A/N: Thanks to all they reviewed or added the story to an alert. You make me feel loved. And I'm in a good mood cuz I passed all my courses! A rather quick update, but since I have a large portion of this story already written it's more of a matter of proofreading and joining individual scenes together. Which sadly, is the boring part. Please review – the more reviews, the quicker I'll update. And can anyone think of a better title – I always find that really hard and frankly, this title sucks
Disclaimer: Character's and basic plot belongs to Grey's Anatomy.
The following day, Callie decides to take the day off and escape the gossip mill at the hospital. There's only so many pointed looks and interfering, but well-meaning friends that she can take. Deciding to tag along with Christina's daily trip to the mall, Callie meets her out the front.
'You'll never look back after this trip. The atmosphere is incredibly. It's like the dermatology ward on steroids. I wonder if any of these people have lives. Spending all day in the mall.'
Callie raises her eyebrows at that comment, as that's exactly what Christina does – spends all day here. She spends every day at the mall, observing people that are actually there to shop. And then proceeds to tell everyone about how exciting her day was. Following Christina into the mall, Callie finds the atmosphere strangely therapeutic. No stress, just wondering around browsing at the goods while Christina observes the people. Christina shows her all her favourite haunts, calling out to shop assistants by name proving that Christina really does spend too long in this place.
Unable to avoid it, Christina finally broaches the subject that Callie had been wishing that could be avoided. 'So, Blondie is back. I know you probably don't want to talk about it. But I've always found venting to be helpful. Get the issue off your chest. I mean you did call in sick so you can't exactly say that you're hunky dory about the situation. And while you think that over, I'm going to get an ice cream, do you want one?'
Shaking her head, Callie ponders what Christina said. Deciding that Christina may be right, Callie collects her thoughts as she reflects on the situation she has found herself in. Until now, she's refused to contemplate the repercussions of Arizona's return as she thought it was just a visit rather than permanent. Christina returns with an ice cream which looks like a gummi bear vomited on it, blue ice-cream topping, sprinkles and all the trimmings.
'You're going to eat that?' Callie asks as she stares suspiciously at the ice cream.
'Yeap, you have no idea what you are missing. This creation is unbelievable! I call it the Diabetic Dream or DD for short. So, are you going to vent?' She asks as she tucks into the ice cream.
'Yeah I guess so, I just can't believe she's back. It's not Arizona, when she makes a decision she tends to stick to it. She's one of the most logically person I know. When she accepted the Carter-Madison Grant, nothing could make her change her mind. And know she's back, I'm just so confused. I didn't think I would see her again for three years, if ever. I'm the one who makes spontaneous decisions, married in Vegas after all. She was a raised by a Marine for gods-sake; she wouldn't walk away from a commitment.'
Surprisingly, Christina agrees with Callie's sentiment, 'you're right, in part. Arizona is a logical person who weighs up the options. In every situation, except when it comes to you.' Callie looks at Christina, shocked at this comment. 'She kissed you in a bar bathroom, which is slightly creepy if you ask me since neither of you knew each other. She doesn't date newborns, but she dated you. Against her better judgement, she dated you, gave you a chance. She doesn't want children, but changed that ideology you. And then you and Blondie agreed that you would reproduce and make cute little babies. And she came back from Africa for you. So, in fact, this is completely in character. She bends and breaks the rules for you, and only for you.' Christina finally notices the pained look on Callie's face as she systemically ripped down her argument about Arizona, 'Oh, god what did you do?'
'I slept with Mark, past-tense, but I slept with him. Call it a moment of madness, or several moments, but I've dug myself into a rather large hole.' Callie reluctantly shares.
Christina has no argument to comfort Callie in this regard as Mark had always been a touché subject between the two women. 'You have to tell her, you'll never live with yourself if you don't.'
'But she'll leave. Arizona will never forgive me for this. Even though we weren't together. She'll never forgive me.' As a dark mood settles on the two women, they leave the mall. Christina agrees with Callie's sentiments that Mark's involvement is likely to cause irreversible damage.
XXX
Walking down the street away from the mall, a string of ambulances stream past with their sirens blaring. Callie breaks into a run as she sees them pull into a school up ahead surrounded by emergency personal. Christina follows behind her as they turn into the grounds. They are briefly stopped by a policeman who informs them of a school shooting. However, once Callie pulls out her ID showing that she is a doctor, both surgeons are allowed to pass. Quickly assessing the situation, the women split up and begin to help the paramedics administer first aid to the wounded flowing out of the building.
An injured female student has a GSW to the abdomen and a shattered femur. Deciding to follow the case back to SGMW hospital, Callie hitches a ride with the ambulance. She calls ahead and updates Owen on the situation telling him that at least six more injured students are behind her.
Unbeknown to Callie, Arizona has been given surgical privileges while the Chief considers allowing her to return to work. Owen, deciding to play cupid, assigns Arizona to Callie's case in the vain attempt that the two women will sort out their differences.
Once the doors are thrown open, Callie spots Arizona and quietly swears under her breath. Realising that she and Arizona will have to work together, she talks to the ped's surgeon about the student's injuries as they push her into the ER.
XXX
Working in the same OR is the last thing that Callie expected to be doing today. After calling in sick, Callie had hoped that spending a day outside the hospital would help her to sort out her feelings and emotions towards the blonde. Although her venting with Christina helped the situation, Callie feels she trapped between a rock and a hard place. She can't repair her relationship with Arizona until she tells the truth, but once she tells the truth, her relationship with Arizona will be over anyway. She'll leave again and go back to Africa. Scrubbing in, Callie sees Arizona prep the patient for surgery and pushes the dilemma to the back of her mind. She has the well-being of a patient to consider now, which should be her one and only priority.
As the surgery commences, Arizona attempts to begin her apology again. Callie can't leave the room and she realises that she is trapped. Not wanting to here another apology, Callie again cuts her off.
'No, we aren't doing this, not here, not now. We operate in silence, as silence is golden after all.' Callie feels herself beginning to get angry at the blonde for incessant apologises in front of people. The last thing they need is to increase the talk about the two of them. Arizona looks up at Callie and seeing that the brunette is serious, decides not to push her luck and abides by Callie's wishes. In Arizona's eyes, she has no choice to apologise in front of people as Callie won't give her the time of day to talk in private.
The two surgeons operate in silence, only talking to ask for various pieces of medical equipment. Arizona continues to glance at Callie, hoping that her eyes will portray how apologetic she is. However, Callie refuses to move her eyes away from the patient and continues to operate. The tense in the room is so thick that it could be cut with a knife. All other people in the room are glancing between the two surgeons, waiting for one to explode and vent about the situation they find themselves in. The head movements of the nurses and anthologist is reminiscent of a tennis match as they continue to glance between the two women.
Finally finishing the surgery, Callie scrubs out and heads off before Arizona catches up with her. As Arizona leaves the operating room, she sees the back of Callie and he shoulders slump with defeat. The refusal of Callie to discuss the situation is starting to weigh down the perky blonde. This isn't how she imagined her return. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but Callie's outright refusal to talk to her is depressing. She expected Callie to yell, as yelling means she still cares.
XXX
As the patient is moved to recovery, the Chief finally tracks down Arizona to tell her the good news that she can return as a ped's attending. As he shares the good news, Callie enters the room and hears the back end of the conversation. The Chief raises his voice slightly, so that Callie can hear the conversation. He can read the pain in both women's faces and feels slightly to blame. His goading of Callie before the ill-fated trip to Africa may have contributed to the situation they find themselves in. Wanting to rectify the situation, he wants to ensure that Callie knows that Arizona is staying in Seattle.
'…so we will offer you a three year deal with the same pay and conditions as you had before. However, as Stark has a contract to be Head of Ped's, you'll have to work under him.'
Finishing his discussion with Arizona, he heads off leaving the two surgeons to discuss the patient's condition with her parents.
After talking with the parents, the two women find themselves alone as they update the chart before they leave for the night. Arizona, not wanting a moment to apologise go to waste begins to talk again.
'Calliope, I am so so sorry for what I did for you. But I came back, and I'm staying for good. So please, can we just talk so we can sort this out. I love you and I want to be with you.'
Callie, finally deciding that she's had enough of the blonde's continuous apologies. 'Look, Arizona it takes two to make a relationship, but only one to end it. You ended the relationship by walking away. And this may come as a shock to you, but I was the other person in your relationship. I don't want to be with someone who completely disregards me or my opinion. So, please just drop it.'
Finally finishing the chart, Callie realises that she can escape from Arizona. She turns and walks away, not bothering to look back at the blonde. If she had, she would have seen a defeated blonde who felt she was running out of options to convince Callie that she was back for good. Deciding that she needs a stiff drink to combat the stressful situation day she had, Callie heads off to Joe's to drink her weight in tequila. Texting Christina to meet her there, Callie knows she'll have a serious hang over tomorrow. But for tonight, all she wants to do is forget.