Looking at you side ways

34

They all staggered back into the locker room at the end of their shift. It had been a long day for all. There was no talking or joking going on. They started changing clothes and getting ready to leave.

Bailey burst through the door and said, "I have your assignments for tomorrow people. I suggest you read up on the specialty and familiarize yourself with the procedures overnight. Be back here at 0430." She handed a piece of paper to each intern.

Mark asked, "0430?"

"Yes. I know Dr. DePalma let you get a later start most days, but that's over. You work what I work. And tomorrow, I am starting at 0430. Don't be late and bring your brains!"

Burke looked over the paper and asked, "Seriously? You are giving us homework?"

Bailey narrowed her eyes and said, "It's called preparation."

Addison asked, "Well, I mean...the time we spend preparing....this counts towards our eighty hour limit, right?"

Bailey shook her head and said, "Great doctors are always preparing and learning. There is always new and improved technology and procedures. If you think you can just pass a test at the end of the year and then coast the rest of your careers, you are sadly mistaken. You learn something new every day and hopefully you teach something new every day. The eighty hours is time in the hospital. I expect you all to research and learn outside of the hospital too. And any down time in the hospital is time to study or to observe, not socialize!" She spun around the left the room.

Mark said to the group, "Fuck! Drinks at Joe's?"

Everyone nodded their heads and continued changing.

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They sat at a table and ordered a round and commiserated about their day.

Mark whined a little, "0430? Man; that is the middle of the fucking night!"

Meredith agreed, "It is. I mean that is when I get my best REM sleep." [i]Meredith didn't like to get up when it was still dark, but she could do it. It was just so hard to leave a warm and cozy bed at that hour.[/i]

Derek tried to put a good spin on it. "The earlier we start, the earlier we go home."

Mark mumbled and said, "Just because you are a fucking happy chatty person in the morning doesn't mean we all are."

Derek laughed and said, "I'll get up first and get the coffee going and I will drive. You guys can sleep on the way."

Cristina was studying her paper intently.[i] She was going to leave soon and get on the internet once she got home.[/i] Burke was thinking about doing the same. Their drinks came and everyone took a big sip.

Derek asked, "What do you think happened to DePalma?"

Meredith replied, "I don't know but she can't be any worse than he was."

Cristina said confidently. "Maybe he got caught with his dick up an intern's ass!"

Mark yelled, "Spill it Yang! You know something!"

Cristina smiled evilly and said, "Maybe I will tell you one day when I need something from you. You know, a trade."

Burke looked horrified.[i] He was shocked at Cristina's language.[/i]

Addison returned from the restroom and sat down. "That woman wore my ass out today!"

Cristina guffawed loudly and Meredith shook her head at her.