Doing The Dance (Jackson Avery Fanfic)

fifty-four

2018

"Oh, Doctor Dawson. Are you on your way to the lecture hall?" Chief Bailey asked me one morning in February.

That's right, Miranda Bailey was now the chief. Owen had stepped down not long after my brain surgery and had taken the position of chief of trauma from April, who was now working with the homeless in the city. I still saw her every week whenever we would pick up or drop off Harriet at each other's houses. And she and I often turned those handovers into a time for coffee and catching up. But that meant that for the last six or so months, Owen had been my main teacher for my trauma work and between him and me, the ER was running smoothly. But back to Miranda Bailey asking me where I was going.

"No, I'm heading to the pit where I work" She rolled her eyes at me.

"Didn't Shepherd talk to you?" I shook my head, confused.

"About what?"

"About what's happening in the lecture hall this morning! It's lecture day and he's giving one on the benefits of early mobilisation. Your case is his patient zero"

"Bailey, do you know what patient zero means?" She shook me off.

"Come to the lecture hall. You're the beginning of the research I've been funding, and it would be important to both Shepherds if you were there." I sighed, looking into Bailey's pleading eyes.

"Fine, I'll text Hunt" Bailey walked away from me, a smug look painted on her face. I shook my head as Jackson approached me.

"What is that face for?"

"You notice that a lot of power has gone to her head since she was named chief?" Jackson chuckled.

"Are you heading to the hall?" I nodded.

"Apparently Derek wants me there. I guess I should show my face. According to Bailey, I am patient zero" Jackson cracked up laughing, and after hitting him once for good measure I laughed as well. "Are you going?" Jackson shook his head.

"I wish. No, I have a financial meeting and then a foundation meeting this morning. And then my afternoon is full teaching a skills lab to the new interns on debriding burns" I pouted.

"Aw, I'll miss you" He pressed a kiss to my pouted lips.

"I'll miss you too. I'd better go. Love you"

"Love you more" I called as he disappeared toward the elevators. I walked towards the lecture hall and made it in, Amelia nudging Derek once she saw me. Derek's grin lit the room up as he walked over to me.

"Good morning, Doctor Dawson. Are you ready?"

"By ready I hope you mean to listen to you and your sister talk about me, then yes"

"Actually, about that"

"Derek Shepherd, what did you do?" He held his hands up in mock defeat.

"I just thought that the questions these doctors might have may be better answered by you, as living and breathing evidence of exactly what Amelia and I are talking about"

"Why did I know deep down that you wanted me in on this? God, just talk to me next time, Shepherd!" I said, slapping him playfully.

"So that's a yes?" He asked in a hopeful voice.

"It's a maybe. I'm not technically meant to be at work right now, but my appointment was scheduled for this afternoon instead."

"Is that your appointment with Doctor Hyland?" I nodded.

"I went and had scans yesterday, but we were swamped in the ER and Hunt really needed me, so I just had them done and ran off before I could take a look at them"