Greetings, readers. Thank you, as usual, for the reviews on the last chapter. I love hearing from you. Here's the newest chapter. Enjoy!

"Ticket, please," the woman at the counter said unenthusiastically, holding out her hand.

"I need to buy a ticket, actually." Owen pulled out his wallet and began digging through his credit cards.

"Where to, sir?"

"Seattle." Owen set his card and ID on the counter, and waited. He looked at his reflection in the glass across the counter. His tie was pulled loose, and sat lopsided against his dress shirt. He could see sweat stains under his arms, and his red curls were pressed against his head from the walk over. He couldn't imagine how he looked to this woman.

"Next flight for Seattle leaves in 2 hours 41 minutes." Hunt nodded. She turned back to the computer screen, finalizing a few things before shifting her eyes back to Owen. "$174.21," she said, taking the card from the counter.

Owen felt his phone vibrate in his pocket as she handed him his cards back. "Thanks," he said grabbing his ticket and personal belongings, and heading toward security. "Webber. How did it go?"

"Fine. Everyone's fine, Hunt," Richard said in his characteristically calm voice. "I'm going to assume you have a good excuse for missing the plane?"

"I was in a phone meeting with the hospital's lawyers. They're trying to move quickly with everything, and they needed me to be available right then." He moved one step forward in the security check line, and grasped his head. "I'll explain more later, but right now, I need you to do something for me, something very important."

"Alright."

"Make sure they put Cristina on the surgical floor. Do not let them put her in psych." Webber tried to interject. "No, no. I will admit her myself, if I see that it's necessary, but right now, I want her on the surgical floor. We're still watching her shoulder, so sending her up there wouldn't do anyone any good. Promise me, Richard." Silence. "Webber, promise me."

Finally, Hunt could hear him sigh from the other end. "Fine. We'll give it a few weeks, but you haven't seen her when you're not around. She tried to stab an intern with a loose needle when she woke up." Webber paused, reconsidering his promise to Hunt. "I don't want to see my best resident up there any more than you do, but you have to consider what's best for everyone, including her."

"If the time comes, I will make the call. You have my word." Hunt started to choke up. It was his biggest fear, but he couldn't be around all the time. What would happen if she actually hurt someone? Why in God's name was she regressing all of a sudden? "My flight leaves at 10, and I should be back at the hospital by 11:30. Is Meredith around?"

"She's awake. What do you need?"

"I need to speak with her." Hunt didn't want to reveal too much. It was a lot to ask of Meredith, but he wasn't there, and she was the only other one Cristina would respond to at the moment.

Hunt could hear mumbled shuffling, and he assumed Webber was walking. "I hope you know what you're doing."

There was a pause, and then, "Owen?"

"Meredith, how are you?"

There was another pause. Her voice came out frightened, but calm as she said, "Bailey told me they're going to have to admit Cristina to psych."

Hunt hurriedly assured her, "I just talked to Webber, and convinced him not to just yet. She just needs a little more time."

Meredith sighed in relief. "Okay…okay." She composed herself, and Hunt took this opportunity to ask her something.

"Meredith, I need you to do something for me. I know what you've been through, and I know it's a lot to ask, but-"

"Why isn't she talking? It's been two days. It isn't just shock at this point. She won't even…" Meredith trailed off.

"She's making progress, Meredith, and I can show you. Will you-I can't be there until 11:30, and I need you to do something for her, and you'll see that she's getting better."

Meredith perked up. "What is it?"

Hunt sighed, knowing how uncomfortable this was going to be for Meredith. "I need you to…feed her." Before Meredith could comment, he continued. "I managed to get her to eat earlier today. It took hours, but she managed." He paused, thinking. "It has to be soft foods, nothing she would have to chew, and…this morning, it took a while, so be patient."

"See, but that's what I'm saying. Why can't she do it herself? This isn't normal."

"I know. I know, but the reality is, right now, she can't." He shook his head. "Look, you're missing the point. She's making progress. Yesterday, we had to put a feeding tube down her nose, and today, she opened and closed her mouth, and swallowed. It doesn't seem like much, but it's something. It's all we can ask from her at the moment." His voice softened. "Meredith, please. You're the only other person she'll let near her. Please try to understand that she needs you."

"Okay, I'll try," Meredith said hesitantly.

Hunt threw his head back in relief. "Thank you. Now remember, nothing hard on the stomach, and nothing she has to chew. Soup worked best this morning, so if you can find that, use it."

"Okay, got it." She held her breath, fearing the answer to her next question. "Hunt?"

"Yeah."

"She's going to be okay, isn't she?"

"She is. Of course she is. It's only been two days. She's going to be just fine