Flatline ~ Jackson Avery

TWENTY-FIVE

(A/N: I actually don't remember how to give credit, so the quote about pain in this chapter was made by the creators of the epic show, Grey's Anatomy.)

You never really know how death affects the loved ones of the dead until you really experience it. Until you actually see it in front of your eyes. Until you see that, all you can say is, "I'm sorry for your loss." Those five empty words. We can't allow ourselves to feel for them. We cannot allow ourselves to cry, because we're surgeons. Cold, heartless machines. Gods of medicine to families with sick members.

A few weeks later Alex got his project on African children started, and I was to go and work on the trial with the one I've learned to avoid, Jackson Avery.

"I want to personally check the incision sites, any weight fluctuations, patient's glucose levels. Welcome to the Diabetes trial, Dr. Shepherd." Richard nodded to me, and I smiled back as I put on a trauma gown like Jackson and Richard did to make sure we didn't get anything on ourselves. We entered the room, which was filled with mice. "When was the last time you cleaned these cages, Avery? Cleaning cages means lower infection rate, which means F.D.A. approval, understood?"

"Yes sir, I understand." sighed Jackson. "Cages. Got it." He mumbled. Richard left the room, and I was left with Jackson to clean mice cages. Jackson and I were being nice to each other again, but I didn't know how long it would last because he keeps mentioning Lexie this and Lexie that.

"You can start near the door and I'll start at the far end." I said over the excessive amount of squeaking from tiny, tiny mice.

"Yeah." He agreed and we started cleaning out the cages.

"Geez, how many mice do you have?" I asked. I was on my sixth cage and Jackson was on his eighth when Lexie Grey came into the room with a bunch of plums. Jackson kept talking to Lexie, and nobody talked to me, which was fine, because I was the third wheel and they were kind of saying 'Please get out because I want make out with my significant other.' but on further thought it would be much better if they wouldn't say it. I would reply with a no, anyways, because I needed to do some work other than my brother's post and pre-ops.

"I mean, you would think being on the Chief's trial would help in the race for Chief Resident. You might even think it'd make me a contender. Only I'm not saving little kids, or curing Alzheimer's. I'm scooping mouse poop!" He groaned and took off his gloves to go over to Lexie and help her grab a plum from the basket right beside her like Lexie didn't have hands or something. "Would you like to hear our conversation every day? 'Avery, how are the mice?' 'Oh, they're fine, sir. They're running on their wheels, they're eating their cheese.' If I was working at a pet store, I would be employee of the month by now, but I'm a surgeon. Babysitting a bunch of mice." He complained.

"That is until you get approval, which I'm sure you'll be working on humans any day now. Now grab me another plum." Lexie demanded.

"Why are you peeling these things anyways?" Jackson asked stupidly.

"I'm practising. Since my patient's skin has grown directly above the heart muscle, I'll be helping Teddy remove the adhesions without puncturing the heart." She explained as I continued cleaning cages. We all took a break, which I was happy to take. The second after Jackson suggested it, I was out of the lab and in the hospitally air of the hospital, and not the pet store.

"Okay, I'm back." I came back into the lab, and this time Jackson was on his own.

"Fun. Time to clean." He snapped on the gloves and so did I. So far all of my mice were alive and well.

"Okay, very good. Patient I, what can I say? Appropriate urinary output...I cannot believe that I'm talking to mice like they- Oh no. Oh, no. No, no, no. Mouse J!" Jackson tapped the plastic window of the cage. "Mouse J!" I went over to him and took the mouse out.