Fresh off of a bank robbery, Cristina crept low behind the large sofa in their living room, scoping out a horse to steal. She was dressed as a cowgirl, who happened to be wanted by three red headed sheriffs in the deserts of the Wild West. As she peeked around the corners of the couch she saw that the coast was clear to snatch the horse and ride off into the next town. Cowgirl Cristina emerged from her hiding post and reached the horse.
"Reach for the sky!" Sheriff Owen yelled in his best country accent, making the younger Sheriff Hunts giggle. "You're caught red handed."
Cristina fought back a smile and turned around to face the good looking sheriffs. "Oh no, sheriff Hunts!"
"Drop the bag of money little lady." Sheriff Owen ordered. She did as she was told and dropped the bag to her feet.
"Alright little troo-I mean sheriffs. Go and collect that money." They should have been called giggling sheriffs because they thought it was all so hilarious. Through their laughter they ran to their mom and retrieved the sack of money, just as their dad told them.
"Okay missy. Start a getting' a move on. Jail time for you."
Cristina winked at Ethan and Evan as she passed them to take her place in jail.
"Alright little Hunts, what shall the punishment be?" He asked. In response all they did was laugh.
Owen knew what they wanted to happen. "Who votes for tickling?" he asked.
They both jumped up and down nodding to his question. Cristina knew what was coming and tried to make a slow run for it.
"Oh the bandit is trying to escape! Let's round her up boys!" With that Owen retrieved the tied up jump rope tied into a lasso and caught Cristina around her waist with ease, which delighted Ethan and Evan who jumped and cheered in excitement.
"Double punishment for you little lady. Trying to escape like that."
"No please, I give up." Cowgirl Cristina pleaded. Owen's tickling was deadly.
"A little too late for that." And with that Owen immediately started tickling Cristina's side causing her erupt in loud laughter that always made Ethan and Evan explode in the same unique laughs they shared with their mom.
"Owen! Owen!," Cristina yelled through her laughter. "Ahahaha-Stop-hahahaha-let me get a breath in-ahaha."
Owen paused. "What do you say boys, should I stop tickling mommy?"
Their response was a shake of their heads in unison. "Sorry bandit, I gotta follow my partners' laws."
With that Owen proceeded to tickle Cristina, continuing her to laugh insanely – causing her eyes to water and cheeks to hurt. When Owen finally stopped Cristina was out of breath, but it did not last long because Ethan and Evan started tickling her once more. Her laugh was amusing to them and loved hearing it. This was just an example of what life was like at home with little hunts.
- - - - - - -
Cristina did not recall moving from the scrub room floor. She had no recollection of Alex scooping her up into his arms before she could hear whether life was restored or time of death was called. She did not remember him taking her to an exam room where Meredith and her twins awaited her, but Cristina vividly remembered that day; the day before the twins' birthday – yesterday. Yesterday when Owen was home being an amazing husband and father. When Owen was playing make believe cowboy games with Ethan and Evan, and tickling their mommy for their amusement. She wanted her wonderful family man back. Life was being lost and she desperately wanted to press pause and rewind, to go back to yesterday when Owen's heart held a steady beat. Yesterday's cowboys antic and wishing and hoping she could turn back the hands of time is what went through Cristina's mind as she consoled Ethan and Evan.
Although very young, Ethan and Evan were no fools. They could sense the awful feeling that lingered in the room, the terrified expression that their mom wore on her face scared them. They began calling out for their daddy, which made more tears stream down Cristina's cheeks and onto the tops of their heads. They wanted him to come and console them, to take this horrible feeling away. To make their mommy stop crying and start laughing just like in the make believe games they played.
Cristina possessed no comforting words for her sons'. They were too small to understand exactly what was happening with their father but they knew something awful was present. She could not tell them their father was hurt and going to be okay because she did not know. So instead she did something that surprised Meredith and Alex. She began to pray, and pray aloud as she rocked back and forth with Ethan and Evan in her arms.
Hours passed and Cristina remained rocking Ethan and Evan, who fell fast asleep, still praying, repeating the same prayer over and over. Meredith and Alex were not familiar with Jewish prayers, let alone religion, but Cristina had repeated it so many times they memorized the words and joined in. They all knew just how serious this situation was and wanted help from everywhere possible.
As Derek walked into the exam room silence fell upon all of them. Alex took both boys from Cristina's arms and placed them on the bed. Cristina stopped praying; her tears immediately came to a halt, and swallowed hard. Her eyes were terrified to meet his. She knew exactly why he was there; to deliver news about Owen, but afraid about what kind.
Derek sat in a chair adjacent from Cristina and stared in her direction. As he removed his scrub cap he clenched it tightly in his hand and sighed deeply. Cristina was hesitant to meet his gaze but did so with worrisome eyes. His eyes hinted something awful that made her lip quiver in fear. Her ears were ready; her brain ready for whatever information his lips were going to release, but her heart was not. Her heart was not ready to fathom any news of Owen no longer being in life, or worse the life of her twins.
To immense relief no words of death escaped Derek's mouth. He spoke of Owen's head injuries, his surgery and its difficulty. He mentioned a broken left arm and one broken rib. Cristina took in what he said but was still awaiting the awful news that still lingered in his eyes. The dreadful news he had yet to release. The bad news he was so reluctant to tell her.
The words "postoperative seizure" and "coma" made Cristina erupt in frightful silent sobs. It made Alex shake his head vigorously. Owen was the first male figure he ever looked up to. He was a great friend to Alex and a phenomenal mentor to him. He could not believe his own ears. Meredith wept silently as she rubbed the backs of sleeping Ethan and Evan, who were tucked in tightly on one of the beds. Derek had never seen Cristina cry, and although they were never the best of friends he embraced her. He reminded her that a person in a comatose state was very much alive and to hold onto the facts that they typically last from a couple of days to a couple of weeks.
Cristina wanted to hold on to those words, and be hopeful, but she was a doctor. Although her specialty was hearts, she knew a thing or two about comas. She could not fall comfortably on those facts, she could not rule out the dreadful possibilities of it lasting for several years, or worse die. She would have to painfully wait.
When all the emotions settle Derek released his brace and spoke.
"The coma is mainly related to increased pressure of the brain. Right now we are using hyperventilation which increases the rate and depth of breathing so that the blood vessels in the brain constrict and-"
"The blood flow slows down." Cristina finished. "I know what it means."
Derek reached out and squeezed Cristina's hand. "We're very hopeful this is going to work."
She wanted to believe him and say okay but all the daunting possibilities of what could happen did not allow her.
"Cristina he will wake up. Come on," he said tugged her hand. "Let's take you to Owen."
"I'll look after the boys Cristina," Meredith added and offered a comforting smile. "I have tomorrow off."
She nodded and followed Derek to Owen's room.
It was difficult to see her husband so bruised and battered. The cast on his arm, cuts on his cheeks and forehead, the bandages on his head all brought more tears to Cristina's eyes. She did not know the body was capable of producing all the tears she was shedding.
Cristina released her hand from Derek's and slowly made her way beside Owen. She gently placed his hand in hers and squeezed it as she placed a warm kiss on his cheek. It saddened her that his body was not responsive to any sort of physical stimulation.
She still held his hand for dear life. She used her other hand to cradle his face and spoke softly.
"Please." She uttered through soft whimpers, "Please wake up. Come back to us Owen, Please."
At this point Derek left the room, leaving Cristina to have time alone with her husband.
Exhaustion or tiredness did not register in Cristina's mind as she spent the night at the hospital. She never left Owen's beside or released her grip from his hand. She was afraid to fall asleep or leave his bedside for even a second just in case his eyes would sudden open. Alex visited the room frequently, updating her on her twins and how they were safely spending the night at Meredith's house. He brought her strong black coffee and vending machine snacks, none of which she ate but he continued to bring them anyway. He was worried and scared but did his best put on a strong face.
Derek called both Cristina and Owen's mom and together they entered Owen's room with fearsome expressions. They were greeted by a gloomy red-rimmed eyed Cristina. Sarah, Owen's mother immediately went to her son's bed side and placed a hand on his chest. She averted her eyes momentarily and gave Cristina sympathetic look before turning her attention back to her son. She sobbed silently for her son to wake up. Helen Rubenstein placed one hand over her heart as she rushed to Cristina's side. Her and her daughter were never close but she remained by her side, stroking her hand and offering comforting words. Although under different circumstances she knew Cristina was thinking of Ethan and Evan and comparing this to her own missing father.
They spent hours silently speaking in their shaky voices. Both mothers tried to convince Cristina to go home, shower, eat and get a little rest, but she refused claiming she was fine and would not leave his side under any circumstances.
As Sarah began praying quietly for her son Helen took the opportunity to speak with Cristina.
"Where are the children?" she asked.
"Meredith is looking after them," Cristina answered.
Helen hesitated before asking her next question. "Have they seen their father?"
"No," Cristina simply said.
"Would you give me directions? I would like to see them."
Cristina took Helen's blackberry and entered the address into the navigation.
"I know the timing is awful but I brought them presents."
Cristina's red-rimmed eyes met her mothers'. "Do not let them open any presents. I promised Owen I would wait for him. He doesn't want to miss it."
Helen's mouth went agape to speak but chose to close it and nodded instead.
A few hours later she returned with Ethan and Evan. They instantly ran to their mother and hugged her tightly.
Cristina did her absolute best to hide the horrifying expressions they witnessed yesterday.
"Hey guys. I missed you so much last night," She said as gave them kisses.
When their deep ocean blue eyes met hers she offered them a warm and comforting smile. They were exact replicas of Owen and it made her yearn even more for him to wake up. Having her sons there allowed her to push aside any fears she had of Owen not waking up. She needed to be strong for them and believe that he was going to pull through. She needed to believe that they would once again be a family.
When Ethan and Evan left Cristina's embrace they trotted over to Owen and nudged him for him to wake up.
"Dada, Dada." They both said as they shook his right arm. When there was no response, they became puzzled, and looked to their mother for answers. Before Cristina could even form a thought Sarah spoke for her.
Although they did not fully fathom what she said her warm smile made them feel better. "Sweeties, you daddy is sleeping. He's very tired." She explained hugging them. With that Cristina was determined to believe Owen would wake up. Her sons would experience no step-father as she did.
- - - - - - - -
A week passed. The hyperventilation was successful in decreasing intracranial pressure but Owen had yet to wake from his comatose state. Cristina looked for answers from Derek and the internet but all stating she would just have to wait. Meredith eventually got her to shower, get into some clean clothes and eat something. She told Cristina it looked like she was sitting shiva for Owen and he was far from dead. It immediately got Cristina out of her chair and shower with vast speed. She ate toast or muffins with coffee or orange juice. Sarah and Helen visited every day and stayed until the last second of visiting hours were over. Ethan and Evan go to see their dad every day; sometimes allowed to even stay the night with Cristina, but for the most part remained with either Helen or Sarah for the night. They missed their nightly bedtime stories both their parents would read to them or better yet act out. The twins missed being a family.
During week two, Cristina began telling Owen stories consisting of how they first met, their engagement, their wedding. She touched on being pregnant, the surprising but blessed arrival of their twins. She spoke of all the memories they built together as a couple, as husband and wife and as a family, all in hopes that it would spark something wake him up. When Ethan and Evan would visit Cristina she would read from the extensive children books Owen purchased for them. She played them their favorite songs to dance it out to as a family, and their wedding song.
Cristina got all of those ideas from stories she heard or read about their loved one waking up after hearing an entire music cd, or stories from their life. Each visit Ethan and Evan would bring their Woody and Buzz dolls, hinting to their mom they wanted to watch the movie, but it did not register or she began playing or reading or telling a familiar story Owen would recognize.
It was exactly two weeks from the date of the accident – Ethan and Evan's first birthday. Cristina had lost ten pounds and looked exhausted beyond belief. She feasted on vending machine snacks and occasional cafeteria food brought my one of her friends. Helen and Sarah continued to visit with the twins every day, and her friends became regular visitors. Even with all the people supporting and there for Owen she refused to leave the hospital. She continued her showering, eating and sleeping at the hospital.
"Mom,Mom." Ethan yelled running up to her. He was carrying his and Evan's favorite movie in the world, Toy Story.
Cristina caressed his cheek. "Oh sweet, there's no DVD-players here."
The nurse who was taking Owen's stats interjected. "Oh, we have that movie on VHS here at the hospital. Would you like me to run to peds and fetch the movie for you?"
Cristina looked into the eyes of both of her sons. "Sure." She could not tell them no when they gave her the same puppy dog eyes Owen did.
When the movie was popped into the TV's built-in VHS player Ethan and Evan comfortably plopped on a chair in front of their father's hospital bed. Cristina smiled as she saw how excited they became by the familiar music and flash of the disney trademark castle.
When the part where Woody tells Mr. Potato head to reach for the sky, it vividly brought back memories of the last time they acted out their own versions of this. It brought fresh tears to Cristina's swollen eyes. She grabbed Owen's hand and bowed her head on his bed.
Cristina shut her eyes and squeezed them tightly closed. "Please." She whispered softly, "Please wake up."
As the cartoon movie played for Ethan and Evan Cristina felt something. It surprised her and brought her great joy.
The hand she held so tightly in hers began to move. Owen's fingers were lightly shifting, attempting to curl around Cristina's.
a/n: Thank you for all the reviews, they are what keep this fic alive. I would also like to mention I am not great on the medical lingo, so please forgive any mistakes or incorrect information in this fictional story.