Disclaimer: I don't own Grey's Anatomy, I just borrowed the name of the characters for entertaining, no intention to violate any copyrights.
A/N : Once again, thank you all for the support and love.
All mistakes are mine.
Arizona and I haven't talked about that night. She probably doesn't remember our conversation or is too embarrassed to bring it up. I'd put her action down to the wine, although I'm still feeling dazed and confused about her behavior.
Besides, we don't really have the chance to talk. We have conflicted schedules in the last few days. Either she's working late or I had long surgeries that occupied my nights. I haven't seen the Robbins parents since that night out.
"Your knee is healing well, Mr. Castillo." I flick the switch of the light box, showing the newly taken scans of my patient's knee. "We are going to schedule the PT for you to regain the strength of your leg."
"The incision is a bit swollen thought. Nothing to worry about, I'm going to increase the dose of antibiotics. It should be able to control the infection." Mark says between examining the patient.
I instruct my resident to wrap up the scans before heading out of the room when I hear a familiar laugh from the hallway. And yes, there they are, Arizona's parents standing by the nurse station talking to one of my nurses.
"Hey Callie, honey." Barbara gives me an enthusiastic wave when she sees me walking toward them. As soon as I'm in front of her, she pulls me into a warm motherly hug.
"Hi Barbara." I say in her arms, and then greet the father with a less intimate but still friendly hug. "Hi Colonel, what are you doing in here?"
"We haven't seen you for days, and Arizona said that you're on night shift tonight, so Barbara makes lunch and bring it to you." The colonel smiles whilst holding up the bags in his hand.
"Oh okay." I nod. "Does Arizona know that you're here?"
"Not yet. We were still looking for the Peds floor, but then the elevator stopped in here, we come to you first." Barbara says with her usual enthusiasm, and she picks up one of my hand patting it fondly.
"Oh okay." I nod again. And then I turn to the nurse behind the station. "Jenny, can you page Dr. Robbins?"
"Already did, Dr. Torres." Jenny answers. I don't know how long the Robbins parents have arrived, and I don't know what they have told the nurse, but the smile she gives to me is kinda weird.
"Callie, I know you are busy. We're just going to leave the foods here. You and Arizona can eat it whenever you have time." The colonel gives me an understanding smile, handing me the bags and I take it immediately.
"No, it's okay. I can use a break anyway." I glance at my watch, it's almost noon. "We can eat at the attending's lounge, but I'll have to quickly check with a patient first."
"Do I hear lunch?" A voice comes behind him. Oh shoot...
I whip my head around and meet with Mark's trademark smirk, but it is not directed at me.
"You must be Mr. and Mrs. Robbins. I've heard from Arizona that you're in town." Mark reaches his hand exchanging hand shakes with Barbara and the colonel. They look at him with curiosity.
"Hello, and you are...?" The colonel asks.
"This is Mark Sloan. He's a Plastic surgeon." I step aside, introducing the intruder to Arizona's parents.
"Head of the department. And friend of Arizona." He corrects me with a smile. "I've worked with her on quite a lot of cases. She's a really talented surgeon. It's so great to have her in the team."
"Thank you." Hearing the praise of her daughter, Barbara smiles beamingly. "And I'm glad that Arizona has made some friends in here."
"Oh yeah, we are good friends, especially after she and Callie get together. I have never seen two people so in love." Mark puts a hand on my shoulder, keeping his excessive grin to the Robbins'. "Ain't these crazy kids perfect for each together?"
Barbara and the colonel, and Jenny are smiling from ear to ear. I hope they don't see my frenzied glare darting at the tall man.
"Mark, don't you have to go talk to the patient in room 2124 before he can be discharged?"
"Yeah Yeah, I should go..." Mark shoves his hands in the white coat pockets, makes no intention of moving his ass. And his eyes linger on the bags in my hand.
"Dr. Sloan, do you want to join us for lunch? We've more than enough if you don't mind." Barbara prompts. Apparently the charming man is already on her good side.
"Oh course I don't mind, Mrs. Robbins. Callie told me that you're an amazing cook." Mark shamelessly spreads his lips to a sugary smile. "I'll be there after I dealt with the patient."
I let out a sigh after Mark finally left us, for now.
"I'm telling you, Mark. Keep your mouth shut." I warn the man as we walk toward the attending's lounge. Arizona came to my floor picking up her parents shortly after Mark walked away. She was going to show them around the Peds floor first since I still need some times to finish my work. They should be in the lounge by now. "Arizona was mad that I told you about this whole girlfriend thing. I don't want you to piss her off even more by saying something stupid."
"Hey, I did good, didn't I?" Mark puts a hand on his chest exclaiming innocently. "I told them that you two are crazily in love."
"Yeah, but just... eat your lunch and go. Don't say anything more than you should." I give him one more warning glare before opening the door.
"Hey Calliope... oh, Sloan." Arizona's face changes from smile to frown in a split second. I know I should lock up Mark in a storage room instead of letting him follow me.
"We asked Mark to join us. Your mother makes enough of foods to feed the whole hospital." The colonel chins in, holding a handful of plates that he gets from the cabinet. I rush over to help him.
"And I couldn't decline such a lovely invitation." Mark sits down by the table, grinning broadly at the mother and daughter who are setting down the food containers.
If a glare can kill, I'd be helping Arizona hiding Mark's body right now.
Fortunately, the frown between her brows loose up once we sit around enjoying the delicious foods that Barbara prepared for us. Mark can be a jerk but when he turns on his charm, even the steely veteran couldn't resist it. No wonder Lexie said that her father is really fond of her boyfriend.
"Oh, you really should go to Mt Rainier National Park. It's beautiful there in this time of the year. The breathtaking view of snow covered mountains and Alpines reaching high nearly touching the sky..." Mark says between mouthfuls of lasagna, talking like a tour guide. "Believe me, this tour is totally worth it."
"It sounds wonderful. We always enjoy a good hike." The colonel smiles to his wife. "We can find a day..."
"Make it overnight." Mark interjects, giving the colonel a subtle wink. "There are some good inns in the neighborhood. You wouldn't regret it."
"What do you think, Arizona?" The father asks.
"Yeah, it should be fun." Arizona answers absentmindedly. "I haven't been in there yet, but I think you and mom will like it."
Arizona is kinda off, I can sense that. Probably bother by Mark being here with her parents, worrying that the indiscreet man is going to say something blowing our cover.
When she leaves the table to get something from the fridge, I follow her.
"I'm sorry." I say in a whisper, having my back to the rest of the people in the room.
"For what?" She looks at me with widen eyes, studying my face closely.
"Mark. He saw your parents earlier and..." I shrug a shoulder and sigh, still saying in a lower voice so no one else can hear me. "I shouldn't let him come to join us."
"No, Calliope. It's not your fault." Her eyes flicker past me to the table. Mark just says something funny and the parents are laughing with him. "I should be the one apologize."
"About...?" I squint at her and swallow hard. What does she has to apologize for?
"I've promised you that my parents wouldn't come to the hospital." Arizona twists his lips to a force smile. "For what it is worth, they haven't really talked to anyone. So no one would..."
Oh, this is what that's in her mind.
"Hmm... they talked to Jenny," I recall the moment that I found her parents. "Earlier."
"Ortho nurse Jenny?" Her brows knit together.
"Yeah." I nod my head. "And she gave me this strange smile..."
"Shit, so by now half of the people in the hospital are gonna think that we're dating." A wry smile spreads over her face. She puts a hand on my arm. "I'll make it right, I promise."
"Look at those two. They can hardly keep their hands to themselves." Mark raises his voice drawing the attention to us. The colonel and Barbara turn around, smiling sweetly to Arizona and me.
Arizona takes back her hand like I was burning her. A faint flush suffuses her cheeks that I have rarely seen.
"Yeah." Barbara nods her agreement. "And I have never seen my daughter this happy."
"Callie's too. Arizona is good to her, you know." The man who claims to be my best friend says as if I am not in the room. He eyes flash in mischief. "Much better than her last girlfriend."
I gasp. No! He wouldn't...
"Last girlfriend?" Arizona raises her eyebrows. She leans closer in order to whisper in my ear. "Jeez, the stupid is making stuff up now?"
How I wish he is.
I believe all my bleed drain from my face. My mouth's open but nothing comes out...
But I don't have to say anything. The thunderstruck look on her face tells me that she realizes that Mark isn't joking.
"You..." She stares at me, then turns to Mark. "You know about her last girlfriend?"
"Yeah, Hanh." The bastard shrugs a shoulder. He says after taking a sip of water. "You remember the visiting Cardio surgeon when Altman was on leave? She was here not long after you started to work in here."
"Hanh... Erica Hanh?" Arizona puts her gaze back at me, inhaling a sharp breath. "You and Erica Hanh? Why didn't I know that?"
"I... I..." I should say something but I couldn't. My mind is in turmoil. This is not how I want Arizona to find it out.
Erica and I dated for a very short time. It all started when the perky Peds surgeon showed up in this hospital. She caught my attention from time to time, giving me the butterflies that I have never had with any one... I didn't know what that was.
I know people can be bi-sexual, but am I?
Erica wasn't supposed to be my experiment... I know this is irresponsible to say it like that but, she was there. When she asked me out, I gave it a shot. And I found it no difference of dating men. I enjoyed her company, her intelligence, her caring, her soft lips... Sex wasn't so bad either.
Our so-called relationship lasted for only 2 months. She wanted more from me but I was not able to give her. Deep down, she wasn't the one that I want.
When Arizona and I became close friends, I should have told her about this. I know. Of course I know. I just didn't know how to bring it up. And the longer I stalled, the harder to find the chance to.
And now, I screw up.
NO! Scratch it. Mark screws it up for me.
"Arizona," Barbara must have sense the tension between us and comes to my rescue. "Everyone has their past. I'm sure you haven't told Callie about Carly."
"Oh, what about Carly?" Mark asks chirpy, like he doesn't know that he just fucked up my life.
"Mom! Can we talk about something else?" Arizona grinds out the words between clenched teeth, a frigid tone that I have never heard her saying to her mother, or to anyone.
She goes back to the chair without a glance at me, and I follow her without looking at anyone.
The lunch continues under an awkward atmosphere. Mark and the Robbins parents carry out the conversation about places to see and things to do in Seattle, I keep stabbing the lasagna in my plate, and Arizona... I don't know, I don't dare to lift my eyes from my plate.
Finally, the torture comes to an end. After helping clean up everything, I say goodbye with the parents outside the door of the attending's lounge. And Arizona still hasn't given me even a glare.
Barbara gives me a tight hug before following her daughter toward the elevator, and Mark is heading to the other direction going back to work. I grasp the back of his white coat pulling him back to the attending's lounge forcefully. I start to yell at him as soon as the door closed behind us.
"What the fuck is wrong with you, Mark?"
"Huh?" He straightens his white coat, looking at me innocently. How dare of him acting all innocent?
"Erica! Why the hell would you bring up Erica?!" My fists convulse in suppressed rage.
His face creases in a knowing smile that fumes me even more.
"This is not funny!" I yell again. "You know very well that Arizona didn't know about her!"
"Hey, first of all, I implied that you present girlfriend is better than your last girlfriend. That's what you two wanted, right? Making her parents think that you two are seriously together?" The man picks up an apple from the table, rubbing it up and down his sleeve before taking a bite. "And by the way, why haven't you told blondie about Erica?"
"You know why!" I scream in exasperation.
"I know you haven't told her, but you never say why you haven't told her." He blinks at me, wearing that irritating smirk again.
I open my mouth about to yell some more, but I find myself speechless.
"What's the point? She doesn't want me anyway." I slumped in the chair with my head down.
"How do you know?" He asks.
"You know her type." I glanced up to the ceiling and sigh. "Remember that hot Italian super model we saw that came to pick her up?"
"Hot Italian super model?" He squints at me, and then an expression of dumb recognition wiggling across his face. "You mean the OB from Seattle Presbyterian."
"Yeah, whatever." I run my hands through my hair. "Even you said that she was hot."
"And you're much hotter, and sexier." He waggles his eyebrows, trying to be funny. I just twist my mouth in a contemptuous sneer.
"Yeah."
"Sometimes you wish people would just see themselves the way you do." He says to himself, then asks me a question. "What do you think why she got so angry?"
"Because I kept that from her, or..." I shrug my shoulders, and then it hits me. "Do you think that she dated Erica too? That's why she was angry? That I dated the woman... No! Do you think Erica was dating the both of us at the same time?"
"I don't think the wicked witch of the west is her type." He breaks into a laugh, like it is an absurd idea that Arizona and Erica was even a thing.
"Then why?" I frown at him, asking hopelessly.
"You should go talk to Robbins." Mark stands up from the chair, pats my shoulder and then walks out of the room.
And that is what I am doing, arriving in the Peds floor hoping to have a talk with her.
As I walk down the hallway, just in time to see Arizona getting out from a patient's room. She sees me and then turns to the opposite direction abruptly. I lengthen my strides to keep up with her.
"Arizona..." I say her name, following behind her like a beaten puppy. Finally, she stops and turns around.
"Do you need a consult, Dr. Torres?" She plasters on a fake smile that makes me draw in a sharp breath.
"No, but..." I stammer out. "Can we talk?"
"Sorry, Dr. Torres. I'm busy." She tugs the corner of her lips to a somewhat forced smile. Before she turns away, I grasp her wrist.
"Just... give me a minute, okay?" Before she shuts me down again, I pull her into an on-call room near to us.
"What do you want, Callie." Arizona walks deeper into the room, looking at me with her back against the window.
I flinch, physically. She has never called me Callie.
"I know I should have... I should have told you about me and Erica sooner." I hold my hands before me, fidgeting with my fingers. "I just... I don't know how to bring it up."
"Sloan made it pretty easy." Her voice is thick with insinuation.
"Because he is Sloan." I roll my eyes dramatically, hoping to coax a chuckle from her. But she just crosses her arms against her chest with stone cold face. I sigh. "It's difficult for me."
"I came out to my parents and my brother, don't tell me what is difficult." She spits out the words with contempt. Apparently, I have a tendency of putting my foot in my mouth in front of her.
"I am sorry." I slam my eyes shut, swallowing thickly trying to gather my thoughts. "I know you're mad that I haven't told you..."
"Yeah, right. I am mad." Her eyes flashed with anger and resentment, cutting me off brutally. "Do you know what makes me even madder? I have to hear that from Sloan! Mark Sloan!"
"He meant well. I mean, you know him. He just..." Once again I stammer out my reasoning, and once again she doesn't let me finish.
"He wanted to rub it on my face, Callie!" It is like my every word only fueling the fire that burns inside of her. Her mouth curls with annoyance. "He wanted to show me that he knows things about you that I don't! He wanted to show me that he is your best friend."
"Arizona, it's not like that. You are my best friend too!" I say hurriedly.
"And you kept a secret from me!" Arizona's voice crackled with anger. "And the worst of it, you had no problem of telling Sloan!"
"I didn't mean to tell him. He just saw through me and figured it out. And then we talked..." I trail off as my gaze drops to the floor.
"Of course, he is Sloan! He gets you! He gets the straight you! He gets the gay you! He gets your secrets!" A vein popped out in her neck and her eyes are red-rimmed from rage. "What do I get?"
My mouth opens, but it wouldn't work. I'm on the brink of tears. Seeing her so angry, knowing that I am the cause of it, I find myself hard to breathe.
"You know what?" She fixes her piercing gaze at me, mouth tightens in a stubborn line when I couldn't give her an answer. "We are not in high school. I don't have to fight to be your friend. If you don't think it's worth it, there's nothing I can do."
My body stiffened at the remark. She doesn't give me any time to react to that. She walks pass me to the door, flinging it open and storming off without a second glance.
I feel the whole world collapsing upon me.