A/N: I actually started to write this story ages ago – but I got caught up with my other story and never really got far. But since I have reached a stand-still with 'The enlistment' I started working on this. Mark takes quite a beating in the story – mainly cuz I can't believe how the season 7 storyline went. Oh, and as usual, not beta.

A knock at the door breaks the silence within the house. It's usual for the Grey residence to be so quiet, everyone's either working or sleeping. Callie found herself living here after the end of another relationship. Due to the subletters in her apartment, a new place of residence was required. Although initially living with Mark, Callie had decided that living with him wasn't beneficial for either of them since he and Lexie had resumed their relationship. As happy as she was for Mark, surrounded by all that happiness wasn't really her thing, not any more anyway. And frankly, Lexie was kind of irritating, she was annoyingly perky and had the insane need to always talk about her feelings. Callie had moved into Alex's room as he now resided at the trailer in the woods, claiming he needed more privacy. Hearing Meredith answer the door and briefly talk to the person, Callie doesn't even bother to move from her position for lying on her bed. It's not like the visitor is going to be for her anyway.

'Callie door' rings out through the house as Meredith stands at the front door, yelling up the stairs. Pulling herself upright, Callie heads down the stairs to her front door. The visitor remains unknown with her back to the door and the collar of her coat turned up.

'I'll leave you two to talk' Meredith says as she heads back into the sitting room, where she had been sitting on the couch with April. April is simply staring with an open mouth at whoever the guest is. Callie, finally raising her eyes to observe the guest sees blonde hair shining in the light. Realising who it is, she misses a stair and nearly tumbles down the remaining flight of visitor turns around and bright blue eyes stare into the depth of her eyes. Not quite believing who is standing at the entrance of the house, Callie simply stares.

'Hey, so picture this…'

'We can talk outside' Callie butts in, not wanting the peanut gallery in the other room to hear whatever is going to come out of the blonde's mouth.

Stepping outside and closing the door behind her, Callie turns and faces the person who she never expected to see again, at least not for another three years. Stopping the words from flowing out of her mouth, Callie cuts her off before she can even start her speech. If it's one thing that Callie learnt from her relationship with Arizona, it's that the blonde can give speeches like no one's business.

'What are you doing here?' Callie says in a harsh voice.

'I came to see you, to explain that I made the biggest mistake of my life' Arizona replies as she steps towards Callie invading her personal space. 'I had this speech prepared, which I practiced on the plane, but seeing you again, the words, I can't remember them. I love you, and I made a huge mistake but you have to understand that I can back, for you.'

'Well, you shouldn't have, please, just go back to Malawi.' Deciding to end the conversation there, Callie turns and re-enters the house, closing the door behind her. She's worried she'll sprout some romantic crap at Arizona, or worse mention what or who she's be doing. She refuses to acknowledge the sob that escapes Arizona's mouth. Standing in the entrance of the house, Callie runs a hand through her shortened hair, her thought running a mile a minute. Walking past the sitting room she sees the peanut gallery is staring at her. Deciding that a stiff drink is in order, 'Any tequila in this house Christina'. If anyone is to know where the alcohol is, it's Christina.

'Yeah give me a sec.' With that Christina leaves the room and April decided to break the somewhat awkward silence.

'So, Dr Robbins's back, I wonder how long for? Maybe she's back for good. That would be nice, I know Alex misses her. Stark isn't very nice and kicked him off the ped's rotation. And Dr Robbins is a good girlfriend for you, and you too make a cute couple. I mean, you never fight, except for the leaving you at the airport incident, oh and the baby thing. But you guys resolved that. And I guess the newborn thing. What do you think Mer?'

Meredith elbows April in the side in the vain attempt to get her to stop the meaningless ramble. Not understanding the signal, April pushed on. 'And she's very pretty, her eyes especially.' At this comment Callie raises an eyebrow and realisation dawns on April and she tries to backpedal. 'Not that I want to be with your girlfriend, because she's your girlfriend and I'm not gay. Not that there is anything wrong with being gay.'

'God April, shut up' Christina exclaims as she re-enters the room with a bottle of tequila under each arm.

Several shots later, a severally intoxicated April drags herself off to her room.

'What a light-weight' mumbles Meredith. Turning to Callie she asks 'Do you want to talk about it?'

'Nope' is the simple reply and the conversation returns to other matters of lesser importance.

XXX

Opening her eyes the next morning, Callie wakes up with Christina's feet in her face. Pushing them out of the way, she sits up and wishes she hadn't. The memories from last night come flooding back and Callie lets out a groan. Realising her shift starts in an hour, Callie prepares herself for her shift. Entering the kitchen, Meredith hands her painkillers and coffee, the cure to any hangover. Christina still hasn't moved as she's still on her surgical sabbatical, at least she gets to sleep off her hangover. Christina has taken well to being a mall person saying its therapeutic to do nothing but watch people. Callie found is slightly stalkerish but at least she wasn't being a bartender any more. Yelling out to all residents in the house, that if they want a lift they better get to her car now, Callie heads out the front door.

'You slept here?' is the words that come out of Callie's mouth as she spots Arizona sitting on the swinging chair on the veranda, a cup of coffee in her hands.

'No Calliope, I just had a 26 hour flight, so I booked into a hotel. And then I came back early this morning because we really need to talk.'

'We've talked enough about this' Callie responds gesturing between the two of them. 'There's nothing left to say, please go back to Malawi.' Without another word, she moves towards her car with the residents filing out after her, all staring at the heartbroken blonde. None offer words of comfort as they decide not to push Callie, after all she breaks bones for a living.

XXX

Standing at the nurse's counter, Callie attempts to ignore the pointed looks and subtle glances her way. The gossip mill of SGMW hospital was in full swing as Arizona had talked to the Chief about getting an attending position at the hospital. Wishing she could just hide in her lab today, she surveys the ER to see is any orthopaedic cases are present. Spotting none, but being unable to leave, she continues to stand trying to ignore the murmur of conversation around her.

'So, I hear Blondie is back. You two kissed and made up yet?' Callie turns to face her best friend with his smirk gracing his face as he thinks about the two ladies together. 'You do realise it's only a matter of time.'

'Mark, please, not now. And, no Arizona, which is her name, aren't together and will not be together. She left me, at an airport. Or have you forgotten that with all the making googoo eyes at Little Grey has turned your brain to mush.'

'Old news, she came back. Rumour is, the chief is giving her a hard time about that and is only contemplating giving her job back. I don't blame him, she was supposed to be gone for three years, but I guess you already knew that. '

'Whatever, and Mark, you need to tell Lexie about us.'

'Callie, we've had this discussion before. I don't need to tell Lexie about our…sorbet because we weren't together. And you agreed not to tell.'

'That was before Arizona came back, now that she's here, I'm not going to lie to her. If she asks, I'll tell.'

'Look, I don't understand why they need to know. We weren't with them, so no harm.'

'Mark, they aren't going to see it that way. Remember, the how gay are you comment by Little Grey? She's not going to agree with your sentiments. So please, tell her. And Arizona will be furious; she was always worried I'd go back to men, specifically you. The fact I fell into bed with you is just going to make the situation worse.'

'Look, Lexie and I are doing good. I'm not going to dredge up the past, which is what it is. And you sure as hell better not either Torres, you agreed. So keep your mouth shut' and with that Mark storms off.

Groaning to herself, Callie realised her day just got infinitely worse. Fighting with Mark won't help and she knows she is right. Mark needs to tell Lexie as she knows Arizona will ask or guess. She won't be able to keep the guilty look off her face. Even though they weren't together, now that Arizona is back she feels like she cheated. She wondered what else could go wrong today. Owen runs past her telling an ambulance with a car accident victim is coming in which causes a feeling of relief to flow through her body. Although she's sorry for the person injured, a surgery is what is needed to clear her head.

A/N: so there is more of this story written, scenes and stuff. But if no one likes it I guess I could push through the writer's block of the enlistment. So review and tell me what you think (please!).