Just a little bridging chapter to set up for a major plot point in the next one.
"Good morning," Catherine Avery greeted, "welcome to your first surgical experience. I know you are all in your first semester of Medical School. I'm Catherine Avery, the head of Urology and the Medical Student coordinator. You have been placed in groups of three to experience your first surgery today. Please wait for me to call your name and you will follow your resident to meet your surgeon."
Catherine called several groups until there were three students remaining, "Joshua Riggs, Annabeth McKellar and Amy Black."
"Good morning Dr. Avery," Annie greeted.
"Your name dear," asked Catherine.
"Annabeth McKellar," replied Annie, "I prefer Annie."
Catherine paused, "something about you looks familiar have we met before."
"No mam," Annie replied.
"Okay you three today you are going to be observing me remove the prostate of a 50 year old man," Catherine said, "has anyone been in an OR before."
Annie and Josh raised their hands.
"Joshua, where have you been in the OR," Catherine asked.
"Portland General," Josh replied.
"Annie, where have you been in the OR," Catherine asked.
"Seattle Grace Mercy West," Annie replied.
"With which surgeon," asked Catherine.
"Mainly with Dr Teddy Altman but some time with Dr. Owen Hunt and Dr. Richard Webber," Annie replied.
"Three excellent surgeons," Catherine said, "how did you manage that?"
"Dr. Altman is my mother," Annie replied.
"I've heard wonderful things about her," Catherine said, "she's training my son Jackson."
"I know Jackson," Annie replied, "he's really helpful when I'm in the gallery with him and explains the parts I was still learning."
"I'll tell him I saw you today," Catherine replied, "that's how I know you. You look just like your gorgeous mother."
"Thank you Dr. Avery," Annie replied.
"Okay you three you are going to go with my resident to get scrubs," Catherine said, "did any of you bring scrub caps or do you need them."
"I need one," Amy replied.
"We will get you one," Catherine replied.
Annie followed the resident to the locker room and looked for an open spot to put her bag. It looked just like the locker room at SGMW. The resident went to the scrub dispenser, I need sizes.
"Extra small please," Annie requested.
The resident tossed her the grey scrubs. Annie looked for a secluded corner and quickly changed into the scrubs. She put her starfish cap in her pocket.
They followed the resident to the OR.
Amy whispered, "are they really letting us see a surgery live?"
"It's really cool," Annie said, "the OR is awesome."
"You learn so much more in the OR than you do in class," Josh said.
Amy asked, "do both of you want to be surgeons?"
"Yes," Annie and Josh said in unison.
"I'd like psychiatry," Amy said, "no blood and guts."
"That's the best part," Josh said, "seeing someone injured being put back together."
"Annie has no choice but surgery if her mom is one," Amy hissed.
"Mama will be happy no matter what I choose," Annie replied.
"You're only 20, going into one of the best programs on the planet and you have a heart surgeon for a mother, that's not a recipe for instant success what is," Amy spat jealousy.
"Except for the part when I was adopted and didn't meet my birth mother until 2 years ago," Annie said.
Annie and her group followed Catherine into the scrub room.
"I'm going to show you how to do this once and only once," Catherine said.
"Annie, what is all over your cap," Amy asked.
"Pacific Ocher Sea Stars," Annie said.
"How did you and Josh both know to bring caps," Amy asked.
"My uncle worked with Annie's mom for years," Josh said.
"I like when caps have personality," Catherine said, "tells me something about the surgeon."
They followed along with Catherine when she scrubbed. They entered the OR, Annie looked around for where to stand, she was used to standing by Teddy so that she had a perfect view. Annie noticed a group of residents standing beside the wall and went to join them, Josh and Amy followed.
In Seattle Jackson walked up to Teddy.
"Good morning Avery," Teddy greeted.
"Good morning Dr Altman," Jackson said, "may I scrub in with you this morning?"
"I'd be happy to have you this morning," Teddy said, "it's a good day for you to work with me."
"I heard," Jackson said, "Annie is in my mother's OR today."
"I know," Teddy said, "she was very excited. Her first surgical experience of medical school."
"It was an exciting day," Jackson agreed, "mine was a hip replacement."
"Hernia repair," Teddy said, "Annie is seeing a prostate being removed."
"She'll never forget that," Jackson said.
Teddy laughed, "some experience my very innocent daughter with your mother."
"If Kepner can handle my mom so can Annie," Jackson said, "will she show some personality?"
"I know she took her starfish cap," Teddy said, "Annie loves sea creatures and bright colour."
"Does she know to talk and have an opinion," Jackson asked.
"She does," Teddy said.