A/N: Not my favorite. But it came naturally while I was in shower… :)

The apartment was humid, yet Cristina felt the skin on her face was pulling so tight that it was going to crack any minute.

The apartment was warm, yet the white kitchen counter beneath her felt extremely cold, forcing her to bring her knees even closer to her chin.

The apartment smelled good, yet the thought of sitting beside a chocolate fudge cake made by Izzie Stevens upset Cristina's stomach rather than settled it.

Last time it was George. Now Izzie. Since when had their apartment become a homeless shelter?

Picking up her beer bottle, Cristina noticed it was empty. "I think I'll go to the liquor store."

"Seriously? Cristina, we'll be done soon!" Izzie's squeaky voice invaded each corner of the condo.

Words were about to shoot through her mouth, only to be swallowed back when Cristina saw the glow in Burke's focused eyes. She couldn't remember the last time he was that excited about something.

Cristina hopped off the counter and tried to make a quiet exit. She couldn't cook, she couldn't bake, she couldn't even play chess with Preston Burke. Why then, should she stay and feel miserable?

Just as the door was about to close behind her, somebody grabbed her waist and followed her to the lobby. "Hey, I'll go with you."

"Burke, finish the game. You don't have to come with me," Smiling awkwardly, Cristina tried to pull away.

"Don't go. It's cold tonight." Without any warning, Burke hugged her from behind.

"Izzie's here." The unintentional pout on Cristina's face did not go unnoticed by the Burke's exuberant eyes.

"You're jealous," Burke couldn't conceal the victorious grin that was creeping up.

"I'm not jealous." Biting her lower lip, Cristina continued her futile protest. "I just can't stand seeing Izzie Stevens 24 hours a day."

"You're a good person, Cristina. Meredith's mother is staying at the mansion for the weekend. You're only helping a friend who has nowhere else to go."

"Good people don't have to sit alone and watch her boyfriend play chess with her blonde friend on a Saturday night."

Burke was trying hard to refrain from accusing her of being jealous, but the matter-of-factness in Cristina's voice cracked him up.

"Cristina, there's nothing wrong to be blonde. It only guarantees that I'll win the game."

Brushing the back of his hand with the back of her own, Cristina squinted her eyes and smirked, "You know that is politically incorrect, don't you?"

Raising one corner of his mouth, Burke caught the hand that was free-floating around his. "Let's go home. I will teach you chess. I promise you can beat me on her behalf."

"Why are you so sure I will win?"

"Because I'm not only the best chess player, but also the best teacher you'll ever find."

Rolling her eyes, Cristina asked, "What about Izzie?"

"We'll let her bake."

"Ok."

They picked up the chess case from the living room and locked their bedroom door, leaving behind Izzie and her chocolate cake.

It was somebody else's turn to sit on the cold kitchen counter.

THE END