'Holy fuck, what was that?'

Amelia had sidled up to Arizona at work the next morning and was skipping alongside her, intently staring at her friend who was at once looking at her charts and a little mortified. Arizona was walking purposefully, and Amelia had to be careful not to crash into beds and humans as she tried to keep up without spilling her drink.

'You can have my coffee if you tell me.'

Arizona kept on walking.

'OK, so it doesn't have a shit heap of sugar in it, but I can get some.'

'Amelia -'

'Ooh, it speaks!'

'I have rounds.'

'Me too, isn't it exciting? Being employed, having friends, sharing secrets...'

Arizona stopped in her tracks. Her sidekick, looking triumphant, took a big swig of her coffee but kept her inquisitive eyes fixed on the unreadable face opposite.

'Look, I will talk about it, but not here. It's complicated.' She said this last word emphatically, yet tacitly. 'So stop harassing me and go be a genius.' Arizona grabbed Amelia's coffee from her, took one swig, then threw the bitter drink away.

'Oi, I'd have finished that!'

'Guess you need to sweeten your coffee as well as you approach,' she smiled back.

Hours later, Amelia, surrounded by a multitude of scans, is pacing around her office talking to herself about this beast of a tumour. She is so engrossed, she neglects to notice Arizona rushing in and closing the door abruptly, slumping against it.

'Dude, I need you to hide me!'

'...then I can laser in from the...'

'Amelia?!'

'Crap buckets! When did you appear? Was I talking out loud?'

'You always do – what's new? So I'm hiding right now if you hadn't picked up on this.' She motions to her panic-stricken face.

'Well helloooo,' Amelia sings, mimicking the movement to highlight her own surprise. 'You kinda panicked me too actually. But ok, you only surprised me, so you can have this one. What's up, Doc? Are you hiding from that hot doctor from Joe's?'

'Nuh-uh,' Arizona shakes her head, 'Callie.'

'Your daughter's other mother, ex-spouse, good friend Callie? Oh my God, of course you're hiding. She really is scary. I've heard she breathes fire and eats pets and everything.'

Amelia's flood of sarcasm was instantly quelled with one simple finger from the paediatrician.

'Ouch,' she responds. 'Ok, so what's happened? Has some shit hit a fan somewhere?'

'You could say that.' Arizona moves to a nearby stool to steady herself. 'That woman from the bar with Jackson...'

'...the hot woman...'

'She and I...'

'Well no shit. I mean, a blind man could've seen that chemistry!'

'She's the one.' Arizona stops, using her eyes to complete the picture.

Amelia repeats herself, but this time her voice has concern, understanding.

'Well no shit.'

Amelia and Arizona had spoken once about the episode with a visiting doctor and the devastating impact it had had on her marriage. But in that conversation, the focus had been on the subsequent events, and not on the rip-roaring sexual connection that had triggered them. Apart from a couple of occasions with April, Arizona hadn't spoken about Lauren to anyone. She had kept her feelings locked firmly away, only to be accessed in her most intimate of musings.

'So the hiding,' Amelia continued, 'what's kicked off out there in the big wide world of GSMH?'

'Well Jackson has apparently sealed the deal fro Dr Boswell – Lauren – to come work here full time. I was in the canteen when April told me, and the next thing I see is an irate Callie storming in and glaring at me. And I mean glaring.'

'I know the look – I've been glared at too.'

'By her?'

'No, you. Earlier. The finger? Yeah, it came with a glare. Arizona coupled it with another one, and continued. 'I know Callie. She is a woman on a mission. She's pissed and wants to take it out on me. I mean I know it's coz she's hurt, and she'll be seething at the thought of Lauren walking these halls, but I can't face it right now. My head is swimming. I need to figure out how I feel about it before any confrontation.'

'Well consider this your haven. From your lady triangle at least, for so long as I have the pleasure of your company, we can pour over all things Herman together. You owe me after dragging me to the bar last night.'

'I didn't -' Arizona protested but Amelia waved her silent.

'I jest. But you do owe me. You left me pretty abruptly last night and the checked shirt hairdo girl thought she'd swoop in. Not fun. Do I look gay? I mean, not that you all look the same, but is there a look about me? Like if I were sitting in a bar, would you hit on me?'

'I think she was probably just one of many women last night who saw you checking all the ladies out. Poor thing, she probably thought she was in there.'

Arizona pokes Amelia's shoulder playfully, before resting her forehead on it. Amelia pats Arizona's head, the puts her arm around her back, pulling her close.

'Hey girl, give it time and it'll all ease up. Maybe you should find some time to talk with the hot doctor in private before you just happen to walk into her at work and totally warp out on us all, huh?'

'You're right, and I should face Callie at some point. I'm just not sure the hot doctor will want to talk about it with me. I kind of treated her badly afterwards, then we never said goodbye...'

'Look, there are definitely sparks still there, she could have set the bar on fire the way she looked at you last night. She'll want to talk, trust me. And some. Just go with the flow! I always do and it's invigorating. Damn, my pager.'

Amelia let go of her friend who seemed so familiar in her arms and began to gather her paperwork up. I'd better get back to it, you gonna be OK there?'

Arizona smiled a redundant but genuine smile for Amelia. 'Yes thanks. I'll be fine. I've got Sophia tonight and my shift is over, so I guess I'll go home and put my feet up.'

'Foot up,' Amelia winked.

'You are so bold, Amelia Shepherd.'

'Well if I can't solve your love life I can at least take the piss outta you.'

the two women headed to the door, Amelia holding it open for Arizona, making sure the coast was clear, then nonchalantly reminded her, 'You didn't answer my question before.'

Arizona curled her upper lip in and narrowed her eyes. 'I know I didn't. But sure...' She leaned in and teased her soft lips against Amelia's ear and softly whispered

'...I'd ask you out.'