A/N: Hey all, thanks for the great response to the first chapter. My uploads might be kind of infrequent because I'm really busy with school and dance and things, but I'll do my best not to make it too long in between uploads. Anyways, the chapters switch back and forth between the current action and the events leading up to the first chapter, so this chapter takes place earlier in the day.
"I can't believe we've been down here for two hours and all I've had are sutures."
Stephanie dropped her latest file on the nurses' station in frustration as Leah looked up at her from where she sat behind the desk flipping through a medical journal.
"It's a slow day, why are you complaining? This almost never happens."
She didn't have a good answer for that. Slow days in the ER were a rare treat, sure they meant possibly missing out on a surgery, but Stephanie knew from the OR board that there was nothing exciting scheduled for the day anyways. Jo was in on a Whipple, but as far as she knew the rest of the residents were stuck with scut and paperwork. In contrast, doing sutures in the ER was a treat.
"I just need to do something big," Stephanie said finally, "I don't care if it's a surgery or an emergency procedure I just want something exciting."
Leah shrugged, "Maybe something will come in?"
"Yeah right," she paused realizing that Leah's voice sounded strange for some reason, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, it's just a head cold. Anyways, you should try to look on the brightside."
"Which is?"
"At least the Mrs. Dr. Avery isn't here today."
Stephanie rolled her eyes at the sarcasm oozing out of her friend's mouth, but couldn't deny that it was a relief to not have April around. Her and Jackson flaunting their wedding rings and stupid married bliss had been annoying enough, but then after his mother had come for a visit April went and took Avery as her last name.
April Avery, Stephanie scoffed at the name. The alliteration wasn't "cute", as she had overheard Arizona Robbins describe it, it was sickening.
"This isn't the 1950s," Stephanie said, "I don't see why she couldn't have just kept her own name."
"As if you wouldn't milk the Avery name for all it was worth if you could."
For a long moment Stephanie stood speechless, trying to pretend she didn't feel like she had just been punched in the gut. She could remember a conversation with Jo once where she had admitted that even though she thought the rhyming "Stephanie Avery" sounded a little cutesy she would take it in a second if they ever got married.
"Oh," Leah cringed as she realized her mistake, "Steph I'm sorry."
"No it's fine," Stephanie lied, "That's probably why she ran off with him."
Leah's face dropped as she looked at something over her friend's shoulder, but Stephanie plowed on, unphased.
"She just wanted to be an Avery so everyone would forget that she failed her boards and ignore the fact that she's a mediocre surgeon."
"Great plan, huh? Seems to be working."
In that moment you could have heard a pin drop as Stephanie desperately tried to force her body to combust. The rising heat in her cheeks made her feel like she was on fire already, mortified by April's sudden appearance next to her at the nurse's station.
"Dr. Avery, I-"
"You know," April cut her off, "I think I saw the EMTs bringing in a kid with a messed up leg. Bed three, go."
It was all Stephanie could do to nod obligingly, only noticing that April was in street clothes when she overheard Leah telling her she didn't have the authority to tell them what to do on her day off. It was a fair point, but not one she was about to argue after what April had heard her say. Even if it was her day off April could still report Stephanie. The thought made her cringe- sure it had been a bitchy thing to say, but with the board tilted in April's favor it could be enough to get her suspended, or even fired, from the program.
As she reached bed three and prepared to handle the screaming child behind the curtain, Stephanie took a deep breath and pushed all thoughts of April Avery out of her mind. She wasn't worth worrying about now.