The Importance Of Trust

Chapter 4

All Owen could do was stare.

He woke up after a horrible night's sleep in Cristina's empty bedroom; Knowing that she would not come home overnight and secretly wishing that he would wake up to her in the morning.

The gun was pointed straight at her neck.

He lay in her bed, wrapped in her scent, just staring.

I don't trust you anymore.

Her alarm clock went off, disrupting the eerie silence. She was there with him…and yet she wasn't.

Why is it that you have to be on the edge of losing me to realize that you love me?

His arm was stiff as he moved to get out of bed. Pain shot through him as he entered the hospital, pass the police force that had obviously stayed overnight, to the room where he knew Cristina would be. He stood outside of the dark room.

And all Owen could do was stare.

There were two beds now in Derek's patient's room. Meredith and Cristina were sleeping, Cristina's arms around Meredith, in one bed and Derek in the other.

And all Owen could do was stare.

He wanted to go in and wait for Cristina to wake up, but somehow he knew that he was not welcome in the room.

Hours passed.

"Owen Hunt," Derek said as he entered the room.

"Hey Derek," Owen responded. He took a seat next to his bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Alright, considering." The two looked at each other.

"Where are the twisted sisters?" Owen asked. "I'm surprised they left you alone."

"They should be back soon. I think they went to check on Alex," Derek said. Owen nodded. "How's your arm?"

"Good." There was silence in the room, except for Derek's monitor. "So, um," Owen didn't know how to start. "Cristina did an amazing job on your surgery."

Derek gave a little laugh, "She has the tendency do that."

"You're not surprised?"

"Are you?" Derek asked. Derek looked Owen in the eyes. Owen knew that look.

"What aren't you telling me?" Owen responded without answering his question.

"If you didn't notice already, Cristina is family-" Derek started

"No, I noticed. It was made pretty clear by her actions yesterday."

"-Don't mistake me, we hate each other. But I can't say anything to-" He was cut off by Cristina and Meredith entering with his lunch.

Meredith went over to kiss Derek briefly. "Hey."

"Hey," Derek responded, pressing his lips to Meredith's check. "How's Alex doing?" Derek asked, his eyes darting between both women.

"Better-" Meredith started.

"Lexie won't leave his side," Cristina finished for her.

Cristina was now sitting on the end of Derek's bed, and Meredith sat in the chair opposite Owen's, starting to feed him.

"Mark was right outside his room, staring at her," Meredith shared.

"Why am I not surprised?" Derek responded in between bites.

The three of them shared a smile. Owen couldn't help feeling like the outsider to a family that he so desperately wanted to become a part of.

Owen stood up, "I'm glad you're doing well, Derek."

Cristina put her arm up to stop him, "You're leaving?"

"Yeah, I have to check on some post-opts," He still felt Cristina's arm around his waist. He closed his eyes and kissed her hair. "I'll see you soon, Okay?"

"Okay," Cristina responded, a little confused.

As soon as Owen was out of sight, he heard: "Cristina, why is your boyfriend's arm in a sling again?" Derek couldn't help the words from slipping out and teasing her.

"Because the world apparently hates me," Cristina said.

"You know, if the bullet went in his shoulder an inch to the left, you would be in big trouble," Derek added, eyeing Cristina.

"Oh, I would be in big trouble?" Cristina raised her eyebrows.

"Yeah, but I think I should ban you from his OR, anyway." Derek said.

"Derek!" Meredith couldn't believe the words coming from his mouth.

"No," Cristina responded with a smirk, "Please do. It's really not fun being yelled at by him in his OR."

All three of them smiled, silently enjoying being able to remiss about old times.

Cristina pager went off, disrupting the silence.

"Bailey," Cristina said as she moved off the bed and towards the door.

"Hey, have fun on your date tonight." Derek said as a departing goodbye.

Cristina stopped mid-step. "It's not a date," Meredith and Cristina said together.

"Well, you've already kissed-" Derek started.

"Meredith!" Cristina almost yelled at her friend in betrayal.

"—And have you seen the way he looks at you? He clearly is-"

"It is not a date. I said we could go out for drinks, and only drinks, because he is the reason you are lying there being annoying!" Cristina frustration rose as she headed toward the door.

Cristina could feel Derek and Meredith's smiles on her back as she exited the door to round the corner, which only pissed her off even more.

As she rounded the corner, her body collided with Owen's. Cristina took a step back to look into Owen's angry face.

"Wow, talk about trust." Cristina said finally, realizing that Owen had just overheard her entire previous conversation.

And all Owen could do was stare.