TAKE THE LEAD 8x3

Today was the day Charlotte had been waiting for since she was an intern. The second best day in her career. The first being when she becomes a orthopedic surgeon. The second being the day she—and the rest of her intern class—got to act as an attending.

It was the most freedom her and her group had gotten the whole time they've worked at the hospital.

They got to act as an attending, boss around interns and residents. It was truly going to be Charlotte's favorite day.

Charlotte was walking down the hall to the nurses station as she sees Cristina, Meredith and Alex talking.

"She's clipping her first aneurysm," Cristina told Alex.

Charlotte turns around and starts walking the other way as the three residents meet her where she was standing.

"Are you sure you don't want to start with something simpler?" Charlotte asked.

"Yeah, like juggling chainsaws," Alex joked.

"Oh, thanks. That's helping," Meredith says sarcastically.

"Is it up yet?" All four of them ask April and Jackson who were now walking with them.

"It's going up now," April nods.

"Hey, you heard anything?" Jackson asks, genuinely curious.

"Haven't heard anything," Meredith shakes her head.

"How are you even here?" April asks, standing behind Meredith and Jackson, Charlotte on her right.

"Well, there's nothing I can do, and I have to do something, so I might as well do this."

"It's up," The six residents walk up to the O.R. Board.

"O.R. Three. Yes!" Cristina celebrates. "Mm. I love O.R. Three."

"Wait. Bowel resection? I thought you had a peds case." Charlotte asks, frowning at the board.

"I switched last minute," Alex mutters, shrugging.

"You can't just switch," Charlotte says, her hands on her hips.

"Oh, plastics," Cristina says once Jackson's name appears on the board. "I thought you were the gunther."

"Wasting all your capital on boob jobs, huh?" Charlotte scoffs.

"It's a cleft lip," Jackson rolls his eyes. "I'm changing a kids life today.

"At least Charlotte got something good," April shakes her head.

"A double hip replacement is pretty good," Jackson shrugs. "Look at Kepner, she's fixing a bum knee. Way to shoot for the stars, kid." Jackson leans forward.

"Okay, guys," April steps in front of them. "Uh, you also start teaching skills labs today. I made up a schedule for the month. It's up on the board in my office." This made everyone look to her—except Charlotte who already knew about the office.

Perks of being friends with the chief resident.

"In your what?" Meredith asks.

April opens her mouth, not knowing what to say. She realizes she just outed her office to everyone.

❄️

"When did we get this?" Cristina asks entering April's office.

"Um, we did not," April corrects Cristina. "It's for the chief resident, actually."

"This is good. I could sleep on this," Alex said, plopping down on the couch.

"Yeah, I got this on craigslist. It's— it's mine," April said, hugging the clipboard to her chest.

"We got a fridge?" Meredith stands up.

"Uh," Charlotte says, standing there.

Jackson knocks over a plant, and Charlotte can tell that the residents are annoying April.

"Dude," Charlotte says, picking up the plant.

April smiles at the gesture, "Okay, guys."

"Uh, why is my name on this?" Cristina asks, walking up to the white board stationed in the corner of the room.

April hurries over to the white board, "These are this months intern skills labs." April says excitedly. "Each of you has been given one skills lab to teach."

"No, I can't teach today. I'm on a mitral valve," Cristina glares at her.

The two boys, Charlotte and Meredith sit on the couch together.

April turns towards the couch, "Okay, well, then just switch with one of these guys."

"I got a babies face."

"Bowel resection."

"Aneurysm."

"Guys, come on. I— I divided these up fairly," April tries to reason.

"You come on. Every surgery we do this year could end up on the oral boards," Jackson complained.

"And they love picking the crappy outcomes," Alex points out.

"This could affect which fellowship I get," Cristina walks near the couch. "I mean, it's not just life or death, April. Now it's our careers."

"Okay, how's this? Whoever has the worst outcome today, teaches all the skills labs for the whole month," Meredith proposed.

"That's good," Cristina says, confident she wouldn't lose.

"I'm in," Alex nods.

"That's terrible," April scoffs.

Jackson pulls his phone out, "You guys get this e-mail?"

"You know, that's disgusting. No, no, no. There will be no wagering on patient outcomes. That— that— that's an order," April told them.

"So you're out, then?" Alex asks, being a douche—as always.

"You know, okay, just— everyone out of my office."

"Whoa. Webber resigned," Jackson lifted his eyebrows, catching everyone's attention. "He's no longer Chief of Surgery." They look to Meredith. "Dr. Owen Hunt is not Chief of Surgery."

"What?" Cristina asked, oblivious to the fact.

April rushes everyone out of the office—but Charlotte stays behind.

"If everything goes wrong for you, I can take your skills lab," Charlotte shrugs.

"Oh, you don't have to," April shook her head.

"If you say so," Charlotte says, fake pouting.

"...Fine!"

❄️

Awhile later, Charlotte was leaning forward onto the nurses station, picking at the loose white string coming off her coat sleeve.

"Hey. I need an intern to assist on my bowel resection," Alex tells April as she turns around the nurses station.

"Well, everyone's booked, so good luck finding someone," April falls into the chair.

"Isn't that your job?" Alex asks, not noticing Charlotte.

"No, my job is making the schedule that you screwed up," April tells him, getting annoyed.

"Ah, Karev," Arizona smiles. "Hey Charlotte. We still on for tonight?"

"Yep," Charlotte smiles, not noticing April staring.

Alex glances towards Charlotte and glances back at Arizona. "Uh, I just saw that you turned down my three month olds esophageal atresia surgery for Webbers, uh.." Arizona fake falls asleep on the counter, receiving looks from the three residents. "I'm— I'm so sorry. I was trying to say Webbers bowel resection, but then I fell asleep."

"I just thought I could use more practice with bowel resections," Alex nods.

"No, you're trying to pad your boards with good outcomes, so you went for the easy A. You keep that up, and you're gonna lowball yourself out of the fellowship."

"Is that what you're doing?" Charlotte asks, tilting her head. "Or is it because of the stupid bet?"

"Just find me an intern," Alex tells April gruffly.

"Karev, ready for your surgery?" Webber asks, all of the sudden at the nurses station.

"Uh, I think so, sir. Kepner's having a little trouble getting it staffed," Alex raises her hand, gesturing it towards the redhead.

"What's the problem?" Richard frowns. "I've been treating Sam Kenton for years. I don't want to have to postpone him."

"Uh, no, sir. No, sir. I will find someone to assist. I'll get it covered, even if I have to do it myself," April chuckles awkwardly.

"Well, great," Richard says, walking away.

"Great," Alex hands her the chart and April glares as he walks off.

"I could help you out if you'd like," Charlotte shrugs, looking at April intensely.

"Uh— well, I mean— don't you have someone to like..hookup with?"

Charlotte faked hurt, "Wow, that hurt April."

April didn't fall for it, since Charlotte laughed immediately after.

"You can, I guess. Since your surgery isn't until later."

❄️

"This is Sam Kenton, Fifty-five. He's here for a bowel resection due to chronic mesenteric ischemia. This is Sam's third surgery with us," April smiles to the two men.

"Third times a charm," The son smiled back at April.

"And this is Sam's son Jason," April looks to Charlotte, who was already looking at her.

"Jason should be in school instead of here, playing nursemaid," Sam looks at Jason.

"It's one semester. Think how much money I'm saving you," Jason jokes.

"Well, I'm worried, you're not getting any smarter," Jason shakes his head. "Kids not getting any smarter." The pair laughs while Charlotte nods awkwardly.

"Wonder where I get that from," Jason crosses his arms, nodding his head at his father.

"Did he just call me stupid?" Sam asks after pausing.

"I think he did," April chuckles.

Charlotte takes a second to watch her. She'd never seen April like this, happy, free of stress, enjoying her job.

I mean, they all enjoy their job at times, but not quite like April did.

"Sam's been Dr. Webbers patient ever since—"

"Kepner, just give me the bullet, okay?" Alex says, not sparing a glance towards the patient.

April clears her throat, trying to ease the awkwardness that's very evident in the room.

"Sam Kenton, Fifty-five, presents with chronic mesenteric ischemia. Nonresponsive to revascularization. Schedules for an exploratory laparotomy and possible bowel resection," Charlotte glares at Alex. She lifts her foot and stomps onto his, resulting in Alex silently being in pain.

Speaking for April—and stomping on Alex—was the least she could do in the situation.

April gets embarrassed enough and Charlotte can't help but feel bad for her. Especially since her and April have been getting closer.

lol

ig i'll post this while
sitting in spanish 😋