A/N: I know that the last thing I should be doing is starting another story. But – there's only one chapter left in 'My mistake' and I just spent most of today tidying up five past chapters of 'The enlistment'. And then I thought of this storyline and it got stuck in my head. So I wrote it down. I promise to update my other two unfinished stories before I focus on this one if that's what people want – unless everyone/anyone thinks this one is better. I'm flexible. Also unbeta'd so I apologise for any mistakes.
Chapter 1: To have and to hold
Groaning at the alarm blaring through her room, Callie makes a swipe at the offending item hoping in vain to shut it up while maintaining the appearance that she's still asleep. Maybe she can trick her clock into thinking that its actual got the time wrong. Knowing that she has to be at the hospital in an hour makes her chastise herself into her pillow at how stupid she was to get drunk – again. Christina Yang really couldn't be drunk under the table, and since Callie had to pay the bar tab last night, she was seriously out of pocket. Who knew that the two women could consume so many shots of tequila. Finally, biting the bullet, Callie opens her eyes and slams her hand down of her alarm clock, stopping it mid-beep. Pulling herself out of bed and into the bathroom, she surveys the damage from the previous night. Raccoon bloodshot eyes, smudged lipstick and dried drool from the corner of her mouth told Callie that she looked as good as she felt. Checking that her tongue did in fact not have fur growing on it, Callie stumbles into the shower turning the taps on hard in an attempt to wash away this god awful hangover. Standing under the shower, Callie feels herself slowly wake up.
Making herself look presentable, Callie enters the kitchen area and spots Christina drinking her coffee and attempting to keep her eyes open at the same time. She looks no better than Callie, she slightly improves Callie's mood.
'Never again Yang, I am never trying to beat you at a drinking game. You are the devil reincarnated when it comes to tequila. And my liver will curse your name for the rest of my existence' Callie says as she pours herself a gigantic cup of coffee.
'Don't talk so loud' Christina manages to mumble as she barely raises her head to greet Callie 'And you should know by now – that no one beats me when it comes to tequila. And seriously, I have no idea how we managed to spend a week's worth on rent on booze at Joe's last night. That my friend, is true talent'. Both women fall silent as they attempt to comprehend that their pounding headaches are here to stay irrespective of the amount of coffee and pills they consume. Callie snags the newspaper sitting on the counter and notices the date in the right hand corner. A wave of pain radiates from Callie's heart causing her hand to jolt and spill hot coffee on her hand. Her hands tighten into fists in anger, scrunching the paper up with it. Realising that her day is not going to get better, she gulps down the remainder of her coffee thriving in the burning feel it leaves as it travels down to her stomach. Christina finally lifting her head, notices Callie's movements as she scrunches the paper into a ball, chucking in the bin and then storming off to her room.
Callie enters her room, slamming the door behind her and instantly regrets that move due to her headache. Grasping her head in pain, Callie attempts to control her breathing. She begins to pace and she attempts to calm her emotions by kicking at the clothes, magazines and books which litter her bedroom floor. Grabbing her phone from her nightstand, she quickly scrolls through and realising that she doesn't have a message, allowing her to breath a little easier. Callie then turns the phone off and shoves it in her back pocket. Finally reigning in her emotions, Callie grabs her bag and heads out of her room. 'You coming' she yells out to Christina who is yet to move from the breakfast bar. Christina watches Callie moving through the room as she picks up books and magazines, placing them back on the coffee table. Something had got Callie riled up and Christina was curious to know what it was – when she had more energy, she'd question Callie. Callie continues to glare at Christina waiting for her to move. Finally slouching off her stool, Christina heads to her own room to collect her gear.
Entering the hospital, the women move to the residents lounge and quickly change into the light blue scrubs. Giving a half-hearted grunt goodbye, the two women part ways as they head off to their respective wings to partake in rounds. Callie, as the only 5th year resident interested in Ortho, is essential left to her own devices. Checking in on her own patients, briefly converses with each one, answering any questions they may have. With no impending surgeries, Callie realises that she has a pretty light day which is a good thing considering her headache. Briefly wondering how Christina is coping considering the fact that she had more to drink, Callie continues to fill in her charts at the nurses counter, Callie prays that the day remains slow with no difficult surgeries which would leave her trapped in the OR for hours on end. Checking in with the Head of Ortho, Dr Chang, Callie is given no additional patients for the day and then heads down to the ER to see if she can lend a hand. The rest of the morning pasts in a blur of consults and non-surgical cases that just needed at Ortho sign-off. Callie feels her headache slowly lessen but her mood hasn't improved. Yelling at two interns for their incompetence, Callie reduced one to tears when he x-rayed the wrong arm. Feeling that she can at least face the idea of eating lunch, Callie heads in the direction of the cafeteria.
Entering the cafeteria for her lunch break, Callie seeks out a corner table where she can hide from the masses. Not wanting to be disturbed by annoying interns in an attempt to get on her rotation, she rests her head on the table as she ponders weather her salad is worth eating. Hearing a chair squeak on the lino floor next to her, she spots Mark Sloan slump in the seat next to her with his trademark apple.
'I see someone is a little worse for wear' he says as he observes the bloodshot eyes of his best friend 'I did warn you, drinking Yang under the table is mission impossible and clearly a health hazard.'
Lifting her head, Callie doesn't even bother to reply as she decides that she will eat her salad, even if it does look unappetising. She doesn't think she'll throw it back up. 'Good morning?' She questions as she watches Mark crunch into his apple. Before either surgeon can continue their conversation, a frazzled Bailey joins the table.
'I never…who does she think she is. Coming in here and changing our treatment schedule. Miss I went to John Hopkins and am better than everyone else. She clearly thinks that the sun shines out of her behind.' Bailey mumbles to herself and she stabs furiously at her lunch. Both Mark and Callie stare at the smaller surgeon who is clearly in her own world. Bailey usually avoided the cafeteria, preferring lounges where she can get some peace and quiet. But clearly she needs to vent and sought out anyone who would listen.
'Ah, Bailey, is everything ok?' Callie asks as she lays a comforting hand on the surgeons shoulder to draw her out of her internal monologue.
'No everything is not ok Dr Torres. That woman came in and battered her pretty blue eyes and got Dr Kinley all tied in knots.' Bailey exclaims. Callie still not understanding what could had merited one of Bailey's famous rant, turns to Mark for support. Being the biggest hospital gossip, Mark will be of assistance in deciphering Bailey's somewhat incoherent rant.
'The new Ped's fellowship recipient started work today. She's some hot shot from John Hopkins's which the Chief was able to steal with a large pay packet and the offer of Head of Ped's once her fellowship is finished as Dr Kinley will retire. So she's the Chief's new golden girl and his coup of the year. Anyway, she's hot, like ridiculously hot. Bright blue eyes, blonde hair and a body to die for. Anyway, when I was checking a patient up in Ped's, the new girl and Kinley were doing their rounds. He was a bumbling, stumbling mess around her. Fawning over her like there is no tomorrow, asking her opinion on everything. Clearly, our Head of Ped's is a bit taken by his Fellow. Bailey must be real excited that the two of them will spend the next three years together.'
'A bit taken, a bit taken!' Bailey says as her eyes open wide and Mark's apparent severe down playing of the situation. 'He follows her around like a little lost puppy waiting for her to praise him for a job well down. And did you hear me say that she changed OUR treatment schedule. The very same schedule that I spent weeks working on so Samuel's body would be able to cope. And she has the nerve to tell me that he should have been put on the UNIOS waiting list weeks ago. Implying that we were slowly killing the boy due to our apparent incompetence!' Bailey ends her rant with another furious stab at her lunch as if pretending that it's the head of this troublesome Ped's Fellow. Callie and Mark slightly taken aback by Bailey's rant remain silent as they stare at the feisty surgeon as she attacks her lunch with gusto.
'So, anyway I was hitting on her and all. Telling her I could show her around Seattle and all. She wasn't interested at all.' Mark says as he tries to move the conversation along.
'Which is probably a good thing since you and Little Grey have that thing going on. I can say that you are dating once you tell Derek about it.' Callie replies. 'Break her heart Sloan and you and little Sloan will become separated for good. Or maybe Derek will do that once you tell him that you've been sleeping with the very woman he told you not to. ' She continues as she glares at Mark.
'I know, I know. I was just having a little fun you know?' Mark responds as he looks sheepish. 'I guess old habits die hard. And she is ridiculously hot. Oh look, here she comes now. Looks like she's on a warpath. You had better go run and hide Bailey. What did you do?' Mark stutters out as he begins to laugh at the murderous look on Bailey's face as she shoots daggers at this woman.
'I removed her name from the surgical board as I'm not sure than she is a competent surgeon' Bailey mutters out as she stares at her food, refusing to meet anyone's eyes. 'I mean I don't trust her as she clearly has her wires crossed if she thinks she can just come in here and tell me what to do. And another thing, she gets the patients to call her Dr Z because of her first name. What were her parent's thinking. What kind of name is…' Callie finally deciding to catch a glimpse of the new surgeon that has got the Ped's floor in an uproar, glances around and lays eyes on a woman stalking towards their table.
'Arizona' Callie mutters out in a dark voice as she observes the Ped's Fellow and bane of Bailey's existence weave between the tables, her eyes solely focussed on Bailey. Truth be told, she is also the bane of Callie's existence.
'Hey, how do you know her name?' Mark asks, surprise written over his face at Callie's knowledge of the Ped's Fellow's first name. It hadn't come up in their conversation as of yet.
'Because she's my ex-wife.'
A/N: So ah thoughts? Did you expect it? Anyone interested?