Author's Note: So, it's finally over... I'm taking a break from fanfiction for a while, so I just want to say thanks to everyone who followed, reviewed and favorited this story. I don't think my next story will be in the Grey's Anatomy universe, but I may return one day. There are plenty of plot bunnies to be had!

"Where's Sofia?"

"I called the sitter to extend her shift. Paying her double."

The task force sat in a waiting room with crap hospital coffee and donuts. The waiting room was the only vacant private room at the hospital that time of night, and it was two floors up and on the other end of the building from the room that Alex will be recovering in. However, Arizona insisted that the debrief happen where they could see him as soon as the surgery was over - which would be any second soon, and they had only been here for forty-five minutes.

"The way Callie was acting was planned," Owen admitted. "She came to me with the idea last night after the briefing, and I heard her out and we fleshed it out together. The plan's downfall was that we didn't think to tell anyone, and that it came off as reckless, and now we're sitting in a hospital waiting room because one of us got shot."

"Why did no one tells us about this plan?" asked Mark. Arizona saw that he was looking at Callie disapprovingly.

Owen hesitated. "It's stupid, but we thought the element of surprise would work better."

"No shit, Sherlock." Cristina was particularly livid. "You encouraged Torres to potentially put our lives in danger!" she yelled at Owen.

"We didn't know that they had guns, we thought they wouldn't have guns because we didn't think they saw us coming. We didn't know that Gary Clark is a paranoid son of a bitch that kept a revolver in his pocket. So, tell me, Yang: how the fuck do you arrest people you're playing video games with? That wasn't in the FBI handbook; it wasn't taught at the academy." Callie was not pleased that Cristina wasn't addressing her directly.

"Torres, hold up." Derek gestured for Callie to settle down. "I know that there was a bit of oversight on our part because we had you go in there without a set strategy of how to smoke them out, but I have to say that your actions were irresponsible." He looked at Owen. "And I'm annoyed that you and Hunt didn't bring the idea forward to the rest of the task force. You're a senior agent, you know that's not the way it works around here. We could have ironed it out if that was our only option."

"For the record, it still worked," said Callie.

"This is a silly argument." Bailey wasn't looking up from her iPad, and from the tone of her voice, Arizona knew that she found the whole issue to be a joke. "Torres, you sound ridiculous. We got the guys. Alex is going to be okay. We all did something stupid. End of story."

Cristina folded her arms. "I did not do anything stupid."

"We got the guys!" Callie exclaimed exasperatedly.

"Jesus Christ, Callie, a man got shot!" said Cristina. "And we have to fill out paperwork!" As if that was the gravest thing about it all.

Callie frowned. "But we didn't fire any shots."

"But a civilian got shot," Owen said resignedly. He looked at Mark and Derek. "I admit, guys, I fucked up. Not one of the best ideas that's ever come out of here. I think we should own up to internal affairs."

"You need to come up with a better explanation for them," said Mark.

Bailey looked up. "And just how are we going to deal with those guys, by the way? We all know that they will know. Everything was recorded in the can." She whirled around to glare at Mark, whose mouth was half-open. "And you can't make me tamper with it."

"Here are our choices, then." Mark leaned forward, his elbows resting on his thighs. "We stand by each other and tell them we all planned it and we didn't see it going wrong. Or we tell them the truth. What do you think, Derek? Owen?"

The two men sat in silence, contemplating.

The door opened. Teddy poked her head in. "Can you guys keep it down? This is a hospital, not a batting cage." Her mask still hung around her neck and she still had her scrub cap on. "The surgery went smoothly. Alex is in his room. The anesthetic will wear off in about seven to eight hours time," she told them. "He's going to be up and running in ten days, tops."

Arizona sighed in relief. "Can I see him?"

"He's just sleeping, Arizona," Teddy told her friend gently. "My shift is ending in twenty minutes so I'll drive you home." Her eyes ran over the faces of the FBI agents. "All of you need to go home, too."

"I know, but I want to see him." Arizona got on her feet.

Teddy's face softened. "All right," she said. "Come with me. The rest of you," she addressed the room, "go home. Go to bed. You can come visit him tomorrow."

Light streamed through the blinds of Alex's room, and Arizona roused herself. Her neck and back ached because of the position she slept in all night. Teddy offered her a ride last night after seeing Alex but she argued that she wanted to be there when he woke up. As she stretched, groaning softly in relief as blood rushed through her sore muscles, she noticed a pair of bleary eyes staring at her.

"You look like shit, Robbins," Alex croaked.

"You don't look so hot yourself, Karev."

"General anesthesia does that to you. You should know that. Before I went under, Teddy told me that you were out for around ten days after you got hurt in Afghanistan since they had to fly you to several different hospitals." Alex chuckled.

"Yeah, I was out for a while but I still ended up regaining my consciousness looking as radiant as I always do."

"Bullshit. I hope the breakfast cart comes soon. I'm really hungry," he said. "Wait. Teddy said I could eat, right?"

"She didn't say you couldn't, but I suppose someone would be coming in soon to deliver the verdict," said Arizona. "What the hell were you doing outside that room last night anyhow?"

"Mark was talking in my ear," Alex started. "He said something about Callie going rogue and to keep watch in case anything went down. Then he said that a gun had been drawn and I had to get in there, so I did."

"That was incredibly stupid of you. You're not a trained fighter, Alex. You could have been killed."

"I was trusted to hold the fort while backup was on its way." Alex inhaled. "Besides, you were in there. What if you're the one they pointed the gun at?"

"Callie went rogue on purpose," Arizona blurted out. When Alex looked at her confusedly, she explained it. "It was a poorly thought out plan and they're going to get in trouble for getting a civilian shot," she summarised.

Alex whistled. "No shit. Are you mad at her?"

"Kind of. You wouldn't have gotten shot if she hadn't gone rogue," Arizona admitted. "I think everyone is a little bit mad at her, though."

Alex appeared thoughtful when Teddy entered the room. "I know you're about to ask me when the food cart is coming," she began saying to Alex, "and I'm going to tell you that it's just down the hall and it'll be here soon. I don't even know why you're looking forward to eating, the food here is shit. In the meantime, I'm going to check your incision." She indicated for Arizona to scoot over so that she could lift Alex's hospital gown. "Hmm." She poked and prodded at it gently before readjusting the gown. "It's looking good. You'll be out of here in six days, provided that there's no infection or you don't strain yourself and burst the stitches - so don't do that."

"Thanks, doc." Alex smiled easily at her. "Can you tell Robbins to stop bugging me about replacing her jacket and to go home and sleep?"

"I was just about to get to that." Teddy turned to Arizona, hands on her hips. "I'm calling for a cab to take you home, and you are to take a hot shower and get to bed, okay? You've been wearing your prosthetic all night and that's not good for you." She lifted a finger when Arizona opened her mouth to speak. "No more arguments, the cab should be downstairs in twenty minutes."

"Come on, Arizona." Alex's voice was more tender than she was used to, but Arizona noticed that he was fighting a smirk. "I'm not dying or anything. You can go home, get some sleep, so you can come back to resume being my bossy thesis supervisor," he joked.

She sighed. "Fine."

"Cab will be downstairs in twenty," Teddy reminded her before leaving the room.

"Are you going to talk to Callie?" Alex asked Arizona as soon the door closed.

Arizona shrugged. "Maybe. I want to talk to her." She stood up, wincing as she placed her weight on her prosthetic. Teddy's right. I need to take this off. "I'll come visit you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, sure," said Alex. "And can you please bring me a burger?"

When Arizona limped out of the cab, she was surprised to see Callie sitting on her doorstep. Fate is agreeing with me, perhaps. Callie seemed to have noticed her limp and went over to help her. "What are you doing here?" Arizona asked the taller woman, while gratefully clinging onto her arm for support. "Aren't you supposed to be at the office?"

"I got the message this morning. One week unpaid leave - euphemism for suspension - and the three months on probation," Callie told her. "Mostly office and lab work. I'll be sticking my hands in dead bodies for most of that time. It'll be like being in Miami again." She shuddered. "I do enjoy profiling."

"That sucks. I'm sorry."

Callie waved it off. "I deserve it. I wasn't thinking. I was doing what I would have done in an individual situation, and I completely forgot that I have to be acting for the good of the group," she said.

Arizona was opening the front door when she regarded Callie with curiosity. "They teach that at the academy?" she asked.

"In the force, yes. I never went to the academy." Callie's face took on a half-grimace. "I bet they teach that in the Marines, too."

"It's the first thing you learn." Arizona opened the door. "You want to come in?"

After giving Arizona's residual limb a wonderful leg massage - she always had the most amazing hands - Callie sidled into bed next to her. They lay there for a while, on their backs, side by side, not touching. Just breathing.

Callie broke the silence. "How is Alex?"

"He's fine. He asked me to buy him a burger tomorrow," said Arizona. "That boy is like a weed."

"But you love him." Callie turned on her side.

Arizona nodded. "I'd never tell him that, but I do."

"You were so worried about him." Callie lifted a hand, hesitated for a second, before running a finger down Arizona's jawbone. "I hated seeing you like that, and I even hated that it was my fault. I'm sorry, Arizona."

"I'm sorry, too." Arizona turned on her side too, so that they were face to face. She drew closer to Callie; she couldn't help herself. Their lips met - no, they crashed, into each other, and Arizona's front was pressing against Callie's. Her hands roamed, her fingers dipping into Callie's familiar curves, tangling in her thick hair.

When she climbed on top of Callie, she felt the dark-haired woman's hand on her shoulder, pushing her away firmly, but not forcefully. "Calliope," Arizona gasped, trying to read the questions in Callie's eyes.

Callie gazed longingly at her, pushing her hair back where it fell on her face. She remained silent.

"I love you," said Arizona. "Is it okay to say that?"

Callie answered her with a kiss.

They woke up hours later, Callie pressed up against Arizona's side. They were naked and they smelt of each other's sweat. Callie mumbled something against the tender skin on the side of Arizona's breast.

Arizona smiled at the sensation. She didn't open her eyes. "What was that?"

She felt Callie raise her head. "I love you too."

What did she just say? Arizona's eyes fluttered open. "Really?"

Callie was grinning. "Yeah," she said. "I really do."

"I'm glad." Arizona tenderly kissed her on the forehead. "Are you sure you're okay with this?"

Callie's eyebrows knotted. "Okay with what?"

"Getting back together."

"Arizona," Callie laughed, "I don't think we ever wanted to be apart."

One year later

Arizona and Teddy's house was milling with people chatting and eating, wine glasses in hand. Sofia and Zola, Derek's daughter, were playing in the corner of the den by themselves, while Arizona and Callie were busying themselves pouring everyone wine.

When everyone's glasses were filled, Arizona stood by the mantle. "Can I get everyone's attention, please?" she called out. Everyone's eyes turned on her. "I want to propose a toast to the newest addition to the University of Washington's computer science department - Doctor Alex Karev!"

Since the case was over, Alex finished his thesis on time and received his doctorate, then worked as a research assistant at UDub before accepting an assistant professorship to fill the spot vacated by Arizona - the department's newest associate professor.

"To Alex!" everyone chorused, then drank from their glasses.

"But hey," Alex's voice rang out, "can we also have a toast for my mentor, the newly engaged, newly promoted Doctor Arizona Robbins?"

Arizona instinctively scooted closer to Callie as Teddy, Meredith and the rest of the task force toasted them. Callie's arm went around her waist in support. "Oh, come on, Alex, this party was for you!" Arizona said.

"Hey, it's for both of us." Alex walked towards them. "It's going to be weird sleeping in your old bedroom." Arizona and Callie had bought a house in Derek's neighbourhood and were planning to move there before the holidays. Arizona and Teddy decided to offer Alex the vacated room, since living in a smelly apartment wasn't something college professors do. "I mean, you two probably did it in there."

"Karev!" Arizona hit him on the arm. "Get that image out of your head now." He's a college professor now but he still behaves like a frat boy.

Alex scuttled away from them to avoid more slaps. "Yes, I'm getting it out!" he exclaimed. "I don't want to be mentally scarred anyway!"

"Mami!" Sofia squealed from the den. "Mami, come here!"

Callie nodded at her. "I'm going to see what's going on over there," she told Arizona. She walked to where her daughter was.

Bailey appeared next to Arizona. "Congratulations, Alex." She smiled at him, before turning to the blonde - effectively dismissing the younger man. Alex read the cues and went on to chat with Mark and Owen. "And you! You're going to get married! To that beautiful woman over there."

They watched Callie shower Sofia and Zola with kisses. I hope I'd be that good as a mother. "Is marriage any fun, Bailey?" Arizona asked.

"Oh, it's no fun most of the time, but it's rewarding, it's passionate, and with the right person, it's one of the promises you'd want to keep until your death," Bailey replied sagely. "Are you ready for that?"

Arizona nodded. "I think I am."

Cristina approached them. "Hey,we've got an idea," she said brightly. Lexie was standing behind her, her face expectant.

Arizona and Bailey looked at each other. "What is it, Yang?" they asked in unison.

"Let's have a LAN party. Right now. We haven't had one in a year."

Yeah, that's because someone got shot last time. "Are you serious?" asked Arizona.

"Completely," said Lexie. "Come on, we still keep our gaming laptops. Mine's in the car, so is Cristina's. Meredith is going to join us, too."

Bailey bit her lip. "So's mine," she admitted. "Torres!" she called out. "You want to LAN?"

Callie looked up from her conversation with Sofia. "Heck yes! Let me grab my laptop. It's in my car."

Mark, Owen, Derek and Teddy watched confusedly as the women went outside, then returned with their laptop cases. "What the hell is going on?" Mark asked, his eyes following Lexie, who was wrangling cables left and right.

"Geeks," muttered Teddy.

"Alex, you want to interpret what's going on?"

"Shit is going down and I want to be part of it," was all he said, before disappearing outside to his car. He returned with his laptop under his arm. "Count me in, guys!"

"I have a spare computer," said Arizona. "Anyone want to join?" She posed the question to them.

"No!" the four of them chorused.

"Fine then," said Arizona. "Okay, I call dibs on being captain of one team," she told the others. They were once federal agents that she was wary of, and now they've become her good friends. She made eye contact with Calliope Torres - once a stranger, now her fiancée. They gave each other knowing looks. "And Callie is my first pick."

Callie skipped over to her, her hands encircling her waist and pulling her close. They kissed deeply for what seemed like forever to the music of everyone's cheers.