Arriving back at the hotel Callie opened Arizona's envelope, relived that the next task didn't involve any physical activity. Scanning the sheet Callie couldn't help but wonder If this was another one of Arizona's ideas.
"We're playing operation?"
"Yup, best game ever, I'm totally badass"
"Really? because I happen to be quite excellent myself… hey there are no teams."
"Nope, just last man standing but in this case last woman, I've got this one in the bag."
"Oh really? Care to make a wager? Say winner buys dinner tonight?"
"Sounds good to me, prepare to lose Dr Torres!"
Walking into the crowded task room, Callie spotted several tables lined up in a row, each of which had the game set up ready to play. Joining the others, Callie and Arizona waited patiently for Jill to give instructions, although pretty much everyone had played the game before, what self respecting doctor hadn't? Arizona spotted Tim and David at the other end of the room.
"So Calliope, do you feel as though you've bonded with your fellow surgeons?" Arizona joked, motioning toward the two men.
"Oh yeah totally, we're like peas in a pod"
"I think you're the princess and he's the pea."
"I'm what? That doesn't even make sense Arizona?"
"You're telling me you've never heard the story of the Princess and the Pea? Honestly Calliope, what do they teach you at Seattle Grace?"
"Medicine, how to save lives…"
"Oh you have so much to learn, so much I can teach"
Callie smiled…that, was so true!
It seemed that everyone was just as excited as Callie was. The room fell silent as the games got underway. Trying her best to zone everything else out, Callie focused, steadying her hand as she proceeded to extract various pieces as instructed by the cards. BEEP! Arizona heard David curse as he lost his game.
"You're a surgeon, hand-eye coordination is kind of essential" she laughed to herself.
Having already beaten five people, Arizona felt a delicious dinner within her grasp. Callie too had won four games and was on her fifth. Picking up her last specialist card she groaned- the Adam's apple! She had always hated the adam's apple. Readjusting the tweezers she carefully began retrieving the ailment, taking special care not to touch the metal sides. Setting the tweezers down she congratualed herself on having such finely tuned motor skills. She'd played five games and not once caused the buzzer to sound. Her opponents on the whole had been very good. Except for Heather, who had caused Sam's nose to light up more times than all her other opponents combined. It was shocking really. Committing Heather's full name and hospital to memory, Callie decided that if she ever did have a child who needed medical assistance, she would avoid Heather and Mass General at all costs. She and Arizona had made it to the final. Arizona who had joined Callie at her table for the final challenge looked rather pleased with herself, counting her large pile of fake money. This was going to be interesting.
"So, still think you can beat me?" she smiled widely, flashing her adorable dimples.
"Totally, didn't sound the buzzer once."
"Neither did I, I hope you've got a nice place for dinner in mind."
"I have, I hope you've got your credit card, I'm feeling exceptionally hungry tonight."
Resisting the urge to pull her in for a kiss, Callie readied herself, she HAD to win this. Half way through the game neither women had made a single mistake. Arizona watched as Callie extracted the Charlie horse with effortless skill. Jill, who had come to watch the last game, observed in amusement th unfaultering determination of both women. Arizona really had met her match. If she was being truthful Jill wanted Callie to win. Arizona had won this particular challenge three years in a row, and her self confidence was bordering on annoying. Seeing the card Arizona had chosen, Callie smiled; the ankle bone connected to the knee bone. This wasn't removed in the same way as the other parts, it wasn't plastic like the other pieces, but rather a rubber band that needed to be stretched between two pegs at the left ankle and knee. Callie willed her to fail, but she didn't. She removed it in a matter of seconds, "Damn it, 200 points". She eyed up the two stacks of money, they were about even, only 50 or so dollars separating them. Turning over her last card Callie could have cried; the bread basket, the most difficult piece to remove, A very small slice of bread with only a tiny notch taken out of the top to provide grip. Arizona was practically extatic. Telling herself she could do this, that she was a world class surgeon, that her dexterity was first class, Callie took a deep breath. 1000 points, if she could do this, she would win. Carefully moving her hand toward the opening, Callie manoeuvred the tweezers inside, gently pinching them together and making contact with the tiny piece of plastic. Realising that if Calliope successfully removed this part she would win, Arizona slowly and discreetly placed her hand on Callie's leg, running her palm up the inside of her thigh. Just as she was about to pull the bread basket free, Callie felt Arizona's hand gently caressing her leg. Focussing on the game Callie tried to ignore the ache that was building within her. Arizona's hand began to move further up, stoking her thigh. The sensation was too much, causing Callie's hand to twitch slightly. BEEP! She had lost.
"You bitch!"
Looking positively gleeful, Arizona laughed, "I guess I win"
"You didn't win you cheated, cheating isn't real winning"
"I didn't cheat Calliope, I didn't do anything! There are about 15 people watching right now who can tell you that!" Arizona's eyes twinkled, daring Callie to tell the room full of people what she had done.
"You distracted me"
"Hey its not my fault my natural charisma broke your concentration."
"Your charisma had nothing to do with it Arizona, it was your…"
"Yes well, anyway, winning's winning, I think I remember hearing something about dinner.
Callie couldn't help but laugh, it was impossible to be mad at those eyes, those dimples, "Guess I'm buying then."
"I guess you are!"
Standing up, Callie's legs almost buckled, she could still feel the tingling sensation where Arizona's hand had been. Jill caught up with her friend at the door
"You're evil Zone, you knew she was going to beat you."
"I don't know what you mean!"
"You weren't quite as sly as you thought, I saw what you did; poor woman didn't stand a chance. Couldn't bear to lose your operation queen crown?"
"No actually I just really wanted that dinner. See ya later!" she replied before catching up with Callie.
