As the normal buzz of medical chatter and heated discussions hummed loudly through the cafeteria, a different, more upbeat tone was added to the mix. It was only one week out from the Valentines charity gala, and this year, matchmaker Maranda Bailey was leading the Lover's Lane Match-Up. Match making wasn't something that Dr. Bailey normally showed interest in, but this year, she was determined to find the perfect match for her dejected best friend Dr. Callie Torres. Callie had been through a lot this past year and Maranda was determined to show her that good people in the world still do exist. One bad relationship after another led Callie down a path of uncertainty about finding true love and what she really wanted in life. She had sworn off dating and just wanted to be alone this year to really find herself.
"What are you doing sitting all by yourself in this crowded cafeteria? You are taking up a whole table for your sulking ass." Maranda snapped at Callie, half serious, half concerned. She peered into her dark chocolate eyes seeing a reflection of defeat piece through them.
"…hmmm? Oh, right. I….uh…" Callie searched around the room, not even realizing the normal lunch crowd was gathering in the cafeteria. She had been sitting at this table for almost an hour wondering what went wrong in her four hour hip replacement that caused a 32 year old male to go into cardiac arrest. A normal hip replacement that she could do in her sleep could possibly be the reason for this poor man's death.
Sitting down abruptly next to Callie, Maranda through a sandwich over to the distraught female. "Here. Eat this. You will feel better."
Holding the tightly cellophane wrapped turkey sandwich in her hand, she once again peered up to meet Maranda's gaze. "Thanks Bailey." She could see the evident concern in her eyes and knowing that Maranda wouldn't leave without some kind of explanation for her recent absences at events. And at work, Maranda often found Callie by herself, wanting to be alone. "I'm sorry I haven't been around lately. I have just been studying so much for my boards next week and I have been overloaded with surgeries now that Dr. Brentwood left and honestly, I am just not sure I am ready to be around people again." After her last confession, Callie immediately glanced back down at the crusty looking sandwich she grasped in her hand.
"We all have bad things happen to us but that doesn't mean you have to stop being you. You have been moping around here for six months now Callie, and I am worried about you!" Maranda softened her voice to show Callie that she was deeply concerned with her wellbeing. "I want you to know that I am here for you to talk if you want." Switching her tone to become more upbeat, "And I also want you to know that I am entering your name into the Lover's Lane Match-Up." Maranda quickly and cheerfully slid her last comment into their conversation.
Callie's eyes widened "No! I am not going. I told you Maranda, I have to study." Truth was, Callie just didn't want to be paired with another guy who was just going to break her heart, one more time.
Knowing this would be her reaction, Maranda pushed the issue further. "Everyone in the hospital goes. This could finally be your chance to move on. To forget about what's his name." She knew this would only enrage Callie more so she added "And besides, I am in charge this year so I get to make the matches!" She glared over at Callie now looking stunned that her friend would even put her in this situation.
"I said I am not going. Whoever you match me with will just be disappointed that their date didn't show up." A spark of rage flooded through Callie's veins. She could feel her heart pounding through her chest like it was about to be ripped out at any minute. She couldn't take another let down, another rejections. Her last relationship ended poorly when she found her fiancé in bed with one of the nurses from the ICU. Arriving home late from a surgery instead of sleeping in the on-call room she opened up her bedroom door to find the two of them in bed together. Even though they knew Callie was standing in the doorway, they continued fucking in front of Callie yelling "It's too good to stop." Callie stood in the doorway, too shocked to move. This man had promised his life to her by asking her to marry him and yet he couldn't keep his hands off another woman. When they finished, the girl her fiancé was fucking walked up to her and hissed "Sorry you had to find out like this. He was tired of fucking your sorry ass" as she walked out of the room. That was the night she started sleeping in the on-call rooms at work. Callie was convinced she had done something wrong and that it was her fault that he was sleeping with other people. She just couldn't get over feeling unwanted, disgusting, and emotionally drained.
Maranda knew getting Callie to the event would be tough but she was determined. She understood Callie wanted a break from dating and didn't want to push that issue but she did know that Callie needed some new friends. "Look, I know you aren't looking to date anyone and I know your feelings about men right now. Just think of this as a fun night out with some new friends. You are coming with me and my date."
Before Callie had a chance to open her mouth to once again to let Maranda know that she wasn't coming, Maranda walked away from the table with a grin on her face that stretched ear to ear. She had a plan and was determined to not let anything stand in her way.
Shaking her head at her friend in amazement she decided it was time to face the rest of her day. She had a few surgeries left and was determined to try to do something good today. She felt a sudden sense of happiness that Maranda would take the time to actually help Callie get over her funk that she was in. "Maybe a date to the gala would do me some good" she thought to herself. Walking through the main surgical floor and making her way down to the pediatric unit for a consult, Callie turned the bend and crashed into a tiny blonde with a smile that could light up the room. "Oh I am so sorry Arizona. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." Callie felt terrible looking at Arizona's white lab coat with fresh coffee stains down the side. This was the second time she ran into someone today. It was beginning to seem like nothing could go right for her.
Arizona smiled and tilted her head just slightly in concern. "It's okay Callie. Is everything alright?" She could see Callie had been deep in thought and slightly frustrated. Callie and Arizona were decent friends. They often performed surgeries together on Arizona's tiny humans and participated in the same after-work events at Joe's Bar across the street. They never really spent time together on their own but they often stayed at Joe's until last call, laughing and carrying on. "I haven't really seen you around lately." A sense of disappointment cut through the conversation like a knife.
"I…um." Callie hesitated. "I'm okay. I have just been studying so much for my boards that I guess I have just lost track of time." Callie had been studying for her boards but the truth was that she just didn't want to get close to anyone so that she didn't have to get hurt again.
"I understand. The boards can certainly be stressful." Arizona knew what had happened to Callie after she drunkenly spilled the beans on her failed engagement one late night at Joe's. She had hoped to be able to spend more time with Callie to help her through this tough time but Callie stopped coming to events and was hard to track down at the hospital. "Are you going to the Valentine's day gala?"
Twice in one day this dreaded event was brought up in conversation Callie thought to herself. "Maranda wants to set me up with someone but I don't think I am going to go. I have to study. I told her it just wouldn't be fair to let that person know they have a date and for me to just not show."
Arizona could feel the distraught tone in her voice. She knew Maranda could be pushy but she also knew that it would take a miracle to make Callie come out of her shell. "I am not so keen on going either but I kind of have to go since this year's charity is for the pediatric unit. I am the key note speaker and it would be highly frowned upon if I didn't attend." She was glad her service was selected this year and all of the proceeds would go towards her new pediatric unit but that also meant a speech and flaunting her date around like a ping pong ball. She wasn't really ready to date again and she felt like this whole idea of setting people up with random dates from the hospital could only lead to trouble. "Maranda will probably set me up with some high energy chatterbox that I will have to try to ditch the entire night." She chuckled at the thought.
"Well, have a great time with that. So sorry I won't be there to witness it." Callie finally managed to crack a slight smile and a barely audible laugh. Arizona always made her feel at ease with any situation and she certainly needed a pick-me-up today. "We better get into surgery. Brant Adams needs a new leg!"
"Maranda! Maranda Bailey where are you?" Callie stormed through the attending lounge. She had received her Lover's Lane Valentine's gala match in her mail cubby this morning and she was absolutely furious. Turning the corner to see Maranda calmly sipping on her morning coffee and reading the newspaper she tossed the piece of paper with her match on it down on the table. "I told you I wasn't going and now she is going to be stood up by her friend on one of the biggest nights of her career."
Glancing down at the piece of paper barely open to show the word "Robbins" on it she looked back up and smiled at Callie. "I know you said you didn't want a date so think of this as a way to reconnect with one of your good friends." She was so proud of how she trapped Callie into going to the gala. She knew that neither of the two ladies wanted to really date right now and both of them were not interested in an evening that felt forced. This was a way for everyone to win.
"Maranda I…" before Callie could finish Arizona came through the door and up to where Maranda and Callie were.
"I see we are dates to the gala!" Joy poured from her lips and her face was glowing. "I actually get to enjoy myself for once this year! I am so glad you decided to go after all!" Arizona had no idea that moments ago, Callie was upset with Maranda for matching the two of them together, forcing Callie to attend.
Callie thought quietly to herself as the blonde hammered on about what she was thinking of wearing and how the event was now going to be stress free. She knew she had to go because she didn't want to disappoint the evident ecstatic blonde. Maybe this is what she needed she thought to herself. Maybe a carefree night, no strings attached date was what she needed. The thought and the blonde's rambling put a smile on Callie's face that had been absent for far too long. "I couldn't let you be stuck with some high energy chatterbox."
Hearing the words that she and Callie shared the other day sent warmth to her heart. She remembered Arizona thought to herself. She is becoming the old Callie again. Arizona and Callie locked eyes and shared a gaze that only Maranda noticed as love and lust for one another.
Realizing what she had just saw, Maranda cleared her throat and decided to throw some fun into the conversation. "Don't just stand there you two love birds. Go finish up your day and get ready for the gala tomorrow." Maranda winked at Callie as she let herself out of the attending lounge.
A sense of embarrassment flashed through both of their eyes as they realized they were caught sharing a gaze that sent sparks through their veins. "Are you sure you don't mind going to the gala with me? I know you have to study for your test and you weren't planning on going. I just…when I saw your name, I was just so happy that I didn't have to pretend to like some guy for the night. I mean its fine, I can go by myself..." Arizona nervously started rambling. Did she really just share a romantic stare with another woman? Did this woman really want to go with her to the gala? Was she overthinking this? Was this night going to be like every other year? Thoughts continued to swirl through her head.
Finding courage in her heart, she knew she couldn't let this woman down. Arizona was looking forward to actually enjoying an evening with someone that wouldn't end up breaking her heart at the end of the night or using her for sex. Cutting Arizona off, a smiling Callie responded with a feeling of excitement in her voice "I would love to go with you Arizona." She reached out and grabbed Arizona's hand. Electricity ran through their intertwined fingers. They once again stared deep into each other's eyes. "I will pick you up tomorrow around 6:30. Does that work for you?" Her heart started racing as she felt Arizona's palm beneath her own.
Arizona nodded slightly, unsure of what just happened between her and Callie.
Continuing her bout of confidence, "This is your big night and you deserve it. I want it to go great and we will be the best couple there!" Callie smiled again. She couldn't believe how her mood had changed. It was a breath of fresh air to feel some comfortable with someone and not have to worry. "Looking forward to it." And with that, she slowly let go of Arizona's hand and walked out into the hall.
Hearing the click of the door shut behind Callie, Arizona stood in the middle of the attending lounge alone. It was eerily quiet, only the faint sound of a heart monitor beeping behind the closed door. Something happened between her and Callie just then and it really scared her. She knew that Callie had felt it too when she gazed into her eyes. What started out to be a night out with a good friend might have just turned into a date with a beautiful woman. Before this time she never thought of Callie in that way. Although she never thought of any woman that way. She had only ever dated men and every relationship that she had it in the past turned out poorly. Especially her last one... She let her mind wander just for a moment to the night she could never forget. Shaking her head at the painful memories that rekindled themselves in her mind she focused her attention back to the gorgeous brunette that she would be sharing her evening with. She once again felt nervous.