Chapter 1

Charming, witty and funny Callie Torres is in the hospital staff's good books. Well, if you made the great Mark Sloan cry, why wouldn't you be, right? What happens when the perky and equally charming Peds surgeon falls for the commitment phobe resident?

Disclaimer: I don't own Grey's Anatomy, Shonda does :P

Mark Sloan, Teddy Altman, Arizona Robbins and Owen Hunt look on with mastered subtlety at the group of residents a few cafeteria tables away from them. To anyone else, the activity they're looking at is rather mundane and irrelevant (which it really is, to be honest) - but it's not the what nor the why of it all.

No, it isn't.

Their attention is on the second-year resident surrounded by her fellow residents. It's easy to pick her out amongst the group, seeing as she sits at the corner, holding court while her colleagues hang on to her every word about God knows what.

"I think she's my soulmate." The words are out of Mark Sloan's mouth the moment Callie Torres receives a rousing laughter from the other residents, causing the three other attendings to choke on their drinks. Slightly offended, the Plastics head glares at his 'friends' before gazing back at the recent object of his affection. The resident's dark brown hair is in loose curls spiraling down her back and around her neck perfectly.

"I'm sorry, Mark, but that is the most ridiculous thing that I've ever heard to have come out of your mouth." Teddy shakes her head in disbelief. "And believe me, there were lots of ridiculous things I've heard from you. But this one tops it all."

"I'm serious! You people would not get off my back; pestering me to grow up and stop sleeping around. Guess what? This is it. I'm ready. She's exactly what I've been looking for all this time. Great mind. Great personality." He trails on dreamily. "Bats for both teams. Great skills on and off the -"

"Oh beat it Sloan." The Peds surgeon huffs indignantly. "You went out on a date two weeks ago. She told you she just wants to stay friends with you. Please tell me you get the message loud and clear because if you don't, then you're more stupid than you look." Arizona lets out through gritted teeth, eyeing the resident from the corner of her eyes.

"I agree. Besides, isn't she with Karev or someone else?" Owen interjects.

"Hey! She's not officially with anyone." He raises his hands in mock surrender. "But fear not, my dear friends. I have already sent my boy to change her mind. You see, her and Avery are good friends. And he has never failed me. So just watch, because in a few minutes, he'll saunter to our table and tell me that she wants another date. Trust me. I'm Mark Sloan." He smirks cockily as the four of them eye the resident once again as Jackson Avery whispers something in her ear. They watch with anticipation as Torres cocks her head to the side, smiling softly at Sloan's protege before muttering something to him. "Okay guys, play it cool. Avery's coming." Sloan clears his throat and adjusts his scrub top, a confident smile on his face.

"Maybe not." Owen raises his brow, almost bouncing in his chair with controlled excitement as the resident in question gets up from her table and casually strides towards theirs. If the things he has heard about Callie Torres are true, then what's about to take place will be freaking epic.

"Dr. Sloan?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we talk?" Callie whispers, eyes darting from one attending to another.

"You can say whatever you want to say, Callie."

"Uh. It's not exactly cafeteria material -."

"The more you should say it now." He smirks. The resident nods awkwardly and before he knows it, Callie is squatting on the floor next to him.

"You know that thing everyone's always talking about?" Callie asks lowly, making sure that other people can't hear her.

"I think I do." The older doctor answers, wiggling his brows. "But humor me. What thing, Callie?"

"That thing that makes everyone feel good inside?" Callie states, oblivious to the surprised reactions of the other attendings in the table.

Callie slowly and impatiently blinks, sucking in a breath before continuing, "That feeling that nothing can go wrong because you're feeling really good and it would be a crime for something on the contrary to happen? You know, that burning feeling at the pit of your stomach because everything just feels right?"

"Huh." Mark Sloan's forehead creases in confusion. "Is this what I think it is? Because I'm not sure -"

"But then something bad does happen. And we all know it's going to happen sooner or later," Callie adds. "But we push it far, far back in the recesses of our mind, hoping it doesn't find its way out of the door and ruin our day."

"Torres..." He fidgets in his chair, his breathing starting to get ragged.

"Some people consider this thing a myth. But I'm actually one of those few people who kind of believe in it." Callie rolls her eyes at herself, looking at a winded Mark Sloan. "And if you're a one dimensional thinker, or if you have a one-track mind like Dr. Bailey's old, perverted neighbor, you're probably thinking that I am talking about sex."

The Plastics head crosses his arms over his chest. "Tor-"

"Or," Callie interrupts him, tracing the edge of the table. "If you're like my dear, dear friend Cristina, you're probably thinking that I'm talking about the heart. Like, literally. The organ itself -"

"Torres, please -"

"Which I'm not," she raises her hands with a shrug. "I'm not talking about that." She snorts.

"You're not talking about sex?"

"No. Of course not, Dr. Sloan. I'm talking about something that is close to being extinct." She huffs under her breath, "For some it's just a fantasy, but not to me. So -."

"I'm afraid I'm not following, Torres. And since you're not talking about sex, why don't you enlighten me on what you're really trying to say?"

"I'm talking about the friendship between a man and a woman, Dr. Sloan." She breathes out, beaming - only to frown in disappointment when she sees that the older doctor doesn't seem to get what she's talking about. "You don't get it." She pouts.

"I'm afraid I don't -."

"It's cool. When I was younger, I spoke in a language I made up for a week. Nobody understood me. So I'm totally used to that blank stare you're giving me right now. Though I was hoping you'll be smarter than those people seeing as you're an attending and -."

"Was that a no? To the date, I mean?"

"We could hang out. I mean, as friends. I honestly think we could be great friends, Dr. Sloan. Notwithstanding the fact that you're old enough to be my father or -."

"Stop talking. Please stop talking." He cuts off the resident as his colleagues could not stop themselves from laughing at such a heart-wrenching statement.

"Sorry. All I'm saying is, you're awesome. Both in and out of, you know..." Callie allows her eyes to dart towards the other attendings in the table, hoping they did not get her drift. "And I do really enjoy your company. But I do believe, without an iota of doubt, that we'll be even more awesome as friends. We could be bestfriends! Think about it. But more than that? We're a train wreck waiting to happen." She shrugs.

"Get lost, Torres." He orders, jaw clenching.

"Mark, come on." Teddy chastises him gently.

"Are you deaf, Torres? I said get lost." He spats, trying to keep his emotions in check.

"I get it. Again, I'm sorry." And with that, she leaves without so much of a backward glance, leaving the three surgeons in shock, and the other in humiliation.

"I take it you got the message -."

"Shut up Robbins -."

"Are you crying, Sloan?" Teddy asks, wide-eyed.

"I - I'm n-not!" The head of plastics unceremoniously stands up from his seat, fists clenched. Before any of his friends could further comment, he storms out of the cafeteria leaving Arizona, Teddy and Owen completely speechless.

"Did he just -."

"Was he..."

"Yes. To both of your questions." Owen nods, himself weirded out at what he just witnessed. "Wow."

All mistakes are mine.

I don't know how long (or short) this story will be. I'm looking at 10 chapters at most.