Sepetmber 13 2020
FAMILY CONSULT ROOM, NEURO ICU, THE NEXT MORNING
The air was heavy.
The kind of heavy that feels like waiting for a verdict.
AJ stood at the head of the small consult room. Her posture was perfectly straight. Her hands, tightly clasped behind her back. She'd changed out of her scrubs into a dark navy blazer, not because she needed to—but because this conversation required presence.
Not just as a surgeon.
But as a mother.
As a human.
Across from her sat Mr. and Mrs. Chen, eyes bloodshot and filled with a mix of confusion, grief, and anger. Their daughter, *Nia*, was still sedated in the ICU after emergency reoperation.
Lexie and April stood by the wall, wordless.
Dave had offered to stay with Mateo that morning. Camilla was in surgery. And Luke? Luke was quietly watching from the hallway, ready if needed—but giving AJ the space she needed to do this on her own.
---
THE CONVERSATION**
Mr Chen - Tell me exactly what happened
Mr. Chen said. His voice was calm. Too calm.
AJ nodded once.
AJ - Your daughter underwent surgery yesterday for an arteriovenous malformation near the brainstem. The procedure itself was successful.
Mrs. Chen clenched her hands together.
Mrs Chen - But she's not awake.
AJ didn't flinch.
AJ- No. She's not. After surgery, her blood pressure rose, which isn't uncommon. I gave specific instructions that no medication should be administered without my review. Unfortunately, those instructions were not followed.
A beat of silence. April's shoulders sagged. Lexie looked like she was about to break.
Mr Chen - You're saying someone on your team disobeyed direct orders
Mr. Chen said.
AJ - Yes sir
AJ replied.
AJ - One of our interns acted on instinct instead of protocol. She administered a blood pressure medication that lowered cerebral perfusion beyond a safe limit. It triggered a cascade of complications. We responded immediately with emergency intervention. I performed a second surgery.
Mrs Chen - Is Nia going to wake up?
Mrs. Chen asked, voice cracking.
AJ inhaled slowly, then met her eyes with something painfully honest.
AJ - I don't know yet. The next 48 hours are critical. We're monitoring every variable. She's young. She's strong. But I won't lie to you — we're in uncertain territory.
Mrs. Chen began to cry.
Lexie stepped forward, almost reflexively.
Lexie - I'm so sorry
she said softly.
Lexie - This is my fault. I didn't listen. I should've—
AJ raised a hand gently to stop her.
AJ - No
she said.
AJ - This conversation is my responsibility.
She looked at Mr. and Mrs. Chen and took a step forward.
AJ -There's no excuse for what happened. But there is accountability. I take full responsibility for every member of my team. And if you choose to file a formal complaint or lawsuit, I will stand by that. But I promise you this — I will not stop fighting for Nia. And neither will they.
Silence.
Thick. Quiet. Painful.
Then Mr. Chen's voice, quiet and shaking:
Mr Chen -When Nia found out you were doing her surgery... she was excited. She called you a legend. Said you were the one person who could fix her.
AJ's throat tightened.
AJ - I'll still try. Every minute she's in my care.
He stared at her for a long, long time. Then finally nodded.
Mr chen- No lawyers
he said.
Me Chen - Just save my daughter.
AJ didn't speak. She simply nodded, and stepped back.
---
HALLWAY OUTSIDE THE ROOM
Lexie was shaking. April was quietly crying.
AJ turned to them.
AJ - You're not off the hook
she said.
AJ - We still have to earn that trust back. Every. Single. Day.
Lexie nodded quickly.
Lexie - I will. I swear.
AJ looked away, her jaw tight.
AJ - I know you will. Now go. Round starts in ten.
---
AJ'S OFFICE, A MOMENT LATER
She finally let herself sit. Just for a second.
The door creaked. It was Luke.
Luke - They're not suing
he said, watching her carefully.
AJ - No. But they could've.
Luke - You were honest.
AJ - Doesn't make it hurt less.
Luke nodded, stepping further in.
Luke - You did what leaders do. You didn't throw anyone under the bus.
AJ - No
AJ said softly.
AJ - But sometimes I wish I could just be a surgeon and not carry the weight of everyone's mistakes.
Luke didn't answer. He didn't have to.
Instead, he poured her coffee.
And stayed with her in the quiet.
