Welcome to Chicago

“I still think your patient would have been a good candidate for my trial.” Will assures, gaining an eye roll from Callie.

“He was in heart failure Will.” She sighs. “The trial would never have worked.”

“You don’t know that though.” He says, his eyebrows raised.

“Will, stop.” She sighs, her eyes trailing over to see Crockett and April laughing, his hand on her arm.

“Callie.” Will says “Are you listening?”

“I’ve got to go.” She whispers, the tears in her eyes threatening to spill over.

The cold, October air hit her face as she walked out onto Crockett’s balcony, her hands fumbling through her purse to find her cigarettes, she knew it was a bad habit and she had promised herself she would stop, but not tonight.

She sat on the plastic lawn chair she always sat on when she was here and took in the sights around her, the halloween songs from inside muffled behind the closed patio door.

“You’re being ridiculous.” She says to herself out loud. “Crockett is your friend.

The music momentarily became louder as the sliding door opened behind her.

“A Sazerac for a beautiful doctor.” Crockett says, his southern lilt stronger under the influence. “What’s a pretty lady like you doing out here by yourself?” Crockett says, his eyes wide.

“I like you.” She mumbles, just loud enough for him to hear.

“I like you too.” He laughs. “Why are you telling me a well known fact?”

“I love you.” She says, silence momentarily taking over, aside from the music pounding from inside. “I’m in love with you.”

Crockett opens his mouth to speak.

“Listen, I’ve loved you since the day I met you, it kills me to see you with other women, when you don’t return my calls or the odd occasion that we aren’t on the same shift.” She says, seemingly all in one breath.

“None of them are you, as much as I want them to be.” He admits. “None of them have your smell.”

“What?” She says, her eyes as wide as Crockett’s were moments ago.

“I sleep with your sweater when you aren’t here.” He laughs “I can’t bear to be away from you, hell, I even wore this dumb devil crop top because I know how much it makes you laugh.”

“I do like it.” She smiles “The horns too.”

“If we’re being honest, I like the way that little tutu makes your butt look.” He laughs. “That should be our new team name on quiz night, ‘butt and midriff’”

“You’re so dumb.” Her lips forming into a smile.

“Can I kiss you?” He asks.

Callie nods, “I have cigarette breath.”

“I don’t care.” He mutters, before joining his lips with hers, slowly at first, deepening with every passing second, years of built up need radiating from the two friends.

The sounds of Monster Mash playing from inside, causing them both to start laughing.

“Devil and Angel, an unmistakable pair.” Callie laughs.

“I think I like the sound of boyfriend and girlfriend better.