Disclaimer: All characters are unfortunately property of ABC. No copyright infringement is intended – for non-commercial entertainment purposes only.

Chapter 1

30 minutes

There is always a moment - a point in time when your mind rights itself from its shock-induced stupor and acknowledges the trauma it just went through. It's unpredictable. Sometimes it's a jarring course correction, while other times, it's a gradual process - akin to waking up from a vivid dream. However, no matter which path your mind takes, this moment is bound to happen.

You try to stall this inevitable confrontation with the truth by telling yourself comforting lies. That this couldn't have happened. That this was just a bad dream. That you should be proud of the amazing surgery you just performed. But the thing about reality is that it is unmercifully persistent.

You look around and feel the slight sting of tears threatening to re-emerge, but you close your eyes in defiance and push them back, along with the overwhelming urge to breakdown and cry. You fight it. You don't allow yourself to breakdown because you're strong, not weak.

Cardio goddesses are not allowed to be weak.

Exhaling a shaky breath, you push down the huge lump in your throat and will your breathing to return to normal. Slowly, the tears begin to recede and you are able to regain control of yourself. With a firm grip on your emotions, you turn away from the OR table and start to make your way out of the room.

Then it happens – the moment.

Funny how it didn't occur when you were making your final stitch or when the armed SWAT team member barged in to give the all clear. Or when Meredith wrapped you in her arms and whispered "thank you" over and over again in your ear for saving the love of her life.

No, it happens when you head towards the scrub room door and nearly slip. You catch yourself and look down. It takes you a minute to understand what caused you to almost fall. Why would someone leave a marble on the….Oh, it's just a bullet casing.

The memories of what just happened rush back like a flash flood that you can't stop or outrun. Suddenly, your tentative grip on denial slips away and you find yourself falling into the void.

You feel yourself crumpling, yet for some reason you don't hit the floor. A strong arm reaches out and catches you. He holds you tight to his chest as you both sink to the floor. Once again, you find solace only in his arms.

Your shock is quickly replaced with concern for him. You want to tell him that he shouldn't be doing this because he just had surgery, that he's probably pulling out his stitches by holding you like this. And you would tell him just that…if only you could breathe.

Breathe…

You can't breathe.

You begin to gasp for air. Immediately, your surgical mask is being quickly pulled off by his large hand. You choke back a sob, and the room quickly blurs in a painful, glassy haze. He holds you tighter, whispering in your ear, "It's ok. It's all over now. I'm here."

Your façade finally breaks and you let go burying your face in his neck. Your sobs drown out the rest of the world till the only thing you can feel is him holding you tighter to his chest.

Holding you because he came back.

For you.

Just like you knew he would.

Author's Note: Ok, so this is my first time writing fanfic. Hope you guys enjoyed it. I have to give a huge thank you to my fabulous beta-reader Shli. Check out her other stories and the 'Season 6 and a Half' written by the InTheBetween. It's great.