"You did good work in there." Owen commented as they walked down the hallway of the surgical ward.

"I'm not in the mood for small talk."

"I wasn't…"

"Sure you were." Bailey cut him off. "We haven't worked together much since you started here Dr. Hunt. Otherwise you would know that I'm not one to pat myself on the back after a surgery."

He struggled for something to say. He wasn't normally intimidated by much thanks to his military background but Miranda Bailey was a different story. While he might not agree with her Nazi nickname he definitely understood where it came from. She was stern and strict and extremely good at her job, which gave her a natural confidence few others possessed.

She suddenly stopped to face him. "Look, I'm sorry. It's been a long day and I'm personally getting sick of having to do surgery on people I work with. Especially emergency surgery on friends like Callie. So thanks for the compliment. You did good work too."

He nodded, knowing better than to say anything as they started walking again. He understood where she was coming from. He hadn't been at the hospital very long but he had already operated on two people he counted as friends, George and Callie. He just hoped his skills as a surgeon helped Callie more than they had George.

"Oh." Lexie Grey squeaked in surprise as she almost ran into them. "I was just uh..." She used her thumb to point at the door behind her. "Arizona's in the chapel. Mark sent me to check on her and I was just on my way back to the consult room." She swallowed hard as she looked back and forth between them. "How's Callie?"

"Dr. Hunt, would you mind taking Lexie back to everyone else and filling them in on the surgery while I talk to Dr. Robbins?"

"Not at all." Owen agreed.

Lexie's eyes were wide as Owen put his hand on her back to guide her away. "Is it that bad?"

Bailey didn't wait to hear his answer before walking into the chapel. She paused as the door closed silently behind her, looking at Arizona for a moment before striding toward her. "Come with me."

Arizona nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard her voice. "Miranda." Her scare was quickly forgotten. "How's Calliope?"

"Come with me." She repeated herself.

"Why?"

"Just come on."

"But."

"Come on." Bailey demanded, holding out her hand.

"Is Calliope all right?" She frowned when the only answer she got was an impatient gesture of Miranda's hand. She hesitated a moment longer before reluctantly slipping her hand into the other woman's.

Bailey held on long enough to pull her to her feet. "Let's go."

"Where?"

"The ICU." She answered as they left the chapel and started toward the elevator.

"You mean Calliope is..."

"Alive." Bailey finished for her. "She's weak and I know the Chief told you we almost lost her again on the table but she fought like hell and she pulled through."

"She's alive." Tears of joy filled Arizona's eyes. "She's alive and in the ICU." She nodded, trying to regain her composure as they got on the elevator and Miranda hit the button for the floor they wanted. "What's her condition?"

"I knew you were going to ask me that. Just like I know I could talk to you until I'm blue in the face but until you see for yourself that she's still here you won't listen. And then when you start to listen you'll demand to see her chart so you'll know all the details for yourself. So that's why I'm taking you to the ICU. Grey and Karev should have her settled by now."

"Thank you Miranda. Thank you for saving her life."

"There's no thanks necessary."

"Yes there is." Arizona gripped the shorter woman's arm. "And you're right, I will want to see her chart. But until we get there can you tell me how she is?"

The ghost of a smile played across Bailey's lips as they stepped off the elevator. "I knew you were going to ask that too. What exactly did the Chief tell you?"

"He said the bullet went through Calliope's lung, hit her shoulder blade ricocheted back through her subclavian artery and lodged in her collar bone."

"That's right." She nodded. "We repaired the damage to the lung and artery and inserted a chest tube to help re-inflate the lung. She lost a lot of blood so we're still transfusing her and we're going to keep her sedated and on a ventilator until we're sure her lung is strong enough for her to breathe on her own without collapsing again. We've got her listed as critical but if her vital signs continue to improve tonight we should be able to move her to a regular room sometime tomorrow."

"The Chief mentioned she might have to have another surgery to repair her collar bone."

"We don't think that will be necessary. The bullet caused a clean break when it hit the bone. It should heal without any pins or screws."

"What about nerve and tissue damage?"

"At this point we don't know. She'll definitely need physical therapy once her clavicle heals and I plan on asking Shepherd to keep a close eye on her. That's the best we can do for now." Bailey stopped when the reached the nurse's station. "Hold up."

"What? Why?" Arizona's heart sank at the expression on the other woman's face. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

"No, don't be ridiculous." Bailey waved away the question. "I just want to make sure you're ready for this."

"Ready to see Calliope? Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because this is Callie we're talking about." She raised her hand to stop Arizona from commenting when she opened her mouth to reply. "I know you're a doctor and you've seen Lord only knows how many people in the ICU but none of them were her. She's not just another patient, she's the one who brings that goofy grin to your face every time you see her. She's the woman you love. That makes it different."

"You're right, it does."

"Of course I'm right. So take a second to..."

"I wasn't done." Arizona interrupted her. "I can't tell you how I'm going to react to seeing Calliope because I don't know. But standing here, knowing that I'm so close and still haven't seen her is tearing me apart. She stepped in front of a bullet to save my life Miranda. I need to be with her. I need her to know that everything is going to be all right. That she's not alone."

Bailey blinked, trying to cover the tears that had filled her eyes. "I'd say you're ready."

Arizona gave her an appreciative half quirk of her lips before following her. But despite the warning she's just received she wasn't prepared for what greeted her when Bailey led her into one of the ICU rooms.

The normally larger than life Callie looked tiny in the bed, a ventilator tube snaking down her throat to feed oxygen to her lungs. Machines on both sides of the bed monitored everything from her heart rate to her temperature to her blood pressure. Her left arm was held securely against her body by a sling to prevent her from accidently moving it. But what shocked her the most was how pale her girlfriend was. It reminded her of the bloodied Callie from her nightmare.

"Hey." Meredith greeted them. "Alex got paged to the ER but I thought I should stay."

"Thanks." Bailey gestured for the chart in the resident's hands, ignoring the look she got as Meredith handed it over. "Here you go Dr. Robbins." She in turn gave it to a still stunned Arizona. "I'll be right outside if you need me. Come on Grey."

And just like that Arizona was alone with Callie. She looked from the figure in the bed to the chart in her hand and decided to be a doctor first. Tears filled her eyes as she went through the chart, the notes it contained confirming what Miranda had already told her and even more that had gone unsaid. With the damage to her lung and artery it was a miracle that Callie had survived long enough to reach the OR let alone made it off the table alive.

She approached the bed slowly, putting the chart on the foot of it before walking around the side to get a better look at its occupant. Her hand shook as she reached for Callie's hand, a sob escaping her throat as her fingers made contact with warm skin.

"Oh Calliope." Tears streamed down her face as she placed a gentle kiss on Callie's forehead before pulling back to drink in the features she adored. "I..." She shook her head. "You have to keep fighting Calliope. You can't leave me. Not like this. Please."

She had so much more to say but her emotions got the better of her so she buried her head against her girlfriend's good shoulder and gave in to her tears. She wished those strong arms would hold her close but she couldn't be greedy. Callie was alive and that was the important thing for now. Everything else could wait until she was awake.

"And I'm telling you this isn't a good time. She just..."

"There's never a good time for something like this Bailey."

Arizona straightened up quickly, keeping her grip on Callie's hand as the Chief and Miranda came into the room. "What..." She used her free hand to swipe at her cheeks. "What's going on?"

"I'm sorry Robbins," the Chief gave her a sympathetic look. "I know you've only been with her a few minutes but I need you to come with me right away."

"Why?"

"It's Wallace Anderson. He died a couple of hours ago."

Arizona closed her eyes. "Oh no."

"Larry Jennings, the board member who represented the hospital at our meeting with his parents, is with the Andersons and demanded that I come get you."

"Why?" Miranda butted in. "There's nothing she can do for the boy now."

"I know." The Chief sighed. "I tried to explain the situation but he wouldn't listen. He threatened Dr. Robbins position here at the hospital if I didn't come find her."

"What?!" Bailey was steaming. "Why would he..."

"Because Wallace's parents were going to donate twenty-five million dollars to the hospital." Arizona's voice was hallow. "Someone's head has to be on the chopping block for him dying even though I voiced my opinion that I thought the surgery was a mistake from the very beginning."

"Arizona..."

"No, it's fine." Arizona kept him from saying more. "I'll go face the music. But if he fires me you can't kick me out of the hospital."

The chief clinched his jaw. "He's not going to fire you."

"If he does you can't kick me out of the hospital." She repeated herself. "I have to be here for Calliope."

"And you will be, with your job intact."

"I wish I was as confident about that as you are." Arizona returned her attention to her girlfriend. "I'm sorry Calliope, I have to go for a little while but I'll be as quick as I can." She kissed her cheek. "Make sure you're still here when I get back."

"She will be." Bailey assured her. "I'll stay with her while you're gone."

"Thank you." Arizona gave Callie's hand a loving squeeze before letting go, squaring her shoulders as she turned to face the Chief. "What are we waiting for?"

The trip from the ICU to the pediatric ward was a silent one. The Chief obviously felt bad about taking her away from Callie but Arizona couldn't come up with anything to say to him.

Larry Jennings hurried toward them as they approached Wallace's room. "Where the hell have you been Dr. Robbins?"

"Mr. Jennings..."

He turned his angry glare on Richard. "I wasn't talking to you." He faced Arizona again. "I asked you a question."

"I..." Arizona swallowed hard, reminding herself that now wasn't the time to give in to the issues she had with authority figures. "I was on the surgical ward waiting for word on Dr. Torres."

"Great. So while you were downstairs pining over your lesbian lover one of your patients was dying! That is completely inexcusable!!"

Paul Anderson frowned as he walked out of his son's room. "What's going on out here?" His jaw jumped when he saw Arizona. "Dr. Robbins."

"I'm sorry Paul." Larry apologized. "I shouldn't be talking to her here. We'll..."

"Arizona?" Bethany Anderson appeared beside her husband.

"Bethany." Tears shimmered in Arizona's eyes. "I'm so sorry."

"That's too little too late Dr. Robbins." Jennings snapped at her.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Paul's frown deepened. "You're not blaming her for what happened with Wallace."

"I most certainly am. It was her responsibility as his doctor to..."

"Try to give our son more time, which she did." Bethany finished for him. "Even though she thought it was a bad idea she did the surgery."

"Because we told her to." Her husband continued the thought. "If anyone is responsible for what happened it's us." He shook his head as he looked at Arizona. "I'm sorry I pushed for the surgery. I just wanted more time to find a cure."

"Which you might have had if Dr. Robbins was doing her job properly." Jennings cut in again.

"No." Paul contradicted him. "We've both already told you, she's not to blame and we won't support any efforts you make to reprimand her. As a matter of fact we'll use the twenty-five million we discussed before to hire legal council for her instead of donating it to the hospital if you push the issue."

"You're still going to donate the money?" Jennings was clearly shocked.

"Arizona was amazing with Wallace." Bethany answered. "We want Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital to be able to continue to offer families like ours the best care possible for their children and to continue to try to find a cure for Wallace's condition. That's why we still want to donate the money."

"But only if Dr. Robbins keeps all of her privileges as a doctor." Paul added. "She's the reason you'll get the money, not your brown nosing or show boating, Mr. Jennings."

"Her position here isn't in jeopardy." Chief Webber assured him, ignoring the look he was getting from Jennings.

Bethany stepped forward to grip Arizona's hand. "We heard about what happened earlier. How is Dr. Torres?"

"She's in the ICU right now." Arizona somehow managed to find her voice.

"Does she have good doctors?" Paul asked. "If not I can bring in anyone you want. Money's no object."

"Thanks but she's in the best possible hands." A tear meandered down her cheek. "I'm sorry I wasn't with Wallace when he..."

"Don't." Bethany stopped her. "You did everything you possibly could for him."

"I'm sorry to interrupt." Dr. Percy joined them. "But he's ready if you'd like to see him."

"We would." Fresh tears filled Bethany's eyes at the statement.

"I'll take you." Arizona offered.

"No." Paul shook his head again. "You need to be with Dr. Torres right now. I'm sure Mr. Jennings wouldn't mind escorting us."

"I..." Jennings wanted to protest but knew he couldn't. "I'd be happy to."

"I'll come along as well." Chief Webber volunteered.

"Good." Paul looked at Arizona again. "Thank you Dr. Robbins, for everything."

"Yes, thank you." Bethany squeezed her arm. "I hope everything works out with Dr. Torres."

"We both do." Paul gave her a nod.

Guilty gnawed at Arizona as she watched them walk away because as kind and generous as the Andersons were and as much as Wallace meant to her, she was relieved that if she had to lose one person that day it was Wallace and not Callie.

She wondered if that made her a horrible person as she started back toward the elevators.