By hopecrowe

Tension headaches. Tension pneumothorax. Stress and tension. Slowly over the course of our lives, tension builds up. In our muscles, in our lives…and every now and then a good massage therapist or roll in the hay can relieve that tension for a few moments. But it just starts to build up again. Relief is only temporary. But when the tension comes back, it just builds up on top of itself more and more as time goes on…

"Have you seen my keys? They're not by the door where I usually throw them..." Cristina was turning over seat cushions in the living room and strode back into the bedroom in the hopes of finding her lost keys.

"No…" Owen ran out from the bathroom in his boxers anxiously, then quickly tried to act slightly more casual. "Are you sure they aren't out in the living room? That's where you always end up finding them." As he suggested this, Owen sidled over to his sock drawer and leaned against the dresser, physically blocking Cristina from the one thing he did not want her finding just yet. Cristina scrunched her face, deep in thought.

"Yeah, I guess it's probably out there…somewhere." She furrowed her brow at him as he stood leaning against the dresser. "I thought the shower was running. Why aren't you wet?"

"Oh, I was just about to hop in, but I heard you looking for the keys so I decided to help."

"And what a load of help you are," she mocked, slowly strolling over to him with a small grin on her face. "Just leaning against that dresser in some GQ pose won't help me find my keys, you know." She put her arms around him and laughed, putting a small kiss on his nose. Owen felt his pulse throbbing in his ears. Keeping the ring hidden from Cristina was going to give him a heart attack. She sighed and looked past him at the dresser. A second later, she let out a small exclamation. "Oh!"

"What? What?" Owen asked wildly. He snapped his head around, foolishly thinking she may have seen the ring even though it would be quite impossible for her to see a ring that was in a box buried under several clean socks, in a drawer that was very much closed.

"I just remembered the keys are still in my bag. You used your key to let us in last night."

"Oh…right," Owen sighed. "Well, I'm going to get in the shower then. I'll see you at work."

"Okay, and I'll meet you at Joe's for Derek's party tonight. Bye." She placed a hand on his chest and put a small, soft kiss on his cheek before leaving. Owen pulled her closer as she moved to leave and planted his lips on hers much more passionately. He pulled away a moment later and smiled as Cristina looked slightly dazed, yet extremely happy. She left the room, but Owen waited until he heard the apartment door close before deeming it safe to go back in the shower.

Cristina stood next to Mark at the nurse's station, signing off on some charts in silence. Finally, Mark turned to face her and leaned on his elbow.

"I think Callie's flying over the cuckoo's nest." Cristina looked up in confusion.

"You're talking to me about this because…"

"You're her friend. Or, well…roommate. Ex-roommate. Whatever. Who else can I talk to about it since it obviously can't be Robbins?"

"Okay… What's she doing that so bad? She just had a break up. She's allowed to do that eat obscene amounts of sugary crap and watch old movies until she can recite them."

"That would be normal. I wouldn't be worried if she was doing all that. But instead she's got this inappropriately intense relationship developing with the kitten I got her." Cristina just raised her eyebrow with a smirk. "You know what I mean… She refuses to leave it alone except for work. It's a cat. It needs space. I bet he feels smothered."

"Just…make her get out tonight. Isn't she going to Derek's birthday thing?"

"I asked her…she said something about watching Lost with McSteamy."

"Referring to yourself in the third person now?"

"Oh…" Mark rubbed the back of his neck and grimaced. "You see, she named the cat McSteamy."

"Oh boy," Cristina grabbed her chart and started walking, Mark following behind her. "She is going crazy. Just make sure she comes to the party tonight. Get some alcohol in her. She'll remember how much she misses that stuff and get back to normal. Now, I've got work to do. Go gossip with your boyfriend." Mark stopped walking as Cristina continued, with her face buried in her chart.

"Yang, I just remembered why I never talk to you."

Lexie was just admiring the lasagna she had pulled out of the oven when she heard the doorbell ring. Expecting Meredith frantically searching for something for the birthday party, her breath caught in her throat when she saw Jackson instead, wearing a polo shirt that brought out his eyes. She cleared her throat and looked up at him.

"Hi," she said, an irrepressible smile pulling at her face.

"Hey…" Jackson shoved his hands in his pockets and peered inside. "I just thought I'd come over and check on you. See if you wanted a ride to the party tonight. I think I was only invited because of…" He stopped himself, realizing that bringing up the day of the shooting was a bad idea. "Well, anyway, did you want a ride?"

"Oh…well, I wasn't going to go, actually. I don't want everyone standing around and asking me how I am. Plus, I shouldn't be drinking either. Derek said he didn't mind, of course. So I—oh, I'm sorry, come in." Lexie smacked her head lightly and moved to the side to let him in.

"Thanks."

"I actually just finished making some lasagna, if… You want a piece before you go?" Lexie asked, offering Jackson a seat at the kitchen table.

"Yeah…sure. Sounds great." Jackson said, accepting the seat. It was awkwardly familiar to be sitting and eating with Lexie, it was awkward in a way too—as if they were both consciously avoiding something very obvious.

Cristina and Meredith burst into the apartment and ran quickly to the bedroom.

"Cristina, we've got five minutes!" Meredith called, pulling at drawers and cushions as Cristina did the same.

"I can't believe this! I have absolutely no idea where it is."

"If we don't leave for Joe's in two minutes, Derek's going to be wondering why his wife decided to not show up to his surprise party. I gave you the cufflinks to hide from him, not us."

"Alright, alright, I said I was sorry, right? Less talking, more looking!" Cristina yelled, her voice muffled by the closet she had run into.

"I'm just going to check all the dressers, okay?"

"Fine, whatever!" Meredith pulled out the first drawer of the dresser to find socks. She felt around blindly until she felt a small box that felt the same size as the box of cufflinks she had gotten. She pulled out a small box and sighed with relief. She was about to call Cristina off the hunt, when she realized her box had been red—this was blue. Confused, she couldn't help but open the box to see a diamond ring. Her eyes grew wide and she felt her mouth hang open. She heard Cristina groan from the living room and she quickly snapped the box shut and threw it back under the socks.

"Let's go." Meredith said simply, walking out of the bedroom and into the living room, grabbing Cristina as they strode to the front door.

"What?" she checked her watch. "Yeah…I'll come by and look in a bit."

"Whatever. It's a birthday…I'm already carrying his child. We'll have some dirty sex tonight, and he'll be happy."

"Sex is becoming an occasion now? You really are married," Cristina snorted as Meredith lightly shoved her out the door, her heart still pounding at the shock of seeing a diamond ring hidden in Cristina's apartment.

Lexie and Jackson were both laughing as they polished off the cookie dough ice cream that had recently been pulled from the freezer.

"You sure you don't mind missing the party?"

"Nah…it's not like I'm close with him or anything. And," Jackson leaned in ever so slightly. "I think I had more fun here anyway." Lexie smiled and bit her lip. A moment later, she made to take their plates and walked them over to the sink.

"Let me help you with that…" Jackson said, taking the dishes from her hands.

"Thanks, but…I'm…you know, doing better," she said, placing the leftover lasagna in some Tupperware. "You don't have to worry."

"Not worrying, just…concerned, no—interested. Very interested." A piece balanced on Lexie's spatula as Jackson's arm brushed hers while reaching for another glass to put in the sink. A shock went through her skin, and the piece flopped back into the pan.

"Whoa…hey," Jackson said, laughing and grabbing her arm. The silence somehow pierced them and they looked up at each other. Jackson didn't move his hand and Lexie's breath was quickening with each second of his touch. "I'm glad to hear you're…feeling better."

"I…yeah. Me too. Thank you."

"For what?"

"For looking out for me. I know…well, everyone was so wrapped up in their own stuff. I don't blame them, it was horrible for everyone. But you…you were looking out for me. And I don't even know why since…we had never gotten close."

"Well I…" Jackson gulped and fought the urge to swoop in and kiss her. Kiss her so she knew. But he fought his impulses and finally stepped back, removing his hand. "I should get going, actually."

"Oh, uh, okay…" Lexie stammered, caught off-guard by his sudden urge to leave. Jackson quickly grabbed his keys and stepped out the door. He had just stepped out when Lexie called out to him. "I'm glad you came by."

Jackson just looked back at her, hands in his pockets, and cocked his head to the side. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, swallowing his words. "Thanks again for the lasagna."

Lexie gave him a small wave and he turned, continuing back to the driveway.

"Oh, I swear I taught McSteamy a trick last night!" Callie said, her face shining.

"You know, it's starting to get weird that it has my little nickname thing."

"Ready? Ready? Okay, watch." Callie swiveled her hand up and to the right, and the cat simply watched her hand as if it might be something that would taste nice if it got close enough. Her eyes narrowed, and she dropped her hand, frustrated.

"Nice trick," Mark scoffed.

"Seriously. Yesterday I did that, and he sat down!"

"Torres…"

"What? He did!"

"That wasn't what I was going to say…" Mark straightened up and looked at Callie nuzzling her face up into the kitten's tiny nose. "Have you left the apartment since I gave you the cat? Besides work?"

"Um…well, I went to that thing. Oh wait, that was the week before. Well…whatever, it's not a big deal. He's just a baby. He needs love and company…like me."

"He's a cat. I got it for you specifically because you can leave them alone at home sometimes. Come on." He stood up and reached out for her hand. Callie eyed it uncertainly and looked up, biting her lip.

"But…we were going to watch Lost tonight."

"Torres, get up. You're going to get up and put on a dress. Then, we're going to go to Derek's birthday party."

"Oh, I forgot that was today."

"Of course you did, because you're turning into creepy cat lady. And you're still too young and hot for that."

"Fine." Callie scowled and walked off to her room. The kitten turned and looked at Mark, cocking its tiny head to the side. Mark made a face in return.

"What? She needs to get out. I'm sorry!"

Cristina sat at the bar next to Meredith, sipping on her usual vodka tonic.

"So, how much does it suck to be in a bar and not be able to drink?" Cristina asked, smirking.

"You know I love alcohol, but when this," Meredith touched her belly lightly "is the reason why you can't drink. It's really not so terrible."

"Huh," Cristina snorted lightly. "You've so gone soft…" But a small smile stayed on Cristina's mouth.

"Hey you," a deep voice said, peeking around Cristina's right shoulder and kissing the crook of her neck. Cristina laughed at the tickle of his beard.

"Hey," she turned to face him and gave him a kiss. "Missed you today."

"ER was insane today." He looked past Cristina. "Meredith." Owen nodded at her.

"Hi. Glad you could come. Derek's over there." She motioned to a table on the other side of the bar where Mark was passing out shots to Derek, Callie, and whoever else happened to be around.

"Ah, pardon me, ladies. I have to buy birthday boy a drink." He gave Cristina another kiss and walked over to the raucous group on the other side of the bar.

Alex let out a small burp after finishing his second beer. He checked his watch. It wasn't as though he had made plans to meet Lexie there, but he had expected her to show up, being the sister-in-law of the birthday boy and all. He signaled Joe for another beer with the raising of a finger. Alex scanned the room, this time looking for Jackson, but he was not in the crowded bar either. His absence would have been less conspicuous, as he had no real ties to Derek, had it not been for the fact that Alex overheard him telling April he would be here tonight. Alex checked his watch one last time. It was becoming clear that Lexie was not going to coming…and who she was with.

He wasn't sure why he was holding on to her at this point. Maybe it was for some sense of normalcy. But, he supposed, he had never been good at normal. He had never really been good at all until Izzie. The thought of her name stung deep in his chest. He wasn't over her, and he wasn't sure that he ever would be. As much as he tried to remind himself that it was ultimately he who sent her away, it didn't make it hurt any less. It wasn't fair to pretend to do…whatever it was he was doing…with Lexie when he was still so lost. He needed time to process his last year; he'd gotten married, divorced, and shot over the span of just a few months. As he picked up his next beer from the bar and took a sip, his heart felt considerably lighter.

"Bathroom break…hold my seat." Meredith nodded vaguely in response as Cristina walked off into the crowd. Meredith quickly moved over to Owen once she saw Cristina had entered the bathroom. She didn't have much time.

"Owen, can I talk to you for a second?" Meredith asked, motioning to a spot by the wall that was quieter.

"Sure," Owen excused himself from the group and walked over with her, nursing his beer. "Alright then, what have I done this time?" It was a joke and it wasn't, but he said it with a laugh as to smooth things over.

"Well…apparently you got a ring." Owen's eyes grew wide and he quickly looked around to look for Cristina.

"How—"

"She's in the bathroom. And no, she doesn't know."

"How do you know?"

"Well…I found it when we were searching your place for Derek's present." Owen leaned against the wall and took a deep breath.

"So I guess you think I'm pressuring her or something."

"No, actually…" Meredith replied, in a tone that was a mix of defensive and sheepish.

"Please don't tell Cristina."

"I won't." and Owen relaxed ever so slightly. "All I wanted to say was that… Look, I want her moment to be special and I…I have faith that you can provide it." Meredith gave him a small pat on the shoulder, and Owen smiled weakly, his nerves still pulsing.

"Thanks for saving my seat," Cristina said sarcastically, glaring at Meredith. Owen and Meredith shared a look that lasted just a second too long, and Cristina's brow furrowed in confusion as she glanced between the two of them. "What?"

"Oh…nothing," Meredith said, waving her hand lightly. "I'm trying to see if maybe Owen remembers where you hid the cufflinks I got Derek."

"Which I don't," Owen added, shrugging.

"The search continues." Meredith sighed. "I'm going to go make sure my husband isn't so drunk that I have to clean his vomit all night. I puke enough as it is." Cristina and Owen both made faces of disgust as Meredith turned and left.

Owen smiled as Cristina took his beer and took a long sip, but he was lost in his own thoughts. This could be the rest of their life—her frantically searching for her keys, her stealing sips of his beer, her giving him warm smiles that she never let the rest of the world see…This was really happening. And he had as good as gotten the only real blessing that would matter to Cristina. Now all that was left was to propose in the most perfect way possible.

Owen's smile faded a bit as his jaw tensed. The pressure was on.

Surface tension. Sexual tension. Tension isn't always a bad thing. It can keep us on our toes, it can force us to face feelings for someone else, or it can just keep us from going places where we know that we shouldn't. Tension can keep you from falling flat on your face, but sometimes it can lead to a dangerous build up of pressure. And the only way to relieve tension? Pop the lid and hope it doesn't all explode in your face.