⇢ CHAPTER 75

Holly shook her head, crossing her arms in front of her as she sat down next to Jackson in the cafeteria before reaching over to steal a fry off his tray, "Callie is working on a brain mapping project and she chose --"

"You just got your navy scrubs-- which you look adorable in," Jackson added, making Holly squint at him as he tried to smile at her, " Derek joined the project while you were still a resident."

"Resident-becoming-an-attending." Holly corrected before sinking in her chair, eating another fry, "Meredith, Cristina, Derek, Callie-- they're all doing projects and I'm jealous."

"Well," Jackson shrugged, "I'll make sure to put you first on my list if I ever do a research project."

Holly smiled softly, "You will?"

"Of--"

"Jesus Christ, can't a guy eat in peace without your annoying lovey-dovey crap?" Alex groaned, grabbing his sandwich before stuffing his face and walking away.

Holly squinted at him before she looked over at Jackson, "I think we're adorable."

Jackson handed her another fry with a smile, "Agreed."

✧

Holly sighed, having finished a Neuro consult, she walked over to Callie and Derek by the Nurse's Station of the E.R., "Hey guys--"

"I'm not going forward with the project. should totally run with it, though." Callie spoke to Derek before looking at Holly with her new scrubs, "Aww, you're growing up--"

"No." Derek interrupted Callie from walking away, "this is your project. Mickey's patient. I can't do this. I don't have time. Meredith and I are in over our heads with kids, and she needs time, too."

Holly's eyebrows rose upon hearing the news of the project as she inconspicuously tapped away at her patient's chart on her tablet, whispering, "I mean, I don't have any kids--"

"So maybe we just drop it." Callie suggested with a shrug, "No harm done, right?"

"Oh," Derek scoffed lightly, "and tell that to Mickey Wenschler."

"Mickey will be alright." Callie assured, grabbing onto Derek's arms before informing Stephanie about her patient.

As Derek walked away,  deciding to inform Mr. Wenschler about the fate of the project, Holly quickly rushed over, "Hey--"

"Hey, new scrubs." Derek smiled, "How are you liking being an attending?"

"Oh, it's fun." Holly smiled with a nod, "I-I talked to Steve on the phone, he's liking Maine so far and spending time with Winnie when he can-- and I'm thinking about adding myself onto a research project."

"Really?" Derek frowned his brows, "As a day old attending?"

"Well," Holly shrugged, "you can never start too early, right? Plus, Meredith, Cristina, you, and Callie are all on projects-- and I'm just thinking about adding myself into an already existing one to get more knowledge and--"

"You want in on Callie and I's project?" Derek asked with a small smile as they entered the elevator together.

"Desperately." Holly admitted with a nod, "I mean-- you guys will be the i-it's fascinating to think of let alone be on a project that will revolutionize the way Neurosurgeons and other see-"

"Fine." Derek chuckled, "You're in."

Holly smiled brightly, "Really?"

"Yeah." Derek shrugged, "Why not? Callie's just left her research project to me-- but go audition for her and try to convince her to come back."

Holly nodded, bringing her hair up as she cleared her throat and exited the elevator, "On it."

✧

"You're a baby attending." Callie frowned her brows, "You're gonna spend your first year as an attending on a project?" 

"A project that maps brains." Holly smiled brightly, "And just because I'm a baby attending doesn't mean I can't help with this--"

"Okay, stand down," Callie joked with a smile, "you're in-- but I'm not."

"What?" Holly frowned, "Why not?"

"I'm just... not." Callie shrugged, "I'm rediscovering myself, I'm--"

"You two need to see this." Derek spoke as he entered, walking up to Holly and Callie with Mickey's tablet in hand.

✧

"I still think it's a bad idea." Derek shook his head, holding Zola's hand and baby Bailey's carrier as he stood in front of Holly and Callie, clearly disagreeing with a course of action for Mickey.

"I know," Callie began with a nod, "but it's the right idea. Mickey has nothing to lose and a lot to gain."

"Okay," Derek agreed with some hesitance, "I'll schedule him for tomorrow morning."

Holly and Callie shared a smile as the former nodded, "Perfect--"

"Oh, no, wait." Derek sighed, briefly closing his eyes as he remembered his plans, "I can't do tomorrow morning. Bailey has a well-baby exam, I've got back-to-back discotomies, and Zola and I were gonna check out a dance class. I can't."

"Well," Holly shrugged with a smile, holding onto their patient's chart tablet tightly, "I can."

Frowning his brows, Derek asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah." Holly nodded, "I mean, I saw you place the device in Mickey's head-- and although this will be my first time solo operating with these sensors, I think I can do it." She smiled, "Come on, I could do this-- you two know I can handle this."

Callie and Derek shared a look before nodding, "All right," The latter cleared his throat, "Do it-- but if anything goes wrong--"

"I know." Holly nodded, "I'll page you." Derek nodded before walking away, making Holly look at Callie, "Page Dr. Wilson and I'll prep Mickey."

✧

"Holl!" Jackson called out, watching his girlfriend walk up to an elevator with Jo Wilson and their patient.