Walk Tall...by lilscout

Chapter 15

A/N – Okay, this is it...last chapter. Writing this story has been a labour of love. It started out as a story about Callie, at least, the idea for it was born out of something she said in an older Grey's episode, about how she used to "walk tall" around SGH... but along the way, I became more interested in Arizona's side of things. Also, it was only supposed to be about eight chapters, max! So, to be finally adding chapter fifteen seems unreal to me.

Thank you, sincerely, to everyone who has read it, reviewed it, alerted it and critiqued it. Your input is motivating, and invaluable. I'm going to take a break for a bit, but I think the next story I write will be for Rizzoli and Isles. Their dynamic fascinates me. Plus, Maura is unbelievably hot! )

...

Arizona moved off through the crowd as her name was called for the next fight.

She had gotten over her initial nervousness, and made it through pretty handily. Then, finally, it was down to the last four fighters.

For Arizona's semifinal, she was matched with a woman who was smaller, but much faster, than her. In truth, she wouldn't have minded losing now. She didn't relish the idea of facing the bigger fighter who would almost assuredly win her semifinal.

And really, she just wanted to be alone with Calliope.

In the end, though, Arizona won, kind of by default. Her opponent attempted a spinning kick, but the woman's planted foot just didn't pivot with the rest of her. The delicate joints in her ankle were no match for the torque created by her spinning body, and she collapsed to the floor, her ankle badly injured, unable to continue.

The second semifinal was not nearly as cordial. Early on in the match the intimidating woman, Davis, delivered a running high kick to her opponents upper chest, knocking her clear out of the ring. It was very powerful and was meant to intimidate.

Arizona was shocked and a little disgusted. The kick landed dangerously close to the opponent's throat. Maybe, for anyone else, it could have been called an accident. A mistake. But Arizona had already witnessed this woman's self control. It had to have been intentional, though the referee didn't penalize her. After that, the match ended quickly.

"Robbins, Davis, championship fight, five minutes!" the referee yelled.

Callie jumped up and began to pace the short distance between Arizona and Mark, both still seated. "How do you feel?" she asked, her nerves evident.

"Honestly? A little nervous." Arizona forced a brief smile. "I'll do my best to stay out of her way..." she stopped, noticing that something had caught Callie's attention. She turned her head and saw Joanne standing a few feet behind them. It was clear the young woman wanted to speak, but was reluctant to approach the group. Mark saw her too and stood up, instinctively protective of his best friend.

"What now, Joanne?" Callie asked, irritation in her voice.

"Just..." Joanne hesitated, then came down the last few steps to join them on the floor, careful to stay a few paces away. "I've been watching all her fights. Davis. She's fast, Arizona, and really strong."

"I already know that, Joanne..." Arizona began, her voice weary.

"I know..." Joanne paused, pushing out a resigning breath. "I'm sorry again about everything." She looked at Callie. "I just wanted to tell you that I think there's a way you can beat her," she looked down, "but I'll leave if you want me to."

Callie flashed a questioning look, first to Arizona, then to Mark.

"What Joanne? Say what you came to say, if it can keep Arizona from getting hurt," she prompted.

Joanne looked up and, encouraged by Callie's softened tone, took one small step forward.

"The thing is...she's a fighter. Obvious, I know," she said, turning in response to Mark's quiet scoff. "What I mean is, she wants to beat her opponents, not just win on points." She turned back to Arizona. "I think you should let her come to you. If you can get over the fear of being hurt. Make her commit herself. She's bigger and stronger but she also wants you to be afraid of her. She needs it. So, be smarter. Wait for your moment." Joanne became more animated, encouraged by the attention all three were now giving her. "There's something I've noticed too, and I don't think she's even aware of it...but just before she attacks, her eyes get wide. You can kind of predict it, if you're looking for it."

Arizona looked past the crowd milling around the mat, and spied her opponent.

Her male colleague stood beside her, talking to her in hushed tones, but she was staring through the crowd directly at Arizona, her expression hinting at smugness.

Arizona rolled her eyes, then looked back at Joanne.

"Also," Joanne continued, "she seems to like flashy takedowns...but you've always been really good at using balance and leverage, because you're smaller." Joanne glanced at Arizona's opponent and shrugged. "I think, if it were me, I'd try to take her legs out from under her. She obviously loves to kick, and she's very good at it, but if you can get a hold of one of her legs...I think you can take her down." She looked pointedly at Arizona, and said quietly, "That's what I'd try...if it were me."

Arizona was silent and still for a long moment while she considered Joanne's advice. Then she stood up and nodded to the younger woman.

"Thanks Jo. I'm sure it took a lot for you to come over here and tell me that. I appreciate it."

Callie nodded as she wrapped her arm around Arizona's waist. "Yeah, thank you," she added.

Joanne pursed her lips, and nodded back once. She seemed to understand that the conversation, the friendship, was over. She worked to hold back her tears. "Okay, you're welcome," she said, her voice thick with sadness. "Good luck Arizona," she added, finally turning and walking quickly away through the crowd.

Moments later, the referee summoned both women.

Since it was one of the last fights of the day, all other formal activity on the floor of the gymnasium had ceased while attention was focused their ring.

Arizona stepped onto the mat. She felt nervous and a little scared. She didn't expect to ever make it this far, and now she was facing an opponent who had already caused injury to other fighters. Weird, disjointed thoughts ran through her head...Joanne's advice, military strategy, her father, her brother, his last girlfriend, Callie...

She shook her head. Focus! she reprimanded herself. She looked down at her feet, planted firmly behind the white line, then glanced up at her opponent. The woman's face was like stone.

There was no great ceremony, no long speech. The referee signalled for both women to bow, then he raised his arm high.

"Hajime!" he yelled.

The woman moved fast, and Arizona barely had time to raise her hands. She saw Davis rush at her as if to deliver another high running front kick. Arizona had nowhere to go. She quickly back pedalled, stopping when she felt the cold smooth wood of the gymnasium floor against her feet.

She closed her eyes, and grimaced. She had left the mat.

The referee stepped in quickly to warn Arizona, but she already knew what he was going to say. If she stepped off the mat again, he would award a point to her opponent. Arizona nodded her understanding as she padded back to her line.

When she looked at her opponent, she caught the woman smirking at her, cocky and arrogant, like she was thinking, Yeah, this is gonna be easy.

It pissed Arizona off, big time.

Again, the woman came at Arizona fast.

Arizona hastily side stepped her, though not in time to avoid the powerful side kick to her shoulder. She wasn't hit full strength, but it still hurt like hell, and though she tried to hide it, Arizona winced in pain as the referee called out, "Point, Davis!"

The next point, however, went Arizona's way, and she felt lucky to get it. Her opponent chose to approach slowly, her fists down, stalking, almost predatory. They circled the ring steadily, like heavyweight boxers, matching each other stride for stride, Davis almost baiting Arizona to make a move. But Arizona didn't fall for it, and as seconds ticked by, the woman's impatience grew. She took a step forward, and Arizona quickly recognized that she was probably setting up for a spin kick. Arizona held her ground until the last possible moment then simply stepped backward, allowing the woman's powerful leg to whiz right by her, her momentum now misdirected since there was no longer a body to make contact with.

Arizona took the opportunity she was given and stepped in, delivering a fast and solid blow to the woman's right ribcage.

"Point, Robbins!"

Arizona scurried back to her line, pursing her lips to hide her smile. She could hear Callie and Mark cheering loudly for her on the sidelines.

Davis, however, was seething. She was not accustomed to losing, even if it was just a single point. She growled inside as she stalked back to her line, then turned, narrowing her eyes at Arizona. When she heard the referee's signal she moved in taking three long loping paces to Arizona's left, forcing Arizona to go right. When she saw that Arizona had come close to the mat's edge again, she faked a lunging punch. Arizona moved her arms to block it, but the punch never came. Arizona had mistakenly left herself open and Davis stepped into her body and delivered a savage and illegal elbow to Arizona's face.

Arizona cried out in pain and dropped to her knees, both hands pressing hard against her left eye. The throbbing began immediately, and Arizona tried to block out the yelling and angry commotion swirling around her. She lightly touched the tender skin, and pried open her eyelid, though she could already feel it beginning to swell shut.

Davis hovered over Arizona for just a moment, then calmly turned and stepped back to her line, satisfied that her message had been delivered.

Callie was outraged. She pulled against Mark's arm, torn between not interfering, and rushing onto the mat to help her injured girlfriend.

"She can't do that!" Callie screamed at her friend. "What the hell is her problem? She should be disqualified!" She saw Arizona slowly attempting to stand, and called out her name in desperation, finally letting go of Mark and rushing over to the edge of the mat.

Arizona put out one hand to stop Callie from stepping onto it. "I'm okay, Cal, it's alright." She wobbled a bit as she got both feet under her. "I just need a second, okay?"

"Can't you just stop, please?" Callie begged, her voice cracking. "I love you, okay...god, I can't stand this!"

The referee hurried over to Arizona and spoke to her, his voice low, asking if she was okay to continue. She nodded, yes, and asked for just a moment to compose herself.

Callie, meanwhile, was glaring at Davis, desperate to send a message of her own, which went something like, you hurt her again and I'll run you over with my car.

"Callie, I love you too, but I have to finish this. Especially now, after what she just did." Arizona pressed her fingers to Callie's cheek. "I'll be fine sweetie, I promise. Now go sit with Mark, okay? He looks really stressed."

Callie glanced at her best friend, then turned again to Arizona, and leaned in close. "If you don't kick her ass, I will," she cautioned, and Arizona smiled.

The referee had returned to the edge of the mat, and waited for Arizona to signal that she was ready.

Arizona stepped back to her line, breathing deeply and closing her eyes as the pulsing and tingling in her face made her feel nauseous. She pried open both eyes, and cracked her neck left, then right, then rolled her shoulders back. She looked at her opponent. Davis was straining at the leash, itching to pounce on her injured prey.

Arizona nodded to the referee.

"Illegal contact above the neck! Point to Robbins!" he announced.

Then he leaned in with his arm raised and dropped it quickly, stepping back.

Davis moved in slowly again, and Arizona guessed she would attempt another kick, though which one was anyone's guess. A dozen possibilities raced through the blonde's mind in the time it took her to blink, and she found herself remembering Joanne's earlier advice.

...take her legs out from under her...

Suddenly Arizona saw the woman's eyes go wide...why didn't I notice that earlier?...as she skipped forward, raising her leg and and pivoting her hips for a devastating side kick, not unlike the one she had delivered in her semifinal match.

She didn't even try to mask it.

She was taunting Arizona, goading her, saying, here's what I'm going to do to you, try to stop me.

But Arizona anticipated it, hoped for it, even. Because instead of moving back out of range, she quickly stepped in and to the side, catching the woman's leg halfway between ankle and knee. She held on, latching it with her arm as she pushed it up above her chest, while immediately dropping her right leg behind her opponent's right knee.

Then, she stepped forward, and the woman's body fell backward.

It had nowhere else to go.

Davis scrambled mid fall, wind milling her arms to try, desperately, to stay upright, to regain her balance. But it was no use. Her body hit the mat with a thud, her head ricocheting up and down as Arizona's body fell partly on top of her. She lay there, stunned and defenseless, trying to catch the breath that had been knocked out of her.

Arizona quickly fumbled up to one knee, and delivered a final blow to the woman's midsection.

"Point Robbins!" the referee yelled, stepping in.

Arizona jumped up and scurried back to her line, fast.

Davis took a few seconds longer to regroup, and when she realized what had happened, she sat up, and scrambled over onto her knees, slamming her fist hard onto the mat in anger. She ignored the referee's disapproving look, and stalked back to her line, begrudgingly turning to face Arizona.

"Winner, Robbins!" the referee called out, and a thunderous applause erupted, led by Callie and Mark, and, twelve rows away, Joanne too.

Arizona gave her opponent and the referee a quick bow, then turned and pushed her way through the gathering crowd, seeking out Callie's warm brown eyes.

...

"Sssss..." Arizona sucked in her breath as Callie leaned down and gently applied a makeshift ice pack to her bruised and swollen eye.

Callie halted, pulling it away quickly. "Does it hurt too much?" she asked, straightening up. "I knew you should've let me take you to the hospital..."

"Callie," Arizona interjected, pulling the brunette down onto the couch as she took the small bag from her girlfriends hand, "yes it hurts, but it's just a bruise, okay." She did her best to be reassuring, pressing the ice lightly against her cheek.

Callie blew out a quick breath, clearly frustrated. "I just wanted to kill her when she did that to you. I honestly don't know how you restrained yourself."

Arizona shrugged, shifting her body around to lean back into her girlfriend. They both settled comfortably against the arm of the sofa.

"I don't want to hurt anyone...even her," she replied, snuggling closer.

Callie's gaze fell on the trophy that Arizona had set down in the kitchen. It was a little ridiculous, the sheer size of it. "Where are you going to put that thing?" she asked, nudging her head towards the counter.

"Oh, well it'll stay at the dojo, I guess. I won it for them, not for me." She smirked, then grimaced as the slight shift of her cheek caused her pain. "Besides, I'd never have room here for it. It's too big...and a little ostentatious, don't you think?"

She felt Callie's arms wrap around her, pulling her in tight. "You could have been really hurt today. I can't...please tell me you're not planning on entering any more tournaments...I don't think I can take seeing you hurt again."

"No more tournaments," Arizona replied, "I promise." She shifted on the sofa again, turning her body around and sitting up with her knees between Callie's legs to face her. She let the ice pack drop to the floor.

Callie grunted as she leaned over to retrieve it, stopping when Arizona placed both hands on her cheeks and pulled her in for a deep lingering kiss.

"Woah," Callie exhaled, catching her breath when they pulled apart. "What was that for?"

"For coming to find me today...for being so supportive...I realize I wasn't being the best girlfriend at times, with Joanne and everything, I'm sorry..."

"Stop, Arizona." Callie dropped her gaze. "That wasn't all you. I...well, I may have some jealousy issues I need to work on," she looked up again and smiled.

Arizona regarded her playfully. "How 'bout we continue this in the bedroom?" she asked, reaching down with both hands, pulling her top up and over her head. She let it fall lazily behind her.

Callie's eyes went wide and she sat forward, wrapping her arms around the blonde's waist as she tenderly kissed her neck and shoulders, and the top of her breasts.

Arizona moaned softly, leaning into Callie's touch, tilting her head to allow Callie the access she wanted.

When Callie trailed her hand lightly down the bare skin of Arizona's back, the blonde shivered.

When that same hand slid over her thigh and teased against her throbbing groin, she buckled.

"Calliope!" she gasped, "Bedroom. Now!"

Callie nipped at Arizona's ear, then pulled away, looking into the blonde's eyes with a most mischievous grin.

"Yes, sensei," she replied.

...

The End.