To Love Somebody 3/?
Author:JeriBearRN.
Title: To Love Somebody 3/?
Summary: Set just after the end of Cristina's residency, she finds herself in a difficult life with Owen Hunt, but she won't give up on him because she loves him. Or she thinks she does.
Rating: Strong R.
Disclaimer: These characters are property of Shonda Rhimes/ABC and Grey's Anatomy. They do not belong to me. Reimbursment is not recieved for ficticious works.
Previous chapters:
[ One][ Two][??]
[??][??][??]
[??][??][??]
[??][??][??]
There were a million reasons that he shouldn’t be here, and he knew it.
He only needed one to show up.
Preston Burke looked out at the sea of people, mostly men, eagerly seeking her out. He had to know that she was okay. Obviously Dr. Yang had flourished, just as he had expected, but he needed to know that Cristina was okay.
He needed to know that the path he’d chosen in his life was for good reason.
The room seemed to slow down as he scanned, but she was nowhere to be found. He glanced back to the board with her name proudly displayed at the bottom of it. She had to be here. There had been no change in the schedule.
With a sigh, he continued about the room. After a few mindless handshakes and some idle conversation, he had decided to retreat from the mixer. He wasn’t here to make friends or to mingle.
He pressed the button to the elevators with a little more force than he had intended. It arrived a few moments later and he moved onto it with only a strong drink in mind. As the doors began to slide closed he heard a female voice calling out for him to hold the elevator.
Making no effort to stop the elevator, he watched as a black boot kicked inside the closing doors and reversed their path. His eyes widened however, when the foot was attached to the one person he’d been looking for.
“Cristina,” He breathed softly, looking at her.
Age hadn’t touched her at all. Her long black tresses fell just below the middle of her back, slightly longer than the last time he’d seen her. She was still lithe, she still moved with a grace that took the breath from his chest.
She still looked like his Cristina.
Her deep brown eyes met his, but her face remained stoic. “Dr. Burke.” She said, her voice unwavering. “I suspected that you would be here. Can you press the button for the top floor please?”
Burke remained unmoving, still watching her. He made no effort to raise his fingers to press the button. “How have you been?” He asked, his voice cracking slightly at the end of the sentence.
Reaching past him, she pressed the button herself and noticed as his eyes fixed on her bare outstretched finger. “You of all people should know better than to gauge whether or not I’m single by looking for something on my finger.”
She cursed herself for looking at his.
“You can’t blame me for being curious. Obviously you are too.” He answered with a smug grin as the elevator lurched upward.
“Did you leave your ring at home for this little occasion?” She asked, referring to the small indentation in his finger where a ring had obviously resided.
“Divorced. Last month.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” She answered flatly. It wasn’t a surprise to her that yet another woman had failed to live up to his standards. At least she had a chance.
“I’m not. It was a poor choice on my part. She was a replacement and she couldn’t possibly fill the shoes of the woman before her.”
“Oh, so you’re divorced times two.” Cristina answered, her opinion of him sinking even lower. The elevator slowed to a stop and the doors slid open.
“On the contrary, I’ve only been married once.” He answered, his finger resting upon the door open button. “She couldn’t replace you.”
Cristina scoffed, “Have you been practicing that line since you found out I’d been here?”
“Perhaps. Or maybe I had hoped that you wouldn’t care enough to notice my missing ring.”
She rolled her eyes, throwing her arm over the sensors to the door as he let go of the button. “Get off the elevator. Find your room. Find somebody else to talk to. This trip is purely business and I don’t have time to entertain your nostalgia.”
“You’re still angry with me for something that happened years ago.” He observed, unmoving.
“I’m not angry at you, I don’t even care.”
“Obviously you do, or you’d give me the time of day.” Burke challenged. He knew exactly how to push her buttons after all these years.
“Will you just get off the damn elevator? I want to get to my room. It’s been a long flight and I’m tired. I have people to call.”
“What people? Grey?” He asked.
“People. It’s none of your business.” She muttered. She pushed a black curl behind her ear, eyes narrowed as she looked at him.
“You have somebody.” He said, his heart sinking a little. Burke knew it was wrong for him to wish that she was alone. That hadn’t been the reason he left her. He wanted her to find someone that got her better than he did, or better than he thought he had. He wanted her to be happy.
She looked anything but happy and he didn’t think it all had to do with his presence.
“If I say yes will you go away?” She muttered, looking down.
“You’re not married.”
“I could be and you wouldn’t know it. I told you that I don’t do rings.” Cristina retorted.
“You’re not married because any man with half of a brain wouldn’t let you go across the country without somehow marking his territory first. You’re a beautiful woman Cristina, and any man worth your time would realize that.”
“And you’re wasting your breath. He knows that it takes more than a man leering at me to catch my attention.”
Once again, the smug grin returned to his face. “I knew I was right.”
“Ooh. Validation. Get off the elevator.”
He considered staying to further irritate her. He still enjoyed getting a rise out of her. It wasn’t any different than it had been so many years ago. Burke made his way to the doors of the elevator and paused to glance at her again. “You haven’t changed an ounce.” He murmured, “You’re still beautiful. Still obviously driven. Whomever he is, he’s a very lucky man. I hope he knows that.”
Cristina looked down, masking her reaction to his words. She hated that they even affected her in the least. “He’s a hell of a lot smarter than you ever were.”
Burke’s eyes softened slightly as he watched her and he smiled. “Good. I’m glad. I’m glad that you’ve found somebody who won’t make the same mistake that I did.”
Her fingers tightened around the handle of her bag, “He won’t.”
How could Owen possibly make the same mistake that Burke had when he wouldn’t even attempt to propose?
Burke smiled faintly, his hand resting against the elevator door. He knew that he’d have more opportunity over the next four days. He could make his regrets known. He could tell her how wrong he was.
He’d at least have the chance to make up for what he’d done; a chance to explain himself. “It was good to see you, Cristina. I’m glad you’re well.”
“Likewise,” She answered, finally finding the strength to look up at him again. She didn’t mean it. She couldn’t find it in herself to wish him well. Not after he left her, not after he sent his mother and most certainly not after he won the Harper Avery.
He dropped his hand to his side and watched as the elevator door slid shut and began it’s journey to the top once more. Sadness weighed heavy on his heart and that weight became apparent on his shoulders.
For a few moments, he allowed himself to ponder what their life would have been like if he had just given it a chance, if he’d quit being so goddamn stubborn for just a moment. Leaving her was one of the biggest regrets that he’d ever had; it was the one thing that had weighed on the back of his mind relentlessly for years.
It was the one thing that he’d never let himself forget.
Pressing his lips together, he resolved to give her space for the evening. Nothing would grate on her nerves more than his feigned disinterest in her; nothing could possibly drive her as crazy as that. He knew he’d have to be precise in his actions to have his opportunity to speak with her, to really talk to her.
There were a million reasons why he shouldn’t be here in Boston, here at this conference. There were a million reasons why he should walk away now and never look back, but he couldn’t. He could see the anger in her eyes, he could see the pain that he’d caused her so many years ago, but he also saw something more.
He saw an opportunity to make himself heard, to apologize, to explain himself. He saw an opportunity to set things right.
He saw the chance to get his heart back from the woman who’d held onto it for so many years.
Even if it meant finally letting her go forever.
Title: To Love Somebody 3/?
Summary: Set just after the end of Cristina's residency, she finds herself in a difficult life with Owen Hunt, but she won't give up on him because she loves him. Or she thinks she does.
Rating: Strong R.
Disclaimer: These characters are property of Shonda Rhimes/ABC and Grey's Anatomy. They do not belong to me. Reimbursment is not recieved for ficticious works.
Previous chapters:
[ One][ Two][??]
[??][??][??]
[??][??][??]
[??][??][??]
There were a million reasons that he shouldn’t be here, and he knew it.
He only needed one to show up.
Preston Burke looked out at the sea of people, mostly men, eagerly seeking her out. He had to know that she was okay. Obviously Dr. Yang had flourished, just as he had expected, but he needed to know that Cristina was okay.
He needed to know that the path he’d chosen in his life was for good reason.
The room seemed to slow down as he scanned, but she was nowhere to be found. He glanced back to the board with her name proudly displayed at the bottom of it. She had to be here. There had been no change in the schedule.
With a sigh, he continued about the room. After a few mindless handshakes and some idle conversation, he had decided to retreat from the mixer. He wasn’t here to make friends or to mingle.
He pressed the button to the elevators with a little more force than he had intended. It arrived a few moments later and he moved onto it with only a strong drink in mind. As the doors began to slide closed he heard a female voice calling out for him to hold the elevator.
Making no effort to stop the elevator, he watched as a black boot kicked inside the closing doors and reversed their path. His eyes widened however, when the foot was attached to the one person he’d been looking for.
“Cristina,” He breathed softly, looking at her.
Age hadn’t touched her at all. Her long black tresses fell just below the middle of her back, slightly longer than the last time he’d seen her. She was still lithe, she still moved with a grace that took the breath from his chest.
She still looked like his Cristina.
Her deep brown eyes met his, but her face remained stoic. “Dr. Burke.” She said, her voice unwavering. “I suspected that you would be here. Can you press the button for the top floor please?”
Burke remained unmoving, still watching her. He made no effort to raise his fingers to press the button. “How have you been?” He asked, his voice cracking slightly at the end of the sentence.
Reaching past him, she pressed the button herself and noticed as his eyes fixed on her bare outstretched finger. “You of all people should know better than to gauge whether or not I’m single by looking for something on my finger.”
She cursed herself for looking at his.
“You can’t blame me for being curious. Obviously you are too.” He answered with a smug grin as the elevator lurched upward.
“Did you leave your ring at home for this little occasion?” She asked, referring to the small indentation in his finger where a ring had obviously resided.
“Divorced. Last month.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” She answered flatly. It wasn’t a surprise to her that yet another woman had failed to live up to his standards. At least she had a chance.
“I’m not. It was a poor choice on my part. She was a replacement and she couldn’t possibly fill the shoes of the woman before her.”
“Oh, so you’re divorced times two.” Cristina answered, her opinion of him sinking even lower. The elevator slowed to a stop and the doors slid open.
“On the contrary, I’ve only been married once.” He answered, his finger resting upon the door open button. “She couldn’t replace you.”
Cristina scoffed, “Have you been practicing that line since you found out I’d been here?”
“Perhaps. Or maybe I had hoped that you wouldn’t care enough to notice my missing ring.”
She rolled her eyes, throwing her arm over the sensors to the door as he let go of the button. “Get off the elevator. Find your room. Find somebody else to talk to. This trip is purely business and I don’t have time to entertain your nostalgia.”
“You’re still angry with me for something that happened years ago.” He observed, unmoving.
“I’m not angry at you, I don’t even care.”
“Obviously you do, or you’d give me the time of day.” Burke challenged. He knew exactly how to push her buttons after all these years.
“Will you just get off the damn elevator? I want to get to my room. It’s been a long flight and I’m tired. I have people to call.”
“What people? Grey?” He asked.
“People. It’s none of your business.” She muttered. She pushed a black curl behind her ear, eyes narrowed as she looked at him.
“You have somebody.” He said, his heart sinking a little. Burke knew it was wrong for him to wish that she was alone. That hadn’t been the reason he left her. He wanted her to find someone that got her better than he did, or better than he thought he had. He wanted her to be happy.
She looked anything but happy and he didn’t think it all had to do with his presence.
“If I say yes will you go away?” She muttered, looking down.
“You’re not married.”
“I could be and you wouldn’t know it. I told you that I don’t do rings.” Cristina retorted.
“You’re not married because any man with half of a brain wouldn’t let you go across the country without somehow marking his territory first. You’re a beautiful woman Cristina, and any man worth your time would realize that.”
“And you’re wasting your breath. He knows that it takes more than a man leering at me to catch my attention.”
Once again, the smug grin returned to his face. “I knew I was right.”
“Ooh. Validation. Get off the elevator.”
He considered staying to further irritate her. He still enjoyed getting a rise out of her. It wasn’t any different than it had been so many years ago. Burke made his way to the doors of the elevator and paused to glance at her again. “You haven’t changed an ounce.” He murmured, “You’re still beautiful. Still obviously driven. Whomever he is, he’s a very lucky man. I hope he knows that.”
Cristina looked down, masking her reaction to his words. She hated that they even affected her in the least. “He’s a hell of a lot smarter than you ever were.”
Burke’s eyes softened slightly as he watched her and he smiled. “Good. I’m glad. I’m glad that you’ve found somebody who won’t make the same mistake that I did.”
Her fingers tightened around the handle of her bag, “He won’t.”
How could Owen possibly make the same mistake that Burke had when he wouldn’t even attempt to propose?
Burke smiled faintly, his hand resting against the elevator door. He knew that he’d have more opportunity over the next four days. He could make his regrets known. He could tell her how wrong he was.
He’d at least have the chance to make up for what he’d done; a chance to explain himself. “It was good to see you, Cristina. I’m glad you’re well.”
“Likewise,” She answered, finally finding the strength to look up at him again. She didn’t mean it. She couldn’t find it in herself to wish him well. Not after he left her, not after he sent his mother and most certainly not after he won the Harper Avery.
He dropped his hand to his side and watched as the elevator door slid shut and began it’s journey to the top once more. Sadness weighed heavy on his heart and that weight became apparent on his shoulders.
For a few moments, he allowed himself to ponder what their life would have been like if he had just given it a chance, if he’d quit being so goddamn stubborn for just a moment. Leaving her was one of the biggest regrets that he’d ever had; it was the one thing that had weighed on the back of his mind relentlessly for years.
It was the one thing that he’d never let himself forget.
Pressing his lips together, he resolved to give her space for the evening. Nothing would grate on her nerves more than his feigned disinterest in her; nothing could possibly drive her as crazy as that. He knew he’d have to be precise in his actions to have his opportunity to speak with her, to really talk to her.
There were a million reasons why he shouldn’t be here in Boston, here at this conference. There were a million reasons why he should walk away now and never look back, but he couldn’t. He could see the anger in her eyes, he could see the pain that he’d caused her so many years ago, but he also saw something more.
He saw an opportunity to make himself heard, to apologize, to explain himself. He saw an opportunity to set things right.
He saw the chance to get his heart back from the woman who’d held onto it for so many years.
Even if it meant finally letting her go forever.