Alex stood confidently at the front of the room, a slight smirk on his face as he addressed the group. "This is Zola. She's six months old, born with spina bifida," he began, his voice steady and professional. Aria couldn't help but feel a swell of pride as she watched him speak, knowing how much this program meant to him.
"Adorable African children, shameless ego stroking Karev is a genius," Cristina muttered from the back of the room, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Aria chuckled softly under her breath, catching Alex's eye as he tried not to grin at Cristina's remark. "Yeah, he's single-handedly stealing chief resident out from under all of us, and we're helping him do it. I mean, we can't exactly refuse to treat little sick kids without making ourselves look bad," Jackson added, leaning back in his chair with a mock sigh.
"Oh, he is a genius. Or... that's what they say in Swahili," April chimed in, her tone playful as she mimicked an exaggerated accent. The room fell silent for a beat, everyone turning to look at her.
Aria raised an eyebrow, shaking her head. April never knew when to stop.
"Well, he only has a shot because I've been benched. The playing field has been leveled. You're all welcome," Cristina continued, arms crossed.
"My Alzheimer's trial kicks African-orphan ass. It kicks all of your asses," Meredith shot back, smirking at the room full of residents.
Aria rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Alex, who was still presenting Zola's case. She knew how much this meant to him. This was more than just another program or another chance for recognition. Alex was determined to make a difference, and she admired the hell out of him for it.
"Do you want to keep it down back there? I'm trying to listen to what appears to be the next chief resident talking," Richard said, his voice cutting through the chatter. The residents fell silent for a moment before muttering their apologies.
Alex didn't seem fazed by the distractions. He straightened up, turning his attention back to the room. "Before we go, I just want to say thank you to all of you for your participation. It, uh, truly means more than I could say," he said, his tone sincere.
Aria smiled to herself, her heart swelling a little. She'd seen him work tirelessly for this, and he deserved every bit of recognition that came his way. The room erupted in applause, and she joined in enthusiastically, clapping louder than anyone else.
"Slow clap. They're giving him the slow clap. Come on. I'm not giving him the slow clap. Ridiculous," Jackson said with a shake of his head, but Aria could see the teasing grin on his face.
She laughed, nudging Jackson lightly with her elbow. "It's deserved," she said, glancing up at Alex who was still standing proudly at the front of the room.
His eyes met hers for a moment, and she felt the unspoken connection between them. It wasn't about the applause or the recognition. It was about him, making an impact and doing what he loved. And Aria? She was just happy to be a part of it all—by his side, every step of the way.
"I mean, you'd think being on the chief's research project would help in the race for chief resident," Jackson grumbled, leaning against the counter. "You might even think it'd make me a contender. But here I am—cleaning up mouse poop."
Aria, who was sitting nearby, casually flipping through some charts, couldn't help but grin. "Oh, come on, Jackson," she teased, her voice light. "Mice are important. They're probably more valuable than you realize."
Jackson rolled his eyes, throwing her an exaggerated frown. "Not this again. I'm a surgeon. Not a janitor at a pet store."
Aria raised an eyebrow, still smirking. "Are you sure? Because you sure do act like one."
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...
