Twisted

CHAPTER TWO

The incessant clamor of the ER was a chaotic symphony that Jessica had learned to navigate with a measured calmness unusual for interns. She was filling out paperwork when Dr. Miranda Bailey approached, her demeanor urgent.

"Grey, you're up. We have an incoming trauma, male in twenties, suffered a fall, potential compound fracture of the leg. I need you on this," bailey instructed without pausing for breath.

Jessica nodded, dropping her pen and following Bailey's brisk pace towards the ambulance bay. As they awaited the patient, Jessica prepped mentally for the procedure to stabilize a compound fracture. However, nothing could have prepared her for the moment the paramedics wheeled in the patient.

It was John. Her John. Or rather, the John who used to be hers. His was contorted in pain, but upon seeing Jessica, a flicker of surprise and something softer passed across his features.

"Jess?" he gasped out, his voice strained.

Jessica's heart lurched. "John, oh my God. What happened?"

As the paramedics transferred him onto the hospital bed, John managed to explain through gritted teeth. "Fell off a ladder at the construction site. Landed all wrong."

Dr. Bailey, who had been reviewing the paramedic's notes, looked up sharply at the exchange. "You two know each other?"

"Yes," Jessica responded quickly, her professional demeanor snapped back into place. "He's an ex-boyfriend."

Bailey raised an eyebrow but then nodded, turning her attention back to John. "Well, Grey, since you're familiar and he's stable, you're still on. Let's get him an exam room and assess the damage."

Jessica followed the gurney, her mind a whirlwind of past emotions and professional duty. As they reached the exam room and started to assess John's injuries, Jessica took charge, her voice steady despite the storm inside her.

"John, I need you to tell me where you feel the most pain," she instructed, her hands skilled and gentle as she palpated around the swelling on his leg.

"Right around the leg, below the knee," John replied, wincing as she touched a particularly tender spot.

Jessica noted the deformation and sighed. "Looks like a severe fracture. We'll need to do an X-ray to confirm and then probably go into surgery to fix this. You're lucky it didn't pierce the skin too deeply."

John chuckled weakly. "Guess it's a good day after all, since I got you as my doctor."

Jessica couldn't help but smile slightly at that, though her mind was focused on the tasks at hand. She arranged for the X-ray and prepped him for surgery.

As they waited for the surgical room to be ready, John looked at Jessica, his expression turning serious. "Jess, I never expected to see you like this again."

Jessica met his gaze, her own expression unreadable. "Life is full of surprises, John. Let's focus on getting you fixed up right now."

John nodded, then took a deep breath. "I heard about you and your sister. Doing great things here. I always knew you would."

"Thanks, John. We try our best," Jessica replied, checking his vitals again.

There was a pause, a silent acknowledgement of all the things left unsaid, the life they had once planned together but which had diverged sharply one painful evening years ago.

Finally, the call came through that the Or was ready. As they wheeled John away, Jessica stayed professional, yet part of her heart ached for the past. In the Or, her hands were steady, her focus absolute. The procedure to set John's leg was textbook, and by the time they wrapped up, Jessica felt a mixture of relief and exhaustion.