A/N: Reviews are welcome.
xxx
"Self-care is very important to a woman, Cristina," Izzie said as she combed her hair in the locker room. "Want me to introduce you to some cool eye-gel?"
"When you're too busy running the show, playing the super Cardio intern role, looks don't matter anymore," Alex laughed.
"Back off, Evil Spawn. I'm tired, but I'm still a very hot person," Cristina threw her comb at the other intern.
"Why didn't I get to be assigned to cardio surgery by the Chief?" George whined. "Cristina has been on at least 10 different cases last week."
"That's because you didn't sleep with the right person."
"C'mon guys. None of the surgeries Cristina scrubbed in last week was Dr. Burke's," Meredith knew she was not in the best position to defend her friend, but at least she would try.
"That's true, Meredith. We almost forgot that you've been scrubbing in on every case Sheppard was in charge," Izzie hissed. She was glad to be back to the hospital, but it didn't thrill her too much to be shadowing her friend.
"Listen. This has nothing to do with my personal life. We're nearly done with our first year. It's time to think about what you want to specialize in. I just happen to be smarter and can start sooner," Cristina fought back. She was ready for anything they said about her, as long as it didn't involve Burke.
"Yes, that's why I am assisting in all the neurosurgeries," Meredith agreed.
Everyone else sneered at the two of female interns and walked away.
"I can't believe we're in the same year as those people."
"Cristina, they're family. It's just that, well, I think sometimes brothers and sisters get jealous of one another."
"You can have as many McDreamy surgical hours as you like. I'll never get jealous," Cristina responded in a teasing tone. "In fact, I'll be happy for you."
Meredith was not sure if it was pure sarcasm or not, but she simply blinked.
"How's Burke? I don't see you two together in the hospital anymore," Meredith tied her hair into a ponytail. "Isn't it funny that you're not assisting him in surgeries when you're officially assigned to his department?"
"He's been busy with paperwork." Cristina answered matter-of-factly, trying to avoid the conversation as much as possible.
"Meredith, hurry up!"
"I'm coming, Izzie," Meredith shook her head subtly before whispering to Cristina, "Sometimes I really want to be free of this walking 9 million dollar check."
Cristina gave her friend a push on the back and allowed some sympathy to permeate her smile.
xxx
"Chief, I'm not going to do this. I told you I'm not ready," Burke strode through the door in rage.
"Preston, have a seat."
The exquisite calmness displayed by the Chief came off as an aloofness that Burke was ready to break. He was expecting this to come since their meeting a while back, but he couldn't come to terms with the fact that it's that soon.
"Preston, this man is going to die if we don't operate on him today. You're the only one who has performed this procedure at Seattle Grace."
"I could supervise another surgeon. Dr. Huron could operate," Burke was not backing off at all.
Covering his mouth with his hand for a brief second, Richard continued, "Dr. Burke, we are short of cardio surgeons today. People will start talking about it if I assign two surgeons in one OR."
"People will talk even more if I kill the patient."
"Dr. Yang could scrub in," Richard brushed off Burke's concern with an off-hand comment. "Assuming you need help."
"That is not the point."
"Didn't you two have a perfect work routine?"
"Yes, but—"
"Do as much as you can. When you can't, let her do it. She's one of the brightest young women I know and she'll excel in it." Right after this, the Chief stood up and sent Burke away.
Richard had heard enough from the once confident and cocky surgeon who desired to be the next Chief. He was not ready to have another liability lawsuit against his surgeon or intern, but Richard also couldn't tell Burke right away that it's a way to help prove to the board that Dr. Preston Burke was still indispensable.
Being the middle-man who knew both sides of the story, Richard sometimes hated being allowed to only give one side to his favorite attending.
xxx
"Dr. Burke, I understand that Dr. Yang is the specially assigned intern, but my interns here also need some experience in cardiothoracic surgeries. Perhaps you could let someone else assist this time?" Bailey put one arm on her hip and demanded.
"There are other cardio surgeries for the rest of the week. Grey could assist in any one of those."
"Dr. Burke, you understand that Dr. Grey and Dr. Stevens have been with this patient since he was admitted earlier today. Why do you have to pull them out of the case? Am I sensing some favoritism here?"
Of all the things she could say, this was what Burke hated the most. The accusation was at a profound level—that he was failing as a medical professional to separate his personal and work lives. He wanted his resident to understand the decision was not upon him. It pained him to realize he was about to lose his respect from the only resident who dared to challenge him when he was acting below his standards.
But why expose his vulnerabilities to her when he could fend it off with his hallmark arrogance?
"If you do, Dr. Bailey, excuse me for suggesting that you're over-sensitive today," Burke hoped his words came out smug rather than weak. "Cristina has not scrubbed in on any of my surgeries in two weeks. How would that be a sign of favoritism?"
"You ought to know better than I do, Dr. Burke," Bailey kept staring at her boss with fierce flames in her eyes.
Just then, Richard passed by the corridor and immediately felt the tension. "Is there something wrong here, Dr. Bailey?"
"Chief, Dr. Bailey thought Grey and Stevens should scrub in for the Humpty Dumpty procedure with me."
The tone in Burke's voice annoyed Miranda Bailey. She could judge from the two men's exchange of eye contact that she was the minority. She had always respected Dr. Burke, but at this point she felt manipulated.
"Really? I thought we've decided that Stevens should NEVER have anything to do with the human circulatory system again?"
"Sir—" It bugged her when the Chief made her appear as the fool with unreasonable demand.
"Dr. Burke, I thought I already instructed you to put Dr. Yang on this case."
There was no guilt, no hesitation, almost no feeling attached to the statement coming out of Richard Webber's mouth.
"Actually, I've already paged her to set up the OR and grab the lab results from Grey," Richard put his hand on Burke's shoulder. "Bye Dr. Burke, bye Dr. Bailey."
Miranda Bailey did not wait until the Chief was completely out of sight before she folded her arms and mocked at Burke, "Are you sure your girlfriend isn't sleeping with the Chief?"