No Time | Grey's Anatomy // Book 1 // COMPLETED |

40 | Left Behind

 After finding out that I was on Bailey's service today, I quickly went to find her. "Looks like I'm with you." I smiled as I found Bailey and walked with her.

"I don't promise anything exciting." Bailey told me, "Easy day."

"Bailey!" Jackson rushed through the hall and joined us, "Do you need any help today?"

"I'm good," Bailey told him.

Jackson pushed past me, "Please."

Bailey sighed, "Like I said, I've got an easy day. Two laparoscopic surgeries. I can't use you."

"Yeah, well, maybe I can..." Jackson started but was cut off when a large man held his hand out in front of us just before a closed doorway.

"I'm sorry Ma'am." the man said, "I can't admit you."

Bailey looked confused, "Well, you don't need to admit me. I'll just walk in there myself. I do it all the time."

Bailey started to walk towards the doorway, but the man just held out his hand again. The hand was large, just like the rest of him, and a little intimidating. "Ugh, Chief Webber paged me in there," Bailey explained.

"I'm sorry Ma'am." was all the man said in response.

"Well, who's in there?" Bailey asked.

Jackson stepped towards the man, "Is it the president, or the Vice President? Is it Bono?"

"Bono?" Bailey turned to Jackson.

"Some political figure from across the world?" I guessed.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry. I cannot-" the man started but was cut off by the door opening.

When Chief Webber stuck his head out, we looked to him. "Bailey, can you take my patients today?" Chief Webber asked, "I got a situation in here."

"Oh, of course, sir," Bailey told him.

Chief Webber smiled, "Louise Cortez is a readmit after surgery for chronic pancreatitis. C.T. showed a pancreatic fistula. And she spiked a fever this morning."

"Right." Bailey said as Chief Webber began to leave, "Uh, Sir, you put in a drain?"

"Yes, just keep a close eye." Chief Webber nodded and turned to leave once again.

Bailey nodded back, "Okay. Sir."

Chief Webber banged the door and stuck his head out again. "Is it Bono?" Bailey whispered.

Chief Webber gave Bailey a 'really?' look before he closed the door for good this time and left. "Come on, guys." Bailey called as she began to walk back in the same direction that we had come from, "I could use you both today."

"Yeah." Jackson did a small air fist pound before he followed behind Bailey and me.

"I still don't understand what I'm doing back here." Chief Webber's pancreatitis patient, Mrs. Cortez, said, "Dr. Webber said something about a fist."

"A fistula." Bailey corrected her, "It's a complication from your surgery that's leaking pancreatic fluid. The drain takes the fluid out of your body so it won't go where it's not supposed to."

"O-okay." the woman nodded, trying to understand what was happening.

"Th-the pancreatic fluid is made to digest your food. If it leaks in your body, it starts to digest your other organs." Bailey explained.

Mrs. Cortez seemed to understand more now, "Well, that wouldn't be good."

"Exactly," I smiled, "but not to worry. Yours is looking just fine. We just want to keep a close eye on you, okay?"

"Well, it seems like I just was home, and here I am again," she told us.

"You know, I say that every morning." Bailey chuckled.

"Dr. Bailey, O.R's ready," Jackson said as he entered the room.

Bailey turned to him and nodded, "Okay. Um, Mrs. Cortez, your temperature is still a little high. So you just rest, and we'll get you home in no time."

Mrs. Cortez smiled, "Okay."

As I followed Bailey out of the room, she turned to Jackson, "Okay, you're not scrubbing in."

"I'm not." Jackson was confused.

"No, watch Mrs. Cortez." Bailey told him, "If the fluid in her drain changes colour, you page me. If her fever goes up one digit, you page me."

Jackson nodded, "'Cause the fever could be-"

"An abscess, early sepsis, pneumonia, any number of nasty things." Bailey finished, "And remember your first rule of residency, eat when you can, sleep when you can..."

"And don't screw with the pancreas." we all recited.

Bailey sighed as she and I walked off, "So much for my easy day."

After my surgery with Bailey, we ran into Jackson in the hall. "Avery, how's our patient?" Bailey asked.

"Oh, no change," Jackson replied.

Bailey smiled, "Oh, that's what I like to hear. I'm going into my chole."

"So, you...you still don't need me to scrub in or..." Jackson questioned.

"No. I need you to watch..."

"Mrs. Cortez." Jackson finished her sentence, "Right. Well, like I said, no change."

Bailey looked up at Jackson, "Avery, I need you where I need you. If it makes you feel any better, you'll have Forrest with you to keep you company. I don't have time."

"No, Ma'am." Jackson nodded, "That's fine. I get it."

As Bailey headed off to her next surgery, I turned to Jackson. "How was the surgery?" Jackson sighed.

"Ugh, good." I smiled, trying not to rub it in, "No major complications. In and out in record time."

After chatting with Jackson for a few minutes, we heading to check on the patient. "And I'm back, Mrs. Cortez." Jackson announced as he flipped through her chart, "Did you miss me?"

"Would you please let the dog out." Mrs. Cortez asked, her voice shaky, "He won't stop barking."

Taking a closer look, I saw that her face was soaked. She was sweating like crazy from the fever. "She's delirious." Jackson panicked, "Pulse is thready. I think she's in shock. Give me her vitals."

Bending down to check her drain bag, I saw that the fluid inside was now red, "Damn it!"

"All right. Get me a monitor in here." Jackson told the nurse, "Call Dr. Bailey now!"

"Right away doctor." the nurse nodded.

Once Jackson had Bailey on the phone, I watched as he talked to her. Then, all of a sudden, his face dropped, "Open...did you say open her up?"

We rushed Mrs. Cortez to an O.R. as fast as we could and had everything prepped in no time. "No word from Dr. Bailey?" Jackson asked the nurse. When the nurse shook her head, he stared at me from across the table.

"You're the lead on this one." I told him, "What's the plan, Dr. Avery?"

"Okay." Jackson stepped closer to the table and held out his hand, "10-blade."

Looking down, I couldn't help but hold my breath a little as Jackson sliced open Mrs. Cortez's body. Once we began, things were already bad, and going down-hill quickly.

"Suction!" Jackson ordered and I did as he said. I watched carefully as Mrs. Cortez's life slowly slipped through Jackson's fingers. I wanted to step up, but I also knew that if I stepped in and saved her, Jackson would never forgive me. "No, no, no, no!" Jackson groaned as the monitor flat-lined. "Panels!" he ordered.

The nurses quickly grabbed him the panels, but despite Jackson's efforts, she was gone.

Just then, Bailey rushed into the O.R. "Damn it!" Jackson stepped away from the table and set the panels down, "Time of death, 7:41."

"Son of a bitch!" Bailey exhaled as Jackson turned to face her.

"This is not my fault." Jackson started defending himself, "She's got a fistula. They get delayed hemorrhage. Post-op pancreatectomies always get fistulas. I didn't screw this up."

Bailey placed her hands on her hips, "Avery, I-"

"No, you listen." Jackson cut her off, "They always get fistulas, then they get severe complications, then they die. I did what you said. You told me to open her up, and then you weren't here. I tried to fix it."

"Avery-" Bailey tried to calm him down.

"This is not my damn fault!" Jackson yelled.

Bailey had, had enough, "Dr. Avery! Step out of my O.R."

Jackson didn't say a word as he walked out, removing his surgery scrubs and scrub cap on the way. As Bailey stepped over to the patient, she placed her hand on Mrs. Cortez's chest. "He's right." I almost whispered, "There was nothing we could do. By the time we even got to her in her room, she was delirious and sweating like crazy."

"I know." Bailey nodded, "You may leave, Dr. Forrest."

Doing as I was told, I too exited the O.R. and heading for the lounge. After changing out of my scrubs and into my regular clothes, I decided to go home for the night. Even if Sam and I's last conversation hadn't gone that well, I knew that I had to make things right. After getting into my car and driving home, I was surprised to find a note on the front door.

Dear, Ellie

I don't even know why I left this note, because you probably won't even be home in time to read it before it blows away in the wind; but on the off chance that you are, I just wanted to let you know that I have gone to stay with Jake for a bit. Even though our conversation may have seemed harsh, I meant every bit of what I had said. Lately, I have felt us growing apart, and I know that you've felt it too. You've started spending every bit of who you are on work, and not even realizing that you're leaving me behind. I can't be left behind anymore.

Sam

Ripping the note off of the door, I got out my keys and stormed inside. The first thing I did after setting my things down, was picking up my phone and dialing Sam's number. I rang for a while before I got her voicemail. "Hey, it's Sam. Sorry, I can't come to the phone right now. Be sure to leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can." the phone told me in its weird little machine voice before it let out a loud beep.

Sighing, I sat down on my couch, "Listen, Sam, I got the note you left, and I understand. I didn't mean to leave you behind. I guess I just wanted this so badly, that I forgot about everything else. If you want some space, that's cool, but I think we should clear things up before you move away. I would like to know when you're going to put the house on the market so I can get my things out, but until then, is it okay if I stay here? I promise I'll start looking for somewhere else to live. Bye."

Chucking the phone down on the couch beside me, a stupid idea popped into my head. Without thinking about it twice, I picked up my phone again and texted Jackson.

Ellie: Hey, we're both having a rough day. Wanna come over?