Summary: This is a Cristina/Owen centered story. I am starting out with an extended scene from episode 23. This is my first fanfic ever and I am warning you that English is not my native language, so some grammar mistakes may occur, for which I apologize in advance.

Disclaimer: All charterers are intellectual property of Shonda Rhimes.

"I am happy." Owen said gently brushing Cristina's hair. "I know this doesn't fix anything. I am just happy."

Cristina looked at him for a moment, took a small breath and said "I am leaving."

After leaning for few moments on his chest, she got up and started getting dressed. It was only when she put on her scrub top, she heard Owen call her name in a low voice.

"Cristina..."

Her heart skipped a beat. His voice was full of pain. Cristina didn't look back, she couldn't bear looking at him, knowing that his eyes were full of tears. She took a deep breath and spoke recalling her conversation with Meredith.

"Owen, we can't continue doing this to each other. You should be with someone who wants children. And I should be..." her voice got caught up in her throat. It was painful talking about a potential future relationship with what was after all her husband. "...and I should be with someone who wants...me."

Cristina opened her eyes and felt quite confused by the flash of memory she just had. She felt paralyzed. Her entire body was hurting and her bladder was about to explode. After rubbing her eyes for a while, she looked around – she was wearing a hospital gown, there was an IV going out of her right arm and her left arm was wrapped in a swing. She could easily identify the interior of a hospital room. It was semi-dark and quiet, which meant she was not in the ICU. She tried to get up, when the pain of her shoulder hit her and she released a small groan. Suddenly there was a movement from her right side and she turned her head around to meet two blue eyes filled with concern.

"Hey..." Owen said gently getting close to her, but not daring to touch her. "How are you feeling?"

"The bathroom..." she replied barely, feeling as if she forgotten how to speak.

"Oh, yes, let me help you with that. " Owen gently helped her get off the bed and led her to the bathroom. "You've been pumped full of liquids, since you were severely dehydrated." he told her once she was out of the bathroom and helped her get back in bed.

"Where...what...what happened?" Cristina asked in confusion. "Where am I, what day is today, where..."

"Shh, relax. You are safe. You were all admitted in the hospital almost three days ago. You are in Idaho, it is Friday..." he stopped for a while to take a look at his watch. "...3.17 a.m." he watched her trying to realize the information he just told her. "You were admitted with minor injuries, but severe dehydration , weakness and you've lost all of your fat tissue. They gave you a massive doze of benzodiazepines and you've been asleep for the past 50 hours."

"I am starving!" Cristina suddenly realized her desperate need for food.

"Okay, just wait a minute." Owen stormed out of her room and while she was trying to remember the past few days, he was back carrying with him what appeared to her very modest quantity of food.

"That's it?" she said, while he was opening a yogurt for her.

"Cristina, after what your body has been through you need to start eating in a carefully controlled manner." he said offering her a spoon full of what appeared to be a strawberry yogurt. "You were starving for days, a large and heavy amount of food is only going to worsen your condition."

She took it without questioning. She quickly finished off the yogurt and ate the rest of the food that Owen offered her, which was mainly small amounts of vegetables, some fish and bean based warm dish. She was surprised how this small amount of food was able to make her stomach full. Owen smiled as he disposed of the empty boxes and then reached to his pocket and gave her a small chocolate bar.

"Oh, god...thank you!" she reached out greedily and quickly broke a piece of the chocolate and felt the incredible sensation of meting it in her mouth. Owen smiled and leaned back to his chair.

"What is the last thing you remember?" he asked quietly hoping he was not pushing her too soon.

She stood there for a while, still chewing on yet another piece of the chocolate, trying to recall the events.

"I remember..." she stood silent for few more seconds. "...we spent two nights...I think. Yes, two nights. I can't recall much..right now...wait. Mark?" memories of the plane crash suddenly started flashing through her mind.

"He will most likely need another surgery. He arrived in critical condition." Owen knew she was going to ask about the rest of the passengers so he continued talking. "Arizona just got discharged from the ICU, she should make a full recovery. Derek and Meredith are together – she seems to be doing quite well, but he will need longer time to recover, especially due to the severe injury of his hand."

"The pilot?" Cristina asked.

"He...is in the ICU. Most likely will stay paralyzed for the rest of his life." Owen replied in a lower voice.

"Lexie died." Cristina said suddenly and tears filled her eyes. "She...she was trapped under the...she died."

"I know. Her father is here."

Cristina laid back and exhaled deeply. What appeared to Owen as a cry was actually a laugh that very soon turned hysterical. He stood up and approached her, gently putting his arm on her shoulder.

"Are you...okay?" his voice was filled with concern.

Cristina continued laughing out loud, which soon attracted the curious looks of few nurses. Owen didn't really know what to do or say, he was just standing there wondering where was this coming from. After few more minutes, Cristina was able to catch her breath.

"I...I was in a plane crash!" she said and continued to laugh. "I boarded a plane and it freaking crashed!" her laugh was getting more and more hysterical. "Can you imagine that? An actual plane crash! After...after everything...this? Seriously? Like...I first have one of my friends almost die from cancer, then another one gets hit by a bus, then Meredith is like...I don't know five hours with no heart beat after drowning...oh, no wait, that was before Izzie and George. Oh and then...a guy walks into the hospital and shoots people, almost kills Derek, then you, then Meredith..." she stopped for a while trying to control her laughter. "...and then we all board a plane for Idaho and it freaking crashes! And Lexie died!" after her last statement she started laughing again uncontrollably. "Lexie is dead, Owen! How...how insane is that? And...the rest of us...lived." she spent few more minutes laughing and just as her breath was starting to even out she added. "We may not be the best surgical program in the country, but when it comes to the most sick and twisted life-threatening tragedies we are hands down number one!" then she twisted her face in a mocking grin and changed her voice as if she was one of the people advertising anti-depressants on TV. "Are you a medical student looking for a surgical residency program? Do you want to experience a life-threatening situation at least once in your life? Are you willing to risk dying in a mass shooting or a plane crash? Then come to Seattle Grace Mercy Death!" as she exploded in yet another series of uncontrollable laughter, Owen looked at her with a mix of shock, relief and genuine concern. Then he turned back and headed for the door.

Cristina caught her breath between laughs and asked. "Where...where are you going?"

"To schedule you for a psyche consult." he replied and heard her explode in laughter once more as he left the room.

Owen came back twenty minutes later and found one of the nurses switching her IV bag.

"Something wrong?" he asked immediately.

"Just switching her IV bag. We also gave her some benzo's and anti-psychotics. " then she turned to him and said. "Doctors orders". the nurse left the room and Owen looked at Cristina who appeared much more relaxed now.

Owen approached the bed, put his hands in his pockets and looked at her for a long moment. He recalled the relief he felt once he learned she was alive. The pain of losing her to Mayo was nowhere near the one he felt from the idea that she might have died.

"Owen..." Cristina called him, her voice sounding relaxed and somewhat tired.

He looked up, shaking off his thoughts.

"Yes?"

"Please...lay next to me." her eyes were begging him and although he was scared, the pain of their lovemaking and her leaving less than a week ago was still fresh, he couldn't say no to her plea. He took off his shoes and climbed next to her, carefully putting his arm around her, avoiding her injured shoulder. She removed her head from the pillow and snuggled on his chest, feeling his heart beat.

"Owen..." she called him almost whispering.

"Yes..."

"I...don't want this to be the last time you hold me."

Owen froze not knowing what to take from this – was this the drugs talking, or the fear, or was this actually Cristina telling him she doesn't want to leave?

"I will hold you as long as you want me to." he replied and gave her a light kiss on her forehead.

I hope you liked it. Comments and reviews will be deeply appreciated!