Apply Some Pressure – Chapter IV

Owen and Cristina had decided it best if they avoided Joe's bar tonight. Though it was probably busy, they didn't want to take any chances. Instead they ended up in a small diner just around the corner from Cristina's apartment, a dingy place where the steak was cheap and the beers were cold. She couldn't explain it, but Cristina felt a warmth in this place, a feeling that seemed exactly the opposite to her first date with Burke. Not that this was a date of course. It was just food. Just a quick, cheap dinner; nothing else.

"And she whines!" Cristina continued ranting, a half eaten chunk of meat still in her mouth. "My god does she whine!" She grabbed her third beer and took a swig, not noticing the secret smile on Owen's face. "It's all, McDreamy this and McDreamy that..."

"McDreamy?" Owen looked up with a sparkle in his eye.

Cristina stopped herself and pondered whether Owen would be suitable for the world of Mcs. She quickly decided he was above all that. "Oh, it's a long story… But seriously, the amount of crap I've had to deal with – "

"You do realise that you're whining now, right?" Owen flicked a smirk.

Cristina glared at him. "Hey." She pointed at him, bottle in hand. "I never whine. This is like some once in a lifetime, lunar eclipse kind of thing. You should take a picture of it, sell it on Ebay. It'll go for a mint."

Owen gave a light chuckle as he continued in his food, then looked up seriously. "You think it'll take long for you to make up?"

"I don't know…" Cristina sighed. "I mean, to be honest, I don't want to be fighting."

"Then why are you?"

"It's just a stupid nothing. It'll work itself out." Cristina shrugged and took another swig of the beer.

Owen leaned forward slightly. "You're obviously both stubborn as hell, otherwise it'd be done with ages ago. She obviously doesn't want to fight; so all you two have got to do is talk."

"She'll just keep going on about the solo surgery!" Cristina groaned.

"No she won't. Not if you don't. You should make the first step."

She fell silent and studied him, deep in thought, as she rested her chin on the side of the bottle. "Now it's time for me to ask you a question." She said seriously.

A flash of worry appeared in Owen eyes, but quickly he gave a smile and it was gone. "Ok." He said simply.

"How long has it been since you've slept?"

"Ah." He looked down and played with his meal, a dry smile on his lips. "It's been…a while." He looked up at Cristina.

She held back for a second. This was getting into serious territory. Serious territory. She knew he would have to be a bit messed up after what had happened in Iraq, but she didn't know if she could handle it. She usually stays well away from that kind of stuff, even with Meredith sometimes. But now she suddenly blurted out some psychiatry shit to a guy she's only known a few weeks?

But somehow - god knows why - she wanted to help him. She wanted to know him.

Christina gulped down. "Is it because…you know?"

"It's…a number of things." Owen looked away, his eyes becoming darker.

There was a silence between them. Cristina knew that this was a point where she would usually get awkward, but not now. Now she just wanted to sit there and be some sort of comfort to Owen.

"Actually," he turned his face to her as his eyes lit up again. "It probably sounds way too corny but one of the reasons I wasn't sleeping was…well, you."

Cristina was taken aback. "Me? Why?"

"Probably some remnants of the army. A commanding officer must not and cannot have relations with an inferior…"

"Inferior am I?" Cristina raised her eyebrows.

"In some things." Owen chided.

"Ok then." She set down her bottle. "This date is definitely over."

"It's a date, is it?" He jumped in quickly with a smile.

"Well there's food, and alcohol, and us…"

"Yes there's definitely something suspicious happening when 'us' are there…" Owen smiled.

"Hey – you're the one that started that by kissing me in the emergency room!"

"Couldn't help it."

"Doesn't sound like you had the restraint of a respectable officer."

"I have very few weaknesses. You seem to be one of them." His blue eyes shone bright as he stared straight into hers. A bolt of electricity ran up her spine.

"Ah," She fidgeted and tore her eyes from Owen's, afraid they were going to make her do something not really suitable for public. "You want a drink at mine? It's just around the corner?"

His eyes soften a bit. "Sure..." He nodded slowly and looked down. "Just as long as you've got better beer than Budweiser."

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Owen kept a few meters behind Cristina as she entered he building and walked up to her apartment. He knew this was wrong. He was warned about this sort of thing after he was discharged. Well, not exactly this situation, but they talked to him about relationships and how they'd be strained. How it would be hard for him to get close to another person after everyone he had loved had gone.

Now he was breaking all the rules.

Cristina stopped at her door and opened it, then turned around. "You coming in?"

Owen quickly nodded and walked over. He had to control himself tonight. This relationship was a whirlwind as it was, but he seemed to have control over himself, minus the sleeping of course. But if he took the extra step, he had no idea what would happen. He shouldn't push himself any more.

Cristina flung her keys on the table and walked over to the fridge, pulling out two beers. "These good enough?" She walked up to him and held one out.

Owen realised she was only a foot away. "Listen, I…" He looked down in her eyes, deep, brown and hypnotic. Steady he told himself. He had to take this slow. Slow…

He lunged forward and took her in a kiss, fierce at first but then softer as he became intoxicated by her smell. He could feel her hand creep up his back then down again, as they came to the hem of his shirt. As he wrung his hands through her thick, curly hair they seemed to pace backwards, unaware of where they were going, only that Owen's shirt had suddenly gone. He began slowly to unbutton her shirt, as her fingers went down to his belt buckle…

"GET DOWN!"

Owen froze up.

"My leg!!"

He pushed Cristina away and backed up against the wall, his chest heaving in and out as he tried to calm his rigid body. He could feel the sweat roll his face, his gritting teeth forming his face into a scowl.

Get out. Get out!

"Get these men out of here!"

Get out.

"They fucking shot me!"

Out!

Owen snapped out of it. He felt two soft hands around his face, two deep brown lights leading him out of the darkness.

"Owen…" Her soft voice appeared. "It's ok….you're here…"

"Cristina." He murmured, more for his sake of comfort than for her.

"Hey," She gave a sad smile. "You're with me, remember? Out of time, out of space?"

"Out of space…" His hand slowly moved up to her hair and touched it softly, a connection to the real world.

"Yeah…" She said quietly.

He took a deep breath. He knew now where he was. He was in her bedroom, they had been on a date, he had an episode but she was still there.

She was still there.

"Is it ok…" Owen started. "I think I need sleep."

Cristina stoked the side of his face. "I think so too."

Still in a daze, Owen took his shoes and pants on then wandered to the bed. He felt more tried than ever before, but he still did not know if he could sleep, especially after that. He slid himself under the covers then stared up to the ceiling, his brow furrowed. This wasn't going to work; he would never get any rest. Suddenly he felt something warm next to him. He peered next to him. Cristina lay at the edge of the bed, her back turned towards him. He sighed. He knew this was far too much to put on someone. She deserved to be scared.

"I'm sorry." He murmured.

"Don't be." Her voice answered. There was a silence, then she turned around to face him. "You've…you've got nothing to be sorry for."

Owen gazed at her with sad eyes, then leaned in and gave her a soft kiss. As he pulled back he could see a soft smile on her face.

"Now get some sleep you insomniac." She grunted and turned back around.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled himself close, as he closed his eyes and let the touch and smell of her drift him off to sleep.

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NB:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Well, not really new year, but you know what I mean. I tell you though, 2008 – not a year we'd likely forget. I think it was just one constant shit storm with one bright shining fantastic light of hope. What we need after that year is a stiff drink. A single malt scotch, as it were.

Anywho, I hope you guys have a great new year, and that you review, cause come on – it's your (maybe) last review of 2008! Why wouldn't you do it?

So – do your bit – REIVEW!!!

Oh, and if you're wondering: song that encapsulates the year; totally "Viva La Vida"