Disclaimer: This is AU. I do not own any of the characters from Grey's Anatomy. I just manipulate them to my will. Also, any line or phrase or setting that seems remotely familiar from any other show, movie or book, also not mine. I borrow…

AN: Here's yalls next fix!


Chapter 28

Callie's POV:

How can she think I'm too good for her? If anything, she's too good for me. I broke her. I hurt the most amazing woman in the world. And now I don't know if she'll even listen to me. I need to tell her that if she keeps up the pace she is going, she will be in a grave by the time she is 35. But more importantly, I need to tell her how sorry I am, that I want another chance at being with her. That I want to be there for every bruise and broken bone she feels compelled to expose herself to. That, if need be, I will rebuild every god damn bone in her beautiful body if that's what it takes for her to be happy, just so long as she is in my life.

I sleep, well, attempt to sleep at the hospital. I wasn't suppose to work tonight, well last night now, seeing as it's a new day, but I couldn't make myself leave the building knowing Arizona was there in pain. Tossing and turning in an uncomfortable on-call bunk, I can't turn my brain off. All the things I need to say, all the things I said that I wish I could take back. But one scene from before keeps replaying in my mind. It happened after Arizona had been admitted, and had a room full of guests. Teddy had slipped out to get some coffee and we ran into each other.

*Flashback*

Coffee, I need coffee. I make my way to the coffee cart but end up coming face to face with Teddy.

"Hey, sorry about that Teddy, didn't see you there." I say, trying to sound cheerful.

"Dr. Torres." She says coolly. …She knows.

"She told you…" I say, more of a statement than a question. I look around for an escape route.

"Enough, yes. But it's not any of my business…"

"You're right, its not." And I turn to make a quick exit, but Teddy grabs my arm and pulls be back to face her.

"…but I need to clear one thing up." And pulls me into a supply closet.

I stand on the far end of the closet, arms crossed over my chest. Teddy is standing in front of the door, blocking my exit.

"This whole idea that Arizona is playing you…that you are just the chick of week is ridiculous. I've known Arizona for…three days? But I know, I KNOW, that she is one of kindest women I've ever met. And she was crazy about you! Then you go and compare her,…tell her she is just like the rest of the guys…guys who actually DO play women for fun."

She looks at me, but I give no response.

"Do you realize how hard she had it? How much she had to fight to get to where she is? The harassment and the jokes and the looks. …I know the medical field is still male dominated, but imagine trying to break into the orthopedic surgery field when EVERY other surgeon is a man. YOU are the first, the only, and…if the others have anything to say about it…the last. Can you imagine the fight you would have to be taken serious? The abuse you would take? The slurs and degradation."

Still, I remain silent.

"Arizona is the furthest thing from those guys. They made her life a living hell. But she made it…she won. She's the top dog, the one everyone wants to be. And she is still who she was raised to be. The fight didn't change her. But one week with you, Callie…and she's lost."

It's starting to sink in, the assumptions I've made, the words I said that were completely baseless.

"Teddy, she's leaving…"

"Yes, but that doesn't mean she wouldn't come back." Teddy says.

"There is nothing in Seattle for her! Why would she?"

"Because you are in Seattle…." Teddy says with a slight smile "Now I suggest you get your head out of your ass and talk to her. She's stubborn, even in the three days I've known her, I can see it. But you need to talk to her, and you need to let her talk to you."

We stand in silence for a couple seconds, Teddy studying my face.

She nods her head and says "I've said enough….I should get back." She turns and opens the door. "Its up to you Callie, she won't take the first step…. All depends on how are you hard you are willing to fight for her." She steps out, the door closes behind her, leaving me alone in the dark.

*End Flashback*

I lapse into a fitful nights sleep, hearing everything around me. A cart being pushed down the hallway, some one entering the on-call room and sliding into the squeaky bunk above me, nurses chatting a little too happily for this hour of the day. I hear it all, but it doesn't drown out the scenes playing in my head. I see the future, with a blue eyed blonde waking me up with the sounds of her guitar, playing a melody created for my ears only. I don't know if they are good dreams…dreams of the future in store for me. Or nightmares…dreams of the future I miss out on because of the terrible things I said.

The singing of my pager finally brings me out of my shallow sleep. I don't know what time it is, but I know I can't work today. I can't work today because I need to talk to her. Talk with her… And I am going to stay and talk with her until both of us have nothing left to say…

I read my pager and see that I am being paged to Arizona's room. My heart sinks ….oh god, she's crashing. Then I see it's not 911, or any code. ….maybe she is ready to talk?

I make my way to the surgical floor first and push all my surgeries to another day. The nurse was definitely not happy about have to reschedule, but she will get over it. …if she is ready to talk, I will make sure we have as much time as we need.

Standing at the nurse's station just down the hall from Arizona's room I see Little Grey and Kepner looking over some charts. I approach them "How's she doing?"

They look at me confused. They have a handful of patients they are responsible for treating at this time, unlike myself who has the health and well being of only one person in mind. "Arizona…." I add.

"Oh, 1126…"Kepner catches on, and pulls out a chart from a stack and peruses it "uhhhh….everything looks good so far. No signs of brain bleed, passed all neurological function tests. Right eye is still alittle blurry, but that's of no major concern." I nod…good, this is good. Damn, Arizona…I don't know how you got so lucky.

Lexie cuts in "She has also requested to be taken off her pain medication." I chuckle….stubborn, stubborn Arizona.

I start walking towards her room but turn back and ask "Kepner, could you handle my pages for a couple hours?" I hold out my pager for her to take.

She looks at me, a mixture of shock and fear on her face.

"Uhh…uh Dr. Torres, I uhh..I-I."

"Calm down, calm down. It's just for a couple hours, and I've pushed all my surgeries until tomorrow. Only pages you should get are consults. You can handle those, right?"

"I..I..I.."

"If it's anything major, call Dr. Chang for assistance."

Now she's just silent. I've never told her to consult with Dr. Chang before. If there is a problem, people come to me, not him.

"Dr. Chang?..." She asks, taking my pager.

"Yes, he IS the head of orthopedics…he should be able to handle anything serious." ….hopefully. I turn and make my way to her room. The door is closed and shades are pulled. I take off my lab coat, and remove my ID card. I want to be on as even level of footing as possible. I am not her doctor right now. I am the woman who is going to grovel for another chance. Teddy's question keeps replaying in my mind "How hard are you willing to fight for her?" …like my life depends on it, because it does. I knock on the door and wait for an answer.

I don't want to live a life without Arizona.


AN2: So, any guesses on how the talk is going to go?