"Owen Owen Noooooo" Cristina whispered in her sleep. Owen woke up hearing his wife's cries and was pained to realised he was the subject of her nightmare. He gently stroked her face and shook her lightly in an attempt to wake her. She jolted awake gasping for air and after coming around she looked into Owen's bright blue eyes and clung onto him, pulling him in to a tight embrace. Owen stroked his wife's curly hair and rubbed her back in an attempt to comfort her. Cristina rested her head on his chest and listened to the comforting sound of his heart beat in an attempt to reassure herself that he was alright, between breaths she whispered
"You're alive" more to herself than him, it was so soft she didn't even know if he had heard. But he had and it tore him apart to see his wife experiencing the feelings he knew all too well. He kissed the top of her head and once her breathing had returned to normal he asked her
"Do u want to talk about it?". He felt her shaking her head against his chest and so left it at that, he had learned not to pry into her recurring nightmares and he hoped she would open up when she was ready.
She lay awake in his sleeping arms not able to get the image of her husband's lifeless body out of her head. She felt safe wrapped in his strong arms, but the prospect of falling asleep where images of that day haunted her made her feel uneasy and so, she just lay there enjoying the rising and falling of his chest and forcing her eyes to stay open. She thought back to her wedding day a week ago in an attempt to distract herself from her tired eyes. That day was the best she's had in a while, since the incident to be exact. Remembering the look on his face as she walked down the stairs brought butterflies to her stomach. Though, their first week as newlyweds could have gone better, between collapsing in the OR and handing him her wedding band back. But they made it through and Cristina was surprisingly content about being a married woman. Being legally bound to the love of her life put a smile on her face.
Owen made marriage seem a lot less scary that it had years ago. She was enjoying ticking the married box on forms and being introduced to as "my wife". Little things she had never thought she would care about but at this point in time her relationship with Owen was the one thing she could count on. She watched his sleeping face as she nuzzled into his neck and thought of how lucky she was. Owen would always fight for her, fight for them. He always knew what to say or when not to say anything at all. He was so good to her and she appreciated it more than she expressed. She made a mental note to thank him for being so patient with her.
A loud snore escaped Owen's mouth making Cristina jump and snap out of her thoughts. Suddenly her stomach flipped and she bolted for the bathroom, maybe those weren't butterflies earlier. She emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet. When her stomach was empty she went to get up but the dizziness in her head sent her straight back down. So, she settled against the bath tub.
Owen woke up before the alarm and immediately felt the emptiness of his arms. He searched through the bed before opening his eyes and seeing her side was empty. He dragged his body, still half asleep, out of bed towards the bathroom where he saw the light on. He pried the door open and found her sitting there slumped against the tub looking quite frankly like death. Her eyes were red, her skin blotchy and a hue of green. He crouched down beside her.
"Cris...what's wrong babe" She looked him in the eyes only just realising his presence after being in an exhausted haze.
"Oh, I didn't feel good so I stayed near the toilet...you know in case I hurl again". Owen looked at her with pity in his eyes
"Why didn't you wake me?" he asked sounding slightly irritated.
"Uhm I didn't think I needed an audience" she replied.
"Cristina...in sickness and in health remember, I could have at least held your hair back" he said pointing at her hair infused with crusty vomit. Cristina saw it and groaned which turned into a low chuckle. Soon they were both cracking up.
"Come on let me get you something to eat" he said extending his hand to help her up.
Cristina stood up in front of him and brought him into a tender hug.
"Thank you" she whispered into his chest.
"For what I haven't done anything yet" he said with a slight chuckle.
"For everything" she said softly. Owen kissed the top of her head and lead her out into the kitchen.
Cristina sat at the counter watching her husband busy himself around the kitchen as she tried to mentally prepare herself for the day ahead of her at the hospital. It had been over a month since the shooting but still the thought of walking through those familiar doors sent shivers down her spine.
Owen appeared in front of her holding a slice of toast and a glass of orange juice, she took them and kissed him lightly.
"How're you feeling now...do u want me to call the chief it might be best u stay off" Owen asked. She hadn't enjoyed work ever since that fateful day. This past week after her incident in the OR had made work a new level of hell for her. Everyone was treating her like a fragile shell of the person she once was and she couldn't blame them because that's how she felt. But still the prospect of staying home alone terrified her more than putting up with people walking on egg shells around her.
"N-no no I'm fine" she replied while forcing a smile.
As they made their way to Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital, Cristina and Owen walked hand in hand. The closer they got to the hospital the more Owen could feel the tension building in his wife's body, as it did every time. He squeezed her hand and gave her a sympathetic smile. He hated not being able to help her but knew that working was best for her right now.
They made it into the lobby and stopped before they parted ways.
"Page me if you need me...okay?" he said.
"I will" she said softly before pulling him into a deep kiss. When they parted Owen headed for the pit while Cristina went to the locker room. She met Meredith standing at the nurse's station.
"Ohhh you look like death" Meredith said.
"Thanks" Cristina replied in a snarky tone whilst snatching the Meredith's coffee out of her hand.
"Heyy" Meredith retorted. Cristina got one whiff of the coffee before her stomach flipped at the smell and she ran to the nearest medical wasted bin. After taking her head out of the trash Meredith appeared in front of her
"Hate to say it but karma's a bitch" she commented to an unamused Cristina whilst taking her coffee back out of her friend's hand. After receiving a death glare from her Meredith asked.
"Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not your coffee smells like shit. How do you drink that?!" Cristina answered irritated and stormed off to get changed.
"Geez" Meredith said under her breath as she watched her reciting friend.
As Cristina rummaged through her locker in search of deodorant her hand whacked into her pack of tampons sending a pile of the buggers to scatter on the floor.
"Perfect" Cristina hissed as she bent down to pick them up. Suddenly a thought flew through her head.
"Oh shit" she muttered as she began doing the math in her head. Just then the door opened and Alex walked in.
"WHAT DATE IS IT" she practically screamed at him. Seeing the distress Cristina was in right now, as she screamed and frantically gathered tampons didn't faze Alex. After Seven years with Yang he had learnt not to ask.
"The 22nd" he said nonchalantly as he got what he came for and left. Cristina sat there on the floor dumfounded shaking her head.
Soon the room filled with her fellow residents and Dr Bailey appeared and gave them all orders.
"Helloooo earth to Cristina" Meredith was standing in front of Cristina waving her hand before her face. Cristina snapped out of her thoughts and grabbed Meredith's arm.
"Meredith" she muttered as she dragged herself off the floor and started to guide Meredith down the hall. They went into an empty exam room and Cristina locked the door and started pulling all the blinds.
"You're not having another mental breakdown, are you?" Meredith asked sarcastically. Cristina all but glared at her.
"I need you to take my blood" Cristina mumbled. Meredith was puzzled for a moment but then started to piece it together in her head. The vomiting and crankiness oh no she can't be. She looked up to see Cristina's troubled face and got the answer she was looking for. Without another word she gathered the supplies and began to take her blood.
As she filled the small container with her friend's blood, her mind was racing. 'Cristina can't be pregnant...she can barely take care of herself at the minute never mind a baby'. She worried the affect this would have on her friend who was barely holding herself together. 'She's a newlywed for crying out loud'. Meredith realised she was failing to conceal her thoughts and so tried her best to put on her 'everything is gonna be okay' face. But Cristina wasn't buying it.
"Oh god" Cristina muttered after several moments of silence. Meredith could sense the panic rising in her person.
"Listen it's gonna be fine...we don't even know if you're pregnant yet...hey for all we know it could just be the flu okay". Cristina merely nodded and began fidgeting with here rings. Once Meredith was done collecting the blood she cleaned up Cristina's arm and put away the supplies.
"Okay I'm gonna run this up to the lab, you stay here and... umm try not to panic okay?" Cristina looked her in the eyes
"Okay" she replied softly before escaping back to the whirlwind of thoughts circling her head. In a time like this all she wanted was Owen. He would know what to do and how to ease her out of her panic but she couldn't tell him about this. Not yet. She continued to fidget as she thought about how he would react. Would be even want a baby? Did she want it? Actually, she knew he would want it and maybe just maybe she thought she could too.
On her way to the lab Meredith bumped into Dr Bailey.
"Sorry" Meredith muttered after snapping out of her thoughts and raising her gaze to see who she collided with.
"Grey, care to inform me why you and Dr Yang haven't started your assignments. Do you think we pay you to walk around all day dreaming about dear knows who. No, now snap out of it and get to work!" Bailey ordered. Meredith turned on her heels before Bailey could see what she was carrying and resumed her trip to the lab.
Meredith sat on a gurney as she waited for the lab results, her mind still troubled with thoughts of her friend's possible impending motherhood.
"Dr Grey, everything alright" asked Dr Hunt as he passed by. The troubled thoughts in her head reflected on her face.
" Y-yes all good thanks" she replied. Just then the lab technician called out
" Blood work for a Cristina Yang". Meredith jumped up catching Owen's puzzled expression. She grabbed the blood work and tried to get past Owen without having to explain but he grabbed her arm.
"Meredith". She turned to face him. She didn't want to tell him especially considering she hadn't even looked at the results yet but she knew he would worry if she didn't. After all he was Cristina's person now too. She pulled out of his hold to quickly scan the results whilst keeping a poker face.
"Okay listen, Cristina asked me to take her blood... it's nothing serious but I need to go tell her the results" she said with as much composure as she could muster. She tried to get passed him again but failed.
"I'm coming with you" he replied. He was confused and still slightly concerned for his wife and he wasn't going to take no for an answer. Meredith merely sighed, not knowing how Cristina would react to her bringing him along, and started to make her way back to the exam room. Owen followed closely behind her, trying to make sense of what was happening.
When they reached the room Meredith turned to Owen,
"Okay I think you should wait outside while I tell her b-" She was interrupted by Owen who was getting more and more irritated.
"No, she's my wife I'm going in there".
From inside the exam room Cristina was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard Meredith's voice from outside the door. She walked towards the door trying to make out the bickering on the other side.
"I know she your wife but s-" Meredith was interrupted again as the door swung open. Cristina and Owen locked eyes.
"Cristina" Owen said as he pushed past Meredith and took his wife into his arms.
"Tell me what's going on". She looked up into his blue eyes and let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. Just having him near her relaxed her and erased some of her panic.
"Umm I-i had Meredith draw um I umm I-i'm late" she eventually mumbles.
"Ohh" replied Owen finally piecing it all together. He then sensed her worry
"It's okay" he said taking her face in his hands,
"whatever happens will be okay...we're in this together" he said reassuringly while stroking her cheek.
"Okay" she replied whilst taking a long breath out. "Tell us Mer"...