December 2 2019
AJ sipped her coffee in the passenger seat while Luke drove through the early morning fog. The hospital loomed in the distance like a sleeping beast she was about to wake.
Luke - You ready for another day?
Luke asked, glancing over.
AJ muttered- this interns are getting on my last nerve like why don't you fucking listen
Luke- That's not a no.
She sighed, looking out the window.
AJ - I can't let this interns fuck up one time. It's like they can follow simple instructions don't cut
Luke gave a rare, gentle smile.
Luke- don't worry you have Camilla. You'll help you guide this new interns
AJ - shes too soft on them look what happened to Bello she had so much potential but she let her jealously get to her
Luke- i heard about this fellow intern
---
### **Scene: Sanchez Back in the Building**
As soon as AJ stepped through the doors of the hospital, heads turned.
Scrubs stopped. Nurses whispered.
Dr. AJ Sanchez was in the buliding .
Camilla - Dr. Sanchez!
Nurse ruth - Ma'am, we missed you—
Dr lee-Can I grab you for a consult—?
She waved off the flood with a smirk.
Aj - Give me ten minutes and some decent coffee. Then you can drown me.
But then—
**CRASH.**
From across the hallway, a gurney slammed into the wall.
Parker was breathless.
Lexie was holding a chart upside down.
Jackson was arguing with radiology over speakerphone.
And April? Had managed to get her coat caught in the elevator.
AJ blinked.
AJ - I was just here yesterday
Lexie- Yeah, but it's been a few hours without you
Lexie gasped.
---
At home
Meanwhile, back at home, Mateo was sitting in the living room surrounded by blocks, two half-chewed teething rings, and Dave—still in pajamas—reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar like it was a trauma case.
Dave -Are we hungry because we're teething, or because we're emotionally processing?
Dave asked seriously.
Mateo giggled and threw a cracker at him.
Luke came in with a bottle and raised an eyebrow.
Luke - That how y'all bond?
Dave- We're men of feeling He's very advanced emotionally.
Luke chuckled, handing him the bottle.
Luke - He's just hungry.
---
AJ swept into the main conference room, already deep in consult mode.
AJ -Parker, why is there a lumbar case in neuro?
Parker- I was told he hit his head!
AJ - By who?
Parker - ...by Lexie.
AJ - Lexie?
Lexie - He said *he thinks he hit his head*"
AJ turned to Jackson .
AJ - And you?
Jackson - I was on call for Dr. Shepard and—well—I might have told radiology to rush a film that was, uh... not urgent?
AJ- Because?
Jackson - I thought it was for *you*.
AJ closed her eyes.
Then opened them.
AJ -You're all lucky I have the patience today all of you.
---
**Her Phone Buzzes**
Later, after finishing a consult, she checked her phone.
1 new message from Dave:
📸 *A photo of Mateo passed out on Luke's chest, both of them sleeping on the couch, a pacifier in Mateo's mouth and the remote in Luke's hand.*
**Caption:**
> *"You go save brains. We got the baby."*
AJ smiled to herself.
Then walked into the OR like a queen back on her throne.
