AN: Full disclosure, I haven't watched Grey's in a lot of years. I rewatched this episode earlier this week and realized how much of it I had forgotten. Anyway, thank you for all the favorites, follows, and reviews. I'm so excited that this little story is still finding an audience! Let me know what you think!
"Somewhere you have to be, Dr. Rogers?"
Cynthia glanced over the operating table at Richard Webber. "No, Dr. Webber. Just right here, saving lives."
"Then might I suggest you stop looking at the clock every ten seconds and concentrate on that leg?
"Yes, sir."
"This is what happens," Dr. Webber sighed under his breath, "when you go out drinking with department heads until all hours of the night."
Cynthia faked a dramatic gasp. "Have you been gossiping, Dr. Webber? I always thought that was beneath you." Cynthia noticed her resident from Seattle Pres look up at this new topic in interest.
"I don't gossip. I don't care what you do outside of this hospital until it affects my patients. Is what happened last night with you and Dr. Torres affecting my patient?"
Cynthia shook her head and gave Dr. Webber a warm look. She's always appreciated the older man's attitude and commitment to his patients. "A) Nothing happened with Dr. Torres last night. Stop listening to the rumor mill-you know how often it's wrong. B) Your patient is going to walk again in no time. I'm all done here." Turning to the resident at her elbow, she continued, "Can you close up for me? I actually do have lunch plans and I'm very late."
"Yes, Dr. Rogers."
"And don't you go listening to the rumor mill either."
"Yes, Dr. Rogers."
Bustling towards the cafeteria, Cynthia stopped short when her best friend stepped out from a hallway and directly into her path.
"Didn't you have plans for lunch, Cyn?"
"Move! I'm late! Surgery ran long and now Little Torres is probably sitting in the cafeteria thinking I stood her up." Cynthia tried to step past her friend but Arizona put a hand on her shoulder to keep her in place.
"Probably not stood up, though, right? Since you had plans and not a date?"
Cynthia rolled her eyes and physically moved Arizona out of her way before taking off again down the hallway.
Callie looked up from the chart she had been finishing at the nurse's desk and caught Arizona's eye. "What was that about? Is she okay?"
Arizona laughed, "She's fine. I was just busting her balls about your sister."
"My sister?"
Waving a hand in the air, Arizona explained, "They were having lunch together today. You already know Cyn has the hots for...well, everyone. She gets flustered easily."
"And you're not above exploiting that fact?"
"I am, in fact, not above that."
Callie laughed and glanced at her watch. "I didn't realize it was so late in the day. I should probably go eat something too." Putting the chart away, Callie fully turned towards Arizona and put her hands in her pockets. "What are you up to? Lunch?"
"I was actually hoping to find you and tell you about that case I wanted us to work on together. I've got some new interns I'm breaking in-want to make them get us food from the cafeteria and I can fill you in in my office?"
Callie grinned at the other doctor and nodded. "That sounds good to me."
Finishing the last bite of her sandwich, Callie put the folder on Arizona's desk and leaned back in her chair. "I think we've got a good plan here. I wish we could get Miranda Bailey's eyes on this...she was always so great with the details of a case."
"We could ask Karev?" Arizona offered up, knowing the two doctors had worked together often before Miranda was mysteriously let go by Dr. Webber.
"I am not getting anywhere near that messy group of residents. Not for a long time. Until the blood settles" At the quizzical look from the blond doctor, Callie continued, "Have you not heard?"
"I've actually gotten pretty good at side-stepping the rumor mill around these parts. I try to stay out of it and just focus on my patients."
Letting out a soft laugh, Callie shook her head. "Impressive. You're lucky-you worked in other hospitals before this. No one here knows the dirty, stupid things you did as an intern. This place...we may be number one in the country, but we are more incestuous than the Chief would want anyone to know. I had almost forgotten how bad we can be until recently. There is some crazy stuff happening around these hallways."
Arizona felt her breath catch and her mind race. "What, um...what dirty things did you do as an intern, Calliope?"
Smiling at the other doctor, Callie shook her head once more. "You don't want to know. If you've kept out of the rumor mill this long, you're better off not hearing that particular saga."
"I thought we were friends," Arizona hated the almost pleading tone of her voice.
"Friends don't need to know about all that crap. It's in the past. I am a married woman now." Her expression fell and she faltered, "Well...I guess I'm actually not. Anymore. Or soon-to-not-be."
Arizona let Callie sit in her thoughts for a moment before prompting her, "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No. Please don't misunderstand-I very much appreciate your friendship and I'm sure I'll take you up on it sometime soon, but I actually...don't have anything to say right now. I still have to tell my sister. Owen and I need to figure out what to tell the kids. I can't even think about what my parents will say...or do. It all feels so big and daunting. I'd rather just sit here with my friend and pretend my life isn't upside down."
Smiling, Arizona nodded. "I'm a very good friend."
"So I've been told."
Arizona took a deep breath and tried to convince herself that friends could still feel their heart skip a beat when they realized that the rambling tendencies of the beautiful woman in front of them was utterly adorable.
"I'm so sorry!" Cynthia ran up to the table Aria was sitting at and put her hands on it to give herself a moment to catch her breath. "Surgery. Leg. Took forever." She took a deep breath and sent a small smile to Aria. "Sorry."
Aria laughed at the woman in front of her and crumpled her now-empty bag of chips. "No problem. I saw your name on the board and figured you got held up."
"You looked for my name on the board?"
"You know, just...when I was passing by it."
Cynthia was sure she saw the other woman start to blush before Owen walked up to the table and looked down at his sister-in-law. "Where's Callie?"
"She's your wife, Owen. How would I know?"
"Yeah, for now."
"Wait, what? What happened last night?"
"She didn't tell you?"
Cynthia looked between the two doctors with interest.
"I haven't seen her yet today."
"We're done. You got what you wanted and you don't have to deal with me anymore."
"You're a grump and a dope, Owen Hunt." Aria let out a deep sigh, "I just wanted everyone to be happy. You know what? We're never going to agree on anything and we're never going to understand the other's point of view, brother. Let's drop it please." She glanced at Cynthia and mouthed "Sorry."
Cynthia slowly sat down at the table and looked up at Owen in time to see him spot someone across the cafeteria. She followed his gaze and saw an older woman walking right towards him.
"Uh...Aria," he stammered.
Aria noticed his strange expression and turned, standing up when she spotted the woman and going pale.
"Owen. Mija."
"Hi, Mom."
"Mrs. Torres."