I posted this story elsewhere (very cool site), I'm actually almost finished with it but do work (lots of it) and a serious case of writers block I'm struggling. I apologize to whoever remembers this fic for taking so long, I promise I'll update soon. I decided to post here while I work through the block :P thanks for reading guys.
It's no sacrifice post 6x20 fic
mcstout
It's no Sacrifice
Post 6x20 fic
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: PG-13 (for now)
A/N: First fanfic ever! just stressed over the whole Callie/Arizona storyline and had to vent. This is probably going to have several chapters. It's kinda dark, tried to make it light on some parts but I don't know if it played out all that well. I have an idea as to where this is going, and I'm totally aware that I've recycled some ideas that have been used over and over (trust me you'll know when you get there) but hopefully you still enjoy the comments, constructive critisim. Also, all mistakes are mine.
A/N 2: I have no medical knowledge, so I just used what I see in GA (I actually paraphrase at one point) which leads me to my next A/N!
A/N 3 To whoever hasn't read this fic...it starts out post 6x20 but then it takes a turn and it gets really dark so make sure to read all the A/N. Thanks again
All characters are property of Shonda Rhimes no infringement is intended.
That night they held each other, neither one wanting to let go, dreading what was to come once morning arrived. As Arizona lay there, completely spent after making love to Calliope, holding her and smoothing over her unruly hair, she knew what she had to do. As the first rays filtered their way through the semi opened blinds, Arizona carefully extricated herself from her lovers grip. She quietly dressed and exited the room, looking back at her sleeping Calliope before closing the door behind her.
Callie woke with a start. Unwilling to open her eyes, she processed all the events that had transpired over the last couple of weeks. She felt her heart sinking when she thought about last night. She wanted to give up everything for Arizona, but as soon as the blonde had turned around and whispered "don't" to her, Callie realized that the peds surgeon was going to have none of it. She stretched her arm trying to find comfort in Arizona but, all she felt were the cold sheets under her fingertips. She quickly sat up, completely awake now. Everything was the same, except she wasn't there. Her heart began to sink, and a searing pain took over her chest. She hadn't imagined Arizona doing this. She was supposed to be different. How could she run away like this without even a goodbye? She got up, and looked for her robe as she felt tears starting to form in her eyes, refusing to give into them.
She opened the door to her bedroom and walked out to the living room. That's when she saw her. She was sitting on the couch, fully dressed, coffee cup in hand staring at an unknown point in the room, obviously thousand of miles away. Callie couldn't help the smile that sprung to her face, and the lonely tear that escaped. "You're still here". Arizona looked up from the couch, startled by the sudden interruption from her thoughts. She put the coffee mug down on the small table in front of her and stood up as soon as she noticed her girlfriends' watery eyes. "Of course, where else would I be?" she whispered quietly as she tenderly kissed the corner of her mouth wiping the stray tear away with her left hand. She then put her arms around the brunettes' neck and nuzzled her chin, soliciting a content sigh. "What do we do now?" the taller woman pondered quietly, scared about what the question would bring about. Arizona took Callie's hand and led her to the couch. Once they were both settled, the PEDS surgeon seemed really nervous all of a sudden and, what worried Callie even more, she also looked distraught. She couldn't seem to look her in the eye, and she was fidgeting with her hands. Callie couldn't take the silence anymore, and the anxiety was quickly taking a hold of her as well, so she took the smaller woman's hands in her own to stop them from nervously moving about. Finally Arizona looked up, the look in her eyes telling the ortho surgeon everything she needed, and didn't want to know. "You're going to break up with me, aren't you?" Callie mused aloud as she stood up, needing some space to collect her thoughts and emotions.
As soon as she heard those words, Arizona eyes started to flood and she cursed herself, she had promised herself she wouldn't lose it, that she would be strong for the both of them.
As soon as Callie saw the tears escape her girlfriend she knew it was the truth. Arizona took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down and to try to listen to the internal mantra she had started this morning-If you love her, you'll end it, if you love her, you'll end it- With a voice that sounded much calmer than she actually felt, Arizona started speaking "Listen to me, baby ok?…..You are so amazing, you're willing to sacrifice everything for me Calliope, without a second thought… a-a-and me? What do I have to offer you? Wh-wh-what have I sacrificed?" Her own stuttering and rambling had begun to annoy the peds doctor, increasingly aware of her growing nerves, and the sensation of dread building up in her chest; she drew another deep breath to collect herself before standing up and facing the brunette who had her hands on her hips, shaking her head looking down as if disagreeing with everything she was saying. "I realized yesterday how selfish I've been. I can't give you the things you want, and I am so sorry!" "Stop, Arizona, just stop right there" Callie held up her hand trying to interrupt her, frustrated and terrified of where this was going, but the blonde would have none of it. "Just be quiet for a minute and listen ok Calliope? Because you need me to do this and if I don't do this now than I-I-I never will and you'll end up hating me for it! And you'll realize sooner or later that all the time you've spent with me, you could've spent it with the person that can give yo-." Arizona had to stop herself, her voice breaking. She placed her hands on her hips and looked around the room trying to collect herself. After a few seconds she looked back at Callie and continued – "that can give you a baby…a family, the things you will always want, the things you will always need to be truly happy… so, I'm going to stop thinking about myself and what I want and think about what you need, and you don't need to be with me, y-y-you don't deserve it and this" she gestured at the space between them "it'll break us sooner or later, so I'm doing this now, and you have to believe that in the end, I really do think it's for the best." She finished, nodding her head almost imperceptibly as if trying to reinforce what she just said with the simple gesture. Callie remained quiet throughout Arizona's rant, her face strangely impassive, the only sign that she was processing what she was saying were the small tears falling down her face.
Once the blonde woman quieted down, Callie laughed disbelievingly, while she wiped the tears from her eyes with her hand.
For the first time since she had known Calliope, Arizona was at a loss, she had no idea what was going through that beautiful head of hers. Callie coughed, clearing her throat. "You are unbelievable, you know that Arizona?" Callie said, anger tainting every word she pronounced. Arizona looked up from the coffee stain on the floor, completely confused; she was not expecting this reaction from her lover. "I don't think you actually believe half of what you just said…you know what I think? I think, you're scared"… Arizona opened her mouth to protest but quickly shut it as soon as she saw the warning look her girlfriend gave her. "You're scared that somebody might actually choose you over something so important. You're not worried about me hating you in the future; you actually think you're not worth it. Well you know what? I choose you, Arizona Robbins. Yes, I want babies…but I only want them if I can have them with you, so if that's not an option, so be it, but there is no way I am letting you go. You are everything to me. Do you hear me, Ari? Everything".
Both women were crying now, neither one trying to hold back anymore. Callie had unconsciously moved forward while she was talking and now they were mere inches apart. The brunette didn't want to make the next move, she had put it all out there and now the ball was on Arizona's court. Arizona slung her arms around Callies' neck, kissing her with all the love and passion she felt. It didn't take long for the Latina to reciprocate, sucking tenderly on the blondes' lower lip. There hands started roaming, Arizona backed Callie up against the island, her hands encircling Callie's waist, their breathing started to get heavier and as Callie traced slow circles down the blondes back, Arizona suddenly stopped. Callie opened her eyes, a mixture of worry and arousal lingering in them. Arizona had not stopped crying, she looked deeply into Calliopes' eyes, and then she slowly kissed her. Callie closed her eyes, savoring the kiss, but not liking the sense of finality that came with it. Arizona abruptly stopped and cupped Callies' cheek with her right hand, then traced delicate patterns slowly over her forehead, then her eyes, her nose, her chin and finally her mouth. The blonde lightly nuzzled the Latinas mouth with her nose, making her part her lips a little. They stared at each other for what seemed like hours. Suddenly the blonde leaned against Callie's parted lips and as she kissed her for the last time she whispered into her mouth "I'm not worth it". She backed up unable to look her in the eye. "Goodbye Calliope" All Callie could do was stand there, not believing this was actually happening. "I'll come back tomorrow while you're at work to get my things, I'll leave you the key when I'm finished" The peds, doctor said as she walked towards the door, her words sounding harsher than she intended. As she opened the door, Callie had to grab on to the counter for support, sure that her legs were going to give out on her. As the door closed she thought she heard the blonde whisper "I love you".
That had been six months ago; Six months, 24 days, and 8 hours ago to be exact, but who was counting? It had been the longest six months of Callie's life. She had never felt so lost and broken. Not after George, not after Erica, not even after her family disowned her for that brief period of time when she was just starting out with Arizona…. there it was again, that name, she couldn't seem to go a whole day without thinking at least a dozen times about her. But, she had improved. It wasn't so long ago that she couldn't go through a whole day without thinking of her and bawling her eyes out. If it hadn't been for Mark, Cristina and, to her surprise, Little Grey she would have gone back to her old ways. She would have fled, far, far away and buried her feelings in alcohol and casual sex. And although there were nights when she sought one or the other (sometimes even both) she had learned to deal without resorting to her self destructive tendencies. Yes, Calliope Iphegenia Torres had grown up. And much to her dismay, the one person who was a large factor in that process was also the person who had reduced her to a shell of a human being.
They still saw each other fleetingly in Seattle Graces' halls and corridors, in the elevators, in the attending locker rooms; they had even worked on a couple of cases together. Both of them the utmost professionals; they had been civil to each other, sickenly so and no one really noticed the longing glances from the Latina doctor or the tense and defeated posture the peds surgeon hid so well behind her perky demeanor and mesmerizing dimples.
The blonde had not left Seattle Grace Mercy West. Callie had thought that after the break up, Arizona would have quit her job and gone to New York or Dallas, two places her ex-girlfriend was very fond of and were cities she had thought of working in before deciding on Seattle. She knew it was selfish and a bit egocentric to think that her ex would be torn enough to leave everything behind, but she had hoped that that would be the case, at least at first. She had been livid when she found out Arizona wasn't leaving. Now the petite woman would always be around, haunting her every day, reminding her of what she could never have, and how happy she used to be. But, as the days turned into months, and her repeated attempts at reconciliation had been thwarted, Callie found solace in the fact the she got to see her almost anytime she wanted to, granted it wasn't with the blondes knowledge but it was comforting none the less. Callie figured it wasn't stalking if they just happened to eat lunch in the cafeteria or fill out charts at the nurses' station at the same time.
Now, as Callie filled out some paperwork near the nurses station, occasionally looking up to see if a beautiful petite blonde in Heeleys glided past her, she remembered a time not so long ago when she was unable to even be on the same floor as the blonde doctor. Her first day back after their break up Callie had seen Arizona walking through the halls of the hospital a bright smile making her seem almost childlike and carefree. It had been the first time she had seen the surgeon since that day at her apartment. The pain that racked her body had been so intense that she had quickly turned on her heels and darted to the nearest bathroom, throwing up her meager breakfast. When nothing else was left she had dry heaved until her head felt like it was going to explode. It was only after she felt a cold cloth on her forehead that she realized she wasn't alone. She turned around and saw Lexie tentatively moving the cloth from her forehead to her mouth, to help her clean up. Ashamed at her current state, Callie grabbed the cloth and averted her eyes while she used it to clean the vomit and the dry sweat from her face. She had sunk to a new low and to top things off; Little Grey had gotten front row seats. Lexie seemed uncertain as to what to do next but quickly made up her mind as she sank down to the floor, leaning against the stall door. She had a knowing look in her eyes and Callie was strangely comforted by the fact. She knew how much Lexie and Mark had suffered after the break up, but only now could she actually empathize with the younger woman. "She looks so happy" Callie croaked out, her voice dry and her mouth and throat in need of water. "My world is spinning out of control, and she's frolicking around like she's never been happier…I-I don't get it, so tha-that's it? She's never going to give me a second thought. I feel like I'm fighting for every breath here and she's already forgotten about me". Tears started welling up in her eyes, she didn't want to cry in front of Little Grey but she had been the first person she had seen who actually looked worried enough to listen. She hadn't even told Mark about the break up yet.
After a minute of silence, Lexie spoke out. "She's not wearing her Heeley's" she blurted anxiously. Callie looked at the young intern, confusion crossing her features. "It's Friday, and she's not wearing her Heeley's, she always wears them on Fridays'" Lexie let the comment sink in before continuing nervously. "She's trying her best not to show it, but I had rounds with her today…and take it from somebody who had her heart broken not so long ago...She…is…heartbroken" She looked at Callie again, before standing up, still not losing eye contact "Arizona hides it well, not everyone is like you Callie..eh,ummm, … you feel something, anything and you just have to let it show. I admire that in you, but not everyone is like you, she isn't like you…she misses you too". "Thank you Litt..." Callie coughs mildly; correcting herself "Lexie" she manages while she stands up and rearranges her scrubs. There's a moment of silence, but there is no accustomed awkwardness until Lexie looks at the toilet which Callie had forgotten to flush. The sight of vomit instantly doesn't sit well with the blonde "Oh God" she manages as she hurls her own breakfast into the toilet. Callie sighs deeply, not really surprised, and pats the younger woman's back. "I'm going to go get you a wet cloth and some water ok?". "Thanks" is the meek response from the alarmingly green faced woman sitting on the floor.
Callie chuckled at the memory of Little Grey. A potentially great surgeon with a photographic memory and great bed side manner, but couldn't for the life of her handle a little bit of vomit. "What are you laughing about Torres?" Mark sauntered over to his best friend, elated to see her smiling. He leaned against the desk and contemplated her in silence. She definitely looked a lot better, there were barely any circles under her eyes anymore, which meant that she was finally getting at least some rest and she was hanging out with the group more often during and after work. "Nothing much, just had a very weird flashback" Callie said fondly as her beeper shrilled into action. "I gotta go, we're still on for tonight right?" "yeap, I'll see you at Joe's, ten sharp Torres" he said as he left her by the elevators. Callie sighed deeply; she was actually starting to feel like her old self again. Or at least that's what she thought until the elevator doors opened and she saw Arizona.
She was laughing her beautiful laugh, and Callie melted instantly. But, a wave of jealousy hit her once she saw who was eliciting the beautiful sound from her. A gorgeous redhead was smiling at Arizona, holding her right hand and looking adoringly at her. Callie recognized the woman instantly; she had been one of the social workers called in for a child abuse case she had worked on with Arizona a couple of months back. Her name was Evelyn or Eve or something with an "E". And based on the peds surgeons' demeanor, it appeared that the social worker had just said the funniest god damn thing in the whole world. They both turned their heads to the open doors, obviously wanting to know who had been privy to their little intimate moment. As soon as Arizona sat eyes on Callie, she stopped laughing, and let go of the other woman's hand. The redhead didn't seem to notice or mind the awkwardness that settled in the small space. She looked at Callie, instantly recognizing her and shot her a warm smile. "Dr. Torres, long time no see. You going down?" She was actually, damn. She didn't want Arizona to know how much this was getting to her so she put on her most charming smile and stepped into the booth. "Hi, yeah, I just got an emergency page, heading down to the E.R." she said a little awkwardly. Great, like they really cared where she was going. She gave Arizona a polite smile and nod and turned her attention to the blinking numbers above her. She was situated right behind the social worker, and from her vantage point she could just make out Arizona's profile. She was currently looking at her cell phone like it was the most interesting invention in human history, clearly trying to ignore the longing and sweet side long glances the redhead was sending her way.
"Ok, so tonight it's my turn to cook, I can't stand another burnt…anything" whispered the redhead mockingly, clearly in the best mood of her life. Callie tried not to roll her eyes and swallowed hard trying to control the pain and jealousy she was feeling but to no avail. Arizona muttered something unintelligible and smiled politely at "what's her face". Ok, it looked like Arizona was feeling just as awkward as Callie, that was at least something, right?. Finally, the doors opened and the two women walked out, the taller of the two turned around and said a quick "goodbye" to Callie, Arizona just stood there and gave a polite nod her way. As soon as the elevators closed Callie held her head in her hands and cursed herself when she felt hot tears wash over her.
Arizona walked into Joe's. She did a quick search for Teddy and Eva but it looked like she was the first one to arrive, so she went to the bar, ordered herself a drink and sat at one of the booths at the back. From there she could see most of the bars patrons, most of them new interns happily getting acquainted with one another. Oh how she longed for those simpler times. She took a sip of her beer and spotted Teddy coming into the bar. She waved her over.
"How was work today?" Teddy questioned as she made herself comfortable opposite her best friend. "Don't want to talk about it" was the surly reply. "ooookay then, what do you want to talk about?". Arizona instantly regretted her shortness, and smiled apologetically at the other blonde "I'm sorry, It's just, it's been a long day, that's all…" "Gotcha, say no more" The cardio doctor flagged one of the waiters down and ordered a round of tequilas. Arizona appreciated Teddy and her knack for making her feel better without having to say anything at all. As the drinks arrived they started talking about Steven, Teddy's new boyfriend who was supposed to meet up with them later on. "I am so glad he's not a doctor, I mean, I get it, doctors are hot" she said, while she chugged her third tequila shot and gestured with her free hand at the peds surgeon and herself "I mean, come on, right? We're hot!" Arizona laughed, finally feeling the alcohol kick in "yeah, super hot" she chimed in playfully. "But, they are…I'm sorry…we are just so self involved and proud and irritatingly know it all-y?-is that even a word?" she said innocently, almost making Arizona spit her beer out and making it painfully apparent she couldn't hold her liquor. "Hey guys, am I late?" Eva looked at the empty tequila shots and bottles of beer on the table and smiled "I'm definitely late" she chuckled as she gave Teddy a quick kiss on the cheek and pecked Arizona on the lips.
"We were just talking about how nice it is not to date doctors" Arizona summarized their previous converstaion, looking at the red head up and down. Eva blushed slightly and took a sip of Teddy's beer. "Well, I think doctors are super hot" the beautiful woman answered timidly, looking at Arizona suggestively. "We know!" the two drunk women almost screamed in unison. Teddy looked at Arizona and smiled "you and me, we`re…we´re like this" she said as she pointed to her forehead and then pointed at the blonde doctor several times. They all laughed at the usually calm and stoic doctor but as soon as Arizona turned towards the door all the laughter had gone out of her. Callie was walking in with Mark and Lexie in toe. They went straight for the bar and made themselves comfortable. Mark had his arm around the younger Grey's waist, while she was talking adamantly to the raven haired woman next to her. She heard Calliope laugh and that did it for her. She excused herself and made her way quickly to the bathroom.
"What is wrong with you?" she said, once she had splashed some water on her face. She was looking at her reflection in the mirror trying to convince herself to go back out there and have a good time. It's not like she hadn't seen Callie at Joe's before, but this time was different. She was on a date, she couldn't be stealing glances at her ex with Eva right there next to her. She really liked the social worker, she was a breath of fresh air and she was patient and kind and not to mention beautiful. Everything she could ever want in a woman. But, she wasn't her Calliope. It infuriated her that she still thought of the Latina as hers, but she couldn't help it. She lightly slapped her cheek, trying to focus on the moment. "Now, you're going to get back out there and you're going to have a good time with your potential future girlfriend and you're going to ignore your ex-girlfriend…you're very hot ex-girlfriend." She finished almost in a whisper as she took a deep, calming breath. Just as she was about to head out, the door to the bathroom shot open. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't think anyone was in here" It was Callie, great. How was she supposed to ignore her now? The raven haired woman laughed awkwardly "I know, It's a public bathroom, people come in here all the time, I just didn't know you'd be in here" She said lamely, mentally kicking herself for her verbal diarrhea. "It's fine, I was just leaving anyway" the blonde woman tried to smile and ease the tension but she couldn't quiet look her in the eye. "Nice seeing you" she said as she walked passed Callie towards the door. "Ari…Arizona wait" With those words, the smaller woman's heart instantly started to beat faster. Damn it, she hated that Callie still had this much of a hold on her. She slowly turned around and expectantly looked at the other woman. "I'm…I'm really happy for you Arizona" Callie whispered. Then she smiled that brilliant smile of hers and took a step towards the petite woman. Arizona swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat, her hands were sweating and there were definitely butterflies in her stomach. "I think she's really good for you, and I just don't want to tread on eggshells with you anymore, so I'm just going to come out and say this-and please ignore the sappy undertones because I'm blaming that 100% on you and our time together" She joked. Arizona swallowed another lump in her throat, this time positive that Calliope had caught on to her nervousness. All she could do was nod for her to continue. When she didn't get the desired response from the woman across from her, Callies' smile faded and her whole face turned she was about to tell her was the truth…not the whole truth, but enough to maybe help her move on. She needed to say how she felt in order to do just that. "I think you are the most kind and intelligent…and-and beautiful woman on the face of the earth and you deserve everything good and wonderful in life. I just wanted you to know that I am…I'm really happy for you and I hope she treats you like you deserve" the Latina finished earnestly.
Before she had a chance to respond, Arizona felt herself being enveloped in what she could only describe as the best, most sensuous and loving hug anyone had the pleasure of receiving. It didn't take long for the blonde to come to her senses and hug her back. They stood there, breathing each other in. Callie instantly realized that hugging Arizona was a bad idea. Her smell was intoxicating and she hadn't touched her in such a long time. She felt her heart pounding in her chest and she was sure the other woman could feel it. She abruptly pulled away, leaving the other woman feeling suddenly empty. Arizona didn't know what to say, all she knew was that that simple hug had made her feel what a million nights with Eva could never make her feel, what no one else would ever make her feel. She was still so much in love with the raven haired beauty but she remembered her promise to herself. She loved Calliope and that meant she came before anything, including herself. She smiled weakly, "Thank you, Callie". She turned around, still in a daze, she didn't want the other woman to see her break down. She quickly exited the bathroom and found the other two women. Steven was now sitting next to Teddy, deep in conversation. "Hey guys, I'm not feeling all that great. I'm just going to go home and call it a night" she said as she put on her coat and paid for her drinks. "Hey, you ok Zona? You want me to come with?" Eva said with a worried expression as she stood. Arizona looked up, and saw Callie talking to a pretty, short haired woman. It looked like one of the new scrub nurses but she couldn't really tell in her current drunken state. Callie had obviously said something charming or funny because the other woman had leaned forward laughing, grabbing Calliopes' arm suggestively. The slut! The ortho surgeon, chanced a look at the woman's hand on her forearm and looked at her questioningly. The younger woman smiled seductively, eliciting a shy smile from Callie. Arizona had to leave, she couldn't be witness to this! She looked at Eva and grabbed her hand and pulled her towards her, kissing her forcefully on the lips. "I want to be with you tonight" she whispered. Eva smiled, elated at the prospect of spending the night with the beautiful woman. She turned around and excused both of them. Teddy got up and hugged her dear friend, almost knowingly. She smiled reassuringly at Arizona as she held out her hand to Eva and left the bar, not looking back.
TWO MONTHS LATER
"Right-angle clamp, please. Come on Sofie, don't quit on me now". The flat line sound emanating from the monitors had not changed for the past 10 minutes, no matter what Arizona Robbins and her team tried to do. "Damn it! I can't get the clamp to hold. Give me the bipolars. I'm gonna go in at a different angle…charge to 300 hundred" Karev stood at the ready with the paddles trying to revive the young child every few seconds while the peds attending tried to stop the deadly flow of blood seeping through the childs heart". "Clear!" Karev warned before using the paddles on the lifeless body. He knew a lost cause when he saw one, and this was definitely a lost cause.
"Doctor Robbins", Alex tried to get her attention but the attending was not listening. She had begun to manually massage little Sophie Seger's heart. "Doctor Robbins!- Arizona! That's enough! She's gone". The blonde surgeon looked up at Karev, still holding the tiny heart in her hands. "She's gone" The resident repeated, softly this time. Arizona nodded once, acknowledging she had heard him and backed up, the scrub nurses removed her blood stained gloves and surgical mask. "Time of death 14:08" she read the time feeling completely defeated. Karev moved trepidly towards his mentor, not quiet sure what he should say but feeling he had to say something. "You did everything you could Robbins, there was nothing more we could've done for the kid" Arizona was still looking at the clock on the wall, seemingly not hearing anything the young doctor had just said. "You want me to inform the father?". That had snapped her out of her daze "um, no…I'll go, he's been in and out of this hospital for two years, Sophie was the only family he had…he should hear this from me" she said matter of factly as she made her way out the door into the waiting area.
Callie, fork in hand, was playing with her insipid salad, while eying the dessert cart on the other side of the cafeteria. Cristina and Meredith looked at each other knowingly, Meredith smiled and Cristina just rolled her eyes. "Are we trying the healthy food diet again this week, Callie?" Meredith mocked the attending while devouring her hamburger. With that Cristina opened her bag of chips, smelling with an exaggerated gesture the greasy goodness. "mmm, that's the stuff". Callie rolled her eyes and sighed in exasperation, while she stared at the two best friends. "Guys, we are not 25 anymore, we can't go around eating unhealthy, artificial,…" her eyes moved to the bag of potato chips in the residents hand…"delicious, greasy-screw it, gimme!" . Cristina moved away just as the Latina was about to swipe at the bag. "uh,uh,uh…mine! Get your own toxic food" she said, as she put another chip in her mouth. Owen looked at his girlfriend and smiled adoringly. He passed his baby carrots to the ortho attending "Here, they're just as good as the bad stuff". "Gee, thanks" replied Callie emotionless as she took a bite of the small vegetable. "Hello ladies, Hunt" Mark stated as he took a seat next to Callie, taking a bite out of his apple. "Have you heard?" Everyone at the table rolled their eyes. "Seems like Stevens might be coming back in a couple of weeks". A collective "What?" could be heard throughout the cafeteria, making everyone turn to look at their table. "How do you know?" Cristina prodded, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. "Shephard said that she was requesting a trial period and since he practically fired all the Mercy Westers he's considering it" He answered with the same low whisper. "Wait,wait,wait,wait…Derek Shepherd, my Derek Shepherd…my husband Derek Shephard, that Derek Shepherd told you that one of my closest friends' may be coming back, and he didn't even consider running this by me?"
An awkward silence descended over the table. Mark suddenly stopped chewing on his apple, clearly aware of what he had gotten himself into. He looked down at his beeper and coughed " mmm would you look at that. Emergency, damn it! Sorry guys, I have to go save lives- "You're a plastic Surgeon Mark, you don't save lives, you fix noses" Callie quipped, enjoying her friends flustered state. Mark glared at her, shooting daggers her way before flashing his most charming smile and directing it at the rest of the table. "Duty calls….Ladies, Hunt" He looked at Meredith…."Mrs. Shepherd." He nodded and smiled awkwardly as he stood up and left.
"Excuse me, I'm going to go and kill the Chief" Meredith said, as she stood up and turned to head out as well, almost bumping into Linda. "Oh, Hi Mer". "Hey Linda" the resident blurted out nonchalant as she walked by. "Hey guys, hi baby" The surgical nurse sat at the table holding two pudding cups in her hand. She leaned over and kissed Callie while she deposited one of the cups in front of her girlfriend. "oooh,thankyou,thankyou,thankyou" Callie graciously took the cup and quickly opened it, practically inhaling the chocolate pudding. Cristina snickered and Linda smiled at her girlfriend before opening her dessert. "Hey, have you guys heard?" "nonono…that's enough gossip for one day, they just told us about Stevens. We have enough on our plate as it is" Owen warned with a tiny smile on his face. "Who's Stevens?" "Doesn't matter, spill" Cristina was sick of Izzie and her coming and going as she pleased. She genuinely liked Karev, although she would never admit it to anyone and she had half a mind to kick Izzie's ass for the hurt she had caused him. "Ok, So it seems like Dr. Robbins lost a patient today- At the sound of Arizona's name Callie put down the cup, immediately worried for the blond doctor- so, she went to tell the father, right? And the guy goes mental on her." "What? Is she alright?" Callie blurted out, unaware that she had stood up from her seat. "Yeah, I guess so, the guy started yelling and it looks like he shoved her against a wall on the way out. I wasn't there, but the nurses that saw the whole thing told me she's fine. She's finishing up her shift, they didn't even get a chance to call security, so I don't think it was a big deal…Baby? where are you going….Callie?" Callie didn't hear the last part of her girlfriends' question; she was already out the door practically running towards the Peds surgical wing.