Doing The Dance (Jackson Avery Fanfic)

ten

2014

"How's Peds going today?" Luke asked as I sat down in the chair. I shrugged.

"Not as bad as I thought it would be. Robbins is letting me scrub in on a live liver transplant tomorrow for her cancer patient"

"No way! So much for no surgeries. If Robbins is giving them to you, it won't be long until everyone else is too" I smiled and took a bite out of my sandwich.

"Here's hoping." Jackson Avery began to walk over to our table and I found myself hoping he wouldn't try to talk to me. But of course, a good day can always be ruined in a split second.

"Doctor Dawson, can I have a word with you?" I nodded and left my food where it was, following him away from earshot of anyone else.

"Uh, Doctor Robbins mentioned what you did for her cancer patient. She says you're a good doctor and we've been treating you pretty unfairly just because of the history" I shrugged.

"Yeah, you guys have" He smiled nervously.

"Look, I'm not trying to charm my way out of it but you've gotta understand what it feels like-"

"Feels like seeing a patient as an equal? Yeah, I've been told that. And I don't think it should have been this difficult, or this harsh on me. I have the credentials, I have the grades, and I have the experience. I thought Grey Sloan was going to be the place I pushed myself even further than I already had to get here, but you've made it pretty clear that's not how it's going to go" I said, cutting him off. He looked a little sheepish in all honesty.

"Well, I know sorry won't really cut it but I'm sorry. The way you ran the ER a few weeks ago proved me wrong and I hate that it's taken me this long to admit it but I was wrong. You're not just a good doctor Tay, you're a great one" I frowned.

"Don't call me Tay. I'm Doctor Dawson"

"Come on, we were friends just before you left, remember?" I laughed, sarcastically.

"You think I'd just forgotten the most traumatic experience of my life?"

"I didn't mean it like that-"

"Thank you for your apology, Doctor Avery. I am going to finish my lunch and then I am assisting Doctor Robbins in an appendectomy" I said coldly, walking away from him.

"What was that all about?" Luke asked as soon as my butt had hit the chair.

"He wanted to apologize"

"That's good"

"It took them three weeks to realize they were wrong. It's average. Mediocre at best" Luke chuckled.

"Trust you to see the bright side" I sighed.

"Sorry Luke, I'm not in the mood for banter today." He looked at me, head cocked to the side.

"What's really going on?" I shook my head.

"It's just this day always gets me, every year. I'm not going to explain it right now. I've gotta go back to Peds" I said, finishing my food. Luke nodded, almost completely understanding. I didn't deserve a friend like him. I gave him a reassuring smile, which he returned with his own goofy grin as I left the cafeteria.

"You think you're something, don't you? Coming in here to fool everyone, huh?" Alex Karev's voice came from behind me. I turned to look at him, bewilderment evident on my face.

He couldn't know, could he? I shook it off.

"Sorry Doctor Karev, I'm not sure I know what you mean. I'm going to have my lunch break now" I turned to walk away.