SEVEN

"Owen, there you are." Derek breathed. "I er... think I may have put my foot in it."

His shift was over and so was Owens. He caught up with Owen as he waited for the elevator to take him down and out of the hospital. Once inside Derek explained how Meredith had tackled him in the on call room earlier and asked about their talk on the sunroof. "I may have said a bit too much. I'm sorry."

Owen shrugged. The elevator doors opened on the main floor and the men walked towards the exit. Meredith was already outside the hospital waiting for Derek so they could head for home together. The look on her face when she saw Owen made Derek swallow.

"Maybe you better find Cristina." He whispered.

At Meredith's side Derek greeted her with a kiss on the cheek, her eyes remained on Owen's face.

"Have you seen Cristina?" Owen asked Meredith politely but boldly. He had been through that look with her many times and was no longer intimidated by it, just annoyed.

"No. I haven't."

"Sorry." Said Derek gently towards Owen.

"I saw her about half an hour ago," Owen continued unmoved. "I've called her cell but it's going straight to voicemail."

"I wonder why." Meredith murmured through gritted teeth.

Owen continued to politely battle with Meredith. Their relationship could change in an instant he knew that. He was smart enough to maintain diplomacy at all times, even when, like now, he wanted to tell Meredith to grow up. "Did she leave the hospital?" He asked.

"How would I know."

Derek gripped Meredith's waist 'take it easy' he conveyed with a firm press.

"Well if you see her or she calls you, let her know I'll be at home." Said Owen. " and I'll catch up with her tomorrow."

'Don't count on it.' Was the look Meredith gave Owen.

The patchy friendship that had developed between them over a long trying year evaporated. Owen sighed and wished them a good night and excused himself.

Meredith was like a bear protecting a cub when she was 'looking out for' Cristina. Cristina was the same with Derek, only she was more vicious, definitely a tigress ready to rip Derek's head off at the slightest misstep. For four people who spent a lot of time together, in life and work and leisure, he didn't know why it had to be so difficult to like and accept each other's partners. Now he had to find Cristina to make certain Meredith hadn't led her down the wrong path with assumptions and tattle. Doing damage control with those two ladies was exhausting he and Derek talked about it over drinks all the time.

*

In minutes Owen was knocking at Cristina's apartment door, but being driven off by Callie.

"I'm sorry Owen, she's not here. It's just me and Arizona... Yup, just me and my girlfriend. "

"Well have you seen her tonight?"

" Er... she said something about going to dinner with Meredith; I don't think she'll be back until late. I can tell her you came by though..."

It was embarrassing for both of them as Owen knew Callie was lying and Callie knew he knew. She would kill Cristina. Owen gave Callie that hang dog look she knew so well. Where she wanted to just pull him inside the apartment and wrap him in a blanket and spoon feed him some soup. Take care of him.

"I'll see you at work tomorrow Owen. I'll mention you came by." Calliope Torres shut the door and marched straight into Cristina's bedroom, where her roommate was huddled under her duvet, munching her way through a chocolate bar. With nuts.

"You owe me big for that one."

"Sure."

"You didn't see his face. What's happened between you?"

"Nothing."

"He didn't look like it was nothing. He didn't choke you again did he?"

"No! Nothing like that."

Callie stared at her roommate searching her face for the truth, looking closely at her neck.

"Goodbye Callie."

Callie turned slowly on her heels, shaking her head. She pulled in Cristina's bedroom door roughly.

Cristina just needed some time, in the morning she could deal, but tonight, she just needed to eat chocolate. Watch some surgeries, and maybe have a cry. Maybe.