"I slept with Callie last night."
Choking on your morning coffee isn't recommended, but when a very chipper, very excited blonde sneaks up and whispers those words into your ear, what else was Teddy supposed to do? Eyes widened in surprise as she struggled to breathe, "Excuse me? Already!?"
Arizona hadn't quite realised how her words would sound, "Oh no no, god no", she mumbled another 'god no', "I meant we slept together, in the same bed. No sex." She rubbed her friend's back, easing out the wheezing she had inadvertently caused.
After catching her breath, the cardio surgeon took a brief moment to process those words. "Wow, considering the topics of conversation recently, that's a pretty big step, you must have made a huge breakthrough." It may have been a daft question, but she asked anyway, "How do you feel about it? You're excited right?"
Dimples. "It was amazing. We just held each other, all night. I told her how I felt, like she ditched me, that I wasn't good enough and she… she stayed." The blonde looked off in awe as her voice blissfully lowered, "She stayed and held me all night, all tight and snuggly."
"That's great!" Teddy was genuinely excited for her friend, "Clearly she's doing a lot better if she's able to hold you tight in her ortho grip all night." Then, without realising, her next question came as a crushing blow. "Does that mean she's moving back to hers? Bailey mentioned she'll let her return to perform surgeries soon, once she's officially signed off."
Arizona's bright eyes dropped; it hadn't even occurred to her.
Crap.
And there she'd been, thinking she'd put her self-doubt behind her. "Err yeah, I guess, I mean we never put a timeframe on it." She thought back to the conversation in Callie's hospital room, "Bailey just released her into my care. I- I guess I need to speak to her huh?"
Teddy saw the colour drain from her face. "You do." She interlinked their arms and guided them to an attendings' lounge, "come on, let's sort this mess out."
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"I slept with Arizona last night."
Unlike Teddy, Meredith barely acknowledged her friend, head remaining focused on the chart in front of her. She did take pause to consider who won the sweepstake, but no such luck, she'd have to check the list. "Was it good? I mean you're all giddy, you two always had great sex."
Slightly taken aback, "What?! NO! We slept together, in her bed, like proper sleep. I mean I got up early so Sof wouldn't catch us but yeah, it was amazing." She couldn't help the goofy grin escape, "We held each other, all night Mer, it's like years of angst and pent-up frustration have been lifted." For the first time in a long time, the brunette woke up content, "It was the best night sleep I've had in years."
Meredith pulled her focus from work. "That's great Callie, you two have been apart for long enough, it's about time you sorted yourselves out." She set down her chart, "You're each other's 'great love', and if I had the opportunity to have mine again, I wouldn't hesitate." She fixed a firm, yet sympathetic gaze, "and you have that chance. Don't mess it up." Callie nodded in acceptance but was brought out of her thoughts, "I saw Bailey let you back for consults, does that mean you're nearly cleared for surgery?" Here comes the soul destroying question of the day, "Does that mean you're moving back to yours?"
Her bright smile dropped; it hadn't even occurred to her.
Crap.
Callie started to fumble the bottom of her scrub top. "Yeah I mean, probably, she's probably fed up of looking after me by now." She was inwardly broken, "I guess I was enjoying being round her too much again to realise."
Her friend noticed the confidence evaporate in front of her very eyes and decided a longer conversation on this topic was needed, probably at Joe's. "I'm sure you're reading too much into this Callie, we'll grab Cristina and go to Joe's tonight." She retrieved the previously discarded chart, "I've got an ortho consult if you have time?" It was a very welcome change of subject.
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Damn Teddy and damn emotions and damn circumstances and damn… everything. Arizona paged Callie soon after her conversation and was nervously pacing outside the viewing gallery. They had cleared the air, agreed to move on, addressed each other's insecurities and were arguably in the best place they've been in since the crash. But Callie staying with her was always a temporary arrangement, although no timeframe was ever set, she was essentially invariably going to leave. The very thought made her stomach churn, she didn't want her person to move out, she wanted her family to stay together. They were yet to even have a real second date, scheduling and these harder talks subconsciously taking priority. But she wanted them to come home together, not drop her person off then make her way back, alone. Had they focused too much on the bad? Is that what has driven Callie away?
Maybe Bailey can extend that condition to be released into my care till the end of time?
She glanced at her phone; the page was sent 4 minutes ago. The brunette wasn't in surgery but could very well have a consult and, as it wasn't a 911, she wouldn't necessarily come running. But then Callie always used to come running to her pages, she was that excited to spend time with her. Was it over before it begun? Had she appeared clingy last night? She continued to wait, silently counting the seconds in her head.
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Callie was about to follow Meredith when her pager went off, she checked the waist of her scrub pants. "Page from Arizona, I need to take this, I'll speak to you later."
She started to make her way to the viewing gallery was but was deliberately dragging her feet, checking supply cart stock, reading a notice board and stopping for brief niceties with nurses as she went. Meredith's words from earlier were ringing in her head. She had healed, near enough anyway, so there was no need for her to stay. She didn't want to have that conversation with Arizona, she didn't want to be told to grab her stuff and go, she didn't want to leave. They had made so much progress, had conversations they should have had years ago. They'd watched films, ate dinners, had lunches, played games, gardened, took leisurely strolls. She thought they were essentially back together; they were each other's person. But then Yang was Grey's and they 'screw boys like whores on tequila' so 'person' didn't have romantic connotations.
She exited the elevator and saw the blonde pacing, biting her fingernails, mumbling, head down. She probably hadn't heard the lift ping. She sighed, this was it, Arizona had obviously paged her to ask she move out. Maybe the talk last night brought up too many painful memories and sleeping in the same bed was merely a coping mechanism. She somehow found it in herself and approached with a confident purpose. Hearing footsteps, Arizona turned and managed to fake the most convincing smile ever, Oscar worthy.
"Hey." The light tone deceived her, "I hear Bailey is near enough ready to sign you off on surgeries again, that's pretty cool." Now it was make or break, her whole frickin' existence revolved around this question, she took a deep breath. "So I mean, with that, do you, should you, I mean, I guess you want to go back to yours now you've pretty much healed? I mean it was only a temporary solution… right?"
There it was, the blow Callie had wanted to avoid. "Oh, yeah, no definitely, I need to get going back to mine, I- I don't want to overstay my welcome."
You could never outstay your welcome, Calliope. "Yeah probably for the best right? Don't want to confuse Sofia and for her to get used to the living arrangement, it was only temporary after all." She was heartbroken but remained stoic.
You can stop reminding me it was temporary Arizona, I get it. "Definitely." She adverted her eyes, "I'll erm, I'll go back to mine tonight then, it's your night with Sof, so it makes sense."
What?! I didn't mean tonight! Are you that desperate to leave?! "Sure sounds good, do you want me to help you with your stuff?"
Means you can get me out twice as fast I guess. "No it's fine, there isn't much, it won't take me long, then I'll be out your hair." She shrugged, feigning indifference.
I want you in my hair. "Super. You can stay for dinner? If you want?"
Charity, that's what I've become. "Honestly Arizona it's fine, thank you though. I'll swing by and grab some bits after my shift." An awkward silence fell before Callie quickly filled it. "Anyway, I should probably go; I want to follow up on a couple of patients before I leave for the day." She managed to hold back the tears, "I might see you tonight, I might not." Ouch.
You're gonna grab your stuff and leave whilst I'm not even there? Wow, want out much? "Great. Erm, I guess, I guess whatever happens, I'll see you tomorrow?"
Callie couldn't even muster a reply, instead she simply nodded in acceptance.
They walked away, dejected, tears slowly creeping into both set of eyes.
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Arizona couldn't be in the hospital, she couldn't breathe. She had emptied her heart out to Callie the previous night and now she was leaving her, again. She needed some space, some air, she made her way to her car and eased into the driver's seat. She had intended to go for a drive but was frozen in place. She checked the time, Teddy would be at lunch, she composed her message and hit send.
Arizona: She wants to move out, maybe last night wasn't the breakthrough I thought. Teddy what am I going to do? I don't want her to leave
Teddy: Did she say she wanted to leave?
Arizona: She said 'definitely, I need to get going back to mine' when I asked
Teddy: I'm sorry Arizona, but maybe it's a good thing? You don't want to rush it and skip steps. It doesn't mean you're breaking up. You can still go on dates, wasn't that the original plan? Get to know each other again, enjoy the company without the pressure?
Arizona: We don't need dates, we've been spending time together as a family, that's more intimate and important than going to a restaurant to eat. I don't want to spend two hours a night with her, I want all night, every night
Arizona: Teddy I don't know what to do. I'm sat in my car, crying. I thought we wanted the same thing, but she's leaving me
Teddy: Are you still in the parking lot? In your reserved spot?
Arizona: Yeah
Teddy: Stay there, I'll grab us some lunch and come find you
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At the other end of the hospital, Callie was sat on a bench outside the emergency entrance. She didn't have a trauma gown but was hoping for some sort of long surgical case to come in. Purely in the hope she could delay the inevitable and, in her mind at least, stay with Arizona for one more night. She retrieved her phone from her lab coat and texted the only person she could.
Callie: She wants me to move out
Meredith: Who?
Callie: I swear to god Grey, you're the worst confidant ever - Arizona!
Meredith: Right! Sorry, but there's no way Arizona wants you to move out, that's why I got confused. Where did you get that idea from? Because you're wrong, unless she specifically asked you to leave, you're being paranoid.
Callie: She said me moving out was 'probably for the best'
Callie: Maybe she just wanted reassurance last night and that was it. We've spent too long apart, I want us to live together, I want my family under one roof. We've proven we can communicate, there's no awkwardness and Sof loves it, I love it. I thought Arizona did too
Meredith: Proven you can communicate? I don't think so Callie. Where are you?
Callie: Emergency entrance, hoping some bones that need resetting come in
Meredith: You're worse than Cristina sometimes, give me 5 and I'll be there
Callie: Yeah, okay, sounds good, see you in a bit
Whether it's an emergency surgery or drinking tequila with the twisted sisters, Callie was determined to put off her journey to Arizona's tonight.
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Drama at Grey Sloan was nothing new, you could probably make 20+ seasons of television out of it, but Callie & Arizona were like their little drama ecosystem. They could even have a spin-off. How many couples can say their friends/colleagues set up a WhatsApp group dedicated to their reconciliation? Not many.
Teddy: I kinda want to hurt Torres
April: What? Why?
Teddy: She led Arizona on and now wants to leave
Teddy: She doesn't want to stay with her anymore, she's crushed
Meredith: What? Robbins led Callie on!
Meredith: She wants her to leave, she said as much, Callie is devastated
Alex: Sounds like they still suck at communicating
April: Arizona wouldn't do that
Cristina: Shut up
Cristina: Neither would Callie
April: Stop telling me to shut up!
Amelia: Wait, if both are upset about being led on and don't want to live separately, then surely they're on the same page?
Cristina: Screw this, I'm done, they're idiots, leave it with me
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It wasn't unheard of to be paged to an on-call room, but it wasn't usually by someone you weren't screwing, and neither the blonde nor brunette were sleeping with this person.
Callie sighed into the question as she approached; she didn't want to talk to anyone. "Yang, you paged?"
As the question was posed, Arizona turned the corner, eyes focused on the beeping device in her hand. "What have you got for m- Hey Callie." She looked up, and the sudden sight of her ex-wife stopped her mid-stride. Great, this is exactly that I need.
Her reply was soft, convinced if she spoke louder her voice would give away her devastation. "Hey." She'd called her Callie, not Calliope. Dammit Yang, a joint page?
They looked at each other, it was awkward, again. They had opened up about their insecurities, their hopes, fears, wants, laid everything on the line and yet here they were, in front of Cristina Yang of all people, fidgeting nervously. How could they have got it so wrong? They felt for sure they were on the same page. As they stood there, a frustrated Cristina Yang, who was not blessed with patience, had had enough. Her voice was firm and ladened with frustration. "You're both idiots, I'm so glad Sofia has me." Her blunt words caused both sets of brows to furrow as they were snapped out of their nervous exchange. "I don't know why or how this has ended up with me to sort, but clearly I'm the only one with some sense and urgency in this hospital." Without warning, she grabbed an orthopaedic forearm, a paediatric lab coat, forcibly shoved both into the on-call room, shut the door and jammed the handle with a pair of extracting forceps.
Callie would have usually been able to fight her off, but the speed and surprise of the attack caught her off guard. She was still first to voice her anger, shouting through the barrier. "What the hell Yang?! Let us out! Are you crazy?!"
Through the door, the cardio surgeon made her intentions and instructions very clear. "Look, Arizona wants Callie to stay with her, Callie wants to stay with Arizona. It's not hard." The sarcasm was oozing out. "You want to be together, like, forever, I guess." Irritated, "You're surgeons, department heads, award winners, yet you can't figure this most basic fact out?" Her tone changed from one of frustration to pure annoyance, "You're both starting to piss me off you know that? How did Sofia become normal and smart? I'm so glad she has me, because you're both useless." She was fed up of playing cupid by this point. "So, talk it out, realise you both want the same thing because I swear I will hurt you both." Then, remembering who she was addressing, she had to add one more point, "and no funny business when you eventually figure it out."
She turned round after concluding and saw one of the new interns, the poor guy had no chance. "You," she clicked her fingers, "get over here. You stay at this door and do not let either of them out until they've figured it out." It appeared her lust to manhandle people continued as she pushed him again the door to emphasise her point. "They're not to be crying, upset, deflated or angry. They have to be happy, smiley smiley, even if it's sickly sweet." She jabbed her finger into his chest, "Do you understand? Your future in medicine is dependent on this. If they don't, you'll be out of this hospital so fast." She wrapped up - "and no one goes in. Understand?"
"Y-yes Dr Yang, consider it done." The intern took his position outside the door.
"Good, I won't fire you." With that, Cristina whipped out her phone as she walked away, satisfied she'd completed her frie- colleagueduties. She dropped a final message in the group chat, "If you want something done, do it yourself. The Queen of Cardio has fixed it." If she had a mic, she'd have dropped it.