The locker room buzzed with energy as the fifth-year residents gathered around the assignment board, eyes scanning for their names. It was their first time leading surgeries—no more assisting, no more standing back while an attending took over. This was their moment.
Jackson leaned against the lockers, arms crossed. "First solo surgeries. No more 'assisting.'"
April, practically bouncing on her heels, exhaled sharply. "No more assisting also means no one to step in if we screw up."
Cristina, as unimpressed as ever, rolled her eyes. "Speak for yourself."
Alex's gaze locked onto his name on the board, and he groaned. "Bowel resection? Seriously?" He turned to Aria. "What about you?"
Aria's lips curled into a small smile as she read her assignment. "Oesophageal Atresia with Robbins."
April glanced between them and then back at the board. "Alex, you can't switch. That's your case."
Aria finally looked up, her smirk widening. "You realize what you've just done, right?"
Alex frowned. "What?"
She crossed her arms, amusement dancing in her eyes. "You've just given me more paperwork. More paperwork means I have less free time." She let the moment linger before adding, "Less free time means less sex."
Jackson let out a low whistle, grinning as Alex's face shifted from confusion to realization.
Cristina smirked. "Rookie mistake, Karev."
April, already blushing furiously, threw up her hands. "Can we please focus on the fact that we are about to do our first solo surgeries?!"
Aria simply patted Alex's chest, her smirk unwavering. "Hope your bowel resection goes smoothly, babe."
With that, she grabbed her lab coat and sauntered toward the door, leaving Alex shaking his head.
Jackson clapped him on the shoulder, barely holding back laughter. "Tough break, man."
The hospital halls were bustling with the usual noise of nurses rushing to and from patients, the clatter of medical equipment being wheeled into rooms, and the murmur of doctors discussing their cases. But amidst the chaos, Alex Karev felt an odd sense of absence. He hadn't seen Aria since that morning when they had exchanged quick words before heading into their respective prep rooms. He'd assumed she'd be on the floor, gearing up for her first surgery as lead surgeon, but as the day stretched on, he realized he hadn't caught a glimpse of her.
He approached the others in the break room, feeling a little more unsettled. "Hey, anyone seen Aria?" he asked, glancing at Cristina, Jackson, April, and Meredith.
"Nope, haven't seen her," April responded, grabbing a cup of coffee and leaning against the counter.
"Not a clue," Meredith added, flicking through some charts as she sipped her drink.
"Same here," Cristina chimed in, giving him an exasperated look. "She's probably hiding from surgery. You know how she gets when she's got some paperwork to do."
"I know she's prepping for her first lead surgery, though," Alex muttered, tapping his fingers on the counter. "I thought she'd be in the O.R. by now."
A nurse walked past, overhearing the conversation. She paused, looking at Alex with a slight tilt of her head. "Are you looking for Dr. Grey?" she asked, recognizing him from the halls.
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, you've seen her?"
"She's in her office," the nurse replied. "She's been there for a while now."
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...
