*Author's Note- I'm so sorry this chapter took so long to complete. It's not the longest chapter, but the next chapter will definitely be longer. This was a hard chapter to write for many reasons…I've already got most of the next chapter planned out so the wait between chapters won't be long at you all for the great reviews. I appreciate it.


Not knowing how to think

I scream aloud, begin to sink

My legs and arms are broken down

With envy for the solid ground

I'm reaching for the life within me

How can one man stop his ending?

I thought of just your face

Relaxed, and floated into space

~Blue October~"Into the Ocean~


"O'Malley? What are you doing here?" Owen repeated as he came face to face with George.

" I could ask you the same thing," George replied.

" Where is everyone?"

" They're trying to save you."

" What do you mean they're trying to save me? I'm supposed to meet Cristina for dinner."

" Plans change. People do stupid things."

" You mean like jumping in front of a bus to save a stranger?"

" Exactly. Except you got shot trying to be a hero."

" How bad is it?" Owen asked as he followed George down a hallway.

" You were shot twice, once in the chest and once in the abdomen. You're losing blood quickly, almost half of your blood volume."

" How's Cristina? Does she know?"

" See for yourself."


" Get off of me Shepard!" ordered Cristina as she struggled against Derek's grip.

" I know if I let you go, you're just going to run back in there," reasoned Derek as the doors to Trauma 3 burst open. A sharp pain radiated through his forearm as Cristina's teeth sunk into his flesh, allowing her to break free.

" Mer. How is he?"

" He's lost over half his blood volume. One shot to the mid-right chest, the second is to the upper abdomen. We really won't know specifics until we can open him up and assess the damage."

" Please. Just let me see him for a second," she begged as she stepped in front of the gurney. Cristina's heart lodged in her chest as she glanced down at Owen's body. His skin was as white as snow, the paleness amplified by his red hair, which was matted with his blood. Cristina leaned in, making sure to avoid the bloodied bandages on Owen's chest as she whispered into his ear.

" We'll grab the next one," said Meredith, indicating for Bailey and Richard to load Owen onto the waiting elevator.

What happened to you?" she asked as Derek slid into the elevator at the last second, a handful of gauze pressed to his arm.

" She bit me."

" Sorry about that," Cristina muttered as the elevator reached the fourth floor. As they approached the OR, she grabbed Meredith by the arm, stopping her from entering the operating room.

Meredith. I saved your guy. Please save mine." Meredith embraced Cristina then entered the scrub room where Bailey and Richard were waiting.


" How's he doing?"

" Barely hanging on. What the hell was he thinking?" Richard stated as they finished scrubbing.

" I wish I knew," replied Meredith as they entered the OR.

" How's Yang?"

" You mean besides her biting Derek? I've got him keeping an eye on her and interns guarding the OR doors incase she gets any ideas."

" I guess no one was watching the doors to the gallery," Bailey commented, acknowledging Cristina's presence.

" We don't have the time to deal with this," replied Meredith.

His BP is on the verge of bottoming out and he's loosing blood at an alarming rate. I'd rather deal with Cristina being in the gallery than to have to tell her he's died because we spent time arguing over whether or not she should be in there. Scalpel."


Cristina let out a sigh as she settled into a chair. How was this happening? She and Owen were supposed to be having a nice romantic dinner. They were supposed to be talking, figuring things out. There was supposed to be hot, dirty sex. Cristina had shaved her legs and put on a blouse that was one of Owen's favorites, a plum colored top with a plunging neckline. Her hair was pulled up to show off her neck, another detail she knew he would enjoy. She wasn't supposed to be sitting in an OR gallery watching her best friend and fellow colleagues removing bullets from Owen's body. She quickly glanced up to the video monitor in the corner, her stomach churning as the camera in the OR focused in on Owen's bloody chest. As Richard inserted the rib spreader into the incision Meredith had just made, Cristina found herself hurrying to the trashcan in the corner, emptying the contents of her stomach as Owen's ribs were cracked.

" Feel better?" Cristina looked up to find Derek standing in the doorway.

" If you ever tell anyone what you just saw…"

" No worries," he said as he took a seat next to Cristina's.

Zola wanted you to have this." Cristina took a stuffed elephant from Derek's hands.

" Ella the elephant. Owen gave this to her, didn't he?"

" Right after she had her tonsils out last fall. She said it was to make her Uncle Owen feel better."

" Where is she?"

" Having a slumber party with Sofia, Callie, and Arizona. How's he doing?"

" Bad," she replied as she picked at a loose piece of string on the elephant's ear.

I've cracked open more chest cavities than I can count…"

" It's because he's your person. You love him and hate to see him hurting. It's human nature," explained Derek as Cristina turned her attention back to the screen.


" I can't see through all of this blood. I need more suction," Bailey said.

" His spleen is completely shredded," replied Meredith.

How are his vitals?"

" His BP is 50/30. Heart rate is all over the place," answered the anesthesiologist as the monitors began beeping.

" He's in V-Fib. Charge the paddles. 300," instructed Richard.

Nothing. Charge to 360. Clear! Charge to 360 again!"

" Asystole. Start compressions and push the epinephrine," ordered Meredith.


" They need to try harder. TRY HARDER!" Owen shouted.

" They can't hear you," replied George as Owen began pacing.

" This can't be happening. I can't die and leave Cristina alone. I love her."


" Push another round of epi! Come on Owen. Don't do this," Meredith said, her voice cracking as she looked down at Owen's lifeless body. Still nothing.

" How long has it been?" questioned Bailey as Cristina's voice came through the speakers in the OR.

" Don't stop Meredith! Keep trying. Please!" Meredith looked up to the gallery where Cristina was now standing at the window.

Mer. Please! He's my person. Keep trying! I… I love him."


" What happens now?" asked Owen.

" You have a choice to make. It's up to you Dr. Hunt. You have to choose."

" What do you mean I have to choose? Isn't it obvious?"

" Once you've chosen, there's no going back. Are you sure?" Owen nodded then locked eyes with George.

" I'm sure."