One of my favorite lines I have written thus far appears in this chapter. I hope you all like it too.

I want to go ahead and say here that Cristina is my all-time favorite Grey's character not because of her wit or her confidence but because of her sheer will to do anything she needs to do in a crisis situation. As you'll see, I hark on that quite a bit because the way I interpret it, she is the true hero here.

The reason I say that now is because I believe it's important for readers to pay attention to and remember the upcoming events because, as we all know, Cristina goes through a lot upon her return to Seattle and it's a period of time when she hits a personal low. I don't want my readers to change their opinions of her because of this breakdown she has and the way I portray it, so I encourage you to remember these happenings as we move forward and recognize why I believe Cristina is absolutely entitled to her breakdown/why she shouldn't be criticized for being "dramatic."

As always, thank you all for the reviews. I hope you all enjoy.

She had resolved to go back to the second crash site with Lexie and Mark when Meredith reemerged, walking stick in hand.

"Cristina," she said softly. Her voice had returned to its characteristically composed tone, but her face screamed panic. "I can't find him. I looked everywhere," she said, her eyes fearful.

Again, Cristina forced herself to be realistic, sparing little feelings. She had to be honest. It exerted less energy. "Maybe…he's fine," she said doubtfully. "Maybe he went for help." Okay, maybe she could stand to be a little compassionate. Meredith was her person, after all.

"Maybe, but I gotta keep looking," she said, her focus on one thing, and one thing only.

Cristina sighed. "No, Meredith." Her face grew somber. "You should come…help Lexie." Meredith was conflicted, but she agreed. What Cristina had implied shook her to the bone, and a flood of guilt rushed over Meredith for leaving her. How could she just leave her little sister, knowing how critical her condition was? If she had had the ability to reason, she would have been able to justify it, but…no. There was no justifying this. She simply lowered her head and limped behind Cristina as they made their way to the site.

The duo hobbled as fast as their injured bodies could manage, but what they happened upon was a tragic sight. Mark's body was shaking uncontrollably on the ground, as he sobbed and whispered loving words to Lexie. Cristina's heart sunk. She knew it was coming, but she couldn't help being overwhelmed with the reality of it all.

"No," Meredith whispered, her eyes bulging from her head. "No!" she screamed, her face contorting in agony. She dropped to her knees and wailed. She bawled uncontrollably for her sister, never imagining she would feel so much sorrow for a sister she didn't even want. This thought spurred her guilt further. How could there have been 23 years of her life that she couldn't possibly ever have wanted Lexie? Lexie was the best sister a person could ask for. She profusely regretted that she only got four years with her. It just wasn't fair.

Cristina thought that if there were ever a time for comfort, this was the time, but all she could do in that moment was sit dumbstruck, cursing any and every god that could possibly allow these people; these good people to go through such a calamity as this. She perpetually shook her head as silent tears streamed down her face. Lexie had never done anything wrong in her life, certainly not anything wrong enough to justify this kind of demise. Fate wasn't just a cruel mistress. Fate was a fucking bitch.

Finally, Meredith stood, prompting Cristina to look up at her hesitantly. "I'm finding Derek," she said resolutely, a revived desperation in her eyes, tears still pouring out of her eyes. Cristina stood too, accepting the task. Lexie was dead. There was nothing they could do about it. Meredith was a few lengths ahead of her, but it didn't take long for Cristina to catch up, considering her injury. They limped deep into the woods, Meredith screaming Derek's name angrily. Meredith would not have another death today. She would not lose two of her own. She just wouldn't.

In the midst of Meredith's outrage, Cristina walked silently, reality striking her in her first moment to really consider what had happened since the crash. "I don't understand how this keeps happening," she said bitterly. A brief sensation of dark humor took over in that moment, as she considered the probability that this could happen so many times. Meredith tried to regain Cristina's focus on finding Derek, but Cristina was not having it. "I'm serious," she said, her voice rising, and her tone growing increasingly more bitter. "We keep dying," she said, her voice sharp and unforgiving. "We're in a plane crash, Mer. Like, right now!"

Meredith ignored Cristina's existential revelation, only focused on finding her husband. "If he had gone for help, he would've sent a message, or something." Cristina closed her eyes and sighed. She was not right in the head. It hadn't been long enough for Derek to send them a message, and if he had left a message for them before he left, they would've had no way of getting it.

The two women were in completely different frames of mind, with one not even remotely listening to the thoughts of the other. "I can tell you one thing. When we get out of here, I am getting the hell away from Seattle Grace Mercy Death, and I'm never looking back." She said it with resentment and anger, and she didn't care. She knew she was right, and so did Meredith, whether she would admit it or not.

Meredith made one last plea with Cristina to help her; to listen to her. "Cristina," she said, crying. "I think Derek is dead. He would've come for us by now. He definitely would've come for us by now." She broke down again at this moment, crying hysterically. "I think he's dead. And Lexie's dead. My husband and my sister are both dead, and we are going to die out here too! We are going to die out here-"

"Keep it together! Just keep it together," Cristina had abandoned her existential ranting, and grabbed Meredith by the shoulder, trying desperately to shake her out of her hysteria.

"No, you keep it together!" Meredith hadn't a single clue that Cristina was the only one keeping it together; the only one who was staying composed because she knew it was their only hope in staying alive.

Cristina screamed at her then. "I'm trying!" She calmed herself then, knowing that guilting Meredith out of her irrational state was not the answer. "Keep it together anyway," she said holding Meredith's face. Meredith relinquished her anger then, crying for the pain, for the sorrow, for the death of her sister and the disappearance of her husband. Cristina whispered again, "keep it together anyway."

"Cristina," Meredith sobbed. "You're still my person." Cristina's heart broke in that moment, thinking back to her earlier statement. She had told Meredith, her rock, her best friend, her loyal companion that Owen was her person now. She hadn't meant it like Meredith took it, but the damage had been done, nonetheless. "Meredith," she soothed, aiming to explain herself. "Meredith," she started, but didn't get to finish as another familiar voice sounded through the forest.

"Meredith." Both girls snapped their heads in the direction of the voice to find a disheveled, bloody Derek stumbling toward them. They stood in awe, hoping, but realistically assuming it was an exhaustion-induced illusion, that Derek was really standing in front of them. "I heard your voice." he smiled peacefully at the sight of his wife, closing his eyes. "I thought I was dreaming," he said trying to take another step toward them. That makes two of us, Cristina thought.

As Derek took a final step forward, he faltered and fell to the ground, unconscious. Meredith gasped, terrified. "Oh my god," Cristina uttered as they ran to him.

Fate was a fucking bitch.