A/N: This is a very very loose Grey's Anatomy AU and really the only reason why I say that is because that's basically where I'm getting all the info about being a surgeon so if this is inaccurate I'm very sorry. I also am American so if I get stuff wrong about living in London then you have my sincerest apologies. This is my first fanfic so feedback is greatly appreciated, but don't be too harsh please.

I do not own Doctor Who.

Dr. Rose Tyler paced around the small office, tension rolling off her in waves as Dr. Ryan watched her warily.

"You said it was because I was too young and then you go and hire someone who's barely older than me!" She exclaimed, stopping in front of his desk to glare at him.

"I said that was one of the reasons, Rose. Not the only one. You're not even done with your fellowship yet," he replied.

"Well he must only be a couple years ahead of me. Why him?" It wasn't as though she actually expected to get the Chief of Surgery job but she expected it to be given to someone at least ten years older than her with even more experience. Instead, Dr. Ryan was choosing a man barely five years older than her. And a neurosurgeon no less!

"It's not like that, Rose. He received his A levels and started uni at fifteen. Then he got his bachelor's at eighteen! By the time he was finished with medical school he was twenty two. He's got plenty of experience no matter how old he is. The man is a proper genius and I would've been a fool to not offer him the job," Dr. Ryan explained.

Rose sighed and slumped down into the chair in front of his desk, her anger having finally dissipated.

"It's just that I love this hospital and I did my internship, my residency, and now my fellowship here and I was hoping that-"

"You would eventually become chief as well," he finished for her. She looked down at her lap and nodded. He sat back and put his hands behind his head as he began to gather his thoughts.

"Did you know that I worked at two other hospitals before I came here?" Rose's eyes widened and she shook her head. "Well I did. And the first hospital where I did my internship, I hated it. The doctors there barely taught us anything and all the cases we got were crap. So I left and did my residency at a different hospital and I loved it there. Absolutely loved it. The doctors were great and taught me a lot of what I know today and the resources were top notch. I had planned on staying there for my fellowship and the rest of the foreseeable future. But you know what the chief told me? He told me that you never know where you belong unless you've been to other places. He told me that if I hated it, he would take me back in a heart beat, but if I loved it even more... well then I knew where I belonged. You can see how that worked out.

I didn't want to tell you this because I would be stupid to tell you to leave. You're the best surgeon to come through here since I've been here and it would be a shame to lose you. But I'm also you're friend and I want what's best for you. And you may not know what that is yet."

"Thank you Dr. Ryan. I will definitely think about what you told me. Although I still think I know where I belong," Rose said, smiling wryly. Dr. Ryan chuckled and stood up.

"Well let's hope. Now, there's a meeting at four to meet the new chief. You'll be there correct?"

"If there are no problems with my surgery then I will most certainly be there. And speaking of, I better go make sure my patient is being prepped. I'll see you later," she called over her shoulder as Dr. Ryan watched her leave, shaking his head.

oOoOoO

Rose walked out of her surgery four hours later, tired and ready to get the stupid meeting over with. She headed into the lounge where all the surgeons, interns, and a few nurses milled about, waiting for it to start. She spotted Jack towards the front of the crowd and went over to stand next to him.

"How was the surgery?" He asked, glancing at her.

"It was fine, no complications. So is that him?" She asked, eyeing the figure standing next to Dr. Ryan with their backs turned.

"Yep. And I heard he's quite the looker from some of the nurses who saw him walk through," Jack said, smirking and waggling his eyebrows.

"Oh, shut up. And you know you're not supposed to talk to the nurses except about medical issues. They like you far too much," Rose said, laughing. From what she could tell from his back, he was skinny. Very skinny actually with chestnut brown hair that seemed to be defying gravity. He and the chief (well ex-chief now) were talking, probably preparing what they were going to say.

Finally they both turned around and Dr. Ryan began to introduce the man standing next to him. All Rose could think was that those nurses definitely had it right. He wore simple black slacks and a white oxford. His hair was even more gravity-defying from the front and she couldn't help the desire to want to run her hands through it. He had deep but warm chocolate brown eyes and a smattering of freckles across his cheeks and nose.

"Everybody, this is Dr. James Smith, your new Chief of Surgery." Dr. Smith smiled wide and bright enough to light up the room. Dr. Ryan explained that he would still be staying for the next month, teaching Dr. Smith everything that goes along with being chief until he's able to do it all on his own. Everyone was then dismissed and some went off to surgery, but most stayed to introduce themselves.

Jack began to walk away and Rose quickly grabbed his arm.

"Where are you going?" She demanded.

"I've got a surgery. I already had to postpone it to come to this thing," he replied.

"Your nose job can't wait?" She asked.

"It's not a nose job. How many times do I have to tell you there's more to plastics than nose jobs? Some of us have to make people look pretty again. We can't all cut hearts open," he said. "Now go introduce yourself. I saw you looking."

"Just go fix your nose," Rose said, exasperated. As Jack walked away, Rose shifted away from the crowd that had formed around Dr. Smith , preferring to wait until he was alone.

After waiting fifteen minutes Rose decided that she would just introduce herself later and went to fetch the charts on her current patients. As she stood at the nurse's station going over their scans and her notes someone tapped her on the shoulder.

She swung around to find herself face to face with Dr. Smith.

"You're Dr. Tyler right?" He asked, smiling that brilliant smile of his.

She admonished herself for getting distracted by his, well, obvious attractiveness.

"Yes. And you're , of course."

"Please, call me James," he said and paused, obviously waiting for her to give him her first name. She didn't offer it, making herself remember that he was her boss and not just some other coworker.

"Right, well," he said, plowing through the slightly awkward pause. "I've heard that you're the best surgeon around here." Rose blushed and looked down, not really sure how to respond to the generous compliment. "I bet I can put that reputation to rest after a month." Rose immediately looked up, shocked at his cockiness.

"Oh, really?" She asked, putting her hands on her hips.

"Oh, yeah. I'm rather brilliant if I do say so myself," he replied, maintaining his grin.

She could not believe his nerve. Who would just introduce themselves to you only to tell you that they're better than you? Well there was no way Rose was taking this from anyone, even if he was the new Chief of Surgery.

"Look, Dr. Smith," Rose began with malice. "I may not have gotten my A levels at fifteen or graduated from uni at eighteen, but I am a very good surgeon. I just don't go around shouting it out for everyone to hear and I definitely don't go putting other surgeons down with my obvious arrogance," Rose nearly yelled as she grabbed her charts and stormed off.

"No wait! Dr. Tyler I was just joking!" James called after her, but it was futile. Great, he thought, I've already made the best surgeon in this place hate me. He sighed and walked off only to be stopped by more people wanting to introduce themselves.

All day, Rose could not get Dr. Smith's arrogant face out of her mind no matter how hard she tried and James found himself unable to stop thinking about Dr. Tyler.

A/N: My schedule is kind of hectic so I don't know if I'll be able to update regularly, but I should be able to update a couple times a week, maybe more.