Aria was asleep on the battered old couch in the locker room when Alex walked in.
Not fully asleep, really. More the kind of exhausted half-sleep that came from too many hours in an OR, too little food, and the sort of bone-deep tiredness that made even fluorescent lights feel personal. One arm was draped over her stomach, the other hanging loosely at her side, and her feet were stretched out across the cushions like she owned the place.
Alex looked at her for a second before moving toward the couch.
Then, with absolutely no gentleness whatsoever, he knocked her feet off the cushion and sat down.
Aria grumbled immediately, half-awake, barely opening her eyes.
Without even looking at him properly, she lifted her legs and dropped them right back across his lap.
Alex glanced down at them.
He didn't move them this time.
Because he knew better.
If he shoved them off again, she'd just do it again — more aggressively, probably with actual kicking involved — and he was too tired to fight a battle he was definitely going to lose.
Across the room, Izzie looked over as she opened her locker.
"What's her problem?" she asked, looking at Aria sprawled across Alex like this was all perfectly normal.
Alex shrugged, leaning back. "Late surgery, I assume."
Aria made a small, annoyed sound in the back of her throat but didn't otherwise react.
Izzie nodded like that explained enough and went back to her things.
A second later George came in with Meredith and Cristina, all three of them mid-conversation until Meredith spotted Aria on the couch.
More specifically — Aria's feet in Alex's lap.
She slowed slightly, brow furrowing.
The look on her face was somewhere between confusion and curiosity.
Alex noticed.
Ignored it.
Bailey walked in before anybody could comment.
"Okay, two things," she said sharply, instantly commanding the room. "You all have a skills lab this morning. It is mandatory. Do not even think about trying to get out of it."
A collective groan went up immediately.
"Second," Bailey continued, "one of you will not have to go to the mandatory skills lab, because one of you will be assisting me in my efforts to remove an inoperable tumor from a ten-year-old girl."
That changed the energy immediately.
George straightened.
Cristina stepped forward.
Alex sat up a little.
Izzie looked interested despite herself.
Everyone started trying to angle for Bailey's case.
Aria, meanwhile, pushed herself upright with a quiet sigh, dragging a hand through her hair.
She was awake now, barely, and already dreading whatever this skills lab was about to involve.
Then Bailey's gaze landed on Meredith.
"What is that? Grey, is that Anatomy Jane?"
Meredith held up the doll reluctantly. "Yes."
Bailey narrowed her eyes. "With the twenty-four removable organs and the optional parts to simulate pregnancy?"
YOU ARE READING
Shooting Stars
Fanfiction"But he's Evil Spawn." "Don't you think I know that. I didn't wake up one day and suddenly decide I was going to be in love with Alex Karev." Being the daughter of a world renowned surgeon was never destined to be easy. The first born of the Grey tw...
