authors: kennedysbitch & livelovelearneg
Beta'd by englishstrawbie
Rating: R
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Disclaimer
Scar Tissue masterpost
Summary: When Arizona Robbins’ brother dies in Iraq, her life takes off in a completely different direction. Now a highly-rated trauma surgeon with the United States Marine Corps, she spends the three years following his death serving their country overseas - until an insurgent attack leaves her with debilitating injuries. Traveling to Seattle at her father’s request, she falls under the care of orthopedic surgeon Dr. Calliope Torres. Damaged emotionally and physically, Arizona tries to start the healing process with the help of a headstrong woman she never saw coming.
Warnings: Depictions of violence, PTSD, Language
Enhanced content for ga-fanfic Big Bang event:
Artwork provided by lore_85
Fanmix provided by literary_critic
Fanvideo provided by camerashy06
Chapter 1 || Chapter 2 || Chapter 3 || Chapter 4 || Chapter 5 || Chapter 6 || Chapter 7 || Chapter 8 || Chapter 9 || Chapter 10 || Chapter 11 || Chapter 12
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Arizona ran a hand along the smooth exterior of the blue ’57 Thunderbird sitting in front of her. “I have to say, I’m a little surprised considering you only became an attending a month ago. A classic car like this couldn’t have been very cheap.”
Callie blushed and looked away. She’d been born into money, it was no secret around the hospital, but it made her uncomfortable when the subject came up in her romantic life. She usually liked to wait as long as possible before she let that cat out of the bag.
“My dad, he’s…well, he’s sort of well off, I guess. It’s not something I really think about that much,” she admitted. She hated having this conversation. There was no easy way of going about it without sounding like either a complete ass or a total snob.
“Money, huh? Well, that explains a lot,” the other woman said distractedly, still eyeing the car as she pulled open the door.
Callie frowned as she helped Arizona maneuver her way into the passenger seat. What did that mean?
Horribly embarrassed, she started to close the door.
A hand reached out and stopped it, and Arizona’s head reemerged. “Hey, I’m just teasing you.” She flashed one of those bright, playful grins that made Callie’s insides melt. “It’s a very nice car; my dad would kill for one of these.”
She had definitely grown up a little more modestly; her whole life had been spent jumping from military base to military base. She and Timothy always had everything they needed, but she’d never indulged in something like this before.
Arizona closed the door and waited until Callie climbed into the driver’s side. The vehicle practically purred when it started up and she trailed her fingers across the leather dashboard. “Very nice indeed,” she murmured in awe.
One look at Callie and Arizona could tell the subject made her uncomfortable, which was the last thing she wanted her to be feeling right now. “Hey,” she called softly, placing a hand on her thigh. “I’m sorry.”
Callie shrugged. “It’s okay. I shouldn’t be so sensitive about it.”
“Look, I swear I’m not a gold digger,” Arizona said with a wink. “I will, however, make out with you in the back seat if you promise to take me out for a ride every now and then. Maybe I’ll even let you get to second base sometimes; third if you’re really lucky.” She wiggled her eyebrows and squeezed Callie’s thigh suggestively.
The touch sent shivers down Callie’s spine. She could feel her heart speed up and she was pretty sure her palms were sweating. So much for the ‘smooth and sexy’ thing she’d set herself up with in the elevator. Arizona was good.
Arizona laughed to herself and watched the driver’s knuckles turn white as her grip on the steering wheel tightened. Deciding to get even more forward just because she could, she pressed her fingers deeper into the woman’s thigh, slowly creeping them upward.
She was fucking brilliant when it came to flirting and it was high time she regained the upper hand. “You know, Calliope, as much as I love sitting in this very sexy car, next to a very sexy woman, I’ve been stuck in the hospital for longer than I can remember. May I suggest you shift gears and take us out of here?”
It took a second for Callie to even register the words, seeing how she was somewhat distracted by the hand on her leg. Her thigh, to be exact.
Upper thigh.
Arizona could see her flailing, finally taking pity on the blushing brunette and removing it. The absence of that tiny bit of warmth making Callie feel cold, though perhaps when it came to driving cold was good. Cold wouldn’t get them wrapped around a telephone pole, which was something that would very likely occur if Arizona kept touching her and saying things like that.
Clearing her throat and releasing a shaky breath, Callie shifted the car into drive. “Okay then. Where to?”
***
Ten minutes later, she had her answer.
“Seriously?” Callie squinted through the rain-covered windshield at the two-story motel they’d just pulled up in front of. “You can’t stay here.”
Arizona looked amused. “Trust me, I’ve lived in worse.” She saw Callie’s mortified expression and shrugged. “It’s okay. It’s the only thing that was both close to the hospital and affordable in case I need to stay for a while. I’ll live.”
Something sparked in Callie’s brain as it kicked into overdrive and Cristina’s words came ringing back to her. “I can think of somewhere that’s closer, actually.”
Arizona tilted her head curiously.
Callie licked her lips and struggled onward. “I-I don’t know about cheaper, but it’s ridiculously upgraded from - this.” She motioned haphazardly out the window. “Rent is alternated once every three months and it’s right across the street from the hospital. It’s nice, fully furnished, has one of those amazing showers with the multiple jets at every angle, and, y’know, is a place an actual surgeon should be living. Not some dump in the slums of Seattle.”
Arizona furrowed her brow in thought. “That sounds kinda nice. I haven’t really had time to - correction, I haven’t really had the means to look for an actual apartment yet, hence the slumming until I do.” She indicated the flickering neon sign out the window. It was probably thirty or forty years old and close to falling off the building.
“Where did you hear about it, someone from work? Are they creepy? You’re not setting me up with the weirdo from radiology that keeps staring at your ass every time you pick up your labs, are you? Because that’s just mean and fairly unsettling.”
“No, our radiologists are actually kinda awesome,” Callie laughed. “That was the guy from dermatology.” She cleared her throat. “It’s, uh. You’d be living with me, actually. I’d be the one staring at your ass every time you picked up your - I mean, i-it’s my place.”
She tried to quell the upheaval of panic in her stomach and failed pretty miserably. As soon as the words left her mouth, a deep, crimson blush flared up and she just knew that this was a bad idea. Her brain chose the most inopportune moment to malfunction and make her sound like a psycho-obsessive stalker.
Arizona gaped in surprise. If that wasn’t a lesbian record for U-Hauling, she didn’t know what was.
“No! Stop, don’t freak out. I’m not asking you to ‘move in with me’ move in with me,” Callie rushed on. “I live with Cristina Yang. She’s a bit rough around the edges but she’s harmless. It was actually her idea and I just thought - we have three rooms and you deserve something nicer than this, that’s all. Separate rooms. Separate everything. It’s just an offer, it doesn’t mean anything. I-I just thought I’d throw that out there. Cristina would kill me if I didn’t.”
“So...” Arizona chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully. “You’re asking me to move in with you because your roommate, whom I’ve never met, told you to? How...romantic, or something.”
“What? No, that’s not-” Callie barely refrained from hitting her head against the side window, feeling incredibly stupid. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’d love to be able to see you every day like before, to spend some real time together without being on duty or wearing scrubs. It would be nice, and I hate the thought of you being cooped up in a dingy little craphole. I don’t know why I brought Yang into this, I’m sorry.” She dropped her eyes to her lap.
That really hadn’t gone as planned.
When Callie finally risked a glance over again, she found Arizona grinning widely, not glaring like she’d thought she would be.
Arizona loved that she’d just made Callie blush and trip over her words. It was sexy and extremely adorable when the woman started to babble. “Thank you,” she said, reaching over to rest a hand on Callie’s thigh again. “I mean it, that’s very sweet of you.”
She glanced out at the motel sign just as the sky really started to open up and pour. Cats and dogs would be coming down at any moment. “Can I think about it? It’s a very, very tempting proposition, it’s just-”
“No-no, it’s okay, you don’t have to pretend to think about it,” Callie hurried on, resisting the urge to bang her head against the steering wheel. Maybe if she was lucky the airbags would deploy and knock her unconscious.
“Hey.” Arizona lifted a hand to Callie’s chin and lightly tugged her gaze back up. “If I didn’t want to, I would say so right now, okay? I really do want to think about it. But I also think we’ve got to be careful, considering...well, considering. Y’know?” Her thumb lightly stroked the side of Callie’s chin and the brunette’s eyelids automatically drooped. “I’ll settle in here for now, then we can talk about it when we see each other again. How’s that sound?”
“Yeah, okay. Right. That’s good,” Callie agreed in a shaky voice. She finally managed to relax as Arizona traced her jaw line with her thumb. “I’d like that. And since my number is kinda permanently scrawled on your leg, I’ll know you’re full of shit if you don’t call me.”
Arizona giggled and flashed that ridiculously gorgeous, dimple-popping smile of hers. Callie’s heart did a little swoop and all she could do was grin back stupidly.
Very reluctantly, the blonde pulled her hand back into her own lap. “I should probably get going. Home sweet not-home, or whatever.” She grimaced at the prospect of leaving the sexy car with the sexy woman and going to a dumpy motel room and having to watch Callie drive away to her nice, warm, decorated apartment where she’d probably get into her PJs and snuggle into the couch and read or watch TV and-
Yeah, Arizona definitely didn’t want to get out of the car. Unfortunately she didn’t have a choice.
Callie suddenly started fumbling with her seat belt. “I’ll help you get to your room.”
Arizona smiled at the generosity and shook her head. “Nope. You’re gonna stay here in this nice warm and dry car while I walk through the rain carrying my own stuff like a perfectly capable human being.”
Callie frowned. “Arizona-”
“No.” Arizona pursed her lips and firmly shook her head. “You’ve gotta let me do this on my own. Please? For my own sanity, I need to be able to do something by myself for the first time in almost five months. Okay?”
Callie hesitated but she could tell just by looking at her that Arizona really meant business. She reluctantly nodded. “Okay. But if you trip and fall, I’m not picking you up unless you’re drowning in a puddle.” Arizona laughed that rich, warm sound that made Callie’s butterflies return full-force.
“Deal.” Arizona winked, then opened her door and jumped out. She used the car for support and hobbled over to pop open the back, bending down to grab her duffel bag and crutches. She put one arm through each loop of the handles and sported it backpack style. Very military.
And very hot, Callie couldn’t help but notice.
Arizona nabbed the crutches and resituated herself on them while ducking her head back into the car. “I’ll see you soon?”
“Are you sure you don’t want help?” Callie asked a second time. The poor woman was getting soaked out there.
Arizona flashed her a confident grin. “I’m good. Besides, this way you get to watch me walk away in the rain. I look good wet.” She winked . “And even better from behind.”
Callie’s jaw slackened and her eyes momentarily glazed over.
Arizona closed the door before Callie could say anything and started towards the main office at an easy shuffle. She didn’t seem to care in the least that she was getting dumped on by Mother Nature.
The rain was cool and refreshing, and this was the first time she’d been outside and able to experience it since landing back in the US. After living in a desert for such a long time, she got an honest to God adrenaline rush just from being in a downpour this strong.
Arizona suddenly stopped right in the middle of the parking lot and shrugged off her bag, setting it down by her feet. She tilted her head towards the sky and extended her left arm to the side, feeling water trickle across her palm and drip from her fingertips. A delighted laugh bubbled up from the center of her chest and she closed her eyes.
Not too long ago, she was positive she’d never get to experience this again. The rain felt like it was cleansing away all of the darkness that had been inhabiting her life since that fateful day last December.
Callie sat in the car and watched in awe as the blonde took in everything about the storm. She’d had moments like that when she first moved to Seattle. As much as people complained about the dreary weather, it always amazed her how calming a steady downpour could be, and everything was always so green after it stopped.
Right now, Arizona looked insanely beautiful standing in it. Not even counting the fact that she was wet from head to toe, there was just something about the way she looked to the heavens that made Callie’s heart pound harder against her ribs. She instantly regretted letting her go; the car ride was over way too quickly for her for comfort, and so she made up her mind and popped open the door.
Zipping her jacket up, Callie jogged across the parking lot to where the other woman was standing. “The rain is kinda beautiful, huh?” she called out. She liked the fact that Arizona didn’t even turn to look at her, almost as if she’d expected to hear her voice.
Arizona nodded, humming quietly in reply, eyes remaining closed.
Callie stepped up behind her and reached for the outstretched hand, lacing their fingers together and giving it a light squeeze. She couldn’t help herself.
“What’d I say about helping me, Calliope, hm?” Arizona called over the sounds of the storm, her tone playful and coy.
“I didn’t say anything about wanting to take your bags. You can carry your own crap, I just thought I should walk you to your door. Make sure you got in safely.” Callie tilted her head up and closed her eyes, too. It had been way too long since she’d taken a moment just to ‘feel’ something like this. Arizona was rubbing off on her in a good way.
She was definitely something special, something Callie had never even fathomed happening in her life. Brash and moody sometimes, Arizona also had a soft, comfy undertone that Callie was liking more and more the better she got to know her. Arizona’s captivating aura went far beyond just her physical looks - which were quite stunning to begin with, Callie had to admit.
“It took you long enough,” Arizona teased, giving the fingers laced with her own a gentle tug. “Now c’mere. Stay with me for a minute.”
Callie gladly pressed up against her back, knowing she was falling harder and ridiculously faster than she’d ever thought she could. Every time Arizona opened her mouth something new and exciting came out, and all she could think of was wanting more.
Resting her chin on Arizona’s shoulder and wrapping both arms securely around her waist, Callie snuggled in nice and close, loving how the smaller form melted back into her embrace. She pulled in a deep breath and kissed the dip of her neck before nuzzling her affectionately. A content sigh escaped her own lips as she closed her eyes, willing herself to stay in the moment.
Arizona placed a hand over top of Callie’s arm, relaxing her crutches and using the body behind her for support. They stayed like that for quite a while, Callie holding Arizona comfortably in her arms, tightening her grip every so often, keeping her safe. The rain continued to pour, deterring neither of them in the slightest.
Moving was the last thing on her mind, at least until Callie felt a small shiver run through Arizona’s body. As beautiful as standing in the rain was, she was obviously cold and Callie’s protective instincts immediately kicked in. “Not that this isn’t perfect, but you’re freezing and wet. And you just got out of the hospital. I don’t want you to get sick, too. Can I walk you to your door?”
Arizona just hummed softly, snuggling into the strong pair of arms around her torso, leaning forward just enough to curve Callie over her back. The brunette’s arms instinctively tightened and her body curled perfectly to match Arizona’s. For once, Callie enjoyed being taller than someone.
“That’d be nice,” Arizona replied huskily, just barely audible over the pounding rain. She turned her head to the side and found their lips barely a hairs width apart.
She didn’t kiss her, though. Not yet.
Closing her eyes, she pressed her forehead into Callie’s temple, taking in a deep, steadying breath. She wanted to stay like this; they fit together just as perfectly standing up as they had lying in a hospital bed. She wanted to ignore the reality that sooner or later they would have to move, but the torrent of rain kept getting stronger.
Arizona sighed at the loss of contact when Callie finally pulled away and forced herself to try and keep a clear head, just so she could walk forward and not trip over her own feet. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew getting her cast soaked meant it would start growing various cultures of bacteria and fungi, and that was reason enough to move inside. So she picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder again.
Callie was really going for the chivalrous medal of the year and kept a hand against the small of her back the entire time, matching each slow step stride for stride. It took effort for Arizona just to speak calmly to the man in the front office, and she had to force herself to be very articulate and precise in order to make sense. Callie’s hand was completely distracting as those magical fingers played just beneath the hem of her shirt, tracing small patterns over her skin.
By the time the office manager handed her a room key and slid the window closed, Arizona was quivering. She didn’t feel particularly cold but her body was run down and the wet clothes didn’t help. This was definitely the most effort she’d exerted in months. Her first instinct was to lean into Callie because she was so damn tired, but at the same time she didn’t want to come across as a total weakling - or an idiot for having just stood in the rain for almost six minutes when she barely had the strength to remain upright.
They traveled the rest of the way down the line of doors to one at the very end of the row, in the corner of the U-shaped complex. The overhang of the walkway above provided shelter from the rain. Arizona slipped the bag from her shoulders and set it on a patch of dry ground by the wall, fiddling with the key ring and contemplating her next move.
Turning, her expression almost unreadable, she tilted her head up the short distance and studied Callie carefully. “Thank you,” she said after a moment, not specifying as to what. It was a long list - the ride home, the housing offer, the snuggling in the rain, the escort to the door, building her a new leg. The possibilities really were endless.
“Any time,” Callie said in a low voice, carrying over the rain that same husky tone that sent a deep shiver down Arizona’s spine.
Arizona’s thoughts mirrored Callie’s from earlier - she’d never, ever felt herself falling so hard or so fast for a girl before. One simple smile from Callie and suddenly it became harder to breathe, harder to function normally. It was a little unfair how incapacitating she could be at times.
It also made her next decision so much easier.
Arizona looked away just long enough to drop the room key on top of her bag, remove her crutches, and prop them up against the wall. She was careful to rest her weight solely on her left leg as both hands moved up to Callie’s shoulders and the brunette automatically stepped forward.
Arizona’s senses were flooded with their close proximity and her eyelids drooped dangerously low. Callie radiated the absolute perfect amount of body heat to fight against the cool air nipping at her wet skin, while that patented Torres smile she wore stole Arizona’s breath away.
Callie felt a light tug on her jacket and gladly shifted closer, sliding both arms around the blonde's slender waist for added support. She dipped her head down just enough, bringing their lips a mere fraction apart.
Another shiver traveled through Arizona, who was feeling a bit overwhelmed at having someone this close again. It had been so long since she'd had physical contact of an intimate kind that it was like a shot of heart-pounding adrenaline to her system. A shaky breath escaped as she traced her left hand along Callie's jaw line, fingertips tingling at the sensation, while her right gripped a lapel on the black leather jacket.
When Arizona was poised and no longer worried about collapsing, she tilted her head up and pressed her lips to the brunette's in a soft, tentative kiss, eyes finally drifting closed. The hands around her waist curved inward, drawing her closer and dispelling any lingering worries as Callie immediately responded.
The kiss was unlike anything Callie had experienced before. No more worries, no more ethical dilemmas; it was months of accumulated desire and holding back released into one simple act. Their lips moved slowly, exploring one another, favouring gentle and caressing over fast and feverish. Arizona’s arms slid around her neck and she released a contented sigh into the contact, drawing a faint smile from Callie.
She was the first to pull away, needing her head to stop spinning long enough to make sure that Arizona was okay. She was the one whose life had been turned upside down and inside-out; the last thing Callie wanted to do was add to her growing pile of hardships. Licking her lips, she rested her forehead against the blonde’s and waited.
Arizona exhaled quietly, tracing her eyes across the features that made up Callie's beautiful face. She was perfect, that was the first coherent thought that crossed her mind; that kiss was perfect. Feeling a sense of giddiness in the centre of her chest, Arizona curled her left hand loosely around the back of Callie’s neck and returned the faint, breathless smile.
That was enough positive confirmation for Callie. The last part of her that had been holding back broke free, and she immediately pulled the blonde into a deeper, hungrier kiss. There was no hesitancy this time as she relaxed and connected the way she'd been wanting to from the moment she walked through that exam room door. Just as quickly and feverishly as it started, however, it slowed. The kiss became less about the urgent need to taste Arizona and more about the need to make her feel the same way Callie was feeling herself.
Somehow, through the fog her mind had been encased in, Arizona sensed what the brunette was doing and complied with slow, tentative strokes of her lips and tongue. She wanted to make it last, wanted to memorize the way Callie tasted, and she was well on her way to doing so when the other woman pulled back again.
This time when Callie broke it off, she didn't give Arizona a chance to wonder why. She pulled her in tightly around the waist, lifting her briefly off of the ground and taking two steps forward to press her up against the wall, careful of the injured leg between them.
The rough texture of brick scraped against Arizona's back, but the fact that she was pinned to a wall by Callie Torres made her forget everything else. Both arms circled around her shoulders, pulling her into another heated kiss. She was grateful for the small change of location, letting the wall take most of her weight.
The new position also left her hands free to do more exploring. Arizona's fingers curled forward and brushed through the fine hairs at the base of Callie's neck, thumbs smoothing along her jaw and gently caressing olive skin. She parted her lips and glided her tongue against the one requesting re-entrance to her mouth, a low, keening moan escaping into the kiss.
The sound really struck a chord in Callie, who slowly dragged her nails up and down Arizona’s ribcage, grazing over the soft cotton shirt. This time Arizona broke the kiss with a soft gasp, shivering again and drawing a faint grin from Callie. She kissed the side of the blonde’s mouth until her favourite set of dimples appeared, then sucked gently on her bottom lip.
Arizona’s brow line rose and her eyes remained shut as she bunched a fist around the front of Callie’s jacket. Even though she’d only seen the article on her twice before, she was just now deciding it was her favourite thing and should be worn at all times.
Callie could feel Arizona gradually weakening and had a hard time accepting they'd have to stop sooner rather than later. She would get her inside, warm and safe - just not right this second. Instead she pressed harder into the blonde, sandwiching her up against the wall, bodies contouring together almost perfectly. Arizona seemed grateful for the support because she grinned and tugged lightly on her dark hair.
Never one to play hard-to-get when it came to moments like these, Callie was only too eager to oblige, pushing forward.
A low growl rumbled up from the back of Arizona's throat as a warm feeling in the pit of her belly quickly spread throughout the rest of body. Both hands moved down to grasp strong shoulders and she felt the other woman's grip squeeze protectively against her hips.
Callie lost track of how many, seconds, minutes or hours they stood there for, kissing like nothing else in the world mattered and only breaking apart for the occasional smile or soft laugh. All she knew was that by the time it slowed to a natural stop, they were both completely out of breath and the sounds of falling rain slowly starting filtering back into her ears.
Arizona broke out into a dazed smile, still recovering from the intensity of it all. She trailed her hands down to rest against Callie's chest, gingerly stroking along her collarbone. She was having a hard time focusing.
Callie was wearing a similar smile of her own, clearly pleased to see Arizona reflecting her own conclusions about how their little test run went. ‘Wow' being an understatement, but definitely one of them.
"You should get inside," she whispered huskily, leaning in to brush her nose against the other woman’s. "You're freezing."
"Not so much anymore," Arizona murmured. She ran both hands along Callie's shoulders again before reluctantly dropping them back to her sides and letting the brunette take a step back.
Callie hated losing that closeness so soon but if they didn't stop now, she had a feeling they would keep going until one or both of them froze to death. So she stooped down and grabbed the bag and room key as Arizona re-situated herself on the crutches. Despite being soaked through, Arizona's pale skin was flushed with colour and she couldn't seem to stop smiling, something that Callie took great delight in. She probably looked exactly the same.
Arizona accepted the bag first, slinging it over her right shoulder before taking the key. "So,” she started, clearing her throat.
Callie's smile widened. "You'll call me."
Blushing, Arizona chuckled. "Yes, that would be the plan."
Callie very slowly started walking backwards, unable to take her eyes off of the gorgeous woman in front of her. "You'd better."
Arizona quirked a tiny grin before fumbling her key into the door.
Callie continued slowly into the parking lot, smirk rooted firmly in place as she watched Arizona's shaking hands jiggle the handle. Once she got the door open, those perfect blue eyes looked her way again.
Biting her bottom lip and sending Callie a little wave, Arizona moved forward on her crutches and tossed the bag inside, stepping in after it. She forced herself to close the door before she lost her resolve and ran back into the parking lot for more.
Callie didn't turn around until Arizona was safely locked inside. Feeling thoroughly satisfied and so giddy she could explode, she jogged toward the car through heavy rain, not bothering to keep the ear-splitting grin from her face as she rounded the driver's side and climbed back in.
She was so happy that she didn't even care about her wet clothes possibly ruining the expensive interior. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and exhaled slowly through the nose. If she didn't calm down, she wouldn't be able to concentrate on driving home.
After a moment, Callie turned the ignition key and the engine roared to life, heat blasting and gradually warming the inside. Her head lolled back against the headrest and the high-frequency buzzing in her body gradually began to subside.
Wow.
Taking one last peek at Arizona's door, Callie shifted the car into gear, hit the clutch and tore out of the parking lot.
***
Inside the room, Arizona leaned against the door with her eyes closed, nearly biting her lip off in an attempt not to grin like a total fool.
Today was the first time in nearly four years that she could actually remember being happy. Not just the kind of happy where she'd had a good sleep and ate something decent for breakfast, but the kind of happy that resonated right down to her very core. It was the first time she'd felt anything, to be honest; it was like a light had suddenly appeared at the end of a very dark tunnel she'd been trapped in.
The dog tags around her neck felt cold against her skin so she pulled them out and turned them over between her fingers. 'Timothy Daniel Robbins' reflected in the dim light, worn down from years of use yet somehow standing out in a way she hadn’t noticed before. For the first time since he’d passed away, Arizona smiled when thinking of her twin brother.
Tim would've really liked Callie.
---
End of Part One
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Part Two now available.
Scar Tissue (Part One)
Chapter 12/12
Authors: kennedysbitch & livelovelearneg
Beta'd by englishstrawbie
Rating: R
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Disclaimer
Scar Tissue masterpost
Summary: When Arizona Robbins’ brother dies in Iraq, her life takes off in a completely different direction. Now a highly-rated trauma surgeon with the United States Marine Corps, she spends the three years following his death serving their country overseas - until an insurgent attack leaves her with debilitating injuries. Traveling to Seattle at her father’s request, she falls under the care of orthopedic surgeon Dr. Calliope Torres. Damaged emotionally and physically, Arizona tries to start the healing process with the help of a headstrong woman she never saw coming.
Warnings: Depictions of violence, PTSD, Language
Enhanced content for ga-fanfic Big Bang event:
Artwork provided by lore_85
Fanmix provided by literary_critic
Fanvideo provided by camerashy06
Chapter 1 || Chapter 2 || Chapter 3 || Chapter 4 || Chapter 5 || Chapter 6 || Chapter 7 || Chapter 8 || Chapter 9 || Chapter 10 || Chapter 11 || Chapter 12
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Arizona ran a hand along the smooth exterior of the blue ’57 Thunderbird sitting in front of her. “I have to say, I’m a little surprised considering you only became an attending a month ago. A classic car like this couldn’t have been very cheap.”
Callie blushed and looked away. She’d been born into money, it was no secret around the hospital, but it made her uncomfortable when the subject came up in her romantic life. She usually liked to wait as long as possible before she let that cat out of the bag.
“My dad, he’s…well, he’s sort of well off, I guess. It’s not something I really think about that much,” she admitted. She hated having this conversation. There was no easy way of going about it without sounding like either a complete ass or a total snob.
“Money, huh? Well, that explains a lot,” the other woman said distractedly, still eyeing the car as she pulled open the door.
Callie frowned as she helped Arizona maneuver her way into the passenger seat. What did that mean?
Horribly embarrassed, she started to close the door.
A hand reached out and stopped it, and Arizona’s head reemerged. “Hey, I’m just teasing you.” She flashed one of those bright, playful grins that made Callie’s insides melt. “It’s a very nice car; my dad would kill for one of these.”
She had definitely grown up a little more modestly; her whole life had been spent jumping from military base to military base. She and Timothy always had everything they needed, but she’d never indulged in something like this before.
Arizona closed the door and waited until Callie climbed into the driver’s side. The vehicle practically purred when it started up and she trailed her fingers across the leather dashboard. “Very nice indeed,” she murmured in awe.
One look at Callie and Arizona could tell the subject made her uncomfortable, which was the last thing she wanted her to be feeling right now. “Hey,” she called softly, placing a hand on her thigh. “I’m sorry.”
Callie shrugged. “It’s okay. I shouldn’t be so sensitive about it.”
“Look, I swear I’m not a gold digger,” Arizona said with a wink. “I will, however, make out with you in the back seat if you promise to take me out for a ride every now and then. Maybe I’ll even let you get to second base sometimes; third if you’re really lucky.” She wiggled her eyebrows and squeezed Callie’s thigh suggestively.
The touch sent shivers down Callie’s spine. She could feel her heart speed up and she was pretty sure her palms were sweating. So much for the ‘smooth and sexy’ thing she’d set herself up with in the elevator. Arizona was good.
Arizona laughed to herself and watched the driver’s knuckles turn white as her grip on the steering wheel tightened. Deciding to get even more forward just because she could, she pressed her fingers deeper into the woman’s thigh, slowly creeping them upward.
She was fucking brilliant when it came to flirting and it was high time she regained the upper hand. “You know, Calliope, as much as I love sitting in this very sexy car, next to a very sexy woman, I’ve been stuck in the hospital for longer than I can remember. May I suggest you shift gears and take us out of here?”
It took a second for Callie to even register the words, seeing how she was somewhat distracted by the hand on her leg. Her thigh, to be exact.
Upper thigh.
Arizona could see her flailing, finally taking pity on the blushing brunette and removing it. The absence of that tiny bit of warmth making Callie feel cold, though perhaps when it came to driving cold was good. Cold wouldn’t get them wrapped around a telephone pole, which was something that would very likely occur if Arizona kept touching her and saying things like that.
Clearing her throat and releasing a shaky breath, Callie shifted the car into drive. “Okay then. Where to?”
***
Ten minutes later, she had her answer.
“Seriously?” Callie squinted through the rain-covered windshield at the two-story motel they’d just pulled up in front of. “You can’t stay here.”
Arizona looked amused. “Trust me, I’ve lived in worse.” She saw Callie’s mortified expression and shrugged. “It’s okay. It’s the only thing that was both close to the hospital and affordable in case I need to stay for a while. I’ll live.”
Something sparked in Callie’s brain as it kicked into overdrive and Cristina’s words came ringing back to her. “I can think of somewhere that’s closer, actually.”
Arizona tilted her head curiously.
Callie licked her lips and struggled onward. “I-I don’t know about cheaper, but it’s ridiculously upgraded from - this.” She motioned haphazardly out the window. “Rent is alternated once every three months and it’s right across the street from the hospital. It’s nice, fully furnished, has one of those amazing showers with the multiple jets at every angle, and, y’know, is a place an actual surgeon should be living. Not some dump in the slums of Seattle.”
Arizona furrowed her brow in thought. “That sounds kinda nice. I haven’t really had time to - correction, I haven’t really had the means to look for an actual apartment yet, hence the slumming until I do.” She indicated the flickering neon sign out the window. It was probably thirty or forty years old and close to falling off the building.
“Where did you hear about it, someone from work? Are they creepy? You’re not setting me up with the weirdo from radiology that keeps staring at your ass every time you pick up your labs, are you? Because that’s just mean and fairly unsettling.”
“No, our radiologists are actually kinda awesome,” Callie laughed. “That was the guy from dermatology.” She cleared her throat. “It’s, uh. You’d be living with me, actually. I’d be the one staring at your ass every time you picked up your - I mean, i-it’s my place.”
She tried to quell the upheaval of panic in her stomach and failed pretty miserably. As soon as the words left her mouth, a deep, crimson blush flared up and she just knew that this was a bad idea. Her brain chose the most inopportune moment to malfunction and make her sound like a psycho-obsessive stalker.
Arizona gaped in surprise. If that wasn’t a lesbian record for U-Hauling, she didn’t know what was.
“No! Stop, don’t freak out. I’m not asking you to ‘move in with me’ move in with me,” Callie rushed on. “I live with Cristina Yang. She’s a bit rough around the edges but she’s harmless. It was actually her idea and I just thought - we have three rooms and you deserve something nicer than this, that’s all. Separate rooms. Separate everything. It’s just an offer, it doesn’t mean anything. I-I just thought I’d throw that out there. Cristina would kill me if I didn’t.”
“So...” Arizona chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully. “You’re asking me to move in with you because your roommate, whom I’ve never met, told you to? How...romantic, or something.”
“What? No, that’s not-” Callie barely refrained from hitting her head against the side window, feeling incredibly stupid. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’d love to be able to see you every day like before, to spend some real time together without being on duty or wearing scrubs. It would be nice, and I hate the thought of you being cooped up in a dingy little craphole. I don’t know why I brought Yang into this, I’m sorry.” She dropped her eyes to her lap.
That really hadn’t gone as planned.
When Callie finally risked a glance over again, she found Arizona grinning widely, not glaring like she’d thought she would be.
Arizona loved that she’d just made Callie blush and trip over her words. It was sexy and extremely adorable when the woman started to babble. “Thank you,” she said, reaching over to rest a hand on Callie’s thigh again. “I mean it, that’s very sweet of you.”
She glanced out at the motel sign just as the sky really started to open up and pour. Cats and dogs would be coming down at any moment. “Can I think about it? It’s a very, very tempting proposition, it’s just-”
“No-no, it’s okay, you don’t have to pretend to think about it,” Callie hurried on, resisting the urge to bang her head against the steering wheel. Maybe if she was lucky the airbags would deploy and knock her unconscious.
“Hey.” Arizona lifted a hand to Callie’s chin and lightly tugged her gaze back up. “If I didn’t want to, I would say so right now, okay? I really do want to think about it. But I also think we’ve got to be careful, considering...well, considering. Y’know?” Her thumb lightly stroked the side of Callie’s chin and the brunette’s eyelids automatically drooped. “I’ll settle in here for now, then we can talk about it when we see each other again. How’s that sound?”
“Yeah, okay. Right. That’s good,” Callie agreed in a shaky voice. She finally managed to relax as Arizona traced her jaw line with her thumb. “I’d like that. And since my number is kinda permanently scrawled on your leg, I’ll know you’re full of shit if you don’t call me.”
Arizona giggled and flashed that ridiculously gorgeous, dimple-popping smile of hers. Callie’s heart did a little swoop and all she could do was grin back stupidly.
Very reluctantly, the blonde pulled her hand back into her own lap. “I should probably get going. Home sweet not-home, or whatever.” She grimaced at the prospect of leaving the sexy car with the sexy woman and going to a dumpy motel room and having to watch Callie drive away to her nice, warm, decorated apartment where she’d probably get into her PJs and snuggle into the couch and read or watch TV and-
Yeah, Arizona definitely didn’t want to get out of the car. Unfortunately she didn’t have a choice.
Callie suddenly started fumbling with her seat belt. “I’ll help you get to your room.”
Arizona smiled at the generosity and shook her head. “Nope. You’re gonna stay here in this nice warm and dry car while I walk through the rain carrying my own stuff like a perfectly capable human being.”
Callie frowned. “Arizona-”
“No.” Arizona pursed her lips and firmly shook her head. “You’ve gotta let me do this on my own. Please? For my own sanity, I need to be able to do something by myself for the first time in almost five months. Okay?”
Callie hesitated but she could tell just by looking at her that Arizona really meant business. She reluctantly nodded. “Okay. But if you trip and fall, I’m not picking you up unless you’re drowning in a puddle.” Arizona laughed that rich, warm sound that made Callie’s butterflies return full-force.
“Deal.” Arizona winked, then opened her door and jumped out. She used the car for support and hobbled over to pop open the back, bending down to grab her duffel bag and crutches. She put one arm through each loop of the handles and sported it backpack style. Very military.
And very hot, Callie couldn’t help but notice.
Arizona nabbed the crutches and resituated herself on them while ducking her head back into the car. “I’ll see you soon?”
“Are you sure you don’t want help?” Callie asked a second time. The poor woman was getting soaked out there.
Arizona flashed her a confident grin. “I’m good. Besides, this way you get to watch me walk away in the rain. I look good wet.” She winked . “And even better from behind.”
Callie’s jaw slackened and her eyes momentarily glazed over.
Arizona closed the door before Callie could say anything and started towards the main office at an easy shuffle. She didn’t seem to care in the least that she was getting dumped on by Mother Nature.
The rain was cool and refreshing, and this was the first time she’d been outside and able to experience it since landing back in the US. After living in a desert for such a long time, she got an honest to God adrenaline rush just from being in a downpour this strong.
Arizona suddenly stopped right in the middle of the parking lot and shrugged off her bag, setting it down by her feet. She tilted her head towards the sky and extended her left arm to the side, feeling water trickle across her palm and drip from her fingertips. A delighted laugh bubbled up from the center of her chest and she closed her eyes.
Not too long ago, she was positive she’d never get to experience this again. The rain felt like it was cleansing away all of the darkness that had been inhabiting her life since that fateful day last December.
Callie sat in the car and watched in awe as the blonde took in everything about the storm. She’d had moments like that when she first moved to Seattle. As much as people complained about the dreary weather, it always amazed her how calming a steady downpour could be, and everything was always so green after it stopped.
Right now, Arizona looked insanely beautiful standing in it. Not even counting the fact that she was wet from head to toe, there was just something about the way she looked to the heavens that made Callie’s heart pound harder against her ribs. She instantly regretted letting her go; the car ride was over way too quickly for her for comfort, and so she made up her mind and popped open the door.
Zipping her jacket up, Callie jogged across the parking lot to where the other woman was standing. “The rain is kinda beautiful, huh?” she called out. She liked the fact that Arizona didn’t even turn to look at her, almost as if she’d expected to hear her voice.
Arizona nodded, humming quietly in reply, eyes remaining closed.
Callie stepped up behind her and reached for the outstretched hand, lacing their fingers together and giving it a light squeeze. She couldn’t help herself.
“What’d I say about helping me, Calliope, hm?” Arizona called over the sounds of the storm, her tone playful and coy.
“I didn’t say anything about wanting to take your bags. You can carry your own crap, I just thought I should walk you to your door. Make sure you got in safely.” Callie tilted her head up and closed her eyes, too. It had been way too long since she’d taken a moment just to ‘feel’ something like this. Arizona was rubbing off on her in a good way.
She was definitely something special, something Callie had never even fathomed happening in her life. Brash and moody sometimes, Arizona also had a soft, comfy undertone that Callie was liking more and more the better she got to know her. Arizona’s captivating aura went far beyond just her physical looks - which were quite stunning to begin with, Callie had to admit.
“It took you long enough,” Arizona teased, giving the fingers laced with her own a gentle tug. “Now c’mere. Stay with me for a minute.”
Callie gladly pressed up against her back, knowing she was falling harder and ridiculously faster than she’d ever thought she could. Every time Arizona opened her mouth something new and exciting came out, and all she could think of was wanting more.
Resting her chin on Arizona’s shoulder and wrapping both arms securely around her waist, Callie snuggled in nice and close, loving how the smaller form melted back into her embrace. She pulled in a deep breath and kissed the dip of her neck before nuzzling her affectionately. A content sigh escaped her own lips as she closed her eyes, willing herself to stay in the moment.
Arizona placed a hand over top of Callie’s arm, relaxing her crutches and using the body behind her for support. They stayed like that for quite a while, Callie holding Arizona comfortably in her arms, tightening her grip every so often, keeping her safe. The rain continued to pour, deterring neither of them in the slightest.
Moving was the last thing on her mind, at least until Callie felt a small shiver run through Arizona’s body. As beautiful as standing in the rain was, she was obviously cold and Callie’s protective instincts immediately kicked in. “Not that this isn’t perfect, but you’re freezing and wet. And you just got out of the hospital. I don’t want you to get sick, too. Can I walk you to your door?”
Arizona just hummed softly, snuggling into the strong pair of arms around her torso, leaning forward just enough to curve Callie over her back. The brunette’s arms instinctively tightened and her body curled perfectly to match Arizona’s. For once, Callie enjoyed being taller than someone.
“That’d be nice,” Arizona replied huskily, just barely audible over the pounding rain. She turned her head to the side and found their lips barely a hairs width apart.
She didn’t kiss her, though. Not yet.
Closing her eyes, she pressed her forehead into Callie’s temple, taking in a deep, steadying breath. She wanted to stay like this; they fit together just as perfectly standing up as they had lying in a hospital bed. She wanted to ignore the reality that sooner or later they would have to move, but the torrent of rain kept getting stronger.
Arizona sighed at the loss of contact when Callie finally pulled away and forced herself to try and keep a clear head, just so she could walk forward and not trip over her own feet. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew getting her cast soaked meant it would start growing various cultures of bacteria and fungi, and that was reason enough to move inside. So she picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder again.
Callie was really going for the chivalrous medal of the year and kept a hand against the small of her back the entire time, matching each slow step stride for stride. It took effort for Arizona just to speak calmly to the man in the front office, and she had to force herself to be very articulate and precise in order to make sense. Callie’s hand was completely distracting as those magical fingers played just beneath the hem of her shirt, tracing small patterns over her skin.
By the time the office manager handed her a room key and slid the window closed, Arizona was quivering. She didn’t feel particularly cold but her body was run down and the wet clothes didn’t help. This was definitely the most effort she’d exerted in months. Her first instinct was to lean into Callie because she was so damn tired, but at the same time she didn’t want to come across as a total weakling - or an idiot for having just stood in the rain for almost six minutes when she barely had the strength to remain upright.
They traveled the rest of the way down the line of doors to one at the very end of the row, in the corner of the U-shaped complex. The overhang of the walkway above provided shelter from the rain. Arizona slipped the bag from her shoulders and set it on a patch of dry ground by the wall, fiddling with the key ring and contemplating her next move.
Turning, her expression almost unreadable, she tilted her head up the short distance and studied Callie carefully. “Thank you,” she said after a moment, not specifying as to what. It was a long list - the ride home, the housing offer, the snuggling in the rain, the escort to the door, building her a new leg. The possibilities really were endless.
“Any time,” Callie said in a low voice, carrying over the rain that same husky tone that sent a deep shiver down Arizona’s spine.
Arizona’s thoughts mirrored Callie’s from earlier - she’d never, ever felt herself falling so hard or so fast for a girl before. One simple smile from Callie and suddenly it became harder to breathe, harder to function normally. It was a little unfair how incapacitating she could be at times.
It also made her next decision so much easier.
Arizona looked away just long enough to drop the room key on top of her bag, remove her crutches, and prop them up against the wall. She was careful to rest her weight solely on her left leg as both hands moved up to Callie’s shoulders and the brunette automatically stepped forward.
Arizona’s senses were flooded with their close proximity and her eyelids drooped dangerously low. Callie radiated the absolute perfect amount of body heat to fight against the cool air nipping at her wet skin, while that patented Torres smile she wore stole Arizona’s breath away.
Callie felt a light tug on her jacket and gladly shifted closer, sliding both arms around the blonde's slender waist for added support. She dipped her head down just enough, bringing their lips a mere fraction apart.
Another shiver traveled through Arizona, who was feeling a bit overwhelmed at having someone this close again. It had been so long since she'd had physical contact of an intimate kind that it was like a shot of heart-pounding adrenaline to her system. A shaky breath escaped as she traced her left hand along Callie's jaw line, fingertips tingling at the sensation, while her right gripped a lapel on the black leather jacket.
When Arizona was poised and no longer worried about collapsing, she tilted her head up and pressed her lips to the brunette's in a soft, tentative kiss, eyes finally drifting closed. The hands around her waist curved inward, drawing her closer and dispelling any lingering worries as Callie immediately responded.
The kiss was unlike anything Callie had experienced before. No more worries, no more ethical dilemmas; it was months of accumulated desire and holding back released into one simple act. Their lips moved slowly, exploring one another, favouring gentle and caressing over fast and feverish. Arizona’s arms slid around her neck and she released a contented sigh into the contact, drawing a faint smile from Callie.
She was the first to pull away, needing her head to stop spinning long enough to make sure that Arizona was okay. She was the one whose life had been turned upside down and inside-out; the last thing Callie wanted to do was add to her growing pile of hardships. Licking her lips, she rested her forehead against the blonde’s and waited.
Arizona exhaled quietly, tracing her eyes across the features that made up Callie's beautiful face. She was perfect, that was the first coherent thought that crossed her mind; that kiss was perfect. Feeling a sense of giddiness in the centre of her chest, Arizona curled her left hand loosely around the back of Callie’s neck and returned the faint, breathless smile.
That was enough positive confirmation for Callie. The last part of her that had been holding back broke free, and she immediately pulled the blonde into a deeper, hungrier kiss. There was no hesitancy this time as she relaxed and connected the way she'd been wanting to from the moment she walked through that exam room door. Just as quickly and feverishly as it started, however, it slowed. The kiss became less about the urgent need to taste Arizona and more about the need to make her feel the same way Callie was feeling herself.
Somehow, through the fog her mind had been encased in, Arizona sensed what the brunette was doing and complied with slow, tentative strokes of her lips and tongue. She wanted to make it last, wanted to memorize the way Callie tasted, and she was well on her way to doing so when the other woman pulled back again.
This time when Callie broke it off, she didn't give Arizona a chance to wonder why. She pulled her in tightly around the waist, lifting her briefly off of the ground and taking two steps forward to press her up against the wall, careful of the injured leg between them.
The rough texture of brick scraped against Arizona's back, but the fact that she was pinned to a wall by Callie Torres made her forget everything else. Both arms circled around her shoulders, pulling her into another heated kiss. She was grateful for the small change of location, letting the wall take most of her weight.
The new position also left her hands free to do more exploring. Arizona's fingers curled forward and brushed through the fine hairs at the base of Callie's neck, thumbs smoothing along her jaw and gently caressing olive skin. She parted her lips and glided her tongue against the one requesting re-entrance to her mouth, a low, keening moan escaping into the kiss.
The sound really struck a chord in Callie, who slowly dragged her nails up and down Arizona’s ribcage, grazing over the soft cotton shirt. This time Arizona broke the kiss with a soft gasp, shivering again and drawing a faint grin from Callie. She kissed the side of the blonde’s mouth until her favourite set of dimples appeared, then sucked gently on her bottom lip.
Arizona’s brow line rose and her eyes remained shut as she bunched a fist around the front of Callie’s jacket. Even though she’d only seen the article on her twice before, she was just now deciding it was her favourite thing and should be worn at all times.
Callie could feel Arizona gradually weakening and had a hard time accepting they'd have to stop sooner rather than later. She would get her inside, warm and safe - just not right this second. Instead she pressed harder into the blonde, sandwiching her up against the wall, bodies contouring together almost perfectly. Arizona seemed grateful for the support because she grinned and tugged lightly on her dark hair.
Never one to play hard-to-get when it came to moments like these, Callie was only too eager to oblige, pushing forward.
A low growl rumbled up from the back of Arizona's throat as a warm feeling in the pit of her belly quickly spread throughout the rest of body. Both hands moved down to grasp strong shoulders and she felt the other woman's grip squeeze protectively against her hips.
Callie lost track of how many, seconds, minutes or hours they stood there for, kissing like nothing else in the world mattered and only breaking apart for the occasional smile or soft laugh. All she knew was that by the time it slowed to a natural stop, they were both completely out of breath and the sounds of falling rain slowly starting filtering back into her ears.
Arizona broke out into a dazed smile, still recovering from the intensity of it all. She trailed her hands down to rest against Callie's chest, gingerly stroking along her collarbone. She was having a hard time focusing.
Callie was wearing a similar smile of her own, clearly pleased to see Arizona reflecting her own conclusions about how their little test run went. ‘Wow' being an understatement, but definitely one of them.
"You should get inside," she whispered huskily, leaning in to brush her nose against the other woman’s. "You're freezing."
"Not so much anymore," Arizona murmured. She ran both hands along Callie's shoulders again before reluctantly dropping them back to her sides and letting the brunette take a step back.
Callie hated losing that closeness so soon but if they didn't stop now, she had a feeling they would keep going until one or both of them froze to death. So she stooped down and grabbed the bag and room key as Arizona re-situated herself on the crutches. Despite being soaked through, Arizona's pale skin was flushed with colour and she couldn't seem to stop smiling, something that Callie took great delight in. She probably looked exactly the same.
Arizona accepted the bag first, slinging it over her right shoulder before taking the key. "So,” she started, clearing her throat.
Callie's smile widened. "You'll call me."
Blushing, Arizona chuckled. "Yes, that would be the plan."
Callie very slowly started walking backwards, unable to take her eyes off of the gorgeous woman in front of her. "You'd better."
Arizona quirked a tiny grin before fumbling her key into the door.
Callie continued slowly into the parking lot, smirk rooted firmly in place as she watched Arizona's shaking hands jiggle the handle. Once she got the door open, those perfect blue eyes looked her way again.
Biting her bottom lip and sending Callie a little wave, Arizona moved forward on her crutches and tossed the bag inside, stepping in after it. She forced herself to close the door before she lost her resolve and ran back into the parking lot for more.
Callie didn't turn around until Arizona was safely locked inside. Feeling thoroughly satisfied and so giddy she could explode, she jogged toward the car through heavy rain, not bothering to keep the ear-splitting grin from her face as she rounded the driver's side and climbed back in.
She was so happy that she didn't even care about her wet clothes possibly ruining the expensive interior. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and exhaled slowly through the nose. If she didn't calm down, she wouldn't be able to concentrate on driving home.
After a moment, Callie turned the ignition key and the engine roared to life, heat blasting and gradually warming the inside. Her head lolled back against the headrest and the high-frequency buzzing in her body gradually began to subside.
Wow.
Taking one last peek at Arizona's door, Callie shifted the car into gear, hit the clutch and tore out of the parking lot.
***
Inside the room, Arizona leaned against the door with her eyes closed, nearly biting her lip off in an attempt not to grin like a total fool.
Today was the first time in nearly four years that she could actually remember being happy. Not just the kind of happy where she'd had a good sleep and ate something decent for breakfast, but the kind of happy that resonated right down to her very core. It was the first time she'd felt anything, to be honest; it was like a light had suddenly appeared at the end of a very dark tunnel she'd been trapped in.
The dog tags around her neck felt cold against her skin so she pulled them out and turned them over between her fingers. 'Timothy Daniel Robbins' reflected in the dim light, worn down from years of use yet somehow standing out in a way she hadn’t noticed before. For the first time since he’d passed away, Arizona smiled when thinking of her twin brother.
Tim would've really liked Callie.
---
End of Part One
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