When Owen saw Burke smiling in their direction, he instinctively took Cristina's hand into his own and squeezed it. He knew he was marking his territory with that move. He wondered why the man was looking this way with that smile because Owen could clearly see the gold wedding band on his left ring finger. The man was married, for goodness sake, why the heck was he smiling at his girl, Owen thought.
Burke noticed the blonde man's grab for the brunette's girl's hand. "Ah," he thought. "They are together." He didn't blame the blonde man for his action. In fact, Burke didn't mean anything by it. At least, he didn't think he did. He was, after all, a married man. As he once explained to his wife, Moira, the fact that he was married didn't mean that he couldn't look if he saw an attractive woman. It only mattered if he decided to go to further and touch. He hadn't yet crossed the line but that didn't mean he wouldn't be tempted in the future.
"So what does this mean? When are we going to get the results of the autopsy?" Meredith asked.
"Well, he must already have his preliminary findings but I am pretty sure that he is taking samples back with him to be tested by the forensics lab in Millbrook," Owen said.
"Good grief, how long will that take?" Meredith asked.
"I think it may be until the end of the week," Owen said. "The last time someone died suddenly in town, it took them about five days to come back with a cause of death."
"Cristina, what are we going to do? We can't be stuck here until Friday. We will lose our jobs," Meredith said. "In fact, I am going to call my boss now."
She went outside of the restaurant to make her call, as the din of the diner made it difficult to hear.
"What about you?" Owen asked. "Aren't you worried about losing your job?"
"Me? Haven't you heard? I was already offered a new job. If I get fired, I guess I will just take my new buyer job at the Mercantile," Cristina said.
"You will?" Owen said, his face breaking out into a huge smile.
"Yeah, but it would also mean that I would have to find a place to live. I can't live off your hospitality, forever," Cristina told Owen.
"You know you can stay as long as you want," he said. "Until you get your own place."
"But won't it be better if you could just sleep over at my place, instead of having to sneak me into your room at night?" she said, with a little smile. "And we could moan, groan and scream as loudly as we want. Truth be told, I can be quite loud."
He grinned at the thought and pulled her in closer for a kiss. They were still kissing when Meredith came back.
"Ahem," she said, interrupting their kiss. Cristina and Owen pulled apart from each other.
"My boss said that if I don't come back by tomorrow, I might as well kiss my job goodbye," Meredith continued.
"Aw, that sucks," Cristina said. "I better find out if I am fired, too." She got up and went out on the diner's patio to make her call.
"I know Cristina was a buyer in a boutique. What did you do back in LA?" Owen asked. "Maybe I can help you with finding another job."
"I used to work as a secretary in the legal department of a record company," Meredith said. "And I don't think you can help me because I don't think that there are any record companies here in Huntsville."
"Yes, but you understand legalese, right?" Owen said.
"Yes, what does that have to do with it?" Meredith said.
"Well, my lawyer, Miranda Bailey, is looking for an assistant. You can apply for that job. There aren't that many people in Huntsville, who can combine secretarial skills and an understanding of legal documents," Owen said.
"Really? I should check that out because it looks like I am going to be stuck here for a while and I am definitely going to be fired. A girl has got to live," Meredith said.
Cristina returned from the patio. "Well, they were certainly not happy with me. I told them it wasn't my fault but they said they couldn't keep paying me if I didn't show up to work. They're going to let my annual holiday leave run out first and if I don't show up after that, I am fired."
"At least they were a little bit more understanding than my company," Meredith said. "I better get on to checking out Ms. Bailey for her job."
They got up to leave. Owen went to the counter and paid the bill. "See ya, Teddy," he said.
"Yeah, see ya, Owen," Teddy said. She knew she would always have a soft spot for her high school boyfriend. But it was clear from his current public displays of affection, she certainly knew where he was focusing his romantic attentions.
Meanwhile at the counter, Burke and Shepherd were having their lunch. They were aware that people were staring at them. "So, when do you think we will get the final report?" Shepherd asked.
"Possibly by Friday," the coroner said. "I have gathered all of my samples and we will have definitive results."
"Oh, I have a couple of out-of-town visitors and they are anxious to go back to LA," Shepherd said.
"By any chance, are the out-of-town visitors the blonde and the brunette, who were sitting at that table with a blonde man?" Burke said.
"Yes, they do stand out from the rest of the townsfolk. Yes, the brunette is Cristina Yang and the blonde is Meredith Grey. They came here for the wedding but since they were both there at the time of death, they will have to stay in the jurisdiction until we can clear them," Shepherd said.
"Ah, I see, so my results will definitely impact them," Burke said.
"Yes, it would," Shepherd said.
Meredith stepped in to the lawyer's office. "Good afternoon," she called out, looking around for the diminutive attorney, who didn't seem to be around.
"Good afternoon," a crisp voice said. "May I help you?"
Meredith looked around again; she could see no one.
"Hello, I am Meredith Grey. I was wondering whether I could apply for the job of secretary/assistant. I hear you have been looking for one. I understand legal documents because I have been working in the legal department of a record company for the past four years," Meredith said.
Suddenly, the lawyer popped from behind a desk. "Oh, heavens, you must be a godsend. My last assistant ran off to West Des Moines with some trucker and I have been under pressure ever since. I am having trouble, locating some of my files. That's why I am on the floor, going through these files. I have been looking for an assistant but it has been hard to find someone who can understand legal documents in a small town like this."
"Well, I wonder if you can tell me the application process. I would like to submit my CV. I can email it to you, if you like," Meredith said. Bailey picked up a business card from her desk and handed it over to Meredith. "My email address is on this card. Just send it to me ASAP."
"Thank you, Ms. Bailey. I will get that to you by today," Meredith said. She left the office with hope in her heart. She was more than likely going to lose her job. At least, this seemed like it could be a good possibility, especially since it looked like her best friend was going to stay, too. Plus the sheriff was a pretty nice bonus.
Cristina and Owen were waiting in the truck for her. "How did it go?" Cristina asked.
"Looks like it could be good. Gotta get back to the farm, so I can send her my resume from my laptop," Meredith said.
"Well, let's go," Cristina said.
It was late evening. They had already had a sumptuous dinner prepared by Mrs. Hunt. The sheriff had come by and picked up Meredith and had taken her for a drive. Owen and Cristina were relaxing on the porch swing. She was snuggled against him and he had his arm around her.
"Owen, I am going to take the job at the mercantile," she said. "I made up my mind. There really isn't anything left for me, back in LA. This might be my chance for a new beginning. I am going to call my friend, Neeta to ship my stuff here to this house. Is that okay?"
"Yes, God, yes," he said, as he kissed her lightly on the lips. "I am so happy that you're staying."
"Yeah, me too. I kinda think that it was meant to be. Everything has conspired to force me to stay here," she said. "Everything just fell into place, even though the Mayor had to die, for it to happen."
"Yes, what about Meredith?" Owen asked. "Is she going to stay?"
"I know that she really does like the sheriff but she loves LA, too. I would like her to stay because she is my best friend but if she can't, I would understand, too," Cristina said. "But I am pretty sure the sheriff is putting down a really good case to make her stay, right now."
Meredith and Derek were parked near a river. "So is this where all of the teenagers come to make out?" Meredith asked.
"No, we're not far from it but there is a spot a little more popular upstream," Derek said. "Sometimes, when I am bored, I go there and put my flashlight on them."
"Oh, you're mean," Meredith said.
"Have you ever made out in a sheriff's car?" he asked, as he leaned over to kiss her.
"I don't think I have," Meredith said, as she willingly accepted his kisses.
Owen walked Cristina to her room. "Wait till after 10 p.m. and come to my room," he said. "My mom goes to sleep around 10."
"No clothes under my robe?" she whispered.
"Oh, that sounds yummy. No clothes would be fine with me," he whispered back, laughing.
His mother looked at them, whispering outside of Cristina's bedroom door. Did they think she was a foolish, naïve, old lady, Susannah thought. Hell, she wasn't going to object if a little hanky-panky happened under her roof. She had seen the bigger picture and that picture included lots of babies. In any case, she was still going to pretend that she didn't know because it was just more fun that way for them.
Cristina woke up with a start. The light was already streaming through the window. Good Lord, she hadn't gone back to her room in time. Half of Owen's limbs were sprawled across her. She pushed him off. He groaned in response.
"I have to get out of your room before your mom catches me," she said.
"What time is it?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.
"It's already after 7," she said, struggling to get out of his bed.
"That late? Woman, you tired me out last night," he said, grabbing her and pulling her back towards him.
"Do you want a morning wake-up call?" she asked.
"Well, yeah, since it's already late. Why not?" he said. "I am already standing at attention, here."
As they made love once more, Owen's mother stood outside of his door. She was going to knock on his door, since he usually did not wake up this late. She stopped herself when she heard the low moaning and the giggling emanating from his room, so she shook her head and walked away. She had a smile that was as wide as the sun.
A/N: Please leave your reviews. Thank you for your comments.