Chapter 13

Arizona sighed deeply as she sat at her desk and filtered through the applications for Chief of Pediatric Surgery that were scattered before her. She had started out with 74 applicants and within a week and a half she had already managed to complete the first round of interviews for the selected candidates and had dwindled that selection pool down to eight remaining doctors. The final eight were to come in for a second interview with her, Chief Berger and two members of the board. So far Alex was looking very promising. The only one that she was really concerned about giving him a run for his money was Dr. Polly Preston from Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St Louis, Missouri. Even with Dr. Preston's extensive research and published articles, Alex still had a slight leg up being how he was already the Chief of Peds at a Top Five rated hospital. Deep down she wanted her plan to work out but she also needed to make sure that she found the best doctor for the job…she crossed her fingers that that doctor was Alex Karev.

….

"Are you ready for this Karev?" Arizona asked the man as they headed toward the board room for his interview.

"I got this." The man confidently replied.

Dressed in his best suit, Alex was more than ready for this. This opportunity was one that he had always dreamed of. He liked his job and was proud to be the Chief of Peds at Seattle Grace but he often felt that he wanted something more. He was ready to move on to something bigger, something better but the chance had never presented itself…until now.

…...

Arizona sat across from Chief Berger in his office, as the greying man was reviewing the resumes that were before him. He had selected two from the pile and held one in each hand, closely studying them closely, his eyes darted from resume to resume. She sat in silence as she watched the man intently, unsure what to say. After nearly 25 years as a doctor, she still had issues with authority. This was a situation that given the outcome could possibly result in tears, she prayed that that didn't happen.

"So…." Chief Berger began with an over exaggerated tone. "I have my top two choices. What about you Dr. Robbins?"

"I think I've selected my candidate." She answered. "My top pick is Alex Karev."

"Alex Karev? Interesting…." He said finally looking up to meet the blonde doctors gaze. "I was leaning more toward Polly Preston." He said.

Arizona could feel her stomach tighten and her throat constrict. "Polly Preston?"

"Yes, Polly Preston. I was very impressed with her during her interview and she has a wide range of published articles."

Sure Polly Preston looks good on paper, but the number of publications you've submitted doesn't make you a better doctor, clearly or she would already be the Chief of Peds at least somewhere. "With all due respect, Chief Berger, I think you should consider Alex Karev. He's has some great publications, not to mention his work on the juvenile diabetes clinical trial, and he has been a Chief of Pediatric Surgery for three years now. He has the proven leadership skills that you are going to need when I leave.

He sighed deeply, really taking in what the woman was saying to him. "Alright...I'm going to make you a deal…I'm going to send both of these applicant's resumes over to the board. Dr. O'Donnell and Dr. Tyler were there in person for both interviews…We will leave it up to them to decide."

"Okay." She simply said. She was hoping for a better solution. She was hoping to get to leave knowing whole heartedly that her plan was going to work out. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case…her fate was left up to two board members.

…..

"Mom…the phone's for you!" Sophia yelled down the hallway toward her mother. "Mom…It's Arizona." She said as she walked into her mother's room and handed her the phone.

"Thanks Soph." Callie smiled at her daughter. "Did you get all your homework done?" she asked the teenager before answering the phone.

"Of course, Mom." Sophia flashed a smile that was almost identical to her mother's. "Can I go over to Zola's for a bit?"

"Yes. But be home before 10pm." Callie answered. She watched as her daughter exited the room before answering the phone. "Hi Babe!"

Arizona face lit up once she heard Callie's voice. "Hi Calliope."

"So….how did it go today?" Callie inquisitively asked.

Arizona sighed into the phone, letting Callie know that she was frustrated. "It's Between Alex Karev and Polly Preston. I want Alex. The chief wants Polly. So next he's sending both of their resumes to the board and letting them decide."

Callie wished she could hold her beautiful girlfriend. She hated knowing that she was there all alone. She wanted Arizona there with her as soon as possible but she also knew how important it was to Arizona for her plan to work out…that she could leave Boston knowing that her hospital would be well taken care of…that she would have a job to come to Seattle for. "It will work out Babe. We will get you home soon."

With those last six words spoken, Arizona tried really hard not to feel any resentment toward Callie, or their situation. She was giving up her job…her job at the most top rated hospitals in the country. She was giving up her loft apartment that she loved. She was about to move all the way across the country. Hell, she was already staying up late almost every night due to the three hour time difference so she could have a chance to talk to Callie after a long day surgery. She knew that Callie appreciated her doing these things but it was just too many adjustments all at once, where Callie didn't seem to have to adjust a thing.

"It's not just that simple, Callie. Things are so much more complicated. What if it doesn't work out? What then?"

"Arizona, what's so complicated about me wishing you were here at home with me?"

Before Arizona could stop herself all of the frustration and resentment came rushing to the surface. "Callie, it's not my home. It's your home, full of all of your things. Not mine. There isn't anything in that home that is mine. My home is in Boston."

Callie had to fight hard to choke back a sob upon hearing Arizona's words. She had thought that they were on the same page, but now it was abundantly clear that that was not the case. It was obvious that Arizona had been holding back her feelings. Callie knew that Arizona was making a lot of changes to be with her, but she hoped that once she got here and they were able to start their life together once again that those changes would all we worth it. Still…Arizona's words felt like they had punched Callie in the heart. "You're right, Arizona. There isn't anything in this house that isn't yours. Except me…And Sophia. And whenever you are ready we will be here waiting to spend a lifetime with you." With that Callie was unsure what else there was to say. She softly pulled the phone away from her ear and disconnected it.

Arizona laid there in her bed letting the tears that he had been trying so hard to hold back fall freely down her face. She could tell just by hearing her voice that she had hurt Callie's feelings. All she could think about was those penetrating words… 'And whenever you are ready we will be here waiting to spend a lifetime with you.'

Both women tossed and turned all night, neither getting very much sleep. Arizona felt bad for hurting Callie's feelings. Callie was hurt that Arizona didn't think of her home as her own. Callie laid there staring at the alarm clock, her thoughts racing through her. She had come up her an idea that would hopefully would solve all of their problems…or at least be the first step to making things a little bit easier for Arizona.

Arizona woke up to the phone ringing at 6:30 in the morning. Moaning, she rolled over to answer it. This better be important, whoever it was, she didn't have to be at the hospital for another couple of hours.

"Hello?"

"Arizona?"

The blonde quickly sprang out of her slumber at the sound of Callie's voice. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Yeah…I'm fine. Look, I know it's early I just really wanted to talk to you. I just couldn't wait."

"Okay…what's up?"

"Arizona, I want you to know that my home is wherever you are. I know that you are giving up so much just to come out here and be with me and I want you to know how thankful I am that you are willing to give up so much for me…for us. I'm sorry if I came off an insensitive."

Arizona sat up in her spot and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "Callie, I'm sorry for snapping. I just…It's been hard. I want to be there with you so bad. But it's been hard having to give up so much. And I can't stop freaking out wondering what we are going to do if Alex doesn't get the job and I don't have a chance to come back to Seattle Grace. All I want is to wake up next to you every morning. I'm so tired of waking up alone." Arizona sighed into the phone. It felt so good to finally get everything off of her chest.

Callie smiled into the phone, thankful that she and Arizona were finally able to be on the same page. "I want to wake up next to you every morning too. If it makes you feel any better, every morning when I do wake up alone, I pretend that I'm there wrapped up in your arms."

Arizona started to laugh at Callie's confession. "Somehow, that isn't very hard to believe."

Callie could hear Arizona's sexy chuckle flow through the phone. "Why not?"

"Because, I know that morning is your….uhh…your favorite time of the day…so no wonder you like to pretend that I'm there with you."

Callie joined in on the laughter. "You still know me all too well." Relief flowed through her body. They were going to be able to work through all of this. They just needed to remember to communicate.

Arizona decided to lighten the mood and see if Callie was up for a bit of fun. "You know it is morning…Since we both are here why don't we…?"

Callie lowered her voice to a whisper. "Arizona Robbins? Are you trying to get me to do naughty things with you?"

"What do you say? Want to have a little morning fun?" the blonde suggested.

"Jesus, Arizona. You don't know how bad I want to take you up on that offer but Sophia is in the next room and I think she is awake."

"Oh...that's too bad...well, there's no reason why I can't enjoy the morning myself and just let you listen from afar." The blond snickered suggestively.

"Arizona Robbins! Don't you even think about it!" Callie let out a soft groan, wondering how it was, that she had loss total control of this conversation. "God, Arizona...as much as I would like to continue this, there is something else I wanted to talk to you about. Can you stop whatever it is that you are doing long enough for me to ask you a question?"

Arizona had to stifle a giggle. "What that?"

"Well, I was thinking about your home in Boston and how much you are giving up moving her to be with us. I was thinking we could do something that would be a fresh start for all of us."

"What do you mean, Callie?"

"Well, what if we bought a new house? Something that would be new for all of us…What do you think?"

"I think that is a great idea." Arizona smiled. She loved that Callie loved her enough to make a big change just to make her feel more comfortable.