12.
"So, to sum up: Webber is replaced as director of the program, because the program itself needs change, and the new program came with a new director? And even though we don't know if the boards' opinion is going to be worth anything here, we're going to have one anyway?" Callie summarizes Arizona's report.
"Yes, exactly. We need to take a stand here. And not just for the residents, or for Dr. Webber, but for everyone. Callie, I'm telling you, the hospital turned into high school! Everyone is at each other's throats, constantly. We really need to decide and move on, you know? Take position. Before this feud gets out of hand."
"Sounds fun," Callie reacts dryly. "Tell me more about the program."
Arizona tries to paint the picture, clear and objectively. Which isn't easy.
"And this Dr. Minnick you're telling about? Is she good for the hospital?" Callie asks from the other side of the line.
"I believe she is," Arizona nods, even though Callie can't see her. "She's really achieving something. And the residents love her."
Callie stays quiet for a moment, before she continues, in a slightly different tone: "And is she good for you?"
The question throws Arizona off-balance. She clearly underestimated Callie's skills of still reading her voice this well, even after all this time. She realizes that the truth will mean emotions, in one way or another. Which could work for her, but just as well against her. So not saying anything might be the smartest move. Playing it safe. But then again, this is Callie. Lying wouldn't work.
"Yes, I think she is," she answers honestly, hoping for the best.
"Okay." Unlike Arizona's, Callie's voice gives nothing away. She jumps back into business mode, as if that one question is never asked. "If you can send me all the official information you've got, including today's minutes, I'll try to read it right away. I do need to talk to the others as well, I'll try to get on the phone with them later today. As soon as I make my decision I'll inform Jackson about my vote, so he can report back to the Foundation."
Arizona thanks her, glad that they are one step closer to leaving this whole matter behind them.
"No problem," Callie responds, then moving on in a less formal tone: "Sofia just got home. Do you wanna talk to her?"
Arizona exhales, and a smile appears on her face. "I really, really do!"
... ...
Eliza reaches over the table and takes Arizona's hand into her own. "Hey, you did all you could. It's out of your hands now."
Arizona just told her all about the board meeting and her phone call with Callie. She hates the fact that she can't tell her anything more, anything reassuring. Not that Eliza seems to need the extra comfort and support; even though it's her job that's on the line here, she's actually the one trying to ease up Arizona tonight.
She drops her fork on her plate. Her appetite is gone. "How are you not more upset about this? You could lose your job!" she questions with a raised voice.
Eliza, still in the mood for food, takes another bite, then puts her cutlery down as well and picks up her glass. "You know it took me weeks to get you here, sharing a meal with me, right?" she smiles, calmly. "I'll save being upset for later."
Arizona doesn't want to laugh the matter away, but Eliza's smile is quite contagious. She relaxes a little bit. "We had dinner before."
Eliza chuckles. "Pizza on the floor of a hotel room is not dinner!"
Arizona picks up her fork again, giving her meal another chance. "It was good though," she shrugs. Eliza can't deny that.
"It really was," she grins, before taking another sip of her wine.
... ...
"The thing is..." Eliza speaks up after a moment of comfortable silence, yet she doesn't finish her sentence. For some reason she looks more serious all of a sudden. Arizona looks at her, expectantly. Eliza fiddles with her fingers. "The thing is, I got another job offer," she finally blurts out. "I haven't signed anything yet, but if I would lose this one, at least there's a good alternative. A very good one, actually."
"But that's great!" Arizona exclaims. "Is it here in Seattle as well?"
"No. No, it's not," Eliza shakes her head, her smile completely vanished now. "It's i-"
"Please tell me it's at least in Washington!" Arizona interrupts her, feeling like she really can't handle another New York-disaster.
Eliza sighs, her face showing regret for the news she's about to share. "It's in Dubai."
Arizona swallows, even though there's no food in her mouth. "D- Dubai? That's... very far away."
Eliza nods slowly. "I know. But it's an incredible offer. Two consecutive contracts, one for a public hospital, one for a private clinic - both wanting to start a Residency Program, using my method. So it will be a lot of work," she explains, quietly adding, "A year at least."
"Wh- When would you start?" Arizona asks. She wants to sound enthusiastic, supportive even, but she knows she's failing immensely.
Eliza opens her mouth to answer, but gets interrupted by the waiter, who's picking up their half-empty plates and asks them about deserts. She glances at Arizona, before turning towards the waiter again.
"I think we need more wine."
... ...
"If I accept the offer, then I need to be there this Monday," Eliza answers Arizona's earlier question.
"This Monday?!" Arizona cries out, wide-eyed, "How's that even possible?"
Eliza coughs, struggling to find the right words. "Well, I would have to leave tomorrow. So I need to hear from Bailey by tomorrow morning."
"What if you don't? What if there's no answer yet?" Arizona asks, afraid she already knows what Eliza is going to say.
"Then I have to break the contract with Bailey myself. I can't take the risk of waiting too long and then missing out on this opportunity."
Arizona shifts on her chair, nervously, not wanting to ask the next question, but needing the answer anyway.
"And what if you can stay here?" she cautiously asks.
Eliza looks away, avoiding Arizona's gaze. When their eyes do meet again, she looks nothing like the overly self-confident woman Arizona met four weeks ago. Her face is clouded with despair.
"Then I still might go," she answers quietly, her voice filled with apology. "I'm not sure yet, there's a lot to think about. But I believe in taking chances - and boy, this is a huge chance."
Arizona doesn't know what to say. The offer does sound great, but not to her. She doesn't want Eliza to go! She knows that, without any doubt. Yet she has nothing to make her stay. They aren't there yet, she doesn't even know if that's where they are heading; to a joint there. So far, they've just been here. In the moment, fooling around. Asking her to stay would be as ridiculous as Eliza asking her to come along - to freaking Dubai.
"What are you thinking?" Eliza softly speaks up, noticing Arizona's silent struggle.
A deep sigh escapes Arizona's lips. She looks up. "I'm thinking how life is no romantic comedy."
Eliza blinks, a sorrowful smile on her lips. "You mean you're not going to chase me to the airport?" she asks in a weak attempt to lighten the mood.
Arizona snorts. "Would it help?"
Heaving another sigh Eliza's smile fades away as she draws her bottom lip between her teeth. She doesn't answer the question. Instead she moves a little closer to Arizona, so she can hold her hand again, and surprises her by quietly picking up on the song that's been playing in the background.
"Don't call me baby, unless you mean it. Don't tell me you need me, if you don't believe it," she softly sings along, her voice hardly louder than a whisper. "So let me know the truth, before I dive right into you..."
Arizona watches her closely, baffled by these unexpected words, then suddenly spots that damn shimmer in Eliza's eyes again.
She grabs her napkin and tries to hit Eliza with it, grumbling and playfully angry, but Eliza is quick enough to duck away. She hits her almost-empty glass instead. Because of her sharp reflex she manages to avoid a mess, but being distracted by all this, she does miss the fact that Eliza quickly wipes the source of the shimmering from her eyes...
... ...
Hardly a minute later the waiter returns with their new drinks. However, their attention isn't drawn to him or the glasses, but to Arizona's purse that is suddenly making a beeping sound. She's getting paged.
"Are you kidding me?!" she groans as she checks the message.
"911?" Eliza frowns.
Arizona shakes her head. "No, but close. I do have to go. It's Faye. I'm so sorry," she apologizes, "I- I hate to leave like this."
Eliza smiles understandingly, knowing the drill. She gets up. "I'll walk with you."
They leave money on the table, not wanting to wait for the check, and leave the small restaurant together. "You're okay to drive?" Eliza asks.
Arizona nods, she only had one glass of wine. Silence falls over them as they walk to Arizona's car, which is parked a little bit down the road, both caught up in their thoughts - realizing all to well that this just might have been their last night together, now abruptly ended by Arizona's duty call.
When they reach the car, Arizona throws her bag in there, but doesn't get in herself. She turns towards Eliza, a sad smile on her face. Eliza clears her throat, breaking their silence. "Well, it's been a hell of a ride."
Arizona swallows, a weak attempt to get rid of the lump in her throat. Her mouth is dry as a dessert. "I wouldn't have wanted to miss it for the world," she sighs.
For a brief moment they just stare at each other. Then Eliza pulls her in by the lapel of her jacket and bends in. She gently presses her lips on Arizona's.
The kiss is almost like a peck, although it lasts a little longer. When they break it, they don't move, they just look at each other again. Their eyes are telling the same story: this kiss can not be their last one.
So they bend in again. And again. And again.
Until Arizona finally has the strength to get in her car and drive away.
She feels like screaming.
... ...
