(no subject)
Title: Ready For A Fall (13/?)
Author: Chelle Storey-Daniel
Pairing: Addison/Mark, Callie/George, Callie/Alex, George/Izzie
Summary: Sometimes it hurts to fall, but if you're lucky someone may catch you. And they may be falling, too.
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
*~*~*~*~*
If we listened to our intellect, we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go into business, because we'd be too cynical. Well, that's nonsense. You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.
- Annie Dillard
*~*~*~*~*
Immediately after securing lodging at the Archfield, Cambyses headed to his parent’s room. He was angry, his hands were shaking and his palms were wet from the fists he had been clenching since he had heard about Callie. Suicide. Suicide? The word kept replaying in his head and he kept hearing Callie’s voice on the phone the day it happened. He had heard her unhappiness, but had encouraged her to have the party. He could kick his own ass for it, but that would have to wait. By the time he arrived at the Ambassador Suite, he was crying from anger and fear.
Melana opened the door and looked at him with wide eyes after he pounded against the wood hard enough to startle half the people on their floor. He sailed past her, stalking past Gucci who reached for him. "I can not believe this," he snapped. "I can not believe that you are my mother. I just - you have no concept how to parent. Anyone."
"Cambyses, what are you doing here? Besides being a drama queen?"
"Where else would I be, Mother?" He spun to face her, his face red. "How could you not call me? How could you not tell me!?"
"Your father and I are taking care of the situation with your sister. Your services really are not needed here."
"DO NOT DO THAT!" he shouted. "Do not dismiss me like I’m ten years old again!"
"Even ten year olds grow up, Cambyses. Honestly, leather pants? You look demonic. Is your little friend with you? What, pray tell is he wearing? Perhaps pink taffeta or chiffon? Maybe he's being bold and wearing both."
"Stop it, Mother! This is not about me or Blake or your denial that I am still a human being. This is about Callie. I don’t understand any of this. She loves life. And she’s a fighter. So, tell me how this happened. What is she saying?"
"She says that she didn’t try to hurt herself. She claims it was a mistake."
"What do you think? Or, actually, what does Dad think?"
"*We* think that your sister has a problem. With alcohol. We think that she needs help. Luckily, her husband agrees and has promised to push the idea of rehabilitation and I believe he will succeed. He has quite a way with her. I’ve never seen anyone deal with her the way he does and she responds well to it. He doesn't coddle her."
"Great. While you’re shipping my sister off to Betty Ford, why don’t you ship her wonderful husband off to Cheaters Anonymous. He drove her to this so it’s only fair that he get shock therapy as well."
"Perhaps if you were in a conventional relationship you would understand the bond between a husband and wife. Callie has decided to stay with him and has forgiven him."
He ignored the personal attack. "Where is she?"
"She should be back any time."
Raphael emerged from the bedroom, fresh from the shower, and stared at Cam with shock. "You are supposed to be covering the mergers and acquisitions meetings right now! Who is doing it?"
"Loukas." Cam shoved his hands in the pockets of his leather pants. "You can’t expect me not to be here." He glanced at his mother. "If this was a conventional family then you would understand the bond between Callie and me and you would know that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is *not* okay."
"We’re taking care of it." Raphael walked across the room and embraced his son. "I’m glad you’re here though. Callie will be thrilled to see you."
"Thanks, Dad." Cam ran his hand over his face, drying his eyes. "Dr. Stevens said that she was lucky that her liver wasn’t destroyed. I think I’ll yank it out of her myself and slap her with it."
Raph smiled and indicated that they should have a seat at the table. Melana pointedly ignored the invitation, picked up Gucci, and walked further into the suite where she turned her back on her son and husband. Raph grabbed two bottles of water from the refrigerator and sat across from Cam, then said, "Did Blake come with you?"
"Yes, sir," Cam replied. "Hey, do you remember when Callie and I took Uncle Kick’s boat? I dreamed about it. Remember the nightmares we both had? It was just like that, but this time she drowned. She never even tried to swim."
"That’s why you came?"
"That’s why I came." Cam nodded. "I know it sounds insane and it’s too stupid for words, but I feel like she’s in danger. I feel like something is going to happen to her."
They drank their water in silence for a while. Raphael finally leaned forward a little and said, "I think you’re right."
"What?"
"She’s hurting herself, Cam. Your mother seems to think that her marriage is enough to get her through this and I confess that George is trying, but she’s not happy, mijo. She’s wasted away to skin and bones, her smile is fake, she got a tattoo as large as this room on her back, and the first thing she wants to do is reach for alcohol when she’s confronted with stress." Raph studied his son, seeing so much of Callie in him that it was a comfort. "The two of you do share a beautiful bond and I’ve always been grateful that she has you, son."
"You’re freaked because she got a tattoo? That’s kinda hot, Dad."
"I assure you it’s not." Raph took a sip of his drink. "It’s actually good that you’re here. She’ll listen to you above all others."
"I know that tone. God, I hate that tone. What do you want me to do?"
"Your sister has lied to protect you and lied to help you, but she has never lied *to* you. Get the truth out of her, mijo. Make her hit rock bottom no matter how hard it is for you to do so."
Cam opened his mouth to reply, but his father’s cell phone rang and Raph reached for it. "It’s Callie," the man said, then answered. "Hi, princess."
"Hi, Daddy."
"How was the evaluation?"
"I go back to work in two weeks," Callie replied. "Is, uh, Mama there?"
"Yes. And guess who else has come all this way to see you? Cam. He arrived a little while ago." There was a long pause. "Callie, honey? What’s wrong?"
"Can you put the phone on speaker? I need to tell you something. All of you."
Raph glanced at Melana, who was peering over the back of the sofa. He beckoned her forward, then hit the speaker button, "Go ahead, darlin’. We’re listening."
"Hey, Cal."
"Hey, Cam." Callie’s voice was soft, low. "I wish - I wish I had known that you were coming because I really want to see you and now - well, I can’t. I - I’m going out of town for a while."
"What do you mean?" Cam asked, his brow furrowed. "Where are you going?"
"It doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m fine, but I - I can’t really deal with my life unless I do this for myself. And that’s what I’m doing. I’m dealing. I need a break so I’m taking it."
Melana moved closer to the phone and said, "Are you going somewhere with George? A vacation? What?"
On the other end of the line, Callie took a deep breath. "Hear me out, okay? You were right last night at dinner. I do have a problem, but it’s not something that can be fixed with rehab or you guys protecting me from myself. You said that you would support me if I wanted out of my marriage and I do. I have to get out because it’s not healthy and it’s a lie. Can you call Quinton and get the papers started so that I can-"
"What?!" Melana cried. "What happened? What -"
"I gave him the chance to tell me the truth about the woman he was with. I gave him the chance more than once and today I found out that he has lied to me all along. Right to my face. It wasn’t just a drunken thing. They - they had contact while they were sober and I can deal with a lot of things, but that’s not one of them. He looked me in my face after that. He looked me in my face and went home with me and let me buy him dinner. And who knows what else we did together or who he was thinking of while we did it. That makes me feel like trash."
"Oh, baby," Raph said, taking Mel’s hand in his. "Come back to the hotel and-"
"I can’t. I don’t want to be there yet. We - there’s too many memories." She cleared her throat. "I have two weeks off at work. I’m going to take at least a week - maybe more - of that for myself. Starting now. Don’t try to find me. Don’t try to call because I’m not bringing along a phone and just - know that I’m safe."
"No!" Raphael half stood. "Calliope, you come back here right now! You are not going off again on your own and -"
"I’m not by myself, Daddy."
"What? Is Addison-"
"I’m with Alex."
Melana put a hand over her mouth. "Callie," she finally said. "Honey, you’re hurt and we will start the paperwork if you want us to, but two wrongs do not make a right. In the eyes of God you are still married and if you do this then you are just as guilty, just as wrong as George was. You can’t come back from this once you cross the line that far."
"Mom, I’m pretty sure God will understand. But you’re right about one thing. That line? George crossed it and I’m tired of pretending that it’s okay."
"Are you involved with this man, mija?"
"I don’t know what we are, Daddy, but I know that this is where I need to be right now. He makes me sane and I haven’t felt sane for a very long time."
"What are you doing with your life, Calliope? This is madness," Melana cried. "Last night you finally ate dinner! George helped you see that you have to nourish the body! The two of you talked to one another! You seemed happy with your husband and-"
"The harsh light of day tends to wake you up whether you’re ready for it or not. I’ll be okay. And Mama?"
"What?"
"Don’t cancel the party. I’ll be back for it. I need my family. Just - make it only family, okay? I don’t want anyone there who isn’t blood except for Addison. And probably Alex."
"Honey-"
"I have to go. I love you."
"Wait! Callie!" Raphael snatched up the phone and listened, but the call was disconnected. He quickly dialed a number, a reassuring hand on Mel’s shoulder. "Quinton? I need you to access Calliope’s bank records. I need to know when and where she makes any transactions from this point on. I also need you to check her phone records and see if we can trace her location by pinging it. No, no, she’s not okay. Call me back immediately."
"Raphael." Melana began to cry when he hung up the phone. "She’s not thinking clearly. What if something happens to her? Find her!"
"I will, mi vida. I will." He leaned down and kissed her on the head. "I promise."
"You won’t find her." Cam smiled knowingly at his father and leaned back in his chair, stretching his long legs in front of him. "She wants to disappear. And that’s what she’ll do."
Raph, his arm around his wife, shook his head. "You underestimate me. I am always a step ahead of my children. When it comes to my daughter ... I will turn over every stone and move mountains for her."
"She’ll probably be on that mountain, Dad. Climbing it. Or base jumping off it. Let her go."
"We need to get in touch with George and find out what happened," Mel interrupted, dabbing her eyes.
"She just told you what happened, Mom! He broke her heart!" Cam got to his feet and caught Gucci, who jumped into his arms. He soothed the primate, who appeared agitated by the raised voices. "You know, sometimes I think that we were so blessed. We had money, we never had to want for anything, *except* for you to see us. I came out of the closet when I was fifteen years old. I have been in a loving, committed relationship for ten years. You can accept that George destroyed your only daughter, but you can’t accept that Blake loves your son. See us for once! Realize what’s going on! Open your eyes and see us!"
"Cam-" Raph began.
"No! You said that she’s wasted away to nothing. You said that she keeps drinking and she almost drank herself to death. Who do you think is the cause of that? She never did this until *him*. And if she needs to get away with whoever this guy is that she’s traveling with then more power to her. I hope she has a good time and I hope that he makes her feel better than her *husband*."
"What happened to her being in danger?" Melana asked, no longer crying. "I heard what you told your father."
"I think maybe George is the danger she’s in. If she’s not here then she’s not in it anymore."
Raph’s phone trilled and he answered, speaking in clipped tones for several moments. When he hung up, he looked at his family and said, "That little minx. She’s smart. She took thirty thousand out of the bank in cash. She won’t be using her credit cards."
"Told you."
"Quint is checking all flights out of the area and -"
"She’s not going to fly commercial. She’ll fly herself, Dad."
"Then perhaps I will clip her wings when I do catch her."
*~*~*~*~*~
George sat in Addison’s car. She had found him alone in the stairwell with his head against the wall. The worst of the tears had abated after he had screamed at Izzie enough, but as soon as he saw his wife’s best friend, they started anew. Addison had pulled him to his feet, bought him takeout which remained untouched, and drove him to his mother’s place at his request. They were still sitting in the driveway, in silence, when Addison finally said, "Are you going to tell me what happened? Or am I keeping your ass here until you do."
"I kissed Izzie. In the elevator."
Addison slapped him, hard, on the back of the head. "You idiot! What the hell were you thinking? Today of all days! Or any day!"
"Oww!" George massaged his scalp. "Not today! Weeks ago! And I didn’t tell Callie about it. I didn’t think she’d ever find out. Then she did."
"I warned you not to get cocky! And who in their right mind gets cocky when they’re still holding onto a secret? What the hell is wrong with you?"
George started to cry again. "We made love last night. It was perfect. It was -" He trailed off for a second. "Okay, not perfect. She - she seemed upset with herself for doing it and I - I didn’t really help."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, afterwards I played it off. I tried to act like it was the most natural thing in the world and make her laugh or whatever. Then we had dinner with her parents and they were nice to me, but-"
"Not to her?"
"It was an intervention, Addison. They’re never nice."
"A WHAT! AND YOU WENT ALONG WITH IT? YOU REALLY ARE AN IDIOT!" She smacked him again and he cowered. She felt guilty immediately, mostly because he looked like a kicked puppy, so she hastily added, "She’s *your* wife. It’s supposed to be the two of you against everyone else."
"Us against them." George rubbed his head. "That’s what she said, too. Before we went to dinner."
"Maybe you should have listened to her." Addison sat back in her seat and sighed. "Why did you want me to bring you here?"
"She’s divorcing me. She told me. She said not to come to the Archfield."
"Oh my god." Addison looked at him. "Then you should have gone to the Archfield. Are you going to fight for her? George, do you - are you in love with Callie? At all?"
"Yes. I am."
"Then what the hell is wrong with you?"
"Addison-"
"You get that I was on your side, right? I kept nudging her for you. I kept telling her that you were sorry and that you were going to fix it and look at what you’ve done."
"I know!" George cried.
"Who told her about you and Izzie in the elevator?"
"Who do you think? Karev."
"What happened after she found out? Was she okay? God, I could kick you in the ass."
"She left with him. He held out his hand and she took it and left with him. I bet they’re - no, I can’t even think it."
"She left with Alex?" Addison blinked, then pulled out her cellphone. She called Callie’s number to no avail. It went straight to voice mail. She turned to address George again when she noticed Louise walking down the sidewalk toward the car. "Uh, George?"
"Yeah?"
"Your mom."
George rolled the window down and looked up at his mother. "I’ll be inside in just a minute."
"You most certainly will not." Louise shook her head and planted her palms on her ample hips. "Your wife just called her parents and told them that she is leaving town. Now, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that this is your fault, but she confirmed it with them. I am ashamed of you, George. Ashamed."
Addison leaned over the gear shifter and looked up at Louise, fear evident on her features. "She’s leaving town? Permanently or-"
"She said for a week or so. She has to report back at the hospital in two weeks." Louise sighed and glared down at her son. "And she’s taken Alex with her."
"What!? That son of a bitch!" George yelled, leaping from the car with such force that he almost hit his mother with the door. When she stepped back, he whirled and punched a nearby telephone pole, then howled at the pain.
Addison hurried out of the car and rushed to where he stood, bent at the waist, gripping his hand. "Let me see. George, let me see your hand."
"It's fine."
"Just -"
"He warned me. He told me that he wanted her and I didn't believe it. I didn't think he'd go for her. Not really."
He raised up and looked at Addison finally. He looked like a sad clown and it was too real to be comical. Tears wet his cheeks, his nose was red from the crying, and his hair had curled up from the humidity of the evening drizzle. Wordlessly, he took a step back and then he turned on his heel and ran. The women watched in shock as the darkness swallowed him.
"Should we-" Addison began.
"No." Louise stood a little straighter, as if holding herself upright would somehow give her strength to do what she needed to do. "I raised my son better than this and if it takes him spending the night in the rain with a hand that is as hurt as his wife’s heart then so be it."
*~*~*~*~*~
"You’re kidding."
"No, I’m really not. This is what I was doing earlier while we waited for Gellar to see me. I was making plans." Callie watched as Alex crossed his arms over his chest and stared up at the Cessna Citation Mustang. It was smaller than several of the other planes that were housed at the hangar, but she knew that it was still intimidating. She bit her bottom lip and said, "I fly it home every Christmas. I promise. I’m good."
"I’m not doubting your skills, Cal." Alex cocked his head to one side, still gazing at the plane. "But where are the propellers?"
"Who needs propellers when you have two Pratt and Whitney fanjet engines that deliver one thousand four hundred and sixty pounds of takeoff thrust apiece?"
He looked at her then. And smiled. "Thrust, huh?"
"Thrust."
Alex walked to where she stood and put his hands on her hips. It was obvious that he was thinking of an entirely different form of thrust by the smirk on his face. "Where are we going?"
"Los Angeles. I bought a house there three years ago and I’ve never even seen it."
"We didn’t pack anything." Alex leaned down, kissing her. It was lingering, soft and hard in equal measures. "But you did say ‘thrust’ so I guess I’m along for the ride. Do I call you captain, by the way?"
"You can call me whatever you want as long as you keep kissing me like that."
"Oooh, an invitation. Let me R.S.V.P.." He kissed her again, slower this time and didn’t break away from her until someone cleared their throat behind them.
Callie sighed and stepped around Alex, extending her hand toward Miguel Santos, the caretaker of the private air strip that housed her plane. Miguel handed her a stack of papers and spoke rapid Spanish, gesticulating wildly with his hands. Callie replied in Spanish and nodded her head several times. Then, without warning, she gripped the shorter man by the lapels of his coveralls and said, "If you tell my father *anything* then I will feed you your scrotum in little pieces."
"Okay, fine!" Miguel growled in perfect English. "I’ll park the car in the hangar and we’ll do it your way. I’ve got the fake flight plan that shows you heading to the east coast. But Raphael Torres is not going to stop there, Calliope. He’ll send someone to look for your plane and when he doesn’t see it - HE will be feeding me my scrotum and probably his fist as well."
"By the time my father figures out that it was a bait and switch, I will already be halfway back here." Callie reached up and opened the door of the plane. "Are you ready, Alex?"
"We’re leaving now?" Alex seemed shocked, like the idea of leaving on the plane was just that - an idea. "Seriously?"
"Seriously." Callie walked around the aircraft, checking a few things out for herself, then she turned back to Miguel and said, "I appreciate this. You’re a good man."
"I hope I remain a man and not a eunuch. Your father will kill me."
"I’ll take the blame." Callie motioned for Alex to ascend the steps first, then she followed behind him. She waved at Miguel and closed the door.
The plane was very cramped on the inside, but luxurious nonetheless. There was room for four passengers in the cabin and a pilot and co-pilot in the cockpit. Callie dropped her purse on one of the leather seats and kicked off her shoes. Digging her toes into the plush white carpet, she groaned. "Now I remember why I don’t wear high heels," she sighed and moved past him, heading for the pit. "You want to ride shotgun or would you feel more comfortable back there?"
"I’m with you." Alex followed her and strapped himself into the vacant seat. He watched quietly as Callie pushed several buttons, then she handed him a set of earphones and put her own in place. He listened to her conversation with the tower and stared, wide eyed, when she finally maneuvered the plane onto the runway and they took off.
Callie smiled when Alex gripped the arms of his chair and they shot upward, straight into the clouds. She waited until they had leveled out before she spoke to him. The climb could take a seasoned veteran’s stomach and he was looking kind of green. "You know what?"
"What?"
"You’re the first person who has been in this plane with me. Ever."
"I am?"
"You are."
"When did you learn to fly?"
"My dad used to take me up when I was just a kid. He started teaching me before I was big enough to see over the controls. Then when I was old enough I went to flight school in my spare time and eventually got my license."
"Do your brothers fly?"
"No."
"Oh, so your dad spoiled you rotten, but not the boys?"
She smiled. "The boys were predestined to take equal parts in the running of my father’s various businesses. That was never an option for me. Teaching me to fly meant that no matter how far away I went, I could always find my way home."
"He didn’t want you to work for the family?"
"He didn’t want me to sing for the family." Callie turned a couple of knobs and responded to something from the tower before she addressed Alex again. "That was my mother’s big plan. I was going to sing. On Broadway. As soon as my dad found out that there was an agent interested in signing me, he flipped out, and sent my ass packing to medical school against my will."
"You didn’t want to be a doctor?"
"I didn’t want to cause anymore conflict in my family. My parents were arguing all the time about me and my future so I did what my father wanted. Don’t get me wrong, I love medicine. I love helping people and doing what we do, but what I really wanted was to fly. Big, ugly passenger jets full of grouchy adults and screaming babies."
"Well, look around, Cal, you’re a pilot. You got the best of both worlds."
"I fly once a year which isn’t nearly as cool." She shrugged her shoulders. "And while I love this plane it’s just not the same as a seven forty seven."
"Have you flown one?"
"Once. And only kinda sorta. My uncle bought tickets for my brother and me to attend a twins convention when we were seventeen. We were in first class and the co-pilot walked by and I asked him if I could see the cockpit. He said okay and they let me hold the wheel. It was brief, just a split second, but it was the best moment of my very young life. I was in love with the power of it. With the speed. With knowing that I held hundreds of lives in the palm of my hand."
"You’re an adrenaline junkie."
"Very true. That was the first moment of my life when I had direction, when I knew what I wanted to do."
"Have you always done that, though?"
"Done what?"
"Given up your dreams, your goals, to make other people happy?"
"Yeah." She concentrated on the horizon. "Can I tell you something weird?"
"You can tell me anything."
"I went swimming this morning at the hotel. The water was like ice and I was the only one in it. The sky was kind of cloudy when I jumped in and after I swam for a while and finally climbed back out ... the sun was breaking through and it’s like I saw everything crystal clear for the first time. It was like a baptism, you know. It’s like I went down as a liar and came up a believer."
"A believer in what?"
"Me."
"It’s about time." Alex shifted in his seat so that he could watch her more comfortably. "Can I tell you something weird?"
"You can tell me anything."
He grinned. "You’re not the only one who saw everything crystal clear today. I know that we’ve flirted and goofed around in good fun, but I felt like I was seeing you for the first time when you were studying those X-rays. You were gorgeous. I couldn’t stop looking."
Callie toyed with the yoke and swallowed hard. Tears stung at her eyes and she quickly looked out the window until she regained control. "So, it took a pretty dress and perfect hair to make you realize that I’m actually a girl and not just -"
"Don’t do that." Alex cut her off and touched her arm. "You do look gorgeous, but it wasn’t the clothes I noticed. It was your eyes. When you started to cry because of what I told you it felt like someone was holding a brand against me. Against all of me. You could be bald and have on a sack of some kind and your eyes are still going to get to me every time."
"That is probably the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me."
"Well, don’t abuse it. Don’t think that just looking at me is going to get you whatever you want." Alex narrowed his eyes when she glanced at him. He reached over, touching the dampness on her cheek. "Why are you crying?"
"I should feel guilty. I should. What we’re doing-"
"Don’t do that either. You either feel something or you don’t. Don’t think about what you should feel and think about what you do feel." He unbuckled his seatbelt and kissed her just behind the ear. "And I feel you."
Callie hissed a little as chills raced up and down her spine. How did he know that was her spot? "I feel you, too, but we’re going to feel this plane crashing if you don’t stop that."
"Hmmm." Alex reached down, sliding her skirt slowly upward. He exposed her knee and ran his fingers over it. "Pilots should be able to fly well under any circumstances. Granted, I’m not a grouchy adult or a screaming child, but I’m just as distracting. Now ... concentrate on the flight. If you can."
Callie swallowed hard when his hand moved a little higher. He traced a pattern on her mid-thigh and she gasped. "You’re killing me, Alex."
He moved higher still, dragging his nails across the outside of her leg, then upward toward her hip. He smiled when he felt her breathing change and kissed her neck, suckling at her flesh. The plane jerked violently and suddenly, almost bucking him out of his seat, and he backed away, eyes wide. Callie had her lips pursed together and was gripping the yoke tightly in her hands. "Callie Torres! You did that on purpose!"
Callie looked at him and shook her head, then pointed out the front windows.
There was a storm on the horizon. Lightning flashed against the blackening sky and thunder boomed suddenly. The plane pitched again and she grabbed his arm. "Put your seatbelt back on. I’m going to go above it."
"Callie-"
"It’s okay. I’ve flown through worse."
Alex buckled his belt and gripped the arms of his chair again. "Why didn’t they warn us?"
Callie said nothing, but as she stared at the storm and the wind pitched the little jet again ... she worried that maybe someone was warning them.
*~*~*~*~*~
Author: Chelle Storey-Daniel
Pairing: Addison/Mark, Callie/George, Callie/Alex, George/Izzie
Summary: Sometimes it hurts to fall, but if you're lucky someone may catch you. And they may be falling, too.
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
*~*~*~*~*
If we listened to our intellect, we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go into business, because we'd be too cynical. Well, that's nonsense. You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.
- Annie Dillard
*~*~*~*~*
Immediately after securing lodging at the Archfield, Cambyses headed to his parent’s room. He was angry, his hands were shaking and his palms were wet from the fists he had been clenching since he had heard about Callie. Suicide. Suicide? The word kept replaying in his head and he kept hearing Callie’s voice on the phone the day it happened. He had heard her unhappiness, but had encouraged her to have the party. He could kick his own ass for it, but that would have to wait. By the time he arrived at the Ambassador Suite, he was crying from anger and fear.
Melana opened the door and looked at him with wide eyes after he pounded against the wood hard enough to startle half the people on their floor. He sailed past her, stalking past Gucci who reached for him. "I can not believe this," he snapped. "I can not believe that you are my mother. I just - you have no concept how to parent. Anyone."
"Cambyses, what are you doing here? Besides being a drama queen?"
"Where else would I be, Mother?" He spun to face her, his face red. "How could you not call me? How could you not tell me!?"
"Your father and I are taking care of the situation with your sister. Your services really are not needed here."
"DO NOT DO THAT!" he shouted. "Do not dismiss me like I’m ten years old again!"
"Even ten year olds grow up, Cambyses. Honestly, leather pants? You look demonic. Is your little friend with you? What, pray tell is he wearing? Perhaps pink taffeta or chiffon? Maybe he's being bold and wearing both."
"Stop it, Mother! This is not about me or Blake or your denial that I am still a human being. This is about Callie. I don’t understand any of this. She loves life. And she’s a fighter. So, tell me how this happened. What is she saying?"
"She says that she didn’t try to hurt herself. She claims it was a mistake."
"What do you think? Or, actually, what does Dad think?"
"*We* think that your sister has a problem. With alcohol. We think that she needs help. Luckily, her husband agrees and has promised to push the idea of rehabilitation and I believe he will succeed. He has quite a way with her. I’ve never seen anyone deal with her the way he does and she responds well to it. He doesn't coddle her."
"Great. While you’re shipping my sister off to Betty Ford, why don’t you ship her wonderful husband off to Cheaters Anonymous. He drove her to this so it’s only fair that he get shock therapy as well."
"Perhaps if you were in a conventional relationship you would understand the bond between a husband and wife. Callie has decided to stay with him and has forgiven him."
He ignored the personal attack. "Where is she?"
"She should be back any time."
Raphael emerged from the bedroom, fresh from the shower, and stared at Cam with shock. "You are supposed to be covering the mergers and acquisitions meetings right now! Who is doing it?"
"Loukas." Cam shoved his hands in the pockets of his leather pants. "You can’t expect me not to be here." He glanced at his mother. "If this was a conventional family then you would understand the bond between Callie and me and you would know that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is *not* okay."
"We’re taking care of it." Raphael walked across the room and embraced his son. "I’m glad you’re here though. Callie will be thrilled to see you."
"Thanks, Dad." Cam ran his hand over his face, drying his eyes. "Dr. Stevens said that she was lucky that her liver wasn’t destroyed. I think I’ll yank it out of her myself and slap her with it."
Raph smiled and indicated that they should have a seat at the table. Melana pointedly ignored the invitation, picked up Gucci, and walked further into the suite where she turned her back on her son and husband. Raph grabbed two bottles of water from the refrigerator and sat across from Cam, then said, "Did Blake come with you?"
"Yes, sir," Cam replied. "Hey, do you remember when Callie and I took Uncle Kick’s boat? I dreamed about it. Remember the nightmares we both had? It was just like that, but this time she drowned. She never even tried to swim."
"That’s why you came?"
"That’s why I came." Cam nodded. "I know it sounds insane and it’s too stupid for words, but I feel like she’s in danger. I feel like something is going to happen to her."
They drank their water in silence for a while. Raphael finally leaned forward a little and said, "I think you’re right."
"What?"
"She’s hurting herself, Cam. Your mother seems to think that her marriage is enough to get her through this and I confess that George is trying, but she’s not happy, mijo. She’s wasted away to skin and bones, her smile is fake, she got a tattoo as large as this room on her back, and the first thing she wants to do is reach for alcohol when she’s confronted with stress." Raph studied his son, seeing so much of Callie in him that it was a comfort. "The two of you do share a beautiful bond and I’ve always been grateful that she has you, son."
"You’re freaked because she got a tattoo? That’s kinda hot, Dad."
"I assure you it’s not." Raph took a sip of his drink. "It’s actually good that you’re here. She’ll listen to you above all others."
"I know that tone. God, I hate that tone. What do you want me to do?"
"Your sister has lied to protect you and lied to help you, but she has never lied *to* you. Get the truth out of her, mijo. Make her hit rock bottom no matter how hard it is for you to do so."
Cam opened his mouth to reply, but his father’s cell phone rang and Raph reached for it. "It’s Callie," the man said, then answered. "Hi, princess."
"Hi, Daddy."
"How was the evaluation?"
"I go back to work in two weeks," Callie replied. "Is, uh, Mama there?"
"Yes. And guess who else has come all this way to see you? Cam. He arrived a little while ago." There was a long pause. "Callie, honey? What’s wrong?"
"Can you put the phone on speaker? I need to tell you something. All of you."
Raph glanced at Melana, who was peering over the back of the sofa. He beckoned her forward, then hit the speaker button, "Go ahead, darlin’. We’re listening."
"Hey, Cal."
"Hey, Cam." Callie’s voice was soft, low. "I wish - I wish I had known that you were coming because I really want to see you and now - well, I can’t. I - I’m going out of town for a while."
"What do you mean?" Cam asked, his brow furrowed. "Where are you going?"
"It doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m fine, but I - I can’t really deal with my life unless I do this for myself. And that’s what I’m doing. I’m dealing. I need a break so I’m taking it."
Melana moved closer to the phone and said, "Are you going somewhere with George? A vacation? What?"
On the other end of the line, Callie took a deep breath. "Hear me out, okay? You were right last night at dinner. I do have a problem, but it’s not something that can be fixed with rehab or you guys protecting me from myself. You said that you would support me if I wanted out of my marriage and I do. I have to get out because it’s not healthy and it’s a lie. Can you call Quinton and get the papers started so that I can-"
"What?!" Melana cried. "What happened? What -"
"I gave him the chance to tell me the truth about the woman he was with. I gave him the chance more than once and today I found out that he has lied to me all along. Right to my face. It wasn’t just a drunken thing. They - they had contact while they were sober and I can deal with a lot of things, but that’s not one of them. He looked me in my face after that. He looked me in my face and went home with me and let me buy him dinner. And who knows what else we did together or who he was thinking of while we did it. That makes me feel like trash."
"Oh, baby," Raph said, taking Mel’s hand in his. "Come back to the hotel and-"
"I can’t. I don’t want to be there yet. We - there’s too many memories." She cleared her throat. "I have two weeks off at work. I’m going to take at least a week - maybe more - of that for myself. Starting now. Don’t try to find me. Don’t try to call because I’m not bringing along a phone and just - know that I’m safe."
"No!" Raphael half stood. "Calliope, you come back here right now! You are not going off again on your own and -"
"I’m not by myself, Daddy."
"What? Is Addison-"
"I’m with Alex."
Melana put a hand over her mouth. "Callie," she finally said. "Honey, you’re hurt and we will start the paperwork if you want us to, but two wrongs do not make a right. In the eyes of God you are still married and if you do this then you are just as guilty, just as wrong as George was. You can’t come back from this once you cross the line that far."
"Mom, I’m pretty sure God will understand. But you’re right about one thing. That line? George crossed it and I’m tired of pretending that it’s okay."
"Are you involved with this man, mija?"
"I don’t know what we are, Daddy, but I know that this is where I need to be right now. He makes me sane and I haven’t felt sane for a very long time."
"What are you doing with your life, Calliope? This is madness," Melana cried. "Last night you finally ate dinner! George helped you see that you have to nourish the body! The two of you talked to one another! You seemed happy with your husband and-"
"The harsh light of day tends to wake you up whether you’re ready for it or not. I’ll be okay. And Mama?"
"What?"
"Don’t cancel the party. I’ll be back for it. I need my family. Just - make it only family, okay? I don’t want anyone there who isn’t blood except for Addison. And probably Alex."
"Honey-"
"I have to go. I love you."
"Wait! Callie!" Raphael snatched up the phone and listened, but the call was disconnected. He quickly dialed a number, a reassuring hand on Mel’s shoulder. "Quinton? I need you to access Calliope’s bank records. I need to know when and where she makes any transactions from this point on. I also need you to check her phone records and see if we can trace her location by pinging it. No, no, she’s not okay. Call me back immediately."
"Raphael." Melana began to cry when he hung up the phone. "She’s not thinking clearly. What if something happens to her? Find her!"
"I will, mi vida. I will." He leaned down and kissed her on the head. "I promise."
"You won’t find her." Cam smiled knowingly at his father and leaned back in his chair, stretching his long legs in front of him. "She wants to disappear. And that’s what she’ll do."
Raph, his arm around his wife, shook his head. "You underestimate me. I am always a step ahead of my children. When it comes to my daughter ... I will turn over every stone and move mountains for her."
"She’ll probably be on that mountain, Dad. Climbing it. Or base jumping off it. Let her go."
"We need to get in touch with George and find out what happened," Mel interrupted, dabbing her eyes.
"She just told you what happened, Mom! He broke her heart!" Cam got to his feet and caught Gucci, who jumped into his arms. He soothed the primate, who appeared agitated by the raised voices. "You know, sometimes I think that we were so blessed. We had money, we never had to want for anything, *except* for you to see us. I came out of the closet when I was fifteen years old. I have been in a loving, committed relationship for ten years. You can accept that George destroyed your only daughter, but you can’t accept that Blake loves your son. See us for once! Realize what’s going on! Open your eyes and see us!"
"Cam-" Raph began.
"No! You said that she’s wasted away to nothing. You said that she keeps drinking and she almost drank herself to death. Who do you think is the cause of that? She never did this until *him*. And if she needs to get away with whoever this guy is that she’s traveling with then more power to her. I hope she has a good time and I hope that he makes her feel better than her *husband*."
"What happened to her being in danger?" Melana asked, no longer crying. "I heard what you told your father."
"I think maybe George is the danger she’s in. If she’s not here then she’s not in it anymore."
Raph’s phone trilled and he answered, speaking in clipped tones for several moments. When he hung up, he looked at his family and said, "That little minx. She’s smart. She took thirty thousand out of the bank in cash. She won’t be using her credit cards."
"Told you."
"Quint is checking all flights out of the area and -"
"She’s not going to fly commercial. She’ll fly herself, Dad."
"Then perhaps I will clip her wings when I do catch her."
*~*~*~*~*~
George sat in Addison’s car. She had found him alone in the stairwell with his head against the wall. The worst of the tears had abated after he had screamed at Izzie enough, but as soon as he saw his wife’s best friend, they started anew. Addison had pulled him to his feet, bought him takeout which remained untouched, and drove him to his mother’s place at his request. They were still sitting in the driveway, in silence, when Addison finally said, "Are you going to tell me what happened? Or am I keeping your ass here until you do."
"I kissed Izzie. In the elevator."
Addison slapped him, hard, on the back of the head. "You idiot! What the hell were you thinking? Today of all days! Or any day!"
"Oww!" George massaged his scalp. "Not today! Weeks ago! And I didn’t tell Callie about it. I didn’t think she’d ever find out. Then she did."
"I warned you not to get cocky! And who in their right mind gets cocky when they’re still holding onto a secret? What the hell is wrong with you?"
George started to cry again. "We made love last night. It was perfect. It was -" He trailed off for a second. "Okay, not perfect. She - she seemed upset with herself for doing it and I - I didn’t really help."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, afterwards I played it off. I tried to act like it was the most natural thing in the world and make her laugh or whatever. Then we had dinner with her parents and they were nice to me, but-"
"Not to her?"
"It was an intervention, Addison. They’re never nice."
"A WHAT! AND YOU WENT ALONG WITH IT? YOU REALLY ARE AN IDIOT!" She smacked him again and he cowered. She felt guilty immediately, mostly because he looked like a kicked puppy, so she hastily added, "She’s *your* wife. It’s supposed to be the two of you against everyone else."
"Us against them." George rubbed his head. "That’s what she said, too. Before we went to dinner."
"Maybe you should have listened to her." Addison sat back in her seat and sighed. "Why did you want me to bring you here?"
"She’s divorcing me. She told me. She said not to come to the Archfield."
"Oh my god." Addison looked at him. "Then you should have gone to the Archfield. Are you going to fight for her? George, do you - are you in love with Callie? At all?"
"Yes. I am."
"Then what the hell is wrong with you?"
"Addison-"
"You get that I was on your side, right? I kept nudging her for you. I kept telling her that you were sorry and that you were going to fix it and look at what you’ve done."
"I know!" George cried.
"Who told her about you and Izzie in the elevator?"
"Who do you think? Karev."
"What happened after she found out? Was she okay? God, I could kick you in the ass."
"She left with him. He held out his hand and she took it and left with him. I bet they’re - no, I can’t even think it."
"She left with Alex?" Addison blinked, then pulled out her cellphone. She called Callie’s number to no avail. It went straight to voice mail. She turned to address George again when she noticed Louise walking down the sidewalk toward the car. "Uh, George?"
"Yeah?"
"Your mom."
George rolled the window down and looked up at his mother. "I’ll be inside in just a minute."
"You most certainly will not." Louise shook her head and planted her palms on her ample hips. "Your wife just called her parents and told them that she is leaving town. Now, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that this is your fault, but she confirmed it with them. I am ashamed of you, George. Ashamed."
Addison leaned over the gear shifter and looked up at Louise, fear evident on her features. "She’s leaving town? Permanently or-"
"She said for a week or so. She has to report back at the hospital in two weeks." Louise sighed and glared down at her son. "And she’s taken Alex with her."
"What!? That son of a bitch!" George yelled, leaping from the car with such force that he almost hit his mother with the door. When she stepped back, he whirled and punched a nearby telephone pole, then howled at the pain.
Addison hurried out of the car and rushed to where he stood, bent at the waist, gripping his hand. "Let me see. George, let me see your hand."
"It's fine."
"Just -"
"He warned me. He told me that he wanted her and I didn't believe it. I didn't think he'd go for her. Not really."
He raised up and looked at Addison finally. He looked like a sad clown and it was too real to be comical. Tears wet his cheeks, his nose was red from the crying, and his hair had curled up from the humidity of the evening drizzle. Wordlessly, he took a step back and then he turned on his heel and ran. The women watched in shock as the darkness swallowed him.
"Should we-" Addison began.
"No." Louise stood a little straighter, as if holding herself upright would somehow give her strength to do what she needed to do. "I raised my son better than this and if it takes him spending the night in the rain with a hand that is as hurt as his wife’s heart then so be it."
*~*~*~*~*~
"You’re kidding."
"No, I’m really not. This is what I was doing earlier while we waited for Gellar to see me. I was making plans." Callie watched as Alex crossed his arms over his chest and stared up at the Cessna Citation Mustang. It was smaller than several of the other planes that were housed at the hangar, but she knew that it was still intimidating. She bit her bottom lip and said, "I fly it home every Christmas. I promise. I’m good."
"I’m not doubting your skills, Cal." Alex cocked his head to one side, still gazing at the plane. "But where are the propellers?"
"Who needs propellers when you have two Pratt and Whitney fanjet engines that deliver one thousand four hundred and sixty pounds of takeoff thrust apiece?"
He looked at her then. And smiled. "Thrust, huh?"
"Thrust."
Alex walked to where she stood and put his hands on her hips. It was obvious that he was thinking of an entirely different form of thrust by the smirk on his face. "Where are we going?"
"Los Angeles. I bought a house there three years ago and I’ve never even seen it."
"We didn’t pack anything." Alex leaned down, kissing her. It was lingering, soft and hard in equal measures. "But you did say ‘thrust’ so I guess I’m along for the ride. Do I call you captain, by the way?"
"You can call me whatever you want as long as you keep kissing me like that."
"Oooh, an invitation. Let me R.S.V.P.." He kissed her again, slower this time and didn’t break away from her until someone cleared their throat behind them.
Callie sighed and stepped around Alex, extending her hand toward Miguel Santos, the caretaker of the private air strip that housed her plane. Miguel handed her a stack of papers and spoke rapid Spanish, gesticulating wildly with his hands. Callie replied in Spanish and nodded her head several times. Then, without warning, she gripped the shorter man by the lapels of his coveralls and said, "If you tell my father *anything* then I will feed you your scrotum in little pieces."
"Okay, fine!" Miguel growled in perfect English. "I’ll park the car in the hangar and we’ll do it your way. I’ve got the fake flight plan that shows you heading to the east coast. But Raphael Torres is not going to stop there, Calliope. He’ll send someone to look for your plane and when he doesn’t see it - HE will be feeding me my scrotum and probably his fist as well."
"By the time my father figures out that it was a bait and switch, I will already be halfway back here." Callie reached up and opened the door of the plane. "Are you ready, Alex?"
"We’re leaving now?" Alex seemed shocked, like the idea of leaving on the plane was just that - an idea. "Seriously?"
"Seriously." Callie walked around the aircraft, checking a few things out for herself, then she turned back to Miguel and said, "I appreciate this. You’re a good man."
"I hope I remain a man and not a eunuch. Your father will kill me."
"I’ll take the blame." Callie motioned for Alex to ascend the steps first, then she followed behind him. She waved at Miguel and closed the door.
The plane was very cramped on the inside, but luxurious nonetheless. There was room for four passengers in the cabin and a pilot and co-pilot in the cockpit. Callie dropped her purse on one of the leather seats and kicked off her shoes. Digging her toes into the plush white carpet, she groaned. "Now I remember why I don’t wear high heels," she sighed and moved past him, heading for the pit. "You want to ride shotgun or would you feel more comfortable back there?"
"I’m with you." Alex followed her and strapped himself into the vacant seat. He watched quietly as Callie pushed several buttons, then she handed him a set of earphones and put her own in place. He listened to her conversation with the tower and stared, wide eyed, when she finally maneuvered the plane onto the runway and they took off.
Callie smiled when Alex gripped the arms of his chair and they shot upward, straight into the clouds. She waited until they had leveled out before she spoke to him. The climb could take a seasoned veteran’s stomach and he was looking kind of green. "You know what?"
"What?"
"You’re the first person who has been in this plane with me. Ever."
"I am?"
"You are."
"When did you learn to fly?"
"My dad used to take me up when I was just a kid. He started teaching me before I was big enough to see over the controls. Then when I was old enough I went to flight school in my spare time and eventually got my license."
"Do your brothers fly?"
"No."
"Oh, so your dad spoiled you rotten, but not the boys?"
She smiled. "The boys were predestined to take equal parts in the running of my father’s various businesses. That was never an option for me. Teaching me to fly meant that no matter how far away I went, I could always find my way home."
"He didn’t want you to work for the family?"
"He didn’t want me to sing for the family." Callie turned a couple of knobs and responded to something from the tower before she addressed Alex again. "That was my mother’s big plan. I was going to sing. On Broadway. As soon as my dad found out that there was an agent interested in signing me, he flipped out, and sent my ass packing to medical school against my will."
"You didn’t want to be a doctor?"
"I didn’t want to cause anymore conflict in my family. My parents were arguing all the time about me and my future so I did what my father wanted. Don’t get me wrong, I love medicine. I love helping people and doing what we do, but what I really wanted was to fly. Big, ugly passenger jets full of grouchy adults and screaming babies."
"Well, look around, Cal, you’re a pilot. You got the best of both worlds."
"I fly once a year which isn’t nearly as cool." She shrugged her shoulders. "And while I love this plane it’s just not the same as a seven forty seven."
"Have you flown one?"
"Once. And only kinda sorta. My uncle bought tickets for my brother and me to attend a twins convention when we were seventeen. We were in first class and the co-pilot walked by and I asked him if I could see the cockpit. He said okay and they let me hold the wheel. It was brief, just a split second, but it was the best moment of my very young life. I was in love with the power of it. With the speed. With knowing that I held hundreds of lives in the palm of my hand."
"You’re an adrenaline junkie."
"Very true. That was the first moment of my life when I had direction, when I knew what I wanted to do."
"Have you always done that, though?"
"Done what?"
"Given up your dreams, your goals, to make other people happy?"
"Yeah." She concentrated on the horizon. "Can I tell you something weird?"
"You can tell me anything."
"I went swimming this morning at the hotel. The water was like ice and I was the only one in it. The sky was kind of cloudy when I jumped in and after I swam for a while and finally climbed back out ... the sun was breaking through and it’s like I saw everything crystal clear for the first time. It was like a baptism, you know. It’s like I went down as a liar and came up a believer."
"A believer in what?"
"Me."
"It’s about time." Alex shifted in his seat so that he could watch her more comfortably. "Can I tell you something weird?"
"You can tell me anything."
He grinned. "You’re not the only one who saw everything crystal clear today. I know that we’ve flirted and goofed around in good fun, but I felt like I was seeing you for the first time when you were studying those X-rays. You were gorgeous. I couldn’t stop looking."
Callie toyed with the yoke and swallowed hard. Tears stung at her eyes and she quickly looked out the window until she regained control. "So, it took a pretty dress and perfect hair to make you realize that I’m actually a girl and not just -"
"Don’t do that." Alex cut her off and touched her arm. "You do look gorgeous, but it wasn’t the clothes I noticed. It was your eyes. When you started to cry because of what I told you it felt like someone was holding a brand against me. Against all of me. You could be bald and have on a sack of some kind and your eyes are still going to get to me every time."
"That is probably the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me."
"Well, don’t abuse it. Don’t think that just looking at me is going to get you whatever you want." Alex narrowed his eyes when she glanced at him. He reached over, touching the dampness on her cheek. "Why are you crying?"
"I should feel guilty. I should. What we’re doing-"
"Don’t do that either. You either feel something or you don’t. Don’t think about what you should feel and think about what you do feel." He unbuckled his seatbelt and kissed her just behind the ear. "And I feel you."
Callie hissed a little as chills raced up and down her spine. How did he know that was her spot? "I feel you, too, but we’re going to feel this plane crashing if you don’t stop that."
"Hmmm." Alex reached down, sliding her skirt slowly upward. He exposed her knee and ran his fingers over it. "Pilots should be able to fly well under any circumstances. Granted, I’m not a grouchy adult or a screaming child, but I’m just as distracting. Now ... concentrate on the flight. If you can."
Callie swallowed hard when his hand moved a little higher. He traced a pattern on her mid-thigh and she gasped. "You’re killing me, Alex."
He moved higher still, dragging his nails across the outside of her leg, then upward toward her hip. He smiled when he felt her breathing change and kissed her neck, suckling at her flesh. The plane jerked violently and suddenly, almost bucking him out of his seat, and he backed away, eyes wide. Callie had her lips pursed together and was gripping the yoke tightly in her hands. "Callie Torres! You did that on purpose!"
Callie looked at him and shook her head, then pointed out the front windows.
There was a storm on the horizon. Lightning flashed against the blackening sky and thunder boomed suddenly. The plane pitched again and she grabbed his arm. "Put your seatbelt back on. I’m going to go above it."
"Callie-"
"It’s okay. I’ve flown through worse."
Alex buckled his belt and gripped the arms of his chair again. "Why didn’t they warn us?"
Callie said nothing, but as she stared at the storm and the wind pitched the little jet again ... she worried that maybe someone was warning them.
*~*~*~*~*~