Beautifully Broken All Along

Category: Angst

Pairing: Omelia

Summary: Short one-shot. Based on spoilers for 12x9 'The Sound of Silence'.

Warnings: None

Disclaimer: Own nadda

Authors Notes: Just a quick one :) Not long to go now!


She laughs, the sound almost foreign to her as Owen lingers behind in the operating theater. She just watched her best friends, her family operate on her sister-in-law. How could she possible be all right?

He asks again and she looks up at him from the floor, pressing her back against the cool tiled wall. She doesn't remember her legs giving way or the cold paralyzing fear that kept her from helping. All she can recall is hearing the words 'she's stable' bouncing off the claustrophobic space and then everyone -including Meredith- was gone.

Everyone except Owen.

"It was my fault." The words sound loud and abrasive against the silence of the room. She and Meredith were supposed to be consulting on the patient together but her pride and selfishness got in the way. She prioritized a surgery out of spite and her sisters injuries are the consequence of her immature behavior. "I did this."

He steps toward her but she shakes her head refusing to accept his sympathy. She thought he was perfect, he isn't. More like beautifully broken... but she's a mess and together they're completely destructive. His compassion makes her wish she could be better but right now she isn't, she's spiraling and if he gets any closer he'll be pulled right down with her. "Just make sure she's okay... please."

His heart breaks at the desperation in her voice and he hesitates torn between comforting her and walking away. He knows she's been drinking, that she's struggling but he hasn't been able to lift himself out of his own isolation to help her. He wants to... god he wants to be there for her but he doesn't know how to share his problems much less deal with them. It isn't fair on her and he should leave but even though the answer seems obvious, he's falling in love with her regardless. "Amelia..."

"Don't-" she drops her head wiping the tears as they slip free, "don't say my name like that... because I can't-"

The shudder of her breath propels him forward and he drops to his knees wrapping his arms around her. Screw it. He doesn't know how to make it right but they need each other and he's not about to let her go, no matter how hard it is to hold on. "I'm sorry-" the apology is genuine as he pulls her shoulders against his chest, rubbing his hand up and down her arm, "I'm so sorry..."

She nods wishing she had the strength to pull away but all she can do is steal comfort from the embrace.

She can't lose another person she loves,.

She doesn't know if she'll survive it.