AN: Holy freaking hell it's been forever... I am truly sorry for that. I got busy with my credential program, then got a little obsessed with another fandom (*gasp*). However, I want to express my truest and deepest gratitude for the reviewers and PM-ers that have continued to push for updates. They honestly help drive me forward, even if it just makes me consider writing some more. So, here's the next part, I hope it's at least slightly worth the wait. Thank you again for your time and interest. Have a great day!
The silence that engulfed us swirled thickly, almost palpably in our vicinity. Callie strode several steps in front of me, leading us to a conference room. As I slipped through the door she held open, I squared my shoulders. The second I heard the latch click shut, I whirled on her. "What the hell were you thinking?!"
"What was I thinking?! You're the one that is talking a patient into an obsolete procedure just because you're making it personal." She practically yelled into my face as her hands gestured wildly before landing on her hips.
Growling in frustration at her stubbornness, I slammed my hand on the table, "I'm not making it personal! The procedure is not obsolete, it will work, it just needs more time before you maim the girl!" My anger and irritation blocked my restraint of accusations.
"I'm not talking about maiming the girl, Dr. Robbins. I'm talking about an alternate procedure to actually help her." Callie's words were snarled in my face.
Letting out a mirthless laugh, I pointed a finger harshly at her, "I would hardly consider overriding my reccomendations and authority in front of my patients, to suggest cutting off a thirteen year old girl's legs to be helpful, Dr. Torres. And, how dare you insinuate that I'm not trying to help her."
"You called me for a consult, that's what I provided. You're not allowed to be upset that I provided my professional opinion."
"I called for an Ortho consult, not you!" I childishly spat back at her.
"I am part of the Ortho department now, and I'm damn good. You should be thanking the surgeon gods for granting you time with me!" Her snipped response reeked of sass.
"I'm certain that you're not the answer to my prayers." I tossed back casually.
"You've said that to me before, trying to convince yourself of something?" Her eyebrow rose as she baited me.
"Don't flatter yourself, you're not the answer to anything...well, except 'who could drive me crazy with her smug looks and bossy attitude?' And, you're not even a surgeon." I bit my lip in a brief second of remorse at the last comment. Callie chose to refrain from a response, her eyes flashing in warning of certain danger if I continued my direction. We glowered heatedly at each other for a few long moments, letting our frustration volley back and forth.
Finally, she grunted, and raked her fingers through her hair, "We're getting off topic here, this isn't about us, it's about Sarah-"
Offended by her implication, I interrupted, "I wasn't talking about us, I was talking about her."
"No, you wer- Never mind. Sarah's current treatment isn't working. She's in pain, all the time. Our plan of action, as it stands, just promises more pain that will not have any positive, long-term results." Seeing me open my mouth to protest, she held up a hand, "I'm not saying that you did anything wrong by pursuing this course, but it's time to re-evaluate."
"She's MY patient. I'm deciding how we proceed!" I snarled, unwilling to yield to her logic.
"Actually, after you present your plan, and I present an alternative, then the family decides what they want to do. And, I'm not about to hold back what I think just because it makes you uncomfortable! Get the hell over yourself and listen to what I'm saying for like two seconds. Since I know you're not an idiot, I know that you'll see what I'm saying has some merit, once you stop projecting." Callie huffed as she watched me glare at her, our eyes locked and jaws set.
That 'conversation' was why we had headed for the conference room in the first place. After three weeks of working together, we had already established a reputation for engaging in loud, aggressive arguments about...well, about everything. Usually they revolved around treatment of a patient, but sometimes it was something as trivial as her not making more coffee when she drank the last of it from the Attending's lounge. It had become a habit to excuse and seclude ourselves when we disagreed about something. After two public blow outs, the Chief had sat us down and demanded that we figure out a way to work together, because he wasn't interested in losing either one us, which is what would happen if we continued to create those kind of scenes. We knew that we were a hot topic with the gossip mill, but we just couldn't seem to work amicably, despite the fact that we actually had already accomplished an impressive amount of successes. Neither one of us was even in the OR at the moment, and we still had creatively and cooperatively saved several lives.
Just below my conscious thought, I knew that our professional aggression stemmed directly from the unresolved personal tension between us. I hadn't been able to figure out a way to get her to talk to me about anything but work. And, as much as I hated it, I missed her. I missed the nurse that cared so thoroughly for me. The person that challenged me to my highest brink, but also supported me over the hurdles. The only Callie I was able to access at that time was angry, bull-headed Callie. Perhaps that was why we fought. Maybe we fought because we craved attention from the other, but positive attention swirled through our grasp, leaving only a few undesirable options in its wake.
Once again, it was Callie that broke our stand off, "I know that the idea of amputating her legs brings up all kinds of things for you. In case you forgot, I know how difficult it was for you..." She trailed off, her voice had become softer, and she had taken a few steps closer, now hesitantly occupying my personal space. I stiffened, but allowed her to continue uninterrupted. "And, I'm not saying it won't be difficult for her. But, the doctors had to remove your leg because it was killing you. This girl's legs are killing her. Not physically, but emotionally. They're killing her quality of life. Keeping her own legs promises nothing but pain and continual disappointment. But, with prosthetics? Look at you. You're back at work, nearly back to operating, living your life-"
That was where I stopped her, "You don't know anything about my life." My voice had a low tone of warning and fury, "You have no idea what it's like for me everyday. You can't know, you won't talk to me-" I sucked in a breath, coming to a stuttering halt in my tirade. That single phrase brought an entire other element to our conversation. I wasn't just frustrated with her thoughts on this patient, I was frustrated with her shutting me out so completely.
Callie sneered, "Oh, please don't tell me all of this is about me not talking to you. What are we thirteen? You created this pleasant situation, remember? I believe you were very clear that you didn't want me in your life, so I'm honoring your 'get the hell out of my house' sentiment." Her chest heaved as we stood nearly nose to nose, squaring off in another scorching battle of will and passion.
My nostrils flared as I listened to her belittle my feelings and throw that night back in my face, "Oh, please don't tell me that all this is your pride still smarting from that night. You messed up and did something neither one of us was ready for, so don't try to lay it on me! And, don't try to claim that now, after all this time, you're honoring something I wanted you to do, that has never been your forte."
"I was ready," came her blistering whisper, her expelled breath hotly washing against my lips.
"I wasn't." My reply was equally quiet, and equally scathing.
A stiff scoff preceeded her slightly louder answer, "Yeah, I got that."
Several moments of sweltering rage, confusion, desire, and uncertainty drifted between us. Each struggled to choose our next move. Personally, I wavered between slapping her, storming out, and grabbing her face to kiss her until we couldn't breathe. None of the options seemed particularly advisable or ideal. My eyes scanned her face as her eyes suddenly darkened, her brows furrowed, and her face angled just a fraction closer to me. I briefly dreaded and hoped that she might erase the distance and choose the kiss option. However, she shattered our linked gaze by flicking her eyes to the clock behind me, "Tell you what. I'll go discuss my ideas with Sarah's family, while you go see Dr. Wiles. Then, we'll talk to the family together later this evening to see what they're thinking."
Momentarily distracted by the gruffness of her voice, it took me a few beats to respond, voice similarly rough, "How did you know I had an appointment with Dr. Wiles today?"
She shuffled a step backward, affording my body a disappointing cooling sensation, "You told me earlier. You said you needed me to meet with Sarah's family now since you had an appointment with Dr. Wiles at two. And, it's almost two."
Glancing at the clock, I noticed that I only had a few minutes to get upstairs to be on time. I huffed, "Fine. Talk to them. I'll talk to Dr. Wiles about the situation, maybe she has some insight as well."
Callie seemed a little shocked, but only nodded and mumbled, "Good idea."
Standing awkwardly in front of each other, I found I didn't really want to leave the room. My gaze drifted to the window of the conference room where a group of interns and few residents had gathered. Sighing, I finally forced myself to move to the door, I should have known we attracted an audience. I swung open the door, the group obviously not having seen me approach because their conversation didn't stop with my arrival.
"Yeah, if they'd just get a room and bang it out like adults, maybe we could all get back to work and actually learn something other than how to fight with an inferno of sexual tension." The young male intern stated casually, leaning against the wall as he entertained his colleagues with his dumb ass commentary.
I felt Callie slam into me from behind, not having expected me to stop suddenly, but catching the ill-mannered comment as well. We exchanged embarrassed glances, before shifting to the group that had just noticed us. "Yeah, and if you'd spend more time focusing on your work, we'd spend less time cleaning up your messes of incompetency." I snarled angrily at the audacity of these kids.
"Dr. Robbins- I just- We were just- Dr. Torres." His eloquent response satisfied my need to shame him enough that I just stomped away.
On my ride up to the fourth floor, I began stewing over my most recent fight with Callie and yet another inappropriate remark from a peer. Anger began boiling in my stomach again. Nobody caused the kind of overwhelming intensity of emotions that that woman did. It was almost uncontrollable, unmanageable levels of anger and passion that ignited in her presence. My thoughts consumed me until I found myself in Dr. Wile's room, with no memory of actually arriving.
The doctor bounced into the room, "Ah, Whitney, you're here."
Smiling, I nodded in greeting, "Hi, Dr. Wiles." For some reason, I allowed her to continue with the ridiculous nickname. Somehow, I found comfort in the strange moniker.
"Not to be nosey-"
"Since when?" I snorted with a smirk.
"Fair point. So, to be nosey, what's with the face?" She rolled the stool over to sit in front of me as I slid back onto the examination table.
"Ugh. It's just been a day." I grumbled, barely noticing as she helped me remove my pants to grant her access to my leg.
"What'd Kevin do this time?" She asked calmly, studying the prosthetic closely, testing the surrounding muscles and straps of the leg.
"What makes you think it was something Callie did?" I questioned in surprise and curiosity.
"Well, I'm certain it was something you did as well. But, nobody makes your face look like that except Kevin. You two have some issues. Did you break up?" Her comment was casual and her question only curious.
I sputtered for a few seconds before finding my proper voice, "We weren't ever together. So, no, we didn't break up. We disagreed on care for a patient and had a huge fight."
Dr. Wiles dropped her hands from removing my fake leg and cocked her head as she narrowed her eyes. Her gaze bore into me for a moment, before asking incredulously, "I'm sorry, are you seriously telling me that you two were not a couple? Because I have seen married couples come in here that had less chemistry and emotional connection than you two."
Shifting uncomfortably, I cleared my throat, "No, we aren't and never were together. She was my in-home nurse."
"Kinky."
I almost laughed at her flippant response, "No, not kinky."
"Well, you are both idiots."
My jaw dropped at her teasing jab, but before I could come up with an adequate retort, another voice came from the door, "I totally agree."
Swiveling my head around, I shot a quick glare before asking, "What are you doing here?"
Teddy came over to stand next to me, "Callie told me about your appointment."
Furrowing my brows, I shifted to allow Dr. Wiles to completely remove the leg, "Why would she do that?"
Teddy shrugged, "She said that someone should make sure you're doing everything you're supposed to be doing. She said she would come, but you'd most likely actually kill her if she stepped foot in here."
I rolled my eyes as Dr. Wiles snickered, "I am doing everything I'm supposed to be. Dr. Wiles is just helping me customize the leg for operating."
"Yes, she's been very good. Today, we're just adjusting. I'm going to see if I should make her a whole new leg to accommodate standing in an OR for hours, or just make some modifications to this one. Have you been having any issues with this one, so far?" She asked me as I zoned out. I couldn't stop thinking about Callie looking out for me, even though we weren't even talking civilly. A warmth had started to spread through me as I remembered that overly considerate and caring look she seemed to reserve for me. "Whitney? Are you with us?"
I shook my head, snapping back to reality, "Um, yeah. What was the question?"
Teddy chuckled beside me, "She wanted to know if you were having any issues with your current leg, but you missed it while you were daydreaming. And, who's Whitney?"
Rolling my eyes again, I grumbled, "It's what shes been calling me since my first appointment. She thinks she's clever or something. And, I wasn't day dreaming..." Turning to Dr. Wiles, I finally addressed her question, "And, no, since the last time you adjusted the fitting, it's been great. Well, as great as a plastic leg attached to a half leg can be."
"Oh, good save. You better be careful, you almost sounded appreciative of my work. I might get confused and think you liked me." Dr. Wiles joked drily as she added some padding and a few new straps to my leg.
Grinning, I drummed my fingers on the cushioned table, "Oh, I didn't intend to be confusing...to be clear, I don't like you and never will."
Dr. Wiles peered at me over her black glasses, an expression of calculating contempt directed at my smirking face. Then, the expression disappeared and her dimples popped as she laughed, "I appreciate your honestly and heads up. Now, I can stop trying to be charming, since I now know there is no hope."
"You were trying to be charming before?" I asked with mock incredulity.
"Yes. No good?"
"It could use some work." I bantered easily. Something about Dr. Wiles put me at ease. After I got more comfortable with my prosthetic and the idea that I had a prosthetic we formed a rather easy relationship. Almost friends. It mostly consisted of us tossing teasing insults at each other, but in the end she did everything she could to help me out, and I looked forward to going to see her.
"Well, I suppose I'll just have to get some tips on charming you from Kevin. She seems to know how to win you over." Her smug grin caused me to glare a warning at her.
"Wait, now who's Kevin?" Teddy sounded very confused now.
Dr. Wiles chuckled at my pouting face, "Callie."
Teddy seemed to consider this for a few moments, before eyes lit up, "Like Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston? Like in The Bodyguard?"
I grit my teeth, "Yeah, I told you she thought she was clever."
"Oh, she is."
"Why, thank you, Dr. Altman. And, I'm quite impressed you got that reference so easily."
"Why, thank you, Dr. Wiles." Teddy grinned widely, mostly just to annoy me. It worked.
I released a loud sigh, "Ok, you two. Break up the 'gang up on Arizona, love fest'. Teddy, you can go. Dr. Wiles said I was being good. And, you can tell Callie she doesn't need to check up on me."
Teddy pat my shoulder as she turned toward the exit, "Oh, she knows she doesn't have to, she does it because she wants to."
Growling at her raised eyebrows and knowing expression, I turned back to Dr. Wiles.
"I like her." She stated resolutely.
"Yeah, you would."
She laughed as she re-attached my limb. "Ok, try this out for the next week, then come see me again. We'll determine if it's enough to hold up in the OR, or if we should develop a new one for you. I heard you're back in the OR this week, correct? For a few simple procedures?"
I took a deep breath, "Yeah, just a few quick and easy operations to get back in the swing of things."
"Ok, well, see how those go, and we'll go from there."
"Sounds good. I have another question for you, if you have a minute?"
She smoothed her coat as she stood up, returning to her work station. "Sure, I have a few. What's up?"
"Dr. Torres and I, we have a patient. A thirteen year old girl that has a condition causing her a lot of pain in her legs. We've been following the only course we could think of, but it's not really working. We just have to keep operating, which causes more pain and little results. Callie thinks we should amputate both legs, deal with that pain now, and give her a real chance at life without pain. What do you think?" My voice had grown soft and slightly shaky as I let the words sink into me.
Dr. Wiles slipped her glasses from her face and nibbled on one of the arms. Several seconds later, she returned the frames to her face, "I think that the idea of willingly putting your patient through what you just went through sounds horrible to you...but, I think that it might be an option worth exploring. I don't know all the details about the case or the family, but I do know prosthetics. And, she would have legitimate options. She's young, so her body would adapt more easily, and the technology of prosthetics is only improving. I would venture that it's not a dismiss-able option. My professional opinion is to talk it through with Dr. Torres, like adult doctors, and really research the problem. I think you'll find that it's not as scary as you think it is. Just think about it."
Nodding, I absorbed her words. They were easier to digest without them being spat at me from a distractingly fiery Latina. Letting her help me from the table, I smiled at her, "Thank you, Dr. Wiles."
"You're very welcome. Now, go kick some ass, Dr. Robbins." When I was almost to the door, she added, "And, not just Dr. Torres's."
AN: Ok, was it good for you?