1st chapter
His mum hadn't been particularly pleased when he told her about his upcoming Christmas shift. While she had been a bit sad that they had to change or even cancel their dinner plans, she had also understood how important working as an intern at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital was for her son. So, with a huff and a strained smile, she had given him a reassuring hug. "It's just Christmas", she had said while patting his shoulder in a /there, there/ gesture, "we can still celebrate once you're home and well-rested."
That was three weeks ago. Now, Levi was staying in front of said hospital, breathing in the cold, fresh air of winter and mentally preparing himself for what was to come. He had been trying to be extra thoughtful and nice at home as well as at the hospital: He made notes about all the incoming patients (in case some of them would return during his shift and they had overlooked even the slightest detail), new cases as well as all the new methods he was learning every day. Levi knew he was clumsy and awkward, but he really didn't want to mess up his Christmas shift! People were supposed to be home celebrating this time of year and yet there were burn victims from forgotten candles or a short-circuit of Christmas tree lights. Stressed-out people came in with heart-attacks, broken ankles from falling down a ladder or ice-skating accidents.
There is nothing romantic in a snow-covered landscape anymore after you have treated dozens of car crash victims.
/You can do this!/ he told himself for the umpteenth time, finally starting to believe in the words at least a little. He straightened his shoulders, gripped the straps of his backpack and made his way over to the entrance, almost tripping over a hidden bump in the asphalt. Clearing his throat and trying to act casual, he entered the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor.
/Let's go, Schmitt!/
When he sat in the interns' locker room and changed into his scrubs, he noticed a package in his backpack, wrapped-up in bright red paper. There was a card attached to it with a dog clad in a doctor's lab coat on the front. Reading it, he instantly recognized his mum's handwriting:
/Dear Levi,
I'm soo proud of you and what you've accomplished so far! You're saving so many lifes and today, you will be saving Christmas for many people as well. You're my son and an incredible doctor, keep that in mind during your shift.
Merry Christmas, hopefully this package will help to bring you at least a little joy during your working hours.
I love you, mum/
Levi couldn't help but smile. /Oh, mum!/ Inside the package was a container with Christmas cookies in the shape of ugly Christmas sweaters, reindeers and Christmas trees with a note that said he should enjoy these on his (hopefully!) many breaks, two cans of energy drinks and one of cold-brewed espresso (/I've heard how aweful the coffee at the cafeteria can be sometimes, hopefully this helps!/ ), chocolate ( /mood lifters! 3/ ) and a gift that, according to the note sticking to it, he wasn't allowed to open until to last hours of his on-call shift. Levi just sat there, taking it all in. He really had the best mum. Suddenly, his Christmas shift didn't seem like a looming cloud of doom that had been hovering over his head ever since he had looked at his shift chart.
Now, it seemed a lot less scary. He could actually do this. No, he /would/ do this!
He was jus finishing with changing into his scrubs when Taryn slipped into the room, slightly out of breath. "I /hate/ traffic!", she grumbled while practically jumping out of her street clothes and changing into her scrubs in record timing. She had just finished tying her laces, when Dr. Webber appeared at the door: "Interns, follow me!". They all scrambled after him. Taryn gave Levi a scrutinizing look. "You ready for this?", she whispered with a hint of concern in her voice. As they followed Dr. Webber down the hallway towards the first patient to start their rounds, they passed a man clad in dark jeans and a leather jacket. Just as Levi was about to scurry by, the man looked up and their eyes met for a second. It was Nico, apparently on his way out. Levi almost ran into Taryn's back while trying to maintain eye contact with him. The bustling crowd of interns turned a corner, Levi lagging behind. Nico entered an elevator, still looking at him. Levi saw a glimpse of a smirk just as he turned the corner and the elevator doors closed.
/Yeah/, he thought to himself, running after the others, /Yeah, I think I am./