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… But any original characters are mine. Hands off.

AN: Ok so…I finally missed a morning posting. Sorry peeps, but it couldn't be helped. Hopefully you all will forgive me. Should be able to get another chapter up tonight but can't say for sure. Enjoy!


Chapter 55

Callie's POV:

Seven weeks….seven long, excruciatingly painful weeks. That's how long it has been since I had to say goodbye to my cowgirl, my Arizona…my fiancé. After that night with the massage, which was pretty romantic if I do say so myself, Arizona worshipped me until the second she left. Up until then I was pretty sure she was still hesitant on my position about all of this, but that night…whew, that night was good. And I know this whole thing was my doing, my idea but right now I am kicking myself in the ass. It's not so much the competing, though I do wait up every night after she rides for her to call and say that she is not broken, but it's the being away from each other. Arizona said that we wouldn't see each other but….we don't see each other, like…at all! She's been on TV of course, she's been the only face of PBR since she's returned, but still, it's not the same. But again, it's all my fault so I must suck it up.

These seven weeks have drug on unbearably slow. Work seems to be slammed more than usual, and it is. It's now just turning to spring which means the upstart of a whole new season of sports. Lots of shoulder injuries from softball and baseball. Foot and ankle work from runners, and a whole mess of other 'fun' broken bones but it doesn't help my mood. ….I miss her, plain and simple. Nothing will help except Arizona. Arizona in my arms is what will make this mood I am in go away. The hospital staff is enjoying my less than cherry moods as well. They hadn't seen this Callie Torres since the months following Hahn walking out on me. …almost two years ago now. My interns and residents have started to actually change their course of travel when they see me. If they are on an elevator, and I step on, they will actually get off even though they aren't at their floor yet. …fine, fuck em. I don't want to see them anyways.

And it's not just one nasty, bitter, upset doctor roaming these halls now, but two. Dr. Addison Montgomery has been a huge flaming ball of fun as well since her own cowgirl left. She blames Arizona of course, but doesn't know it was me behind Arizona's change of heart. So at least we have company in our misery, not that it helps but it's nice to know I'm not the only one who is affected by the loss of physical contact with someone. We have to make do with the somewhat daily Skype sessions we can fit in. Arizona is usually pretty busy, lots of promotional and press stuff in the mornings and competition at night. Then there are the long days of driving endless hours. Mix that in with my hectic schedule in the OR and the nights of hundreds of '911' pages that end up being a kid with a broken finger…and it's hard to catch each other. But it happens about twice a week and it always makes for a better day.

The nights are the hardest. Our home is now our home…like it feels like home. A place where I want to live with my wife, have a family and grow old in. And being here without that person makes it feel cold, empty, and huge. Arizona's presence made it feel warm and inviting, now it's just a house that I don't want to be in. Every night, in my sleep, I reach across the expanse of our huge bed and try to grasp for my own personal space heater, but every time I find cold, empty sheets. Her pillows still have her scent on them so I make do with wrapping my limbs around them and burying my face so deep that it's difficult to get air. The traces of her vanilla body splash and her honey coconut shampoo fill my nose with the essence that is uniquely Arizona, and I find some semblance of a peaceful night's sleep. Occasionally, Addison and I have had bitter, spinster, girls nights in and we end up sharing a bed, but still…it's not the same. It's not that body I have memorized after months and months of tedious studying and practicing. It's not the one my own craves the touch of.

If one thing comes from this separation, it's my increased productivity. Like always, I find work keeps my mind off what hurts the most and directs all that thought and feelings to a more constructive purpose. I finished my Cartilage Research paper in two weeks after Arizona left. Did more in those two weeks than I had in 4 months when she was here. What does that tell you? ….Yeah, I'm pathetic. I just miss her so much. But again…my fault so I'm not going to complain, that will just piss Arizona off because she asked me a hundred times if I'm sure and every time I said yes without hesitation. …smart one Torres…frickin moron.

I'm making my rounds one day, barking orders at interns and residents all around when my Chief of Surgery pulls me aside.

"Dr. Torres?" He says, standing in front of me, hands on his hips, white coat draping behind him like a cloak.

"Yes chief?" I ask, not looking up from a chart I am studying.

"Got any plans this coming weekend?" He asks. My head snaps up.

"Ummm…Sir…. Are,are you asking me out? ...Cuz, I'm engaged…to a woman." I say, raising my left hand to show him the ring Arizona and I bought for one another. She's not one to wear rings, or much jewelry in fact besides the necklaces we exchanged for Valentine's Day, and neither am I. Too much of a hassle taking rings on and off for surgery and exams, and if you forget them they rip through surgical gloves something fierce, but we each wanted something for the other to wear to show they are taken. I wasn't about to let my superstar out into the big world filled with fans going crazy for her, especially now that the tour has branded her a 'Hero' because of the shooting, without something to bat the women away with. And she felt the same about me. Said something about Aphrodite being off limits to any other mortals… I don't know.

The chief lets outs out a loud belly laugh. "Oh…no, no. Not at all Dr. Torres… I was just going to tell you that I have been asked to send you to Chicago for their annual medical conference. Your reasearch has stirred up a lot of interest in Sports Medicine and this hospital in fact. …They want you to come and speak." His face is bright with pride and enthusiasm. My stomach rolls, bile raises in the back of my throat. …speak? As in…public speaking?

"Umm…speak Sir?" I ask weakly. He nods energetically. "Like…in front of people? ….With a microphone?" I can feel the color of my face turn to the green side.

"Yes! It would be great publicity for this hospital and for your…" he leans in closer and whispers "…future…" then leans back out and returns to his normal volume "department." …did he just say that I would be head of Ortho…someday? I don't move, or say anything. My brain is working on overload. "So?..." He prompts.

Shaking away my thoughts I respond. "Ummm….yes, of course I will speak in Chicago. …Anything to help the hospital." My stomach is already hating me at the thought of an auditorium filled with people…listening…to me… oh god. What did I commit to?

"Excellent!" He raises his voice for everyone around us to hear. "See this, people… We got a team player right here." He gives me a pat on the shoulder and continues on with his duties. I am left standing, well…leaning against a wall for support. My hands are shaking with just thinking about public speaking. For all the confidence I have in myself, my medical skills and my words…when you put them all together and place me in front of a group of people, I panic.

After about 20 pep talks from my fiancé and Addison, I finally disembark the airplane and step foot on Chicago ground. My stomach has been upset since the Chief talked to me and I've eaten very little. Two days and still no appetite. Taking my hired car from the airport to the hotel I walk up to the check in counter.

"Welcome to the Elysian, what is your name please?" The polite woman behind the counter asks.

"Uhhh….Callie Torres. Or probably Calliope Torres…." I say, not sure how my reservation was made since It was taken care of by the conference staff.

"Of course, Dr. Torres…" The woman smiles at me "…alright, so you will be staying three nights with us here in Chicago?" She asks. I nod. "Great, give me one second." I take this time to look around the lobby. I've been in a lot of hotels, a lot of nice hotels, a lot of 5 star hotels but this place is pretty amazing. "Dr. Torres…" I turn back to the attendant "…here is your key to the Presidential Suite. Just take that center elevator, swipe your key and it will take you right up to your room." The woman says with a bright smile.

"Umm… presidential? ..I-I'm pretty sure that I'm not-"

The clerk cuts me off. "It has been upgraded, there is a note in with the key." I give her a confused look then thank her and walk towards the elevator, bag in tow. Getting there, I open the envelope with the key and find a note.

Congratulations mija. Enjoy yourself, you deserve it… -Papi

oh Papi… Shaking my head, I step on the elevator and swipe my key. A minute later, I step out and into my room. …holy shit! Presidential? ..Try Imperial. This place is built for a king…or a queen. I take the grand tour. Two fireplaces, two bed rooms even though it's just me, and a bath that the titanic could sink in….again. There is a packet on the desk in the main room that has my itinerary for the conference. Looking over it, I see that I speak tomorrow night which means I have over 24 hours to kill. So I decide to order in some room service and spend a lazy night in my humongous room and enjoy a little pay per view TV.

if only I had a beautiful blonde with me. Tonight would be so much more fun.


AN2: So things are…so so. Callie is struggling a little. Wonder if Arizona is as well.