Doing The Dance (Jackson Avery Fanfic)

thirty-two

2016

I pulled the letter out of my mailbox and sighed, shoving it deep down into my work bag. Today was not the day, I couldn't face it.

Work-life seemed to be back to normal. Owen came back from the Afghanistan tour when we expected both he and April, but April opted to stay over for another few months. Either way, it meant that Jackson no longer had to run the ER with me. 

Although I did find myself back in there a lot, ever since I'd decided on my first day back that I was fine to be in there. If I wasn't in the ER, I was in peds with Alex and Arizona these days. Which was fine for me, I was grateful for the hours in the practice I'd had the least experience in. And even more grateful that Karev and I seemed to be back to the normal friendship we'd built during my time as a patient.

I walked into the main area where all the residents met either Doctor Webber or some other attending, finding the others.

"Dawson, you're in the ER today with Hunt. He's requested you" Doctor Webber informed me. I nodded, not saying a word, and hurried off to the ER. Owen Hunt requesting me meant he wasn't in a good mood and needed someone who knew what they were doing. And judging by the faces of the other residents, they knew that too so I was released with no arguments or comments about being the most liked resident. A wild change from how it was when I was first here and no attending could stand me.

"Where do you need me, Doctor Hunt?" I asked as soon as I approached him. He looked at me and I tried to read his face. Definitely not in it, but I'm not certain he was angry at anything. Although, you never truly did know with Owen.

"Doctor Dawson, thank god you're in here today. I need you to get Teddy for a consult in bed three. And if you could read the chart and familiarise yourself with the patient first, I'd appreciate not having to talk to Teddy directly if I can avoid it" I nodded and took the file from him.

Owen and Teddy had been through this weird relationship. They were best friends in Iraq, but Teddy was in love with him while he was engaged to someone else. Then he came back and met Cristina Yang, then brought Teddy to the hospital. When Cristina and Owen divorced, he went back for Teddy but she'd moved on. For the last few months, they'd been even more on and off than they ever had been. Today was clearly an 'off' day.

Conveniently, Owen was out of the ER when Teddy came down.

"Good morning Doctor Dawson, it's so nice seeing you in here these days" I smiled back at her.

"Thank you, Doctor Altman, it feels like I never left sometimes"

"Well, Owen will be glad to have the help. And Jackson has to enjoy not having to run this place anymore" I chuckled.

"You're not wrong. God, he hated it. But he knew it so well. And there wasn't anyone else Owen or April trusted"

"Besides you"

"I'm a resident and was hardly any help given the circumstances" Teddy rolled her eyes.

"Oh no, I'm not listening to this story again. You're a good doctor Taylor, accept it" I chuckled.

"Fine, I won't. Patient in bed three needs a consult, suspected embolism"

"And Owen couldn't stand to be in the same room as me huh?"

"How'd you figure that?" Teddy laughed.

"Because you were meant to be on cardio then got snapped up for the ER without warning"

"Ah. I don't even know where he's gone, to be honest"

"Anywhere to avoid talking to me it seems" I flashed her a sympathetic smile and she went over to the patient to give her consult.