Authors Note: I know I'm making some people nervous but keep reading. It's a Calzona fic and it going to be true to the characters. So if you're worried about what the outcome is going to be then you really don't trust the characters! Can I be cheeky and ask for feedback pretty please?

Chapter 8

Arizona was pretty sure she knew what was wrong with her young patient but she needed scans to confirm her hunch and show the extent of the problem. Gallbladder problems were uncommon in children but they could be incredibly severe and Arizona suspected the boy may need his gallbladder removed.

She had been waiting for ten minutes for Lexie to return so she could discuss her preliminary diagnosis with the promising intern. The boy's mother had left her coat in the ER so Lexie had gone to collect it but she had been gone longer than Arizona had expected. She had been busying herself requesting the CT and blood tests and by the time Lexie had reappeared the boy was already on his way for the scan.

"Hey, did you find the coat?" Arizona greeted her.

"Yeah, just gave it to Mrs Williams" Lexie's reply was quiet and she seemed a little awkward. Arizona wondered if it was something to do with Lexie's injured boyfriend, Alex Karev.

"You okay?" Arizona quizzed, "have you seen Alex today?"

"Before shift" Lexie replied quietly again, "he's okay, just a bit shocked I think."

Arizona was about to comment but then she heard giggling from the nurses' station that momentarily distracted her. Three female nurses were talking and giggling and seemed to be looking her way. Arizona wondered if it was something to do with return of Erica Hahn. Everyone seemed to have guessed about her and Callie's brief romance and Arizona and Callie hardly kept theirs a secret so it was bound to get people talking.

"You think he's got gallstones right?" Lexie's question brought Arizona's concentration back to the task at hand. She felt a little guilty that she was distracted because she prided herself on being totally dedicated to her patients. She really needed to get her head in gear and ignore the existence of Erica Hahn.

"I suspect his gallbladder may have failed full stop" Arizona admitted, "I'll be pleased if it's just a gallstone or two."

"Acute cholecystitis?" Lexie asked. "He's showing symptoms of abdominal fullness, Fever, Nausea, vomiting and jaundice so it fits."

"Go the Lexipedia" Arizona smirked. She didn't think she'd ever get used to Lexie's ability to hold information but it was impressive. She'd heard people comment about it before but she had only really experienced it within the last couple of months.

Considering Lexie should be looking happy she seemed to be looking at Arizona like she had three heads but Arizona couldn't put her finger on why. Her observations about the younger Grey then got distracted by a group of gossiping staff members who were coming round the corner. They were obviously discussing her because the second they realised Arizona was there they shut up.

"This is becoming really annoying" she hadn't meant to say it out loud but it came out loud enough to cause the nurses and doctor to suddenly scatter. Lexie's hand closed around her arm and Arizona turned to look at the young resident, expecting her to say something comforting. Instead the younger Grey seemed to look nervous and uncomfortable.

"Arizona I need to speak to you in private" Lexie said softly. Arizona knew that whatever the resident had to say involved something personal rather than professional because Lexie very rarely called her by her first name. She mustered a nod in response and led Lexie lead her by her arm away from the nurses' station and down the hall. It vaguely dawned on her when they reached Lexie's destination that this may get people talking even more as the young resident was leading her into the on call room.

"What's wrong Lexie?" she wanted to hurry the resident up because she was starting to get a little worried now.

"I wasn't going to say anything because it's Dr Torres right to tell you this... but I don't want you to hear through the nurse's idle gossip. When I was in the ER before I overheard Dr Torres and Dr Hahn talking and they are going for a drink together later. I'm sure it's nothing but other people overheard too and it's likely to get twisted out of all proportion whilst it's doing the rounds with all the gossipers."

Arizona took a moment or two to process what Lexie had said. She had never thought herself a massively jealous person before she started dating Callie but her girlfriend did seem to bring out the green eyed monster in her. She had found it a bit weird when she found out that Callie and Alex had slept together years ago and that was nothing compared to anything to do with Callie and Erica. No matter how much she didn't want to be she did feel threatened by Erica Hahn but she wasn't about to admit it to anyone.

"They do need to talk or there would be no way the two could work alongside each other amicably for the next couple of weeks" Arizona reasoned, leaving Lexie looking a little shocked.

"Thanks for telling me though" Arizona tried to sound cheery, "you're a good friend."

Lexie hadn't looked so sure that everything was okay but the young intern broke into a smile at the use of the word friend. Arizona realised that even though Lexie had been there for her throughout the break up with Callie she had never really said thank you for it. It was about time she did really.

"You were so helpful when I was having a rough time and if it wasn't for you and Teddy I'd have gone mad" she complimented Lexie, "I'm really grateful for that."

Lexie surprised her by giving her a bear hug but Arizona reciprocated causing the pair of them to giggle as they squished each other. Just then the door swung open and the two turned their heads to see who had walked in on them acting so childishly. Arizona was relieved to see it was only Meredith Grey and not anyone that would misinterpret what was going on.

"Hey Mer" Lexie greeted, "wanna join in? We're bonding!"

"Sure, I need a hug" Lexie's older half sister stated before wrapping her arms around the two of them and joining in. After a few seconds they all disentangled.

"How's Derek?" Both Arizona and Lexie asked at the same time.

"He's doing pretty good" Meredith smiled, "actually he sent me to find you, he wants to talk to you Dr Robbins if you are free?"

Arizona was surprised that he had asked for her but she was happy to take up the invitation. She got on with him quite well and respected him a lot, especially after he agreed to underwrite the costs of research for their patient that time when the hospital wouldn't. She would not have thought of doing that but once he said he'd put money in then she was up for doing so too.

"Yeah I'm free now" she finally responded, "Lexie if the scans come back whilst I'm gone then feel free to take a look before I get back."

Meredith had walked her to Derek's room and had explained to her what exactly had happened the day before. Arizona only really knew who had been injured or killed and she didn't know under what circumstances Derek and Owen had been shot. The whole story was horrifying and she bad for Meredith and Christina because the two of them had been through hell. Poor Christina did a fantastic job saving his life, it must be horrible to operate on your best friends loved one at the best of times, never mind when a crazed gun man is trying to stop you.

"Here you go" Meredith stopped outside one of the private rooms and gestured inside.

Arizona opened the door and slowly walked in, pleased to see that he was awake and actually trying to read a medical journal although he was clearly finding it difficult to do whilst lying down.

"You look healthy for someone who was shot in the chest less than twenty four hours ago Dr Sheppard!" Arizona greeted.

"Derek" he corrected, "I'm not your boss right now, and this is a personal call."

Arizona smirked and sat on the seat beside his bed as he fumbled the magazine onto the stand on the other side of the bed. She really had no idea why he had called for her but it was nice to see how well he was doing.

"Arizona if I had known who they were bringing in temporarily I'd have warned you and Callie but I only found out about thirty minutes ago when I woke up. I just wanted to speak to you about it though because although I don't know the details of what transpired between Callie and Hahn I know something did. It must be very strange for the both of you having her here."

Arizona was surprised that he wanted to talk to her about Hahn but she could sense by his tone that although he was saying it as a friend he was also acting like the chief and trying to calm the situation. She decided against lying and telling him that everything was fine and instead let him continue with whatever he had to say because he obviously thought it was important enough to send for her about.

"Watch out for Hahn because she's manipulative and she knows how to put a spin on things so that you sound like the bad guy. I'm not saying she's a bad person but she is used to getting her way and when she doesn't she resorts to forcing her way. If she wants you out the way then she'll go out of her way to make you mess up and get angry with her. You must not let her get to you or she'll report you to Jennings before you've taken your next breath."

"Ah and Jennings's isn't my biggest fan after Wallace" Arizona continued his train of thought.

She wished that she could just tell Derek that Hahn seemed to have no interest in Callie but that clearly wasn't the case. The temporary chief had already started trying to wind her up and had obviously asked Callie for a drink very publically on purpose too.

"Super" she muttered sarcastically, "she's already at it."

Derek must have been able to see the look of worry in her eyes because he reached his hand out to her and gave it a squeeze.

"Are you okay?" he asked kindly, "what has she done?"

Arizona felt her eyes begin to tear up and she desperately tried to fight them back. She hated crying in front of people, even Callie, so she really didn't want to cry in front of a colleague.

"She's trying to steal my girlfriend" she stated weakly, "she's taking her for a drink tonight but Callie hasn't even told me that yet...they were overheard."

She could feel her eyes running now but they were silent tears which were far less embarrassing than strangled sobs and howling. He just looked at her sympathetically and squeezed her hand again.

"I don't think Callie is stupid enough to make the same mistake twice no matter how hard Hahn tries" Derek assured her, "plus I'm sure she loves you."

"She does!" Arizona found herself exclaiming defensively. She gave Derek an apologetic look for shouting at him when he was trying to help her but he didn't seem remotely phased by her raised voice.

"Good" he commented, "don't let Hahn make you forget it!"

Arizona was grateful for his support so she gave his hand a squeeze before releasing his hand and standing up.

"I better go" she explained, "I'm waiting on scan results for a child who may need surgery. Get well soon and take it easy!"

Derek smirked and picked up his magazine again. He was going to be a terrible patient, she could tell, he would want to be up and about within twenty four hours and they'd have to literally tie him to the bed.

"Remember; don't let her get to you. There is a good chance she'll end up here permanently if Jennings gets his way."

She had been nearly out the doorway before he spoke but she turned round to face him, the reality of what he was saying hitting her hard.

"Nobody blames you Derek and nobody wants you to be replaced...we'll fight for you. I'm not just saying that because of Erica Hahn."

He smiled in response and thanked her although it was clear by the look in his eyes that he wasn't entirely sure that he was blameless. It put things in perspective for her though because whilst she was only stressing over her girlfriends ex he was lying in bed feeling guilty for the deaths of several colleagues.

She let the door swing shut behind her and wiped her eyes quickly, trying to hide the evidence of her tears before she went back to PEDs. Meredith was still stood outside and gave her a sympathetic smile before heading into the room to see Derek herself.