Chapter 3

Callie Torres is an early riser. It hasn't always been like this, but now, she can't sleep in even if she tries. She grabs her phone and makes a call. After hearing what she needs to hear, she hangs up and heads to the shower. Her morning routine is one of reflection.

Some days are better than others, but the morning is when she tried to come to terms with her feelings and work through them. She used to not do this and instead, kept everything bottled up. After going through some therapy, she realized she needs to face everything head on. So that is what she does... every morning. Then she spends the rest of her day, trying to find herself again. Trying to realize that life can't stand still and that she needs to keep moving forward. That thought process is what led her here, to Carson, MN.

After living a rather privileged life and having to fit into a certain mold, while growing up with her parents and then again while being married to George, she is now living how she sees fit. She is finding what makes her, her again. Not what other people want or expect her to be, but finding who she wants to be for herself.

She is tired of fancy houses and cars. Of course, they are nice, but it isn't what makes her happy. So the house she will be moving into today, is the most modest house she has ever lived in. It's a small house compared to what she has lived in before, but she is confident that the 3 bedroom with a small office is exactly what the doctor ordered. She found it online and sent Mark to check it out at the same time he checked out her office.

Mark was someone she met during med school. They hooked up briefly before she met George, who was working at the hospital she did her internship at. George was a business man and was successful straight out of college. He ended up on the hospital board per request from his company. He and Callie met while she was trying to get funding from the board for her research.

Thinking back over her failed marriage, Callie finishes getting dressed and packs up her belongings she brought with her to the hotel room. She realizes she still has a while before the contractors are due in to the office and the movers aren't expected until noon, so she decides to go grab some breakfast from the diner just down the block from the office. One of the contractors mentioned they had the best coffee around.

As she pulls around the block to find a spot, she can not believe her eyes. There, in the spot she had parked in for the past two days, was none other than Arizona Robbins. Again, she didn't particularly care where she parked. There were plenty other spots. It's a small town so even if you have to walk around the block, you will find a space.

The fact that Dr. Robbins is parked there, isn't what amuses her. What amuses her is the fact that Dr. Arizona Robbins is still standing by her car. Just standing there… almost seeming like she was waiting for Callie to drive by. When she in fact spots Callie, she smirks and offers a wave, then turns to walk into her office.

Callie can't help but to chuckle to herself. Dr. Robbins is certainly a fascinating individual to Callie. She is clearly intelligent in order to be a pediatric doctor and seems to have quite the social life. And yet, she seems to be either highly competitive or OCD. Either case would fit the fascination with the parking spot.

Callie finds a spot just a few spaces down from Dr. Robbins and grabs it. She picks her purse up and exits her car. When she goes to shut her door, she hears a voice behind her.

"Dr. Torres," Teddy says, hurrying to get out of her car. "I'm so glad I caught you. I talked to a friend of mine, Addie Montgomery, last night. She is really interested in talking to you about your secretary position. She said if I saw you, to let you know she would stop by this morning and introduce herself."

"Oh, thank you! That is amazing. I will be here for a few hours then I'm heading to my house to get the movers situated."

"OK, I'll text her to let her know to make it soon."

"Sounds good. Oh, tell Dr. Robbins I'm glad to see she has her spot today."

"I can't believe that woman. She hasn't been at work this early in... well, years. She is something else," Teddy chuckles.

"OCD or just that competitive? I can't figure it out," Callie asks, smiling.

"Um, probably both," Teddy says, laughing. "I'm really not quite sure what's up with here these days. She definitely isn't showing you her best qualities right now, which is a shame. She really is a great person."

"I think I'll just have to take your word for it," Callie says, still smiling.

"Well, I need to get going and see what's gotten into her today. I'll text Addie. You'll know her by the red hair."

"Sounds good, thanks a bunch."

Callie heads across the road to her office and Teddy heads for hers. Walking in, she sees Arizona hurriedly stepping away from the blinds.

"Whatcha doing there, Pink Panther?"

"Oh, I just thought I heard something and was just, uh, taking a look," Arizona says, acting like she has no idea what Teddy is getting at.

"Right. Spying... that's what you were doing. What the hell are you doing here so damn early? It's just a freaking parking spot Arizona."

"I know that. But, I just had to get some paper work done this morning. It has nothing to do with that spot. But, since I was here, I went ahead and parked there."

"Did you also see me pull in behind Callie? Because I saw you just standing out there until you saw her, and I saw your stupid little wave. You just had to rub it in that you beat her to it this morning."

"I was looking for something in my purse when she went by. I thought I was being polite by waving."

"Liar."

"I am not!"

"Are too," Teddy says, shaking her head.

"I'm not."

"Yes.. you are. Damn it. Now you have me stooping to your level. We both sound like we are school kids, arguing. You need to let this go. You can't come in an hour early every day. Because then tomorrow you are going to think she might come earlier and then you come earlier and before you know it, you won't even go home at night. You will just stay here, all because of that stupid spot. You need to get over yourself. If you get it, you get it. If not, get over it. I have better things to do than listen to you be all whiny like someone stole your favorite toy. I think you are being childish. You are a freaking doctor for crying out loud. Act like it," Teddy says, scolding her.

Arizona looks at her for a minute before she says, "You don't have to be so mean."

"You know what, you have absolutely nothing to do. Go get me some coffee while I get these files pulled," Teddy says, nodding in affirmation that is indeed what she wants Arizona to do.

"Fine," Arizona says, looking sheepish. She walks out of the office and down a block to the diner, wondering why Teddy isn't being a little more supportive of her wanting to make sure she keeps her spot.

Walking into the diner, lost in her thoughts, she makes her way to a stool at the counter. Margie, the waitress sees her come in and makes her way over.

"Need somethin' hun?"

"Two coffees. Big coffees," Arizona says, rubbing her temples.

She hears a snicker and then a voice she has been hearing for the past couple days.

"You know, if you wouldn't get up so early, you might not need as much coffee."

Shaking her head, she slowly turns her head to see Callie smirking at her. "You know, I was just lectured on that. I see you are going to start on me too?"

"Hmm, Sorry," Callie offers, shrugging. "I just... I thought we had this thing," she says, pointing between them. "I didn't want to disappoint you and not keep it going."

"We don't even know each other and you are already saying we have a thing," Arizona says, smiling. "And, you are worried about disappointing me… wanting to make me happy. That's sweet," Arizona says, with a smirk.

"Oh no. I definitely wouldn't say that. From what I can see, you don't need me for that part," Callie says, taking a sip of her coffee and picking up her toast. "You seem to have that job more than covered," she smirks, taking the last bite.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Arizona asks, turning her head to look at the brunette once again.

"Nothing."

"Um, I may be a bit slow on the uptake at times, but I'm pretty sure you are getting at something."

"Nope. I'm not getting at anything. I think if you think I am getting at something, then whatever you think I'm getting at, is your conscience talking."

"Excuse me?" Arizona looks at her, waiting on her to clarify. Instead, of clarifying though, Callie sits down money that covers her toast and coffee. Having already asked for her coffee in a to-go-cup, she stands and picks it up, along with her purse.

"It was really nice chatting with you, but, I have a busy day ahead of me and I really need to get going. I have to check in with my contractors and then go meet the movers at my new house. Have a good day, Dr. Robbins. Maybe we can have breakfast together again soon..."

Leaving before Arizona can say anything, Arizona is once again amazed at how this woman can get under her skin. "We weren't having breakfast together," she mumbled to herself. "What makes her think I would want to have breakfast with her? I have way better things to do."

"Hun, are you ok?" Marge asks, setting the coffees down in front of Arizona.

"Oh. I'm fantastic. Thanks, Marge," Arizona says, handing money over for the coffees.

Walking back into the office with the two coffees in hand, Arizona walks over and sits one on Teddy's desk and then has a seat right in front of her desk.

"What's wrong with you?" Teddy asks.

"I am pretty sure Dr. Torres just called me a slut," Arizona says, causing Teddy to burst out laughing, before realizing Arizona was serious.

"Oh.." Teddy says, clearing her throat. "Um... what makes you say that," she asks, clearing her throat and trying to wipe the smile off her face.

"She talked about wanting to keep this banter we have going on between us and then I commented that she was wanting to not disappoint me and make me happy and then she said that from what she can see, I don't need her for that part."

"I see," Teddy says, trying not to laugh again.

"What? I can see you are dying to say something," Arizona says, looking sideways at her best friend.

"Nothing."

"Oh, It's not nothing. What is it"?

"Well, It's just... she has been here what? Three days?"

"I guess, why?"

"And she has seen you with how many women?"

Thinking, Arizona gets a look on her face. "Oh."

"Oh?" Teddy asks, raising her eyebrow, indicating that she is waiting on Arizona to continue.

"Ok, so maybe two," Arizona says, thinking over the past two nights.

"So, I'm not trying to be the bad guy, but she has seen you with two different women in three days. And today is the third day and it's not even over yet. Seems to me like she is just making an observation. First impressions speak volumes to people. Seems she has a first impression of you already."

"I'm not a slut Teddy. I just don't have a reason to commit to anyone."

"I didn't say you were, I'm just saying, she now has a first impression of you. That's all."

Arizona huffs and stands to head into her office. "Well, she needs to mind her own damn business. I can sleep with whoever the hell I want. Let me know when my patients are ready."

Teddy smiles, knowing that the brunette across the road has more of an effect on Arizona than either of them truly realize. She texted Addie earlier to let her know that Callie wouldn't be there long, and she should probably head over soon.

On the other side of the road, Callie is looking over the blue prints once again and making some notes, when the front door chimes. She turns to see a tall, red-headed woman walk in. Putting the blue prints down, she says, "You must be Addie."

"I am," Addie says, holding her hand out to shake.

"Callie Torres. It's nice to meet you," Callie says. "I hear you might be interested in a job?"

"More than interested. Due to an unfortunate series of events, the office I worked for had to close. But I had worked there for 12 years, so I come with a lit of experience handling patient files, answering phones, handling accounts, and budgets.

"Then if this works for you…" Callie says, handing Addie a paper with salary and benefit information, then the job is yours. I like your confidence."

"I'll take it," Addie says smiling. "Thank you, so much. How soon do you hope to be opening?"

"This should only take another 2 weeks at most to get the remodel done. Then, as soon as we are staffed, we can open. Hopefully it is just as easy to find a few nurses."

"I know just who to ask," Addie says, smiling.

Several hours later, Callie is sitting in her new living room on her couch, looking at all the boxes and wondering where to start. Her phone rings and it's Addie, asking if she has a few minutes to spare. Callie explains she is indeed knee deep in boxes and tomorrow would work better. Addie says she can help with that because there is someone she wants her to meet. She offers to bring pizza, wine, and help if she will send her the address. Callie obliges and before long, there is a knock at the door.

"Come on in," Callie says to the red-head and the woman with her, motioning for them to come in.

After Callie closes the door, Addie says, "Callie, this is Christina Yang. Christina, this is Callie Torres."

Hours later, with most boxes unpacked and starting on the last bottle of wine, Callie looks to the women. "Thank you guys so much, for everything."

"It's no problem. We weren't doing anything anyway," Christina shrugs. "Plus, you gave us both jobs today, so I would say it is a win-win," Christina says as Callie and Addie start laughing.

"So, what's your story?" Christina asks, not one to shy away from anything.

Thinking about where to begin, Callie wrinkles her nose. "Um… I'm a single, divorced mom. My ex is a jerk who is still in California. I have a daughter just turned four last week."

"Does he have custody?" Addie asks, noticing there was a room decorated kind of girly upstairs, but no clothes were unpacked.

"No. I have full custody," she says, shaking her head. "There was an incident while she was in daycare, before she turned two. She was left unattended by one of the employees and she was climbing on something she shouldn't have been on, and fell. She… she hit her head and has been in a coma since."

"I'm so sorry, Callie. I can't imagine going through that. Where is she now?"

"I just got her settled close to Mayo. I wanted good doctors nearby and they have a nice facility. I needed to put a little space between she and I though. And I know you are probably thinking that I'm a lousy mom for that, but, it took two years of therapy to get here. When she was near me, I felt I had to be with her 24/7. It wasn't good for either of us. I pretty well had given up on life when I started seeing a therapist. She helped me to see that I couldn't keep that up. I was ruining my career and I wasn't being the mom she needed me to be."

"I'm sure that was a tough decision to be apart from her," Addie says.

"It was. But I was falling apart. My marriage was over long before the accident, and my life was at a standstill. I got to a place a few months ago where I knew I needed to make a change. So, when the divorce was final, I started the process of moving here. Allowing myself to be the doctor I know I can be, while knowing she is taken care of and I can get to her easily if I need to. I am allowing myself to spend the weekends with her. I can't not see her at all."

"Callie Torres, I admire you…" Christina says. "But, after that, I think we all need a drink," she says, refilling all of their wine glasses.

After that, they each shared a little more about their lives , just getting to know each other. Little did they know, this day was the start of a wonderful friendship between the three of them.