It took another week for Mei-Li and Megan to run into each other because they were on different schedules. When Mei-Li saw Megan, she sighed to herself before approaching her fellow resident, "Dr. Augustine," she called.
Megan turned to face Mei-Li, "What do you want criticize me for this time?"
"Actually, I wanted to apologize to you about how I acted last week," Megan raised her eyebrows in surprise, "You're right. I was letting my personal feelings on the subject matter cloud my judgment and that's why Dr. Melendez took me off of the case."
Megan nodded, "Apology accepted. But it doesn't matter anyways. There wasn't enough evidence of DV, at least, not that we could find."
A text came through for both Mei-Li and Megan from Morgan instructing them to meet in the ER, so they began walking together towards the department, "I heard you were told about…" Mei-Li trailed off mid-sentence.
"Yeah," said Megan, "Dr. Lim-Melendez told me about having PTSD. You wouldn't know by looking at her," Megan paused, "That must have been really hard for you growing up."
Mei-Li didn't say anything more as the two residents approached a group that included Eric, another doctor she didn't recognize, Shaun, Claire, Morgan, Park, and Melendez. Soon, Lim approached everyone, dressed in scrubs, indicating that she would be joining them for cases today. Most everyone stood straighter upon see the hospital president, "Good morning everyone," she greeted.
"Good morning," everyone responded.
"Alright, today we're going to be doing something a little different. Dr. Augustine, Dr. Lim-Melendez, Dr. Harrison, I'd like to introduce everyone to Dr. Caroline Cho. She just recently transferred her residency here from Stanford University Medical Center, and she's joining our team."
"Nice to meet you," said Mei-Li and Caroline nodded in appreciation.
"Well, given the fact that we now have an even group of residents eager to learn about teamwork and cooperation while simultaneously competing…" Lim began.
"Not interested," said Melendez and Park and Morgan smiled and Shaun and Claire glanced at each other, chuckling a little.
"Competition can foster teamwork and help improve patient care. It can also help residents learn about their strengths and weaknesses," explained Lim.
"Audrey," Melendez tried to interrupt.
"Two of you will work with me, Dr. Murphy, and Dr. Browne-Murphy, while the other two work with Dr. Melendez, Dr. Reznick, and Dr. Park…"
"Again, not interested," said Melendez firmly.
"Winning team in regard to patient satisfaction survey scores will get first dibs on assisting surgeries all next week," said Lim, holding a clipboard out for Melendez. He gave her an annoyed look, but snatched the clipboard anyways, "I pick Dr. Augustine."
Megan arrogantly strutted over to Lim and gave a smug smile to her fellow residents for being chosen first. Lim glanced over at Melendez. He sighed and said, "Dr. Harrison."
Eric walked over to Melendez, "Dr. Lim-Melendez," said Lim.
Mei-Li walked towards her team, while Melendez called Caroline over to his. The residents took their clipboards and reported to their respective triage rooms.
"Same stakes?" asked Melendez, looking at Lim.
"Actually, I think we should up the stakes. Loser pays at date night for the next three months and the winner gets to choose the restaurants. I look forward to being wined and dined."
"Now that's funny, because the last three times you've forced me to do this bet, I've won," Melendez teased, pointing to himself for emphasis.
"You've been lucky," said Lim.
"Maybe the first time; but perhaps I'm just a better surgeon than you," he said.
"She is your wife, Dr. Melendez," said Claire.
"Oh don't worry. She enjoys it when I do trash talk with her," he winked at Lim and then walked away with Park and Morgan.
As Lim, Shaun, and Claire walked towards their triage room, Shaun leaned closer to Claire and asked, "How come we don't compete like that?"
Claire chuckled, "Because we show our love for each other through different ways than saying mean things to each other."
Having overheard the conversation, Megan turned to Mei-Li and asked, "Are your parents always like that?"
"Oh yes. They compete with each other all the time: who can finish their jog faster, who can get a higher score on the Buzz Lightyear ride at Disneyland, who can binge a season of a certain show the fastest, even who can brush their teeth the fastest."
"Okay," said Megan.
The other three surgeons arrived and Lim asked, "Dr. Augustine, please present?"
"Patient is a 56 year old male, Oliver Stevens, complaining of chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, and a wet cough that won't go away," Megan listed.
Claire went over to Oliver's bedside and said, "Hi Mr. Stevens, I'm Dr. Claire Browne-Murphy, and this is Dr. Shaun Murphy, Dr. Audrey Lim-Melendez, Dr. Megan Augustine, and Dr. Mei-Li Lim-Melendez. How long have your symptoms lasted?"
"About a month," answered Oliver. He coughed some before he said, "But the chest pain only started last week."
"Do you have any underlying lung conditions?" asked Shaun.
"No," answered Oliver.
"Have you ever smoked?" asked Mei-Li.
"Never," responded Oliver.
"So, Dr. Lim-Melendez, how do you suggest we proceed?" asked Claire.
"Well, we should do a chest x-ray and a CT scan and go from there," said Mei-Li.
Lim nodded, "Well, I do have some paperwork to complete. I need you all to perform the tests and call me when you get the results," Lim began to walk away but stopped suddenly when Oliver coughed again.
"Dr. Lim-Melendez, are you okay?" asked Claire.
"Yeah, I'm fine," answered Lim, "Call me with those test results."
The doctors took Oliver to radiology to perform a chest x-ray as well as a CT scan. While Oliver was in the CT scanner, Claire said, "Now we need you to hold your breath for as long as you can, Mr. Stevens."
While they were waiting for the results, Megan said to Mei-Li, "So that must have sucked for you growing up."
"What do you mean?" asked Mei-Li.
"Not knowing when your mother was going to lose it or not," said Megan.
"Dr. Augustine," said Claire before things could escalate.
The results came up and Mei-Li said, "It looks like he has a mass in his right lung."
"Could be a carcinoma. We'll have to get a biopsy to be certain, but given his symptoms, it doesn't look promising," said Claire, "Get him admitted for further testing tomorrow."
Since it was the end of their shifts, everyone changed out of their scrubs and would reconvene in the morning to discuss Oliver's results with him. Megan left the locker room, leaving Claire and Mei-Li behind, "Something tells me Dr. Lim-Melendez put you both on the same team since you don't get along well?"
"Guessing," answered Mei-Li, "I thought she'd get better once Mom told her about…you know…but apparently not."
"Sadly, it can take people a while to accept differences," Claire sat down on the bench and Mei-Li sat down next to her, "When Shaun first started at St. Bonaventure, there were several doctors who thought he didn't belong here solely because he's autistic; your father was one of them."
"Yeah, he's not proud of it now, but I know he made Shaun do suction and scut work," said Mei-Li.
Claire nodded, "Believe me, I stood up to Dr. Melendez a lot. If it hadn't been the fact that I was his favorite resident, he probably would have punished me too."
"Favorite resident huh?" Mei-Li raised an eyebrow.
"Anyways," said Claire, ignoring Mei-Li's question, "You and Megan remind me of Dr. Reznick and I when we first started working together. God, was Morgan a competitive…you know the word. But overtime, we became close friends."
"So based on how you and Morgan hated each other and became close friends, and Mom and Dad hated each other and became more than close friends, you're saying I'm going to become Megan's closest friend?" Mei-Li asked jokingly.
"No, not necessarily," Claire smiled and laughed, "But nothing honestly surprises me anymore."
Mei-Li finished packing her things and was about to leave when Eric approached her, "Hey Mei-Li?"
"What?" she asked.
"Caroline and I are going out for drinks tonight. Did you want to join us?" asked Eric.
"Sure, but even though it's right down the street, you might want to avoid Crowley's," informed Mei-Li.
"Why?" asked Eric.
"Because that's where Mom and Dad usually go for after work drinks," answered Mei-Li, "Do you really want to run into the hospital president and Chief of Surgery while you're trying to forget about work?"
"No," Eric answered honestly, "There's another bar about a mile from here. It's right near the closest Taco Bell."
"I'll meet you there," said Mei-Li.
When Mei-Li arrived at the bar, Eric hadn't arrived, but Caroline had. Mei-Li sat down across from her in the booth and smiled, "Hi, it's Caroline, right?"
"Yeah," she answered, "And you?"
"Mei-Li," she introduced herself.
"So I'm guessing since you were referred to as Dr. Lim-Melendez earlier, that means Dr. Lim-Melendez and Dr. Melendez are your parents?"
Mei-Li sighed and answered, "Yes, I promise I was accepted on my own merits."
"It's okay, I come from a family of surgeons too," said Caroline, "Just that they all work at Massachusetts General and I wanted to be as far away from Boston as possible. That's why I moved here."
"Well, it's nice to have another woman in the group, especially a woman of color. Megan is just…" Mei-Li shuttered.
"She seems like she's 'that' one," Caroline used air quotes for emphasis.
"She is," affirmed Mei-Li.
Eric arrived and ordered a beer, Caroline ordered a margarita, and Mei-Li requested a glass of whiskey—she had the same poison as her parents. Their drinks arrived and Eric said, "Didn't take you for a whiskey drinker."
Mei-Li chuckled and said, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure whiskey is the reason I exist and it was involved the night I was conceived. Guess it's in my DNA."
They nursed their drinks and Mei-Li asked Caroline, "So, you said your family is from Boston?"
"Yep, home of the Red Sox, clam chowder, and the most touristy bar in America," replied Caroline.
"And you said you came from Stanford University Medical Center. You a Stanford grad?" asked Eric.
"No, actually, I'm a Berkeley grad," said Caroline.
"Wait a minute? And I was just starting to like you," Mei-Li mocked jokingly.
"I take it you're a Cardinal?" asked Caroline.
"Second generation, me and Mom," said Mei-Li proudly.
"The president is a Stanford alumna? Oh boy, I'm in trouble," Caroline laughed.
"Hey, if she can tolerate my brother being a Golden Bear, she can tolerate you," said Mei-Li.
"Hey, try going to USC and not caring about football. People always looked at me like I had three heads. I couldn't even tell you who won the last Notre Dame vs. USC game," said Eric.
They ordered another round of drinks before they paid and left for the evening. Mei-Li bid her farewells to Caroline and Eric before she drove home. When she arrived, both Melendez and Lim were at the dining room table, clad in their pajamas, and working on forms. Melendez looked up and smiled, "Hi mija."
"Hi Dad," she kissed his cheek, "Working on paperwork again?"
"Yes, we both worked hard to achieve our lifelong dreams of completing monotonous paperwork, schmoozing with donors, and handling departmental complaints," said Lim sarcastically.
"I'm glad I'm not a hospital administrator," admitted Mei-Li.
Lim looked up at her daughter and asked, "Did you have dinner?"
"No, just a few drinks with Caroline and Eric," said Mei-Li, "I might find some yogurt or something and then go to bed."
"We won't be far behind you. Whether it's in our bed or here at the dining room table is yet to be determined," said Melendez.
Mei-Li smiled and said, "Te amo. Buenas noches. And buena suerte with the paperwork."
"We'll need it," Lim called after her.
