The towers hulked like giants against the angry, pouring sky. The lights glared flourescent, and a buzz tittered ominously from inside. I looked at the etched stone beside me.

"Welcome to Hell."

Scratch that.

"Welcome to Seattle Grace Hospital!"

Really, they are practically synomynous. I so did not want to go in. Sadly, there was no choice. Not if I didn't want this kid wearing potato sacks and begging on the street corner. So, I told myself to be brave, sucked it up, and went inside.

I knew that they knew.

They knew, that I knew, that they knew, but no one said a word to my face.

People snickered and made sly remarks when I was in ear shot. The Bitch Brigade was in full force like a bully in the schoolyard. I did good though. I stayed brave. I had to. For me, for George, for the baby. Basically to preseve our "okayness". So I ignored them, took care of my patients, and bided my time. I had my secret happiness to make it better anyways.

In an hour I would see George. When I saw George, we would go see Doctor Rogers. Then, we could hear our baby's heart beat, see the life in my belly. There on a slip of photo paper would be all of our hopes and dreams. I was in love all over again. Besides, if I made it all day, what was sixty more minutes?

I had spoken too soon.

With just forty-five more minutes to go, I ran into the one person I had tried to avoid all day. The one person who had a right to have an opinion of me and George. The only one I had a reason to worry about.

Callie.

Callie who was standing at the Nurse's Station with her arms crossed angrily. It was then that World War III began...at least in my mind. She opened with a deathly low tone that became a crescendo.

"Stevens! Just who the hell do you think you are?"

I stood ready for the fallout.

"Where do you get off stealing my marriage and then getting pregnant by my husband? Do you have any respect? Do you have any concept of low key? We haven't even filed papers for divorce yet! Here you are, Izzie Friggin' Stevens, you think you own the world. You think you do, but you don't. I own you. At least here I do.You can wreck my personal life, then drag it into my workplace. Hell, you've pretty much the same for yourself. Bravo. But I can do it better, Princess. I know Candy Striping really cramps the sex romps in the on-call room, but I am sure you'll find a way."

I stood there and took it. I had no right to not.

"I understand."

"Oh no! You don't ever get to say those words! You understand nothing! Enjoy your life. Maybe we can talk about you being a real doctor when you're done playing house with my husband. But tell me-are you planning on keeping this one?"

"How did you know?"

"You know, I was married to George once upon a time. He told me things. Like how perfect Izzie Stevens got knocked up in a trailer in Chalis and gave her away."

And that was it. I met the wall. I couldn't hold back anymore.

"You can say what you want to about me, Callie, and that's fine. You can hate me, you can punish me, yell at me, make me do enemas for seven months, but you do not get to bring her into this. Hannah did not do anything to you. She is not part of this situation. No matter what you think you know, you know nothing. I am sorry I screwed up your life, but it's done."

"You're right. I hate you, I hate..."

Blessedly, Bailey intervened.

"Dr. Torres. Just about to page you. They need an ortho consult in OR 2. Dr. Stevens, I need you to come with me."

Callie stormed away as Bailey lead me dumbly to the on-call room.

"Sit yourself down. Do you realize that this is a hospital and not Jeery Springer? What do you think you are doing? You slept with your boss' husband, Izzie. This means you do not get to fight her. You do not get to be mad. You people and your affairs, bed hopping, cat fights. Makes me sick. You're silly. But I am proud of you. You took your lickings, but you didn't let her take advantage of you and your unfortunate situation."

She paused.

"So is it true?"

"What? You mean you don't know? I mean everybody..."

"Yeah, yeah. Everybody is talking. You're popular. I hear it all, but I don't listen till I know. So is it true? Are you having O'Malley's baby?"

"Yeah. It's true."

"Good for you. I don't know that you people having a place with a child with all your smelling in the elevators and mating in my supply closets, but good for you. I think you will be a good mother, Izzie. You have the right stuff. Here's the deal. Saltines and orange juice everyday before you get out of bed. Everyone is watching, and Callie wants you to give her a reason, don't add puking to the show."

"Thank you, Bailey."

"Now get on. Didn't I see you on Dr. Rogers roster in fifteen minutes? You better run. I'm getting out of here. People will start talking if I am in here with you much longer, and I can't be ruining my reputation."

She smiled and left.

With the worst over, and the best to come, things weren't so bad.

Dr. Sloan walked in smirking.

"So, O'Malley, huh?"

I pushed him away.

"Shove it, Sloan."