After yesterday's revelations about Katherine Heigl's leave of absence and Izzie getting fired from Seattle Grace (at least for five episodes), Michael Ausiello of EW has more spoilers and gossip for us to marinate on today. Let's get right down to it ...

Q: Grey’s Anatomy scoop on Owen and Cristina, please!

A: They’re headed for a dry spell. In the season premiere, Amy Madigan’s shrink advises Dr. Owen Hunt against making further sexy time with Cristina until he can get the voices in his head to shut the hell up. They’re not breaking up. Just taking things slooooow.

Q: Mark-Lexie scoop please!

A: “They’ve got a lot of challenges coming down the pike,” concedes a Grey's Anatomy insider and writer for the show. “The most consistent challenge is the one that’s built into the fabric of their relationship: He’s pushing 40, she’s in her early 20s.”

Q: What will happen to Patrick Dempsey's character, Derek Shepherd, on Grey’s Anatomy when Ellen Pompeo (Meredith) heads off on maternity leave?

A: He will get some much-needed alone time. As Grey’s executive producer Krista Vernoff explains, Dempsey has been “patiently” waiting to get a story that wasn’t directly tied to the Der-Mer love story. And this season he will finally get his wish.

“Derek hasn’t been a fully explored character separate from Meredith,” Vernoff adds, noting that “the fact that by necessity Ellen Pompeo is going to need a little less screen time gives us more encouragement to explore Derek as a doctor.”

This includes what Vernoff calls an “extraordinary medical story” involving McDreamy and a patient in the sixth episode, directed by co-star Chandra Wilson.

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.