Recovery

Part XXVI

Maddie was sound asleep in her carrier and the women relaxed while they enjoyed their lunch and conversation. Addie reached for her iced tea and took a sip then looked seriously at Miranda and asked, "So how much longer do you think Preston will avoid the OR?"

Miranda set her drink down then leaned back in her seat and frowned, "I'm not sure everyone has tried to get him in the OR but have failed miserably."

Addie pursed her lips and sighed, "Well something has to be done he can't continue on like this." Miranda nodded in agreement.

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Izzie approached Addie and Miranda as the entered Seattle Grace and smiled as she called her name, "Addison," she waited for her to acknowledge her presence and when she had her attention she continued, "I know you are still on maternity leave, but Dr. Williams would like you to come up to the NICU for a consult."

She sighed and shook her head, "Is it really that serious of a case?"

Izzie shrugged shyly she really didn't think it was something so urgent, but Dr. Williams said Dr. Webber insisted. "I only know that I was told you had to take a look at the Simon boy."

She shook her head and sighed, "Fine what's the initial prognosis?"

Izzie bit her lower lip then carefully said, "He has an atrial septal defect."

Addie raised an eyebrow certainly Dr. Williams and the cardiothoracic team could easily handle this, "Who requested that I be consulted?"

She pursed her lips and quickly said, "It came straight from the chief."

Addie rose her eyebrows at the blonde. "The request for a consult came straight from Dr. Webber?"

Miranda gave Addie a sidelong glance and a knowing smile, "I can keep an eye on Maddie while you go do your consult."

"Are you sure it won't be any trouble?" she asked with concern.

"No trouble at all," she smiled down at the sleeping baby. "Besides if I get busy I'll just make the chief baby sit." Addie shook her head at her friend and they both laughed. "Actually if something comes up I will just take her down to the hospital daycare," she said with a nod.

"Thank you Miranda I shouldn't be long," she bent down gave her daughter a kiss on the forehead and then followed Izzie to the elevator.

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Addie lightly knocked on Preston's office door then entered. He turned in his chair and gave her a wide smile as she entered. "And to what do I owe this pleasure?"

She knew it was going to be a difficult task to convince him to go in the OR with her but she had to give it a try. She smiled confidently at him then began, "I have a newborn with an atrial septal defect."

"I'm not doing surgery. I've already told you I'm not one hundred percent yet and am not ready to go in the OR."

"I'm not asking you do to the surgery," she raised an eyebrow keeping the confidence smile on her face.

He raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Oh?"

"No, I will do the surgery I just need a cardio in the OR with me and I want you to assist," she watched him carefully as he weighed what she had said. She was getting him in the OR without demanding that he do the surgery.

He leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers in front of him. "You want me to assist?" he asked with surprise. He nodded then he asked with a shrug, "Why me?"

She flashed him a big smiled, "Because I think you need a trip to the OR without the pressure of having to perform an operation and I am fully capable of performing this operation on my own, but I still need a cardio in the room." She continued to smile at him and said assertively, "It's a win, win situation you get to take a first step into the OR without the pressure of performing an operation and I'll even let you close," she grinned back at him.

He looked up at the redhead and pretended to be insulted. "I'm a world class cardiothoracic surgeon I don't close," he said with arrogance.

She gave him a smirk and stated decisively, "You are a world class cardiothoracic surgeon who is refusing to perform surgery you will assist me and close for me."

He shook his head at her and a deep laugh passed his lips, "Fine I will assist you and I will close," then in a more serious tone, "But nothing more."

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The observation gallery was full to capacity everyone in the hospital seemed to be aware that Dr. Montgomery had somehow managed to persuade Dr. Burke into the OR. Many had tried to get him in the OR in the last month but all had failed. The residents were off to one side and Derek sat close to Meredith. The Chief and Bailey sat across the gallery from the residents. They all were holding their breath as the surgical team stood ready over their patient.

Addison and Preston stood poised over the infant boy with Izzie Stevens standing to Addison's right. This was a simple procedure something he had preformed thousands of times before. He had agreed to assist nothing more. When Addie had broached the subject of this surgery to Preston she had told him she needed a cardio in the OR and he would only be assisting her. She knew that was the only way she would get him in the OR. But that was not how this surgery was going to play out. She stared directly into his eyes challenging him and with an unyielding voice demanded, "Make the cut Preston this is your show." Izzie's eyes widened and head snapped in Addison's direction when the words registered. What was she doing she had to wonder, then she looked to Burke and studied his reaction.

He flinched this is not what he agreed to; he was he only here to assist her. He could feel the beads of perspiration on his upper lip. He was relieved to be wearing a mask at this moment. His eyes narrowed and he saw the determination in her gaze. He could see she was not going to back down.

The gallery erupted in loud murmurs as everyone was staring at the two surgeons in a stand off. They voiced their opinions over what had just transpired. It ran the gambit from shock, to anger, to relief.

"Oh my god she did not just do that," George said in shock.

Alex leaned casually back in his seat with his hands resting on his stomach a grin appeared on his face and he chuckled, "Oh yes she did."

Miranda leaned toward the chief and whispered, "It's about damn time someone push that son of a bitch into getting back to work." The chief leaned back in his seat with his arms folded over his chest a look of satisfaction on his face and he nodded in agreement.

Meredith whispered angrily to Cristina, "What a bitch, I can't believe she is putting him in this position."

Derek leaned over and whispered sternly, "Your comment is inappropriate Meredith; she is only giving him the shove he needs. I'm glad someone finally had the balls to give him that push."

Cristina stared intently at Preston and said quietly, "Shut up Meredith." Meredith cringed slightly upset by being berated by both her boyfriend and her best friend.

Preston looked up to the gallery searching; he saw the room was filled to capacity. It seemed everyone in the hospital was here to witness this challenge. He continued to scan the room until his gaze fell upon Cristina their eyes locked a small smile played on her lips and she gave her head an ever so slight nod.

A look of determination appeared in his eyes then his gaze returned to Addison and he angrily stared her down then said in a clipped tone holding out his hand and demanded, "Scalpel." The nurse snapped the instrument into his hand with such precision it made a crisp slap that reverberated through the OR as it hit his gloved palm. Izzie blew out a sigh of relief and grinned between Dr. Burke and Dr. Montgomery.

The energy in the gallery rose as people voiced their surprise that he took the challenge. Cristina beamed with pride as she watched Preston finally take the step to regain his surgical career.

His hand was steady as he moved the scalpel to the patient's chest. He paused a beat, then using a steady firm pressure he made the first incision. A feeling of euphoria overcame him; it had been almost ten months since he had cut into a living human. He knew he missed the rush, but his fears had kept him out of the OR and in that instant what he loved about being a surgeon came back to him and the fear that he wouldn't do his best had quickly evaporated. A smile played on his lips as he continued to operate; this is what he was born to do.

He made quick work of the operation and when he finally repaired the heart of his young patient the only thing left to do was close. He looked defiantly up at the smug looking Addison and a flash of amusement appeared in his eyes and in an arrogant tone told her, "My work is done you close." He could see the delight in her eyes she had won. She gave him a slight nod and went to work. He tried his hardest to keep the look of the arrogant surgeon who knew he was the best on his face as she closed on their patient. When she had finished closing he said in an almost inaudible whisper, "Thank you." He turned left the room.

The nurses' wheeled their patient back to the NICU and Izzie turned to Addie grinning and said, "Nicely done." Addie had a satisfied smirk on her face and gave her a small nod and headed out of the OR.

There was a collective cheer from the gallery when the operation had concluded. Dr. Burke had finally preformed a surgery and it was obvious to all who observed the man was back. Seattle Grace once again had their top cardiothoracic surgeon.

Dr. Richard Webber smiled down at the now empty OR his smile grew as he thought about what had just transpired. He set a plan into motion and it had followed the exact path he had hoped for. He had his top cardiothoracic surgeon back, he was now a very happy man.

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That's all for now I how you all enjoy the update. Please review and let me know what you think.