AUTHOR'S NOTE:: okay, so I had this chapter all written up, a lovely chapter in which callie and erica made up in enough time to go to sloan's wedding together. It was great. But I deleted it all. And then rewrote it as this. Which I personally think is a trillion times better. If it had submitted that other one, I would only have about two chapters after before my story is finished, and I decided I'm just not ready for it to be done quite yet. Plus, I am setting it up for the cutest scene at the wedding reception. Patience, my loyal readers, erica hahn will not stand by and watch ethan west prance of into the sunset with her girl!!!

DISCLAIMER:: not mine. belongs to shonda and abc.

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"Hey you. Good morning." Callie was smiling and pulling the dying lilies out of the vase by Brenna's bed as she woke up, replacing them with fresh ones.

"Hey." Brenna tried to adjust herself, but her frail bones popped in objection and she gave up. She was getting worse. Despite the fact that she had only weeks, maybe days left, she had given no requests to go home. She seemed content on expiring right there in her hospital room.

Callie held out her arms for support and Brenna gladly clung to them and finally was able to shift herself into a decent sitting position. "Thanks Callie."

"Not a problem." Callie smiled brightly.

"How was your trip?" Brenna smiled.

"Hmmm… ten glorious days in sunny Los Angeles? It was awful." Callie laughed, and Brenna managed a snicker.

"You've been gone a lot lately. Out with Ethan and what not." Brenna sounded slightly upset.

"Don't tell me you're jealous. He is my boyfriend, after all."

"Erica's been here a lot lately, in your place."

Callie smiled. "I told you I was glad you two had mended things. I'm happy to have her here in my place. She's the only one I'd trust with your care."

"Callie…" Brenna, put a frail hand on her arm. "I think you two should sit down and talk about things. She has many regrets… and I'm not stupid enough to believe you don't love her anymore. Maybe it's time you both patched things up."

Callie backed a couple steps away. "Did she put you up to this?"

Brenna frowned. "Of course not."

Callie shook her head. She didn't need this right now. "I'll be back to check on you later." She backed out of the room and headed for an on call room to cool off before her temper flared. She had less patience these days than she used to. That sort of thing happens when you're stressed 24/7.

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"What're you doing here?" Callie looked up curiously from the on call room bed as Mark entered.

"I came to talk to you." Mark closed the door behind him.

He is so not a new man. "Yeah, 'bout what?" Callie smirked, subtle suggestion in her tone.

"Erica."

Callie's eyes grew wide. "Not you too! I know you've been hanging out with Erica a lot lately, but…"

"We're friends Callie. As odd as a concept as that once was, we are."

"I thought we were friends Mark." Callie sounded just as hurt as she felt.

"Callie we still are, but…"

"No!" Callie stood, interrupting him. "If you were really my friend, you'd be on my side."

"Callie you know that's not fair…" Mark reached out a comforting hand but she slapped it away.

"No, you know what is unfair Mark? She left me. I loved her! And she left me when I was right! I was right!"

"But you're wrong now." Mark said the words gently and tried to pull her into a comforting embrace as she began to sob. She avoided his arms, pushing past him and out the door. She ran, dodging everyone as she made her way blindly through the halls. Finally, she hit something, or rather, someone hard.

Arms wrapped around her and held her up. For a moment, she was comforted.

That is until her teary eyes cleared enough to recognize the arms around her.

She looked up into the face of Erica Hahn. "You!" The word was barely a whisper, but Erica flinched as if it were a scream. She instantly released her hold on Callie.

"I hope you're happy… they all love you now. Apparently this has all become my fault!"

"Callie, I…"

"Save it for somebody who cares." Callie pushed her way past Erica, the tears burned away by fresh anger and hurt.

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"Hey there, pretty lady." Ethan put a hand on the small of Callie's back and steered her away from the nurses' station. "I have good news." He pulled her in for a quick kiss.

Callie smiled as she pulled back, her first genuine one since early that morning. "I could use some good news after the day I've had."

"So I convinced them to let me stay in Seattle for a couple more days, so I will be able to accompany you to the wedding tomorrow after all."

"Yay!" Callie put a hand on his cheek and directed him in for another kiss.

"But they want me back first thing Monday." There was an anxious edge to his voice now.

"For how long this time?" Callie frowned. She hated it when Ethan had to go away to LA.

"We start filming the new season Tuesday." He said it as if she would automatically understand what he meant.

"Okay." She shook her head to convey that she wasn't quite understanding.

"Callie… that means they want me back for good."

"Oh." Callie nodded, a sharp pang racing through her stomach. She understood now.

"Callie..." He stopped walking and turned her to face him. "I want you to come with me."

"To LA?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. You loved LA. And everyone loved you. You don't have to work. You could spend your days lounging on the beach, or if you prefer to work, there are ten times the hospitals to choose from as there are here. You are one of the best at what you do. You could work at Cedars-Sinai for christ sake. What's left here for you? And you could spend more time with Addison. I know you enjoyed seeing her again."

She had to admit that it was a tempting offer.

Ethan sighed when she didn't immediately respond. "Just think it over, okay? No pressure."

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"Callie! Hey everybody, Callie's here!" Rose giggled then hiccupped, giggled again because of her hiccup, which caused her to hiccup yet again. She was obviously drunk.

Callie raised an eyebrow at Yang who pointed to Meredith Grey and mouthed 'her fault'. Among them was Izzie Stevens, Lexie Grey, and a few of the nurses. She felt a twinge of relief that Erica was not among the group. She was probably out with the boys at the bachelor party instead, seeing as Sloan was now her new best friend.

"You missed my bachelorette party missy." Rose pointed at her with narrowed eyes.

"Sorry, late surgery." Callie walked straight past the group of girls camped out on her living room carpet and to her room. She shut the door and tossed her stuff on the floor before falling on the bed, her back to the door.

Several minutes later there was a soft knock on the door. She didn't answer so the intruder quietly entered and shut the door.

"Listen Rose, it's been a long day and tomorrow's gonna be even longer. I just wanna sleep."

"I'm sorry Callie." The voice that spoke was definitely not Rose's.

Callie sat up and turned to look at Izzie Stevens. She stood near the door, looking as apologetic as she sounded.

"Sorry for what?" Callie was now suspicious. The last time Izzie Stevens had felt the need to apologize it was for sleeping with her husband.

"I'm sorry you got hurt again."

Oh great, Saint Isobel. How very noble of her. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh come on Callie. The whole hospital is divided. I half expect someone to start passing out scrubs that say Team Torres or Team Hahn."

Callie sighed. She knew it was true. Everyone had fallen into one category or the other.

"I know I'm not exactly your favorite person, but I am on your side." Izzie sat on the opposite edge of the bed.

Callie gave a small half-smile. "Thanks."

"Do you want to come out and join the party? Rose is plastered, which means fun times are to be had."

"No, thanks. I think I'll just stay in here. I'm not really in the partying mood." Callie laid back down, her back once again to the blonde.

It was so quiet that Callie thought Izzie really had left.

"This pain you're feeling Callie, it will heal. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow or the next day, but eventually it will heal. There will be life after Erica Hahn."

"I think I was in love with her Izz."

"I know." The blonde placed a hand on Callie's shoulder.

Callie tried to stop them, but the tears came anyway. "It's ironic you know. I became best friends with Erica Hahn when she spent night after night consoling me over you and George and here you are, consoling me over her."

"I'm so sorry Callie, for everything." Izzie squeezed her shoulder in a comforting gesture. That small act of kindness killed any of the bad feelings Callie still had for Izzie Stevens. She felt her forgiveness start its healing work; the tears slowed.

Callie sat up again. "I think I made a mistake Izzie."

"Don't say that. This, Erica, it's a learning experience."

Callie shook her head. "That's not what I'm talking about."

Izzie looked confused. "What are you talking about then?"

"Ethan asked me to move to California with him." Callie paused, the tears starting full force again.

Izzie gasped. "Callie you didn't! You said yes?"

Callie nodded. "I already handed in my resignation. I leave first thing Monday morning."