𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞

"Ugh, it's seriously not fair." Ellie complained, tossing her hands up in frustration. "Amy and Miguel get to hang out with cute kids all day, while Mike gets to play hero with the serious cases. And here we are, stuck watching surgeries like we're on some boring TV show. And to top it off, we're not even allowed to do anything hands-on."

Ellie and Liam were chilling in the observation deck, high above the operating room, just watching the surgery go down below. As they watched the surgeons work their magic, Liam leaned over to Ellie, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Hey, think we can sneak a peek at the patient's chart? I'm dying to know what's going on down there."

"Don't even think about it, kiddo," Came the warning from none other than Jackson Avery, Liam's uncle, as he entered the room. Liam couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"Why are we stuck here?" Liam groaned, his annoyance palpable.

"Because you two are not ready for the real deal." Jackson replied bluntly.

"Well, how are we supposed to get ready if we're stuck in this boring room?" Liam retorted, his frustration clear in his voice.

Jackson sighed, understanding Liam's frustration but remaining resolute in his decision. "You'll get there, Liam. But for now, you need to learn patience and observation. That's how you'll become a great surgeon one day."

Liam responded with a half-hearted "Yeah, sure," his frustration still lingering despite Jackson's reassurance. He knew his uncle meant well, but the waiting game wasn't his strong suit. As Jackson left the room, Liam leaned back in his chair, rolling his eyes again.

"Dude, come on," Ellie nudged Liam with her elbow as she shot him a sympathetic look. She could sense his frustration and wanted to offer some words of encouragement. "Maybe he's right. We'll get there eventually. Just gotta trust the process, you know?"

"Well, the process is fucked up," Liam grumbled, not entirely convinced by Ellie's attempt to reassure him.

Ellie sighed, knowing that arguing with Liam wouldn't get them anywhere. Instead, she reached over and gave his arm a gentle squeeze. Liam glanced at her. Despite his frustration, Ellie's touch and understanding demeanor helped ease his tension. He leaned back in his chair, feeling a bit more reassured.

The surgery continued in front of them, and Liam found himself becoming engrossed in the procedure, his annoyance fading as he focused on the intricate movements of the surgeons. Beside him, Ellie watched with equal interest, their earlier tension dissipating as they immersed themselves in the moment.

Meanwhile, on the pediatric side, Miguel stood by the window of the hospital room, gazing out at the scene beyond while keeping an eye on the child they were caring for. Amy sat on the edge of the bed, engaged in conversation with the young boy, her gentle voice offering comfort and reassurance.

"Alright, I see. How about the capital of... Argentina?" Amy asked, testing Niall's geography knowledge, her tone gentle and encouraging.

"Piece of cake. Buenos Aires." The little boy, Niall, declared with confidence, a sense of triumph evident in his tone.

Amy chuckled softly, impressed by Niall's knowledge. "Yeah, that one's easy."

"Okay, uh...what's the capital of Ireland?" Amy quizzed the boy with a new question.

"Dublin."

"Dang, he's nailing these questions." Miguel chimed in with a playful grin as him and Niall exchanged a triumphant high five.

"Okay, okay. The questions were too easy" Amy remarked with a grin. "Okay. What's the capital of...Monaco?"

"That's a tricky one. The capital of Monaco is Monaco." Niall replied confidently, demonstrating his sharp wit and knowledge.