Shooting Stars

CHAPTER 72

Aria stood in the surgical prep room, nerves buzzing in the quiet before the storm. The sound of shoes scraping against the floor and the rustling of scrubs was the only noise, a steady rhythm of the calm before the chaos that would come. She took a deep breath, glancing at the team gathered before her, each one of them locked into their roles, their minds already on the task ahead.

Owen stood at the head of the room, his voice cutting through the silence like a whip. "There's only one way to get there. Practice, practice, practice until it is perfect, people. 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."

Aria's stomach twisted as Owen's words reverberated through the air, but she kept her focus. This wasn't just another surgery. This was the conjoined twins, and everything needed to go flawlessly. There was no room for mistakes.

"All right, green team over here, please," Derek called, his voice steady and sure as he waved his team toward his side of the room.

"Let's go, red," Arizona added, her bright tone cutting through the tense atmosphere as she motioned for her own team to assemble.

Aria looked over at Alex, who stood with the red team, a few steps ahead of her. Their eyes met for a brief moment, a silent exchange of reassurance before the storm. She gave him a tight smile. He nodded back, his own face betraying nothing but professionalism, though she could see the faint edge of concern in his eyes. She tried to push it away, focusing on the task at hand.

Owen turned back to the room, his gaze sweeping across the assembled team. "We've offered this family every pro bono dollar, every surgical hand, every resource this hospital has. 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 lead. Let's begin."

The weight of his words hung heavy in the room as everyone nodded in agreement. Aria's heart hammered in her chest, but she steadied her breath, reminding herself that this was what she was here for—what she was born to do.

With one last deep breath, she donned her surgical mask, her hands steadying as she adjusted her gloves. Every fiber of her being was focused, dialed into the procedure ahead. There was no room for fear, no time for doubt. It was her job to save these kids.

And nothing, not even the lingering thoughts of Alex, who would be just across the room, would stand in her way.

The clock was ticking.

The operating room was alive with the hum of machines, the sharp scent of antiseptic in the air. Aria stood at the side, her hands steady as she watched Arizona lead the complex surgery. She could feel the weight of the moment, the delicate nature of the procedure pressing down on her. The conjoined twins, barely old enough to understand what was happening, were about to be separated—two lives about to take their first breaths as individuals.

Arizona's voice rang through the room with authority. "Alright, team, let's move. We've prepared for this. Stay focused. We're not just giving them a chance; we're giving them a future."

Aria nodded, squeezing her fingers into the sterile gloves as she adjusted her position beside Arizona. Alex was on the other side of the table, keeping a careful eye on one of the twins' vitals. His usual stoic expression was replaced with something deeper—an unspoken weight that Aria could feel even without looking directly at him.

Arizona's eyes locked onto Aria's for a brief moment, a silent communication passing between them. "We're starting with the separation of the shared liver," Arizona said, her tone steady. "Aria, get ready to assist with the sectioning. Alex, stay on top of the twins' vitals. We're cutting close to the heart."