Running in Circles - Lexie Grey x OC

Good Gracious You're a Heart Attack

It was almost midnight, and it was still raining when Owen and Cristina left Meredith's house. Owen draped his jacket over both of them as they dashed toward his car. Cristina hurriedly climbed in and settled into the passenger seat, wiping rain from her face and arms while Owen closed the door.

She watched him walk around the car toward the driver's side. Looking ahead, she noticed another car pulling up in front of the house. At first, she mistook it for Derek's, but then realized it wasn't, though it looked familiar. Her eyebrows lifted with curiosity when she saw Lexie step out of the SUV, lean down toward the open window, and say something before stepping away from the vehicle.

Owen shook the rain from his jacket before climbing into the car. He turned toward Cristina and noticed her staring out the window, lost in thought. Concern flickered across his face before he squeezed her arm.

"You okay?"

Cristina answered with a half-smile.

She returned her attention to Lexie, who was now walking toward the front door. The SUV didn't pull away until Lexie was standing safely in the doorway.

"That car," Cristina said, pointing toward the vehicle as it drove off.

"What?"

The SUV had already turned the corner before Owen could get a look at it. He reached into the gym bag in the back seat and pulled out a clean shirt.

"Here, dry yourself off with this," Owen said as he settled into his seat and handed it to her. "Let's go home."

He started the engine and drove away.

- - - - -

The drive home was quiet. Rain tapped steadily against the windshield. Owen glanced at Cristina as they stopped at a red light.

"You hungry?"

"No."

"You eat today?"

Cristina didn't answer.

Owen sighed.

The light turned green.

A few minutes later, Cristina spoke without looking at him. "You don't have to keep checking."

"What?"

"I'm not going to break if you stop asking me if I'm okay every five minutes."

Owen tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "I know."

Cristina looked out the window. "Do you?"

Neither of them spoke for the rest of the drive.

- - - - -

Sunday Afternoon
Emergency Room

The ER had been chaotic all afternoon. A sudden surge of patients arrived just as Owen left for surgery, leaving April to manage the department on her own during her shift.

April stood frozen for a moment, watching gurneys roll in and out of the crowded emergency room.

Mark and Eric exchanged amused looks while examining their patient.

"She's gonna hurl," Mark chuckled.

Eric glanced toward April. She appeared to be muttering incoherently under her breath, looking more overwhelmed by the second.

"She'll be alright." A faint smile tugged at Eric's lips.

He turned back to the patient, then did a double take when he spotted Lexie pushing a gurney toward the elevators alongside Dr. Browne. His gaze followed her through the pit.