Chapter 11 – Labor Day

*BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP*

"GOD OKAY I'M UP!" Slamming her fist on the pager and looking her clock. "FOUR AM? REALLY? ARGHH! Ugh, Happy Labor Day Theodora!" A more than unpleasant dirty blonde rises from the depths of her mattress.

Dressing herself for what she is assuming is a long fun filled day of drunk and disorderly patients she hears similar curses across the hall from Andrew.

"SERIOUSLY!? WHY ME? Really? Like who does this? Why can't you people be fucking normal and not drink and drive? Why does every fucking nurse need to spend the weekend in Cape Cod? Why can't anyone handle normal living? Life is NOT difficult."

She couldn't help but laugh at Andrew's ranting. "It's not that bad Andrew, it could be snowing outside!"

"Suck it Altman!"

Ten minutes later, the two emerged less than thrilled to be going into the hospital at 4 AM on Labor Day. Monday holiday's had a history for being the longest days in history. Andrew's eyes were hardly open and Teddy managed to put her scrub top on inside out but they were at the hospital no later than 04:20.

"Okay, what do we have Dr. Thompson?" Teddy stood at attention in the pit waiting for the ambulances to arrive.

"Good morning to you too Dr. Altman." He nodded lightly. "We have a MVA 8 minutes out, apparently several burn vic's from it, and a frat boy with a poker in his chest 4 minutes out."

"Sorry, good morning Dr. Thompson. I just have this repugnance toward Monday holiday's that has beset me since undergrad. Wait, did you say a poker?"

"Like a fire pit poker." The doctor made a jabbing motion towards Teddy. "Hey, your shirt is inside out."

"Son of a…" Double doors busted open and the first patient flew in. It was the poker kid.

"Dobson and DeFeo take this one. You know what to do." Dr. Thompson was a like a drill sergeant in the pit; barking orders, grabbing interns, instructing nurses, guiding traffic, comforting families and ripping the heads off of residents when needed. He ran his ER and Trauma center with an iron fist. There was never even a band aid out of place. Because of his militant style, MGH had been one of the most successful ER's in the United States.

"Can some page Ortho? We're going to need Dr. Wineberg here ASAP!"

"We got it, he's 30-40 minutes out. Traffic is awful from the accidents."

Double doors bust open again, "Female, 20, head trauma, unresponsive fifteen minutes. BP low, 80/50."

"She's crashing. Thank you men." Dr. Thompson turns to Teddy, "I'll take this, and you get the next one. I need a head CT Stat! MOVE IT PEOPLE!"

"Male, 22, conscious and responsive, severe leg and arm trauma, right side. BP dropping, 110/70."

"Thank you guys." Teddy takes the chart and steps into her element, "Let's get an x-ray in room 6 stat, someone page Ortho NOW!" She looks down and sees the young man's face. "Hey buddy, can you tell me your name?"

"C-Chris."

"Hi Chris, my name is Dr. Altman, and I'm going to be taking care of you. Can you tell me if you have any pain in you abdomen?" She lightly pushed along his stomach, checking for any signs of internal bleeding.

"N-no. No. N-No. YES."

"Okay, hang tight we're going to take a few x-rays and get you into surgery. You may have a lacerated liver, broken a few ribs, and maybe a few other bones in you right leg."

The patient simply nods acknowledging Teddy's plan.

"Okay good, you're doing great Chris. Dr. Toscano, get me an OR now. AND PAGE ORTHO! I needed a consult yesterday!"

Teddy flies up the stairs to the trauma floor and begins to scrub into her first surgery of the day. The rush of it all.

XXX

"PShht, Cal. Callie. Pshhht. Callie?" An annoyed looking red head is standing at the foot of Callie's bed. "Callie," taking the woman's foot and shaking it more aggressively, "CALLIOPE!"

"ARghhhhhhh. NO. Addy. NO. Sleepy more. Pleaseeee."

"I'd LOVE to but your boss called. Get your Latina ass up, you're needed."

"Dreamingg." Callie was still half asleep and sprung up at once. "Did you say my boss? Like Dr. Wineberg? Called? WHO? WHAT? AM I LATE?" Callie began sprinting around her room gathering her things. "What time is it? I over slept?! On my FIRST DAY?!"

"Relax Cal, it's 345 in the morning. He called your phone and then the house. I got paged in too I guess it was one hell of a good Labor Day weekend eh?"

"What the, I don't even have any scrub uniforms for MGH. I only have my Miami General. Great first day."

"Calm down Cal, Miami General, MGH, close enough. Listen the people on the table don't care about your scrubs, they care about living. Call back your boss so he knows you're alive."

"Thank you Addison!"

Callie dialed her boss' number to touch base.

"Hi Dr. Wineberg. It's Dr. Torres."

"Dr. Torres! You're a life saver. Literally. Listen, how soon can you get to the hospital? There was a series of car accidents, so there are plenty of bones to mend. I'm about 30-40 out."

"I should be there in 15-20. I just don't have any MGH scrubs or even a pager or an ID badge." She felt silly for saying it but it was the truth.

"Listen, don't worry about that now. Go to the ER to the nurse's station. Let them know who you are, they know you're coming. I'm sure your patient won't mind the color of your scrubs."

"Uh, okay. Sure. Um, I guess I'll see you at the hospital."

"Thank you Dr. Torres. And welcome to MGH."

The line went dead. This should be a first day for the books.

Following the signs to the ER ambulance entrance, Callie wound up at the nurses station and was greeted by a very handsome looking man barking orders at other nurses.

"Hi, I'm Dr. Callie Torres, new fourth year Ortho under Dr. Wineberg."

He looked up from his post and eyed the woman in front of her. "You're the new Ortho?"

"Yes. I'm the new fourth year orthopedic surgeon." That was slightly rude.

"Excellent, Dr. Altman was about to chew my eyes out if I didn't find one of you carpenters." He stood up from his post and guided the Latina to the OR. "Hey, where's your badge and why are you in scrubs from Miami?"

"This is the first time I've ever been in this hospital as an employee. I was scheduled to start at 7AM. Who are you?"

"Nurse Andrew Carter. Sorry, it's been a hell of a long morning. I haven't had coffee yet and everyone is displaced. It's a hell hole in the pit." He took a deep breath. "So, Miami, I wish I was there."

Callie was thoroughly confused by this nurse, and slightly put off. "Yeah, I um, where are you taking me?"

"Scrub in of course, then you're off to OR 6. Something about broken legs or arms. I can't keep track right now. But! You get the pleasure of working with Dr. Altman and Dr. Toscano. Altman is a sweetheart but Toscano, I can do without her at 430 in the morning. And here we are! One of the nurses should be in soon with new scrubs and to scrub you in. Have fun Dr. Torres."

Callie couldn't get in another question before the animated nurse Andrew pushes her into the scrub room. She's slightly lost but for the most part, scrub rooms all serve the same purpose.

"Dr. Torres? Nurse Julie, Ortho."

"Hi, nice to meet you. Um, do you have anything I can change into?"

"Ah yes! Here." She pulls a stack of fresh scrubs from the top shelf and hands them to Callie. "Change into these, we'll be waiting for you on the other side."

XXX

"Doctor Torres, pleasure you could join us this lovely morning."

"Yes, lovely indeed doctors. What do we have?"

"YOU have that," The brunette signals down to the patient's leg. "Nurse, get the X-rays. His ankle is crushed, I'd be surprised if you could repair it Dr. Torres."

Callie studied the X-Rays carefully.

"Okay, it's doable. How long until you're finished?"

"You're actually going to try and repair that?" Callie just nodded her head. "We should be done in 15. Dr. Altman will stay. I have to scrub into another surgery."

"Sounds like a good plan Doctor." Wow this lady is a bitch, guessing you're Toscano.

"Thank you Dr. Toscano, I'll stay here an observe Dr. Torres."

"Thank you Altman, Torres."

The brunette woman finally left the OR, Callie swore she heard the tension fall from the ceiling.

"Don't mind Toscano, she's a bit of a hard ass on new residents. I'm Dr. Teddy Altman by the way. You are?"

"Dr. Callie Torres."

"Pleasure. Is there anything I could help with? I'm not much for Ortho but I knew if we didn't operate soon he'd potentially loose his foot."

"I agree with that last statement, and nothing for now. Just enjoy the show." Callie looked up to Dr. Altman smiling and was happy to see one back, I think I am going to like you Teddy.

XXX

2 hours later Dr. Altman and Torres emerge from OR both smiling widely from the success of their surgery.

"That was excellent work in there Dr. Torres. Really, bravo."

"It was nothing. Really. But thank you. Now I need to find my boss and officially start my first day."

"Let me show you were Ortho is. This hospital is tricky to navigate."

"Thank you Dr. Altman."

"So tell me, Dr. Torres, how did you end up here?"

I was divorced, dumped, and disowned by my family. "I needed a change of pace. I've spent my entire life in Miami; pre-med up until now. I realized I needed something more challenging. MGH has an excellent Ortho program, and Boston is sort of the medical Mecca of the US. It was a no brainer when Dr. Wineberg offered me the job. He takes on lots of high profile cases and practices what most consider unorthodox procedures."

"Well that's a hell of a move. I'm sure you'll love it here. It's a nice city to start out in. Launch pad city I guess."

"I am starting to like it, maybe love it. I don't know yet. Thank you for the navigation too."

"No problem. I'll page you-er call Ortho when our patient is out of recovery."

"Sounds good. See you later on Dr. Altman."

XXX

"TEDDY!" The unmistakable howl from G fills the cafeteria at MGH. She wraps the woman up in a bear hug. "I've missed you like crazy!" She released the woman and looked at her up and down, "You look great Cuddles, really. Henry must be keeping you busy." She gave a suggestive rise of the eyebrows at Teddy. "Ow, no hitting doc."

"Easy G, I will kick your butt if needed. Let's go sit down."

"So, tell me Cuddles, how have you been? Hospital is still standing. You're here and good. What's new?"

"Nothing, same old same old. How about you? You look good!"

"Of course I look good, I'm in a suit. But I'm happy to be home but more eager to get back over there. How's Z? She seemed relieved I didn't come by last night."

"Yeah, I don't know actually. Joanne got stuck at the hospital and Andrew and I were so exhausted, we passed out. I don't know if Joanne actually came by at all."

"I hope she did just so Arizona can move on. I hate seeing her so bummed out over Joanne."

"Ditto G." Teddy resumes eating her salad while G drinks her coffee. "So, how was your date?"

"Amazing, thank you for asking. I just feel bad because I can't settle down into anything." G shrugs her shoulders.

"I know what you mean, but it doesn't hurt to play the field."

Across the way, a nervous looking Latina spots G talking with Teddy like they're the best of buddies. Odd, I wonder why G is in the hospital and how she knows Teddy.

Before she can dodge the line of site of the taller woman Callie is spotted. Shit! She's coming this way. What do you do? Shit!

"Hold that thought Teddy, I have to go see someone." G spots Callie and headed towards the woman.

"Dr. Torres, look like you're trying to dodge someone." G slides up next to her. "Or you just saw a ghost.. you okay?"

"I, I am, I'm fine. Um, care to share why you're in the hospital?"

"Um well, funeral directors generally come to hospitals for one reason." She deadpanned and gestured to her suit. "Removals?" It still wasn't registering with Callie, she looked more confused than before. So she whispered in her ear, "I am picking up bodies."

It took a second for it to sink in, but Callie felt stupid it wasn't more obvious to her. "OH. Right. Um. Sorry." She smiled bashfully. "So, you know Dr. Altman?"

"Who, Cuddles? I've known cuddles since we were in undergrad."

"Cuddles?"

"Don't ask." A ringing phone in her pocket broke their contact. "Shoot, okay I have to cut this meeting short, but it was nice seeing you Dr. Torres" She smiled and made way back to the café.

"Where did you go G? You like vanished!"

"I know Ted, sorry. I have to go. Duty calls. Is Arizona home?"

"Yes, uh, she should be."

"Alright. It was good to see you again. Can we please have a dinner date or something outside of this hospital?"

"Ha, yes of course G. I want to hear all those war stories and see your new ink. Good to see you." Teddy wrapped the taller woman up one more time before they departed ways.

Callie timed it perfect enough so that she could sneak into G's vacant seat. She didn't have any friends aside from Teddy and her boss was still in surgery from this morning.

"Dr. Torres! Have a seat!" A smiley woman gestured.

"Thank you, and you can call me Callie. Please."

"Okay, Callie. Teddy, please."

"So, Teddy who was that woman you were with? She another doctor?"

"Ha, that's a funny joke. That would be Gaetana or 'G'. Funeral director, corpsman, and a longtime friend of mine." Teddy studied the other woman's face for a reaction. "Why?"

"Uh, just wondering." Shit, you're caught.

"Hm, yeah. G is an interesting individual. I'm sure you'll bump into her. She's always wandering around the hospital." She saw the shift in the Latina's demeanor. "Hm, do you think she's attractive?"

Teddy let it sink it before she countered.

"I could talk to her if you'd like me too." Teddy was being honest despite the fact she didn't know Callie already knew G.

"Well, what would you say if I told you that I already knew G?"

"I'd say, not surprising, she's like a local celebrity. Go on."

"And, well, what if she already took me out on a date. Yesterday actually."

"So you're the mystery woman?"

Callie froze, she didn't think G would be that close with Teddy. Or even told anyone about their date.

"Don't fret. She's a very private person, constantly keeping a squeaky clean image for her family's business."

"Yeah." Callie breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yeah" Teddy smiled a little, "You like her, don't you?"

A small smile left her lips, "Maybe I do."

XXX

One of the benefits of carrying two fire arms and a license to amass the dead grants you access to any building, at any time, on any day. Maybe G abused her powers, but she didn't care. It was nearly 3 in the afternoon and she hasn't heard from Arizona for over 24 hours. Neither of her roommates would be home until the late evening and she couldn't wait that long.

Taking it upon herself to enter Arizona's apartment building under the guise that there was potentially a body there, the landlord gladly let her in without hesitation. Even going as far to opening Arizona's door. She slide the landlord a 20, signaling that his expertise was no longer needed.

The apartment looked as it always had. She started down the hallway, the rooms opposite one another were vacant, Teddy and Andrew's space. Walking through the kitchen into the living room, was the final bedroom. The door was shut and no sounds were coming from within.

Creeping further to the door, G rapped it with her knuckle. Nothing.

Turning the doorknob and allowing herself entry into the room, she saw what looked like two bodies under the duvet.

One belonged the blonde but the other…

No, are you kidding me?