No Matter of Chance
By AmboDriver
Disclaimer: As usual, I don't own anything. I'm just playing around with these "If/Then" alternative versions of characters that I adore. They are owned by Shondaland, ABC, and probably a lot of other really rich folks.
A/N: Thanks for the comments folks. They are good encouragement, but I can always use more (hint, hint).
I think I've always said Addie/Mark's kid is a boy, but I was too lazy to look through 27 chapters to make sure, so here's hoping I'm right and I'm not just confusing that with the sequel to Thin Line I'm working on behind the scenes. I got baby boys on the brain!
Chapter 28
Callie looked from Mark to Arizona and just couldn't get it. They don't seem like they'd even like each other, and yet they've become such good friends. It's really strange. Still, the more she felt herself falling in love with the blonde, the more she found herself having to like Mark. After all, he not only saved Arizona's life, but he was there for her when she needed someone to talk to about her feelings for Callie. And deep down she had to admit she kind of liked him, especially once she realized his occasional kidding and flirtatious demeanor really was just for shits and giggles. She looked over at Addison and noticed the bright smile on the redhead's face. And I've never seen her happier. Seems like we've all gotten out of bad relationships and hopefully we've found who we're meant to be with. God I hope so.
Callie's attention returned to Arizona then and she smiled. Her blue eyes were sparkling in the candlelight of their table as she laughed at a joke that Mark had told but Callie had missed. Callie laughed, too, just to make sure she wasn't too obviously not paying attention, but by the slight raise of a blonde eyebrow, it was obvious that she had been caught by Arizona. "I think I need to use the restroom," Arizona said then as her eyebrow rose further in Callie's direction.
"Oh, me too," Callie answered quickly as she gathered her purse from the table and stood to follow Arizona through the restaurant. Callie enjoyed the view from where she walked behind Arizona. This was the first time she really got the chance to really look at her backside, to take in the way her waist flared out to hips that were just full enough without being too wide, to her perfectly rounded ass and down to the slender shapely legs below the hem of her little black dress. Arizona really was beautiful and perfect in Callie's eyes and she was even getting used to the idea that she was hopelessly attracted to a woman. With Arizona it no longer seemed strange that she found all the curves of her body downright hot. In fact, it seemed to be the most natural thing in the world.
When they made it into the bathroom, Callie was relieved to see that it was empty. She leaned back on the door and let out a deep breath. "Not that I'm not having a great time, but I did need a bit of a break from being on display."
"You felt that too?" Arizona asked as she came up and wrapped her arms around Callie and pulled her away from the door. "I do feel like they're walking on egg shells around us."
Callie shrugged as she took a moment to breathe in the relaxing scent of Arizona's shampoo mixed with her perfume. "I think they're just concerned about us. They don't want us to get hurt and let's face it, I think most people might see us as a long shot."
"Probably. But then again they don't see what I see."
"And what's that?" Callie couldn't help but let a hint of a smirk onto her lips.
Arizona laughed a little and pulled out of Callie's arms so that she was looking up into her eyes. "That you are amazing and that when I look at you, I have more hope that things will work out with you than I've ever had with anyone, including she who will not be named while we're having such a wonderful evening out." She gave Callie a soft kiss on her lips. "I think we've got this."
Callie relaxed at Arizona's words and let her forehead fall into the crook of Arizona's neck. "I think so, too," she whispered before placing a gentle kiss on the exposed skin there. It felt so good that Arizona believed they were going somewhere, that she wasn't alone in the hope that this relationship would work out for the long term. The more time she spent with Arizona, the more she hoped that she was the one that she was meant to be with. For the first time in her life, she could even see herself growing old with someone. And damn, she'll be such an adorable old lady. And I just have to be there to see that.
"So, after dinner, do you want to do something?" Arizona took a step back and reached up to adjust Callie's hair over her left shoulder. It was a familiar yet absent touch that warmed Callie's heart.
"You mean you don't want to hang out with Mark and Addie all night long?" Callie certainly didn't. In fact, the sooner they could get away and have some alone time, the better.
"I'd rather spend part of the evening just with you," Arizona answered, her voice dropping flirtatiously.
"Oh?" Callie's stomach flipped at the thoughts of what they could do alone.
Arizona nodded, her blue eyes twinkling with mischief as she ran one finger down Callie's cheek then along her collarbone. She hesitated for a moment and licked her lips before moving the same finger down to run along the edge of Callie's plunging neckline. "You know, this dress is just incredibly mean."
Callie's breath caught as Arizona's finger ran along the material and down her breast. "No, that's mean." It was like her entire body was on fire just from that one finger getting dangerously close to breaking all kinds of rules, and in a public bathroom no less.
"Oh, is it?" Arizona placed a gentle kiss on Callie's collarbone and then another one just an inch lower.
"Arizona," Callie barely breathed out as her pulse began to race, "we're in a bathroom and this is…" She had to swallow hard and lick her lips to think at all before continuing to speak. "This is getting dangerous. Not that I'm not loving it, mind you."
Arizona looked up at Callie, that playful twinkle still in her eyes, and she bit at the corner of her mouth. "Well, then maybe we can continue this after dinner. I promise not to break any rules." She moved her mouth up to suck gently on Callie's earlobe before whispering, "Unless you want me to."
Callie lost her balance and fell back a step before Arizona caught her, keeping her upright. "Um, yeah," Callie said, her mouth not really working in time with her brain. "Sounds like a plan."
Just then a woman pushed the door open and came to a sudden halt to keep from running into the two of them. "Are you two the surgeons?"
"Yeah," Arizona quickly answered as she extricated herself from Callie.
"Well, your friend out there is in labor," the woman said with a thumb pointing over her shoulder. "Her water just broke."
"Oh crap," Callie said as she shot a look to Arizona. "Well, guess those plans might have to wait."
Arizona frowned before looking at the woman. "Thanks for letting us know." She then pushed past her and held the door open for Callie.
The two of them quickly made their way back to their table, where Addison was sitting in her chair shooting dirty looks at Mark as he stood over her with his hand on her hips. She rolled her eyes at him. "We don't need an ambulance."
Mark let out a bark of laughter. "You might not need an ambulance but the leather in my car needs you to have an ambulance. I'm not having you give birth in the backseat of my Mercedes, Addison. I'm kind of thinking amniotic fluid is tough to get out of leather."
The redhead looked over as Callie and Arizona approached. "He cares more for his car than his kid."
Callie shook her head and shot a look at Mark. "Great one there, Sloan. You can come in my car. My kids have long since destroyed the interior and besides, I doubt you'll have the baby before we can get you to the hospital."
"That's what I tried to tell him," Addison continued as she rose to her feet and gathered her purse. "The contractions aren't too strong and they're not even—" She bent over in pain and started to pant as another contraction overtook her.
Arizona walked over to her and held her hand while rubbing the small of her back. "We'll get you there in no time," she said as Addison took a final deep breath and stood up straighter.
"Thanks you two," she said with a smile at Arizona and Callie. She then turned to Mark. "And you can follow in your precious car." She then looked over at Callie. "Let's get going before the next contraction hits."
Callie nodded and then walked over to Mark. "You can pay the check," she added before brushing by him to take Addison's other arm and help lead her out of the restaurant.
As she led Addison through the restaurant she looked over at Arizona, who sent her a slight frown and a shrug. Callie nodded back with a sigh.
Guess there won't be any private time tonight.
Arizona looked down at the small baby and frowned at him as she looped her stethoscope over her neck. She looked over at Callie and sighed heavily. "I don't know how no one saw this."
Callie pinched at the bridge of her nose. "Well, her obstetrician really needs to learn to check heart function more carefully. Poor Addison," Callie said with a shake of her head.
Arizona nodded as she started to walk out of the NICU. "I'll go talk to her and Mark and let them know what is going on."
"I'll stay with him," Callie said without looking up.
Arizona looked at her for a moment and felt her heart swell with the care that Callie showed this tiny human. Sure, he was Addison and Mark's son, and his heart condition meant he was in definite danger, but there was just something about Callie's expression that showed more care than even that demanded. Callie was a special person and Arizona felt truly blessed that she was in her life, hopefully for a very long time.
Arizona finally turned and walked out of the NICU only to run straight into Mark, who was pacing outside the door.
The plastic surgeon looked at her frantically and asked, "How is he?"
Arizona wasn't expecting him to be right there so she hadn't prepared herself to deal with him. But she was used to handling parents who were terrified about their children. "So far he's stable. Either Callie or I will be with him for these first few hours. We'll need to go in and fix the ventricle soon, but I'd like to wait until tomorrow so he's a little stronger. Surgery so soon after the stress of being born can make things more dangerous."
"Will he make it that long?"
Arizona closed her eyes for a second and drew in a slow breath. "You know I can't guarantee that, Mark. We'll do everything we can to make sure he makes it and that he's as strong as he needs to be to survive the surgery."
Mark looked like he was going to argue with her or shake her out of fear but then he finally just deflated with a slight nod of his head. "Can I go see him?"
Arizona nodded. "I'll go talk with Addison and let her know what's going on." Just then her pager went off and she frowned at it. "Crap a 911 page from the chief. I'm not sure how long this will take. Can you go tell Addison once you're done your visit?"
Mark seemed torn again, but then he nodded. "I'll go see him for a few minutes and then go back to her room. Thanks Robbins for everything."
She reached up and placed a quick kiss on this cheek. "We'll get him through this," she said, knowing it was never a good idea to make promises, but wanting to reassure him as much as possible.
She waited until he finally nodded at her and then disappeared into the NICU before turning to leave the peds floor.
Arizona quickly made her way to the chief's office. She listened for a moment at the door and heard two decidedly female but indistinguishable voices through the thick wooden door. She knocked when there seemed to be a lull in the conversation and then opened the door when Chief Grey's voice called for her to. She walked in and came to a sudden stop. Sitting across from the chief was Erica Hahn, her blue eyes regarding Arizona with just a hint of smugness. "Hello, Chief. Doctor Hahn. Am I intruding?"
"No, you're not," the chief responded as she motioned toward the other guest chair. "I called in Dr. Hahn to consult on Dr. Montgomery's baby."
Arizona frowned slightly as she sat, her eyes tracking back and forth between the two women. "I thought Dr. Torres would be helping me with the surgery."
There was something a little unreadable on the chief's face and Erica still had that smug look that Arizona really hated to see on her friend's face. "No," Ellis said as she flipped open a file on her desk. "I want to see what Dr. Hahn can do. Once we merge with Seattle Presbyterian, I'm going to have two cardio heads fighting for one position and I want to go into that situation with as much information as possible."
Oh shit, she's giving her a try out. Callie is not going to be happy. In fact, I bet she'll be downright furious. Arizona took a deep breath and considered how to proceed. She wanted to stand up for Callie, but really there was little she could say that would make sense. After all, no one went against the chief if they wanted to keep their job, and Arizona desperately needed to keep her job. Besides, maybe she'll see that Erica is not the kind of person who should be running a department. She's a talented surgeon, but she's got shitty people skills. Even the chief should appreciate that. "Okay," Arizona finally said. "I'll be happy to bring Dr. Hahn up to speed. I was thinking we'd operate tomorrow after he is more stable. He's already gotten a little stronger since the birth."
Erica nodded curtly. "That will give us some time to look over his scans and labs and get some sleep."
"Okay, well I'll leave you two to it," the chief said. "Dr. Robbins, please do your best to make Dr. Hahn feel welcome."
"Of course," she answered as she rose from the chair. She then turned to Erica. "Would you like to get started?"
"Yes," Erica said as she too rose. She turned to the chief and smiled brightly. "Thank you again for giving me this chance."
Arizona walked out of the chief's office and waited outside for Erica to follow her. Once she was outside and the door was shut, she turned to her friend. "What the hell?"
Erica shrugged. "She called me an hour ago and asked me to come consult on a pediatric case. I had no idea it was a surgeon's kid or that I would be stepping on Torres' toes." One of her eyebrows rose almost accusatorily. "How's that going anyway?"
Arizona rolled her eyes. She had sent Erica a few texts over the past few days to give her some small idea of what was going on with the attack and with her budding relationship with Callie. Erica had seemed generally supportive, but now she worried that it was just more ammunition for Erica in her quest to be the head of cardiothoracic surgery of the new mega-hospital that Ellis Grey was planning. "That's not important here, Erica. This is about work."
"Fine, Dr. Robbins. We'll keep this about work. Can we go to your office and look over the test results? I would like to have some idea what his chances are before we go talk to the parents."
Arizona motioned down toward the bank of elevators across the pedestrian bridge. "You know the way." She fell in step alongside Erica and took a deep breath to quell the bile burning in her throat. Callie is going to be furious when she finds out. I better find a chance to go tell her or this could be bad. Really, really bad.
TBC…
