It had been a week since Cristina had visited Colin, and she was still utterly confused. Currently, she was still ignoring Owen's constant pleas to talk, still hurt by his cheating. She knew she loved him, she just didn't know if that was enough.
She was on trauma today, something she'd been dreading for weeks. She and Owen worked in silence, only speaking when it was medically required. However, the longing glances and hurt expressions spoke for themselves.
Cristina sat at the trauma desk, waiting for the phone to ring. Uncharacteristically, Cristina was relieved by the lack of traumas; it left her more time to contemplate her options without Owen's longing stare.
"Dr. Yang," his voice was rough, he sounded tired. "Yes, Dr. Hunt," she answered professionally, turning to face him. He looked just like he sounded, exhausted. His eyes were sunken in, they were dull and dark. He hadn't shaved in a few days, and he looked thinner. "If you could come with me to my office, we have to complete our weekly meeting regarding your fellowship choices for next year," his voice was strangled, his eyes downcast.
"Of course Dr. Hunt," she followed him into his office, trying to breathe normally. These meeting always left her feeling empty, like a shell of herself. It was nearly impossible to discuss the idea of you leaving with the husband that you were no longer speaking to.
The two awkwardly sat down, mentally preparing themselves for what was about to commence. Cristina looked sadly around the office, looking at the pictures of them from happier times. There was a picture of them on their wedding day hanging right next to his diploma. There was one from Derek's birthday last year, she was sitting in his lap with his arms around her, placed by his name plaque on his desk. Cristina noticed a new addition, causing her heart to stop. It was her article from the New England of Medicine, the 'Surgeons to Watch'. It featured a picture of her in her scrubs, and talked about her accomplishments. It had only come out last week, so Owen must've been keeping up with her.
Owen cleared his throat, signaling that it was time to start. Waving away any distraction, Cristina looked at him, focused. "So as you know, you've got at least fifteen outstanding offers from hospitals around the country. Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, NIH, and USC are just a few, also you have an offer from Seattle Grace Mercy West," he reminded her, his voice breaking.
"I don't want to pressure you, this is a big decision Cristina," he told her softly, his eyes drifting to his desk. "With that said, the deadline to respond is quickly approaching, and you don't seem to be completely sure of your direction at this point," he reminded her quietly.
"Yes, I understand. I'm working to make the decision that is best for me," Cristina whispered, trying to keep the hurt out of her voice.
Owen nodded, and continued, "With your specialty being Cardiothoracic USC or Cleveland are probably your best options. However, SGMW, does offer familiarity, the ability to remain in your home," Owen fought against the lump in his throat, as tears filled his eyes.
Cristina breathed raggedly, feeling like she'd been kicked in the ribs. Tears filled her eyes as well, when Owen's paged rang. Quickly he scanned the message and stood up. "I have an incoming to the pit, and also a follow-up from a patient from a month or so ago. Would you be able to complete the follow-up for me, and then join me if this incoming results in a trauma," Owen was completely back to professional mode.
"Of course Dr. Hunt," she nodded before grabbing the patients' chart from his desk. Following him out of his office, he threw her a final glance before going down to the pit. "Piper Gellar?" she called once she made it down to the waiting room. A small brunette stood, followed by a woman with curly blonde hair. "Hello, I'm Dr. Yang, I'll be doing your follow-up today," she smiled and motioned for the two to follow her into an exam room.
"Where's Dr. Hunt, he performed the surgery and Piper tells me her usually performs the exam," the blonde woman asked, looking slightly disappointed. As Cristina helped Piper onto the exam table, she looked curiously back at the blonde woman. What she is doing here, she wondered. "Dr. Hunt received a page, so I'll be completing it for him. May I ask who you are?" Cristina was losing patience for the irritating woman. While waiting for a response, she quickly glanced over the chart, and began the usual routine that Owen had described in his notes.
"I'm Piper's friend, I was with her during the accident," she told Cristina, matter-of-factly. "Mhm," Cristina responded, checking Piper's vitals. "How's the incision site, any pain or discomfort?" Cristina asked, examining the almost healed wound. "Are you sure Dr. Hunt won't be stopping by at all," the blonde interrupted.
Cristina turned to ask her to leave when Piper spoke up. "I'm sorry about her, she really wants to see Dr. Hunt. I guess after saving my life, the two of them went for drinks and really hit it off. She's been trying to get a hold of him for a month now, with no luck. She figured if she showed up, she might get another chance with him," Piper rolled her eyes before extending her arm so Cristina could check her blood pressure.
Suddenly Cristina couldn't breathe. That woman was the woman from the bar, the woman that Owen had cheated with. Cristina's blood ran cold, she couldn't focus. That woman, knowing he was married had come to track Owen down for another round of adulterous sex. She felt like vomiting. "You know, he might stop by, you never know," she forced herself to answer before continuing on with the exam.
The blonde's dream came true because within minutes Owen was throwing away his trauma gown and making his way to the check-up room. "Hello Piper," he greeted, before noticing Cristina's rigid pose. He wondered what had caused her reaction when he saw Piper's friend sitting on a chair, staring at him intently. Cristina turned in his direction, tears filling her eyes rapidly. "Dr. Hunt, I'll let you finish up," she whispered before moving towards the door. "Cristina," he put his arm out to stop her, but she brushed past it, a single tear escaping. "Cristina," he called again, before returning to finish Piper's exam.
After a few awkward minutes, Piper excused herself to the bathroom. Cristina watched as she exited and she quickly moved towards the doorway to listen to Owen's discussion.
The blonde girl was smiling, obviously pleased that she had some alone time with Owen. "So we meet again," she flirted, moving to stand next to him. "What are you doing here," he growled, obviously frustrated. "What do you mean," she asked, innocently.
"I mean why did you come here, to my place of work. You can't just show up and flirt with me in front of my co-workers, in front of my wife," he told her angrily, moving away from her. The blonde woman gasped, before smiling, "That doctor was your wife," she snickered, causing Cristina to ball her fists in anger. The blonde obviously enjoyed inflicting pain on Cristina.
"Yes, that was my wife. She's already devastated, I don't need you coming around and flaunting my mistake in her face. I've already caused her enough pain," he sighed, rubbing his face roughly. "Oh, so you told her," the blonde asked, intrigued.
Owen looked at her incredulously, "Of course I told her, I'm in love with her," he spat, disgusted with the woman. "You seemed like the kind who would try to fix things, I could tell from the moment I met you," the woman's voice made Cristina's skin crawl.
"You need to go, and never come back," Owen told her, and pointed to the door. "Oh come on, Dr. Yang doesn't seem like the forgiving type. Let's give it another go," she purred, her fingers trailing up Owen's arm.
Flinching away from her touch, Owen's eyes went dark. "You need to leave. What I did with you was a mistake, a mistake that I will regret for my entire life because I hurt the woman I love. She's probably moving across the country, because of what I did. It wouldn't matter if Cristina and I were divorced; I never want to hurt her again. So please, just leave," Owen watched as the woman gathered her purse, and stomped off, obviously sour.
Owen sat on the exam table, his head in his hands. Cristina walked through the doorway, tears glistening her cheeks. "I can't believe you kept it," Cristina whispered, causing Owen to look up. "What?" he asked his voice thick with tears. "The 'Surgeons to Watch' article, the one with me in it that came out just last week," she smiled slightly at the memory of it framed in his office.
"It's my wife, featured in the most prominent medical journal in the world; of course I'm going to frame it. You finally reached your goal, and I'm so unbelievably proud of you," emotion fueled each of his words.
"I'm so sorry she came here, I can't even imagine what you must've felt. I am just so sorry I screwed everything up," tears welled in Owen's eyes as he spoke. Cristina walked over slowly, and touched her forehead to his, tears running down her face. "How did we get here?" she asked sadly, allowing herself to touch Owen's face lightly, wiping away his tears.
"I have no idea, but I wish more than anything that we could fix it," Owen told her earnestly. Owen pulled Cristina into his arms, resting his chin on her shoulder as Cristina leaned her head on the front of his shoulder, before she fell apart. Owen swayed her back and forth, kissing her hair.
"I'm still so angry with you, and I don't know if I can trust you," Cristina told him. Owen nodded, "I know, and that's alright." "I still want to be a cardiogod, and you still want to be a father," she reminded him quietly. "I know that too," Owen kissed her forehead. "I don't know if love is enough, but I want to try, I love you a lot," she whispered. "I love you too, all you have to do it meet me halfway. All you have to do it say yes," Owen murmured into her ear, reminiscent of their first promise to try and fix themselves.
Cristina knew they might not work out, and she knew that she might be leaving. Cristina knew that she was hurting, but she also knew that they had to try. She knew that it wouldn't be fair for two people who loved each other to give up without exhausting every single option. Cristina knew it would be difficult, but still she whispered, "Yes," before kissing Owen quickly on the lips before walking out of the room, the confusion in her mind finally gone.