Chapter 11

Callie has been sitting with her daughter all morning. She has been looking back over the last tests that were ran earlier this week. Dr. Tanner was in earlier and informed her that his wife and colleagues were going back through things, looking for anything that may have been missed or simply overlooked. Callie decides that is a smart idea and she decides she will do the same.

She continues to read page after page and starts to get frustrated. She sits the file down and pulls her chair closer to her daughter.

"Hey, sweetheart, it's me, mommy. It's been a busy week. I opened up my new office on Thursday. It was amazing. I wish you could have been there to help me cut the ribbon. I had some friends that were there, but it wasn't the same without you. This is all for you, you know. I want you to see that we can do anything we put our minds to."

Callie pulls her hand up and kisses it, holding it next to her face. "I love you so much. Every day is hard but knowing that I get to see you at the end of the week is what keeps me motivated."

Katie's little hand is shaped different than Callie's. Her fingers aren't as long, but rather short and almost a little pudgy. They are the cutest fingers Callie has ever seen. She plays with each finger, one by one, exercising them. When she is here, she likes to do exercises with her, rather than having someone from physical therapy come in.

She works on her fingers, then her hands and arms. After upper body exercises, she moves to the legs and feet, even the toes. Stretching and moving each part, in hopes that one day, she will have the ability to move them on her own once again.

"You know, I had some friends at the grand opening with me. You remember me talking about Addie and Christina? They were there, along with Meredith. She takes pictures of bones. You would like her, a lot. She actually has a little girl about your age. I've never met her, but I would say if she is anything like her mommy, you guys would be good friends."

Moving down to her toes, continues to talk. "Teddy and Mandy were also there and some other business owners nearby. It was nice they all came to support the new guy. Or woman, in this case. And, Arizona was there. She and I have talked some this week. I don't think she dislikes me as much anymore. As a matter of fact, she is going to fix dinner for us Monday night. I'm not sure how that's going to go, but I am looking forward to it. Now that we aren't arguing all the time, it will be interesting to see how we get along."

Callie finishes with the leg exercises and sits back down next to Katie. She imagines if Katie were awake, they would talk about animals and cartoons, maybe sing songs together and talk about what all they wanted to do the next day. Unfortunately, they can't do that, so Callie just talks to fill the silence.

"You know, I think I might really like Arizona. And it's kind of scary, because I haven't like anyone since I liked your dad. And that didn't end well. And this... this is different. I've never liked... someone like her. I know you don't understand what I mean by that, and that's ok. But, if I want to set a good example, I need to not be afraid of new possibilities. And, the more I think about it, I'm more nervous than afraid. Which is a good thing. Because that means it's important."

Callie relaxes a little in her chair and grabs a blanket, covering her legs up. She chose to wear capri leggings and a sweatshirt, as it sometimes gets a little chilly in the room. "Sometimes, when I make her mad, she gets a little twitch in the corner of her eye. It's kind of funny and makes me want to make her mad on purpose," Callie chuckles saying that last part. "I noticed that right after I met her. And I'm also figuring out what to say to catch her off guard. She seems surprised and her eyes get really big. From where they are so blue, you can get lost in them. Sometimes, she lets her soft side show. I've seen it a few times this week. It's a side I would really like to see more of. She is sweet and has a sincerity in her voice that is kind of amazing. Sometimes she stumbles over her words. I think it's because she gets nervous. She actually makes me do the same thing and I have to tell you, it's aggravating. When she starts actually forming sentences though, let me tell you, she can make you feel like you are something pretty special. I know I'm not the first person she has talked to. Sometimes I think there are more than I would want to know about. But, if I'm going to give this a try, I need to get over it."

Callie lays her head back, and closes her eyes, while she continues to talk. "She is just something else. I mean, we haven't talked much, but each time, it leaves me wanting more. Whether we are arguing or actually talking, I just want to do more of it. We danced the other night. I have to say, I can't wait to dance with her again. She was so different to dance with than anyone I have ever danced with before. I guess I never thought about what it would feel like to dance with someone like her, but now that I have done it, I almost can't imagine dancing with anyone else. When she looks at me and smiles, it's breathtaking. I'm going to tell her about you in a few days. It's not that I haven't wanted to, but, I just don't want her to feel sorry for us. Most people do, and I just don't want that. But then again, we really weren't in a place to have that discussion. So, that goes back to her and I not really talking much before now."

Callie opens her eyes one more time, looking at her daughter, before she closes them. "I think I really like her. And I know that I love you." With that, Callie drifts off for a well-deserved nap, after the busy week she has had.

XXXXXXX

Arizona has just woken up. She didn't get home until around three in the morning. She was researching and looking at Katherine's results and going back over Katherine's health records from right before the accident.

The only thing new she picked up on was a case of bronchitis about two months before the accident. Arizona brought the files home with her and plans to spend some more time later looking over them, but right now, she needs to get a shower and go meet her mom for lunch.

Arriving at the restaurant, she notices her mom is already there. She heads to the table and leans in to give her mom a hug before having a seat opposite of her.

"Arizona dear, you look tired today. You must have been out all night last night."

"Actually, I was," Arizona says, yawning.

"Oh. What was her name this time?" Her mom asks, smirking, knowing her daughter very well.

"As a matter of fact, her name was Katherine. But...it's not what you think."

"What, you couldn't seal the deal?"

"Mom! I can't believe you just said that!"

"Oh, come on. You should know me better than that. I say it how it is," Barbara smiles, giving her daughter a look. "I think you and your brother started rubbing off on me during your teen years. And I have to say, the lesbian thing gave me a little learning curve at first, but I even mastered that."

Arizona can't help but laugh at her mom. They have always been close, but after her brother died several years ago, they have become even closer.

"So, how is Katherine not what I think it is?"

"First off, she isn't a woman, she's four. And on top of that, she is a very sick little girl. She has been in a coma for just over 2 years."

"Oh my. I can't imagine if that would have been one of our kids. What happened?"

"She fell and hit her head. She has no traumatic brain injury that we can find but she has been out since."

"So, you are trying to figure out why she is still in a coma?"

"Yeah. Mayo called and asked if I would consult on this. It came at a good time because I had already thought about going back into surgery. This might give me the push I need."

"Well, that's good to hear. It would be nice to see you use all your education and not just part of it. You are one talented lady and I hate to see you waste it."

"I'm not wasting anything, mom. I chose two specialties. I just happened to be focused on only one at right at the moment. Like I said though, I've been thinking about getting back to it. I can expand my current practice."

"Sounds like a wonderful idea. So, anything else going on?"

"Um, no. Just staying busy with work."

"Who is she?"

"Who is who?" Arizona tries to act like she had lo idea what her mom is talking about.

"You never just stay busy with work. You are always some work, a lot of play. So... who has you to where you are focusing on work so much."

"I don't know what you are talking about. I have a big case from Mayo and it's a time-consuming case."

"Yeah. But... you are seeing someone, aren't you?"

"No."

"Arizona, you are a bad liar."

Sighing, she realizes she really does stink at lying. Her mom and Teddy really have her number. "I'm not seeing anyone. However, I am interested in someone."

"Oh...tell me more," Barbara says, scooting closer.

"She is an orthopedic surgeon who just opened an office across the road..." Arizona continues to fill her mom in on a lot of what has happened and informs her she is fixing dinner for them on Monday.

"You know Arizona, I think you really like this woman."

Arizona looks at her mom and can't help but smile. "I think I do. Which is funny, because like I told her, we have barely had any civil conversations. We would insult each other, but didn't actually talk. There is something there though. I'm just… drawn to her."

"Arizona… haven't you heard people say that when school kids like each other, the boy will pull the girl's hair or the girl will make fun of him? That's what it sounds like is going on with you two. She must have liked what she saw the first time you met and just didn't realize it."

"Maybe. I just know that I can't wait to get to know her. I want to know everything about her. I mean, she is intelligent and so beautiful and I can't wait to get the chance to kiss her. But I'm content to just do that Usually I can't wait to get in their pants but," As soon as it left her mouth, her hands flew up to cover it.

"Well, I always figured that was how you operated, young lady, but you just confirmed it."

"Mom…" Arizona sighs, covering her face.

Barbara starts laughing, not giving her daughter a chance to talk her way out of this one. "You look sweet and innocent, but darling. I've got your number."

"Mom… can we forget I said that? Please?"

"Not a chance," she says, laughing. "So, what was your first impression of this woman? Sweet, flirty, snooty?"

"A little snooty and... kinda mean," Arizona says, laughing. "But… I don't think that fits her at all now."

"Well," Barbara says, "Things aren't always what they seem."

Arizona tilts her head and looks at her mom. "What did you say?"

"That things aren't always what they seem?"

"That's what she just said the other night. That's actually had me looking at the consult case a little different that past few days. And then... you say the same thing. I feel like I'm being led in a new direction on this case, but... I just can't seem to put my finger on it."

"So, care to elaborate on the case?"

"Um... sure," Arizona says, then goes on to explain some basics of the case and how she feels that maybe that fall itself isn't where things went wrong.

"I'm confident that you will figure this out. Because you are a determined woman. According to your thinking, it's kind of like the which came first scenario... the chicken or the egg."

"Yeah, but if the fall was the chicken, I have to figure out what the egg even is."

"You will figure it out. I have faith in you."

"Thanks mom. I just, wish it was more obvious."

"Sometimes the obvious is too obvious, and we overlook it, because, well... it's too obvious and we don't think that could possibly be the cause. It's kind of like, when I got pregnant with you. I had all the signs of being pregnant and didn't think that could possibly be it because I was on the pill. But, the pill is only 99 percent effective."

Arizona sits and thinks about that for a minute, before she says, "So, I was an accident?"

Laughing, Barbara says, "No, Arizona. You were what we didn't know we wanted yet."

"Nice save," Arizona comments, rolling her eyes.

After lunch, Arizona heads home and pulls out the file once again, going back through everything. "Ok, where's the egg. It has to be here...," Arizona mumbles as she pulls out a file she had late last night.

"I know you are here somewhere. This is like an Easter egg hunt without the fun," she rambles to herself as she pours back over the information. She once again sees information on an ER visit about two months before the accident, where Katherine was diagnosed with bronchitis. She stops and pulls open her laptop and begins looking something up.

"Oh my lands!" Arizona yells, quickly standing. "I think that's the egg!"

Scrambling to get her phone, she dials a number and begins stacking everything up and putting it into her satchel. "Dr. Tanner? You won't believe this, but I think I have a theory on Katherine O'Malley. Can you send me the information on where she is right now? I know it's Saturday, but can you meet me there?"