NINE

Owen stood at the end of Meredith's hospital bed holding her chart; he had his head down and flicked the two pages, pretending to read what was written. His professionalism was admirable, but what gave away his embarrassment were the red tips of his ears and the creeping burgundy up his neck.

Meredith lay with her head against some pillows and watched Callie as she attended to her ankle. She closed her eyes with a sigh. The rattle of her chart falling back into its holder caused her to open them again and she looked at Owen.

She felt sorry for him really.

Callie was giving her odd looks and why shouldn't she, this was whole situation was embarrassing. Owen cleared his throat and mumbled something about the ankle being 'just sprained' and she'd be okay, keep off it, keep it elevated. Meredith closed her eyes again, bla bla bla. They were all doctors; she knew what she should do. She breathed out heavily through her nose.

Seriously, she fell.

A grown woman and a grown man, pushing themselves slowly around a 'roller rink' and seriously, she fell. In front of everyone. She needed to not see Lexie ever again.

Forty minutes into her 'date' with Owen, she was actually having a good time. Strange, but not so terrible. It was an outdoor rink, and they were just another 'couple'. Owen was a gentle man and did gentlemanly things, like opening car doors and cupping her elbows, and asking her opinions and paying for things. She wondered how Cristina endured all the chivalry, but thinking about how fiercely Cristina defended Owen, she bet her friend, secretly loved being the girl to his guy. For a brief forty minutes, Meredith got a glimpse into the world of the Hunts and she was surprised. Outside of the hospital, on his own, he was not so bad. Sort of.

She fell because she said, "What's this all about Dr Hunt?' and he said. "Owen, please." And she said. "Why are you doing this, Owen?" And he said. 'Because I love Cristina and I want to hear you out. You don't like me, I hurt Cristina once and you hate me for it. So let's just get to the bottom of your resentment. I won't hold it against you." He was pretty direct, and that caused her to turn to look at him as they went around the rink for the second time, and that was it, she slipped, her ankle bending under her. Date over.

Owen accessed the ankle, and then asking her permission, picked her up in his arms, and once again, she got a glimpse into the world of the Hunts. He was strong and, manly.

She sighed.

At the hospital he went into Doctor mode. Derek showed up, gave Owen a bit of a talking to. Gave Meredith a bit of a talking to. Kissed her forehead, pulled Owen out of the room, gave him another talking to - she could see through the glass - but couldn't hear. Meredith was attended to, had something to eat. Fell asleep and now it was morning. Monday morning.

Owen had been diligent, fussing, but pretending not to fuss. Callie had quietly put her through the necessary processes, and was sat quietly attending to her ankle, intermittedly looking at Owen and shaking her head.

All had been pretty straight forward through the morning until Cristina arrived to start her shift and came up to visit Meredith. That's when embarrassment levels rose to an all time high. Cristina hurried into Meredith's hospital room and cut a look at Owen. She stood at the end of Meredith's bed and picked up Meredith's chart. Her face was sick with sorrow. "Meredith...I am so so sorry." She put the chart back and looked at her friend.

Bringing one hand up to her chest she emphasised her upset. "I told him Mer, I told him, and I told you, do not do this. Who takes a grown woman roller skating for their first date? Well I know people do. But you're not people. You're Meredith." Cristina was genuinely upset, and more than a little embarrassed at the bandage on Meredith's ankle.

Owen stood to the side, wishing Cristina would go away.

"I suggested dinner remember. You know he's a good cook. I am so embarrassed." Cristina shook her head. Her eyes connected with Meredith, who just looked at her. Callie stood quietly with her arms folded, all her work was done, she was about to leave the room when Cristina appeared, she decided to hang back a moment to see what unfolded.

"It was an accident." Meredith was more embarrassed than Cristina could ever be. "And you can stop calling it a date now."

Cristina moved from the foot of the bed to stand beside Meredith and fussed. "Did he push you? You can tell me?"

Meredith laughed softly despite her mood. "I just fell, it wasn't his fault." She leant her head back on the multiple pillows Cristina had insisted she have.

Owen stood with his hands on his hips, watching her.

"I've told him Mer. No sex from me, for three days. In honour of breaking my person, I will not let him touch me. Three days. This is what I am doing for you." Callie flicked her eyes at Owen and made a face.

"You would think her person would be worth one week." She muttered.

"Did he push you?" They turned to see Alex enter. "Just tell me if he pushed you." Alex walked over to Meredith not seeing Owen or Callie.

"He did not push her." Cristina looked daggers at him.

Alex moving to grab Meredith's chart to scan it, started at Owens and Callie's disgruntled faces.

"Thank you Karev." Owen pulled Meredith's chart from Alex's hand. The tips of his ears flamed red, but he kept his composure. "Don't you both have things to attend to?"

"He means you." Said Cristina to Alex.

"I mean both of you." Owen cupped Cristina's elbow. He ushered them both out of the door. He had a no nonsense face. Turning, he asked Meredith if she wanted anything.

"Just peace," Meredith smiled weakly.