MSC 24/? - Going but not gone...
Sorry these updates aren't perhaps as quick as you'd like them to be. I have no excuse other than being more than slightly distracted writing Doctor Who, Amy/River one-shots (my muse seems to be working overtime on that front), but don't worry, I've not given up on this one yet. I think I may even have figured out where it could go in terms of bringing it to a conclusion, but that's still some way off! So, on with the show!
Title: Med School Chemistry
Author: hahns_girl
Pairing: Callica
Rating: PG-13?
Summary: The girls meet in med school and end up falling for each other…not quite worked out exactly where this is heading in the end, but I hope you enjoy the ride!
Disclaimer: All movies and television shows and any other copyrighted material referred to in this work are the properties of their original owners. Their use here is an interpretation and is not used for profit or to detract from their original portrayal. Reference to real persons, places and events are made in the context of a fictional storyline and are in no way intended to be defamatory or factual
Callie sat on the edge of the bare mattress in Erica’s room, watching glumly as her girlfriend continued to pack boxes. She knew she really should be helping, but that would get the job done quicker. Still, even with her not helping Erica was being as efficient as ever. Almost every trace of her was gone from the room, all packed neatly away into boxes, ready to go.
Callie sighed heavily. It was simple. She wasn’t ready to let her go. “I won’t be able to just come and see you between classes anymore.”
“You know where I’m going to be though, and you know I’ll be there if you need me,” replied Erica instantly, blowing her hair out of her face as she looked over at her.
“I know, I know. You have to, and I do want you to go and become an amazing Doctor,” she trailed off, gazing at Erica, who in her current ensemble looked more like an art student than future doctor. She had thought she would get a headstart and pack her wardrobe up a couple of days earlier, completely forgetting that she would actually still need clothes to wear. Hence her current outfit, consisting of what she still had lying around; a pair of jeans which Callie judged to be far too big for her, an off the shoulder turquoise top, and a soft grey cotton sweater which Callie had decided looked more like a suit jacket and was more apt for a job interview than moving out. “But I don’t want you to have to go so far away.”
Pushing herself up, Erica came to sit next to Callie on the bed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “I’m not that far away,” she said, trying to keep a smile on her face. “A couple of hours.”
Callie cuddled into her side, wrapping her arms around her waist. “I know. And I still get to come and visit, right?”
“Only when I’m not back here visiting you,” Erica smiled, finally getting one in return.
*
Callie’s solemn disposition returned as she watched Erica help the removal guy load in the last couple of boxes into the back of the van. She had told Callie that her mother was busy with work, and although Callie didn’t quite believe her, she knew better than to bring it up then. She didn’t want the last thing between them before Erica left to be an argument over her mother.
Stepping back and watching as the back door of the van was pulled down, Erica suddenly felt the weight of what she was doing settle on her shoulders. This was it. She could no longer hide away in the library, or make ten draughts of an essay to ensure her work was perfect. She was heading into a world where she had people’s lives in her hands, and only had one shot to get it right. Callie’s arms sliding around her waist pulled her from her panicking, and she leant back into the warm body of the woman behind her.
“I guess this is it?” sighed Callie, leaning her chin on Erica’s shoulder.
“I guess so,” nodded Erica, not sounding quite convinced.
It was a fact Callie didn’t miss. “You could at least sound a little excited.”
“Excited about leaving you?” said Erica, shaking her head.
“Excited about moving away from this mad place to a big civilized city, into your own apartment,” Callie smiled, nuzzling into her neck. “Becoming an awesome doctor.”
“You’re right,” nodded Erica, turning in Callie’s embrace. “I should be excited. You’re still coming through tomorrow to visit?”
“My parents are leaving the car with me tonight,” smiled Callie. “So yes, I will be coming through tomorrow, and we can christen that new flat of yours.”
Erica chuckled as Callie wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “I’d better get the bedding unpacked tonight then.”
“You good to go?” shouted the van driver, having secured the lock on the door.
Erica turned back. “Just coming.” Meeting Callie’s gaze again, she gave her her best smile, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss against her lips.
“No,” said Callie as she pulled back, trying to step out of her embrace. “That was not a goodbye kiss. This is a goodbye kiss.” She tugged Erica’s lips back to her own and proceeded to kiss her with everything she had, finally leaving Erica swaying on her feet slightly as she pulled back.
“So, that’s a goodbye kiss,” breathed Erica. “I’ll need to remember that.” Getting both her breath and her wits back, Erica found the smile that reached all the way to her eyes. “Well, I better get going.”
“Yeah,” breathed Callie, fighting back her tears. She could see Erica fighting the same battle, and to save them having to see who lost first, Callie pulled her into a tight hug. Finally releasing her, she stepped back, quickly wiping her eyes, Erica going the same. “Look at me. I’m visiting you tomorrow and I’m bloody crying.”
“I can hardly talk,” said Erica. “Right, this is stupid. I’m seeing you tomorrow.” She looked back at the removal van. “I should get going this time.”
Seeing her reluctance, Callie pushed down the side of her that wanted to cling to Erica and never let her leave (telling herself she sounded like a crazy stalker), and looped her arm through the blonde’s, walking her to the cab of the van, and giving her one final kiss before helping her clamber in. She was about to close the door when Erica halted her.
“Callie, wait!” Holding the door with her leg, Erica reached beside her on the seat, lifting out a small box. “I want you to have this.”
Callie recognized the box instantly, covered in doodles and quotes. It was the box Erica kept in her closet. The one she had been refusing to let Callie see. As she took the box from Erica’s grasp she didn’t fail to understand the significance in it. Erica was maybe leaving, and putting a distance between them, but in giving her this, she was letting her closer than she ever had before.
Erica let her fingers stroke gently across Callie’s cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Callie nodded, clasping the box tightly in her hands. “Tomorrow.” She stepped back as Erica tugged the door closed, once more losing the fight against tears. Forcing a smile, Callie waved the van off, standing there long after it was out of sight.
It was only her phone vibrating in her pocket which pulled her back to reality. She answered it without thinking, hoping it be Erica. “Hey.”
“Calliope.” It was her mother.
“Oh, hi mom.”
“What’s wrong sweetheart?” The immediate question made Callie wonder just how disappointed she sounded.
“Nothing mom, I just thought it was someone else calling,” she said, trying to sound a little more upbeat.
The few moments of silence before her mother spoke told her that she didn’t quite believe her. “If you say so, darling. Do you still want me and daddy to bring the car over tonight?”
“Yes!” Callie said far too quickly. “Yes, please, mom, if it’s not too much trouble.”
“Course not, darling. It is your car after all. So did Erica get moved out okay?”
“Yeah, um, she, she just left,” mumbled Callie. “Anyway mom, I’ll see you later for dinner, yeah?”
Sensing that this was all she was going to get from her daughter right then, Callie’s mother simply agreed, and told her they would be there at eight.
*
Erica wandered through the rooms of her new apartment. Rooms. That was new. It felt strange to have so much space. As she stood in front of the living room window, she took in the sight of the city below. People going about their business, cars, and then rushing through the middle of it all, an ambulance. Erica followed the direction, trying to orientate herself and decide which hospital the ambulance would probably be going to. Seattle Grace, she decided. In a few weeks, she was going to be one of the first people such victims saw as they were brought in on their gurney. She was going to have to learn to make the decisions which could save them, or kill them.
As excited as she was as finally moving onto the practical aspect of her training, she also found that she was more nervous than she had ever been in her life. More than that, she was scared. She had spent so many years working towards this, what if she just wasn’t cut out for it? She knew she could write a ten thousand word paper without so much as a worry, but now that simply wouldn’t be enough. Being able to handle a few thousand words didn’t mean you could hold a scalpel without shaking, or handle facing a patient and telling them there was nothing you could do. Wrapping her arms around herself as if they could ward off her doubts, she wished more than anything that Callie was there. Somehow, with her strong arms around her, Erica felt like she could take on anything. More than that, she felt she just might win, too.
*
Callie was trying to concentrate on her father’s words, but all she could think about was Erica. She glanced at her phone where it was sitting on the table, still blank. She hadn’t heard a word from her since she had gone, which, if she was being a normal person and not an overly attached girlfriend, was only five hours ago. But since she was being a very much overly attached and worried sick girlfriend, it was four hours and fifty-nine minutes too long ago.
Forcing herself to focus on her father, Callie found that he was, in fact, talking about something which could very much benefit her. A certain family holiday villa in Spain. Unoccupied for two weeks of the summer.
“I was actually going to ask you about Spain,” started Callie, choosing her words carefully. “You know how Erica moved out.” At this, she became intensely aware of her mother becoming very interested in the conversation. “She’s in Seattle now, with her own place. But since she’s got everything to pay for, she doesn’t have a lot of money, and I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind if maybe me and her went to the villa for a few days?” She watched her father’s face for a reaction, hoping she hadn’t said anything that he could disagree with. She didn’t think she had; he had met Erica, and found nothing to dislike, she was female, meaning that she had no chance of getting Callie pregnant and ruining her career before it had even begun (as had been her father’s fear when she moved to campus, and was no longer under his watchful eye), and she had only asked for a few days.
“Just you and Erica?” asked her mother, something in her tone that Callie couldn’t quite place.
The young latina nodded, turning her attention back to her father, who although may not have the last word, had the loudest, and had a talent for softening her mother’s opinions. “You know Erica, daddy. She’s not just some stupid girl who only hangs out with me because I have money. I would have asked you before, when she was here, but I know she’d have said no because it would be something she couldn’t afford on her own.”
“Calliope,” he smiled, taking her hand in his own. “You don’t have to tell me she’s a good kid, I saw that for myself. She’s a smart girl who knows how to take care of herself, and I have no objections to you going on holiday with her.” He paused, glancing at her mother, and, seeing no apparent objection there either, said “Now you tell Erica that she’s going on holiday for two weeks, and that she’s not to worry about money at all. You’ll take the plane to get you over there and I’ll give you my credit card for when you get there.”
“Daddy, you don’t have to do all that, I have my allowance,” Callie started to protest.
He shook his head, silencing her. “You’re taking the plane, and tell her not to argue with that. I’d be sending it over there for you anyway, so there’s no sense in her booking a separate flight, is there?”
Callie smiled, shaking her head. Her father had a point, even if it was a very expensive one.
“And you can take my card as a reward for passing your first year of medical school. You know how proud I am of you for that,” he smiled. “As long as you don’t take it to extremes.”
“Of course I wouldn’t!” Callie half lied. In the right mood, in the right place, she could easily take it to extremes, but with Erica there, somehow she didn’t think the blonde would let her get so carried away. Then she blushed slightly at the thought that they might not even leave the villa long enough to get any serious shopping done. Callie had lately discovered she was a girl quite happy to spend all day indoors. More precisely, in bed. Provided she had the right company, of course. “Oh, daddy, thank you?” She jumped out of her seat to wrap her father in a tight, childish hug.
“Anything for my little mija.”
“Calliope, your phone,” interrupted her mother’s voice behind her.
Turning, she found her mother holding her phone out to her. She quickly grabbed the phone, glancing down at the screen. “Ooh, it’s Erica! I’ll be back in five minutes, I swear, I just want to tell her!” said Callie excitedly, running towards the door of the restaurant, almost colliding with a waiter on the way.
Callie’s mother watched her daughter’s ungraceful exit with more than a concern for her dress getting stained. There was something Callie wasn’t saying, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.