Jackson was sitting on the conference room, impatiently tapping his fingers on the table. He already paged all the board members and the chief of surgery a couple of times, but apparently everyone is too busy to answer their pages. He was about to page them again when the door opened.
"Finally…." He said. Meredith, Owen, and Callie entered the room. The two women sat on each side of the table, while Owen stood beside the door.
"So what's this emergency board meeting all about?" asked Callie.
"I'll tell you when we're all complete. Where're Alex, Shepherd, and Robbins?"
As if on cue, the door flew wide open and hit the wall with a loud bang, revealing an angry Derek Shepherd, followed by Arizona and Alex. Everyone in the room was not shocked to what they have just witnessed because Derek has been acting that way for days now, banging doors and charts, and glaring at people. It was like him 8 years ago, when he lost a patient days before he proposed to Meredith.
The three doctors each took their seat, Derek beside Meredith and Alex and Arizona beside Callie.
There was silence in the room, everyone looking at Derek, until Meredith asked him "Hey how is she?". No answer. Derek was just staring at the table. Meredith then looked at Arizona with a concerned look, as if asking her the same question. "She's stable… for now. But we still have to monitor her very closely to know if the procedure worked." said Arizona, "But I'm positive it will, she's a tough girl you know."
"So, what's this meeting about?" asked Alex.
"Well, this weekend, MassGen is hosting a fundraising gala. And they are inviting hospitals around the country, especially the ones that cater technologically advanced research projects that would want to expand their projects, both for the convenience of patients and benefit of the hospital. They are selling half of their research facilities, in the form of an auction.
"So obviously, Grey Sloan Memorial is invited to this event, and the Harper Avery Foundation agreed that we could join the bidding because if we win, that would really be a great help for this hospital." said Jackson. "So we need representatives from the hospital to attend this gala. Anyone?" he raised his eyebrows.
"I'd love to attend the gala, but you know Alex and I are in the middle of a very critical case" answered Arizona, who then looked at Derek.
"I'm kinda busy too." said Callie. Even though she's really not, she's just not in the mood for a gala.
"My little sister has a very sick 6 month old daughter who does not have a father…" Derek's voice was not loud but full of anger. "And who's barely hanging on to life. And you want me to attend a gala?" Now he was standing. "Seriously Avery?" He banged the door open, and stormed out of the room. Meredith sighed and followed Derek.
Jackson stood there, a bit shocked, and tried to fix his labcoat. "Well then, I guess it's going to be me and you Hunt." Owen just let out a big sigh, and just nodded. Well, he didn't want to, but he was the chief and he had no choice, besides it'll be just one night, he thought.
"Okay then, meeting dismissed."
Cristina was looking at herself in the mirror, fixing her hair and putting on some make-up. Usually, she doesn't make an effort when preparing for parties or galas, but tonight was different. Tonight, is her first time to back in the country after 4 years. Tonight, she's going to impress people and show them that she is, indeed, one of the best cardiothoracic surgeons in the world, and she does not need the Harper Avery award to tell her that. And tonight, she's going to attend a gala that invited the best surgeons around the world, so she knows she's going to see them, she's going to see him… it's been a long time since she heard from them, so she didn't know what to expect when she sees him. But what if he won't come, she thought. Of course he will, he's the chief. Or maybe he's not anymore. Oh God, my make-up will be all for nothing.
There was a knock on the door that brought Cristina back to reality. She opened the door of her hotel room, and there stood a tall guy with dark hair in a suit.
"Wow Cristina. You look…. Wow, you look stunning!"
And he wasn't lying. She was wearing a strapless gold sheath gown that showed all of her curves, and the gown shimmered under the light. And with her perfectly blown out hair and simple make up, she looked statuesque.
"Thank you, Isaac, So do you." Cristina answered with a blush on her face.
"So, shall we go?"
"Sure, I'll go get my purse."
It looked like any gala you've been to, the room was elegantly decorated even to the smallest detail, crystal chandeliers were hanging on the ceiling, waiters are walking around offering wines and other drinks, and of course, men in expensive suits and women in designer gowns are everywhere. But these people are not just ordinary men and women, these are some of the best surgeons in the whole world.
"Good evening Doctors!" a blonde haired woman approached the doctors representing Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, "You are from….?"
"Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital of Seattle" answered Jackson.
"Oh Seattle! You know it's really nice to see hotshot surgeons from different parts of the U.S., and even from different countries in under one roof!"
Owen was confused, "You mean there are also doctors from other.. countries?"
"Of course, we have doctors from Australia, Italy, Japan, and Switzerland!"
Owen felt his heart skip a beat with the mention of Switzerland. For 4 years, he kept himself busy with surgery and other things so he won't end up thinking of her. Her scent, her hair, her eyes, her lips, and her voice. But every day was a struggle, because every corner of the hospital reminds him of her, and all the fond memories they shared.
And tonight, he could finally set his eyes on her again.
Cristina was approached by surgeons who admire her research and her other published articles and journals. They were asking her a lot of questions but her mind was somewhere else. She kept on tapping her fingers on the glass of tequila she's holding, and kept looking around, hoping to see those familiar blonde hair and blue eyes. She thought she's been thinking of him too much that she's already hallucinating him. But no, she was not hallucinating. He was right there, about 20 feet away from her. Those soft blue eyes looking right at her. The sight of him made her inhale deeply, and her lips were about to curve into a smile, when she heard someone talk to her "Dr. Yang? Dr. Yang? You haven't answered my question yet."
"Oh I'm sorry. What was your question again?" She gazed to his direction again, but he was not there anymore. Maybe she really was hallucinating.
A few more people approached her, and she answered all of their questions. After a few minutes, she realized her glass was already empty, so she went to the mini bar.
"One tequila please." She stood there with her drink when she heard a familiar voice from behind.
"Well, well. Dr. Cristina Yang."
She turned around to face to guy. "Dr. Jackson Avery." She said with a grin.
"Wow. It's been 4 years. How's Zurich?" Now he was standing beside her, leaning on the bar.
"Zurich is fine. How's Seattle?"
"Fine too. Well, I now have a 3 year old son, but other than that everything's pretty much the same."
"Oh right, congratulations to you and Kepner!"
"Thank you. So… will we be bidding against you tonight?"
"I'm afraid so."
"Well, good luck to both of us then."
"Cristina?" another doctor approached them.
"Owen…" answered Cristina with a slightly shocked face.
"I guess I'll leave the two of you to catch up. Nice seeing you again, Yang." Said Jackson, and left them.
"Wow Cristina, you look beautiful." He couldn't take his eyes of her, her in that dress. She looked breathtaking.
"Thank you Owen."
At first there was silence, both of them were just looking at each, their eyes locked. And neither one of them wanted to look away. As if that longing stare could make up for the years they've been apart.
Owen finally broke the silence. "So.. How have you been? Meredith didn't tell me you'd be here."
"That's because she doesn't know. It's been a while since I've spoken to her. I've been really busy lately, but I'm fine. How about you?"
"I'm…" Before Owen could finish, a dark haired man interrupted them.
"Cristina!" said the man, "I've been looking everywhere for you." The two doctors faced him, both with different expressions on their faces.
"Um… I was just talking to Owen. Owen, this is Isaac. Isaac, Owen."
"Dr. Isaac Williams, cardiothoracic surgeon" said Isaac, putting his right arm around Cristina's waist, "from Klausman Institute for Medical Research."
"Owen Hunt, trauma, Grey Sloan Hospital of Seattle." Both men shook hands, but Owen eyes were focused on Isaac's hand on Cristina's waist. Isaac noticed this and gave Owen a smirk.
"Nice to finally meet you, Dr. Hunt." He then faced the woman beside him, "Cristina, the bidding is about to start, I guess we should head back to our table."
"Of course." Then she faced Owen, "It was… It was really nice to see you again, Owen." She said, giving him a little smile.
Owen nodded, and watched Cristina walk away, and vanish through the crowd.
"So… You and Dr. Hunt huh."
"Isaac, Don't"
"Okay. I won't" he said with a small laugh, "But you know he looks better in person than the picture on your desk."
Cristina stared at him with an annoyed look, "I told you, we're divorced. I haven't seen him in 4 years. Plus, we have different lives now, different priorities. And…." She took another sip of her drink.
"And you don't love him anymore. Right?" Cristina inhaled deeply, she wasn't sure how to answer him.
A loud music started to play, the bidding was about to start. Saved by the bell, she thought.
The bidding has already started, but Cristina was nowhere near focused. All she could think of was Isaac's question: You don't love him anymore. Right?. For 4 years, she convinced herself that moving to Zurich was the right move, that she and Owen want different things, that when they are together, they always end up hurting each other, and that moving on was what she had to. But how could just the sight of him easily change everything?
"Cristina? Cristina, are you alright? You know I could really use your help right now. We're losing this bid."
"I'm so sorry. I think I've had too much drinks for tonight. And I really don't trust my judgment right now, but I trust you, Isaac."
"Hey Hunt, the bidding is about to start. You alright?"
"Yeah…yeah, I'm okay."
He heard the host start the bidding, with the audience participating, "$700,000!... $750,000!"
But he wasn't paying attention. He can't stop thinking of Cristina and the guy who approached them. Who the hell was that guy? What's going on between him and Cristina that he could just put his arm around Cristina's waist? Are he and Cristina together? And how long have they been together? And why was he happy to finally meet Owen? Did Cristina tell that what's-his-name-guy about them? Or has Cristina been telling everyone in Zurich about her ex-husband? He had so many questions in mind, that he wanted to wait for the gala to end so he could talk to Cristina, privately.
But then again, why the hell is he so bothered by the thought of Cristina being together with that what's-his-name-guy? Is he jealous? Of course not, why should he be? They we're already divorced for a long time. And, she left him, for her career. This only shows how different their priorities are. And besides, he has a different life now. But he just needs some answers, that's all.
"Crap. Cristina, we lost it." Said Isaac. Cristina tried to nod but she looked like her head was about to fall on the floor. "Cristina? Cristina? What the… Are you drunk?"
"What? No. I don't know. But my head hurts like hell. "
Isaac laughed at him. "Come on, let's go back to the hotel." Cristina stood up, but Isaac noticed that she was about to fall anytime. So he helped her walk, and put his arm around her waist. At the same time, Cristina put her head on Isaac's shoulder.
Owen has been thinking too much that he hadn't realized that the bidding was finally over.
"Damn it." said Jackson.
"What happened?"
"We lost. Kyoto Research Clinic took it for $15M. No one bid after that. But anyway, we should go, we still have a plane to catch."
"Ok. I'll catch up with you. I still have to... umm… do something."
Owen surfed through the crowd, looking for a head of curly hair. When he finally spotted her sitting on the table, he let out a big sigh of relief and walked down in her direction. But there were a few people flocking on his way. "Excuse me, excuse me." he said, squeezing his way through all those people.
But when he looked in front of him, Cristina was walking alongside Isaac, his arm, once again, around her waist, and her head on his shoulder. Owen stood there, in shock, and his eyebrows furrowed. Maybe he didn't have to talk to Cristina after all, maybe this was the answer to all his questions.
We're so close to reaching that famous happy end,
And almost believing, this one's not pretend.
Let's go on dreaming for we know we are…
So close, so close and still so far…
A/N: it's my first fanfic, so please R&R! i hope u liked it. and please hang on till next chapters, a lot of things are still bound to happen. :D