Ch.7
Water ran over the back of her hands like a silver rod, breaking into tiny droplets that landed on the stainless steel sink with a gentle clang.

Cristina was too scared to look up. That was her cue to everyone. When she let her eyes off the bottom of the sink, it would be time to pick up the scalpel and shine.

Although, the fleeting moments of self-worth could never compensate for what she had recently lost.

Proving herself to be a competent surgeon was not going to pose any challenge to her, not even when the patient was someone she knew, someone who had rested all his trust in her the night before by a firm handshake.

Redeeming herself as a person who truly deserved to be loved and trusted was, however, a much taller order. It was so much more than skill alone. How she wished there could be someone to guide her on her way to become a good surgeon, who also would be a good person.

Icy as she seemed, Erika Hahn had a thing for music. With songs playing in the air, the hands of two strong-willed women were shifting positions like a pair of skilled dancers.

Dancers had to transmit their emotions to the audience through their entire being, their limps, their lips, their eyes. But it was a forbidden rule to look at the audience purely for recognition and acknowledgment. Regardless of her years of demanding training as a ballerina, Cristina's body betrayed her when she looked up, searching for her intended audience.

It was the right moment. Burke was looking at her like a father watching his daughter perform on stage for the first time. The warmth shot through the glass and made her heart leap.

For a split second, she thought everything would be fine, although her sense as a dancer warned her that the audience was probably captivated by a dream, not the person behind.

Her heart leaped again when Hahn uttered those words. Focused. Intense. Cold. Never had the thought of being successful and single nauseated her as much as it now did.

If losing everyone was the price she needed to pay, would she still want to lose herself and be great?

Her eyes made another quick trip to where Burke was standing, but it wasn't long enough for her to get an answer.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

To be a great person, one could not only carry himself. He had to put people on his shoulder.

Responsibility. Burke was throwing that rock entirely on Cristina's back, without considering that it was too big even for a man like him to hold it alone.

Now, he had to learn to be responsible, as a friend, a mentor, and then a man again.

George and Burke were in the scrub room. Observing, facing opposite directions. As he described every detail on the other side of the glass, a sense of accomplishment reoccupied his heart.

He was proud of his student. His best student yet. That was not to be confused with a lack of residual frustration in his blood. But it was impossible for him not to smile.

George was still holding a grudge when he saw Cristina operate on his father. How about Burke? Was he as stubborn as George? What standard did he want Cristina to meet?

The bar was high when it started, and the longer they were together, the higher it climbed. But as overachieving as Cristina was, wouldn't there be a point when she would break?

His Mama called Cristina selfish. Burke overheard it once.

Wasn't he selfish as well, always expecting more from her? She didn't take over his life because she wanted to rule the world. She did it because he was too selfish to care about his personal well-being and she had to intervene.

As the two women busied themselves with Mr. O'Malley's heart, the two men stood side by side, keeping their territory.

When he was sure it was a success, Burke proceeded to the door. The glory belonged to the two behind the glass. He should not take it away.

Men didn't let forgiveness roll around their tongues, but the thank you from George O'Malley said it all.

If Burke could be forgiven, how about Cristina? His Cristina? Was it his face that he wanted to save or their relationship?