Cristina needed to chill, she was deciding whether to go down to the jail herself, bail Simon out, beat the living shit out of him, then throw him back in the gutter. Instead, she navigated her way to Meredith's and found herself in the company of the general surgeon, Amelia and Alex.
"Honestly, you should have seen Owen, like a man possessed, that prick was pacing at the other end of the pit, muttering to himself, head down when Owen lunged at him. It was kinda hot. Even Avery wanted in on the action, AVERY." Cristina was relaying the events of the day, not even exaggerating.
Alex scoffed, "he's lucky I wasn't there, I've never heard so much pain come from Robbins, and I've never seen Torres that lost since, you know…"
"We know", Meredith forced a fake smile, god she missed Lexie.
"I never saw them at their happiest, they always had an awkward relationship, were they really close before?" Amelia could never quite believe the tales told from early in their relationship.
Cristina's turn to scoff, and it was as good as Alex's, "Close isn't the word, try living in the next room to them. Paper. Thin. Walls. In fact I'm pretty sure Mark said he used to hear them with multiple walls and doors between them". As she took a swig of beer, her demeanour became serious, "they were made for each other, were in a sickly amount of love, they survived longer than most relationships would have considering everything that happened." The Queen of Cardio (she was now trying that nickname out for herself) wasn't the romantic or soppy type, but she knew what she knew.
Meredith extended, "they clashed on things, but the love between them was undeniable", her stomach ached for a brief second thinking of the love she lost, "is undeniable".
The three surgeons who grew up together in the Seattle Grace halls, who had been through so much together, who had all seen their friends' relationship from the start to its (hopefully temporary) conclusion, mused. Amelia chipping in when the topic allowed.
Meredith: They gotta get back together after this right?
Alex: They'd be idiots if they didn't, they've got a second chance.
Cristina: More like a twentieth.
Meredith: They've had so much thrown at them; Romeo and Juliet wouldn't survive.
Amelia: Err… Romeo and Juliet didn't survive, Mer.
Cristina: Well whatever, point is they've been through a lot. Most couples would have broke long before Roller Girl screwed those bitches.
Meredith: I think Callie had found some sort of peace with that, but she never got an apology for Boswell, or an explanation about Murphy, and that's been hard for her.
Alex: That chick is crazy, if I had known Robbins was interested, I'd have dragged her ass away.
Amelia: What? Dr Murphy? Leah? Edwards' friend?
Alex: Pfft, they ain't friends.
Cristina: Yeah that one, think Robbins screwed her over 10 times or something.
Alex: Look, I know Robbins screwed up, her faults have been out there for all to see, how she treated Torres, the knowledge of her affairs… but stuff happened later on, like the miscarriage, and the fellowship. Also Murphy was a lonely quick screw for Robbins, nothing more.
Cristina: Whose side are you own evil spawn?
Alex: All I'm saying is, Robbins withdraws into herself, and Torres knows that, maybe she should have shown a bit more understanding.
Cristina: I think Callie put up with a lot, if someone threatened to cut off my leg with a bone saw-
Meredith: WELL HOPEFULLY… they're talking it out. I know Callie, she was heartbroken to leave that therapist's office but she thought they'd both be better without each other.
Amelia: Well for me they've been equally miserable together as they were apart. I worked with Robbins when diagnosing Dr Herman's tumour.
Alex: She was devastated during that surgery; she was sat in the peds wing. I tried to comfort her but she said she only wanted to be in one person's arms. So she left for the Ortho wing's attendings longue, thankfully, Torres found her.
Meredith: Callie loves her, that never went away, they're happiest when they're together. Maybe not immediately after the crash, but after they reconciled, I thought they were back.
Cristina: Agreeing to a child and then starting a fellowship isn't exactly great commitment.
Alex: Robbins did want a second child, she probably still does, but it was always as Torres' pace, she tried to dictate everything, and do that to an emotionally stunted Type A? Dude, it weren't gonna happen, not without them talking.
Cristina: Neither were getting younger, and Torres wanted their kid to be as close in age to Sofia as possible. I'm all about career, that's one of the reasons I don't promise a family, but Roller Girl did, then was going to be absent for god knows how long. It was like Africa all over again for Callie.
Meredith: Arizona also suffered a miscarriage, something I know Callie never spoke about, and if Callie didn't, Arizona wouldn't have. That right Alex?
Alex: I tried to approach the subject but she brushed me off and shoved a chart in my face.
No one survives this level of turmoil.
Do they?
Amelia: Well we gotta do something right? I mean you guys haven't exactly made them sound like the picture perfect couple but if they love each other, that's a great place to start. I'm all for happy endings, and I like both of them.
Meredith: Look, we all have our sides, even if we try to be diplomatic. But there was a time everyone strived to be them, and I don't think a gentle nudge would hurt.
Alex: Is this really our place though? Robbins has just started dating again, moving on from Torres after two years.
Meredith: That's the point Alex, neither have moved on, Robbins less so than Callie. If you can't after two years then there's something there still worth fighting for.
Cristina: Playing cupid makes me sick, but I'm not adverse to kicking their stubborn asses. Maybe we could even make it interesting.
Amelia: Are you suggesting some sort of betting sweepstake against your friends' happiness?
Cristina: Colleagues.
Meredith: Well, they're Callie & Arizona, they just need to communicate. If they get that down, which hopefully this event triggers and they're doing right now, then they love each other. Nothing else matters.
xxxxxxxxx
April was charting, Webber was hovering, Bailey was… Chiefing. The drama of the previous day had lifted somewhat, the knowledge Callie hadn't suffered serious physical injuries was a relief to all. They knew if it had been more serious the hospital would be on edge, and Arizona Robbins? Her head wouldn't be in the game, world-renowned surgeon or not.
Webber was first to speak up, "has anyone heard from Robbins or Torres? I said I'd catch her before she left but after my consult I lost track of time. By the time I'd returned, she'd gone.
"They were both desperate to get out of here, so I discharged Torres into Robbins' care and as far as I'm aware they're at home now, the three as a family, as it should be." Bailey was resolute.
"Mmm hmm, bet they loved that, Torres especially, she's not going to admit she needs help".
"Well I'm the Chief, I do what I want."
"Miranda you really have to get a new saying-"
"Not when mine is so perfect and accurate, Dr Webber".
During this exchange, Kepner silently listened in. These two had known both surgeons the longest and were very aware of their history, but Arizona had opened up to her, especially after the gala (Callie still scared her though). "So is that the plan? Force them under one roof so they find their way back to each other?"
Bailey: Are you doubting my intensions and plan, Dr Kepner?
April: No, no, look, I- I like them both. Well Dr Torres scares me a little, but I know Arizona, we've become close, especially since the divorce.
Bailey: And?
April: I mean, for someone who is so outwardly confident, her inner demons will occasionally rise, especially on a personal level. She's needlessly insecure, in the early days she said she couldn't hold Dr Torres back, that she deserved to love someone who deserved love.
Richard: Did she really say that?
April: Yes, she knows she made a mistake, well, more than one. But a mistake doesn't make you a bad person.
Bailey: No one said Dr Robbins was a bad person, Dr Kepner.
April: I think- I think Arizona does. After everything that happened. It didn't help when Dr Torres had essentially declared her dead during the gala. I was in the supply closet with her that night, I've never seen a soul so broken. After that, her inward disgust of how she behaved added to her always inward disgust she had of her own body.
Bailey: And what, Dr Kepner, does that have to do with Torres & Robbins reuniting?
April: Arizona will never be happy without Dr Torres, she still loves her, but she feels unworthy, which is heartbreaking.
Richard: Well we all know that, it's the same for Torres, she still loves Robbins.
April: All I'm saying is, I think Arizona will need words of encouragement, I'm not sure she's in a place at the moment to seek it from Dr Torres, so it's going to have to come from us all, especially if they start talking things out, if they let each other in.
Bailey retained eye contact with the redhead but grabbed her chart, pursed her lips and turned to walk away. She left the pair with a firm parting comment, "well then we'll all just have to make sure those stubborn fools get their head out their asses. Chief's orders. Now scat."