In The Arms of An Angel.
by Ruthi Wrigglesworth (aka GreyEyedGirl)
June 7, 2006 1:19 AM
part 1 chapter 1
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Cristina stood in the corner of the on-call room, staring into space, the look on her face blank.
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Burke watched the red numbers on his alarm clock, counting the seconds until the loud ringing would fill the empty apartment.
3, 2, 1. The red numbers turned to read 4:29. Only 60 seconds now.
47, 46, 45.
Almost there. He would be able to get up, go to work, request Karev, the intern least likely to ask questions about what had happened the week before, and forget all about his problems for 18 wonderful hours.
30. 29. 28.
Time was eternal, and at the moment Burke was hating it. He covered his head with his pillow, which after 17 washings still smelled like Cristina's milk and honey leave-in conditioner.
17, 16, 15. Damn it, come on!
He hoped he got a cardioendopulminiary arrhymic congentis today. The surgery was relatively simple, it required only some smooth movements and controlled flowing hands, and best of all it took 9 and a half hours to do.
5. 4. 3. 2. . . . . 1. . . .
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.
HIs hand struck out to slap down on the alarm clock. He sat up, rubbing his eyes.
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"Okay, people, move, we aint got all day..." Bailey led the three interns down the hallway.
"WIth Alex at the medical workshop and Izzie gone, we're short people so we're going to have to work extra hard. Grey, take Shepherd's girl in room 117, he requested you specifically...O'Malley, you're on Mrs. McRae with the Chief, she seems to like you. Um...Cristina, you go take Mr. Guthrie, I'm going to see if I can round up some other interns to cover the pit."
Cristina stood frozen where she'd been scribbling notes on a pad. She looked up at Bailey slowly.
"Like Mr. Guthrie the pulmonary aditis guy?"
Bailey stared at her, then shook her head tiredly, her face showing the extra work everyone had been putting in since Izzie had suddenly and mysteriously quit the program the week before. "Yes?"
Cristina slowly stared at her, her mouth gaping slightly. "Like, with Burke?"
Bailey closed her eyes, before taking her "They-call-me-the-Nazi-for-a-reason-chump,-so-why-don't-you-just-try-it" pose. "I'm sorry. Is that an unconvenience for you?"
Cristina quickly took a step backwards. "Um, no, ma'am. No, not at all. I'm getting right to it. So I'll see you later. Like, well...just...later." She turned and ran off.