eleven

Dr. Webber said as he looked around at each resident that were gathered in the locker room. "I can because I chose you, I trained you. I've watched you work. I know what you can do. That's why today is different. The training wheels are coming off, people. I'm throwing down the gauntlet today."

"Navy scrubs?" Allison asked, as a nurse handed her the scrubs. She also watched different nurses handed the scrubs to fourth year residents as well.

"Attending scrubs." Webber added, "You are attending today. Run cases, take point, but don't be a fool. If you get in over your head, cry uncle. Until then...congratulations, you've just been promoted."

Allison smiled as she looked at Jackson who smiled wide as well.

***

"Ms. Radigan, you're still having these headaches and ringing in the ears?" Jackson asked as he put his pen away inside his lab coat pocket.

Allison and Jackson are under Derek's service so they are the ones taking charge on the patient while Derek observes.

"All day long. It's driving me crazy." Ms. Radigan responded, slightly chuckling.

"It's caused by a buildup of fluid in your skull. So what we will do is insert a shunt, and that will relieve the pressure on your brain." Allison explained to her.

"What do you mean, 'we'?" She asked eyeing Jackson and Allison before she looked at Derek. "You're doing the actual tube part in the brain, right? N-not them."

"Excuse her. She's a schoolteacher. She talks to everyone like they're hiding gum behind their back."  Ms. Radican apologized to Jackson and Allison.

"That's all right. She can ask questions." Derek nodded, "Dr. Carter and Dr. Avery are residents. They're very talented one of them will be performing the procedure and I will be observing."

"A trainee cutting into Ellie's brain? No."

"I know it sounds like a leap, but these doctors study and assist for years. At some point, we have to let them operate. That's how we make new surgeons." Derek explained.

"Let them learn on someone else."

"Who, someone's who's too scared to interrogate the doctors? They have to learn on someone might as well be an old lady." Ms. Radigan told her friend.

"You're my old lady. This should be my call."

"I won't let them move a muscle without my direction and approval." Derek assured.

"You're a teacher, Joanne." Ms. Radigan said, "Let the kids learn."

"She's my life. She has been my life for 40 years. Do you hear me?" Joanne told Shepherd.

Derek looked at Allison and then at both women, "I hear you."

Once the three of them exit the room, Allison eagerly trailed behind Derek, "Who gets to cut?"

Derek handed the chart to the nurse as he turned to look at both residents, "I want to get a look at both of you with a drill before I decide who gets the shunt." Derek paused for a second, "Skills lab seems like a fair way to go."

Once Derek was out of sight Allison turned to face Jackson. "All you have to do is win. Which you won't." Allison smiled at Jackson, "Neuro is my specialty."

Jackson groaned, knowing once Allison puts her mind to something she won't give up.

***

Allison had the drill in her hand and the egg on the other. She was sitting in the back while, Jackson sat up front. Derek got them competing for a brain shunt insertion. The egg is the skull, they can break the shell but they can't break the membrane.

"Damn it!" Jackson cursed as he threw the egg inside the trash can, as Allison frowned. She felt kinda bad that he loosing it.

"Grey!" Jackson yelled out in distraction, "You broke my concentration."

"Sorry." Lexie apologized as she made her way toward Allison, "Hey, uh, post-ops look good so if there's nothing else?"

"Could you discharge 12-24? And his chart needs to be dictated."

"It's gonna have to wait until I check on Torres' knee girl, turf the window jumper to psych, remove a june bug from some kids ear in the pit, write some meds for screaming-kidney-stones guy, and then deliver labs to my goiter lady." Lexie reviewed the blue clipboard she had in her hand.

Allison nodded. Lexie smiled before turning around and exiting the skills lab leaving Jackson and Allison alone.

***

"Okay, 30 seconds." Derek announced as he looked at his watch. Allison and Jackson are drilling on the egg. "If either one of you breaks the membrane, I'm gonna have to judge you on precision, so make sure your initials are clean and clear."

"Dr. Shepherd." Allison spoke up, her eyes still focused on her egg.

"Yes."

"Stop talking!"

"Five...four...three...two...one. Time." Derek said, as both residents stop their drill and placed it down on the table. "What you got?"

Allison carefully picked up her egg. Her initials, 'AC' as she showed Derek. "Not bad." Derek turned to look at Jackson, "What about you, Avery?"

Jackson groaned, "I wish I just had enough time." Jackson blew out the dust from his egg as he showed it Shepherd.

Derek grabbed the egg as he looked impressed, "You did your whole name?"

"What?!" Allison exclaimed as she got up from her chair and made her way towards the boys. "You conned me."

"I don't know what you're taking about." Jackson shook his head, smirking.

"He hustled me. He went through two dozen eggs and made me think I didn't have to practice." Allison argued glaring at the green-eyed doctor.