'Grey's Anatomy' season 12: Episode 9 directed by Denzel Washington to be 'extraordinary'; Nathan's connection to Owen's sister

Fans of "Grey's Anatomy" will have to wait a little while longer because the show is still on break. The long-running series will be back with the back half of season 12 in February 2016. But what will be in store for viewers when it resumes?

The winter finale certainly wowed fans with its twists and cliffhangers. Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) found out about the existence of Owen's (Kevin McKidd) sister after a wildfire caused his mother to pay a visit to the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Another shocking revelation is that Owen's mother greeted Nathan (Martin Henderson) like he was a part of their family, which begs the question: How did Owen and Nathan meet and how long have they known each other?

While Owen's hatred for Nathan was apparent, it wasn't clear why. Judging by the way they interacted and spoke, and based on the finale, it has something to do with Owen's sister. The way they talked made it seem like his sister had already passed away. Could Nathan be the reason for her death?

If Nathan did cause Owen's sister's death, or any pain at all for that matter, then Owen's feelings of anger are certainly understandable. At this point, nothing is certain. But rumors are flying about the pair's connection. Nathan could have been romantically involved with Owen's sister and cheated on her. Whatever it was, it's apparent that Owen's mother either has no idea about it or is just more accepting because she doesn't seem to share Owen's dislike for Nathan.

As for Meredith, showrunner Shonda Rhimes revealed that the character isn't exactly done evolving. While speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Rhimes explained that the second half of season 12 will see Meredith's journey as person.

"It's been really fun getting to explore Meredith and where she's going and who she's becoming," Rhimes shared. "That evolution continues. We've been having a blast. The first episode that comes back is extraordinary and very, very powerful, and directed by Denzel Washington. It certainly puts us on a path for the beginning of the second half of the season."

"Grey's Anatomy" season 12 will resume on Feb. 11, 2016 on ABC.