September 21 2020
NIGHT SHIFT, POST-EMERGENCY TRAUMA
The hospital lights were low, buzzing faintly overhead. After a brutal ten-hour shift, the interns trickled out of the trauma bay, exhausted and raw.
Lexie and April lingered at the back, having helped stabilize a post-op seizure patient. They kept their heads down. Quiet. Focused.
But Simone was waiting.
Parker stood beside her, arms crossed, jaw tight.
Simone's eyes locked on Lexie.
Simone - Are you serious with that 'team player' act right now?
Lexie froze.
Lexie - Excuse me?
Simone - You heard me
Simone snapped.
Simone - You nearly killed a patient two weeks ago, and now you're back pretending like nothing happened? Like *we* trust you?
April stepped forward, hands up.
April - Simone—please, we're just trying to get through the night—
Parker - No
Parker cut in.
Parker - We're trying to keep this department standing while AJ babysits you two.
Lexie flushed.
Lexie - We're on remediation. We know we screwed up.
Simone -Then act like it
Simone said.
Simone- Stop acting like you belong here.
Lexie's breath hitched. And something in her broke.
Lexie - You think we're not trying?
she snapped back.
Lexie - We show up earlier than you. We haven't slept. We haven't left. And AJ is ten times harder on us than she ever was on you.
Simone stepped closer, furious.
Simone - Yeah? Maybe because we didn't *nearly cost a life* with our arrogance.
April's voice cracked.
April - We're trying to earn it back. You don't have to keep punishing us.
But Parker was done. He dropped his clipboard with a loud **clang**.
Parker - You're lucky you even have badges. If that had been one of *my* patients, I would've filed to have you both dismissed.
Lexie's eyes flared.
Lexie - Do it, then!
The hallway buzzed louder now. Voices raised. People stopped.
Suddenly, AJ stepped out from the staff room — followed closely by Camilla
AJ's eyes landed on the four of them like a laser.
AJ -Enough.
No one moved.
AJ- Step. Back.
Camilla put a hand on Simone's shoulder and gently pulled her aside. AJ moved between them, expression unreadable.
AJ - If any of you want to go ten rounds, do it in the ring, not in my hospital.
Parker - They're not ready to be back
Parker muttered.
AJ turned her head, slow and sharp.
AJ - That's *not* your call.
Simone opened her mouth, but Camilla gave her a warning look.
AJ - Shift's over. Go home
AJ said.
The others slowly backed away. Simone glared at Lexie before walking off. Parker didn't say a word.
Once they were gone, Lexie and April stood there, stunned and shaking.
AJ looked at them.
Aj-If you want me to pull you off rotation, say the word.
April shook her head, barely holding in tears.
April- No, ma'am.
Lexie straightened.
Lexie - We'll be here. 5 a.m. sharp.
AJ studied them for a moment. Then she nodded once.
AJ - Then don't let them be right about you.
She walked off.
Camilla stayed a beat longer. Her voice softer.
Camila - Keep your heads down. Earn it. The only thing that shuts people up in this hospital is excellence.
And with that, she followed AJ, leaving Lexie and April in the empty corridor — battle-worn, but not broken.
