Set mid-11x14. Before Herman wakes up. Partially inspired by George in 3x12.

"Hey," Callie greeted softly as she walked into Nicole Herman's room in the ICU. The older fetal surgeon was still in a coma, and Arizona was sitting beside her bedside, tenderly holding her hand.

"Hey," Arizona smiled softly. She was thankful for Callie's support during the past few days. She was thankful that, even after everything, Callie was checking up on her. Having someone there made all the difference.

Callie moved to sit in the chair beside Arizona. She knew she didn't have to be there— maybe shouldn't be there— but she couldn't help it. She still loved Arizona, even if they were divorced. She still cared enough to make sure she was okay.

She silently watched her ex-wife watch her mentor, taking in her knotted hair, dirty scrubs, and worn-down face. She noted as Arizona's eyes as welled up with tears, and she noted as Arizona tried to subtly move away to hide them.

"What's wrong?" Callie asked, placing her hand on Arizona's back unthinkingly. She had become attuned to Arizona over the last several years. Callie knew how to read her, even when Arizona tried to hide her true emotions. Like now.

Arizona shoot her head, tilting her head back to ward off the tears. "I just..." she began shakily. "I have to make the call. Soon. Nicole told me that she didn't want to be like this. I should make the call."

Callie knit her eyebrows together. None of it was fair. "You're sure she has no one else to be her medical proxy?"

Arizona shook her head. "Just me."

Callie sighed sympathetically. "You'll do what's right. You don't have to make a decision tonight."

"I can't just let her die," Arizona finally turned to face Callie. Her tear-filled blue eyes revealed all the pain and fear she felt. Nicole was her friend. She was her teacher. And they'd formed a strong bond over the past few months. She couldn't imagine just unplugging her. Nicole was brilliant. It'd be a waste.

Callie's eyes held Arizona's desperately. "Don't. Not yet."

Arizona frowned. Callie had been in a similar situation with Mark, but she had followed his wishes exactly. After thirty days, she turned off his life support, just as his living will had requested. It was what Mark had wanted. Callie had respected his wishes, just as Arizona should now with Nicole. Why was Callie advising that Arizona ignore them?

But then, she remembered. Those whirlwind days after the plane crash. When she had made Callie promise her that she wouldn't let them take her leg. When she had told Callie she'd rather die than live without it.

Callie hadn't respected her wishes. Callie hadn't chosen to listen to her; she'd chosen to save her life.

Arizona looked at her ex-wife questioningly. "Why did you do it?"

Callie looked at her in confusion. "Do what?"

"You were my medical proxy. You knew what I wanted, but you didn't listen. Why?"

Understanding, Callie searched Arizona's face, looking for traces of anger or contempt. She was met with only a sense of genuine curiosity and vulnerability. Arizona was serious. She was curious.

Callie pursed her lips in thought.

Feebly, she finally answered, "I promised to do whatever you couldn't. And, as your wife, that was always my job. You weren't in the right mindset to make the decision. You couldn't make the right call, so I had to."

Arizona shifted uncomfortably. It was all so hard to talk about. It was easier now that they were apart, sure, but it was still hard. The plane crash had not only disabled her physically, but it had also taken more away from her emotionally than she could ever comprehend. Still, there were days when she felt unrecognizable. And the crash and its aftermath had done that to her.

Callie continued, "We're doctors. We always say, 'life over limb.' Life takes precedence." She smiled gently. She was trying to tread lightly, hoping not to say anything to hurt Arizona worse, but it was hard. All of it was hard. The plane crash had cost them in ways she couldn't even begin to understand. It had changed their lives forever. It had destroyed them. "You were dying. I couldn't let you die. I had to try. I had to try to save your life."

Arizona looked at her, her stare unwavering. Waiting.

Callie shrugged helplessly. She took a chance, continuing to purge her honest thoughts. "I didn't know how to live in a world where you didn't."

Arizona could feel herself shaking. The past few days had been emotionally charged, but they had been nothing like this. Callie was being more honest with her than she had been in months. And Arizona was finally getting to a place where she and Callie could talk about the plane crash and her leg without her feeling like she might implode. Or explode. At Callie. But, she didn't feel like exploding now.

When Arizona refocused on the present, Callie had a faraway look in her eyes. She was somewhere else, not in this hospital room, but in an entirely different place. Her own Hell. One that Arizona knew nothing about. Finally, she ended, "I—" she paused. "I couldn't bear the thought of it."

Arizona tried to swallow the lump in her throat.

Callie tried to fight the pinch behind her eyes. She closed them for a second. She needed to regain composure. She needed to get some distance. It was no use talking about old wounds now.

"Anyway," she shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts, "You're an amazing doctor. You'll make the right call."

Arizona nodded. She needed some distance, too. "Thanks," she smiled softly.

Callie smiled back, close-mouthed but genuine, and she and Arizona shared comfortable moment of easy silence between them.

Eventually, Callie cleared her throat, moving her hands to the arm rests to hoist herself up. "I should probably go. I've got patients..."

Arizona looked at her understandingly. "Go," she whispered gingerly. "And thank you, Callie. For being here."

Callie offered a final wistful smile. "I will be. If you need anything. Just let me know."