Callie being there for Arizona during Herman's surgery. 11x14.
"She's in my head," Arizona whispered. "But I'm..." she tried to hold back her tears, tilting her head back, hoping that gravity would work in her favor. "I am not ready for my head to be the only place that she exists."
She looked at Callie and allowed herself to be vulnerable for the first time in months. She was so scared and was just grateful that someone—anyone— was there. But, she was particularly grateful that it was Callie.
Without thinking, Callie slowly plodded over to the couch. She couldn't handle seeing Arizona like this. She felt this innate need to hold her, protect her, even though she knew she shouldn't.
She sat down, leaving a few inches between them. I just need to be here, she thought. I'll just sit with her for a while.
But, Arizona kept crying softly, and surprisingly, didn't move away.
Hesitantly, Callie grabbed her hand and enfolded it in her own, wanting to give the woman any comfort she could.
The second she felt Arizona's skin, she felt her body instantly relax. Every bone in her body went soft. She let out an unintentional sigh of relief.
Arizona felt it, too. In that first instant, just in that moment when they first touched, everything was okay. She relaxed into Callie, setting her head down on her shoulder.
Is this okay? Callie wondered with disbelief. She wasn't sure how to respond, but she knew what she wanted to do. After a moment of deliberation, she reciprocated and tilted her head onto Arizona's, caressing her hand with light, feathery circles.
They sat like that, silently, as the hours dragged on. Meredith had promised to page Callie if the surgery went south, but she hadn't yet, which was a good sign. It was getting late, though, and eventually, Callie wanted to pick up Sofia so that the little girl could sleep in her own bed. Maybe she could call the babysitter with the unibrow—what was her name? Claudia?—to pick Sof up and stay with her. Thinking Arizona was finally at peace and asleep, she moved to reach for her phone.
Arizona unwillingly clasped her hand. She hadn't been asleep. She was just thinking. Thinking about the reality of Nicole dying. Thinking about the decisions she might have to make. Thinking about how impossible those decisions were.
"Oh, hey," Callie whispered, sitting back down. "You're awake."
"Yeah," Arizona tried to smile. It didn't reach her eyes.
"I was just going to call unibrow girl to ask if she could pick up Sof. I don't want you to be here alone."
This earned Callie a small smile. "You mean Claudia?"
"Yeah, yeah." Callie chuckled.
"Hey, don't you have a surgery to get to soon?" Arizona asked.
Callie looked at the time on her pager. "Not until Herman's finishes. I'm waiting on the OR. So, until then, what do you need? Can I get you some food?"
Arizona made a face. There was no way she could hold anything down tonight. After a second, she shyly looked up at Callie, who was standing up now with her phone in hand. "If you're not busy, you being here helps. Just having someone here...it helps."
Callie pursed her lips. She wished there was more she could do. "Okay. I'll be right back. Just let me go make this call to Claudia." She pointedly enunciated the sitter's real name, earning another small smile from the blonde.
The two women had been anxiously sitting for another two hours before Meredith finally slid the lounge's door open.
Arizona and Callie quickly stood up, standing tall and preparing for the worst possible news.
Arizona clasped Callie's strong hand, terrified. Gently, Callie squeezed, letting her know she was there.
"Hey." Meredith paused. "Arizona, Amelia pulled it off. She did great. Herman's in recovery in room 215. She's in a coma, but she's alive."
"Oh my God," Arizona exclaimed, relieved. She finally let out the breath she had been holding and headed straight for her mentor's room. She wanted to be there when she woke up.
Meredith looked at Callie, whose eyes followed Arizona as she fled the room.
"Thank God," Callie exhaled.