Author's Notes: Reach for Me is actually being updated : ) I'm so happy I can finally update it. This story will get deeper into Cristina than Burke… well at least for now.
Previously On Reach for Me:
"My old college roommate during med school is dead. He went to Nepal to open a clinic and today I received a phone stating that they need me to identify the body. He lives all the way in Pātam, near Kāthmānda. I need to go Cristina. If it wasn't for this man, I wouldn't be here with you. I owe him everything."
"What did he do Burke?"
"He wrote a letter of recommendation for me to go to Seattle Grace."
"Oh."
"I'll leave my flight number for you on the counter tomorrow. I'm leavinglater tonight."
"Burke, you can't go and leave me here."
"I need to do this Cristina."
"Burke…"
"Cristina! I'm going and that's final! Nothing you can say or do will change my mind!"
It wasn't until after the words left his mouth that the impact hit him.
"Cristina… I'm sorry I…"
"I'm glad you feel like that Burke."
Cristina stood up and turned around and left leaving the key to the apartment on the counter.
Now to Chapter 2:
Cristina swirled her vodka around a few times before finishing the glass. It was only an hour ago that she had that argument with Burke and took refuge in Joe's bar. What the hell was wrong with her? She couldn't be compassionate enough for her boyfriend. Was she really that cold hearted?
Meredith walked into the bar to find her best friend sitting on the barstool with two glasses of vodka in front of her.
"Cristina?
"Meredith."
"What wrong?"
"Burke is leaving."
"What? Why?"
"He has to go help his friend in Nepal."
"Is he staying there or…"
"He's acting like the guy saved his life. 'Cristina I have to go! I owe everything to this man...'" Cristina mocked his voice before looking back at the empty glass. She glanced at Meredith in hopes that she was on her side.
"You are so lucky and you don't even see it."
"Oh right. How am I lucky? I got a boyfriend that gets mad at me for almost everything. He's Preston Burke. I'm Cristina Yang…"
"And you love him."
"Right Mer. What's wrong with you?"
"Stop changing the subject." Meredith placed her hand on the side of her forehead obviously frustrated.
"I have a boyfriend… had a boyfriend that is married, that dated me and is still in love with me. But he won't admit it. His wife is smart and nice. Which makes her pretty hard to hate. Addison is living my life. You on the other hand… have Burke. I wouldn't be complaining."
"He almost proposed."
"Really?" Meredith faced temporarily brightened but then went back to its original state realizing that he didn't propose.
"I saw the box a couple weeks ago. I kept my mouth shut so I wouldn't piss him off."
"You know what you have to do now right?"
"What?"
"Go after him. Burke loves you. You love him. It's not hard to decide."
"Oh sure, you can say that."
"I mean it. I'll drive you to the airport."
"You're kidding right?"
"Come on…" Meredith grabbed Cristina by the arm and took her back to the apartment.
Cristina glared at Meredith as she rummaged through the closet for an overnight pack for Cristina.
"So where is he?"
"He probably left." Cristina noted flatly.
"Did he leave a flight itinerary?"
"Yeah… it's on the table."
Cristina walked over to the shiny glass table and picked up the small white sheet. It read:
Flight and Transportation plans for Dr. Preston M. Burke:
Seattle SEA Flight 993 United Airlines Departing March 22, 2006 11:34 pm
Destination: Bangkok, Thailand Arrival Time: 12:52 pm (add 1 day)
Bangkok BKK Flight 33 Thai Airlines Departing March 24, 2006 6:45 am
Destination: Kathmandu, Nepal Arrival Time: 9:03 am
Local Transportation to Patam
"That's it Cristina… just head him off in Bangkok."
"But…"
"Cristina… do you love him?"
"If I said no?"
"Are you packed?"
"Yeah… yeah."
Meredith hurriedly drove Cristina to the airport.
When Cristina arrived she stood in front of the check in counter with her passport and credit card.
"Meredith…"
"Go… don't do anything stupid though. Like getting yourself killed."
"Thanks for the support."
"Bye."
"Bye Mer."
As Cristina walked off into security, she didn't know that this experience was going to change her life. Forever.
I hope that you all enjoyed that installment. Please review to let me know your thoughts…
--hope dangles on a string with slow-spinning redemption
Vindicated by Dashboard Confessional