hope y'all had a good christmas and new years, i apologise for not updating. schools really been an ass lately because of my mocks and i just haven't found the time to write and edit a decent chapter. anyway, without further ado, here's Boarded In: Chapter 6!
disclaimer, everything belongs to Shonda Rhimes and Co, I own nothing.
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She heard the screeching of tires as she rammed her head in the front, slamming it against the front of the car. Pieces of glass flew in her face, cutting her exposed skin. The vehicle halted to a stop, fumes and smoke arose, filling her lungs with tar and soot.
Cristina wanted to fall asleep, she wanted to fall asleep bad. Doze off and never wake up, maybe it was finally her time to go. But she couldn't, "Dad? Daddy?" There was blood, why was there blood? Was it hers? She turned to see her father's chest open, with a glass shard lying on the ground. It had cut through his chest and he was bleeding out. His breath was ragged, inconsistent as he struggled to breath. She inched closer, before giving a low sounding cough. It sounded bad, it was bad. There car engulfed in fumes, no fire. Not yet, and hopefully never. She flipped open her dads phone that was in the coaster and dialed 911. Her voice was hoarse as she felt the tears streaming down her face, she tried to describe it the best they could and they insisted that they were sending an ambulance to help her.
"Dad? Please don't die. Please." She placed her hands on his chest, trying keep his chest closed, trying to stop the fucking bleeding. His warm blood escaped the folds of his skin, his breathing becoming more inconsistent by the minute as he attempted to stay alive.
The open wound still gushed with blood but it started to slow, and his breath was heavy. But he was alive, for now at least. Her heart heaved, trying to wrap her head around everything that had just happened. She felt the heaving heartbeat of her father's heart in her hands, she could feel it moving up and down.
Then his heart started to beat slower, more periodically, too much time in between each beat. It was tired too, it just needed to give out. She could hear the sirens in the distance, calling out as it drove towards the crash. Cristina's hands remained on her fathers chest, then she felt nothing.
Nothing. His heart stopped beating.
She woke up shaking, the tears streaming down her face as she realised that she wasn't back in her car. She was in a dorm room with Meredith but Cristina's world started collapsing, it felt like her hands were still on his chest. The aircon hit her heated face and it just reminded her of that day, when the crash happened. She still felt the fresh air hit her as the paramedics opened the door to escort them out. She felt numbness encapsulate her entire body as the paramedics hauled them out, she could see civilians around her with cuts but everybody seemed alive. Why only him?
The black body bag was enough, her hand were caked in his blood. It started to flake off and drying up in the bright heat of the Californian sun. She still felt it, her cheeks were flushed even in the cold Seattle air. Her breath started to slow down, as she made her way to the bathroom to clean her face. Her bloodshot eyes, her shaking body, the cold shivers that made her want to crawl into a ball and cry.
She was more than thankful that Meredith was a heavy sleeper, it would have been hell to tell her about this. It had been months where she was reliving the crash. Every. Single. Night. It now dissipated into the sidelines, only coming back to haunt her every so often but now it's back, like before. Stronger, quicker and way more destructive. Why?
Blood, so much blood.
The image of the crimson liquid flooding out of the wound, came back escalating her steadying breath. She gripped the side of the bathroom as she grabbed her towel to try and muffel her wails. It hurt, everything- her head, her chest, her airways- it just hurt. She snaked her arms around herself, trying to try to stop her body from shaking from her convulsive sobbing.
"Cristina?" Meredith's voice rang through the air.
So much for being a heavy sleeper, Cristina thought. "Y-yes?" she hated how her voice faltered, how it cracked. She was supposed to be strong, someone who didn't let emotions take control. This wasn't the Cristina she knew, it wasn't supposed to be like this. It was supposed to be different.
"Cristina?" Meredith repeated, her voice transitioning from a groggy slur to questioning tone. Waking up with Cristina bed empty was starting to become common, especially in the morning when she found her bed empty and instead she was sitting in the common room studying. "Are you okay?"
What do you think? Cristina thought bitterly, but she didn't voice it for obvious reasons. She didn't need this. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"I mean your bed is empty and I heard-"
"Have you heard of going to the bathroom?" Cristina interrupted, she wasn't interested in this conversation. Just get out.
"You know what I mean, this isn't the first time you and I know that."
"I'm fine, really-"
"Cut the bullshit Cristina, you're not okay. You are not okay, even how much you think you are. I've woken up so many times to your empty bed in the morning. Stop bullshiting me." Meredith snapped. "Please," her voice had grown softer, trying to express her frustration at her friend. "Please… just stop saying you're okay when you're not. It's not okay, you're not okay."
Cristina didn't say anything, allowing the room to be caked in silence. She didn't want to talk about it, especially this. Anything but this.
"Look… you're not okay. And you know it and I know it so stop pretending that you're okay. You're not helping yourself, I have a mother who doesn't care about me and thinks surgery is her life job. I don't have a dad in the house, I have every reason to break down and I still haven't. Not that it has any significance, just talk to me Cristina. Please" insisted Meredith. "Please, just try."
"I can't" her voice came out hoarse, like sandpaper. "I just can't, okay. I don't need this stupid feeling. I can't- I don't want too, okay?" she heard Meredith give a sigh and she knew what was coming next. "But I will, I'll try. Because- "
"Because?" Meredith cut in.
"Shut up let me finish." The waves of numbness still haven't passed, "Because you're my person, okay." She unlocked the bathroom stall, facing Meredith for the first time. Tired eyes and tear-stained cheeks still visible. "Anyway, whatever. I'll try, doesn't mean i'll do it now."
"I am?" Meredith asked, slightly dumbfounded at the statement.
"You are my person." Cristina reiterated, wiping away the forming tears.
Meredith stepped forwards at wrapped herself around Cristina, engulfing her in a small hug.
"This constitutes hugging?" asked Cristina, genuinely surprised at the gesture.
"Shut up, i'm your person. It's my job to know these things" Meredith said with a small smile on her face.
They sat in silence for a minute, rocking back and forth ever so slightly as friends should. Meredith didn't release her grip on Cristina and for once, Cristina didn't complain about the bodily contact. The only hugs she would except would be from Owen and those were brief, when they were talking about there pent up emotions.
"You're my person." Cristina agrees. "You're my person."
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He shoved the test paper in his bag, the feeling of disappointment rising in his chest. Owen wasn't pleased, he barely made par. The sleepless nights weren't helping him and the constant silence between Derek and Addison definitely weren't helping. It was like being wedged in between a married couple except they weren't even married, barely talking and about to get a divorce. His eyelids voluntarily shut as he let out a sigh of relief, as the bell rang overhead. He didn't need the teacher belabouring the fact that he got lower than he normally would.
Owen slung his backpack over his right shoulder and stroud out of his class, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cristina with Burke. It was happening a lot lately, the towering figure of Preston Burke and Cristina at his side. He'd be lying if he said it didn't bother him, of course it bothered him. Cristina Yang wasn't one to be at the side, she was never at the side. She either shared the spotlight- not willingly, of course- or she had it all by herself. She was the longest person that he had known to put up with Burke, aside from Erica Hahn but they all knew she was a bitch anyway.
"Hey Cristina" he greeted as he walked past her to get to the common room before inwardly cursing at himself when seeing Burke's protruding glare as he walked by.
He knew better than to walk by Cristina when she was with Burke, it wasn't smart. He kept her like an item, a possession like she wasn't even a human being. If he did walk past her, he couldn't even say hi or a simple greeting. Burke's eyes would narrow every time he saw Cristina with someone else, even Meredith. He felt he was losing a friend, a very dear friend. And he hated the feeling of losing someone.
"Which is it you're thinking about? School or the fact that Cristina is still with Burke?" Derek asked, smirking as Owen plopped himself down on the common room sofa.
"How'd you kno-, oh forget it. Of course…" He needed the steer the conversation elsewhere, "How are you and Meredith?"
"Oh no Hunt, you're not slipping by so easily." Derek said, giving him a grin. "What is it?"
"School." Owen answered bluntly.
Derek raised his eyebrow at him but said nothing, he knew about Owen and Cristina's friendship but he didn't know the extent of it. They rarely talked about each other, well they did but it would be throwaway comments about her personality- or rarely- a rant or two about Burke. It was no secret that Preston Burke was getting bolder, more confident, allowing his arrogance to be shown. "Me and Meredith are good, better than good. First date was good."
"That's good, can you please-"
"No, i'm not speaking to Addison." Derek cut him off midsetence. He knew what he was going to say, and he had no intention of speaking to her.
"How did you know?" he said letting out an exasperated sigh.
"I knew you were going to ask, but no I'm not talking to her. I'm happy now, with Meredith. We're happy." Derek shrugged, stating it plainly. "And here she comes"
"But not to you" Owen said, trying to stifle his yawn
Meredith walked in with Izzie, Alex and George as they sat themselves down in the far corner of the common room. Cristina followed behind and Owen trailed her movement as she sat down next to Meredith, she didn't look like she got enough sleep, again.
"Go over to your girlfriend," Owen prodded.
"Why?"
"She looks sad,"
"You just wanna talk to to Cristina." answered Derek with a sigh.
"And that too." Owen replied. "Look at her, she definitely isn't getting enough sleep."
"She looks fine to me," Derek stated plainly. "You on the other hand, you barely get any sleep."
"I get sleep" defended Owen, "I get sleep."
"Not enough sleep" Derek pointed out. "Don't try to hide it, it's obvious."
"I'm not hiding it" Owen said, defeated. "I just… I don't want to talk about it okay."
"Fine, that's not a problem. When you're ready to talk about it, i'll be right here."
"Or you'll be shacking up with Meredith" Owen said with a smirk.
"Shut up" Derek said, throwing a pillow in his direction as he tried to cover the blushing that was creeping in on his cheeks. "Come on, let's go." Derek picked up his backpack and brought himself over to where Meredith's sitting. Creeping behind her, he gently placed his head against her shoulder. Derek saw her lips form a slight curve as she pretended not to take immediate notice of his presence looming over her.
Owen stood behind, keeping his distance from the group as eyes started to dart to the couple in the chair. The fire roared in the background, sending a wave of warmth to him. He watched as Derek cadoodled Meredith and did what couples did, being all adorable and sweet. His eyes were kept firmly on the couple in front as he tried to suppress a smile, he was proud of Derek for moving on. However the one person who wasn't looking up was Cristina, her face absorbed into the book infront as she cram the information into her brain.
Before he could say a word to her, the bell rang again, calling them to there next class. The group of them started to get up, everybody except Cristina. Owen walked over and pulled the book out of her hands. "Come on it's time for science."
She gave a small frown as she gathered her books, her tired eyes drooping slightly. "Yeah I know, but like books." She attempted to crack a joke in her dazed state but ended up sounding flat and unenthusiastic. Cristina tried to gather her stuff but almost fell over due to lightheadedness.
"Woah, woah. Slow down there, i'll grab it." Owen said stepping forward to stabilize her before reaching over to grab her bag. "How much sleep have you been getting?"
"Enough," was her only answer. She didn't need Owen to worry about her too.
"Definitely not enough," he comments as he lead her out of the common room and walked in the way of there science class.
She didn't reply, only looking ahead. The cold air wrapped around her as she walked through the bridge to get to the science block. There friends chatting away outside and she saw the looming figure of Burke. Cristina grabbed her backpack from Owen and tried to act as normal as possible as she approached them.
Owen noticed, of course he noticed, he was standing right there for fuck sake. Cristina eyes darted to the floor the minute they all assembled outside there science classroom, he went to stand near Derek and Cristina in between Meredith and Izzie. He watched the gaze of Burke as it darted to Cristina- eyes narrowed- judging every movement she was doing.
"Okay class, go in. Don't just loiter!" Ms Anders yelled as they all shuffled into there chemistry classroom.
Cristina walked in and sat down next to Meredith like she always did, she didn't feel okay. This wasn't okay, the lack of sleep she's been getting. She hated how she couldn't talk to Owen or Meredith or anyone, even though the promised she would. She rubbed her temples, trying to grasp the situation around her, it was now turning to whether or not she could get through until the next day.
The class whizzed by, but Cristina payed little to no attention to it- only lying on her desk with her head propped up. She already had the notes to it but it was more of a fight to try not to lose consciousness in the last class of the day. The moment she said that they could pack up and leave seemed music to her ears, it meant relaxing- even if it was just a bit.
Meredith tried to suppress a grin as Derek bounded over after class, and giving her a small hug. Izzie rolled her eyes with an amusing grin plastered on, as she looked at the couple. George preoccupied himself with his notes and Alex was awkwardly waiting for them to go.
"What's up with Yang?" Alex asked, looking over Izzie's shoulder.
"Probably overworking herself as usual."
Cristina didn't have the willpower to answer, she felt strong arms behind her and saw Owen standing above with her backpack in his hands. "Here, you need to get some rest."
"Stop, i'm fine." Cristina snapped.
"Cristina…"
"I'm fine Owen, just leave me the hell alone." She muttered as she walked out of the classroom.
"Seriously though, what is wrong with her?" Alex asked, tilting his head.
"Shut up, Evil Spawn." George mumbled, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
"He's not all evil you know," Izzie muttered back, "You just don't know him."
"I know him enough," George grunted. "I'll see you later."
"Where you going?" Izzie called out, Crap. She thought, she knew her friends opinions on Alex. This wasn't the best time to bring it up.
"Need to get a sample paper for Global for mocks, i'll see you later"
Owen creeped over near Derek, as the couple continually flirted with each other. "Derek can I borrow your girlfriend for a minute?"
"Why?"
Oh fuck it, he thought. Might as well say it aloud. "What's wrong with Cristina?" he said, pointing the question to Meredith.
"She didn't sleep well last night," she shrugged. "She's okay, I think but you know she hasn't been sleeping well many nights."
"Like you Hunt" Derek pointed out. "You both don't get enough sleep, you can be sleepless night buddies"
"This isn't about me" Owen replied to Derek before turning his attention back to Meredith, "Okay thanks, i'll try and talk to her."
"Good luck to that," Meredith said. Why would she be willing to tell Owen things that she didn't know? Besides she was Cristina's person, not Owen. She saw him leave in a haste, presumably to find there mutual friend between them. She didn't think much of it, Cristina never talked about Owen. It was discreet but it was there.
"One more week of mocks and then Christmas." Derek said, placing his head on her shoulder as she packed her bag.
"One more week until we're free." Meredith agreed.
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Her footsteps were louder than usual, echoing off the floor of the building. The cold air wrapped around her body as she got closer to her destination before she felt strong arms pull her aside and dragging her to a small area of the corridor, remotely away from the main route. She hoped it was Owen, so she could break down and talk but to her dismay it was Burke.
She refused to meet his gaze, looking down as they stood in silence. Both of them refusing to say a word before he broke it. "Where were you during break?"
"With Meredith."
"Why'd you come to science with Owen?"
"He's my friend too." Cristina mumbled. She could tell that he was annoyed, it was a thing that he tried to bring up several times and she would always answer with short-stilted answers.
"Cristina, i'm sorry, I really am. i'm trying to make this 'friendship' thing work. You need to tell me things," He said, daring her to snap. Pushing her to her limits. "Even Meredith and your weird group of people, you never tell me what's going on with them." he said, trying to push down the rising feeling of disgust. "You spend so much time with her. How about me?"
"You do not get to dictate who I can be friends with" she snapped, finally looking up. She was tired and frustrated and the last thing she needed was this from Burke. "Those weird group of people are my friends" she said in a low whisper.
"Explain it to me, how does someone like you find friends like that?"
"You know what, i'm not talking about this today." She started to walk away, before she felt his cold hands wrap around her arm.
"No, we are talking about this, today." He demanded, fire danced in his eyes. Ready to fight the battles he knew he needed to fight to have Cristina be his.
"No we're not." she said flatly. "Let me go."
"No, i'm not. We're talking now."
"Let me go," her voice grew had a slight edge with fear and panic laced between her words. "Let me go!"
"No."
"Burke, fucking let me go." She said, her voice grew frantic. Why wouldn't he let go?
"No, not until you explain it to me-" He objected.
"What's going on here?" Owen asked, looking at Cristina then back and Burke. Then he saw his grip on her wrist and her face streaked with panic. "What the fuck do you think you're doing? Let her go." Owen snapped, standing behind Cristina. He heard the fight as he was looking for her and, of course, they were arguing. He saw the anger dancing in Burke's eyes, ready to pounce.
"Owen." she breathed a visible sigh of relief as she collapsed into his arms as Burke released the grip on her arm.
"This is between me and Cristina, this has nothing to do with you." hissed Burke.
"Clearly this has something to do with me, otherwise you wouldn't be looking at me like that." Owen pointed out. Keep your cool.
"This is between me. And Cristina." he repeated through gritted teeth.
He looked down at the trembling figure of Cristina who was sleep deprived. She didn't even look like herself, not her normal badass self who was an absolute god in everything. No, this was the vulnerable Cristina that he rarely saw. "No, she will talk to you another day or never."
"This has nothing to do with you Hunt" he growled. "Fine, since Cristina isn't answering me. Answer this one question. What is your relationship with her?"
"We're friends, how oblivious are you?" Owen snapped, "Are you done?"
"I understand that, but have you ever considered that I am her friend too? You guys are to explosive, you shouldn't be in her life."
"She has a right to decide who she can be friends with, Burke." he enunciated the last word like a knife, prodding the beast in front of him. "What is your problem?"
"My problem is with you."
"Yeah that's it we're leaving, this is why you have no friends,"scowled Owen "Come on Cristina-"
"There is no we here." Burke interrupted. "I can take her from here."
"Oh no, you're not. You were fighting a minute ago, you guys clearly aren't okay. I'm going to ask you to stand back and i'll take her to her room."
"You have no control over me."
"And you have no control over her, let her decide." Owen said, challenging the man in front of him. He was in no way afraid of Preston Burke, he might be getting better grades but that does not mean he could boss people around.
Her voice could barely be heard, she was so tired. "Owen… let's go." she said softly. She saw Burke's face fall, and Owen celebrating in hidden joy. She couldn't deal with Burke's bullshit right now.
He helped her up, grabbing her backpack in the process. Burke felt the fire in his stomach growing as he watched the pair of 'friends' walk away. Cristina may have gotten away with it this time, but it won't be long. Owen and her group of friends were merely a distraction from her final goal, becoming a surgeon. He knew it, he could see the dedication in her eyes as he watched her study. They were only going to get in the way, especially her gang of misfits. This wasn't going to last, he was going to make it not last.
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He opened the door to her dormitory, and she instantaneously collapsed onto the bed. Cristina never thought that she would be thankful to sleep, she was always in the understanding that it would disrupt her studies but she slept without much of a hitch.
The weight of the glass hitting her face, the smoke she inhaled. The blood… the blood on her hands. Why was there blood?
"Dad?" she said, trying to breath through her mouth. The blood was leaking, her small hands tried to force it back in. "No! Please don't die, please… please don't die." She looked up, expecting to see her father in the driver's seat but instead it was her brother.
Why was there blood? Why no pills?
Blood, so much blood.
Why?
Her lungs were screaming for air, the heat that enveloped her whole body refused to dissipate. Her breaths were erratic as she was reminded that this is why she didn't sleep, she felt strong arms wrap around her and she leaned in when she realised that it was Owen.
Owen.
He cradled her gently as she cried into his chest. Gulping down the instant realisation that this is what he looked like when he woke up from his nightmares. She was sleeping so peacefully as he did his work in the background. But it was soon disturbed, he could see her toss and turn in bed. Her breath becoming faster, and sweat starting to fall from her head. He watched as she woke up in tears, gasping for air. "Shh, it's okay" he whispered, scooping her up in his arms. I got you, Cristina. I got you.
Her group of friends burst into the room, with Derek behind and there elated mood was soon replaced by puzzled glances as they saw what Owen was doing. They could hear Cristina's periodic hiccups as she tried to dispel the memories that has haunted her for so long- that still haunt her.
Owen indicated that they should leave and it didn't take them long to realise that they should, they backed away slowly and left.
"It's okay, okay?" He said, rocking back and forth. "Go to sleep, you need it."
Her breath started to to slow, as he rocked her back to sleep. She felt safe in his arms, it wasn't like it was before. He could hear his heart as she leaned in on his chest, slowly sleep seemed to circle her- pulling her to the depths below. "Thank you" she managed to mumbled out, as sleep grasped her again, enclosing her in darkness.
Owen relaxed slightly, propping up some pillows to make it more comfortable for him. Her delicate arms were still wrapped around him and he barely relaxed his grip on her, incase she woke up because of her nightmares.
He watched her chest rise and fall to her breaths, brushing her hair out of her face. Owen felt himself get sleepy as well, but the last thing he needed was for him to wake up, covered in sweat with his erratic breathing. His mind trailed back to early in the day, and every memory made his blood boil- especially regarding Burke.
"My problem is with you," Burke's words echoed in his minds, why would he have a problem? When would he understand that Cristina wasn't a possession for him to keep. Why would Cristina even be friends with someone like him? He was barely tolerable in Owen's eyes, Cristina didn't need him on his back, demanding her to spend time with him.
"How is she?" a voice disrupted his thoughts as he heard the door close quietly.
He looked over and saw Meredith at the door, lips pursed as she waited for Owen to answer her question. "She's not okay but she's Cristina."
"She isn't okay, i've known that for a long time," Meredith's eyes narrowed as he saw Cristina against his chest.
"She woke up crying," answering the unanswered question that was looming overhead.
"She looks peaceful," Meredith commented, sitting down on her own bed.
Owen nodded his head, he didn't know what to fill the awkward silence between him and Meredith. "So… how are you and Derek?"
"We're good, i'm happy." she shrugged. "Look I know you're trying to make small talk-"
"I'm just seeing-" Owen tried to interrupt her.
"Let me finish first, I just want to see her be happy. I'm happy now, with Derek. And she's not. I don't know your relationship with her- friend, boyfriend-"
"Friend is just fine" he grunted in response.
Meredith looked straight into his eyes, looking for anything that screamed alert but nothing came. She didn't know of him, only that he was Derek's best friend and that he was somewhat friends with her person. "Yeah okay, but she's hurting and she doesn't talk about it. I woke up so many times to find her bed empty and she would be up by the ledge reading her textbook. I don't know what happened aside from her father's death, she doesn't share. You know Cristina, she doesn't do emotions but they break her like everyone else." She took a deep breath and continued, "She stays up late, she's killing herself you know? She tires herself out to go to sleep so she doesn't need to dream… and she doesn't eat too. She studies, all she does is study because of Burke. He's slowly killing her too. She doesn't realise it but he is, he doesn't let her spend time with me or Izzie or George or Alex. As much as Alex is an ass, he's better than Burke."
Owen said nothing, letting the information sink in. He felt his stomach sink to the revelation of what she was doing to herself.
She looked at Cristina's calm figure next to Owen, sleeping soundly without much of a problem. She felt a pang of jealousy, Cristina was her person and vice versa. "Don't hurt her more… please. She doesn't need that."
"I'm not planning too, i'm not planning to hurt her or add on. Burke is… he's something." Owen said, responding to Meredith. "She's hurting, she really is. Burke, they were arguing about friends. He wants to control her, have her all to himself."
"That's not okay, I will hurt him." Meredith said, exasperated.
"Yeah I realise that isn't okay, but you need to know because you're Cristina's best friend. Watch out for her, she needs it- she needs you."
"She needs you more from the looks of it" Meredith pointed out, trying to push down the feeling of rising jealousy. But she knew that he was just looking out for her.
"I think… she needs both of us" Owen pointed out, stroking Cristina's curls. He saw Meredith's hostile approach to him. "I'm not going to hurt her, I know you're looking out for her and I'm not going to suddenly replace you. She needs you as much as she needs me, if anything she'll probably need you more. I'm looking out for her too."
"I don't know what she wants," she sighed and rubbed her temples. "And I definitely don't know what she needs."
"She needs you, and you're Derek's girlfriend, I just want to get along with you" Owen said.
"I don't know." Meredith shrugged, "I don't get along with people easily but I'll try because you're best friends with Derek. And she seems to like your company." Pointing at the sleeping Cristina.
Both of them sat in a comfortable silence as they tried to think about what to say to Cristina when she woke up. Owen didn't let go of her, or change position. He was perfectly content with where he was with her. Derek eventually came in, sitting next to Meredith as they did some homework while the rest of Cristina's friend group also came into the room- all of the giving him puzzled glances as he had the slumbing Cristina in his arms.
He didn't care what the thought of him, Cristina was safe that's all that mattered to him. "You guys can go to dinner first, i'll wait for her to wake up."
"If she wakes up, she looks really comfortable." Alex commented. "What's up with you and Yang though? First the touching of her shoulder and now she's sleeping on you."
Derek, for the second time today, raised an eyebrow, but said nothing as he normally did. He couldn't deny that Owen looked good with Yang, treating her with decency when she came off as a robotic, hard working kid. Maybe she was human after all. He gently played with Meredith's hair, watching a blush creep on her cheeks as he did.
"We're friend, Karev. Just friends nothing more." Owen replied, he caught Derek gaze and knew instantly what he was thinking, only rolling his eyes and turning away. "As I said, you can go to dinner first. I'll be right here."
They all started to get up from there chairs, whispering and in there own little bubble. Izzie saw the tear tracks that stained her face as Cristina slept on Owen's chest. It broke her heart ever so slightly, so the Robot does have emotions after all.
The group of them gathered at the door, before a gentle knock broke them out of there formation. It creeped open and Mark appeared, with Addison closely behind. Derek looked hollow and disinterested, starting to pay more attention to Meredith. "Woah there Hunt, dinner dance isn't until next year- calm down with the ladies."
Owen should have been amused but irritation replaced the phantom feeling, now was not the time to tease him. "Mark, what do you need?"
"Nothing just seeing what everybody seems to be doing here, but from what I can tell it's no party. I'm going to dinner, how about you Derek?"
"Actually I'm staying here, tell Ari that i'll come down later." Derek intoned.
"Derek…" It was Addison's voice, "Just come down to dinner, with Ari. They miss you."
"By they, you mean yourself right." Derek said, voice steadily growing. "Well, too bad. I'm not missing you. Get out, someone's trying to sleep."
"Derek-"
"Out this isn't your dorm, i'll see you around or never." He got up and closed the door in there face. "Fucking idiots," he cursed.
"Dude, that was our way out for dinner." Alex said, slightly irritated. "I'm going to go, I don't see why we're all here for Yang's pity party.
Owen bit back a response, reminding himself that these weren't his friends but Cristina's friends. "Then go, nobody is stopping you."
"Works by me," shrugged Alex. The rest of them seemed slightly hesitant but followed suit. Meredith gave him a forced smile, her eyes saying enough for Owen to understand that he needed to take care of her or else.
"You sure you're okay with her?" Derek asked, giving him a sympathetic look.
"I'll be fine, don't worry about it."
"You could just gently put her down and come with us," George meekly suggested. "Incase your hungry, of course."
"I'm fine here, don't worry about it. I'm not hungry, it'll be fine." He responded, lightly.
They all gave half-hearted goodbye, not really sure what to say to Owen, most of them were curious of what happened, some of them were just puzzled at how he could scoop Cristina in his arms and not have a huge fight about it. Alex was bored, as he always was although not disinterested. Izzie looked on with sympathy as did George- he had little to no words to express Cristina, his sympathy only extended so far, unlike Izzie. Whilst Derek sat in the silence with only slight understanding, he didn't understand the gravity of the situation while his girlfriend did. Meredith, however, sat with a stoic expression with some blush creeping in everytime Derek did something cute or romantic.
"Just go, i'll be fine. See you down there in a bit." Owen intoned, trying to dispel there glances.
"Whatever dude, see you later I guess" Alex replied.
The door shut quietly behind as they left and Owen breathed a sigh of relief. He stroked her hair, placing her curls on her side and watching her chest rise up and down, following her breathing pattern. He found himself smiling at the sleeping figure of Cristina, thinking how peaceful she looked as she slept on his chest.
He pulled out his phone and took a quick photo of her, she looked cute. So peaceful without the memories that had haunted her for so long. He had sleep problems too, but it wasn't nearly as bad as hers. Some days were better than some, like it always was.
"What are you doing?" Her morning voice kicked in as she tried to register what was going on. She saw Owen's phone, giving him a puzzled look. She looked up and realised where she was and wretched her grip from him, slightly embarrassed at the position she was in. "Gimme your phone."
"But you were cute." Owen said, grinning at her. He released his grip on her helping her up. He could tell that she was uncomfortable but in true Cristina fashion, she didn't comment on it.
"No I wasn't, give it back." Cristina said, making a reach for the phone.
"Give what back, it's my phone." Owen said, extending his arm out of her reach.
"Fine whatever, I hope you didn't take photos of me while I was passed out."
"I wasn't" Owen said, innocently. "You want dinner?"
"Yeah i'm starving. Did they go down already?" Cristina asked, she knew that he knew about Burke. She hoped that he wouldn't talk about it, although she also knew that the topic was inevitable for him to cover, she didn't want to talk about.
"Yeah they did," his laugh dying down slightly. "About Burke-"
"Look Owen, it's fine. I don't want to talk about it." Cristina said, closing her eyes and fiddling her necklace.
"You can't tell me that okay."
"It isn't, but he just wants a friend… I don't know."
"There you said it yourself, you don't know, come on Cristina. He isn't healthy for you, it's not good. And to add that to your already sleep deprived self, it really isn't okay."
She didn't reply, pushing herself off the bed. Cristina could still smell Owen's cologne on her. "I don't know."
"Come on, let's go to dinner… but think about it, okay?" Owen lightly lead her out of the room, he knew he shouldn't push the topic so he didn't. "Meredith and Derek are cute," he commented, trying to lead her mind off of Burke and everything that had happened.
"They're so so, at least i'm not hearing Meredith talk about him and they're very intimate eye sex but I don't think it's been replaced with anything better," she said, "But she's now talking about him, but whatever she's happy. I've seen cuter."
"Who?"
"Me" she said, grinning slightly. She read Owen's facial expression and gave him a grin, "I'm joking, but they're cute but they're not like Tom Holland and Zendaya."
"Are they even dating?" Owen asked, still slightly taken aback by her comment. Not because he disagreed with her self assessment but because he wholeheartedly agreed with her.
She shrugged, "I don't know but they're cute."
Like you, Owen thought. But he kept his thoughts on the inside, she didn't need to know that. "You know who else is cute, Castle and Beckett on Castle."
"I know, they're adorable."
"You watch it?" he was genuinely surprised.
"Yeah I watched it a lot when my dad died," she said quietly.
"I'm sorry." He said, feabley trying to apologise.
"It's fine," she said, I don't need you to be sorry." It was fine, like everything was but at the same time- nothing was okay, nothing was ever okay.
[]
"Does Owen like Cristina?" Meredith asked Derek as they were walking down to the cafeteria.
"Not that I know of," Derek replied, shrugging his shoulders. "If he did, he hasn't said anything." He saw Meredith's face fall, she was just looking out for Cristina after all. "If I know anything about Owen, he won't hurt her."
"I remember the time with Beth though…"
"That was when they were dating, they're just friends. Nothing more I think," Derek said, "He's not going to hurt her, don't worry."
"I worry but that made me feel a bit better." Meredith replied, giving him a smile.
"You're welcome," Derek said, draping his arm over her shoulder. "You're cute when you're worried."
"I am not," Meredith said, breaking out into a large grin.
Derek gave her another smile, "Yes you are. You so are."
Her voice mellowed slightly,"Will you ever hurt me?" she quietly asked.
"No, not in a million years."