'Is it at all feasible that the study of brain scans can make your own brain scan-worthy?'

'Huh?!'

'I mean, hunching over all the VERYsimilar pictures of Herman's head is beginning to hurt my own one.'

Ameila shot Arizona an incredulous but humoured look. 'Are you bored, Dr?'

Arizona, snapping out of her trance, sits upright and coughs gently, preparing to lie to her incredibly focused and awake colleague. They were working together to save someone very important to Arizona, so she couldn't possibly admit to it. Her lie failed her. 'A little bit,' she found herself saying with a slow nod.

Amelia laughed at her, mockingly. 'Forgive me, for not working with you on the most beautiful and majestic brain tumour I think I've ever seen. One that has the potential to kill Dr Herman unless I can intervene – which is looking increasingly probable. Zapping this son-of-a-bitch would be a career breaker for me and you.' She snaps her fingers at the tired doctor opposite her for added effect. 'But no, it's nothing like that. It's just little tiny blobs in a head. So yes, I think it is feasible that your brain is malfunctioning from all this.'

Arizona winces back. 'I'm sorry...' She pushes herself up out of her chair with considerable effort, and skulks up to Amelia with an endearing sheepishness she knows can be beneficially manipulating. Please can we just have a little break? Pleeeeeease? I'm SO needing a break.'

'...from this fascinating and revolutionary case that is unfolding in front of your very eyes...' Ameila offers, a teasing trace in her tone

'From this AWESOME fascinating, revolutionary case that is unfolding in front of my very heavy eyes,' Arizona embellishes.

'Fine. You're right. If I don't stop, I won't stop, and it's better for Herman that I'm rested and that means taking breaks. Right.'

'So, coffee?'

'No, thank you. I think a break is a break. Let's call it a night and head to Joe's.'

Amelia was a quirky one, Arizona was realising. Just when Arizona thinks she knows what's coming, she will take her by surprise. After all that Arizona has been through lately, she is enjoying working so closely with someone fresh, funny and unpredictable. Someone her own age who holds her own and expects nothing from Arizona other than professionally. She is the breath of fresh air that Arizona has been needing. A genuine friendship that is flourishing through their work. Challenging work. Do or die work. And, despite her slump, she quite fancies heading to Joe's with this enigmatic doctor. Why the hell not.

They settle on a couple of bar stools. Arizona places her handbag next to her on the counter while Amelia throws her rucksack on the floor. 'What you having?' Arizona asks her decidedly tomboyish friend.

'Ah, I'd like a nice glass of sparkling water and a hot man to ogle.'

Arizona laughs at Amelia unabashedly. 'The water I can do! The hot guy...I'll definitely help you scout the bar, but my judgement might be a bit off!'

'You have eyes don't you? Your judgement is fine. I'm actually not even that fussy. Oi, barman! Two drinks here,' Amelia demands with the thud of her palms on the bar and a wink. Arizona likes this side of the young Shepherd. When did she get to feisty?! Ameila ends up ordering the drinks for them and leaves a tab behind the bar. For a water drinker, she sure acts like a pro!

'What about him?' Arizona points to a guy at a table behind them. He looks like he might be in his 40s, very dapper and chiselled.

'OK. Judgement fail number one. Three strikes and you're out!' scoffs Ameila.

'What? He looks...'

'Dull as fuck.'

'OK well if I only have two strikes left, I'm gonna hold back for a bit and try to determine your type.'

'Ah yes, the analytical approach. Who is she looking at, what turns her head...I like it. I might try the same on you.'

Arizona winced again at Amelia. Weirdly, all her youthful over-the-top facial expressions seemed to reappear in Amelia's company. She could be silly with her, let her guard down. 'Not lookin' my friend. No siree.' She shakes her head whilst childishly nibbling at the straw of her vodka tonic.

Arizona recollects her life at Hopkins. She barely know Amelia back then but they have since shared some of their student memories from within the same walls. Arizona was wildly ambitious, following her paediatric dream with focus and little flaw. But she also had fun. Being gay, she would find herself frustrated by the amount of straight girls in her world, and so the flirt was born. She became the master of seduction, bedding more of her female classmates than her male counterparts did. She certainly had a reputation – one Amelia knew of? She wasn't sure. She even had a torrid affair with one of her visiting lecturers. What was her name again?

Arizona was brought out of her reverie by a fresh measure of vodka tonic being clumsily set in front of her by Amelia. 'God, your company is riveting right now, Robbins,' she said, dead-pan. 'Penny for them?'

'Uh, no, I was just thinking back to school.'

'I bet. You sure were lookin' then my friend. Yes siree,' she chided.

Arizona playfully punched her sarcastic colleague in the arm and noted that yes, she evidently had been aware of her lascivious past.

Amelia perked up. 'What about that one?' She pointed to a very edgy looking girl in her late twenties with a checked shirt and sporadically shaved head.

'Too young. Too blatant. But good gaydar, Shepherd.'

Amelia laughed. Apparently she liked to tease her co-worker. 'I can spot a good looking girl when I see one,' she cooed. Arizona raised a lone eyebrow and decided to put Amelia to the test. Three strikes and you're out could work both ways! She sipped at her vodka, watching Amelia watching the women in the bar. She appeared to be quite up for the challenge, seemingly enjoying the task of checking these ladies out! Arizona was amused and quite turned on.

'Her. Red top, pint of lager. Big smile. Fabulous breasts.'

Arizona had to admit she was an attractive woman. But more than that, she had to admit that observing her friend exercising her inner gay was a lot more enjoyable, so she said Strike Two. Sorry, too teethy.'

Amelia threw her disbelief at Arizona. 'But she's HOT!'

'Well be my guest, Amelia! I'm sure she'd love to get her hands on you!' Arizona felt a rush to her cheeks. She was actually flirting! Amelia joked that she just might, seeing as Arizona's attempts to pick out a man for her were flailing if not flailed.

'I can see you're getting a kick outta this, Robbins. Wash your filthy mind out.'

Arizona laughed. 'You've one shot left, Shepherd...'

'I guess looking at my own reflection in that mirror across the room is outta the question?' She winked, and the two women laughed. Chomping down on some peanuts, Amelia casually points to a table by the mirror. 'What about that babe sitting over there with Jackson? She might be the one.'

Arizona stood up to get a better look, but although she could see Avery, the woman was facing him and so she couldn't really tell. 'Ask me again when she turns around. Nice body though!'

'Dude, nice? I'd kill for pins like that, although as a doctor I probably shouldn't joke about these things. Oh, particularly, you know...' She gestured awkwardly to Arizona's leg.

'Keep digging Shepherd, and I'll take my leg off and use it as a weapon.'

Arizona loved that their first conversation about her prosthetic was in this jesting manner. After the time she'd had of it – losing Callie – it was about time she could see the lighter side of things. She resumed her state of amusement at Amelia's girl quest. God, she was really straining to check that woman out over there. Even when a handsome admirer approached her, Amelia just brushed him away, peanuts in mouth, maintaining her stake-out. She almost scared Arizona to death when suddenly she grabbed her arm...

'Movement! I see movement! OK check it out, Jackson is standing up. They're both standing up - '

Arizona's eyes remained fixed on Amelia. She hadn't had such a laugh in a while. She was still laughing as Amelia quickly averted her gaze from the far table and swiftly tried to busy herself. 'They're coming this way, and she's a killer. Look normal. Oh God. She's coming right for you...'

At this, Arizona turns around to see this killer find of Amelia's – this third-strike-and-she's-out find – and she almost loses her balance on her barstool as Jackson Avery and Lauren Boswell appear right in front of her.

'Arizona Robbins,' Lauren beams. It's been over a year.

'Lauren.' Arizona barely managed a whisper, her voice lost deep inside of her, a place where she got lost to this woman once before.

'No shit?' Amelia, dumbfounded, blurts out from her spectator's seat. 'You already know each other?'

The two blonde women locked hazel and blue in a look of a thousand feelings. Shock...confusion...incredulity...suppression...lust...desire...craving...

Jackson intervened 'Robbins, I flew Dr Boswell up here to discuss contracts. I think she'd be a real asset to the hospital, and I'm really excited about the move.'

Still locking eyes with the stunning blonde peds surgeon, Lauren spoke through her warm smile. 'I haven't signed anything yet, Dr Avery.'

'Will you?' Arizona inquired, her voice beginning to come back to life

'Please do,' quipped Amelia. 'I don't know you yet, but I'm already a huge fan.'

Jackson again interrupted the scene to continue his and Lauren's exit. They were heading out to dinner to talk further on the matter. Lauren threw on her jacket Oh my god, she's sexy thought Arizona, and smiled at the women over her shoulder as she followed Dr Avery to the door. 'Nice to meet you,' she glowed to Amelia, before looking to her one-time lover, her most delicious of trysts, her Arizona.

'Always a pleasure to meet you too.'

And she was gone.