Chapter 12: Fate hates us
It took Cristina three seconds to realize what she was doing. Coming back to reality, she quickly pushed Jacob off her, and the first thing she saw was an extremely stunned Burke standing right across from her. Blushing slightly at the awkwardness of the situation, Cristina quickly turned towards Jacob, trying to ignore Burke's intense eyes.
"Um, Jacob this is the hospital, we really shouldn't be doing this here", Cristina stated awkwardly.
"Oh yea, of course, I wasn't thinking about what I was doing, I am sorry", Jacob said, not sounding sorry at all.
"Well, if you want to go see your dad, he should be in recovery by now, and since you work here I'm pretty sure the nurses will let you in", Cristina said professionally.
"I'll do just that. Once again thank you so much", Jacob said, quickly kissing her on the cheek and hurrying off towards the recovery room.
Trying to ignore the fact that Burke's intense eyes were glaring holes in the back of her head, Cristina tried to calmly walk by Burke on her way back to the pit.
However she wasn't very lucky. She was just past Burke, when she felt him grip her upper arm.
"Cristina?" Burke said in a dangerously low voice.
"That was none of your business Dr. Burke. Now I would suggest that you let go of my arm because not only is it unprofessional, there are some nurses coming towards us and they might get the wrong idea," Cristina snapped.
At the mention of nurse, Burke immediately let go of Cristina's arm. He was never big on public display of affection. Even when Cristina and him were dating, Burke had made sure to keep their personal life away from the gossip mill of SGH.
The second Burke let go of her arm, Cristina made a run for the elevator before Burke could find other ways of cornering her.
Cursing the ill timing of this whole situation, Burke turned around to find Derek walking towards him.
"Hey, why do you look as if a car ran over your pet dog?" Derek questioned.
"I just saw Cristina kissing another guy. Right in front of me", Burke replied dejectedly.
"Ouch, that's got to hurt. Did you know that Meredith has been in a steady relationship for three weeks, and is apparently very happy," Derek said bitterly.
"Do you think Cristina is dating him?" Burke questioned, not hearing a word Derek had just said.
"Last time I checked, Yang was single. But ever since I broke up with Rose, I haven't had a great access to the hospital's gossip mill", Derek said seriously.
"So you think she was just kissing random guys? That doesn't really sound like Cristina," Burke said in a confused tone.
"You know you're being a horrible friend right now. I am venting my feelings about how royally I screwed things up with Meredith, and all you can talk about is if Yang's dating someone or if she's going around kissing random men", Derek said annoyed at the lack of Burke's attention.
"The world doesn't revolve around you are your problems with Meredith you know. I have more major problems to deal with. And you brought your downfall through your own hands. Seriously breaking up with Meredith for a nurse. You have no standards," Burke snapped.
"If I brought my downfall through my own hands, what does that say about you? Meredith I had been on rocks for a while, I got tired of waiting and I sought someone else, I know it's a lame excuse, but hey it wasn't as if we were say, getting married and I left her at the altar. You had a perfectly stable relationship, sure you had problems here and there, but then who doesn't have problems? Yang had agreed to marry you, and for Yang to commit to something as big as marriage, let's just say, that it was nothing short of a miracle. She was ready to give you your happily ever after, and what do you do? You run away. Everyone thought that Yang would get cold-feet in the end, nobody would have thought that Preston Burke would be the one who wasn't able to handle the commitment of a marriage. You had everything in your hand that day Burke, and with one move you lost everything that had meant so much to you. You had love, marriage, a happily ever after, and a secure future, but you let all of it go in one stupid move. If me dating Rose was an idiotic move, what does that say about you leaving Yang at the altar. Not the smartest move, that's for sure," Derek lectured.
"I made the worst mistake of my life that day when I left her at the altar. I know that. The whole time I was in Boston I couldn't think of anything but why I did what I did. And you know what? I don't know why I did it, why I left her standing there at the altar. I haven't been able to come up with an excuse to satisfy myself, what the hell am I supposed to tell Cristina? How am I supposed to tell her how fricking sorry I am for doing what I did? She appears to hate me, she doesn't talk to me, she make excuses so she doesn't have to face me. Not only that, we were in a surgery together for three hours, and not once did she make eye contact with me. You have any idea how much it hurts? And then to realize that you have brought this hurt by your own hand", Burke said despairingly.
"I am not the right person to answer that question. In case you haven't noticed, me and you are on the same boat. And you know what that boat is called? The failures of life. That's what we are. Failures. We may have made our names in our professions, but when it comes to the reality of life, we're nothing but failures. We don't deserve their forgiveness; we have hurt them way too much, way too many times to count. It's like we break them, date other people, be happy, but when they start dating someone other than us we blow up in blind rage. How fair have we been?" Derek said dejectedly.
"Shepherd are you seeing a psychiatrist? Nothing but counseling could have you looking at things like the way you just explained them", Burke asked incredulously.
"Nah, I just had a long talk with Mark yesterday," Derek said with a dry laugh, "How ironic is this situation? Mark, the womanizer who can't stay with a woman for more than a week, is giving me relationship advice, before it always used to be the other way round. And what's even more ridiculous is that right now Mark is the only one among our group with a stable and committed relationship."
"Wow, talk about irony. Seems like the tables have turned huh?" Burke said with a humorless laugh as he realized how true Derek's observation was.
"We apparently have no life. Talking about failed relationships like high school girls. Anyways I have to go. I was on my way to check a patient before I got sidetracked. See you later man. Try not to kill yourself in your sorrow", Derek said with a small smile.
"I'll try," Burke said, while Derek continued on his way to check his patient.
He's right. We're nothing but failures. Burke thought as he made his way to the chief's office.
--
Addison and Callie had just sat down to eat lunch in the cafeteria when they were joined by none other than Erica Hahn.
"Hey you guys mind if I join you?" Erica asked.
"No, not at all. Have a seat", Addison said.
"Where's Mark today? Usually you guys eat lunch together," Callie said in a teasing tone.
"He has surgery, he'll probably join us in a while", Erica said, rolling her eyes at Callie's teasing tone.
"So, you and Mark huh? That's really something", Addison said sipping her orange juice.
"I don't know how many times I have heard that ever since we made our relationship public," Erica stated.
"It is pretty incredible, you know, for Mark to be with a woman for 5 weeks. And from what I have gathered with the way he talks to you and about you, is that he really likes you. And that's something surprising in itself. Mark don't tend to fall for women. That's just not his style," Addison said matter-of-factly.
"Basically what you are saying is that you're stunned at how much everything's changed ever since you left SGH six months ago," Callie said.
"The four things that I have heard and seen that have really shocked me are Meredith and Derek breaking up, Derek dating a nurse, Mark and Erica's relationship and the fact that Burke and Cristina still have feelings for each other", Addison replied.
"That's all you've noticed?" Callie asked in a shocked tone, "That's not even half of the changes this hospital under went while you weren't here, and I am just talking about the major changes."
"I am sure you're just exaggerating Callie," Addison said, wondering what other major changes the people at SGH went through while she was gone.
"Oh I can assure you that I am not. Want to hear about everything's that changed here?" Callie asked.
"Alright, let's hear some about these 'major changes' you're talking about", Addison said.
"Alright, prepare yourself, it's not very pretty. One, the chief and his wife are divorced, you already know about Derek and Meredith, Dr. Bailey's son was in a massive accident about three months ago, and she and her husband are separated which is why she usually have Tuck around with her. The nurses have created a group called, Nurses United Against Mark Sloan, your pregnant Jane Doe from the ferry lied to Alex telling her that she was pregnant with his baby, when she actually wasn't. Alex found out and completely blew up. George failed his intern exam and is repeating his intern year, and while we're on the topic of George, he slept with Stevens, and as a result me and him are in separation," Callie finished, enjoying the stunned look on Addison's face.
"You weren't joking when you said things have changed around here. It's like everyone in this hospital is leading a different life than the time when I was here", Addison said after a couple of minutes.
"Six months is a long time Addie, especially if you work at SGH", Callie said.
"No kidding, but wait George cheated on you? With Stevens? So that's the married guy she was talking about," Addison said thoughtfully.
"You knew that Stevens slept with my husband and you didn't tell me?" Callie asked reproachfully.
"Oh no. A couple of days before I left, Stevens told me that she slept with a married man, she didn't tell me who it was though. So, you and George are divorce now?" Addison questioned.
But before Callie could answer, Erica spoke up, "They have a meeting with the lawyers next week, but Callie isn't sure if she actually want to get divorced or not."
"Is it wrong that I still love him even after what he did to me?" Callie questioned sullenly.
"No, it's not wrong at all. You fall in love very fast, but it takes a long time to fall out of love. I don't want you to make any decisions that you might end up regretting. Why don't you talk to him? You guys could try dating again. You never really dated the first time round, so it'll be a great new experience. What he did was wrong, and if he admits to it, and regrets his actions, then I think you guys have another chance at a successful marriage. You shouldn't end your marriage if you're so hesitant, not if he feels the same way", Addison said.
"Yea but that's the thing. I am pretty sure he doesn't feel the same way. I mean, he and Stevens started dating right after we separated--"
"Oh yeah, and that relationship worked out really well", Erica interrupted sarcastically, "They didn't even last a week Callie. And don't start again with the whole 'he's over me' speech. Seriously it's getting old. I have seen the way he looks at you when he thinks no body's looking. He looks at you in a way that says that he had you and then lost you and there's no one to blame but him. He hasn't been on a single date ever since he broke up with Stevens, and I have heard for an extremely reliable source that he always keeps his wedding rings with him. What more proof do you want?"
"Okay Callie seriously? Either you're in extreme denial or you're blind. If what Erica said is true, it should be painfully obvious that the guy still has the hots for you. Do not ruin your marriage because both of you are too scared to approach each other. You do not want to regret this decision in the future and live you life full of 'what ifs'," Addison said, trying to knock some sense in the woman in front of her.
"I think O'Malley is scared to approach her. Callie can easily punch his face, breaking his nose or something", Erica said playfully, while Addison laughed.
"Oh shut up", Callie said blushing, "I'll need to think on this for a while, I promise I won't take very long".
Five minutes later, Mark Sloan entered the cafeteria looking for his girlfriend. Finding her sitting with Callie and Addison, he quickly made his way to their table.
"So, how are my three favorite ladies doing this beautiful afternoon," Mark asked cheerfully.
"Hey, I thought I was the only favorite lady in your life", Addison said teasingly.
"You still are, I just had to make so compensations since the number of ladies in my life have increased drastically," Mark said dramatically.
"You're never going to grow up are you?", Erica asked in amusement.
"Ah, I don't know. So what were you ladies talking about?" Mark asked curiously.
"Nothing", Erica, Addison and Callie replied at the same time.
"Ah, so you guys were talking about me, weren't you? You guys are in awe of my skills, you just don't want to say it to my face", Mark boasted.
"Why would we want to boost your already overly-large ego Sloan?" Callie asked incredulously.
"And please, don't flatter yourself thinking that we were talking about your oh-so-wonderful skills, when we all know that you when it comes to skills, you're less than half the doctor I am", Addison relied cheekily.
"Ouch Addie, that was a deep cut to my heart", Mark moaned dramatically as the three women laughed.
Looking around Addison said, "Um Mark, why are those teeny-boopers staring at you?"
Mark paled as Erica and Callie burst out laughing as they remembered what happened the last time the 'teeny-boopers' were staring at Mark.
"They're probably discussing how much Mark looks like their dads", Erica smirked as she regained control.
"What?" Addison asked confused, apparently missing the joke.
"Apparently a couple of months ago, some teenage girls were staring at Mark, when Mark called them over to ask if they want anything, one of the girl said that he looked exactly liked her dad", Callie said, as Addison burst out laughing as she pictured the scene in her head.
"You know I don't even know why I'm friends with you guys. I don't get anything but an ego-bashing while I'm with you people. And you're corrupting Erica, she's not this mean when we're alone together", Mark said with a mock sigh.
"While I really want to stay here and bash Sloan's ego with you guys, I have to go check on a patient. I'll see after work at Joe's then", Callie said as she got ready to get back to work again.
"Yea, lunch break should be over by now, and I have a surgery in a while, so I am going to have to leave also", Erica said getting up.
"I'll walk with you", Mark said quickly wanting to get some alone time with Erica before she heads of to surgery.
"Alright, while you guys save lives, I am going to pay a little visit to Miranda", Addison said as she headed out to find a certain chief resident.
--
3:30 P.M.
Meredith and Cristina were talking at the nurse's station when Dr. Bailey approached them.
"Yang", Dr. Bailey snapped, apparently in a bad mood.
"Dr. Bailey?" Cristina asked wondering what she had done this time.
"You are supposed to meet Dr. Hahn at 4 to go over the case right?" Bailey questioned.
"Yes, I am. But I still have ½ hour before the meeting," Cristina said.
"I know what time it is Yang, but what you don't know is that you will be having the meeting with Dr. Burke instead of Dr. Hahn, at least for the first 20 minutes or so", Dr. Bailey instructed.
"With Dr. Burke?" Cristina stuttered.
"Yea, with Dr. Burke. Dr. Hahn's surgery is running a little late, so Dr. Burke will cover for her", Bailey explained.
"But Dr. Bailey—"
"No buts Yang. I am your boss, you do what I tell you to do. This isn't my decision, if you have any problem with it, then take it with the chief. I don't have time to hear you complain", Bailey said sharply.
Meredith smirked at the look of Cristina's face. She looked like she wanted to kill someone.
"What are you smirking about Grey?" Bailey snapped looking at the smirk on Meredith's face, "If I'm not mistaken, you are meeting with Shepherd in ½ an hour, and that's certainly not a walk in the park for you."
The smirk on Meredith's face was immediately wiped off, as Cristina felt a little better that she wasn't the only who will be going through an hour of hell.
"Now the two of you better make it to the meeting on time, or you'll have me to answer to", Bailey said severely, and with that she turned and started walking towards the elevators leaving two very depressed residents behind.
Once she was out of ear shot, Cristina turned toward Meredith and said, "Admit it, fate hates us".
"You know what Cristina? You're absolutely right, and this might be the first and last time you will hear me say that", Meredith sighed.
As the two residents looked around the empty nurse station, they were sure of one thing: Neither of them wanted to go to that 4 o'clock meeting with their exes.
A/N: I am so sorry for the delay. I know it's been a while since I updated! My school work has been ridiculously crazy for the past week or so and I've been completely out of it. Once again I am really sorry, and I certainly hope that you guys won't have to wait so long for another chapter. I know you were probably looking forward to a confrontation between Burktina, but I had to build up to that point. I had fun writing this chapter with the whole Burke/Derek and Mark/Erica/Addison/Callie conversation. So, you know the drill, at least 10 reviews before I post up the next chapter. (Next chapter: All Burketina and MerDer) So with that said, enjoy the chapter, and please, please, REVIEW!
