Prologue

4 years ago in Seattle

"We are standing in an airport yelling at each other, we are already done!"

3 years ago in New York

The weather in New York seemed to understand the heart of Dr. Nicole Cooper. The grey skies threatened to open up at any moment, a storm brewing. Dr. Cooper welcomes the feeling of the cold rain falling on her head, to feel anything is welcomed. She is fairly certain she will never feel anything again as she watches them lower the coffin of her wife and the child that never had a chance to be born into the ground.

2 years ago in Seattle

"Callie's hands are beautiful, Sophia has her hands. Callie has no idea how amazing she is. Don't you wish some people could see themselves the way others see them."

1 ½ years ago in New York

Dr. Cooper stumbles into the dark apartment after drowning herself in whiskey at the bar down the block. As she bumps into the nightstand next to the bed she shared with her wife for 7 glorious years she knocks off a picture frame that sat on it. Picking it up she sees her sweet Emily smiling at her. Tears fill her eyes as a rage consumes her and she hurls the picture at the wall shattering the frame. She slides down her bed to the floor, "Why did you make me love you only to leave me!" she whispers to the dark room.

1 year ago in Seattle

Cooper' POV

When I received the email 6 months ago that the job for the Head of Trauma at Seattle Grace Hospital in Seattle I took it as a sign. I had been actively looking to get out of New York, I was drowning in memories and grief there. Everywhere I turned Emily was there and no matter how much I tried to numb myself with work and then alcohol I couldn't so the next best solution was to move. And move I did, all the way across the country! After a couple of interview with Chief Miranda Bailey, she offered me the job. One of the selling factors for her was not only could I replace her Trauma opening, due to her former processor, a Dr. Hunt, leaving the country with his wife, but I was also certified in General, and this would help fill the gaps of her taking the Chief position as well. I had meet Chief Bailey face to face for the first time today when I came in to sign paperwork and get a tour and a schedule. For such a small woman she was intimidating but I could see she was well respected. After the mountain of paperwork was signed and she showed me around and let me know that I would be starting on Thursday, which was 3 days from now, I exited the hospital. As Chief Bailey and I had walked the hospital we received quite a few curious looks, especially from some of the nurses. I noticed some of the nurses blatantly checking me out. I even winked at few who I caught looking. This move might just be what I needed, pretty nurses to bury my grief in could work. I notice some of those very same nurses exiting the hospital and headed towards a bar across the street, Emerald City Bar. As that I'm not ready to go back to my empty and lonely hotel room, I figure a drink or two sounds like a good idea and I walk across the street. As I enter the bar I notice quite a few of the patrons are hospital staff that I saw during my tour with Chief Bailey. I take a seat at the corner of the bar as the large man behind the bar walks over.

"Welcome to Joe's, I'm Joe what can I get you?" the man asks with a gentle smile.

"Whiskey on the rocks please. So is this your place Joe?" I ask to make conversation.

"Yeah, you are a new face? You from around here?"

"No I just moved here from New York, originally from Nashville. I just took a job over at the hospital actually." I reply as I look around the bar.

"Well welcome to Seattle and congrats on the new job. You will learn that a lot of my customers are hospital staff. I didn't catch your name?" Joe asks

"Oh sorry about that, I'm Dr. Nicole Cooper, but everyone just calls me Coop." I reply as I extend my hand over the bar.

"Well it's nice to meet you Coop, hope to see you around here more." Joe says as he heads towards another customer. This is when I notice her. She is sitting at the opposite corner of the bar from me. While she is a stunning woman, with her dark skin and black hair hanging over her shoulders, it is not what draws my attention to her. It is the sadness that is set in her shoulders. It is a sadness that I recognize, the sadness that comes from deep loss and hurt. As I continue to stare she looks up towards me and I feel my throat close up. Her brown eyes, eyes so similar to ones I looked into so many times over 7 years, look right at me like she is searching my soul. It must be a Latina thing, those eyes they reminded me of Emily and I had to shake my head to clear the fog that had taken residence. She sends a small smile my way which I answer with one of my own. I find myself standing up and walking over to the empty stool next to her. "Is this seat taken?"

Callie POV

I was beginning to think this day was never going to end and when it did I desperately needed a few drinks to unwind before I went home to my daughter and our lonely apartment. Today seemed to be a day intent on memories. A particularly tough case with a 7 year old girl that I worked with Karev brought on thoughts of her. Arizona left me in an airport almost 5 years ago for her dream in Africa and yet there were times that pain of her leaving me felt just like yesterday. Then of course thoughts of Arizona always led to thoughts of Mark. My best friend thru everything, he stood by me thru it all. The mistake of marrying George, then said mistake cheating on me with his best friend. Me almost losing my career by getting fired as Chief Resident, then discovering I liked woman, being there for me when that first woman left me in a parking lot, then Arizona. Then he was there for me to seek physical solace in after Arizona left me, which led to Sophia, and he was there for me on that as well. Even though both of them wanted to be parents, they never planned on it being with each other but it happened. When I told Mark I was pregnant with Soph, he stepped up as a best friend and as a father. We both knew that we weren't meant to be anything more than best friends, and the few drunken, pain drowning hook ups that led to Sophia's conception didn't change that. Then 2 years ago a drunk driver took away my best friend and Sophia father. My person was gone and I was a single parent. Yep today sucked! So when I walked across the street to Joe's and sat the bar I was more than ready for the shot of tequila and beer that Joe set in front of me. I downed the shot and sat nursing my beer lost in thought when I felt someone's eyes on me. I looked up into an intense pair of green eyes looking at me from across the bar. There is a sadness and an understanding tone coming from those eyes. I see the woman stand and walk towards me. She is attractive in an androgonous way. She is tall with short dark hair styled in a messy faux hawk style that suits her. She is broad shouldered and lanky in her build and her skin is pale in comparison to her dark features. She stops at the stool next to me and asks, "is this seat taken?"

Cooper POV

The Latina watches me for a moment then indicates with a tip of her head to sit next to her. "Nicole Cooper, but people just call me Coop. Nice to meet you?" I say as I extend my hand to her.

"Callie Torres, nice to meet you Coop." She replies taking my hand in a firm handshake. "I haven't seen you around here before, you from around here?" I get asked for the second time tonight.

"I just moved here from New York. I took a job at the hospital across the street." I reply

"Are you a doctor?" Callie ask me. I sense something in her tone like maybe surprise or curiousity.

"Umm surgeon actually. How about you?" I ask.

"I work at the hospital as well and I'm also a surgeon." She replies with a smile.

"Wait, Dr. Calliope Torres? As probably going to win the Harper-Avery this year for her cartliege research?" Seriously I'm sitting next to one if not the top surgeon in Orthopedics!

She tucks her head shyly, "yeah that's me."

"Wow! Smart and beautiful." I say

"Uumm thanks. So I'm assuming since the Head of Trauma position was open that you are our new Trauma surgeon." She states

"You would be correct. I'm also certified as a General surgeon as well so I will also fill in there when Chief Bailey can't."

"Well Dr. Cooper it would seem we were destined to meet at some point. Beings that Trauma and Ortho tend to go hand in hand I'm sure we will be working together a lot. And good luck with getting any surgeries that Bailey would give up. Even as the Chief she has a hard time not being in the OR." She replies with a smile.

"You have a great smile, and I don't mind, I prefer the rush of trauma anyways."

"Smart, beautiful, and a great smile huh? Are you trying to pick me up Dr. Cooper." She asks with a teasing glint in her eyes.

I chuckle, "No I'm not Dr. Torres, just stating some obvious facts about you." I see a look pass her face which looks like rejection and quickly speak to fix it. "I'm not picking you up because you deserve better than I can offer, I can tell that. You Dr. Torres are not the kind of woman who deserves to get picked up in some dirty bar for a one night stand. And I unfortunately don't do dating or relationships so that would be all I could offer you and well you deserve better." I answer honestly.

"Smooth, very smooth. I'm not sure I have been rejected any nicer than you just did. How do you know that I don't just want a one night stand? If it wasn't for that why did you come over to talk to me? Are you in the habit of just making random conversation with woman with no intent?" She asks.

"Normally no but I'm not sure I want to answer why I came over here, you might find it weird, or creepy, which I'm neither."

She tilts her head, "I won't think you are creepy, so tell me what brought you across the bar to sit next to me?"

"You looked sad and I recognize that sadness. And without going in to detail I felt like I should come over and sit with you. So yeah that's why I came over."

"Mmmm….you are an interesting woman Dr. Cooper. And yes I was a bit sad, mostly long day, but thank you for coming over and sitting with me. And I appreciate you not trying to pick me up for a one night stand, while it may have been tempting, you are correct in your assumption that I don't do one night stands, I'm far too old for those these days. But I don't seem to do relationships anymore either so there is that." She states with a sigh.

"We certainly got a bit serious here didn't we? While I'm enjoying your company you look as tired as I feel so I will call you a cab and then I'm going to head back to my hotel that I'm calling home to get some sleep. I actually need to find an apartment before I start work on Thursday before I become a permant resident at the hotel" I state as I stand up.

"A cab won't be necessary. I live in the building just down the block from the hospital, practically across the street from here. Uuumm if you want to walk with me there may be an apartment in my building available that you would be interested in." Callie tells me.

"Really? That would be great to find a place that close to the hospital. It's like midnight, how am I going to see the apartment tonight?"

"Just follow me Dr. Cooper I have my ways." Callie says as she heads out the door.

Callie POV

I'm not sure what has possessed me to invite Coop to follow me home. When Mark died, he had left his apartment to me and Sophia. I haven't even considered letting anyone rent it in the 2 years since he has been gone and I'm not entirely sure why I'm considering it now. There is something about Dr. Cooper that resonates with me. It's not a romantic attraction, don't get me wrong she is an attractive woman and the bit that I have talked with her she is incredible charming. But it wasn't that, honestly it was something she said about recognizing the sadness in me, I saw the same sadness reflected in her eyes and it drew me to her. The walk over to my apartment building is done in a comfortable silence. As we stand in front of my apartment door I turn to Coop, "we just need to go into my apartment for a minute so I can grab the keys to the apartment I want to show you."

"Are you like the super of this building or something? How do you have a key to the apartment that is available?" Coop questions.

Just as I'm about to answer her my apartment door opens and Mrs. Quinn smiles at myself and Coop.

"I thought I heard your key Dr. Torres. Did you have a nice evening?" The elderly woman asks.

"Yes thank Mrs. Quinn. I appreciate you staying with Sophia, I really needed some unwind time tonight. How was she for you?" I ask as I help her gather her purse.

"She was a gem as always Dr. Torres and please no need to thank me. It is hard finding time for yourself as a busy doctor and single mom. Anytime you want me to watch that baby you just call. Now I'm headed down to my apartment to rest these old bones." Mrs. Quinn states as she is eying Coop with curiousity.

"Oh sorry Mrs. Quinn this is Dr. Nicole Cooper. She is starting at the hospital this week and is looking for a place to live. I thought I would show her Mark's apartment. Coop this is Mrs. Quinn she lives 2 floors below us and she occasionally watches my daughter Sophia for me." I introduce the 2 women.

"Mark's apartment huh? Well good Dr. Torres seems it might be time to let that space get some use. It's nice to meet you Dr. Cooper hopefully I will be seeing you around the building. Have a good night." Mrs. Quinn says.

"Please just call me Coop and it was nice to meet you to Mrs. Quinn." Coop replies as Mrs. Quinn leave thru the door.

"I just need to check on Soph really quick and grab her monitor and the keys. Feel free to sit or look around I will be just a minute." I tell Coop

"You have a daughter? Well I'm really glad I didn't try to pick you up. Not only would I have been rejected because you don't do one night stands but you are apparently straight as well. Hhmm….I usually call that better." Coop says, the last part more to herself.

I laugh at the perplex look on her face, "Coop you didn't call it wrong. Just give me a minute and I will explain." I check in on my sleeping beauty and grab her baby monitor. As I exit her room back out to the living room I notice Coop looking at some of my photos. She looks up as I walk over to her. "I assume this is your daughter, she looks just like you, and she is adorable!" Coop states pointing at a picture of Sophia laughing on the swings at the park.

"Yep that is Sophia. She looks like her father as well but the Latin genes are strong so she is a mini me. Are you ready to see the apartment?" I ask as I head towards my door.

"This can wait until tomorrow Callie, I don't want you to feel like you have to leave Sophia while you show me." Coop offers

"It's alright Coop, we aren't going that far. The apartment is right across the hall." I state as I head to Mark's door to open it.

"Oh, you still haven't explained how you have keys? Or anything else." Coop says as she follows me into Mark's apartment.

"I own this apartment and mine that is why I have keys. As far as you calling it right, I date both men and women. Pretty much just women the last few years. Sophia is a long story, abridged version is as follows. Left by the woman who I'm certain was the love my life, sought solace in the bed of my best friend who was a man, got pregnant." I ramble as I turn on some lights. Coop seems to pick up on my need not to talk about it anymore tonight and thankfully lets it go.

"This apartment is amazing Callie. If you are sure and are really interested in renting it to me I would love to take it." Coop states after walking thru the entire apartment.

"Well it looks like I have a new neighbor Dr. Cooper. Welcome to the building!"