A Different Breed
A short and sweet Slang friendship story set directly after the arrival of Colin Marlow.
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Cristina moved over to allow him to sit down, never looking away from the surgery.
"This is some sort of punishment, isn't it?" she said quietly, "For sleeping with Marlow while I was at med school. Letting Meredith Grey in on my surgery – he's another doctor that loves Meredith Grey."
"Addison is not so enamoured of your Dr. Grey."
"I'll just switch to neonatal then; become part of the gynie squad? I don't have the patience to deal with hysterical women," Cristina let out an undignified snort, "Could you imagine?"
He chuckled as well, then grew serious, "Why do you think this is a punishment?"
"Burke's got this idea that I sleep with the best surgeon around, then leave when I've learned everything I need to. If I'm not allowed to do procedures-"
"Well, Burke's wrong on one point. If you were sleeping with the best surgeon at Seattle Grace, then I'd be a lot happier."
"In your dreams," Cristina scoffed, "Seriously, that's the best you can come up with?"
"Is he right? About the surgeon thing."
"Are you even allowed to judge? Seriously?"
"It's just a question."
…
"About Marlow, yes. Not Burke. He's…different."
"A trophy instead of a learning experience, you mean?" he asked casually, looking sideways at her.
"You- you're a bastard, you know that?" Cristina said heatedly.
"You don't have to answer," he taunted, "I can draw my own conclusions."
"It's not like that!" she exploded. "There will never be anyone like Preston Burke! Ever! I have never met anyone – I thought George would tell the Chief about his hand and I panicked and told first! And – he forgave me. It's not like Izzie helping Alex with his boards after he cheated on her," she paused.
"Karev had Stevens and he cheated on her? Incredible."
"Isn't that like calling the pot black? You do not have a spectacular record yourself."
"Why do I have to be the kettle?"
"Seriously?"
"We're off topic. You were telling me why Burke is special."
She waved at the surgery going on below, "Do you see that man? He's saving a life."
"That's his job."
"Don't be so blasé. That girl on the table is getting a new chance at life because of him. He gave me a second chance after I almost ruined his career. Don't you see? There's always a second chance, a second impression with him. If you can prove to him that you're worth it, you get a shot," she looked at him, "There is no one else like him. He's just different."
"Careful Yang, people might think you're getting soft," he laughed.
"Go sleep with a nurse and get syphilis," she snapped.
"No, you still have teeth. Good to know. Yang," he nodded and left the gallery. Cristina went back to watching the surgery below.
"How do you even try to measure up to a man like Marlow? Does she compare us all the time? Am I some kind of stand in?" Preston asked Derek as they were both doing post-ops.
"She was in school. It was probably a thing."
"You don't just have a thing with a man like Marlow."
"Well, you're the one she's marrying, not Marlow," Derek reassured his friend.
"Still worried about your girlfriend's ex, Preston?" Mark asked, walking up to the nurses' station, "You shouldn't be. Marlow doesn't hold a candle to you."
Preston's eyes narrowed, "How do you know that?" he asked suspiciously.
"Heard it straight from the horse's – ah, intern's – mouth," Mark replied, smirking as he walked away, leaving Preston and Derek to stared after him.