Chapter 11
In every relationship when it comes to an end, the only way to actually suggest that it has really finished, is to move on. Some go on a trip to think over their thoughts, some gorge themselves to death with tubs of ice cream in the living room, whilst others quickly start another relationship to prove to their ex that they're really over each other. For some reason, the later never works out the way you've planned.
Whilst looking for her patient's folio, Henry approached Cristina with a folder in his hand.
"Good morning Dr Yang."
"Mornin' Dr Kim." Cristina said with a hint of dread.
"How was your rest last night? You slept well?"
"Very well until I woke up and realised that I was late for my shift. I'm cranky so don't bother me." Cristina continued to find the folder, avoiding Henry's eyes. From afar, Burke was walking towards them and he stood a few distances from the counter away from them. Henry didn't take any notice of him.
"Oook. Well on the other hand, I'm quite excited today. A man with a harpoon sticking out from his back, inches away from his heart and still barely alive. Apparently he was swimming and his friend thought he was a shark."
Cristina's head jerked up with sudden interest in the case.
"A harpoon? Sticking out from his back?"
"Yep. A 40 inche pole sticking out from his back." Henry held out the case, inticing her.
Like bait, Cristina's hand immediately reached out for the folder but he held back playfully.
"Only if you go out with me."
Not this again. Cristina moaned in her head, but suddenly caught Burke's glance, who happened to have heard what Henry had said.
Must move on. Cristina bit her lip and smiled back at Henry.
"Alright then."
This caught both Henry and Burke equally by surprise.
"What?" Henry faltered a little.
"I want in on the case, so I'll agree to go out with you." she took the folder, loosly held in his hands.
"Um..ok then." Henry recovered and suddenly realised his luck. "Um I'm on call tonight, so how about tomorrow after work?"
"Sure." Cristina nodded, looking quickly at Burke's expression with slight amusement and walked away.
"Well...that was unexpected." Henry laughed, looking sideways at Burke.
Burke only managed a smile. "Well Dr Kim, shall we go and check our patient from yesterday?"
"You're going out with Henry?" Meredith's eyes widened when Cristina told her the news.
"Shh, not so loud." Cristina hissed as they walked down the busy hallway.
"But I thought you were getting over Burke-"
"I am over Burke!" Cristina snapped.
"Ok then. But I thought you said that Henry was horrible."
"He is. Well he's..he's a good friend too."
Meredith suddenly knew what was really going on.
"You're trying to prove to Burke that you're over him. That's so harsh to Henry!"
"He's my friend, it's normal to go out to dinner with a friend. I go out with you for dinner and we're not dating."
"We go to Joe's to warrow in our sorrows whilst drinking mountains of taquilla."
"Whatever. Same thing."
As they walked off into the distance, Burke bumped into Derek in the hallways.
"Shepherd."
"Burke! Welcome back." Derek smiled gladly up at his friend. "Not only am I missing your company, I'm also hating you for suddenly leaving me and having to tell your ex that you've resigned without telling her."
"Shepherd, I've heard this over by the Chief and I don't really want to talk about it with you."
"Ok then. Fair enough. So how are you coping?"
"Coping?" Burke frowned slightly. "I'm fine."
"Oh come on, you see your ex everyday in the hospital now and it's obvious that you didn't talk it over with her. I can relate to that you know?"
"I'm different from you, Shepherd, I'm coping very well."
Derek examined his friend for a moment, then chuckled softly. "Very well."
"She's already started dating anyway, so we're moving on."
"Oh really?" Derek looked up in interest.
"Yes." he paused, not knowing what else to say.
"Well then, if she's moving on, that means you've moved on."
"And I have."
"Oh really?"
"Yes. I know this nurse who is working for me at the moment and I'm taking her out tomorrow."
This was all too sudden for Derek and he halted in his tracks. There was something wrong with his friend and it's not like him to take actions so suddenly. Well, not frequently. "Really?"
Burke looked back at him, surprised that he'd stopped suddenly. "What?"
Derek was about to say something, but decided against it. "Nothing. Clearly, you both have moved on."
During the surgery of the harpooned patient, Cristina only realised a moment ago before she entered that Burke was performing the surgery. She glared at Henry across the OR as it was taking place, whilst his eyes gleamed back in amusement. What is he up to? Cristina thought angriliy. Burke realised that both Cristina and Henry were looking at each other and tried to throw them off track.
"Dr Yang, are you interested in doing this surgery or are you more interested in staring at Dr Kim?"
Her face flushed as Cristina looked furiously at Burke, wishing that she had the scalpel in her hands instead. "I wasn't looking at him." she hissed.
"It's alright Dr Burke. Clearly Dr Yang finds my face somewhat interesting." Henry mused.
"Interesting to shove up your as-"
"Doctors! We're performing a surgery here. If you're not serious, then get out of my OR." Burke harshly snapped.
Glaring back at Henry one last time, Cristina glanced back down at the body, wishing that she didn't volunteer to go to Washington in the first place.
A few hours after the surgery, the patient came out safely and intact. Whilst checking on his condition, Cristina was still angry at Henry for tricking her into doing the surgery with Burke, and she was even more furious at Burke for embarressing her in front of all the nurses and doctors. As she recorded the results down into the chart, furiously scratching the pen into the paper and almost punchering several holes through, a young, brown-skinned nurse came in.
"Good evening Dr Yang. I'm Nurse Willows." she smiled widely and held out her hand.
Cristina looked at it and frowned. Willows awkwardly took it back, but continued to smile.
"I was one of the patient's nurses. Um, I know this is going to sound weird and you might take it offensive, but really, hear me out. I know you and Dr Burke are not...living together anymore and-"
She hesitated as Cristina looked up coldly at her.
"And the thing is well..I was wondering if it's ok...to make sure that you guys are not together anymore-"
"We're not together anymore." Cristina repeated firmly.
"Yes, that's good..I mean no! It's not good, it must've been hard on you and everything..."
As Cristina finished the charts and began to walk out, Willows jumped in front of her.
"Get out of my way." Cristina glared. "I'm not in a good mood, and you're not making it better."
"I'm very sorry, Dr Yang. Just hear me out for a moment." the nurse flustered. "But I was just wondering if...if it's ok that I can...go out with..with Dr Burke."
"You can do whatever you like with him." Cristina quickly replied without thinking, surprised at herself as much as the nurse's reaction.
"Oh really?" Willows exclaimed. "Well then...um..thank you then."
"Willows! Is the patient alright?" Dr Burke appeared from the door and the nurse jumped in surprise.
Both Burke and Cristina saw each other and the anger in Cristina flooded back again.
"The-the patient was just checked by Dr Yang." Willows replied, nervously looking back and forth at them both.
"The results are on the charts." Cristina said, her expression plain and professional. "Now will you excuse me, I have to go and check on some labs."
As she walked out, she overheard them talking in the distance.
"So are you still free tomorrow?"
"Yes! I'm very excited Dr Burke."
So you're also moving on. Cristina thought, feeling a sense of adrenaline. Well if that's how you want to play, then I'll play.