Grey's Anatomy - Choices (10/23)
Title: Choices
Chapter 10/23
Authors: Faith & Kye
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: NC-17
Story Summary: Post-6x17 "Push" -- Arizona prefers chickens to children, and Callie isn't okay with that. Heartbroken and lonely, the two women try unsuccessfully to move on with their lives, only to find they really are made for eachother.
Chapter Summary: Arizona takes Callie home. A beer, a nap, a shower, and Mark Sloan are what follows.
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. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.
Previous Chapters
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“Oww,” Callie whined for the eighteenth time as she leaned into Arizona while they hobbled off of the elevator. Every single step hurt like a mother trucker, even though she was using the other woman for support.
“I know, we’re almost there,” Arizona groaned. She had Callie on one arm, and was using her other to carry the brunette’s bag of stuff from the hospital. “Sloan, you wanna give us a hand here?” she growled irritably.
“Texting,” Mark answered, following them out of the elevator with his eyes glued to his blackberry.
Gritting her teeth, Arizona managed to get Callie to her doorway. She helped her lean against the wall, then dropped the bag at her feet. Turning, she reached over and snatched Mark’s phone out of his hands, glaring at him.
“Hey!” Mark protested, grabbing for the device.
“Keys,” she ordered, holding it away from him. “Door. Open.”
Sloan scowled at the blonde as he dug into the pocket of his jeans. He turned to the door, grumbling under his breath as he placed the key in the lock and turned it. He glanced back over his shoulder, the same dirty scowl on his face as he pushed it open.
Mark stepped back, bowing at the waist as he motioned with his hand into the apartment.
Callie smirked, despite her pain.
Arizona rolled her eyes. She slapped the phone hard against Mark's chest as she walked by.
Sloan let out a gust of air, glaring at the back of the blonde's head. “Don't know why you love her!” he called out to Callie as he stood back to his full height.
Callie glanced up at her ex-girlfriend as she gently helped her towards the couch. “I do,” she whispered softly.
“Because I’m awesome,” Arizona mused. “We've already been over this. Here you go…” She helped the brunette settle onto the couch. “You okay?” She took the grimace of pain as a yes, and brushed some loose hairs behind Callie’s ear. “Just sit and relax, I’ll get your bag and-”
Said bag flew across the room and hit her in the side of the face.
Arizona closed her eyes and did her best to keep her temper in check. “Remind me again why we keep him around?”
“Because I'm awesome,” Mark's voice mocked from nearby.
Callie laughed. “What am I supposed to do with you two?”
“Don't even think about it, Sloan,” Arizona cut in before Mark could reply. She kept her eyes on Callie as she moved to grab the blanket tossed over the back of the couch.
Mark started heading for the door just as Callie shifted her gaze in his direction. He pitched a thumb over his shoulder. “I've got...stuff,” he said as he reached out to open it. “I'll be back for dinner.”
Callie shook her head, still smiling as she turned her gaze back to the woman currently tucking the blanket in around her. The soft click of the door echoed in the room, but her attention was focused entirely on Arizona.
“Thanks for this,” Callie whispered softly.
“Any time,” Arizona replied with a smile. “I kinda owed you for the whole chicken pox debacle, anyway.”
She made sure the blanket was snug around Callie’s shoulders, and then stooped down to grab her night bag. “I’ll go throw a load of laundry in for you and make sure your room is all set up. Do you need anything first? I can get you food.” She frowned in concern. “Do you want food? Or a drink? Or some of the nice pain meds Shepherd prescribed for you?”
Callie laughed softly. “Easy, Arizona,” she teased as she settled back into the warmth of the couch. She closed her eyes, sighing as she pulled the blanket tighter around her. “I'm pretty much good right here,” she finally replied as she dipped her head back to rest against the couch.
It was odd, but the angle actually felt really good on her back. She was so used to nothing but constant pain since the procedure, that she didn't dare move and risk losing it.
Arizona nodded and turned to leave.
Callie's hand shot out from underneath the blanket to gently grab onto the woman's wrist. “I wouldn't mind a beer,” she tried as she slowly peeked one eye open.
Arizona raised a slow brow. “Calliope. You’re on vicodin. Mixing that with alcohol is really not a good idea.”
“I’m not on it yet,” Callie pointed out innocently.
That made Arizona sigh. “You really want a beer, huh? Okay. But I’m not giving you any pain meds for another few hours then.” She squeezed her ex’s hand before heading to the kitchen, where she opened the fridge and rooted around.
Typical surgeon’s refrigerator. Pretty much bare except for some expired milk and some ancient leftovers.
Arizona grabbed a beer from the corner. “Is Yang supposed to be back tonight? Or did you get her to stay with Hunt for a few days while you get some rest?”
Callie heard the words, but her eyes were focused intently on the beer in the other woman's hand. It had been a good two weeks since she'd had a good, frosty cold one. Her mouth watered a little in anticipation.
“Calliope?” Arizona called as she stopped just in front of the couch. Her brow furrowed as she watched her lover watching her hand.
Oh. Right. The beer.
Arizona rolled her eyes and smiled despite herself. “You really do have a one track mind sometimes.”
Callie moaned as she reached out towards the beer, her fingers wiggling in anticipation.
Cracking the lid off, Arizona held out the bottle. Callie grabbed it before she could even blink. “You’re cute. But if you puke, I’m not cleaning it up.”
She beamed at Callie, then turned and headed off to do laundry.
Callie was too caught up in the moment with her beer as she closed her eyes and hugged the bottle against her chest. She snuggled down against the arm of the couch, still clutching it tightly.
Oh yeah.
That was the stuff.
***
There were times when Arizona was super glad her ‘type A’ personality included the ability to enjoy cleaning.
Well, maybe not enjoy, but at least be efficient at it.
Callie’s room was a complete disaster, and she hadn’t done laundry in weeks apparently, so Arizona completed all of those tasks and grabbed a shower before venturing back out into the living room.
Callie had been out cold for two hours, and she looked peaceful laying there on the couch. Arizona was about to go into the bedroom to let her continue to sleep, when her cell phone rang on the kitchen counter.
“Crap,” she murmured under her breath, running across the room as silently as possible to grab it before Callie woke up.
The phone had just began its third ring when the blonde's hand clamped down over it.
Callie suddenly jerked awake, sitting straight up with the beer still clutched against her chest. Her eyes were heavy and her gaze blurry as she glanced around the room. “Wha?” she mumbled sleepily before turning to look in the kitchen. She blinked her left eye, then her right, and then finally managed them both at the same time.
Arizona cursed under her breath, grimacing at Callie. “I’m sorry,” she sighed. “I thought I had the ringer off.” It continued to vibrate in her hand, and she took a quick glance at the call display.
‘Dad’.
Noo thank you.
She clicked it off and shoved it back into her purse. “Your room’s clean, if you want to have a nap in your actual bed. I managed to find it under the piles of clothing and various other items.” Arizona smirked a little. “I’m gone from here for two weeks and it looked like a warzone in there.”
Callie yawned, attempting to stretch her arms, but suddenly realized the full, now luke-warm beer was still held in both hands, not a drop having spilled throughout her entire nap.
How she managed that one, she'll never know.
Callie frowned as she leaned forward the short distance to set the beer onto the coffee table. She yawned again, finally stretching her arms with a long, deep groan. “You know you always did that stuff,” she finally replied as she reached up to run a hand down her face. She blinked a few times.
“I’d hate to see how you lived before I came along,” Arizona teased, making her way back over to the couch. She sat next to Callie and pulled her legs up beneath her. “How are you feeling?” Her eyes swept over the brunette, searching for any obvious signs of discomfort. She reached up and felt Callie’s forehead for a fever, but didn’t find one.
“You want me to help you to your room?”
Callie was still fighting through the haze of sleep as she shifted against the couch. She groaned a little. “I'd rather you help me to the shower,” she replied before she could even think about what she was saying. She yawned a third time, stretching her arms as she arched her body to pop the stiffness from her back.
Big mistake.
Callie gasped as the deep pain shot up her spine. Her eyes widened as her entire body tensed up. She jolted forward a little as her eyes watered from the intensity. She blinked. “Uh...ow.”
Arizona placed one hand gingerly on Callie’s back and her other against her shoulder, supporting a bit of her weight. “Easy there, tiger,” she teased softly, though her eyes were full of worry. “You think you can handle standing up in the shower long enough?”
“I don’t think I have a choice,” Callie grimaced through the painful throbbing. “You smell way better than me right now, it’s embarrassing…”
Arizona grinned at Callie’s ability to be cute through her pain, and ran a hand back through her still-damp blonde hair. “If you want, I can hang around just to make sure you don’t fall…but I’m not getting in there with you. Because then very little showering would get done, and I’m supposed to take care of you, not cause more pain for selfish reasons.” Her grin was still light and teasing, but there was some truth behind her words.
Since they clearly sucked at being not a couple, there was no reason to think that a shower wouldn’t turn into more than being ‘helpful’.
Callie tried to smile, but the pain was kind of a little more than she could fight through at the moment. She turned her dark gaze toward the blonde as she winced through another sharp wave. “Not even if I double promise with a cherry on top?” She barely managed to hold back another flinch. She didn't want Arizona to worry.
It was just that she didn't think she was going to be able to stand up on her own or anything at the moment. And to be honest, not by choice, but pretty much the last thing on her mind right now was anything that had to do with sex.
At the moment, all she could seem to focus on was a warm shower and fresh, clean clothes.
Arizona relented fairly easily. “Okay. Of course. You know I can’t deny you anything.” She lightly ran her hand over Callie’s back. “Let me get your pills first. They’ll kick in by the time you’re cleaned up, and you can pass out right after.”
Out of habit, and just because, Arizona leaned in and softly kissed the side of her ex’s forehead before standing up and heading back to where her purse was sitting on the counter. She’d thrown Callie’s prescription in its depths somewhere, but the damn bag was a bottomless pit. She had spread pretty much all of its contents out on the counter before finding the pills at the very bottom. Her stupid cell phone buzzed a second time, and she once again hit the side button that sent it to voicemail.
There were way more important things happening right now. Like Callie being in pain.
Arizona poured a glass of cold water to go with the pills and brought them over to the woman sitting on the couch.
Callie was still a little hazy from her nap. She groaned, looking up just as the blonde made it back to her. “Thank you,” she mumbled as she opened her palm to instantly accept the pills. She popped them into her mouth, swallowing before she even took the glass of water from her ex's grasp. She grimaced as they slid down her throat before drinking half of the water.
Arizona waited until Callie was done, then set the glass aside on the coffee table for her. “Okay, up you go.” She stooped down and very carefully helped Callie to her feet.
***
Arizona helped her to sit down on the closed toilet lid while she started running the shower, making sure it was hot but not scalding.
“Hang in there,” she called over to the brunette, sliding the shower door shut for the time being so the water didn’t spray everywhere. She turned back to face Callie, and her heart ached just seeing the exhausted, pained, and defeated expression on her face.
“Twenty minutes,” Arizona offered tenderly. “We can have you showered and into your ‘jammies in twenty minutes, tops. Just hang in there a little longer, okay?”
Callie finally managed a shaky smile. Just looking back into Arizona's deep blue eyes made it hurt a little less. “No hurry. I feel just...” She trailed off with another grimace of pain. “...peachy."
It really was taking everything that Callie had within her not to scream out when the tense, tight muscles in her back twinged painfully.
This really sucked.
Brown eyes traveled over to the steaming shower and Callie whimpered in anticipation. “You? I-In there?” She raised a hand in the vague direction of the shower. “With me?”
“If you need me to be,” Arizona replied quietly. “I promise to behave myself,” she added with a slight smile.
Callie had to grin back, though it was hard to in her exhaustion. “I don’t,” she chuckled.
“Oh yes you will, Calliope Torres,” Arizona shot back. “Or else.”
It felt nice to be back to where they could tease one another and just be comfortable together. Even if things were still…unlabeled between them. It was just a nice feeling.
“Here.” Arizona knelt in front of Callie and slowly pulled up on the hem of the other woman’s shirt. “Arms up.”
Oh boy.
Callie's eyes widened just a little, and it took her a considerable amount of effort just to swallow back. She hesitated. For obvious reasons.
For a few short, tense moments, she just sat there, staring back into those blue eyes.
It wasn't Arizona she was worried about.
“Okay then,” Callie mumbled softly to herself, never breaking eye contact with the other woman as she slowly lifted her arms.
Arizona slid the shirt over Callie’s head, setting it aside on the floor and then standing up. She pulled the brunette to her feet and then focused on pulling down her sweat pants. Kneeling once more, Arizona took each foot by the ankle and slowly helped her step out of them.
Getting back to her feet once more, Arizona finally met Callie’s eyes and saw the nervousness she was feeling inside reflected back there. “Okay. You finish up here, and I’ll grab a change of clothes for myself. Be right back.”
“Uh, Zona?” Callie called out after the blonde took a step away.
Arizona turned in an instant, smiling a bit shakily. “Yes?”
Callie arched a brow as she finally managed a slight smirk. “Just had bone sucked outta my hip? Deep, intense pain in my back?” She waved a hand through the air between them. “Not exactly feeling up to moving like...at all?” She chuckled softly. “This ringing any bells?”
Not that she was trying to make this any worse, but how exactly was she supposed to 'finish up'? She could barely move, much less twist and turn to try and get her remaining clothing off.
Arizona swallowed. Hard.
Oh boy indeed.
“Right. Sorry.” She shook her head quickly and stepped back over to Callie. “It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked before. No big deal, right?”
She might have been trying to convince both of them of that.
Because other than the occasional time of inappropriate sex at work, they really hadn’t exactly been in the ‘fully naked and showering’ department for a while now. Not since they broke up.
Tried to break up.
Oh boy.
But Arizona displayed all the professionalism she could, and undid Callie's bra. She swallowed back again, but focused on helping her step out of her underwear as well, before standing back up and taking her hand. “Watch your step,” Arizona instructed, very slowly helping Callie hobble over to the shower. She slid open the glass door once more, a pile of steam seeping out.
Callie closed her eyes, moaning as the steam connected with her skin.
God, that felt good.
The brunette turned her gaze over her shoulder to the woman behind her. She dropped her eyes down as a slight smirk graced her lips. She was still in pain, but that didn't mean she couldn't have a little fun.
The non-sex kind, but still.
Fun was fun.
Callie very gingerly stepped into the shower before turning to face her full on. “You plan on getting those wet?” she teased with an arched brow.
Arizona blushed despite herself, clearing her throat and glancing down. “Might be a safer if I did,” she chuckled, sneaking a peak up at Callie.
Her eyes. Specifically, she was looking into her eyes.
Not anywhere else.
Taking in a deep breath, Arizona released it slowly, and then reached down to quickly pull her shirt over her head. The rest of her clothes followed, before she could lose her nerve. She stepped into the shower after Callie and closed the sliding glass door behind her.
The steam felt good, and she took in a deep, soothing breath before opening her eyes and smiling softly at Callie. Without saying anything, she reached over for the shower loofah and body wash.
Callie was more than a little surprised when her first instinct wasn't to look down.
No. The only place she could seem to look at all was back into those ocean blue eyes.
She had such a thing for Arizona’s eyes.
Callie jerked a little when she felt the first soft touch of the soapy loofah against her chest. She smiled shakily, swallowing back as she kept her gaze locked with her lover's.
“You okay?” Arizona whispered softly as she continued the gentle motion of her hand.
Callie swallowed once more and then nodded. “Yeah.” She licked her lips. “You?”
Arizona smiled back. “Peachy.” Her other hand gently grasped Callie by the shoulder, and she directed the brunette to back up into the spray, letting it run along her back as she slowly and methodically washed her front.
In a non-sexy way. As much as it could be non-sexy between them, anyway. Arizona really was just concentrating on making sure she didn’t cause Callie any pain. She knew that nothing felt better after a stay in the hospital than a nice, warm, soapy bath. Since Callie could barely stand, let alone sit down in a hard porcelain tub, this shower would have to do.
Without talking anymore, Arizona spent the next few minutes soaping Callie down, gently turning her around every so often so she could get every inch of her body.
She even helped her to quickly shave her armpits at Callie’s desperate request.
Nothing says ‘I love you’ to a person more than that.
Washing off the loofah and setting it aside, Arizona helped tilt Callie’s head back just enough to completely soak her long, gorgeous hair, and then proceeded to shampoo it.
Callie moaned softly as she closed her eyes and leaned her shoulder against the cool tile of the shower wall. She tried not to moan too much, but the feeling of the warm soap combined with the soft, soothing touch of her ex's fingers...
She was only human after all.
Callie moaned again. “I always did love those magic fingers.”
A moment passed before dark brown eyes suddenly popped open.
Callie turned a panicked smile back to the other woman. “Uh,” she stuttered. “I wasn't trying to be sexy just then. I swear.”
Arizona barely held back a grin. “Sure you weren’t, Torres.” She lightly grasped the sides of her head and turned her back to face the other direction. “Just keep your eyes forward.”
After a lather, rinse, and repeat, followed by a condition, Arizona had Callie’s hair fully rinsed beneath the hot water. Unable to help herself, she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the back of the brunette’s shoulder.
“Now you smell really good,” she assured her, smiling against soft, clean skin.
Callie sucked in a sharp breath the instant the blonde's lips made contact with her shoulder. “Uh...i-isn't that...naughty touching?” she whispered as she felt her eyes flutter closed when Arizona placed another soft kiss against her skin.
Oh come on.
How did Arizona expect to her behave in the shower, both all naked, soapy...
Wet.
Which was quickly becoming in more ways than one.
Especially when she was doing...that.
“Not naughty,” Arizona murmured against Callie’s shoulder, allowing herself to place one more soft kiss. “Nice.”
She smirked, closing her eyes and breathing in the nice soapy scent of Calliope Torres. “I’m sorry. Not trying to make you uncomfortable.” It was very hard to, but she managed to pull away.
Callie was like a damn magnet to her. She just wanted to be close to the woman, all the time.
“Shower. Check.” Arizona smiled a little, then reached past Callie to turn off the hot water.
It took a few seconds before Callie was able to regain enough of her composure to not turn on the other woman and just...just...
Just.
Brown eyes blinked slowly as Callie looked over to watch as Arizona turned off the spray of the shower. “Not uncomfortable at all,” she mumbled to herself, clearing her throat as she moved toward the shower door.
One step was all it took before another sharp pain shot up her back. She reached out to brace herself on the tiled wall.
Arizona instantly grabbed Callie to keep her from falling. “Easy does it…” She grasped one hand around her arm and the other lightly on her hip. “I got you.”
Very slowly they stepped out of the shower and onto the floor mat. Arizona opened the cupboard and grabbed a fresh bath towel, slinging it around the brunette’s shoulders. She glanced up to meet her eyes, smiling softly at the trusting look she found there. “Feel a little better?” Arizona tentatively began to dry Callie off, squeezing her hair first and then working the towel lightly across her body.
Well, if that wasn't a helluva question.
Because...yes. On the one hand, she felt much better. As far as stinky and uncomfortable went, she was doing very much better.
But, on the other hand...
She was currently standing naked in front of her also very naked ex-girlfriend after just having showered together.
So...
Yeah.
Callie finally managed a slight nod. “Much,” she replied in a low, husky whisper. She never once took her eyes from the other woman's.
The intensity of the look made Arizona shiver, though she continued to methodically dry Callie off. “Good.”
When she was satisfied the brunette was warm and mostly dry, Arizona pulled the towel around just beneath her arms and tucked it into itself, securing it snuggly.
And then she was left standing naked.
Blushing a little, she quickly grabbed another towel from the cupboard and wrapped it around herself in a similar fashion, not bothering to dry off first. “Let’s get you into some comfy clothes.” Arizona linked her arm with Callie’s and helped her walk back slowly into her bedroom.
“The vicodin kicking in yet?” Arizona watched her closely, knowing she’d know if the other woman lied about the pain.
Callie winced on each step. “A little,” she replied softly as they made their way over to the bed.
The clean bed, inside of her spotlessly clean bedroom.
She glanced around as they slowly hobbled over and smiled with a slight shake of her head. “I knew if anyone could do it...” She trailed off, releasing a heavy breath as she was finally guided to sit down on the edge.
She let out a sigh of relief. Her brow scrunched as she glanced around the room. “Do I even have clean, comfy...anything?”
“I did your laundry,” Arizona pointed out with a smirk, hovering above Callie in her towel. Water beads still continued to roll down her skin, and she pushed her wet hair back out of her eyes. “Yes, I’m that good.” Chuckling, Arizona turned for the door. “You sit tight. I’ll go get your stuff from the drier.”
She padded from the room, about to go right down the hallway to the laundry room, when the sound of her phone buzzing in the kitchen caught her attention. It made her sigh loudly.
That man didn’t get the point, did he?
Arizona turned left instead, walking toward the kitchen towel-clad and barefoot.
“Nice towel.”
Arizona jumped in place before quickly whirling around to face the source of the voice. Her blue eyes widened at the sight of Mark Sloan reclined back on the couch.
Eating an apple.
Of course.
Mark smirked as he raked his eyes up and down the woman's form. He let out a low whistle as he shook his head. “I didn't expect such great legs either,” he remarked as he lifted the apple to his mouth to take another bite. “You suck, by the way,” he added as he paused in his chewing.
Arizona’s heart was hammering so hard in her chest, she thought it might explode. “Jesus Mark, wear freaking a bell,” she grumbled, closing her eyes.
Of course.
Just….of course.
“Nothing happened.” She held the towel more securely around herself. “Callie can barely stand on her own, and she wanted a shower. That’s all.”
Mark stopped mid-chew. His blue eyes kind of glazed over as he sat there, staring at the other surgeon.
Arizona's eyes narrowed and she held the towel just a little tighter against her body. “What?” she asked defensively.
Sloan blinked. “Seriously?” he finally replied. “You just put that image in my head, and you expect me to be articulate?” He chewed very slowly. “There was soap involved, right? Maybe lots of...soft stroking?”
Arizona rolled her eyes and stomped over to her buzzing phone. “You’re a pervert, Sloan.” She finally just turned it off and slammed it back down onto the counter before turning to fix him with an irritated glare.
Which only made him grin more.
Stupid Mark.
“Is there a specific reason you’re here?” It wasn’t her ideal way to hold a conversation with him, standing there dripping wet and wrapped in a towel, but since her only clean clothes were back in the bedroom…
“Hey!” Arizona suddenly snapped her fingers at him. “Eyes. Up here.” She pointed at her own.
Mark's eyes snapped up, but he was still smirking. “No wonder Torres went so crazy when you broke it off.” He shook his head with another low whistle. “I'd go crazy for those-”
“Hey!”
“-legs,” Mark finished with a low chuckle.
Arizona looked positively deadly.
“Zona?” Callie's voice suddenly broke in from inside her bedroom.
“You…you…you,” the blonde finally growled, pointing a menacing finger at him. “Stay. Here.”
With a huff, Arizona turned and made a beeline back down the hallway, quickly grabbing Callie some clean clothes from the dryer before re-entering the bedroom, pushing the door partly shut behind her.
“Your best friend is an ass,” she announced upon entering. “Something I’m sure you knew, but let me just reaffirm that.”
Callie looked amused. “Uh, yeah?” she chuckled in response as she glanced over the blonde's shoulder. “Mark's here?” She smiled at the thought of her best friend. He-
Callie's smile instantly vanished as her eyes widened. “Mark's here!” she repeated with a panicked look. Her gaze raked over her ex's towel-clad form. “And he...saw you! With his eyes!” she quickly added. “Like...that!”
“Yes,” Arizona stated, clearly unimpressed with those facts. Between last week and now today…
“Mark Sloan has now seen more of me than I’m comfortable with most people seeing.” She growled beneath her breath, still blushing furiously, and tossed Callie’s clothes onto the bed. She grabbed the brunette’s robe from the back of the door and quickly switched it with her towel, something she found herself wishing she’d done earlier.
Callie caught just the barest flash of skin as Arizona removed her towel to quickly cover up with the robe. She smiled dreamily as she closed her eyes to remember what that skin felt like beneath her...
Okay.
Bad idea.
Callie jerked in place as her eyes popped open. She swallowed back and then released a slow, deep breath. She reached over blindly for her clothes, her eyes still trained on Arizona's form.
Fuck.
She had great legs.
Tying the sash, Arizona turned back to face Callie with a forced smile. She could brood in embarrassment over Mark internally, without forcing her bad mood on the woman in pain.
Though she was gonna kill Sloan later. If she ever showed her face in front of him again, and that remained to be seen or decided.
“Here.” Arizona picked up Callie’s sleep shirt and fluffed it out. “Lift up your arms,” she instructed softly, once more focusing on taking care of her girlfriend.
Ex. Whatever.
She got Callie dressed with relative ease, though the brunette was still clearly in pain. “Those drugs should be kicking in right about now. Feeling sleepy yet?” Arizona glanced up from where she was knelt on the floor, pulling some socks onto Callie’s feet.
Callie thought about it for a moment. “Kind of,” she replied as she tilted her head. She did feel a lot better. Way more relaxed.
But she figured that had a lot more to do with Arizona and a lot less to do with those pills.
Callie smiled again. “You gonna come lay with me?” she asked softly as she felt her muscles become warm with anticipation. That was probably the pills, but still.
Warm was good. She liked warm. Arizona was warm.
Arizona stopped just as she pulled the last sock on and froze, staring at the foot in her hand.
“If you want me to,” she answered carefully, before glancing up.
“Would I ask if I didn’t?” Callie replied quietly.
That made Arizona smile a little. “Of course I will.”
“What about me?” Mark’s voice echoed from the doorway, where he stood chewing on that apple.
Callie looked over, her eyes widening a little at the unexpected intrusion. She wanted to be angry, but he was just so cute. She laughed softly instead. “Sure,” she replied. “Get over here."
Arizona looked up from her spot on the floor. “Calliope?” she called quietly as she moved to slowly stand. She kept her gaze on Mark, glaring back at him as she held the robe closed tightly with her hand. She leaned over to her ex-girlfriend. “I'm...not liking that scenario very much.”
Callie turned a smirk toward the blonde. “It'll be fine,” she offered with another laugh. “Just like before. You won't even know he's there. Promise.”
Mark stepped into the room, smirking as he finished off his apple. “Nice robe.”
“Mark!” Callie scolded as she reached out to smack him on his thigh. “Be good, or you're sleeping on the floor like the other dogs.”
“I am being good,” Mark protested, flomping down onto the bed next to his best friend, making it bounce beneath his added weight. “This is me making an effort to be good, considering you two just had wet, soapy, naughty shower se-”
“Okay,” Arizona interrupted. “I’m gonna go.” She shot Callie an apologetic, forced smile, taking a few steps back toward the door. “You two have your nap, I should...check in with work or something.”
“You work too much, Robbins,” Mark called after her. “Pretty soon you’re gonna turn into Torres three years ago and live in the boiler room.”
Callie reached out to smack him in the chest without ever taking her eyes from her partner. “Stay,” she called softly, her attention focused completely on Arizona. “Mark can go home.”
“Hey,” Sloan protested from his spot next to her.
Callie ignored him, her eyes still on Arizona. “I need you,” she went on softly. “Mark is good man-candy, but it's not the same as laying next to you.”
“Hey,” Mark protested again, reaching out to poke the brunette with his apple core.
“Please stay,” Callie repeated quietly with her best smile.
Arizona melted a little under it.
It wasn’t fair how hard it was to resist that smile. Not fair at all.
“I’ll behave, I promise.” Mark did his best to look serious. But then he just got that stupid grin back on his face, because the prospect of laying in bed with two 'wet' lesbians was just…
Arizona fixed Mark with a glare, pretty much reading his mind. “If you so much as make another remark, Sloan…”
Normally, she liked Mark. He was funny, and a nice guy, and Callie’s best friend. Kind of an ass, but he amused her more often than not. But then there were times he would just become such a…guy. It drove her crazy.
Callie didn't have to see it to know that it was there. That 'look' on Mark's face. Sometimes she thought he did it just to be a jerk.
The brunette elbowed her best friend hard in the side. “Quit being a butthead,” she growled at him, still not taking her eyes from her ex's blue gaze.
Mark grunted and rubbed his ribs. “Butthead? I haven’t been called that since I was twelve.”
“Well, then stop being one,” Callie shot back, elbowing him again.
“I can’t help it,” Mark pouted, clutching his side way too dramatically for someone as built as he was.
Arizona found herself grinning at the two of them, shaking her head. “Lucky for you Sloan, you’re an adorkable butthead. You remind me of my brother.” She kind of said it without meaning to - she didn’t talk about Aaron at all, ever.
“I’m gonna go change,” she added quickly, looking away. “Away from prying eyes.” Pulling the robe closer around her, Arizona exited to the bathroom, where her clothes were still laying on the floor.
Callie smiled as she watched her go. It instantly vanished the second Arizona cleared the door frame. She turned on Mark with a hard glare before reaching out to smack him in the shoulder.
“Ow!” Mark protested.
“Don't do that,” she scolded as she flashed her eyes back toward the door.
“Do what?” Mark shot back, glaring at her as he rubbed the sore spot on his shoulder.
Callie grabbed him by the front of his shirt, squeezing the material in a tight fist. She jerked him toward her. “If you mess this up for me, I swear I'll...I'll...do something to make you regret it.”
Mark blinked in surprise, looking genuinely frightened. “Hey! I thought you were supposed to be all weak and mousey!”
Callie’s look got even more dangerous, and he gulped. “Okay, okay, I’ll behave! I promise. My lips are sealed. I’ll stop harassing her.”
Callie narrowed her eyes, but released his shirt. “Go. Now. Before I change my mind and cause you physical pain.”
“You wouldn’t - ow! Okay!” Mark jumped off the bed, rubbing his wounded shoulder. He dodged a well-aimed kick from Callie, who winced at the pain the movement caused. “Okay, okay, going now. Don’t do anything too naughty while I’m gone.”
He turned and walked out into the hallway, calling out “Later, hot legs!” in the direction of the bathroom before leaving through the front door.
A couple of seconds later, Arizona emerged, fully dressed in the one change of clothes she still had at Callie’s. It was just a t-shirt and pajama pants, but she had the clothes she came with for when she needed to leave later.
This attire was much more comfortable to sleep in. And yes, she was planning on keeping her clothes on this time.
Really.
“His puppy dog eyes make me feel bad,” Arizona said to Callie with a slight smirk. “No wonder he gets away with murder.”
Callie snorted as she glanced at the now empty doorway. “He only uses those to get what he wants,” she chuckled softly. “Especially with women.” She turned to the blonde, and her smile instantly vanished. “Not this woman,” she quickly corrected, her hopeful smile easily sliding back into place. “Oh please,” she said as she waved a hand through the air. “So over Mark Sloan and his big-” Her eyes widened. “-ego,” she quickly finished. “Mark and that big ego of his.” She laughed nervously. “I tell ya...”
Callie quickly averted her eyes, squeezing them shut tightly as she cursed silently to herself.
Arizona grimaced. “You just shattered the mental wall I put up blocking out the knowledge of you two and your hetero sexcapades. Thanks.”
“We only did it a few times,” Callie lied.
Knowing full well that was bull, the blonde shuddered. “Ew, I don’t need details. You’re talking to a ‘gold star lesbian’ here. Man free since ’73.”
Callie frowned, doing the math in her head. “You’re not…thirty seven.”
Arizona grinned. “I know, but man free since ’76 doesn’t rhyme.”
Callie laughed softly as she watched the blonde.
She was just so...cute.
The brunette reached over to pat a spot on the bed next to her. “C'mere,” she whispered huskily, smiling her best smile as her brown eyes grew just a bit darker.
Any other time, any other day…Arizona would probably have caved in to her desire to pounce on Callie. Because the way she was looking at her…
Just begged for it.
But, being injured, that probably wouldn’t go over too well. So Arizona reined in that impulse, and instead slowly sank down onto the bed next to Callie.
Her eyes searched the brunette’s, and she reached up to brush a strand of damp hair out of her own eyes. “We’re supposed to behave,” she pointed out in a soft murmur, tucking it behind her ear.
Callie leaned in just a little closer as she pulled her bottom lip into her mouth. “We are,” she whispered huskily as she dropped her gaze from deep blue eyes down to perfect pink lips.
Everything about Arizona Robbins was perfect.
Callie wanted to kiss those lips, badly. But that wouldn't be considered 'behaving', and she did promise she would.
But...damn, were those lips hard to resist.
Callie whimpered softly as she squeezed her eyes shut. Out of sight, out of mind.
If only.
Arizona breathed in and released a shaky sigh of her own. “Why is it that we can’t even be alone in a room together for two seconds without the temperature skyrocketing a hundred degrees?” She chuckled, but laughing it off didn’t make her want to kiss Callie any less.
“At least you’re in no physical shape for sex,” she added after a beat of silence. At Callie’s look, she smiled and rephrased. “Not that I’m happy you’re in pain, but it’s kind of like a…safety net. If it seems like something is about to happen, all we have to do is remind ourselves that ‘something’ will probably hurt, and then…stop.”
Yes, this was her ‘Arizona-logic’ speaking.
But she still really wanted to kiss Callie. And she was positive she could do it without causing any pain.
Quite the opposite of pain, actually…
Oh hell. That thought wasn’t helping.
Callie's eyes once again dropped back down to the other woman's mouth. “Only some kinds of sex,” she replied absently as she slowly trailed her gaze back up to meet the blue eyes staring intently back at her. She didn't mean to say it, she really didn't.
But it seemed to be the only thing she could think at the moment.
Callie licked her lips as she leaned in even a bit closer. “I think you know I'm capable of many different kinds.”
It was Arizona’s turn to whimper.
“You’re a wicked, wicked woman,” she pointed out with a low chuckle, before closing in her half of the small distance between them and kissing Callie.
It was soft and careful, but not too tentative at the same time.
Arizona’s left hand moved up to gently caress the side of Callie’s face, pulling her into the kiss.
And that was definitely the opposite of behaving.
Callie moaned into the kiss, turning her body more towards her lover as she reached up to tangle her fingers in damp blonde hair. She gave the silky strands a soft tug as she released a harsh breath into the kiss.
“My body's on fire,” Callie whispered honestly as she blinked her eyes open. She had to wait a moment, but blue eyes finally joined in. “I...I haven't felt anything but pain for days.” She smiled. “'Til now.”
Arizona smirked, stealing another quick kiss. “I’m better than narcotics,” she teased, pulling Callie in for one more deep lip-lock.
After a lingering moment, her lips moved down the side of the brunette’s chin, and then to her neck, where she closed her eyes and burrowed against it.
Callie smelled amazingly good. And it wasn’t just the shampoo, it was…her.
“You need to sleep now,” the older surgeon whispered quietly, not moving from her comfortable place nuzzled into her lover's neck. “I promise I’ll be here when you wake up.”
Callie groaned instantly. “Sleep?” she repeated with a whine. “You expect me to sleep now? After...that?” She pulled away from the blonde, dipping her head.
Arizona avoided her ex's gaze for a long as she could. She finally relented with a deep, heavy sigh. “Calliope-”
“Oh no,” Callie instantly cut in. “You only say that when it's bad.” Her brow furrowed. “Or when you're trying to suck up.” She paused as she took a moment to gauge the woman. “You're not sucking up, so this is bad.” When Arizona didn't reply, she let out a soft breath. “This is bad. Isn't this bad?”
“No,” Arizona instantly replied. After a pause, she added, “Maybe. I-I don’t know.” With a deep sigh, she lifted her eyes to reluctantly meet Callie’s. “I just know that the longer we keep doing…this, the harder someone is gonna get hurt in the…e-end.”
She struggled through that last word.
“We’ve had this discussion,” Callie reminded her softly. “Like…three times.”
Arizona gave a wry smile. “And apparently we both suck at staying away from eachother.”
“Is that what you want?” Callie swallowed hard, looking apprehensive. “Me to stay away from you?”
“What? No,” Arizona answered instantly, cupping Callie’s face gingerly between both hands. Her honest blue eyes bore into soft brown ones. “I’m right where I wanna be. And I’m not going anywhere as long as you want me here.” Her smile saddened. “It’s just…hard to be close to you, and not be…close.”
Callie sighed. “God, I know,” she replied heavily. “I've never been closer to anyone my whole life.” She leaned into the touch against her face. Her eyes drooped, but she forced them to stay open.
She didn't want to miss even one second of this.
Callie's bottom lip trembled as they sat in silence for a long moment. “Why does it have to be this hard?” she finally whispered. Her brow creased tensely and she fought back the sob she felt bubbling up in her chest. A stray tear finally splashed onto her cheek. “Why do I still have to be so in love with you?”
Arizona automatically leaned in and kissed away the salty tear. “I’m sorry,” she murmured quietly, leaning her forehead against Callie’s. “We’ll figure it out eventually.” What exactly, she wasn’t sure - their relationship, the kids thing, a friendship…all that was up in the air until it sorted itself out. Until then, they were doing the best that they could.
“You look exhausted, Calliope,” Arizona added after a moment of sad silence. She reluctantly stood up from the bed and held on to Callie’s hand, pulling her up as well. Yanking back the freshly changed sheets, Arizona lead Callie around to her side of the bed and got her to slowly sit down again.
“Do you need anything first?” Arizona tilted her head to the side a little, looking worried.
Callie sighed in defeat, her shoulders slumping. “You want the honest answer to that?”
Arizona had to smile. “Probably not.”
Callie nodded once as she dropped her eyes down to the bed. With a considerably painful effort, she lifted her legs and twisted her body until she was able to lay back. She sighed at the feeling of the fresh sheets against her skin. It seemed that just like that, she could feel the pills starting to kick in.
“I'm good,” Callie finally replied as she yawned and slowly blinked her hazy eyes.
Arizona bit her lip. “You still want me to stay?”
Callie shot her a pointed glare, even through the fuzziness her pills were causing. “I’ll kick your ass if you don’t.”
Chuckling, Arizona padded over to turn off the light, and then crawled into her usual side of the bed. Out of habit, she snuggled right up against Callie.
She was nice and warm.
Callie sighed as she moved to gingerly turn onto her right side. She didn't really feel much pain, thanks to the pills, but her body still hesitated as she turned.
A moment later, Arizona's arm wrapped around her stomach. She instantly reached down to lace her fingers with the blonde's.
If 'breaking up' was this easy, maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.
---
Chapter 10/23
Authors: Faith & Kye
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: NC-17
Story Summary: Post-6x17 "Push" -- Arizona prefers chickens to children, and Callie isn't okay with that. Heartbroken and lonely, the two women try unsuccessfully to move on with their lives, only to find they really are made for eachother.
Chapter Summary: Arizona takes Callie home. A beer, a nap, a shower, and Mark Sloan are what follows.
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. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.
Previous Chapters
---
“Oww,” Callie whined for the eighteenth time as she leaned into Arizona while they hobbled off of the elevator. Every single step hurt like a mother trucker, even though she was using the other woman for support.
“I know, we’re almost there,” Arizona groaned. She had Callie on one arm, and was using her other to carry the brunette’s bag of stuff from the hospital. “Sloan, you wanna give us a hand here?” she growled irritably.
“Texting,” Mark answered, following them out of the elevator with his eyes glued to his blackberry.
Gritting her teeth, Arizona managed to get Callie to her doorway. She helped her lean against the wall, then dropped the bag at her feet. Turning, she reached over and snatched Mark’s phone out of his hands, glaring at him.
“Hey!” Mark protested, grabbing for the device.
“Keys,” she ordered, holding it away from him. “Door. Open.”
Sloan scowled at the blonde as he dug into the pocket of his jeans. He turned to the door, grumbling under his breath as he placed the key in the lock and turned it. He glanced back over his shoulder, the same dirty scowl on his face as he pushed it open.
Mark stepped back, bowing at the waist as he motioned with his hand into the apartment.
Callie smirked, despite her pain.
Arizona rolled her eyes. She slapped the phone hard against Mark's chest as she walked by.
Sloan let out a gust of air, glaring at the back of the blonde's head. “Don't know why you love her!” he called out to Callie as he stood back to his full height.
Callie glanced up at her ex-girlfriend as she gently helped her towards the couch. “I do,” she whispered softly.
“Because I’m awesome,” Arizona mused. “We've already been over this. Here you go…” She helped the brunette settle onto the couch. “You okay?” She took the grimace of pain as a yes, and brushed some loose hairs behind Callie’s ear. “Just sit and relax, I’ll get your bag and-”
Said bag flew across the room and hit her in the side of the face.
Arizona closed her eyes and did her best to keep her temper in check. “Remind me again why we keep him around?”
“Because I'm awesome,” Mark's voice mocked from nearby.
Callie laughed. “What am I supposed to do with you two?”
“Don't even think about it, Sloan,” Arizona cut in before Mark could reply. She kept her eyes on Callie as she moved to grab the blanket tossed over the back of the couch.
Mark started heading for the door just as Callie shifted her gaze in his direction. He pitched a thumb over his shoulder. “I've got...stuff,” he said as he reached out to open it. “I'll be back for dinner.”
Callie shook her head, still smiling as she turned her gaze back to the woman currently tucking the blanket in around her. The soft click of the door echoed in the room, but her attention was focused entirely on Arizona.
“Thanks for this,” Callie whispered softly.
“Any time,” Arizona replied with a smile. “I kinda owed you for the whole chicken pox debacle, anyway.”
She made sure the blanket was snug around Callie’s shoulders, and then stooped down to grab her night bag. “I’ll go throw a load of laundry in for you and make sure your room is all set up. Do you need anything first? I can get you food.” She frowned in concern. “Do you want food? Or a drink? Or some of the nice pain meds Shepherd prescribed for you?”
Callie laughed softly. “Easy, Arizona,” she teased as she settled back into the warmth of the couch. She closed her eyes, sighing as she pulled the blanket tighter around her. “I'm pretty much good right here,” she finally replied as she dipped her head back to rest against the couch.
It was odd, but the angle actually felt really good on her back. She was so used to nothing but constant pain since the procedure, that she didn't dare move and risk losing it.
Arizona nodded and turned to leave.
Callie's hand shot out from underneath the blanket to gently grab onto the woman's wrist. “I wouldn't mind a beer,” she tried as she slowly peeked one eye open.
Arizona raised a slow brow. “Calliope. You’re on vicodin. Mixing that with alcohol is really not a good idea.”
“I’m not on it yet,” Callie pointed out innocently.
That made Arizona sigh. “You really want a beer, huh? Okay. But I’m not giving you any pain meds for another few hours then.” She squeezed her ex’s hand before heading to the kitchen, where she opened the fridge and rooted around.
Typical surgeon’s refrigerator. Pretty much bare except for some expired milk and some ancient leftovers.
Arizona grabbed a beer from the corner. “Is Yang supposed to be back tonight? Or did you get her to stay with Hunt for a few days while you get some rest?”
Callie heard the words, but her eyes were focused intently on the beer in the other woman's hand. It had been a good two weeks since she'd had a good, frosty cold one. Her mouth watered a little in anticipation.
“Calliope?” Arizona called as she stopped just in front of the couch. Her brow furrowed as she watched her lover watching her hand.
Oh. Right. The beer.
Arizona rolled her eyes and smiled despite herself. “You really do have a one track mind sometimes.”
Callie moaned as she reached out towards the beer, her fingers wiggling in anticipation.
Cracking the lid off, Arizona held out the bottle. Callie grabbed it before she could even blink. “You’re cute. But if you puke, I’m not cleaning it up.”
She beamed at Callie, then turned and headed off to do laundry.
Callie was too caught up in the moment with her beer as she closed her eyes and hugged the bottle against her chest. She snuggled down against the arm of the couch, still clutching it tightly.
Oh yeah.
That was the stuff.
***
There were times when Arizona was super glad her ‘type A’ personality included the ability to enjoy cleaning.
Well, maybe not enjoy, but at least be efficient at it.
Callie’s room was a complete disaster, and she hadn’t done laundry in weeks apparently, so Arizona completed all of those tasks and grabbed a shower before venturing back out into the living room.
Callie had been out cold for two hours, and she looked peaceful laying there on the couch. Arizona was about to go into the bedroom to let her continue to sleep, when her cell phone rang on the kitchen counter.
“Crap,” she murmured under her breath, running across the room as silently as possible to grab it before Callie woke up.
The phone had just began its third ring when the blonde's hand clamped down over it.
Callie suddenly jerked awake, sitting straight up with the beer still clutched against her chest. Her eyes were heavy and her gaze blurry as she glanced around the room. “Wha?” she mumbled sleepily before turning to look in the kitchen. She blinked her left eye, then her right, and then finally managed them both at the same time.
Arizona cursed under her breath, grimacing at Callie. “I’m sorry,” she sighed. “I thought I had the ringer off.” It continued to vibrate in her hand, and she took a quick glance at the call display.
‘Dad’.
Noo thank you.
She clicked it off and shoved it back into her purse. “Your room’s clean, if you want to have a nap in your actual bed. I managed to find it under the piles of clothing and various other items.” Arizona smirked a little. “I’m gone from here for two weeks and it looked like a warzone in there.”
Callie yawned, attempting to stretch her arms, but suddenly realized the full, now luke-warm beer was still held in both hands, not a drop having spilled throughout her entire nap.
How she managed that one, she'll never know.
Callie frowned as she leaned forward the short distance to set the beer onto the coffee table. She yawned again, finally stretching her arms with a long, deep groan. “You know you always did that stuff,” she finally replied as she reached up to run a hand down her face. She blinked a few times.
“I’d hate to see how you lived before I came along,” Arizona teased, making her way back over to the couch. She sat next to Callie and pulled her legs up beneath her. “How are you feeling?” Her eyes swept over the brunette, searching for any obvious signs of discomfort. She reached up and felt Callie’s forehead for a fever, but didn’t find one.
“You want me to help you to your room?”
Callie was still fighting through the haze of sleep as she shifted against the couch. She groaned a little. “I'd rather you help me to the shower,” she replied before she could even think about what she was saying. She yawned a third time, stretching her arms as she arched her body to pop the stiffness from her back.
Big mistake.
Callie gasped as the deep pain shot up her spine. Her eyes widened as her entire body tensed up. She jolted forward a little as her eyes watered from the intensity. She blinked. “Uh...ow.”
Arizona placed one hand gingerly on Callie’s back and her other against her shoulder, supporting a bit of her weight. “Easy there, tiger,” she teased softly, though her eyes were full of worry. “You think you can handle standing up in the shower long enough?”
“I don’t think I have a choice,” Callie grimaced through the painful throbbing. “You smell way better than me right now, it’s embarrassing…”
Arizona grinned at Callie’s ability to be cute through her pain, and ran a hand back through her still-damp blonde hair. “If you want, I can hang around just to make sure you don’t fall…but I’m not getting in there with you. Because then very little showering would get done, and I’m supposed to take care of you, not cause more pain for selfish reasons.” Her grin was still light and teasing, but there was some truth behind her words.
Since they clearly sucked at being not a couple, there was no reason to think that a shower wouldn’t turn into more than being ‘helpful’.
Callie tried to smile, but the pain was kind of a little more than she could fight through at the moment. She turned her dark gaze toward the blonde as she winced through another sharp wave. “Not even if I double promise with a cherry on top?” She barely managed to hold back another flinch. She didn't want Arizona to worry.
It was just that she didn't think she was going to be able to stand up on her own or anything at the moment. And to be honest, not by choice, but pretty much the last thing on her mind right now was anything that had to do with sex.
At the moment, all she could seem to focus on was a warm shower and fresh, clean clothes.
Arizona relented fairly easily. “Okay. Of course. You know I can’t deny you anything.” She lightly ran her hand over Callie’s back. “Let me get your pills first. They’ll kick in by the time you’re cleaned up, and you can pass out right after.”
Out of habit, and just because, Arizona leaned in and softly kissed the side of her ex’s forehead before standing up and heading back to where her purse was sitting on the counter. She’d thrown Callie’s prescription in its depths somewhere, but the damn bag was a bottomless pit. She had spread pretty much all of its contents out on the counter before finding the pills at the very bottom. Her stupid cell phone buzzed a second time, and she once again hit the side button that sent it to voicemail.
There were way more important things happening right now. Like Callie being in pain.
Arizona poured a glass of cold water to go with the pills and brought them over to the woman sitting on the couch.
Callie was still a little hazy from her nap. She groaned, looking up just as the blonde made it back to her. “Thank you,” she mumbled as she opened her palm to instantly accept the pills. She popped them into her mouth, swallowing before she even took the glass of water from her ex's grasp. She grimaced as they slid down her throat before drinking half of the water.
Arizona waited until Callie was done, then set the glass aside on the coffee table for her. “Okay, up you go.” She stooped down and very carefully helped Callie to her feet.
***
Arizona helped her to sit down on the closed toilet lid while she started running the shower, making sure it was hot but not scalding.
“Hang in there,” she called over to the brunette, sliding the shower door shut for the time being so the water didn’t spray everywhere. She turned back to face Callie, and her heart ached just seeing the exhausted, pained, and defeated expression on her face.
“Twenty minutes,” Arizona offered tenderly. “We can have you showered and into your ‘jammies in twenty minutes, tops. Just hang in there a little longer, okay?”
Callie finally managed a shaky smile. Just looking back into Arizona's deep blue eyes made it hurt a little less. “No hurry. I feel just...” She trailed off with another grimace of pain. “...peachy."
It really was taking everything that Callie had within her not to scream out when the tense, tight muscles in her back twinged painfully.
This really sucked.
Brown eyes traveled over to the steaming shower and Callie whimpered in anticipation. “You? I-In there?” She raised a hand in the vague direction of the shower. “With me?”
“If you need me to be,” Arizona replied quietly. “I promise to behave myself,” she added with a slight smile.
Callie had to grin back, though it was hard to in her exhaustion. “I don’t,” she chuckled.
“Oh yes you will, Calliope Torres,” Arizona shot back. “Or else.”
It felt nice to be back to where they could tease one another and just be comfortable together. Even if things were still…unlabeled between them. It was just a nice feeling.
“Here.” Arizona knelt in front of Callie and slowly pulled up on the hem of the other woman’s shirt. “Arms up.”
Oh boy.
Callie's eyes widened just a little, and it took her a considerable amount of effort just to swallow back. She hesitated. For obvious reasons.
For a few short, tense moments, she just sat there, staring back into those blue eyes.
It wasn't Arizona she was worried about.
“Okay then,” Callie mumbled softly to herself, never breaking eye contact with the other woman as she slowly lifted her arms.
Arizona slid the shirt over Callie’s head, setting it aside on the floor and then standing up. She pulled the brunette to her feet and then focused on pulling down her sweat pants. Kneeling once more, Arizona took each foot by the ankle and slowly helped her step out of them.
Getting back to her feet once more, Arizona finally met Callie’s eyes and saw the nervousness she was feeling inside reflected back there. “Okay. You finish up here, and I’ll grab a change of clothes for myself. Be right back.”
“Uh, Zona?” Callie called out after the blonde took a step away.
Arizona turned in an instant, smiling a bit shakily. “Yes?”
Callie arched a brow as she finally managed a slight smirk. “Just had bone sucked outta my hip? Deep, intense pain in my back?” She waved a hand through the air between them. “Not exactly feeling up to moving like...at all?” She chuckled softly. “This ringing any bells?”
Not that she was trying to make this any worse, but how exactly was she supposed to 'finish up'? She could barely move, much less twist and turn to try and get her remaining clothing off.
Arizona swallowed. Hard.
Oh boy indeed.
“Right. Sorry.” She shook her head quickly and stepped back over to Callie. “It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked before. No big deal, right?”
She might have been trying to convince both of them of that.
Because other than the occasional time of inappropriate sex at work, they really hadn’t exactly been in the ‘fully naked and showering’ department for a while now. Not since they broke up.
Tried to break up.
Oh boy.
But Arizona displayed all the professionalism she could, and undid Callie's bra. She swallowed back again, but focused on helping her step out of her underwear as well, before standing back up and taking her hand. “Watch your step,” Arizona instructed, very slowly helping Callie hobble over to the shower. She slid open the glass door once more, a pile of steam seeping out.
Callie closed her eyes, moaning as the steam connected with her skin.
God, that felt good.
The brunette turned her gaze over her shoulder to the woman behind her. She dropped her eyes down as a slight smirk graced her lips. She was still in pain, but that didn't mean she couldn't have a little fun.
The non-sex kind, but still.
Fun was fun.
Callie very gingerly stepped into the shower before turning to face her full on. “You plan on getting those wet?” she teased with an arched brow.
Arizona blushed despite herself, clearing her throat and glancing down. “Might be a safer if I did,” she chuckled, sneaking a peak up at Callie.
Her eyes. Specifically, she was looking into her eyes.
Not anywhere else.
Taking in a deep breath, Arizona released it slowly, and then reached down to quickly pull her shirt over her head. The rest of her clothes followed, before she could lose her nerve. She stepped into the shower after Callie and closed the sliding glass door behind her.
The steam felt good, and she took in a deep, soothing breath before opening her eyes and smiling softly at Callie. Without saying anything, she reached over for the shower loofah and body wash.
Callie was more than a little surprised when her first instinct wasn't to look down.
No. The only place she could seem to look at all was back into those ocean blue eyes.
She had such a thing for Arizona’s eyes.
Callie jerked a little when she felt the first soft touch of the soapy loofah against her chest. She smiled shakily, swallowing back as she kept her gaze locked with her lover's.
“You okay?” Arizona whispered softly as she continued the gentle motion of her hand.
Callie swallowed once more and then nodded. “Yeah.” She licked her lips. “You?”
Arizona smiled back. “Peachy.” Her other hand gently grasped Callie by the shoulder, and she directed the brunette to back up into the spray, letting it run along her back as she slowly and methodically washed her front.
In a non-sexy way. As much as it could be non-sexy between them, anyway. Arizona really was just concentrating on making sure she didn’t cause Callie any pain. She knew that nothing felt better after a stay in the hospital than a nice, warm, soapy bath. Since Callie could barely stand, let alone sit down in a hard porcelain tub, this shower would have to do.
Without talking anymore, Arizona spent the next few minutes soaping Callie down, gently turning her around every so often so she could get every inch of her body.
She even helped her to quickly shave her armpits at Callie’s desperate request.
Nothing says ‘I love you’ to a person more than that.
Washing off the loofah and setting it aside, Arizona helped tilt Callie’s head back just enough to completely soak her long, gorgeous hair, and then proceeded to shampoo it.
Callie moaned softly as she closed her eyes and leaned her shoulder against the cool tile of the shower wall. She tried not to moan too much, but the feeling of the warm soap combined with the soft, soothing touch of her ex's fingers...
She was only human after all.
Callie moaned again. “I always did love those magic fingers.”
A moment passed before dark brown eyes suddenly popped open.
Callie turned a panicked smile back to the other woman. “Uh,” she stuttered. “I wasn't trying to be sexy just then. I swear.”
Arizona barely held back a grin. “Sure you weren’t, Torres.” She lightly grasped the sides of her head and turned her back to face the other direction. “Just keep your eyes forward.”
After a lather, rinse, and repeat, followed by a condition, Arizona had Callie’s hair fully rinsed beneath the hot water. Unable to help herself, she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the back of the brunette’s shoulder.
“Now you smell really good,” she assured her, smiling against soft, clean skin.
Callie sucked in a sharp breath the instant the blonde's lips made contact with her shoulder. “Uh...i-isn't that...naughty touching?” she whispered as she felt her eyes flutter closed when Arizona placed another soft kiss against her skin.
Oh come on.
How did Arizona expect to her behave in the shower, both all naked, soapy...
Wet.
Which was quickly becoming in more ways than one.
Especially when she was doing...that.
“Not naughty,” Arizona murmured against Callie’s shoulder, allowing herself to place one more soft kiss. “Nice.”
She smirked, closing her eyes and breathing in the nice soapy scent of Calliope Torres. “I’m sorry. Not trying to make you uncomfortable.” It was very hard to, but she managed to pull away.
Callie was like a damn magnet to her. She just wanted to be close to the woman, all the time.
“Shower. Check.” Arizona smiled a little, then reached past Callie to turn off the hot water.
It took a few seconds before Callie was able to regain enough of her composure to not turn on the other woman and just...just...
Just.
Brown eyes blinked slowly as Callie looked over to watch as Arizona turned off the spray of the shower. “Not uncomfortable at all,” she mumbled to herself, clearing her throat as she moved toward the shower door.
One step was all it took before another sharp pain shot up her back. She reached out to brace herself on the tiled wall.
Arizona instantly grabbed Callie to keep her from falling. “Easy does it…” She grasped one hand around her arm and the other lightly on her hip. “I got you.”
Very slowly they stepped out of the shower and onto the floor mat. Arizona opened the cupboard and grabbed a fresh bath towel, slinging it around the brunette’s shoulders. She glanced up to meet her eyes, smiling softly at the trusting look she found there. “Feel a little better?” Arizona tentatively began to dry Callie off, squeezing her hair first and then working the towel lightly across her body.
Well, if that wasn't a helluva question.
Because...yes. On the one hand, she felt much better. As far as stinky and uncomfortable went, she was doing very much better.
But, on the other hand...
She was currently standing naked in front of her also very naked ex-girlfriend after just having showered together.
So...
Yeah.
Callie finally managed a slight nod. “Much,” she replied in a low, husky whisper. She never once took her eyes from the other woman's.
The intensity of the look made Arizona shiver, though she continued to methodically dry Callie off. “Good.”
When she was satisfied the brunette was warm and mostly dry, Arizona pulled the towel around just beneath her arms and tucked it into itself, securing it snuggly.
And then she was left standing naked.
Blushing a little, she quickly grabbed another towel from the cupboard and wrapped it around herself in a similar fashion, not bothering to dry off first. “Let’s get you into some comfy clothes.” Arizona linked her arm with Callie’s and helped her walk back slowly into her bedroom.
“The vicodin kicking in yet?” Arizona watched her closely, knowing she’d know if the other woman lied about the pain.
Callie winced on each step. “A little,” she replied softly as they made their way over to the bed.
The clean bed, inside of her spotlessly clean bedroom.
She glanced around as they slowly hobbled over and smiled with a slight shake of her head. “I knew if anyone could do it...” She trailed off, releasing a heavy breath as she was finally guided to sit down on the edge.
She let out a sigh of relief. Her brow scrunched as she glanced around the room. “Do I even have clean, comfy...anything?”
“I did your laundry,” Arizona pointed out with a smirk, hovering above Callie in her towel. Water beads still continued to roll down her skin, and she pushed her wet hair back out of her eyes. “Yes, I’m that good.” Chuckling, Arizona turned for the door. “You sit tight. I’ll go get your stuff from the drier.”
She padded from the room, about to go right down the hallway to the laundry room, when the sound of her phone buzzing in the kitchen caught her attention. It made her sigh loudly.
That man didn’t get the point, did he?
Arizona turned left instead, walking toward the kitchen towel-clad and barefoot.
“Nice towel.”
Arizona jumped in place before quickly whirling around to face the source of the voice. Her blue eyes widened at the sight of Mark Sloan reclined back on the couch.
Eating an apple.
Of course.
Mark smirked as he raked his eyes up and down the woman's form. He let out a low whistle as he shook his head. “I didn't expect such great legs either,” he remarked as he lifted the apple to his mouth to take another bite. “You suck, by the way,” he added as he paused in his chewing.
Arizona’s heart was hammering so hard in her chest, she thought it might explode. “Jesus Mark, wear freaking a bell,” she grumbled, closing her eyes.
Of course.
Just….of course.
“Nothing happened.” She held the towel more securely around herself. “Callie can barely stand on her own, and she wanted a shower. That’s all.”
Mark stopped mid-chew. His blue eyes kind of glazed over as he sat there, staring at the other surgeon.
Arizona's eyes narrowed and she held the towel just a little tighter against her body. “What?” she asked defensively.
Sloan blinked. “Seriously?” he finally replied. “You just put that image in my head, and you expect me to be articulate?” He chewed very slowly. “There was soap involved, right? Maybe lots of...soft stroking?”
Arizona rolled her eyes and stomped over to her buzzing phone. “You’re a pervert, Sloan.” She finally just turned it off and slammed it back down onto the counter before turning to fix him with an irritated glare.
Which only made him grin more.
Stupid Mark.
“Is there a specific reason you’re here?” It wasn’t her ideal way to hold a conversation with him, standing there dripping wet and wrapped in a towel, but since her only clean clothes were back in the bedroom…
“Hey!” Arizona suddenly snapped her fingers at him. “Eyes. Up here.” She pointed at her own.
Mark's eyes snapped up, but he was still smirking. “No wonder Torres went so crazy when you broke it off.” He shook his head with another low whistle. “I'd go crazy for those-”
“Hey!”
“-legs,” Mark finished with a low chuckle.
Arizona looked positively deadly.
“Zona?” Callie's voice suddenly broke in from inside her bedroom.
“You…you…you,” the blonde finally growled, pointing a menacing finger at him. “Stay. Here.”
With a huff, Arizona turned and made a beeline back down the hallway, quickly grabbing Callie some clean clothes from the dryer before re-entering the bedroom, pushing the door partly shut behind her.
“Your best friend is an ass,” she announced upon entering. “Something I’m sure you knew, but let me just reaffirm that.”
Callie looked amused. “Uh, yeah?” she chuckled in response as she glanced over the blonde's shoulder. “Mark's here?” She smiled at the thought of her best friend. He-
Callie's smile instantly vanished as her eyes widened. “Mark's here!” she repeated with a panicked look. Her gaze raked over her ex's towel-clad form. “And he...saw you! With his eyes!” she quickly added. “Like...that!”
“Yes,” Arizona stated, clearly unimpressed with those facts. Between last week and now today…
“Mark Sloan has now seen more of me than I’m comfortable with most people seeing.” She growled beneath her breath, still blushing furiously, and tossed Callie’s clothes onto the bed. She grabbed the brunette’s robe from the back of the door and quickly switched it with her towel, something she found herself wishing she’d done earlier.
Callie caught just the barest flash of skin as Arizona removed her towel to quickly cover up with the robe. She smiled dreamily as she closed her eyes to remember what that skin felt like beneath her...
Okay.
Bad idea.
Callie jerked in place as her eyes popped open. She swallowed back and then released a slow, deep breath. She reached over blindly for her clothes, her eyes still trained on Arizona's form.
Fuck.
She had great legs.
Tying the sash, Arizona turned back to face Callie with a forced smile. She could brood in embarrassment over Mark internally, without forcing her bad mood on the woman in pain.
Though she was gonna kill Sloan later. If she ever showed her face in front of him again, and that remained to be seen or decided.
“Here.” Arizona picked up Callie’s sleep shirt and fluffed it out. “Lift up your arms,” she instructed softly, once more focusing on taking care of her girlfriend.
Ex. Whatever.
She got Callie dressed with relative ease, though the brunette was still clearly in pain. “Those drugs should be kicking in right about now. Feeling sleepy yet?” Arizona glanced up from where she was knelt on the floor, pulling some socks onto Callie’s feet.
Callie thought about it for a moment. “Kind of,” she replied as she tilted her head. She did feel a lot better. Way more relaxed.
But she figured that had a lot more to do with Arizona and a lot less to do with those pills.
Callie smiled again. “You gonna come lay with me?” she asked softly as she felt her muscles become warm with anticipation. That was probably the pills, but still.
Warm was good. She liked warm. Arizona was warm.
Arizona stopped just as she pulled the last sock on and froze, staring at the foot in her hand.
“If you want me to,” she answered carefully, before glancing up.
“Would I ask if I didn’t?” Callie replied quietly.
That made Arizona smile a little. “Of course I will.”
“What about me?” Mark’s voice echoed from the doorway, where he stood chewing on that apple.
Callie looked over, her eyes widening a little at the unexpected intrusion. She wanted to be angry, but he was just so cute. She laughed softly instead. “Sure,” she replied. “Get over here."
Arizona looked up from her spot on the floor. “Calliope?” she called quietly as she moved to slowly stand. She kept her gaze on Mark, glaring back at him as she held the robe closed tightly with her hand. She leaned over to her ex-girlfriend. “I'm...not liking that scenario very much.”
Callie turned a smirk toward the blonde. “It'll be fine,” she offered with another laugh. “Just like before. You won't even know he's there. Promise.”
Mark stepped into the room, smirking as he finished off his apple. “Nice robe.”
“Mark!” Callie scolded as she reached out to smack him on his thigh. “Be good, or you're sleeping on the floor like the other dogs.”
“I am being good,” Mark protested, flomping down onto the bed next to his best friend, making it bounce beneath his added weight. “This is me making an effort to be good, considering you two just had wet, soapy, naughty shower se-”
“Okay,” Arizona interrupted. “I’m gonna go.” She shot Callie an apologetic, forced smile, taking a few steps back toward the door. “You two have your nap, I should...check in with work or something.”
“You work too much, Robbins,” Mark called after her. “Pretty soon you’re gonna turn into Torres three years ago and live in the boiler room.”
Callie reached out to smack him in the chest without ever taking her eyes from her partner. “Stay,” she called softly, her attention focused completely on Arizona. “Mark can go home.”
“Hey,” Sloan protested from his spot next to her.
Callie ignored him, her eyes still on Arizona. “I need you,” she went on softly. “Mark is good man-candy, but it's not the same as laying next to you.”
“Hey,” Mark protested again, reaching out to poke the brunette with his apple core.
“Please stay,” Callie repeated quietly with her best smile.
Arizona melted a little under it.
It wasn’t fair how hard it was to resist that smile. Not fair at all.
“I’ll behave, I promise.” Mark did his best to look serious. But then he just got that stupid grin back on his face, because the prospect of laying in bed with two 'wet' lesbians was just…
Arizona fixed Mark with a glare, pretty much reading his mind. “If you so much as make another remark, Sloan…”
Normally, she liked Mark. He was funny, and a nice guy, and Callie’s best friend. Kind of an ass, but he amused her more often than not. But then there were times he would just become such a…guy. It drove her crazy.
Callie didn't have to see it to know that it was there. That 'look' on Mark's face. Sometimes she thought he did it just to be a jerk.
The brunette elbowed her best friend hard in the side. “Quit being a butthead,” she growled at him, still not taking her eyes from her ex's blue gaze.
Mark grunted and rubbed his ribs. “Butthead? I haven’t been called that since I was twelve.”
“Well, then stop being one,” Callie shot back, elbowing him again.
“I can’t help it,” Mark pouted, clutching his side way too dramatically for someone as built as he was.
Arizona found herself grinning at the two of them, shaking her head. “Lucky for you Sloan, you’re an adorkable butthead. You remind me of my brother.” She kind of said it without meaning to - she didn’t talk about Aaron at all, ever.
“I’m gonna go change,” she added quickly, looking away. “Away from prying eyes.” Pulling the robe closer around her, Arizona exited to the bathroom, where her clothes were still laying on the floor.
Callie smiled as she watched her go. It instantly vanished the second Arizona cleared the door frame. She turned on Mark with a hard glare before reaching out to smack him in the shoulder.
“Ow!” Mark protested.
“Don't do that,” she scolded as she flashed her eyes back toward the door.
“Do what?” Mark shot back, glaring at her as he rubbed the sore spot on his shoulder.
Callie grabbed him by the front of his shirt, squeezing the material in a tight fist. She jerked him toward her. “If you mess this up for me, I swear I'll...I'll...do something to make you regret it.”
Mark blinked in surprise, looking genuinely frightened. “Hey! I thought you were supposed to be all weak and mousey!”
Callie’s look got even more dangerous, and he gulped. “Okay, okay, I’ll behave! I promise. My lips are sealed. I’ll stop harassing her.”
Callie narrowed her eyes, but released his shirt. “Go. Now. Before I change my mind and cause you physical pain.”
“You wouldn’t - ow! Okay!” Mark jumped off the bed, rubbing his wounded shoulder. He dodged a well-aimed kick from Callie, who winced at the pain the movement caused. “Okay, okay, going now. Don’t do anything too naughty while I’m gone.”
He turned and walked out into the hallway, calling out “Later, hot legs!” in the direction of the bathroom before leaving through the front door.
A couple of seconds later, Arizona emerged, fully dressed in the one change of clothes she still had at Callie’s. It was just a t-shirt and pajama pants, but she had the clothes she came with for when she needed to leave later.
This attire was much more comfortable to sleep in. And yes, she was planning on keeping her clothes on this time.
Really.
“His puppy dog eyes make me feel bad,” Arizona said to Callie with a slight smirk. “No wonder he gets away with murder.”
Callie snorted as she glanced at the now empty doorway. “He only uses those to get what he wants,” she chuckled softly. “Especially with women.” She turned to the blonde, and her smile instantly vanished. “Not this woman,” she quickly corrected, her hopeful smile easily sliding back into place. “Oh please,” she said as she waved a hand through the air. “So over Mark Sloan and his big-” Her eyes widened. “-ego,” she quickly finished. “Mark and that big ego of his.” She laughed nervously. “I tell ya...”
Callie quickly averted her eyes, squeezing them shut tightly as she cursed silently to herself.
Arizona grimaced. “You just shattered the mental wall I put up blocking out the knowledge of you two and your hetero sexcapades. Thanks.”
“We only did it a few times,” Callie lied.
Knowing full well that was bull, the blonde shuddered. “Ew, I don’t need details. You’re talking to a ‘gold star lesbian’ here. Man free since ’73.”
Callie frowned, doing the math in her head. “You’re not…thirty seven.”
Arizona grinned. “I know, but man free since ’76 doesn’t rhyme.”
Callie laughed softly as she watched the blonde.
She was just so...cute.
The brunette reached over to pat a spot on the bed next to her. “C'mere,” she whispered huskily, smiling her best smile as her brown eyes grew just a bit darker.
Any other time, any other day…Arizona would probably have caved in to her desire to pounce on Callie. Because the way she was looking at her…
Just begged for it.
But, being injured, that probably wouldn’t go over too well. So Arizona reined in that impulse, and instead slowly sank down onto the bed next to Callie.
Her eyes searched the brunette’s, and she reached up to brush a strand of damp hair out of her own eyes. “We’re supposed to behave,” she pointed out in a soft murmur, tucking it behind her ear.
Callie leaned in just a little closer as she pulled her bottom lip into her mouth. “We are,” she whispered huskily as she dropped her gaze from deep blue eyes down to perfect pink lips.
Everything about Arizona Robbins was perfect.
Callie wanted to kiss those lips, badly. But that wouldn't be considered 'behaving', and she did promise she would.
But...damn, were those lips hard to resist.
Callie whimpered softly as she squeezed her eyes shut. Out of sight, out of mind.
If only.
Arizona breathed in and released a shaky sigh of her own. “Why is it that we can’t even be alone in a room together for two seconds without the temperature skyrocketing a hundred degrees?” She chuckled, but laughing it off didn’t make her want to kiss Callie any less.
“At least you’re in no physical shape for sex,” she added after a beat of silence. At Callie’s look, she smiled and rephrased. “Not that I’m happy you’re in pain, but it’s kind of like a…safety net. If it seems like something is about to happen, all we have to do is remind ourselves that ‘something’ will probably hurt, and then…stop.”
Yes, this was her ‘Arizona-logic’ speaking.
But she still really wanted to kiss Callie. And she was positive she could do it without causing any pain.
Quite the opposite of pain, actually…
Oh hell. That thought wasn’t helping.
Callie's eyes once again dropped back down to the other woman's mouth. “Only some kinds of sex,” she replied absently as she slowly trailed her gaze back up to meet the blue eyes staring intently back at her. She didn't mean to say it, she really didn't.
But it seemed to be the only thing she could think at the moment.
Callie licked her lips as she leaned in even a bit closer. “I think you know I'm capable of many different kinds.”
It was Arizona’s turn to whimper.
“You’re a wicked, wicked woman,” she pointed out with a low chuckle, before closing in her half of the small distance between them and kissing Callie.
It was soft and careful, but not too tentative at the same time.
Arizona’s left hand moved up to gently caress the side of Callie’s face, pulling her into the kiss.
And that was definitely the opposite of behaving.
Callie moaned into the kiss, turning her body more towards her lover as she reached up to tangle her fingers in damp blonde hair. She gave the silky strands a soft tug as she released a harsh breath into the kiss.
“My body's on fire,” Callie whispered honestly as she blinked her eyes open. She had to wait a moment, but blue eyes finally joined in. “I...I haven't felt anything but pain for days.” She smiled. “'Til now.”
Arizona smirked, stealing another quick kiss. “I’m better than narcotics,” she teased, pulling Callie in for one more deep lip-lock.
After a lingering moment, her lips moved down the side of the brunette’s chin, and then to her neck, where she closed her eyes and burrowed against it.
Callie smelled amazingly good. And it wasn’t just the shampoo, it was…her.
“You need to sleep now,” the older surgeon whispered quietly, not moving from her comfortable place nuzzled into her lover's neck. “I promise I’ll be here when you wake up.”
Callie groaned instantly. “Sleep?” she repeated with a whine. “You expect me to sleep now? After...that?” She pulled away from the blonde, dipping her head.
Arizona avoided her ex's gaze for a long as she could. She finally relented with a deep, heavy sigh. “Calliope-”
“Oh no,” Callie instantly cut in. “You only say that when it's bad.” Her brow furrowed. “Or when you're trying to suck up.” She paused as she took a moment to gauge the woman. “You're not sucking up, so this is bad.” When Arizona didn't reply, she let out a soft breath. “This is bad. Isn't this bad?”
“No,” Arizona instantly replied. After a pause, she added, “Maybe. I-I don’t know.” With a deep sigh, she lifted her eyes to reluctantly meet Callie’s. “I just know that the longer we keep doing…this, the harder someone is gonna get hurt in the…e-end.”
She struggled through that last word.
“We’ve had this discussion,” Callie reminded her softly. “Like…three times.”
Arizona gave a wry smile. “And apparently we both suck at staying away from eachother.”
“Is that what you want?” Callie swallowed hard, looking apprehensive. “Me to stay away from you?”
“What? No,” Arizona answered instantly, cupping Callie’s face gingerly between both hands. Her honest blue eyes bore into soft brown ones. “I’m right where I wanna be. And I’m not going anywhere as long as you want me here.” Her smile saddened. “It’s just…hard to be close to you, and not be…close.”
Callie sighed. “God, I know,” she replied heavily. “I've never been closer to anyone my whole life.” She leaned into the touch against her face. Her eyes drooped, but she forced them to stay open.
She didn't want to miss even one second of this.
Callie's bottom lip trembled as they sat in silence for a long moment. “Why does it have to be this hard?” she finally whispered. Her brow creased tensely and she fought back the sob she felt bubbling up in her chest. A stray tear finally splashed onto her cheek. “Why do I still have to be so in love with you?”
Arizona automatically leaned in and kissed away the salty tear. “I’m sorry,” she murmured quietly, leaning her forehead against Callie’s. “We’ll figure it out eventually.” What exactly, she wasn’t sure - their relationship, the kids thing, a friendship…all that was up in the air until it sorted itself out. Until then, they were doing the best that they could.
“You look exhausted, Calliope,” Arizona added after a moment of sad silence. She reluctantly stood up from the bed and held on to Callie’s hand, pulling her up as well. Yanking back the freshly changed sheets, Arizona lead Callie around to her side of the bed and got her to slowly sit down again.
“Do you need anything first?” Arizona tilted her head to the side a little, looking worried.
Callie sighed in defeat, her shoulders slumping. “You want the honest answer to that?”
Arizona had to smile. “Probably not.”
Callie nodded once as she dropped her eyes down to the bed. With a considerably painful effort, she lifted her legs and twisted her body until she was able to lay back. She sighed at the feeling of the fresh sheets against her skin. It seemed that just like that, she could feel the pills starting to kick in.
“I'm good,” Callie finally replied as she yawned and slowly blinked her hazy eyes.
Arizona bit her lip. “You still want me to stay?”
Callie shot her a pointed glare, even through the fuzziness her pills were causing. “I’ll kick your ass if you don’t.”
Chuckling, Arizona padded over to turn off the light, and then crawled into her usual side of the bed. Out of habit, she snuggled right up against Callie.
She was nice and warm.
Callie sighed as she moved to gingerly turn onto her right side. She didn't really feel much pain, thanks to the pills, but her body still hesitated as she turned.
A moment later, Arizona's arm wrapped around her stomach. She instantly reached down to lace her fingers with the blonde's.
If 'breaking up' was this easy, maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.
---