S7 EP14

TIMOTHY WAS FLIPPING the omelettes on the pan in Callie and Arizona's apartment. Callie watched her girlfriend as she poured chunks of green... stuff into a glass.

"What is it?" she questioned, her face scrunched up and her eyes staring at the drink in disgust.

"It's a kale and apple juice smoothie," Arizona replied, placing the drink on the countertop, "It's time to think less about your cravings and more about filling that baby with nutrients, which that has."

Callie lifted the drink in front of her while she spectated the contents. "It also has chunks. I don't drink chunks," she complained, "Why can't Tim be the one making my morning smoothies today?"

"Because he's preparing breakfast for you and the baby," Arizona deadpanned, "Come on, you can't have him making you smoothies every morning."

"Actually, I don't mind," Timothy spoke up with a shrug, "But drink the smoothie, Callie. It's nutritious."

He had felt the mild hatred Arizona had towards him, and even though he understood that she was not the biggest fan of Callie getting pregnant with his kid, still, the kid is a part of him.

Yet he did not argue with them, though, knowing that co-parenting was not as easy as it sounded. Everyone just needed some mutual respect and tolerance.

The door to their apartment opened, and Mark walked in carrying an insulated tumbler in his hand. "So, Norah ditched me for Alzheimer's this morning," he muttered, "Ooh, is Tim here? The cooking smells great."

"Mark, tell the woman I'm allowed to drink one cup of regular coffee," Callie snapped her head to him, pleading for help.

"Sure you are," he answered with a shrug while walking over to the kitchen.

"Oh, wait, Mark," Arizona interjected, "Are you aware that there are studies that link caffeine with pre-term labor, low birth weight, and other birth defects?"

Mark narrowed his eyes at the green chunks of drink, hiding his disgusted face. "That goo looks great," he stated instead, "I say you stick with the goo."

Callie scoffed at them, "Okay, you three can't just dictate what I'm allowed to eat and drink."

"Nobody's dictating anything. But you're pregnant now, so things have to be different. You're gonna have to eat better and take it easier at work," Arizona reasoned before turning to the other two, "And well, if it helps, we'll give up caffeine, too."

"That helps no one."

"Well, how about we put it to a vote?" Mark suggested, and they nodded in agreement, "All in favour of Callie drinking coffee, raise your hand."

The pregnant woman raised her hand and scowled at the other three, who had their hands down.

"All in favour of the goo?"

Three arms shot in the air, and the pregnant woman let out a frustrated grunt.

"Goo, it is."

Timothy divided the omelettes into three servings, adding a pinch of spice on top of them. He whistled while placing the plates on the kitchen counter, passing the breakfast to the three attendings. "You didn't make one for yourself?" Mark asked the younger man.

"Well, the one in front of you is supposed to be mine, but I have to get to the hospital in ten, so you can have it," Timothy replied while he quickly washed off the pans and spatulas in the sink. "Oh, and Callie, if it really tastes too bad, we can freeze it into popsicles, might taste better."

Callie's eyes widened in joy immediately. "Excellent idea! We're freezing the rest of it!"

Timothy wiped his hands on the hand towel before grabbing his stuff and pager from the kitchen counter. "Bye, guys," he rounded the corner before lowering his head to Callie's stomach, "See you, kiddo."

"He's doing better in this whole co-parenting thing than I expected," Callie admitted as she scooped up the spinach on her plate.

"Yeah, well, he's still a resident. He will be stuck in the hospital most of the time," Arizona voiced out with a slight snarl in her tone.

Mark furrowed his brows at her, chewing on the mouth-watering food. "Still, Robbins, you gotta admit he's handling it very well."

❦ ❦ ❦

S7 EP15

IT WAS SIX IN THE EVENING when Norah plopped down on the empty chair at the nurses' station in the ER. She hugged the big bag of Doritos to her chest while munching on the chips.

She scrunched up her nose at the little chip packet that Cristina was holding. "Is that ranch?" she queried, "Ew."

"You don't get to judge my one-dollar vending machine chips, sweetheart," Cristina scowled back at her with a frown on her face, "Where'd you get that Doritos from?"

"I got Mark to run to the store before he came in," Norah shared and crunched the chip in her mouth.

"Damn, I should get Owen to do that."

Meredith had just handed a clipboard over to a nurse before meeting them at the station. A tired look on her face as she was handed over yet another clipboard from another nurse. She glared at both her friends, who were snacking while swinging on the rolling chairs.

"Are you two gonna help me at all or are you just gonna sit there and eat potato chips?" she finally snapped at the pair.

Cristina and Norah shared a look before shrugging. "I performed four back-to-back fem-pop bypasses today. This is the first chair I've seen since seven a.m., and this is the first food I've had since yesterday," the former stated, "I choose potato chips."

"Doritos?" Norah offered. Meredith narrowed her eyes while she continued scribbling on the clipboard. The brunette sighed and picked out a handful few chips from the bag before shoving it into Meredith's mouth.

The phone at the station started to ring, and Cristina leaned back against her chair nonchalantly. Meredith quickly gestured Norah to pick up the phone as she was still munching on the mouthful of chips.

"You brought this on yourself, you know?" Cristina told Meredith, "You volunteered to help run the ER."

"Seattle Grace Mercy West Emergency," Norah spoke, and the caller on the other side started notifying her about their patient. "Got it, thank you." She placed the phone down and turned to the curious residents. "There's a suspected appy on a ten-year-old," she informed.

"Let's page Robbins," Meredith notified a nurse who returned with a nod before she turned back to Cristina. "You know, I saw a need and I filled it, like any good Chief Resident candidate."

"Sadomasochistic Chief Resident candidate, maybe," Cristina shrugged, and Norah cackled. Meredith laughed at her joke with a broad smile on her face. "What is up with you?" the former questioned, slightly concerned, "You're all perky and cheerful."

"Yeah, totally not dark and twisty at all," Norah added in agreement.

"Ah, you know, it's the, uh, fertility drugs," Meredith replied, "We have stepped it up. I'm pumped full of hormones."

Norah quirked a brow at her. "Why does your fertility drug seem to work better than my antidepressants?"

Meredith shrugged in response. "But you know what's perky?" she asked, "My boobs. They're huge. Am I supposed to like big boobs?"

"Oh, god, no," Cristina furrowed her brows, "They'll make you fall over."

"Tumbling down the stairs," Norah grimaced, "Nuh-uh, Mer. There are more graceful ways to say bye, you know?"

Cristina snorted while Meredith raised a brow at the brunette, who continued eating the Doritos. "Are you sure your antidepressants are working at all?"

"I mean, I'm starting to cut back on it, so..."

❦ ❦ ❦

"HEY, LAWRENCE," ALEX called out as Norah passed by him at the lobby. She made a quick turn on her heels and stalked back to the man. "How good are you at forging signatures?"

She raised a brow at him, looking at the large stack of files sitting next to him. She had a smirk on her face when she folded her arms above her chest. "What's in for me?"

He sighed in defeat before giving in. "I'll buy your lunch for the week?" he offered, "And dinner. And do your charts. Look, I have a game to get to."

"Alright, deal. But I'm doing my own charts."

April, who had overheard their conversation, frowned in disagreement. "That's unethical and probably illegal," she stated; Alex threw her a scowl while Norah merely shrugged, already taking a quarter of the files on the desk and a pen from the table.

While she started copying Alex's signature on the many files, a hand snaked around her waist. She was greeted by a cup of coffee that slid to her side. "Thanks, love. My shift ends in..." she glanced at her watch, "Half an hour, tops."

Mark peeked over her shoulder as she sipped on the cappuccino, and he narrowed his eyes at her scribbling. "Are you forging Karev's signature?" he questioned, and she nodded casually. "Isn't that like... I don't know, illegal?"

"Free food for the week beats legality."

He hesitated for a moment before nodding approvingly, knowing that she had been a heavy eater these days. "That's reasonable." She chuckled and placed a kiss on his jaw; he turned his head to capture her lips with his.

"You know, these files aren't gonna grow legs and run away," he whispered suggestively, "On-call room? What do you say? It's been a while since-"

Norah's pager went off, and he groaned in annoyance, eyeing the pager in her hand as if the device had personally provoked him. It did, in one way or another...

She handed the files back to Alex's finished stack before turning back to Mark with a smirk on her face. She snickered and pulled him down for a quick peck on the lips before waving off.

"Little Sloan's gotta wait."

"Wh-" Mark let out an offended gasp as he stared back at her in disbelief. "Big Sloan!"

His slightly-too-loud voice caused the nurses nearby to turn their heads to him; Alex cocked a brow at the attending, looking rather disturbed. He stammered on his words before shaking his head and headed in the opposite direction.

❦ ❦ ❦

NORAH STOOD OUTSIDE the examine room, already changed into her day clothes since her shift had ended. She looked at the X-ray scan that was being held to the light by Lexie; the patient had a knife lodged to the side of his brain, yet his neurological status seemed to be intact.

That definitely sounded like a miracle of some sort.

She pushed open the door quietly, peeking her head slightly into the room. "Looks like the blade landed in the maxillary sinus," Mark pointed out, "Chances are, the knife itself is tamponading any major bleeding. Probably best just to go ahead and open up the cranium."

"Or we could just take him to the OR and pull this thing out," Jackson laid out a suggestion, but the attending raised a brow at him.

"Really, Avery? Just pull it out?" the attending raised a brow at him in a slightly exasperated tone, "Let me guess. You want to get out of here early to go to the game, just like everyone else."

"Or he knew that since it looks like the knife didn't hit any major arteries or veins, a controlled extraction would be safer and less invasive than a complete craniotomy," Norah spoke up from behind.

Mark glanced over his shoulder, a small smile pulling his lips. "Is that true, Avery? Is that why you suggested we pull it out of his head?" his tone changed into a noticeably more delighted one.

Before Jackson could reply, Norah resumed with a smirk, "Nah, he still wants to get to the game."

Jackson threw a small glare at her-careful not to be noticed by Mark-and let out a sigh. "Yes, that is... also true."

"Hey, I'm good with that," the patient spoke up drunkenly, "Let's just do what he... or-or she said."

Norah felt a poke on her shoulder, and she turned to see Meredith calling for her with a conflicted look on her face. The latter took a deep breath before blurting out, "You're the best resident in Neuro..."

"Uh... I do hope so?" the brunette raised a brow at her.

"Norah, that's a statement, not a question," Meredith stated, "Listen, a patient who came in with a broken wrist claiming that she got home from work and slipped off the stepladder-Normal, right?-But, less than thirty minutes later, she said she slipped while trying to get out the holiday decorations-"

"It's February," Norah interjected with her brows furrowed, and Meredith snapped her fingers at her words.

"That's what I'm saying!" the latter exclaimed, "I'm not the only one imagining things, right?"

The brunette shook her head. "Sounds like some form of... dementia, to me," she speculated, "Can't be sure. Um... have you booked her for a head CT?"

"Not yet, but I'm going to, right now."

"Hey, Mer," Norah called out before the other resident hurried away, "Who's the patient?"

"Adele Webber."

"The chief's wife? Isn't she retired? How did she 'got home from work'?" Norah's questions flowed out like a stream. Meredith's words caught at the back of her throat, her face painted with worry. "Yeah... she gotta get that head CT, like-quick. I'll bring her, if you want me to?"

Meredith looked at the brunette like she was the saviour of planet earth's destruction. "Yes, please. Thank you."

When she went off again, Norah peeked her head back into the examining room, where the surgeons were still deciding on the course of treatment for the patient. "Hey, Mark, I'm bringing a patient up for a head CT real quick. I'll see you after?"

"Yeah, okay. I'll be taking a while here, too," he replied and heard the door squeak again. "I love y-"

The door shut before he could complete, and he sent the residents an awkward smile. He lifted his eyes to Jackson, who was expressionless and queried, "Why is Avery looking so... sulky?"

"Because he's sad and... single," Lexie responded.

Mark looked over to the resident, who had a sour look on her face, too. He sighed at the recollection of Timothy with a similar bitter look a few weeks ago. "Grey, don't be an ass and get Tim back. And Avery, time to up your game."

❦ ❦ ❦

S7 EP16

CALLIE STORMED OUT OF her and Arizona's apartment, heading straight down the hall and unlocking the door with a spare key she had. "Mark? Norah?" she called out but was only greeted with giggles and the sound of running water.

She headed straight to the bedroom and pushed open the door to the bathroom. "Holy fuckery-" Norah jumped and was close to slipping while Mark caught her.

"Torres, seriously?"

"Your glass is not see-through, and I don't care," Callie blabbered, her tone urgent, "And I need your girlfriend right now, not you."

He merely shrugged while Norah raised a brow at the other woman. "I mean, I am-we are kinda in the middle of something-Mark Sloan!" She smeared his face with soap when he started attacking her neck; she loved it, of course, but not in front of their friends-that was a line she drew.

Callie opened her mouth to speak but got cut off when Arizona appeared behind her. The blonde's eyes widened. She quickly turned around, her back facing the couple in the shower.

"I don't wanna drink the goo," Callie shrieked. Norah swore she would have soaked her with the showerhead if the former was not pregnant.

"She needs to drink the goo. It's nutritious for her and the baby!" Arizona protested, clearing her throat.

Norah perked her head up a little to take one look at the glass of green stuff that Arizona had in her hand. The drink-if you can even call it that-looked nowhere close to pleasant looking, let alone consuming it. Mark blew one of the bubbles on her head, and she slapped him in the chest.

"I uh... why am I deciding this?" the brunette questioned, "Where's Tim?"

"Hospital," Arizona muttered, "And if we were to ask Mark, he'd take Callie's side. And you don't take sides."

"This... this kinda sounds like you're trying to agrlglrgl-Mark for fuck's sake!" Norah wiped the water off her eyes and spat out the water that went into her mouth; Mark had broken out a string of laughter.

She frowned back at the couple who were still waiting at their bathroom door. "It sounds like you're asking me to pick a side," she huffed.

"Goo or no goo, just pick one," Callie stated, looking back at her with pleading eyes. She was staring at the glass of... goo with murderous eyes; her face crumpled into one in disgust.

"Callie, drink the goo."

Callie let out a betrayed noise, and Arizona grinned in victory, nudging the drink into her girlfriend's hand. "Lawrence, I hate you," the pregnant woman groaned.

"Thanks. You'll drink the horrible-smelling goo because you've interrupted our-"

"-sex, yes. Sorry, thanks, and see you at work!" Arizona chimed before slamming the bathroom door shut. Callie's noise of protest could still be heard when they shut the door to their apartment.

"Love, we have very, very weird friends," Norah furrowed her brows at him. She took a good look at the man in front of him, memorising his every feature. "Also, have I ever told you that you're ridiculously hot?"

"You know what they say: take a picture, it lasts longer."

Mark had just stepped away from the showerhead, water still dripping down the tips of his hair. The droplets rolled down his face to his neck. His broad physique, the sharpness of his collarbones, down and down...

"Why need longer when we already have forever?" She looked back up to meet his eyes, the darkened blue eyes and his head that cocked to one side.

"Then why are you still staring, Laurie? I'm all yours."

❦ ❦ ❦

ANOTHER DAY ON THE Alzheimer's trial was another day of hoping and despairing.

The OR was just as quiet as anytime else. One was because everyone was nervous about whether or not the drug will be given. Norah and Meredith stood on either side of the Neuro attending.

"Alright, Allison, the anesthetic is in," Derek notified the patient, "I just need to make a slight incision, and we should be good to go, okay?"

Meredith requested the envelope, and the nurse opened its seal for her to retrieve the contents. Norah's head perked over while the other resident opened the paper carefully.

The residents looked at each other, their grins under their masks lifting the entire OR's mood.

This patient has been delegated to receive: ACTIVE AGENT

Meredith showed the paper to her husband excitedly, who, too, smiled under his mask. "Alright, good. You want to celebrate by drilling some burr holes?" Derek offered.

"I would love to," replied and stepped into the surgical field in front of the patient's head.

"Okay, on the black mark. Easy in, easy out," Derek reminded and handed his wife the drill. "Ready?"

Meredith did not reply. Instead, she frowned at the patient's head before side-eyeing the attending and brunette resident.

"What's the matter?" he asked, "Just go ahead and start."

"I can't," she admitted and took a step backwards. The staff in the OR swapped a confused look with one another, a look similar to the Neuro attending.

"Can't what?"

Meredith took another good look and even squinted to look for the black mark. All she could see was blobs of colours; her eyesight was blurry. Finally, she shook her head and turned to Derek. "I can't see it."

Norah's eyes widened at the other resident's words. Now, that's gonna be a problem.

Derek stared at his wife for a good while, a mix of worry and not understanding painted across his face. "Okay..." he picked