The Dig (1/?)
Title: The Dig (1/?)
Author: GreysAddictJ
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: PG-13 (at least for now)
Summary: A/U - What happens when a pesky (but hot) blonde journalist shows up at the dig site of world-renowned archaeologist Dr. Calliope Torres?
Disclaimer: Characters are not mine, no infringement intended
A/N: This is my first attempt at an A/U story. Hopefully it works. Also, as an additional disclaimer, while I do have a college degree in archaeology, I’m by no means an expert on the subject - and also may take some liberties with the realities of the archaeological field if the story needs it.
A/N2: For those of you who liked my Christmas fic and were hoping for more of the same, I still intend to do more of that. However, my Christmas muse has escaped me for the moment and this was one of the many non-holiday ideas that sprung up as I attempted to brainstorm. I have the beginnings of a Christmas idea and may try to start that in the next few days. In the meantime, hope this will do!
Deep in the Amazon jungle, Dr. Callie Torres surveyed the dig site in front of her. Interns and day laborers were scurrying about, setting up camp and getting all of the relevant equipment situated. She couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
This was exactly what she needed - to be busy, to throw herself completely into her work. After the absolutely horrific waste the past year had been on a personal level, she was beyond grateful to have something to take her mind off things. And the fact that that something might just turn out to be the biggest archaeological discovery in decades, if not ever, was an added bonus. But then again, who could really be surprised? After all, in the archaeology world, she was a rock star. In fact, she was a rock star in general. And if a certain bitch back in the States was too blind or too dumb to recognize that, well, that was her loss. Shaking thoughts of her ex, Erica, out of her head, she returned to surveying the site.
Callie jumped when she felt a hand grasp her shoulder. Turning around, she saw her second-in-command, Dr. Mark Sloan, an archaeological superstar in his own right.
“Mark! You scared me. Sneaking up on people in the middle of the jungle is not cool.”
“Sorry Torres. Things are coming together pretty well, don’t you think?” He said, gesturing to the hustle and bustle in front of them.
“Sure are. “ Callie replied. “At this rate, we’ll be able to start real work tomorrow. I can’t wait to see what we find. This place is it Mark. I can just feel it. It’s going to be the discovery of our careers. The discovery of a lifetime.”
“I hope you’re right. The way we’ve been hyping it, it had better be. I know the University’s bought into it. Why else would they agree to let some pesky journalist follow our every move. We’d better be right - or we’ll end up with egg on our face for the world to see. And you know there are plenty of people hoping that we’ll fail.”
“Have faith, Mark.” Callie replied. “We’ve done the research. It’s here. I know it.” She smiled, secretly praying that she was right. It would be a wonderful way to cap off a crappy year. However, the way her year had been going, it wouldn’t be a surprise if things went horribly wrong.
“Well you deserve it. After the year you’ve had, with Erica and everything . . .”
Desperate to change the subject, Callie interrupted. “So where is that annoying hack anyway, shouldn’t they be here by now? Leave it to an amateur to be late.”
Hearing someone clear their throat behind them, Callie and Mark turned. “Excuse me. That ‘hack’ would be me.” Callie was momentarily stunned, breathless at the beautiful blonde woman in front of her. Chocolate brown eyes met ocean blue ones - their eyes locked, perhaps for a little too long.
Mark broke their mutual reverie by introducing himself. “Hi . . . uh, sorry about that. Torres just gets a little upset when she’s not completely in control of her own dig site - and the University agreed to your story without consulting her first. The name’s Mark Sloan, Assistant Director of the project.” He held out his hand to shake hers.
The blonde took his offered hand. “Arizona Robbins. Very nice to meet you.” She said with a dimpled smile.
Callie snorted. “Right. And my name is Indiana Jones. Nice attempt at archaeology humor, but it’ll get you nowhere. Seriously, what’s your name?”
“Seriously, Arizona Robbins. And you must be Dr. Calliope Torres.” She said with perky exuberance as she offered her hand to Callie. When Callie took her hand, both women were startled by the instantaneous spark coursing through them.
Again, Mark interrupted. “Well, ladies, I’m going to go check on the minions . . .make sure everything’s in order. Blondie, if you’d like some special tutoring on the ins and outs of the shovel bum world, stop by my tent later. I can give you private lessons.” He winked and walked away.
Callie rolled her eyes. “You’ll have to excuse Mark, he flirts with anything with ovaries.”
“Don’t you worry about me, Dr. Torres. I can handle myself just fine. I may be a hack, but I’ve been in this business long enough to learn how to manage most situations and still get my story. Maybe that’s why I’ve won 2 Pulitzers. Who knows? Anyway, it’s super nice to meet you.” She flashed her dimples again and swaggered away.
Callie could only laugh. Clearly, she’d just been bested by the perky blonde journalist in that battle of words. She was intrigued. Very intrigued.
A few hours later and the site was starting to take shape. Callie surveyed the area with pride, her glances straying more often than they should have to a certain perky blonde. She couldn’t help but laugh as she watched Arizona struggle to drag her belongings to her assigned tent. For an apparently seasoned journalist, she sure didn’t pack light. Callie had to give her credit, however. The girl did have spunk. Despite the less than cordial welcome she’d received, she’d held her own. And now she was shooing off the stream of menfolk offering to carry her luggage. As Callie continued to admire the blonde from afar, Mark strode up beside her.
“Hot, isn’t she?”
“Umm, what?” Callie responded.
“That reporter chick. She’s hot. I expected them to send some stuffy middle-aged dude. Not some smokin’ blonde.”
“I guess she’s alright.” Callie replied, trying to hide the fact that she’d been spending half the day checking out Arizona and the other half thinking about checking out Arizona.
“Whatever Torres. You were totally checking her out. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I’m all for a little girl-on-girl action if that’s her thing.”
“You are such a pig, Sloan.” Callie said as she slapped his arm. “Besides, I’m sure she’s not gay. Hot ones like that never are. And even if she were, she’s not my type. Waaaay too perky.”
“So you do think she’s hot.” Mark smiled. “I knew it.”
“So what? Not gonna happen. After what happened with Erica, I’ve sworn off women. And I came here to work, not to pick up chicks. The only girl-on-girl action you’re going to see is in that dirty mind of yours.”
“A man can dream, can’t he?”
At that moment, the subject of their discussion emerged from her tent, wearing the goofiest floppy pink hat that either of them had ever seen. Seeing them across the way, Arizona strode towards them.
“Nice hat.” Callie chuckled, unable to resist teasing the blonde.
“Thanks! I bought it especially for the trip.”
Callie struggled to hold her tongue, desperately wanting to tease her further. She reigned herself in, however, reminding herself that teasing and flirting with the woman was not a good idea. She barely knew her. So what if the very sight of Arizona made her go weak in the knees?
“Calliope . . .” Arizona began. “You don’t mind if I call you that, do you? Dr. Torres is so formal.”
Callie’s eyes locked with Arizona’s deep blue ones. “Actually, it’s . . .” she started to correct her, but for some reason, Callie liked the way her full name sounded coming from the blonde’s lips. “It’s fine. Calliope’s fine.”
Mark looked at her as if she had three heads, knowing that she never permitted anyone but her father to call her Calliope.
“Super!” Arizona responded enthusiastically. “Anyway, Calliope, I was wondering if I could ask you some questions, you know, get some background on you and on your project.” She flashed her dimples and Callie nearly melted on the spot.
Sensing that he was neither needed nor wanted in this conversation, Mark excused himself. “I’ll leave you ladies to it. And Arizona - my offer still stands, if you’d like to discuss things more privately later.” He winked.
“That’s very nice of you, Dr. Sloan, but I’m sure that Calliope here can give me all the private help I need.” Arizona replied, eyes never leaving Callie’s, a sly grin playing across her lips.
Callie suddenly had butterflies in her stomach. Was Arizona flirting with her? No, it wasn’t possible. Besides, even if she were, it’s not like Callie was interested anyway. Her love-deprived brain was just playing tricks on her. Composing herself, Callie shooed Mark away. “Yeah, Mark, I’m sure we’ve got it from here. Why don’t you go see how the interns are getting on? Make sure they’re not touching anything they shouldn’t be.”
“So, is there some place we can go to talk?” Arizona inquired.
“Sure, I’ve got a table and chairs set up in the large tent over there - why don’t we go have a quick drink and chat?” Callie suggested, heading in the direction of the tent, doing anything to avoid looking at the object of her attraction.
Sitting across from Arizona, Callie struggled to keep her mind on the discussion at hand. Arizona asked her general questions about her background, where she’d gone to school, where she’d grown up, what other projects she’d done in the past, etc. Callie managed to answer the questions, but couldn’t vouch for anything she’d said. For all she knew, she’d just told Arizona she got her degree from Sexy Blonde University, that she’d grown up in Blue Eyes, Missouri, and that her interests included perky journalists, floppy pink hats, and people named after states. However, judging by the fact that Arizona hadn’t called her crazy or a pervert, she must have given the right responses.
Forcing herself to focus, she waited for the next question.
“So why are we here? What’s this big discovery you think you’ve made? The University wouldn’t give me or my paper the details - only that it was shaping up to be the find of the century”
“You have to promise that this stays a secret until I tell you that you can publish.” Callie began. “If word gets out too soon, we’ll be invaded by gawkers, tomb robbers, and people wanting a piece of fame.”
“I promise. But I will publish, find or no find, once we’re done here.”
“Fair enough.” Callie agreed. “I think we may have found El Dorado - the lost city of Gold. The city that hundreds have lost their lives trying to find. This could change archaeology forever. Most people believe that El Dorado was a fictional place, that the Spanish conquistadors were chasing a false dream. I’m here to prove they weren’t so crazy after all.” Callie’s eyes lit up as she talked of the potential discovery.
Arizona admired her passion. She was beautiful to begin with, but she was breathtaking when talking about a subject which clearly meant so much to her.
After letting Callie tell her more about the legend of El Dorado, Arizona shifted back to more personal matters. “So, tell me about Calliope Torres the person. What’s your personal life like? Are you married? Significant other? Kids?”
Callie bristled, the light in her eyes suddenly dead. “I don’t think that’s any of your business. I’m here to work, nothing else.”
“I’m just trying to get a well-rounded story here.” Arizona began. “While our readers will be interested in the expedition and the history, this is also a human interest piece. They’re going to want to know about the woman behind it all.”
“I said no.”
“Calliope. . .” Arizona continued.
“We’re done here.” Callie stood and strode from the tent, leaving a shocked Arizona sitting alone. Clearly there was something else going on here, Arizona mused. And she wasn’t an ace reporter for nothing. She’d find out who the real Calliope Torres was, one way or another. And she’d be doing it for purely journalistic reasons, not because she was personally interested in the gorgeous brunette. Not at all. Or at least that’s what she told herself.