Emma Swan was having what could be described as the worst morning in the history of mankind. That was probably a little overdramatic if she were being honest, but still her day could use some improvement.
First, she was late for her shift, which meant getting reamed by her senior resident, Dr. French, who looked like a very sweet person but had a mean streak in her. Her case wasn't helped by the fact that she still smelled like stale beer and had a particular marking on her neck that oddly resembled a hickey.
Second thing that happened to her that morning, she was put on Dr. Mills's service. Which meant that her day would be spent being a slave to the Cardio God and getting little to no OR time. The inter exam was right around the corner and she needed to up her game.
The third thing that made her morning horrible was happening right now. Emma was running down the big sterile hallway to answer a 911 page.
"What the hell happened?" Emma asked the nurse who was currently doing CPR to Emma's patient.
"I came to take his vitals and he started coding." Nurse Perez answered.
"He's going into cardiac arrest." Emma said as she took over the compressions. "Book an OR and page Dr. Mills now." As she was doing compressions to the guy's chest, she kept saying a small prayer in her mind. Rob just turned eighteen this month and was starting college next fall, he came in because he had an asthma attack and now he was slipping right under Emma's fingers.
Emma knew what this was. Rob most likely had a coronary artery defect that went undiagnosed. If they acted quickly, they had a shot at saving him.
"What do we have here?" Dr. Mills asked as she finished getting scrubbed into surgery.
"Coronary artery defect, I managed to bring him back but you need to get in here right now." Emma said with an authority that surprised both Emma herself and Dr. Mills.
"Who made the diagnosis?" Dr. Mills asked as she stepped in and began to open up the patient.
"I did, Dr. Mills." Emma answered confidently.
"How confident?" Dr. Mills asked.
"Very." Emma said without any hesitation.
Dr. Mills only managed a small nod of agreement before her only focus was to save the patient on her table. Emma realized that watching Dr. Regina Mills operate was on par with watching Matisse paint. She was precise and confident with every cut and every suture never second guessing herself. It was clear to anyone watching that Dr. Mills was in her element and knew what she was doing.
The Cardio God was an excellent surgeon that much was clear, however she wasn't the greatest teacher. She mainly focused on getting the job done mostly forgetting that she was supposed to teach the intern standing across her table. If it wasn't for Emma constantly badgering her with questions, Regina wouldn't utter a word that wasn't a command or an instruction.
"Suction." Regina ordered. She briefly took her eyes of the open heart in her hands to look at Emma. "Think you can manage this next suture?"
"Yes, ma'am" Emma said smiling under her mask.
"Very well, don't screw it up, doctor." Regina said.
While Emma was trying her best to assist in saving Rob, her fellow interns were watching the surgery from the gallery.
"I can't believe the Evil Queen let her scrub in." said Dr. Neal Cassidy, his words laced with envy.
Neal was an okay student, what he lacked in talent he made up for with his ingenuity. No one knew how he got into the program, he didn't come from an Ivy League school like most of them did, his letters of recommendation were sub par as was his skill in the OR.
"How long do you think it'll be before she screws up?" Dr. Killian Jones asked. "Five bucks say she's going to rip out that suture."
Killian, according to most attendings was fairly talented but according to most of the female nurse staff he was a slime ball.
"That's one of our own down there. You could be a bit more supportive." Dr. Ruby Lucas said.
There are many things that could be said about Ruby, her flirty nature often rub some people the wrong way but unlike Neal Cassidy, she got into the program on merit alone. Both her GPA and her recommendation letters were stellar and so far she hadn't pissed any of her attendings.
"Look at her go." Dr. Mulan Wu commented. "Yesterday Lucas scrubbed in with the Wicked Witch and I scrubbed in with Snow White. Today is Swan with the Evil Queen. When are you guys getting on our level?" she said before getting a high five from Ruby.
Mulan was competitive to say the least. Her father had been the Chief of Surgery before he had a stoke in the middle of a surgery. Mulan had an incredible drive and the pressure to live up to her father's legacy.
"Shut up." Killian said as he stood up to leave.
"Where are you going? You're going to miss the surgery." Neal said.
"I'm going to find me a surgery." Killian said over his shoulder. "But you're welcome to stay and watch Swan kick your ass, princess."
After closing up the patient Emma was on a high. She really couldn't believe her luck. A few hours ago she was complaining about having to come to work hung over and being placed with the most feared attending. But now not only had she managed to save a young man's life but she did so with Dr. Regina Mills, who's probably the best cardio surgeon this side of the globe.
Emma was scrubbing out of surgery next to Regina, as the two shared a somewhat comfortable silence Emma couldn't help sneaking in a glance. She arrived to the conclusion that every little thing Regina Mills did was fascinating and she could spend hours on end just watching her go about her day.
"You're not completely incompetent." Regina said without looking at Emma.
"Thank you, Dr. Mills." Emma said suddenly flustered like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
"I'll expect you for rounds tomorrow morning, Dr. Swan. Don't be late." Regina said taking a good look at Emma as if sizing her up. "And please cover up that bruise on your neck. It's really unbecoming."
Without another word Regina left the scrub room leaving a stunned Emma behind her. Emma slowly lifted a hand to touch her neck as if suddenly remembering the bruise that was a souvenir from one of the many temporary lovers that she left behind.
Emma was finishing up her charts for the day, still buzzing from the day's events. Moments like the ones she experienced in that OR are what make all the sleepless nights and agonizing ours of studying worth it. She knew that the high she felt when she was cutting someone open would be something she was going to chase after all of her life.
"Hi, Rock Star." Ruby said as she slid her chart next to Emma's. "We all saw you kick ass in the OR today."
"It was amazing, Rubes." Emma said beaming. "We're having a pretty good week you and I, huh?"
"Those Mills sisters are truly something else." Ruby said. "I don't know which one is more talented."
"Regina." Emma said appalled that someone was putting that fact in question.
"I don't know…" Ruby said. "Zelena is pretty good at what she does."
"She's captain of the gyno squad, that's not as impressive as being the head of cardio surgery." Emma said.
"You're a snob, Swan." Ruby accused playfully. "You should try to get on Blanchard's service tomorrow, I'm on her service and I bet she'll totally let us scrub in the liver transplant she's doing on a five year old tomorrow."
"Can't." Emma said closing the last of her charts. "I'm with Mills again tomorrow."
"Yikes, you must have really pissed off French." Ruby said signing the last of her charts.
"No, Regina requested me herself." Emma said with a shrug. "Plus she not as Evil as we first thought she was. Sure I have to do all of her charts and sometimes she pages me just so I can go fetch her some coffee but I got to operate today because of her."
"I guess I'll wave at you when you sit on the gallery to watch me scrub in a liver transplant." Ruby said smugly. "I'm glad you had a good day today, Ems. You made a really nice save."
"Thanks Ruby, I guess tomorrow its my turn to root for you from the sidelines." Emma said genuinely excited for her friends turn at the bat. "You're gonna kick ass."
"You know it." Ruby said with a flirty wink that caused Emma to chuckle.
"You're still here?" Dr. Zelena Mills asked when she entered the attendings lounge and saw that the sister she thought home hours ago was still in the hospital.
"I wanted to check on a patient post-op." Regina said. "I was just on my way out."
Since they were little Zelena and Regina had always been competitive with each other to the point where their relationship had always been difficult. Working together had not help mend their relationship but when Regina lost her husband, Zelena figured it was due time to put old rivalries aside.
"You know we have inters for that, right?" Zelena asked as she started to change out of her dirty scrubs.
"The inters are morons. Most of them anyway…" Regina said as she checked in the mirror that her hair was perfectly set. "Speaking of which…what do you know about Dr. Swan?"
"Which one is that?" Zelena asked. "Most of them are going to crash and burn anyway so I'm not bothering to learn any of their names."
"The blond with the blue green eyes." Regina answered. "She's tall-ish with a very athletic body."
"Of course, Dr. Swan with the blue green eyes." Zelena said with a mischievous glimmer in her eyes. "I don't know much about her to be honest. I've only had her once on my rotation and if memory serves she was quite adequate. I don't know if she's single though. Sorry."
"I didn't ask you." Regina said rolling her eyes.
"I figured it was implied." Zelena said as she finished changing her clothes. "I think I heard a rumor about the blond intern sleeping with most of the nurse staff. I don't know for certain, I can't keep up with horny interns."
"She's very skilled, surprisingly so." Regina said thinking back at how well the young intern had held her own in the OR.
"Really? Well color me surprised." Zelena said sporting a huge grin. "I didn't think you would go for it. I know you swing both ways but I never thought you would go for an intern. I guess Dr. Swan is as good as advertised. Good for you, Regina."
Regina couldn't help but scoff at her sister's accusation. "Please, I would never in a million years sleep with someone like Dr. Swan. I was merely referring to her skills in the operating room."
"Why not?" Zelena asked genuinely curious.
"For started its against hospital rules." Regina argued.
Now it was Zelena's turn to scoff. "That has never stopped me before."
"That's because you are completely without shame." Regina said.
"That's true." Zelena nodded. "But right now I'm about to meet the most gorgeous radiologist whom I probably will end up riding like a pony later tonight. It'll do you some good to take a walk on the wild side, to not be so stuck up all the time."
Regina gave a small laugh to her sister's statement. "Have fun. I on the other side, will have dinner with the most handsome fourth grader." She said as she picked up the purse that was resting on the top of the table before she turned to leave the room.
"Give Henry my love." Zelena called after her.
"Will do." Regina called back.