December 4 2019
6:00 a.m. – OR Briefing Room
AJ stood at the head of the table, crisp in her dark blue scrubs, her lab coat folded neatly on a chair. Her voice was calm, but firm.
AJ -Today is not a drill. This is an emergent craniotomy. Arteriovenous malformation. Location: left parietal lobe. If you mess up, the patient doesn't walk again. Or speak. Or live.
Lexie, Ben,Park April and Jackson sat silently, wide-eyed.
AJ turned to the monitor, pulling up the scans.
AJ - Here's what you need to know. And don't waste my time pretending you know something you Googled last night.
Ben closed his mouth.
---
6:57 a.m. – Scrubbing In
Lexie whispered to Parker,
Lexie - You think she actually wants us in there?
Parker replied- She said we're either going to learn or pass out, So... yeah.
Ben- She already threatened to replace me with a sous-chef,
Ben added grimly.
---
7:11 a.m. – In the OR
AJ was in full command.
AJ - Scalpel.
Her tone was sharp, but focused.
AJ-Parker, walk me through the arterial map.
Parker swallowed hard- The AVM is nested close to the angular gyrus—if you clip it wrong—
AJ- Patient loses language and motor function
AJ said, already cutting.
Aj - April , retract."
April moved. AJ nodded once.
AJ- Good
Ben passed her the suction, but fumbled slightly. Blood pooled where it shouldn't.
AJ didn't flinch.
AJ - Ben. Suction now. Don't freeze. Freeze later.
---
Scene: 7:38 a.m. – It Gets Real
Suddenly: a vessel ruptured.
Bleeding. Fast.
Lexie gasped.
Lexie - Pressure's dropping—!
AJ's tone dropped an octave.
AJ - Jackson, elevate. Parker, 3-0 silk. Now.
The interns scrambled, adrenaline slamming through their veins. AJ leaned in closer, hands impossibly steady.
AJ 1 Breathe, people. I've got the brain. You've got the rest.
In less than two minutes, she had clipped the rupture, controlled the bleeding, and stabilized the pressure.
AJ - Ben, close.
Ben - Me?
AJ - You wanted to learn. Show me.
Ben moved in, shaking—but confident.
AJ watched every stitch.
AJ - Better. Still sloppy. Fix that.
---
8:22 a.m. – OR Finished
The room was quiet. The monitors beeped steadily.
AJ pulled off her gloves and turned to them.
Aj- You did better than I expected,
And worse than I'll accept next time.
They all exhaled like they hadn't breathed in an hour.
Then... she smiled. *Just barely.*
AJ - Welcome to neuro.
---
Later – Locker Room**
The five interns sat on the bench in total silence.
Lexie whispered- Did she just... compliment us?
Parker - I think so
Parker said, stunned.
Ben - She let me close,
Ben added.
April- I almost passed out.
Jackson nodded- Worth it.
