AUTHOR'S NOTE: Just one chapter slowly at a time, heheh =D Just a warning guys, the italics you will come across in some paragraphs are the parts where it goes back to after Henry's and Cristina's date. Happy reading!
Chapter 14
The morning was already busy at the hospital as the winter season kicked in. Depite being the popular season for its snow and Christmas holidays, it was also the season where the hospital receives an avalanche of patients diagnosed with the flu.
"Can winter get any more boring?" Cristina complained as she checked her 50th flu patient down at the clinic.
"What do you mean boring?" George piped up. "There's snow everywhere and we can go skiing and have snow ball fights-"
And right on time, a snow ball hit him square into his head, almost knocking him out.
"Kirav, did I see you bring snow into the clinc?" Bailey's voice roared from afar and Alex scrambled away before George could reach him.
Entering after Alex was Dr Burke, who looked very annoyed and pissed at his situation.
"Bailey, I need some people helping me with a triple bypass? There is barely anyone in the hospital-"
"Due to the flu? I know." Bailey replied. "Almost half of the hospital interns and residents turning in sick. It surprises me that some people can't even look after their own bodies despite being doctors."
"I'm sorry I'm late." Merideth gasped from behind, blowing into her already over-used hanky in an attempt to clear her clogged-up nose.
"You're sick!" Bailey snapped.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. I can still work." Meredith said, yet her watery eyes and the sick sound of her voice told a different story.
"Go home!"
"But Dr Burke needs someone for the triple bypass right? I can do it!"
"No you're not, you're staying here. I don't want you sneezing all over the patient's insides and spreading the flu to the rest of the nurses and doctors. Our hospital is running half empty as it is! Yang! O'Maley! Go with Dr Burke for the heart surgery."
Even if she was invited by Satan himself, Cristina would agree to help in the OR in order to get away from the clinic. As the two residents joined Burke back into the main hospital building, Burke turned to O'Maley and gave orders to quickly get the anesthician as fast as possible to the OR room. For a moment George glanced over at Cristina, reluctant to let them both go to the OR room together in case she felt uncomfortable with her former fiance. But Burke gave him a cold, hard look, and George reluctantly walked the other way. Waiting in front of the elevator doors, Cristina tried to stand away and avert her gaze from Burke as far as possible, When the doors opened, she realised with a sinking heart that it would just be the two of them in the elevator. Standing somewhat behind Burke at the corner, she held her breath as she knew he was going to say something. Her eyes slowly trailed up at the reflection of Burke's face to read his expression, but quickily regretted it when he saw her looking.
"So how was your date?" he asked in a normal casual tone.
"Um...good." she replied bluntly.
"Are you ok?"
"Pardon?"
"I mean...when you almost fell...until Henry...caught...you..."
She could sense the nervousness in his tone, and she didn't like where he was going to head in this conversation.
"Oh, I'm fine." Cristina said, trying to manage a thin, reassuring smile. Why does he care? She thought. He's not my boyfriend anymore. But wait, is he asking in a friendly sort of way like a friend would? But does he consider me as his friend? Well I sure don't after what he'd done to me... Perhaps he's asking me like a fellow worker would. Well we can't really ignore each other since we work together...Wait, why am I'm even caring about what he thinks? Am I getting sick?
"Are you sick?" Burke suddenly asked when he saw Cristina touching her forehead with her palm.
"Huh? Oh no, I'm fine."
Another pause. Cristina looked up to see what level they are up to, wishing that they would arrive soon.
Burke cleared his voice.
"About our last...conversation we had."
"Huh?"
"Where you gave me your opinion about us."
Oh boy, Cristina thought, biting her lip.
"Were you going to give me a chance to hear my side of the story?"
Just on time, the bell to the elevator dinged and the doors opened. Cristina quickly zipped out and exhaled, not realising that she had been holding her breath during the whole ride. She didn't want to hear further responses from Burke, so instead she walked ahead of him, aiming for the surgery room. Burke sighed, knowing that this was going to be a hard ordeal. Letting it go for now, he tried to concentrate on the surgery and followed Cristina towards the OR.
"Wow, you live here?" Henry marvelled as Cristina opened the door to her apartment.
Inside, random pieces of clothing and books were sprawled everywhere from the TV, couch, to the kitchen bench.
"You live here alone?" Henry asked as he stepped over a creased polo shirt and moved his way to the couch where he dumped his evening jacket.
"Nope, she's just over at her family's. Hence why all my clothes are everywhere."
"Rrright."
With a heavy sigh, Cristina dropped down onto the couch next to Henry. There was a silence as they thought about what they should do next.
"So." Henry started.
"So."
Silence.
"Well like most traditional American dates, when the girl invites the guy back into her apartment, I believe there's something that they both do."
Cristina slowly looked up at him to see if he was serious.
"You've been watching too many TV."
"You think I don't stand a chance?" he replied challenginly.
The corner of Cristina's lips slowly edged into a smile.
"Oh? You want to try?"
Henry leaned over, his face inches from her face, and whispered.
"I'm ready when you are."
"Your ass is in my face, Kim!"
"Exactly where I want it to be, Yang."
With a annoying grunt, Cristina arched her body upwards and strained to move her right hand onto the red plastic circle.
"Done!"
"Left leg on blue."
"Argh! This is killing me!"
Their bodies already in a tangle, they tried to reach for their closest target without falling over.
"Are you sure...that this is healthy?" Henry chuckled and tried to maintain his balance.
"What? Playing Twister after dinner? Makes the date more interesting doesn't it?"
Finally, Henry couldn't hold it much longer and collapsed onto the plastic mat.
"Ha! I win again."
"Well girls are generally more flexible than guys." he replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
"That's low Henry, blaming it on gender differences." she untwisted herself and sat down next to him.
"Well then," Henry exhaled and sat back up. "Would you like to tell me about your relationship with Burke now?"
The fun atmosphere was suddenly over, and Cristina turned cold at the sound of Burke's name.
"And don't run away this time." Henry said. "I'm your best friend, I know when something's wrong. You know how I hate it when you bail out on me and act like nothing's wrong."
'"It's none of your business."
"You're my best friend, and Burke's my boss. You reckon it's still not my business?"
Cristina said nothing for a moment, her eyes full of worry and trouble. Henry waited patiently for her to speak.
"You're treading on dangerous territory here." Cristina replied.
"I always do." Henry faintly smiled.
She looked up at him, seeing the warm and understanding side of Henry. With a heavy sigh, she dropped back down onto the Twister playboard.
"Fine. Where should I start?"
The clock struck 3 am when Cristina finally finished. Henry stared down at his coffee mug, trying to take in everything that she'd exposed to him. Cristina laid her heavy head down on the couch, somehow feeling lighter that she'd told Henry about her past in Seattle Grace.
"Sooo you're using me to make Burke jealous?" Henry asked.
"Yes." she said bluntly.
"Nice way to get back your ex."
"Oh no, I have no intentions on getting him back." she strongly disagreed. "I'm just getting my revenge."
"Revenge for walking out on you?"
"Yep."
There was a pause as Henry looked away, staring out at the window where it's still dark. After a while, he opened his lips but didn't looked at her.
"Has it ever occurred to you that maybe you should listen to his side of the story first?"
At the sound of this, Cristina looked sadly up at him, knowing that he was going to bring it up sometime or later.
"Well?" Henry said when he didn't hear her answer.
And she didn't give him a reply. But he knew already what his friend was thinking.
After four long hours, Burke sewed up the patient and declared a finish to the surgery.
"Shall I inform the family about the patient's condition?" O'Maley asked.
"Go ahead." Burke nodded.
As George threw away the surgical gloves and made his way out, Burke's eyes trailed along to where Cristina was standing. She was already hastily making her way out. He must catch up to her.
Outside, Cristina took in a few bit of fresh air and exhaled heavily. She realised how stupid she was that being in a surgical room with Burke for four whole hours was already too much for her. If this continues on, she doesn't know how her career may continue. But she was unwilling to give up. She has to stand tall and strong, showing her ex that she was no longer affected by his departure and his return.
As she made her way through the corridors to get to where her patient charts were, a firm hand suddenly grasped her on the arm and shoved her into a dark and empty on-call room.
"What the hell?"
The person closed the door shut and turned on the lights. To her despair, she looked up at the towering Burke with strong determination in his dark eyes.
"Now, you want to hear my side of the story?"