A/N: I'm not sure what parts of the episode I'm gonna keep, because what I have planned is totally different. Also most medical terms and situation will be from the show. Since I don't know squat about surgery and medicine.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. All characters, storyline, dialogues belong to their rightful owner. Shonda Rhimes and maybe a few other shows.
CALLIE POV
"Is it true?" I hear Yang say as she walks up to me in the scrub room.
"Is what true?" I questioned
"That the lady that was in Riley's room this morning is the new head of Peds."
"Yeah that's true."
"Shit." She whispered
"What was that?"
"Dr. Torres do we still have Riley's surgery scheduled for tomorrow?"
"Yes, we do." I say confidently.
"Really? I figured after this morning. She cancelled it."
"Well I need to talk to her, but I already got the okay from Dr. Webber."
"Okay, do you have any room for me on your service today?"
"Yes. You can do atherosclerosis endarterectomy." I say as I stop scrubbing in.
"Dr. Torres a first year resident can do that."
"Good, then you'll do a fantastic job. When you're done here, find Altman. She has a few surgeries scheduled, you can hop on." I say as I walk out of the scrub room.
"Torres, how you feeling? Did you tell Roller girl off?"
"Roller girl?"
"She Robbins." He says as he takes a bite of his apple.
"No, I haven't. I've been busy all day. I'll probably head over after we eat lunch."
"Great, can I watch? You two would be so hot together."
"Mark! I don't want her like that and I don't even know if she likes women. More importantly I don't even care." I snapped.
"Okay, okay, geez. Sorry Callie. Don't need to get upset at me." He says holding is two hands up.
"I'm sorry Mark, you're always trying to help me. And I keep yelling at you. I'm just upset about Riley's case."
"Don't sweat it, I know you Callie."
"Still, that doesn't excuse my attitude."
Arizona POV
I'm walking down the hallway of my peds ward with Alex, when I hear my name being called and I know who it is. She's very persistent, I'll give her that.
"Dr. Robbins a word?" Callie says with a bit too much attitude for me.
"Actually I'm still pretty busy."
"You're too busy to talk about one of the kids on your Peds ward? Who needs a lung transplant, I would think a world renowned surgeon as yourself would make the time."
I stop in my track and turn around. "You know what, you have a good point. Dr. Karev, you go enjoy lunch, I'll see you after."
"Whatever." He says as he walks away.
"Are you serious? You were blowing me off to go to lunch?"
"Hey, lunch is important."
"More important than a child!?" She yelled
"I was just joking."
"Well you suck at jokes, are you gonna talk to me or not?"
"Okay, come let's go to my office."
I open the door and I offer the chair that's in front of my desk. She walks over and sits down.
"Okay, I'll cut to the chase you are not implanting an artificial lung into my patient."
"Dr. Robbins-"
"No, Dr. Torres-"
"You know what, you can't cancel my surgery. I already got the okay from the chief before you were ever here. I just wanted to give you the chance to understand what I'm doing, but since you're so closed minded. I'm just gonna go ahead and do it." She says bolting out of her seat, heading to the door.
"Dr. Torres-"
"You know what, save it Dr. Robbins.-"
Softening my tone, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. I'm not a close minded person. This surgery is just too much for a child. Especially a child in Riley's severe condition."
Callie turns around shuts the door and leans against it with her arms crossed. "I know you keep saying, that it isn't FDA approved, but if you'd let me finish. You would know that I got emergency approval, it's gonna buy Riley more time to get a real lung. Keep him from being sedated and ventilated. I think it's worth exploring. And like you said Riley's condition is severe and you know just as much as I do that he won't make it, if he doesn't get a lung."
"Well I believe he should be sedated and let his body heal."
"You really think that's the best option for him? I know you don't know me, but I am a damn good surgeon and I'm great at my job. So I'm gonna do this with your understanding or not."
She does make a good point. Without a lung transplant. Riley won't even make it to Friday. So I make a decision. Timmy says she's the best, and the way she speaks with confidence. I can't help but slowly believe her.
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"This is very hard for me cause I am totally against this treatment, but I'm gonna have to trust you Dr. Torres. Just know I'll be in that OR watching your every move."
"I wouldn't want it any other way, Dr. Robbins." She says flatly as she walks out the door.
"Excuse me Dr. Webber may I have word please?"
"Sure what is it Dr. Robbins?"
"Dr. Torres has a scheduled surgery on Riley Smith tomorrow."
"Ahh yes the artificial lung." He says looking up from his desk.
"So, you agree with her that this is the best treatment for him."
"I believe that this surgery is Riley only chance to live. So yes I agree with her."
"I understand Dr. Webber. I've heard all day how good of a surgeon she is. I just wanted your input."
"Dr. Robbins, let me put it this way, if I needed a person to do my heart surgery. I'd chose her in a heartbeat." He laughs.
"Get it she's a cardio surgeon? Heartbeat? Get it?"
"Yes I get it." I fake laughed.
"Dr. Robbins, I know you haven't been here long, considering today is your first day. Let me tell you a little something about Dr. Torres. You and I both know cardio surgeon get this bad rap about being narcissistic, but Callie she's different. I've never seen anyone who cares as much as her. She would never do a surgery, if she knew it wasn't in best interest of her patients."
"I know, I can tell she cares. I'll see you tomorrow chief."
"Good night Dr. Robbins."
I walk outside of the hospital, and I see Teddy and Jr. sitting on the bench waiting for me. "Looks like you had a long first day." Teddy laughs.
"You wouldn't believe. Your boss is something else. I've never met such a...a.."
"Passionate person?" Teddy announced.
"Hardcore? Strong-willed surgeon?" Timothy laughs.
"No, I don't know, she's persistent and..."
"Beautiful?" Teddy laughs.
"Gorgeous?" Timothy laughs even harder.
"You guys are annoying." I say throwing my hands in the air walking away from them.
"Okay, we're sorry Arizona. We will stop teasing you. Right Jr?" She says looking at Timothy.
"I'm not sorry. I think Arizona has a crush on a certain cardio surgeon."
"I don't have a crush. I'm just looking out for my patient. Okay?"
"We get it Arizona. We were just pulling your leg. Do you wanna get a drink at the bar down the street?"
"There's a bar down the street? Wow that's brilliant, but no. I need to rest so I can wake up early and watch Dr. Torres' procedure on Riley."
"You know, when she pulls this off it will be ground breaking right?" Teddy says.
"You mean if she pulls it off."
"Arizona, if there's one surgeon who I believe can pull off miracles besides you, it would be her. Her techniques and movements are flawless. So don't go doubting her, cause I promise. She will make you eat your words."
"So she's that good huh?" I say sarcastically.
"Zona, Teddy is right. Callie is that good." Timothy says with a serious face.
"Okay, you guys. I'll see if she's as good as she you guys say she is."
Callie POV
I wake up extra early and drink my coffee. Last night Aiden slept over Mark's apartment. Since it would be alot easier than waking up a sleepy toddler. I finished my coffee and get ready to leave to the hospital.
Inside the X-ray room, I'm reading the most recent scans on Riley, and from the looks of it. We need to do his surgery today. Just then Arizona walks in.
"Good morning Dr. Torres." She says a little to bubbly for me first thing in the morning.
"Mm morning."
"So how does everything look?" Arizona asked.
I step out of her way for she can look for herself. "Okay, let's go talk to the parents."
"You're coming with me to talk to them?"
"Yes of course. I talk to every child's parent before they go into surgery."
I look at her with a small smile on my face. "Sorry the old Head of Peds never talked to the parents with me."
"Yeah well I'm sure that's one of the few reasons why I got the job. You ready to go?"
"Yeah let's go, lead the way."
We walk into the patient's room and Arizona the first to speak."Hi, Mr. And Mrs. Smith my name is Dr. Arizona Robbins and I'm the new head of Pediatrics. I know you, had the pleasure of working with Dr. Starks, but I will be taking over, so if you need anything please let me know. I know that Dr. Torres has run through everything with you."
"Yes she has." Mrs. Smith answered.
"Awesome, I've heard nothing but amazing things about her. So I'm sure she will do her best work. Right Dr. Torres?"
Wow, now I can understand why people talk so highly of her. Arizona bed side manner is pretty spot on. If I was the parent sitting in these chairs, she would calm me down. Did she just compliment me? Now I wanna know who she was talking to.
"Yes of course. Mr. And Mrs. Smith my resident will be in here in 20 minutes to prep Riley and take him down for surgery." I smiled.
We walk out and head down to the scrub room. Never once talking to each other.
Finally Arizona speaks up, "Dr. Torres I'm gonna ask you one last time-"
"Yes I'm positive, Dr. Robbins. So please back off or I will have the chief remove you from my OR before we even step into it!"
Arizona doesn't say anything, she just nods her head at me.
That's exactly how the next 10 hours went. She was quiet and observed. I was actually surprised she didn't say anything.
Arizona POV
Okay, I don't want to admit this, but Dr. Torres might have the most precise hands I have ever seen. Teddy wasn't lying when she said her techniques and movements were flawless, cause they were.
As I watched her from the side of the room, I couldn't helped but be amazed. Callie had such a presence in the OR. She knew exactly how to run it and I can see why Teddy is so good now. When I looked up into the gallery, it was packed. I could see people with notebooks ready to take in any information she was willing to share. The surgery went perfect. As she and Yang closed,I walked to the door.
"Leaving already Dr. Robbins? She says and I can tell she's smirking behind her mask.
"Yes, I'm gonna go, you did great work in there Dr. Torres and Dr. Yang. Page me when you talk to the parents."
"Ok."
I leave to go back to my Ped's ward to check out other patients. I had a few new consults. When I get to my ward, I see my brother leaning against the nurses station pretending to read a chart. And I know exactly why he's here- to boast about Callie.
"You wanna hear something funny I just heard?"
"No, not really."
"Come on Arizona, humor me for a second."
I roll my eyes at him,"Okay, what did you hear?"
"I heard that a certain cardio surgeon just finished a flawless lung transplant on a child. I believe she's the first in the country to do that." He bends over laughing.
"Whatever, I have patients. I need to go." I say walking off.
"Come on Arizona, don't be such a poor sport. Just cause she proved you wrong."
I turn around and walk up to him, "I never said she was wrong. I was just looking out for my patient, that's all. The treatment she chose worked. So she did what was best. In the end, the patient benefitted. It doesn't matter who is right or wrong."
"Zona, I was just kidding." He says apologetically.
"I don't know Jr. Were you?" I said picking up the charts and walking away.
Callie POV
I just finished scrubbing out of the scrub room, when I page Arizona to meet me at the nurses station, so we can meet with Riley's parents. When I walk out, I'm met with a bunch of celebratory cheers.
"Thank you, everyone. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We need to wait for the patient to wake up and run a new set of scans."
I turned to Cristina. "You did good work in there."
"Thanks Dr. Torres."
"Well I'm gonna go talk to the parents. You can check with Altman, if she needs you."
I walk to the nurses station and I see Arizona standing there waiting for me. "Lets go tell Riley's parents the news."
"Sure, lead the way Dr. Robbins."
We enter Riley's room, and I let Arizona take the lead. "Dr. Torres has some good news to share with you today." She smiles at me. I look at her shocked. Usually most surgeons like to take lead and take all the credit.
"Mr. And Mrs. Smith. Riley surgery went as perfect as it could be. The artificial lung is working, and this will give him time to get a new lung. Of course we need to wait for him to wake up and run a few more test. But other than that, the hard part is over."
The parents jump up and hug me. "Thank you Dr. Torres. We owe you everything."
"That's not necessary. I just want to see Riley running around and playing soccer again."
"Thank you again."
"Just doing my job, speaking of which I should get back to it. I'm done for the night, but I will be on-call. Page a nurse when he wakes up and they will come get me."
"Please let us know, if there's anything you need." Arizona smiled.
Arizona walks out ahead of me, never turning her back or saying anything. She just carries on. I mean I didn't want her begging on her knees saying she was wrong, but a little apology would be appreciated.
"Right on, Torres! I heard you just rocked your surgery!" Mark yells as he walked into my office.
"Mark tone it down please. I just did a 10 hour surgery on a child. I'm mentally and physically exhausted, and I miss Aiden. I didn't even get to see him today."
"Torres he's with Red. He'll be fine. Don't even worry about him. He understands more than you think he does."
"Don't get me wrong I love saving lives, but sometimes I miss Aiden so much, it makes me think if being a surgeon is worth it."
"Callie it would be a death sentence if you stopped operating. How many lives do you save a year? A week? A day?"
"Thanks Mark. Well I'm tired. I'm on call then I work another 15 hours and I'm off for the weekend."
"See you later Torres. We'll need celebrate your surgery."
Arizona POV
It's the next morning after Riley's surgery, and I just checked on him and everything seems to be running smoothly. After I finished rounds, I went back to my office to do some paperwork.
A few hours into my paperwork, I get a 911 page to Riley's room. I run like hell all the way to his room and when I get there, his chest is covered in blood. His parents are crying hysterically.
"Someone get his parents out of here and someone page Torres STAT!!!" I yell.
I take a calming breath and look at him.
"Riley, look at me. You're gonna be okay. Dr. Torres is on her way and we are gonna fix this. Got it buddy?"
"Got it Zona." He whispered.
He seemed to be okay, but you can never tell. So I zone in and try to figure out what's wrong. Then I see that he detached the connector to the artificial lung, So I grab the clamps and clamp off the cannula to stop the bleeding. Just then Dr. Torres comes bolting in.
"What happened!?"
"He detached the connector, so I clamped it to stop the bleeding. I told you this was a bad idea. I knew a child wouldn't be able to handle this surgery."
"Calm down, let's just book an OR and get him hooked back up."
"Are you trying to be obtuse? I just said it's too dangerous, he has to go back on ECMO."
"Hold on Dr. Robbins. Look." She says pointing to the pulse oximeter.
I look up and I see his oxygen levels are almost close to perfect.
"His stats read 93 and he's never been over 79. His respiratory rates are good."
Callie looks down at Riley. "Riley can you breathe, is it hard to breathe?"
"Yeah I can breathe." He smiles.
"Okay hold on." I reached over to grab the spirometer, accidentally brushing against her and I hear her gasp.
"Sorry." I say as I pass him the spirometer. Callie shakes her head pushing it off to the side.
"Here breath into this." Riley blows into and his results are also close to perfect.
"Woah, that's amazing." Callie smiles.
"He's breathing better than he should be." I say astounded by the work Callie has done.
She takes her stethoscope and listens to his lungs. "From the sounds of his lungs, it sounds like he may not need a transplant. Of course we need to run more tests."
"Okay, I'm gonna clean him off, Dr. Torres you can tell his parents the good news."
Callie POV
After I shared the good news with the parents, I sat in my office, finishing up Riley's chart. I take a walk to the peds nurses station to drop it off. I pass by Arizona's office and I see that her light is still on. So I take a chance and knock on her door.
"Come in."
I open the door and walk in. "Dr. Torres can I help you?"
"Yes, you can. You know ever since I've been a surgeon, I have never had anyone question my skills before. You are the only one." I say accusingly.
"Dr. Torr-
"Not only that, why would you tell his parents that I'm the best? If you never believed it. Why did you come with me to tell them how the surgery went just to make me say it, when you could've don't it yourself?"
She looks up and tilts her head and gives a small smile. Wow she has gorgeous dimples.
"What are you smiling at? I say slightly frustrated.
"It's not that I didn't believe you, I just never saw you operate before. The reason why I made you say how the surgery went was because it was your plan to begin with. The truth as to why I went with you to tell them is because when you're around sick kids all the time, like I am. You want to see the joy. No you need to see it. Sometimes I just need a little reminder of why I keep doing this...Dr. Torres, I owe you an apology."
I'm listening to everything Arizona is saying and I can't help but think that this women is pretty amazing. I've never met someone who advocates so hard for her patients and truly cares. Also a surgeon who will admit that they are wrong.
"You do?" I asked.
"Yes, I do. I'm sorry for questioning you. That will never ever happen again. You did amazing work. Incredible actually. I don't want to admit this but Teddy was right."
"What did Altman say?"
Arizona stands up and walks around the front of her desk and crosses her arms. "She said, that you would make me eat my words, also that your techniques are flawless. And she was right. You have the most beautiful hands I ever seen." My eyes go wide, I can't believe I just said that.
"I didn't mean it like that- I mean you are beautiful. You know can you just forget the last 20 seconds?." She softly chuckled.
"Hey don't take it back now Dr. Robbins." I laughed trying to lighten the mood.
"Okay, I won't." She says looking into my eyes.
"Well I'm gonna go. It's been a long 48 hours and I'm exhausted."
"I'm not a bad person, Dr. Torres."
I stop in my tracks and turn towards her, "What?"
"I know I've been an ass towards you lately. So I just want you to know that I'm not a bad person. Sometimes I panic in the moment, and I call it wrong, I misjudge a situation. So I'm sorry for today"
"I get it. Really I do. We all have those days Dr. Robbins." I smiled.
"You can call me Arizona. Anybody who can call me out, can call me by my first name."
"Okay. Good night Arizona, and you can call me Callie."
"Callie or Calliope?"
"How do you know my full name?" I asked surprised.
"Hmm don't worry about it Calliope. Now go home, I'll see you around." Arizona smiles.
I walk out the door and head back to my office. Wow she sure does have a beautiful smile.