Aria sat at her desk in the bustling hospital, sorting through the piles of paperwork that had somehow accumulated despite her best efforts to keep on top of them. She had been supposed to be on Peds today, excited to be back in the NICU with the tiny, fragile babies. But instead, she found herself filling in for Jackson on Mark's service. It wasn't the worst thing in the world, but she couldn't help feeling frustrated. Jackson's mom had asked him to show Dr Keaton around, and Aria, always the team player, had stepped up.
But today wasn't just about work. Aria hadn't seen Alex in days. Between his shifts in the NICU with Morgan's premature baby, their conversations had been limited to quick texts and tired phone calls. She tried to be understanding—Morgan was one of his interns, and the baby was fighting for its life—but it still left Aria feeling distant from him.
She glanced at her phone, checking for a message. Nothing new. A sigh escaped her lips, and she ran a hand through her hair, annoyed at herself for feeling so selfish.
"Hey, Aria!" Mark's voice broke into her thoughts, his usual grin plastered on his face. "Jackson's off showing Dr Keaton around, and I need someone who's not afraid of a little challenge. You up for it?"
"Shouldn't I be on Peds today?" Aria shot back, raising an eyebrow as she gathered her things, knowing full well she had no choice but to oblige.
Mark shrugged casually. "I'd ask someone else, but you're the only one not tied up with some other crisis. Besides, you could use a break from all that baby love on Peds."
Aria couldn't help but roll her eyes. Mark always had a way of making her laugh, even when she wasn't in the mood. But today, she didn't feel like laughing.
"Fine," she muttered, grabbing her coat. "But I'm holding you responsible for any chaos that happens next."
"Always am," Mark said, winking as they walked down the hallway together.
The operating room was buzzing with the usual hum of activity as the surgical team prepped for the procedure. Mark stood scrubbed in, a grin on his face, eyeing Aria across the sterile space. She was busy making last-minute adjustments to her instruments, but the slight shift of her lips gave away her readiness for some banter.
"Ready to save another life, Dr Grey?" Mark teased as he adjusted his gloves, readying himself.
Aria looked up, giving him a mock glare. "Ready for you to stop talking, maybe," she quipped, her voice light with humour despite the serious work ahead.
Mark laughed, shaking his head. "Tough crowd. I thought we were past the whole 'I'm too good for you' act."
Aria smirked as she moved to take her place beside him. "I'm just here to make sure you don't screw this up."
"Ha, that's rich coming from someone who still gets nervous when they have to stitch a wound," Mark shot back, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"I don't get nervous," Aria said, smiling as she met his teasing challenge. "I just take extra care. You should try it sometime."
Mark raised an eyebrow, amused. "I'll have you know, I'm a care expert. Just ask any of my patients."
Aria rolled her eyes, turning her attention back to the patient. "Please, your care is just an excuse for flirting."
"I call it multitasking," Mark said with a wink. "Now, you want to focus, or should I start making some bets on which one of us finishes first?"
"Maybe we'll finish at the same time, since we're clearly on the same level of skill," Aria replied, teasing but focused on the task at hand.
YOU ARE READING
Shooting Stars
Fiksi Penggemar"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...
