Hello, all. Thank you for sticking with me while my computer's out. I absolutely love this chapter. It is among my favorites. I hope you all do too.

The plane ride was silent aside from the occasional *ding* for the seatbelt sign or announcement from the pilot. Everyone was on-edge.

Cristina looked over at Meredith and studied her calm, thoughtful expression. Meredith and Derek had been debating over their job offers in Boston, a debate that had grown increasingly more tense as of late. She had told her just before they boarded that she was going to Boston, but Cristina had her doubts. Cristina shook her head. As if there was even a question as to which she-they should choose. The Mer-Der duo had long been established, but she would always see Meredith as an individual far above Derek. Of course, she was Mer's person. She was supposed to think that.

Cristina's eyes wandered to Lexie, behind her. The poor girl had been through a lot during her time at Seattle Grace-Mercy West, particularly during and after the shooting. They all had, but leading up to the shooting, none of them could have boasted the most ideal growing ups. Cristina pursed her lips and tilted her head. She had, she supposed, if you don't count the whole dad-dying-before-your-eyes-before-you-reached-double-digits thing. She guessed having an alcoholic father would have been rough though. I wonder if she's thinking about Mark, she mused, contemplating the look of longing etched in Lexie's features.

Through the corners of her eyes, Cristina caught the sun reflecting off of Arizona's hair and though she couldn't see her face, she guessed it was wrenched in frustration and hurt. She had just watched one of her dearest friends die, and then Alex dropped the bombshell on her that he was choosing Hopkins, so as the entire hospital watched along, she gave the gossip hounds the show they were craving. She told Alex that he wasn't going to Boise because he no longer represented Seattle Grace-Mercy West, and that she would take his place, hence her unexpected attendance on this trip. Cristina looked down. The things that boy had put her through over the years.

It wasn't long until Cristina's lax gaze landed on Mark. Mark was, well…Mark, she supposed. Pretty laid-back, positive guy, despite it all. Aside from his completely conspicuous desire for Lexie and the drama that resulted, he didn't have a whole lot going on. Cristina shrugged. So I guess not everyone's on-edge.

Then she considered her own personal struggles as of late. She couldn't remember a time when she had been so conflicted. She shrugged off the ache in her heart. Cristina couldn't bear the thought of leaving Owen, but it came down to "pig or cow," point blank. She was going to Mayo, and she was going to thrive. She was a Cardiothoracic goddess, after all.

She smiled contentedly, looking back down at her binder. She was practicing her signature, as she had done many times before.

Dr. Cristina Yang

She shrugged, satisfied. Not too bad for being on a plane, she thought. Wonder what this would look like…

Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Dr. Cristina Yang

She smiled at that. That has a nice ring to it. What about…

And the Harper Avery Award goes to Dr. Cristina Yang

She giggled. She just couldn't help herself! She continued to doodle, writing names and titles down absentmindedly to pass the time.

Dr. Owen Hunt

Chief of Surgery at Seattle Grace, Dr. Owen Hunt

Dr. Cristina Hunt

Woah, where did that last one come fr-It was completely sudden. It happened seemingly in less than a second, but as soon as she heard it, she dove without looking back for the head of the cabin. Everything was a complete blur, but she could make out Lexie's blood-curdling screams as they grew fainter and fainter from her place on the cabin floor. She finally looked back only to bear witness to a horrific sight: sky; sky and Lexie's petite figure still strapped into her seat as she desperately clawed at the air, reaching for a hand that would never come.

Suddenly, the remaining piece of the aircraft tilted vertically and with nothing to grab ahold of aside from the thin knobs of carpet, Cristina started sliding backwards. "Meredith!" she screamed intensely. She crawled as fast and as hard as she could, her fingernails starting to bleed under the pressure, but between the vertical tilt and the air suction, it was no use.

"Cristina!" Meredith wailed, trying to reach for Cristina. She might have been able to reach her if not for the strong hold Derek had on Meredith's waist. "Cristina!" she bellowed again, her cheeks streaked with tears as she fought against Derek's hold to get to her.

Cristina cried hysterically as she felt her legs dangling from the back of the plane. She used every ounce of strength she had within her, but soon, she was hanging on by the tips of her fingers. In that moment, all she could think of was Owen. Owen, I'm sorry, she thought, as she lost her grip one finger at a time. I was wrong. I was wrong to leave you. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so- just then her grip finally failed her and she began her descent to Earth. She screamed and grasped for her life, but fighting it was useless. This would be her legacy. Dr. Cristina Yang: prodigy, estranged wife, then death by plane crash.

The wind jolted her back and forth as she fell. She cried profusely. She cried for herself. She cried for Meredith. She cried for Owen. None of them deserved this. They were such good people, all of them. The wind pushed and pulled at her violently. She could see the ground from her peripheral vision, and she knew the end was near. Just before she hit the treetops, everything went black…

Yet, she still felt the wind shake her wildly. She didn't understand until-

"Cristina! Cristina, wake up! Wake the fuck up, Cristina! Do you hear me? You're safe! Just wake up!"

What the absolute hell? Cristina groggily opened her eyes and found utter relief in her surroundings. She was in her hospital room. She could gather that much. Slowly, her body stopped moving. She blinked several times before she could make out Owen's horrified features staring into her unmoving eyes.

"Cristina," he said urgently, holding her upright with his large arms, loosening his grip substantially. He readjusted himself, wrapping one arm around her shoulders and bringing the other to her cheeks, gently wiping away the moisture. "Hey," he said in a drawn-out whisper, soothingly stroking her hair back against her head. His eyes never left hers.

Owen, I was falling out of the plane! I couldn't stop and Meredith couldn't get to me and Lexie and-

Her heart pounded like a hummingbird in her ears. Owen held her face in his hands as tears continued to fall out of her unresponsive eyes. With each one that fell, Owen's hand was there to wipe it away as he tried to console her. He softly placed his forehead against hers and in the quietest whisper he could muster, he assured her. "I've got you. Do you understand me? I've got you. You're okay."

I'm so sorry, Owen. I never should have left like that. If I had died, I-I-

The tears were unrelenting. She couldn't control them as they fell onto Owen's warm, accepting fingertips. "Shh." Cristina felt his hand leave her face then and meet the other arm, wrapped securely around her torso. "I've got you." He rubbed slow, tender circles along her back. "It was a dream, honey. You're safe with me." Her face was buried in his shoulder, further hindering her vision, but she could smell his warm, earthy scent, and that was more than enough for her. "I promise."

After her heartbeat returned to normal and the tears finally ceased, she felt him release her from his hold and lay her back in the bed. Owen please don't leave. Please, I need you to stay. I can't go back to sleep. I can't relive that again. I can't do THIS anymore! I just want it to stop!

When she found that her wrists were unrestrained, she turned in the bed and thrust her arm out, trying to communicate in the best way she knew how. Owen, who was in the process of taking his sweaty shirt and shoes off, saw this reaction to his absence and widened his eyes. The shock was short-lived, however, and replaced with urgency to assure her that he wasn't going anywhere. With a half-unbuttoned shirt on, he enclosed her tiny hand within his own two and crouched to her level, bringing her hand to his lips. "I'm here," he said simply, tenderly, his lips never leaving her frail hand as she grasped his intertwined fingers with immense strength.

He placed her hand back on the bed as he finished off the remainder of his shirt buttons and removed both shoes. Owen, what if I never come out of this? What if I can't get out of this-this state, or whatever the hell has taken over my body? A single tear escaped her eye again, encouraging another breakdown.

Her panic melted away as she saw Owen lift the blankets on her bed and climb underneath them next to her. She immediately took comfort in his warmth as he maneuvered his arm around her torso and cradled her body close to his. He kissed the crown of her head firmly and whispered sweetly into her hair, "I'm not going to leave you, Cristina." He pressed another firm kiss into her hair and looked into her eyes. "Do you hear me? I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere."

Cristina couldn't do much, but she made as much of an effort as she could by clumsily slinging her arm over his waist, her best attempt to get closer to him. I love you, Owen.

Owen got the gist and positioned her arm comfortably over his stomach, stopping to stroke her arm slowly, up and down. While she couldn't do much more, he could, and he did by pulling her as close as he could manage. "Try to go back to sleep. I'm here. Nothing can hurt you if I'm here, okay?" He sighed, exhaustedly. "You're safe."

She saw his blue eyes repeatedly disappear under his eyelids as he struggled to stay awake. Cristina couldn't possibly think of sleeping at that moment, even while encased tightly in Owen's embrace. "I love you, Cristina." His words were starting to run together, and his hold on her was starting to relax. Go to sleep, Owen. Quit fighting it and go to sleep. She made one final effort that took every ounce of strength within her to show her affection and shakily wrapped her draping arm around Owen's torso with as much vigor as she could manage. Owen opened his eyes then and smiled warmly. He kissed her lips tenderly. "I take that as 'I love you too.'" And with that, he buried himself deeper into the bed and unwillingly shut his eyes. It wasn't long until Cristina could distinguish the noticeably slow and shallow breaths of a comfortable slumber, causing her to sigh inwardly with relief. We're all going to be fine, she told herself emphatically. We're all going to be fine…