Title: Bend and not Break
Author: VietAngel
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: George/Callie, but will eventually be George/Izzie and Callie/Mark (I think, that could change)

Author's Note: After seeing the promo for the upcoming episode, this just popped into my head. This one is probably going to be rather disappointing for the George/Callie shippers, but I like to venture out of my comfort zone once in a while.

Summary: George has a huge secret, Callie has huge news, and when the two collide everything explodes…pulling Callie and George apart but opening the door for new lives, new loves, and allowing Callie to reconnect with the father she never really knew.

"Callie? Are you feeling ok?" Addison asked as she lightly touched her friend's shoulder. She had been staring blankly at the OR board for five minutes. Callie hadn't been herself all day. Her skin was pale and slightly clammy…she was easily distracted and not at all her usual lively self.

"Actually, I…" she started to reply, but stopped short as the dinner cart rolled past. Her stomach lurched and she took off toward the ladies room so fast she almost left a dust cloud. Addison stared after her, trying to process what the hell just happened…and then it clicked.

"Holy shit," she muttered under her breath as she headed to the ladies room to find Callie. Addison cringed as she listened to the painful spasms that wracked her friend's body…causing the contents of her stomach to rapidly empty. She wet some paper towels and entered the stall. Pulling Callie's hair back, she placed the cool towels on the back of her neck and waited patiently for the dry heaves to subside. A few minutes later Callie sank back against the wall and tried to catch her breath.

"Do you think you're done?" Addison asked softly. Callie wasn't quite ready to speak, but she nodded her head. Addison extended her hand to help Callie to her feet. "Well, let's get you off this dirty bathroom floor then. We'll go to my office, you can rest there."

Callie flopped into one of Addison's chairs and closed her eyes. She hated throwing up; it always made her feel shaky and weak. Addison retrieved a bottle of ginger ale from her mini fridge and placed an empty trash can between Callie's feet just in case her stomach couldn't handle it.

"So, what's up?" Addison asked as she twisted the cap off the bottle and handed it to Callie.

"Thanks," Callie replied. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I've been nauseous for weeks; I just can't seem to shake this virus."

Addison knew better, but she played along. She pushed Callie's bangs out of the way and felt her forehead…no fever, just as she suspected. She also checked her neck for swollen glands, just to be thorough.

"No fever, no swollen glands, you don't sound stuffy or congested at all…I don't think it's a virus, Cal" Addison said as she hopped up onto her desk, facing Callie. Callie just quirked an eyebrow at her in that way she always did when she wanted to let someone know she thought they were talking out of their ass. "Don't freak out on me here, but when was your last period? This looks a lot like morning sickness to me. I mean, you practically turned green as soon as the smell of the food cart hit you."

"Shit, Addie!" Callie yelled after she nearly shot ginger ale out of her nose. "I hope you don't just spring that kind of thing on your patients like that!"

"Um, Cal…generally, my patients already suspect they're pregnant if they're coming to see me," Addison said, "but you, my friend, were trapped in glass case of crazy denial."

"Some friend you are! I was happily skipping through the land of blissful ignorance and here you come tripping me up with reality," she replied. Addison was relieved to see that she had her sense of humor…she wasn't prepared for a Callie freak-out. "You are such a bitch sometimes. How could you do this to me?"

"You're a sexy bitch and all, but I don't have the proper body parts to do this to you. Maybe if you kept George away from your vagina or, I don't know, actually start taking your birth control pills instead of looking at the pretty colors? You might not be in this mess." They tried their best to scowl at each other, but immediate broke into a fit of giggles.

"You're an asshole, but I love you," Callie said as she tried to catch her breath.

"And thanks for teaching me that useful skill, Mr. Miyagi," Addison replied.

"I take it back. I hate you and your corny Karate Kid references," Callie replied.

"Love you too, Cal," Addison said with a laugh. "Now shut up, and lets find out whether I'm going to be Auntie Addie or not."

Seattle Grace was an excellent hospital, but it was also a gossip pit. Callie was right, they were all seventeen…high school with scalpels was a perfect description. If they followed protocol, Callie's business would inevitably end up spreading like wildfire and she didn't want George finding out from anyone but her. To protect her privacy, Addison drew the blood necessary for the serum test in her office and submitted it to the lab under an alias. She had advised the lab to put a rush on it, but they both knew that would still mean a couple of hours of waiting. Callie had tried to get back to work, but between the nausea and nervousness she was so distracted that she nearly got in trouble with the chief…but once she told him the situation he gave her the rest of the day off, so she headed back to Addison's office to wait. Two hours and several games of UNO later, the results were in.

"Let's see," Addison said, slipping on her reading glasses, "your hCG levels are 16,870…you are definitely pregnant, about six weeks along." Callie was speechless and there was fear written all over her face…Addison was worried. She longed for the lighthearted banter they had shared a few hours ago. "Talk to me, Cal. What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking I can't do this. I'm not ready. I don't know how to be a mother and I sure as hell can't learn anything from mine. What will George think? He just lost his father; he's not ready to be one…he's still an intern! An intern I had to practically beg to commit to me. I'm still a resident, Addie…we live in a hotel. We're not ready to be parents," she said softly. Her voice was shaky and her eyes were brimming with tears.

"If anyone can do this, you can. Yes, you're still a resident…you're still a resident and you're at the top of your game, you're the best orthopedic surgeon we have. Don't worry about George, he'll be thrilled. It doesn't matter what it took for him to commit to you because the important this is that he did it. He married you, he loves you, and he'll love this baby," Addison said, sitting down beside Callie and taking her hand. "You have me too. I'll move in if I have to and we'll be three doctors and a baby. It'll be fine, Cal. I promise."

Callie wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve and took several deep breaths to calm herself. Addie was right. She was capable, she was confident, and she had George…it would all be ok. It had to be ok.

"Sorry, I kind of freaked out on you there huh?" Callie asked.

"That you did, but it's ok. We'll just blame it on the hormones and never speak of it again," Addie replied.

"Great." Callie stood and grabbed her purse. "I know I need to tell George, but I don't want to do it here…and I think I need some time alone to sit with it for a while first."

"I understand. You call me if you need anything ok?" Addison said, giving her friend the hug she looked like she desperately needed.

"I will. I'm going to go home and soak…mind and body. George is in surgery with Burke, if he asks where I am just tell him I wasn't feeling well and went home early. I convinced him on the virus issue last week, so he won't question you about it," she said as she headed out.

"Callie?" Addison called after her. "Congratulations, babe. Seriously."

Callie nodded, and flashed her that brilliant smile that is distinctly Callie Torres before continuing on her way. Addison smiled back and picked up a folder as if she was going to get some work done, even though she knew it was no use. This was huge.

TBC…