Hey! Apologies for the wait, I just haven't found the time to properly settle down with this chapter and have had to do it in bits! I've only proofread it once to, so apologies for any mistakes. Hope you like! And as always, merci beacoup for all your wonderful reviews :)
SarcasticBitchCurls – cheers! *takes cookies* excellent bribe my friend! ;)
Lianne47 – no worries old bean, thank you! :) Hope your weekend away was awesome!
Goldentail – interesting idea, she's definitely the type! You'll be pleased to know she doesn't though, thank god! ;)
"Oh my god."
"What?"
"Oh. My. God."
"What?"
"I am an awful person. I'm a terrible friend. I'm an awful, terrible person and friend."
"Callie, what are you talking about?"
Addison demanded, having just confided the full story of her relationship with Arizona to her friend, who's eyes had steadily grown larger in correlation with the amount of detail.
"I may have.. Threatened her." Callie cleared her throat uncomfortably.
"You what?! When? How? Why?" Addison flapped.
"Whoa whoa, calm down. It was the other day, I went to her apartment-"
"-You went to her apartment?! Oh god.."
"I didn't know the whole thing with Ellie was one sided! I thought she was cheating on you!"
"And you didn't think to tell me this?" Addison asked incredulously.
Callie pulled at her collar. "Well no.. I would have done, I wanted her to quit while she was ahead type thing.. I don't know, I figured it'd be best for you." She mumbled. Addison ran a hand down her face.
"Jesus Christ Cal...Okay.. Okay we can fix this, you need to apologise."
Callie nodded like a guilty child, eyes on the floor. "Yeah. I'll find her today."
Addison shook her head at the brunette, managing a smile. "You're such a dummy sometimes."
Callie smiled guiltily. "I know, I'm sorry. I'll apologise. Maybe I'll threaten Ellie instead."
Addison pursed her lips. "It wouldn't be the worst idea..."
"Addison!"
"I'm kidding! Jeez." She laughed, and Callie slapped her playfully. "Just do me a favour Cal?"
"Hmm?"
"Give me a heads up next time before you go storming round threatening people?" She winked. Callie grinned.
"I'll try my best."
Ellie had made an effort. It was quite possibly the biggest effort she'd ever made on her appearance since school prom. Having awoken an extra two hours early in order to prepare, her hair was in full form, shiny, sassy, and with volume that would make Pantene jealous, it was guaranteed to turn heads. Next, she'd utilised just about every bit of make-up she owned, taking at least three attempts on her lips alone, followed by consistent re-application on the rest of her face until she got it picture perfect. Finishing with dazzling earrings and the sexiest pair of heels she owned – her feet would regret it by the end of the day but she didn't care – she was ready. She was hot, she was confident, she looked mind-blowing, and she knew it.
It was all for one reason. And upon spotting that reason, her legs and hips went into catwalk mode and strode forward, ignoring the wolf whistles and blatant stares from the nearby males.
"Hey." She called out smoothly, with a voice like melted caramel.
Addison turned, and immediately spat out her coffee. Ellie smiled smugly and tossed back her hair as she waited for Addison to stop spluttering. Knowing the effort had been worth it. She wanted to make the other woman feel as uncomfortable and unworthy as possible in her presence, with every look being a reminder that she, Ellie, was still ten times more attractive than Doctor Montgomery even on a bad day. Today however, she would hit it home to the both of them, showing them what she was capable of looking like at her best was a sure fire way to remind them that she was a goddess. Far, far out of anyone's league and somebody who simply could not be competed with. As soon as Arizona saw her, she was confident the blonde would realise this.
Finally, Addison recovered and threw apologetic smiles at a few passers by who had witnessed it. She wiped her mouth and placed the cup down.
"Can I help you?" She choked out feebly.
Ellie pouted, put a hand on her hip and feigned a casual look around.
"I was just wondering if you'd seen Arizona?" and at once her gaze was firmly planted on the attending with hawk like precision.
Addison's eyes narrowed.
"No." She said flatly. And Ellie smirked.
"That's a shame. I just miss her I guess. I think I'm gunna take her to lunch."
"Oh." Addison replied stiffly.
"Yeah.. I'll pay too. Only the best for my beautiful girlfriend."
"She's not your girlfriend." Addison blurted before she could stop herself.
Bingo. Ellie thought, she cocked a shrewd eyebrow at her.
"Oh? Well who's is she then? Yours?"
Addison turned pale at the other woman's menacing stare, feeling the air of intimidation that surrounded her words. Unable to keep eye contact, she looked away.
"Of course not." She mumbled. But her body language said it all. Ellie was satisfied. She was definitely the mystery woman, she was 100% sure of it now. It was time to do some rooting around the Chief's office. She needed her personal file.
Miranda Bailey was fed up of laziness. It was everywhere she went and in everybody she had seen for the past two days, having been assigned to take over Stark's interns whilst he was away on sick leave. So far, they had shown a complete lack of interest or passion, sitting around whenever the chance came, not once had she seen them do anything off their own backs – they spoke only when spoken to, had zero initiative or independence, and were generally useless, yet somehow managing to be painfully cocky at the same time. Bailey wondered – more than once, what exactly it was that Stark did with them all day. Did they learn anything at all? Right now, watching them argue over the best way to do a suture, she highly doubted it.
"QUIET!" She boomed, and their incessant squabbling immediately ceased. She put her hands on her hips and regarded them all. "Now. I am going to get some sleep, because some of us.." She glared at them all in turn. "..Have been working today. Working for 19 long and tiring hours. And some of us have to do it all again tomorrow. So I suggest this-" She held her pager up for them. "-remains silent. Not so much as a peep from any of you. Unless someone is dying. And they had better be dying properly – not another breathtakingly stupid misreading of the heart monitor." She shot her steely gaze a a boy with sand coloured hair at the end of the group. "Is that clear Samuels?"
He glowered as a chorus of sniggers erupted from his colleagues.
"Well maybe if I had a better teacher..." He muttered under his breath. It did not go unnoticed by Bailey's bat ears.
"I'm sure that can be arranged Samuels. Dr Hahn!" She called out to the blonde, who was sat at a nearby table. She looked up, and her gaze travelled from Bailey's suggestive face, to the group of interns, back to her again.
"No." She said simply, and went back to her files. Bailey ignored it.
"Dr Hahn, it would appear Samuels has expressed a great desire to learn from somebody else today and-"
"Samuels is about as much use as tits on a fish. I'll take another." Erica interrupted, and she swiftly surveyed the group. They huddled together like lost sheep. "Actually, scratch that. Keep them all."
Bailey snorted. "Well Samuels, it would appear, is in need of some cardio hours. Since he has recently proved himself unable to read a heart monitor properly." Erica's jaw hit the floor. "Therefore I thought he would learn best in your... Capable hands."
Erica's head was already shaking in denial.
"No. No way, give him to Callie. She has patience... And err, and warmth, which we all know I lack." She added as an afterthought. "Seriously Miranda, I'll kill myself. Take him elsewhere."
"Come on Hahn, you owe me for the vast amount of times I've taken Yang."
Erica sighed. "Fine, fine. I suppose he can.. Get coffee or something."
Bailey fist pumped in victory. She really was sick of them.
"Thank you! Now the rest of you, go find yourself a different resident each and shadow them for a while." She yelled over her shoulder at the remaining members of the group, already on her way to the on-call room.
They disappeared immediately, none of them wanting to hang around with Dr Hahn and Dr Samuels any more than they had to. He fidgeted by her desk, scratching his chin and clicking his joints until she looked up impatiently. "Why are you still here?" She demanded. "Double latte!"
He was off.
Bailey whistled to herself as she reached the on call room, the happiest she'd been all day at the prospect of sleep. She clicked open the door and threw her lab coat aside, surprised when it landed, not on the floor, but on top of a pile of clothes that already occupied the rooms floor. A pile of someone else's clothes.
Confused, she turned back to the bed, and jumped about a foot in the air when she she noticed a the duvet was indeed concealing a large mass that could only be two bodies as it moved around.
"Oh for god's sake!" She yelled, ready to murder whoever emerged from under it. There was a panicked rustling, and a clump of tangled messy hair popped out, plastered to the face of Meredith Grey. Raising a bare arm to sweep it off her face, her eyes bulged wide in terror as she saw who it was.
"Holy crap!"
"Who is it?" The male voice made Bailey do a double take. She stood in disbelief as the face that matched the voice also emerged, and he too adopted a bug eyed expression as he saw her. Still in utter disbelief, she simply snorted and shook her head in disgust, before swivelling on her heel and exiting the room, leaving Derek and Meredith to scramble about for their clothes in a hurried frenzy.
"Do you believe in soul mates?"
"Huh?"
Izzie Stevens leant on the desk, elbow propped up to rest her face, she had been watching Karev speaking to a pretty young resident across the hall for the past 5 minutes. Addison worked beside her, scribbling notes furiously as she concentrated. Izzie tore her eyes away from Alex and looked at the attending.
"You know, soul mates. That special person you're destined to meet. The 'one'" She said dreamily.
Addison pulled her glasses down and followed Izzie's gaze.
"I think you guys are great when you're together, and you have nothing to worry about." She smiled warmly. "You'll work it out eventually."
Reassured, Izzie sat back, and looked at Addison thoughtfully. "You didn't answer my question."
"What, about soul mates?"
She nodded eagerly.
Addison twisted her mouth to the side as she thought. "No. I don't, I believe you find someone who you love unconditionally, and want to spend the rest of your life with, but I don't believe it's 'destiny,' because anything could happen, and that person can change."
Izzie frowned, but decided not to push it any further. At that moment, An extremely pissed off looking Doctor Bailey stormed past like an angry whirlwind, followed seconds later by a flustered Derek, racing after her. Izzie watched them pass, before turning back to Addison, quizzical expressions on both women's faces. Addison shrugged, and went back to her notes, her tongue poking out slightly as she worked. Izzie realised Alex had disappeared, and so instead continued to watch her attending work.
"But you're happy right?" She asked after another while.
Addison looked up, seemingly at no one. Bright blue colours and brilliant dimples entered her mind as she answered.
"Very." She smiled, and her look was not at all dissimilar to Izzie's previous dreamy gaze. Izzie grinned. If there was one thing she loved, it was seeing people happy.
"I'm happy for you Doctor Montgomery." She said, and she meant every word.
Addison returned her genuine smile. "Thank you Stevens."
"Mind if I barge in here?"
Addison's grin hit her face before she even looked up, as the object of her affections stood next to Izzie, who craned her neck back to look at her.
"Oh, hey Doctor Robbins. You can have my seat, I gotta go anyway. OR." She said as way of explanation, looking back to Addison. "See you later."
Addison gave her a little wave. "Bye Stevens. You go kick ass."
Izzie threw her a parting smile before she went, vacating her chair to Arizona.
"Miranda! Miranda! MIRANDA!" Derek called desperately after Bailey, quickening his pace to match hers, glad for the height advantage. She pursed her lips aggressively and continued walking, blanking him completely.
"Miranda we need to talk." He gasped, out of breath.
"No."
"Miranda."
"Get out of my face Shepherd."
"Miranda!" He spun round in front of her and grabbed her shoulders. "I can explain."
"You can explain? You can explain?! Unless your explanation involves the words 'I got a divorce' I am not interested."
"It wasn't intentional, she lured me in there! I-"
"Oh she lured you did she? What did she, leave a trail of breadcrumbs for you to innocently follow to the on-call room? Huh?"
He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "No! I never wanted to do that, I honestly didn't!"
Bailey scoffed. "Oh so I suppose she pinned you down? Overpowered you? After all I do hear Meredith Grey is pretty strong-"
"Shhh!" He looked around anxiously. "No, you know what I mean. Neither of us intended it, it just happened!"
Bailey folded her arms, not bothering to keep her voice down.
"No Shepherd. Spilt drinks 'just happen.' Tripping over 'just happens.' Falling asleep 'just happens' – having adulterous sex with someone else in the workplace does not just happen! You'd damn well better have a more impressive explanation for Addison, because right now, it's looking pretty poor!"
He sighed and put his hands to his face.
"Look, I know I sound like a complete asshole here, and I feel like one too. I feel terrible. I did something awful, I know. I never meant for it to happen, but it did, and now I have to fix it. But please. Please let me be the one to tell my wife. I need to fix what I've done. Please Miranda." He looked at her with pleading eyes. She exhaled through her nose and her hands found her hips.
"Alright, you tell her. But just so you know – you've lost my respect." She turned on her heel and strode off. Leaving him standing there, in the middle of the corridor, looking like a broken man.
Callie couldn't help it. She'd promised Addison she would speak to her first now before she did anything involving her, but, upon seeing Ellie sat by herself in the canteen, she just couldn't resist. Checking the coast was clear, she made her way over. Ellie was staring into her plate, her brain whirling.
"The chips really that bad huh?" Callie said in way of greeting, perching beside the woman.
"What?" She snapped, with no time on her hands for Doctor Torres, she had plans to make. Callie motioned to her plate. "The chips? It was a joke... I.. made a joke." She cleared her throat to hide her awkwardness. Ellie glared at her.
"No. I'm just not hungry."
"Oh."
"Nice Callie, nice, it's going well.
She fidgeted for a moment, knowing full well Addison would kill her if she could hear what she was about to say.
"So how's things going with you and Arizona?"
"Good." Ellie murmured, lips pressed tight.
"Yeah? Any more hot dates lined up?" Callie gave the other woman a playful nudge with her elbow, which she ignored, staring ahead. Callie waited.
Silence.
"You know, it's funny.. You and her."
"Why is it funny?" Ellie asked, her voice completely deadpan. Callie began to wonder the lively, chatty, flirtatious girl she'd seen the other night had gone. Ellie had been on full form at Joe's, now however, Callie felt like she was speaking to a rock.
"It's funny cos.. Well I always thought her and Addison would make a great couple – if Addison was, you know, that way inclined of course. They're so alike." Callie said, her voice faltering slightly at the end as a result of her sudden unexplainable wave of nerves. There was something in the air that switched when she'd uttered Addison's name, and she couldn't quite put her finger on it. It took a while for Ellie to react, still staring into space. After a few long seconds, she slowly turned her head to look at her, and Callie almost flinched from the fiery rage that was burning in her eyes.
"NO. THEY WOULD NOT!" She screeched, her face was twisted with fury.
"Whoa whoa! I was only saying, I just-"
"I'M ARIZONA'S GIRLFRIEND! NO ONE ELSE! SHE BELONGS TO ME!"
The canteen had fallen silent at her explosive outburst. She struck out a hand and her plate went flying, before she stood up violently, slamming her chair back in with unnecessary force, she threw one last murderous look at Callie, and hissed again
"She belongs to me." So quiet this time it was almost a whisper. Callie sat, stunned as the other girl left, still muttering to herself. Everyone around her stared. A minute passed. Eventually, the chatter picked back up – a lot of it about what they had all just witnessed – and Alex Karev tapped her on the shoulder as he walked past.
"Dude!" He exclaimed. "She went all psycho chick on you! Is there something wrong with her or what?" He joked, thoroughly amused. Callie didn't return his grin.
"I'm starting to think there might be." She muttered.
'I wonder if he's told her yet.'
Bailey wondered for the umpteenth time as she searched for Hahn, ready to reclaim Samuels, she figured he'd probably been tormented enough for one day. She stopped as she rounded the corner however, as red hair caught her eye. Addison was sat at a desk with Arizona, and they were chatting animatedly about something. She watched from afar, trying to get a clue from Addison's mood on whether Derek had done it. If the dozen or so smiles she had just flashed in the past minute were anything to go by, Bailey guessed the answer was probably a no.
Actually, as she thought about it, Addison looked extremely happy. Her face was alight and her eyes were bright as her hands moved around in the air, gesturing something to the blonde, who threw her head back and laughed in response. Bailey couldn't help but notice how close the two were sat either, both of them were directly facing each other, forearms resting on the table. Every so often, Bailey noticed Addison would place her hand on Arizona's when she spoke. Curious but unsure why, Bailey continued to watch them, making note of the frequent 'light touches' or the brushing of an arm. Eventually, Arizona made to stand, and tucked a strand of Addison's hair behind her ear. Bailey frowned. The blonde said something, to which Addison laughed, and gave a mock wave as she left, the blonde pulling her pager out her pocket as she did so.
Addison watched her go, and Bailey followed her line of vision, which after about a second swivelled directly down to the other woman's backside. There was no question about it, Addison was staring. Head resting lazily on her propped elbow.
Something in Bailey's brain clicked, and for the second time that day, realisation hit her, and her eyes doubled in size.
Yet again Addison found herself absorbed in happy daydream, and she didn't even notice Miranda Bailey approaching until she flung herself down excitedly in the chair Arizona had previously occupied.
"Addison Montgomery! You like her!" She hissed, having the good sense to keep her voice down. Addison's heart kick started at her words.
"What?! Who on earth are you talking about?" She stammered.
"Don't even deny it! You're an awful liar – Arizona! I just saw you two, you're like lovesick teenagers!" Bailey clapped her hands like a happy seal, thrilled at this new information. "You like Arizona!"
"I... Pfft, I dunno what you're talking about Miranda."
"Then why can't you look me in the eye?"
Addison blushed.
"I knew it!" Bailey declared.
She couldn't help but smile at her friends infectious excitement. "Why are you so happy about it? I'm still with Derek!"
Bailey waved a hand in the air, brushing her words away.
"Never mind about him, you need to-"
"Hold on a minute! Never mind?! What about all that stuff you told me about marriage? 'marriage is a battle, fight to make it work' and all that, remember?" Addison poked her jokingly.
Once again, Bailey shrugged it off. "Forget what I said, it doesn't apply. The point is, how does she make you feel?"
Addison stared at her incredulously for a moment before thinking about it. She looked over to Arizona's exit point as she'd left. There were a thousand words she could use to attempt to describe the superhuman feelings she got from the blonde, but half the time she couldn't even explain in her own mind what exactly they were, let alone vocalise them.
"Right." She stated simply, after what felt like an eternity. "She makes me feel right."
Bailey's wide grin told her everything she needed to know about her stance on the situation.
"Then you go get her." She replied, patting Addison's leg warmly.
Shocked at her sudden change of opinion, but extremely glad to have her support, Addison simply smiled in return, feeling a sudden surge of emotion for her friends. She really did have the best people in her life.
By the time the day ended, Addison was feeling a happy buzz, heading up the stairs to her apartment with a spring in her step. Deciding she'd waited long enough, and with Bailey's encouragement, she planned to talk to Derek. He was still in surgery at the moment, but she reckoned another hour or so and he'd be about done. She pulled out her phone, ready to text him arranging to meet after so she could do it face to face, but was surprised to see 7 missed calls from Callie, all in a row. Feeling slightly worried, she began to jog the remaining steps to reach Callie's apartment, which was only a few doors down from her own. What she didn't expect however was to bump straight into the brunette who was already there, pacing around outside Addison's apartment.
"There you are! Why the hell didn't you answer your damn phone!" She said, and Addison could detect the stress in her voice.
"Sorry I only just got your calls, what's happened?"
Callie stepped aside and Addison's front door came into view, hanging off it's hinges.
"What the hell?!"
"I found it like this when I got back, about half hour ago – I've been ringing you ever since." Callie said as Addison walked into her home, but she stopped listening the minute she saw the interior. It was like a bomb had gone off.
Everything had been smashed. Her TV, her stereo, her fridge, even all her plates and glasses, with the cupboards to which they previously belonged all with the doors either ripped off or hanging by the hinges like her front door. Her couch had been viciously attacked with what must have been a knife, as stuffing was everywhere and rips and tears decorated it all over. Photos, plants, ornaments and any other form of decoration had been destroyed and thrown on the floor. Even her fish tank had been shattered, and a dozen or so little scaly corpses littered the floor around her. Her wooden chairs lay in bits, having been thrown around or smashed against the wall. Draws had been pulled out, paperwork in shreds, mirrors cracked and broken, puddles of wine oozed into the carpet amongst broken bottles and shards of glass. It was carnage. Nothing was salvageable, everything ruined. She sank to her knees amongst it all, too shocked to even cry.
"Did you call the cops?" She asked, voice devoid of emotion.
Callie nodded. "Right before I called you. They'll be here soon. I don't think anything's been stolen though, which is the weird thing. I.. I'm so sorry Addie."
Addison nodded slowly. "Can I stay at yours tonight?" She asked feebly, and Callie pulled her into a giant hug.
"Of course you can. You can stay until this is sorted. I don't know who the fuck did this, but if we find them, I'm breaking some bones – and not for medicine."
Addison wrapped her arms around her friend. "Thank you."
"I err.. I found this on the door." Callie said, pulling something out of her pocket. "I took it down though, I figured you wouldn't want the cops poking around with questions about it."
She held it up to Addison, who took it. It was a crumpled piece of paper, and when she unfolded it it revealed itself to be an old picture of her and Derek, smiling happily at the camera in some sunny looking resort, arms thrown round each other, clearly in love.
"This was on the door?" Addison asked, stunned and confused.
Callie nodded. "Any idea what it means? It's like.. The only thing that's not damaged." She added, looking around at the chaos. A few feathers floated lazily about, drifting away from their previous residence – her cushions.
Addison shook her head, and allowed the first few tears to fall. "No. I don't know what it means.. Who would do this Callie? Who?"
Callie simply squeezed her tighter.
"I don't know." She answered honestly. Whoever it was had really gone to town on it, the place looked like a war zone.
Best keep that thought to yourself.
"Addison? Are you there – I need to talk to you!" A voice called from down the hall, Addison quickly stuffed the photo in her pocket and hurriedly wiped her eyes.
"Addison? I want to - Oh my god!" Derek Shepherd rounded the corner, and his face turned white at the sight of the place. He rushed over to her. "Addie – what happened?!"
"We don't know." Callie answered for her. "I found it like this."
Derek stood back in disbelief, surveying the scene.
"Oh my god." He said again, shaking his head in disbelief. Callie grimaced in agreement at him over Addison's shoulder.
The three of them stood in stunned silence as they waited for the police to arrive, none of them really believing it. What used to be an incredibly homely apartment was now a collection of fragments at their feet. All they could do was stare at it.
A few blocks away, Ellie smiled to herself as she watched a police car shoot past. Smirking, she dropped her surgical gloves in her pocket. Knowing full well there was no evidence for them to find. Whistling to herself as she pulled out her notepad, she cheerfully ticked 'house + belongings' off her list. She was going to pull Addison's life apart piece by piece, and had already accomplished the first piece. She skipped merrily down the street, ignoring the bemused looks from passers by, jolly in the knowledge that Addison Montgomery was probably standing, right now, distraught in the middle of the rubble that used to be her home. Ellie sighed happily to herself. It had been a good day.
Thanks for reading! :)