April 30 2021
The conference room was silent as five fresh interns sat stiffly at the table, waiting. The door opened, and AJ strode in, coat billowing behind her, clipboard in hand.
Her gaze swept over them, cool and calculating.
Aj - I'm Dr. AJ Brewster. Head of Neuro. Listen carefully, because I don't repeat myself.
She set her clipboard down with a sharp *clack*.
Aj - Rule one: Don't be like my last interns.
The new group shifted nervously.
Aj- Rule two: Speak when spoken to.
Rule three: Don't walk into my office unless it's urgent, bleeding, or *dead*.
Rule four: Don't guess in Neuro. Ever. Guessing here kills people."
One of the braver interns raised a hand timidly.
Intern - Uh... Dr. Brewster? That's only four rules.
Before AJ could respond, her pager shrieked: **9-1-1, Trauma Bay.**
She turned, eyes sharp, already heading for the door. Over her shoulder, she delivered the final rule without breaking stride:
Aj - Rule five: When I move, you move.
The new interns scrambled to their feet and chased after her.
---
From the other end of the hallway, AJ's former interns stood, silent, watching the whole thing.
Simone bit her lip.
Simone - She really... replaced us.
Gabriel exhaled sharply.
Gabriel -And she made sure they'll never make our mistakes.
Jackson (muttered)- She didn't even look at us."
Parker's shoulders slumped. Luca whispered a quiet prayer under his breath.
For the first time, they weren't angry. They were just... hollow.
---
Camilla appeared beside them, arms folded, watching AJ's coat disappear around the corner with the new class in tow.
Camilla - She hasn't forgotten you
Camilla said, her tone firm but not unkind.
The interns turned to her, startled.
Gabriel - She's Medusa
Gabriel muttered bitterly.
Camilla - No
Camilla corrected.
Camilla- She's AJ Brewster. And if you want her to see you as anything but a failure, you're going to have to prove you're worth her time again. Not by whining. Not by gossiping. By doing the work. By learning from your mistakes.
Simone's eyes glistened.
Simone - But what if she never gives us another chance?
Camilla gave a small, knowing smile.
Camilla - Then you make her regret letting you go. Because if you're smart, if you push yourselves harder than you ever thought you could—you won't need her to hold your hand. You'll earn her respect back. And trust me—her respect means more than her forgiveness ever will.
The interns exchanged glances, determination flickering in their eyes for the first time in weeks.
---
