Home Hunting

Chapter 8: Sailor Song

Evelyn POV:

"Millin, Bowers, you're on Shepherd's service today," Dr. Bailey said as she finished reading our assignments.

The group of us said our goodbyes and began to walk off, with Jules and I walking together towards the neuro wing. It had been a week since the dinner at Grey's, and we haven't had a chance to work together since. I haven't stopped thinking about her, though. Her face pops into my head when I'm going to sleep or putting on clothes from the day. Her voice echoes in my head.

<<"Just the two of us.">>

I hope she hasn't forgotten. I sure haven't.

"Have you picked a favorite service yet?" Jules asked me as we neared the neuro desk.

"Honestly, no. It's probably between neuro, neonatal, and peds, though," I replied. "You?"

"Cardio," she replied confidently.

"Good morning," Dr. Shepherd announced, disrupting our tiny bit of conversation. "We have a busy schedule today, so I've requested the both of you. I have a benign tumor resection scheduled for 1:00 p.m. today. In the meantime, I have set up a skills lab for the two of you. After we go over the scans and the surgical plan, you two can get to work. Whoever does the cleanest job gets to scrub in with me. As for the other, I have charting for you to work on while you watch from the gallery. Kapeesh?"

We both nodded our heads in agreement.

"Alright, follow me," she announced.

I was thrilled about the possibility of scrubbing in on another one of Dr. Shepherd's surgeries, but why did I have to be going against Jules? I would kill to go against Kwan.

"Better have a pencil ready," she winked, whispering in my ear.

"Oh, I will run you down."

My face went bright red as Dr. Shepherd turned around to glare at us, smirking as she walked backwards.

"Care to share?" She asked.

Neither of us responded, grateful that we were arriving at the scans lab. As the images began to flood the room, I observed the small tumor tucked tightly inside the frontal lobe. While it was small in size, Dr. Shepherd elaborately explained its complexity. She explained how we would be working on a dissection simulator in the lab, with the wires changing color if they were struck incorrectly. It was a challenge of precision.

After arriving at the lab, we quickly got to work, having only a few hours before prep-time. After we settled into our task, Dr. Shepherd left to round on her post ops, leaving us the lab to ourselves.

"This isn't exactly what I envisioned when I said I wanted alone time with you, but I'll take what I can get," Jules said, smiling genuinely from the desk beside me.

I felt the excitement rise in me, but quickly kicked myself for one again forcing her to be the one to make the first move. I had to be bolder if I wanted this to work.

"Oh yea?" I asked. "What did you have in mind?"

"You tell me," she replied, moving her eyes to follow me as I walked over to her station.

"How about I show you later after I finish kicking your ass," I whispered.

"I wouldn't mind that," she answered. "That'll only work if you stop spying on me and get to work."

"Just checking out your handy work is all," I replied.

"Like what you see?" She asked.

"Yes, but I still think I'll enjoy gazing up at you when I'm in the OR."

"Oh, shut up," she laughed, nudging me in the arm. "You are so bad at being intimidating."

"That's so unfair," I smiled.

"See? Look at that smile," she smirked.

"You're distracting me," I smirked back. "I'm walking away."

"Hop to it."

***

Two hours later, Dr. Shepherd re-entered the lab to make her final decision.

"You two both delivered very impressive work today, so good job to the both of you. With that being said, Millin, you'll be scrubbing in with me. Bowers, I'd like you to attend from the gallery. There will be more opportunities to scrub in."

I felt the acid of failure bubble in my stomach. I focused on the excitement on Jules' face, pushing down the rejection.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"No, no you earned it," I smiled genuinely.

"Millin, come prep with me," Dr. Shepherd said.

"I'll be watching," I said, placing my hand gently on her shoulder before moving to gather my things and part ways.

***

I gazed down from the OR gallery with a stack of papers in my lap. I watched as Amelia enthusiastically addressed the OR, turning to Jules to further test her knowledge. I yearn to be down there with her, with the both of them. But, I had the best seat in the house to watch them work.

The two of them worked together calmly and precisely. I watched as her eyes lit up as Dr. Shepherd complemented her work.

"Alright, all the connecting vessels have been cut. Time to meet our tumor baby," Dr. Shepherd announced, regarding the gallery.

But I didn't see the tumor. All I saw were Jules' eyes connecting with mine. I allowed the connection to fill me up. I didn't want it to break. But we were surgeons, and it had to be broken.

***

"You did great in there," I said to Jules as we met outside of the scrub room.

"Thank you," she smiled sincerely. "I wish you were in there. I know you wanted to be."

"It's okay, there'll be more. Plus I got to watch you kick ass."

"Let me make it up to you," she replied softly, as she pulled me into a hallway.

"Is this what you had in mind when you asked for alone time?" I smirked.

"Exactly," she replied softly, our faces now close.

My eyes glanced up towards her lips, before closing them to envelope her lips in a soft kiss. It was soft, gentle, and careful. But it was perfect. We fit.

A/N: Thank you all sooo much for reading! I'm currently swamped with essays in school, so it's hard to find motivation to write. I'm so grateful for your comments and votes! Heres a little tid-bit to get you through the week! I'm excited to write the next chapter. Buckle up! <3