DINNER & DIATRIBES. . . JACKSON AVERY!

chapter thirty-seven: this magic moment/hope for the hopeless

Every day brings them closer to their boards, and Briar feels like she's going insane.

There aren't enough hours in the day for everything she needs to do: eat, sleep, study, work, cook, and have a social life. It's impossible. Briar is stretching herself too thin, and she knows it, but there's nothing she can do about it. Instead, she throws herself into surgeries like her life depends on it, because it does–or, at least, her future does.

"Practice, practice, practice until it is perfect, people." Owen tells them, pacing in front of their large group in the O.R. "This is a long, complex procedure with many parts. Therefore, many opportunities for error. So we're gonna go over this again. Team leaders, let's get in place."

Briar's entire body aches, but she doesn't voice a complaint, instead just stretching herself out and looking around the room. She's not the only one feeling tired, but there's also a high energy in the room with the knowledge that they're going to perform such a rare and high-stakes surgery.

"Alright, green team over here, please." Derek calls, a green band around his scrub cap. Arizona has a red one around hers, and the people with matching colors rotate around to be with their team. Briar is on red, while Callie is on green.

"We've offered this family every pro bono dollar, every surgical hand, every resource this hospital has." Owen continues with his speech while they gather around the hospital bed. "So I'm asking you for every resource that you have. Be sharp, be present, be focused. Dr. Robbins has been caring for these children since the day they were born. They will each get a new life today. Our actions will decide what kind of lives they will be."

With that, he lifts up the sheet, revealing the dolls representing the conjoined twins that they will be separating–one for the green team, one for the red.

"Let's begin."

✦

"Flaps are inset and viable." Mark reports on the green team baby, stepping back from the table.

"We are looking at at least 18 hours, so come and go if you need to, hydrate, eat, but be here at least 30 minutes before your procedures."

"Alright. Next up, general surgery." Arizona calls, and Briar watches from her spot next to Alex and across from Derek. "First we need to establish each baby's blood supply to the shared colon."

"Then we separate the colon, making the first incision–" The general surgeon for the green team speaks up, getting interrupted by Arizona. She's high strung over this operation.

"I will make the first incision. We'll separate the colon." She emphasizes.

"Okay, and now I'm checking the displaced kidneys–"

"To make sure they're intact and functioning." Arizona clarifies, once again interrupting him. Briar shares a look with Alex, whose eyebrow is arched up at his mentor.

"Uh, that's implied."

"I don't care. Say it." Arizona orders him, and Briar suddenly dreads her turn, despite being on the same team as her.

"Man, she's wound up tight." Richard says from his spot behind them, and Briar fights down a smile.

"Thought you were off work today." Alex tells him.

"I won't see another one of these in my lifetime. You're doing the flip, right, Karev? With Robbins?"

"Mm-hmm."

"The flip's a critical part. You ready?"

"Yes, sir."

"You forgot to cauterize! You want this baby to bleed out?" Arizona snaps. Briar shares a look with Jackson, who is also on the red team.