I will not yield

I will not fail

I will eat dynamite

And one day I will explode

Like a volcano

- Patrick Galvin

Arizona sipped on her beer and glanced around the bar. It was by no means the worst bar she'd been in, but she had a hard time picturing Miranda Bailey in an establishment like this. Would she really sit at the bar knocking back tequila shots and peanuts like those two women at the bar? Their behavior alone made Arizona question if this was the right place. Arizona checked her watch once again. If her time as a marine had given her anything it was punctuality: she was always early. She would wait a little longer for Mandy to arrive.

She ordered another beer and watched the two women at the bar. They sure knew how to drink tequila. Arizona was tempted to join them. She glanced around the bar, taking in the occupants of different tables. It was just getting busy, and Arizona noted a few people eyeing the corner booth she had claimed for herself. She glared back as she finished her beer – her impatience getting the best of her.

"Meet me at The Emerald City Bar. 8.30pm." Arizona muttered as she grabbed her coat and glanced at the clock on the far wall. 8.45pm. She turned back to her booth and left some cash on the table. "Emerald City Bar. 8.30pm."

"Are you about walk out on me?" Arizona recognized the voice immediately and turned around, with a wide smile.

"Mandy!" Arizona immediately embraced the smaller women in a warm hug.

"I have missed you child."

"You still smell the same." Arizona mumbled into Miranda Baileys shoulder. She was immediately reminded of a time that had long since passed and it relaxed her instantly. She thought back to her childhood – days on her families ranch, the mischief she and Tim would get themselves into, Mandy chasing them around the house and chastising their wild behavior. "But I think you've shrunk a little. You don't seem half as scary as you used to."

"Arizona Robbins. Get off me." Miranda laughed, trying to pull away, despite Arizona's resistance. "Its so good to see you."

Eventually Arizona let go, and she noticed they were not alone. To Miranda's left there was a tall, sandy blonde haired woman. She cocked her head to the side trying, and failing to, place the women.

"Arizona, this Dr. Altman. She served in Iraq as a trauma surgeon before coming to here in Seattle. I thought she could join us this evening." Arizona took a step back. Miranda hadn't mentioned anyone else joining them.

"Lance Corporal Robbins. It's an honor to meet you." Dr. Altman extended her hand. Arizona studied it briefly before grasping it as firmly as she could manage. "Please call me Teddy."

Arizona released her hand.

"Its short for Theodora. But only my father calls me that." The woman smiled. The smile was genuine but there was sadness in her eyes, one that Arizona recognized. She turned to look at Miranda, wondering why she had invited this doctor to join them.

"Meet me at The Emerald City Bar. 8.30pm." Arizona muttered to herself, repeating the message she had received from Miranda. She noticed the look of guilt on her friends face. This was some kind of set up, no doubt engineered by the women before her and her own mother. There was no mention about someone joining them this evening. "Meet me. You never-"

"Arizona!" Miranda interrupted before gently instructing her to sit down. Arizona did as instructed and returned to the seat she had just vacated. She left her coat on the seat next to her, clearly marking the chair as off limits.

"I'll go get us some drinks. Bailey, what can I get you?" Teddy offered. She had clearly been briefed on the behavior her presence would provoke.

"A glass of red wine please."

"Lance Corporal Robbins?"

"I can buy my own drink." Arizona said, not even bothering to look at Teddy.

"Arizona Robbins. I taught you better than that. She'll have a cherry soda. Put an umbrella in it – seeing as she's decided she wants to behave like a five year old." Teddy nodded and headed straight for the bar.

"I can buy my own drink." Arizona repeated, before noticing the look Miranda was giving her. "I don't know her. She doesn't have to buy me a drink. I can buy my own. I'm not a charity case."

"No one said that. Now stop pouting and listen to me. Altman is a good person; she's kind hearted, a little lonely and new to Seattle. Sound familiar?" Arizona nodded, arguing with Miranda never worked - she'd learnt that many years ago. "Good. Now you will be polite. You will make small talk. And maybe, just maybe, Dr. Altman might agree to be your friend."

"I don't want a friend."

"Well your mother wants you to get one."

"I knew she put you up to this. I have friends." Arizona fumed. It wasn't enough that her parents were effectively holding her hostage. Now they were seemingly arranging play dates for her too.

"Good, I'm glad. Another one won't hurt." Arizona resisted the urge to mutter a riposte. Instead she just looked to her lap. "Now promise me you will be give Dr. Altman a chance."

"I've got nothing against her. I don't know her and I don't want to."

"Arizona, your mother is concerned for you. She is your mother and I can assure you she only has your best interests at heart. As do I."

"I know."

"Then stop pouting. I invited Altman because I happen to know she has a spare bedroom, which she is looking to rent out."

"Really?"

"Yes. Now given your history and my glowing recommendation, I believe she would definitely consider you as a potential room mate." There was a knowing smile on the surgeons face. Arizona had been living with her parent since arriving in Seattle a month ago and it was slowly driving her crazy. Her mother was constantly fussing over her, while her father could barely look at her. "Just don't tell Barbara this was my idea."

When Teddy returned to the table, Arizona thanked her for the drink and as Miranda asked her how she was finding Seattle since moving. Teddy had joined the army as a surgeon following 9/11 and the death of her best friend. She'd been convinced to work in Seattle by the hospitals Head of Trauma, and was now working as the Head of Cardiothoracic surgery. Arizona was sure Miranda already knew all this and she seemed to be watching her reaction to parts of Teddy's past. Arizona offered a few tight smiles – although she was genuinely impressed by this women's story.

"Isn't that impressive Arizona?" Miranda asked as Teddy spoke about the surgical training Teddy still provided to army medics before they were shipped out. Arizona nodded. Anyone who volunteered to serve was brave, but the fact that Teddy put herself on the front lines to save the lives of hurt soldiers was nothing sort of heroic. Even now, she was still helping. Why this woman felt it was an honor to meet her was beyond Arizona. She didn't have time to ponder the thought, as one of the tequila girls from the bar approached the table.

"Dr. Bailey, Dr. Altman, Weird blonde" She greeted them, slightly swaying. "Could I borrow Dr. Bailey for a second. Bambi disagrees with my approach. He's in favor of open surgery. I know its because he doesn't have the skill for laparoscopic. I need you to tell him I'm right."

"Yang, go away!"

"Dr. Bailey. If he was to be paged now, he would risk post surgical complications."

"Yang – I am not Dr. Bailey right now. Leave me alone." Miranda ordered.

"Torres and Izzie are biased. You have to settle this."

"It alright Bailey. Arizona and I will manage without you for a few moments." Arizona nodded in agreement. If she was going to live with this women, they would have to be left alone at some stage.

"Yang I am calling you a taxi." With that Miranda left the table and dragged Yang with her. Arizona watched as she marched over to another table, with a large group crowded around it.

"They're a strange bunch, a little family. Baileys like a mother to them all." Teddy said as they watched Bailey help Yang leave. Yang seemed to be resisting and arguing with the others. "She's a mother figure. She won't admit it, but she cares. So she'll look after them, look out for them. She'll make them come meet random doctors in bars."

"I don't want or ask for any help." Arizona snapped before she could stop herself. She took a deep breath. "Sorry I didn't mean to snap. I'm not a charity case. I just don't like being tricked or mislead."

"I get it. I read about you. I can't imagine what it must have been like. But this isn't about that…I'm alone. I work in that hospital with all those people." She pointed at the group Miranda knew. "They are all doctors at the hospital. I've been there two months. I work I go home, I sleep, and then I work some more. Bailey is the first colleague to ask me out for a drink after work. I'm the charity case."

"What about the trauma guy who told you to come here? Don't you hang out with him?" Arizona asked.

"We're not talking - I told him I was in love with him. So now he's avoiding me." Teddy downed the remainder of her drink. "This is the part where you tell me something unpleasant about you. Even the playing field."

"I don't talk to my best friend either. He's dead." Arizona finished her drink.

"I guess you win." Teddy said looking Arizona straight in the eye.

"I always win." Arizona replied instantly.

"Typical marine."

"Excuse me." Arizona bristled at Teddy's comment.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist. My point is I get it, kind of. I understand enough to leave you alone if that what you want. I'm not going to treat you like some creature at the zoo. We all have our shit. All I ask is that you don't leave yours lying around, no late night parties and you let me know if you're having a overnight guest."

"What?"

"I'm sure Bailey told you that I have an extra room."

"Yes."

"Its yours if you want it."

"Really?"

"On one condition." Teddy looked at her straight in the eye. "You have to come out with me once a week. It might be lunch, dinner, a movie. I've been meaning to check out the space needle."

Arizona looked around for Bailey, who was now escorting her friend to the exit, and making slow progress.

"Like a date night?" Arizona downed the remainder of her drink nervously.

"Oh my god, no. Sorry. This has come out wrong. I'm asking you to be my friend. Once a week - be my friend."

"Okay."

Teddy wrote down the address and they agreed to meet up on her next day off, in order for Arizona to look around and make a final decision. Teddy insisted on buying another round of drinks to celebrate.

Arizona followed the older women to the bar. They ordered two shots of Bourbon and a beer each and turned their backs to the bar as Miranda escorted her friends out of the bar. The two women who had been knocking back tequila were now paying the price. A beautiful woman, who looked exhausted by the situation, was holding up Yang. Arizona could see Miranda scolding both women, which elicited a stunning smile from her beautiful acquaintance.

"Whose that helping Miranda?" She hadn't meant to ask.

"That's Callie Torres. Or Callie O'Malley. She goes by Dr. Torres in work. She's married to George O'Malley – the short guy sitting at the table. They're both residents at the hospital."

"She's married to him?" That did not make sense. The woman was a goddess. Tanned skin, a striking figure, beautiful eyes and the kind of smile that takes your breath away. Indeed Arizona realized she wasn't breathing instead she was noticeably ogling a stranger. If that wasn't embarrassing enough Teddy had noticed.

"I'm going to bathroom. I'll be back in a moment. You can…" Teddy stopped searching for the right words. Arizona could see here debating her next word, debating whether or not to test their both fragile and new friendship. Then she smiled. " - watch Torres some more. I'm sure Bailey will be back in a few minutes anyway."

"I wasn't watching her."

"Fine you were scouting the room. How many exits?

"Main entrance, side fire escape, two ground floor window and three unknown doors."

"You marines never switch off." Teddy chuckled, as Miranda approached them with the other tequila girl. "I look forward to rounds tomorrow Dr. Grey."

"You two seem to be getting along." Miranda noted as Teddy walked away.

"Yeah I guess."

"Keep an eye on Dr. Grey for a minute. I'm going to go and call her fool of a husband." Arizona nodded and helped the women onto the nearest stool. She immediately slumped forward and rested her head on the bar.

"Grey this is Arizona. Stay with her for a few minutes." Miranda just shook her head and walked away.

Arizona ordered a pint of water and another beer for herself. The bartender had just presented her beer when Dr. Grey seemed to wake up and tried to get to her feet. Before Arizona could reach out to steady her, a man standing nearby had wrapped an arm around her.

"Wow there lady. Everything okay?" He smiled and Arizona watched his hand stayed on her lower back even as she found her balance.

"I'm leaving. My person left. So…" She trailed off briefly. "I'm going to go find my McDreamy."

"A McDreamy?" the guy asked.

"At home, in my bed." Arizona would have laughed at the slurred statement, this woman was seemingly a doctor. Although Arizona knew everyone had to let loose once in a while.

"I can give you a ride. My cars outside." He offered but Arizona could tell by the smell from him, he was too inebriated to drive.

"No thanks." Dr. Grey smiled. She moved to step away but he quickly swung her back to him.

"Awh come on babe. Let me buy you another tequila. The nights still young." He once again tried to settle his hand onto her hip, but Dr. Grey shrugged him off once again. Arizona noticed the irritated look on her face.

"She said no." Arizona had had enough of this guy.

"Thanks for your input Barbie." He ignored her tried to usher Dr. Grey away but she shrugged his arm off her shoulder.

"Get off me McSmelly."

"Hey, I think you better leave her alone." Arizona ordered.

"Well no ones asking you." He once again ignored her request, and clumsily turned back to Dr. Grey who was looking through her purse. Arizona saw his hand trail below her lower back, and watched as he opened his mouth with a smirk, his next word on the tip of his tongue.

Then his expression morphed into one of surprise as Arizona's hand gripped the back of his neck. She quickly pulled him back and away from Dr. Grey, before slamming his head forward and onto the bar counter.

"Well I'm telling you."