Chpt 20
Callie's POV
Sitting up on that stage in front of my family, my friends, and colleagues was great. I was proud of what I had accomplished in my career. I had worked hard to get where I was, and this award was my crowing moment. So why did it feel so empty? I knew the answer. As happy as I was to receive such a prestiges award, my heart and thoughts were with her. I had spent the day meeting Doctors from all over the country. Some of which I had admired and tried to mirror throughout my time as a surgeon. They were all so impressed with my work, so in awe to meet me and I put on a smile as I took in all their kind words. But the smile was no where near as big as it could of been. As the day went on, I thought more and more about Arizona's gesture that morning. I started to feel as if I had just got caught up in the moment. Was that really enough for me to just let what happened slide. I knew she was sorry and I knew why she said it, but that was just it. She said it and the reasons why she said it were still the same. She was still scared. Her Dad had pretty much told me that she was scared for her life. But he also said she loved me. Was it even possible for us to feel so strongly for each other so soon? My internal struggle was still raging as I realised that the actual presentation was next on the itinerary. Don't worry. Gavin the escort had it highlighted in the brightest neon yellow I had ever seen. I looked to my left were Derek sat. He realised I was looking over and nodded at me in acknowledgement. He was going to be giving the speech before the award was officially passed over to me. Thoughts back to her. Arizona had been in this same seat just a year ago, waiting to accept the same honor. How things change in a year. My heart started to race as they announced Derek to come forward. I needed to take deep breathes without anyone noticing before I started to hyperventilate. I searched the room for Mark knowing his look would somewhat calm me. I finally saw him at a table, just to the right of where I was seated. How did they get such good seats? He must of had to flirt up a storm to sit there. He looked up and gave me a wink. He was so good to me. He was so good that he made sure Arizona wasn't alone these last few weeks. I couldn't have her alone. Knowing how destroyed she was, knowing that I couldn't be the one to comfort her. My thoughts were interrupted as I quickly focused in on what Derek was now informing everyone of.
"So tonight, we have decided to do something different" he looked back at me as I could feel my stomach starting to stir. "Kind of a new tradition that Dr. Harper Avery has graciousless alowd us to try. Instead of myself presenting this award tonight, we have invited someone who knows how Dr. Torres feels today. Someone who sat on a stage very similar to this one just last year and accepted this very same award."
He had got to be kidding me.
"It is my privilege to present to you last years winner of the Harper Avery Award for Research..." he looked back at me once more "Dr. Arizona Robbins"
I was going to pass out. Yup. That was it. I was done for. How could this be happening? How could they do this to me? The one person who I wanted more than anything to be there with me today, and now she was giving me the freaking award? So much for escorts and that itineraries. My blood pressure was on bust and I'm sure I was starting to sweat. Don't pass our Callie. Don't you dare. And then I saw her. As the room continued to fill with applause, she slowly made her way through the room to the stage. I couldn't breathe. But it was her that took it away. She was by far the most stunning woman I had every laid eyes on. She made her way across the stage in front of us and I swear I could smell her perfume. I knew I could. And that dress. Was she trying to kill me? I finally exhaled as she took her place in front of the podium where Derek was waiting for her. He embraced her and I watched as he whispered something in her ear and then look to me once more. As he took his seat again, my mind raced as I tried to think of anything he could of possibly said to her at that moment. And then she spoke.
"When Calliope Torres decided to study medicine, she had a plan. A plan to be the very best in her field. When Dr. Calliope Torres decided to become a surgeon, she had a plan. A plan to be the best surgeon in her specialty and push the boundaries daily. When Dr. Calliope Torres decided to become an Orthopaedic surgeon, she embraced her gift and chose not only to push the boundaries of science, but defy them. In her second year as a resident, she built a mans bones from titanium so he could walk again. In her first year as attending, she performed the first ever Femoral Bone Transplant, even thought the science said it could not be done. Which brings us to today. Dr. Calliope Torres has again defied science. We now have an alternative to joint replacements. We have synthetic cartilage. Now, before our patients have to go through agonizing pain as the joint deteriorates, before the grueling surgery and recovery from joint replacement, we have a cure. And that is why, Dr. Harper Avery has recognized Dr. Calliope Torres above all others in her field. Above all others in the medical world this year. The plan she had all those years ago, to be the best, has worked."
Applause erupted, and I looked around the room. Arizona got it all right. I did have a plan. And my plans were always successful. Well, almost. She finally turned around to face me, only for a split second, but I saw it. That light in her eyes. The one her dad said was lit again by me. All I wanted to do was touch her. Just for a second, and feel the energy that we shared. She continued to speak.
"Now, before we present Dr. Torres with her award, I would like to do something that is a little unscripted from your normal presentation speech" Arizona voice was suddenly shaky. "Something a little more personal"
What was she doing? What could she possible have to say about me that she hasn't already said?
"It was only 2 months ago that my life was completely changed when I had the pleasure of first meeting Dr. Torres. We instantly had a connection. We were both surgeons. Surgeons at the top of our field. But that connection ran deeper then being in the same profession" she looked back again and I could see she was shaking. It was only suttle, but I could see it.
"Those of you lucky enought to know Dr. Torres personally, will know that the consistancy that she shows in her professional life, is also present in her personal one. She embraces life fully, and defies what life says to be normal. As we both have defied boundaries in science, Dr. Torres and I have differed in life. I always stuck to normal. When I tried to defy what is normal in life, it pushed me back, and it pushed me back hard. Stepping outside of the box in science gave me a thrill, while doing the same in life, scared the hell out of me. A wise man once told me," as she let her eyes meet mine once more, and I knew what she was going to say next was important to her, to us. "...if your not scared, your not paying attention. So I started paying attention. Dr. Torres has forced me to pay attention. And for the first time in my life, I'm not scared anymore." She stopped. She looked back. I could see she had tears in her eyes.
So I stood up. In front of all my family, friends, colleagues. I stood up and walked to where she was standing. I knew she felt my presence as she turned to me again, this time I let myself smile at her. Something I had avoided doing in the past weeks. It caused her to smile. Her dimples were back. They were back. My heart was beating again.
"And now, thanks to Dr. Calliope Torres, I have pushed back at life. I am defying whats normal." she reaches for my hand. I don't know if anyone else knew what was happening at that moment, but I did. She was finally ready. And in a room mostly full of strangers, she proved she was ready.
"Ladies and gentleman, I give you this years winner of the Harper Avery award for research, Dr. Calliope Torres."
Again applause erupted. I didn't look around the room. I didn't look to my family or friends I looked at her. Only her. She pulled me in close, as I heard cheering and whistles coming from the table where Mark, Teddy and the rest of our friends were seated. She smiled as she put her arms around my neck. I could finally see myself in her eyes again, right next to the light. And then she did it. Finally, after weeks of being apart, she put her lips on mine. I felt complete again. The hoots and hollering continued as we kissed. She eventually pulled back and nodded her head to the crowd. Right. I had to accept now. She kept hold of my hand tight as I turned to face my peers.
"Wow" I finally said as the applause died down. "That was some speech" as I looked over at Arizona again. Having her by my side was worth more than any award I could ever get.
Arizona's POV
"Why does it always rain on Thursday's" I said "and why do you never want to take an umbrella?"
It was 2 months since Calliope and I had made it official. The Harper Avery Awards had been our real start and I couldn't be happier. We were on our way to Rainne just like we did every Thursday night and I didn't really care if we had an umbrella. As long as I had her.
"You're so hot when you pout" she said pulling me in for a kiss as we stood outside the bar where we first met.
"You're just hot" I grinned as we made our way inside to our regular table in the back.
All the regulars were there. The group that I had so envied on that fate full night was now my group.
"I'm surprised you two are alive after the bomb that obviously exploded in your room this afternoon" Christina said as she downed what looked to be her 4th shot of the evening. Did we induce that? "We need to seriously think about getting better sound proofing if we are all gonna continue to live under the same roof"
I knew she didn't care. She loved having me around all the time. It was only last week in one of her drunken confessions that she said living me was like she had died and moved into a big ol' condo in the sky. I sat up on the table behind ours and pulled Calliope's waist from behind so she was now between my legs. I wanted her as close as possible to me at all times.
"Now Yang" I called her by her last name "You don't want me to fall off my game while you are on my service now do you, and without those explosions, well..."
"Okay okay" she put her hands to her ears "Explode away"
Everyone was laughing at this point and Calliope leaned her head back so it was resting on my shoulder. I kissed her cheek softly. She was it for me and I had never felt so confident about my decision to be with her as I did in that moment.
"I would really like to make an explosion now" Calliope's whispered in my ear before pulling out of my grasp. I tilted my head to watch her as she walked across the room. I knew where she was headed. I liked the destination. A lot.
"When you get back Robbins," Mark's voice cause me to focus on him instead of the dirty things I was about to partake in "you're telling me all your secrets" he winked at me as I started on the same path my girlfriend had just walked.
"In your dreams Mark" I called out as I got to the bathroom door and pushed it open.
"I thought you were never coming" Calliope's eyes were dark as she leaned against the counter, arms folded.
Thank god for bathrooms I thought as I let the door close behind us. Thank god for bringing me her.
AN: And...thats it. For now. Hope the ending was worth the read. Even though its a little off track from how we normally see the girls, I still love this story. Hope you guys enjoyed reading as much as I loved writing it. Make it a series? OR something else? Let me know!
Cheers