'Eight of you will switch to an easier speciality.'
He hadn't switched to another, easier speciality. The thought had never crossed him mind. His parents had called him a surgeon in the same tone children reserve for Superman or Spiderman; quitting was not an option.
'Five of you will crack under the pressure.'
He hadn't cracked under the pressure either, and God knows there had been plenty of it. Through the pain and the loss and the heartbreak he stood firm; like a willow tree he bent but did not break.
'Two of you will be asked to leave.'
Even when he failed his intern exam they did not ask him to leave. He was accepted back to redo his intern year; to try again. In the end they recognised his talent and he made resident, not once did the Chief or Bailey or anyone else doubt that eventually he would make it.
'This is your starting line. This is your arena. How well you play, that's up to you.'
Oh how he had played. He may not have been as driven as Cristina or as naturally talented as Meredith but even with the hurdles thrown at him; George O'Malley had given his all to help people.
'You know, I would have made a really good postal worker.'
In the end, his career was ended by the one thing surgeons spend their lives fighting: death. His life cut unbearably short whilst trying to save another. George O'Malley may never have become an attending but he would always be a hero and a friend.
In death, as in life, George O'Malley looked out for those he loved. He helped people, tried to save people and shared his heart with people. Those lucky enough to know him only realised how much he had touched their lives once he was gone; yet they didn't forget him. In their memories he lived on.
The place he now inhabited gave him the ability to watch out for people, though not a superpower he ever contemplated it was the one that suited him best, and it was his gift. Sometimes you just need someone to watch over you.
There was a new wing added to the Denny Duquette Memorial Clinic about six months after George's death. It was simply called the "O'Malley Wing". Above the door there is a plaque which simply states
'In the memory of George O'Malley 1977-2009,
Here's the thing about 007, he may have had a license to kill but he was also one of the best'
This plaque is the first thing people see when they enter the wing, every day the doctors and nurses staffing the clinic are asked about it and every day more people are told of George O'Malley.
Fin
Here endeth the fic. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I'm not sure when I'll venture another fic but keep an eye out, I'll be back!
Special Thanks go to
samgirl19, Magges and emmaknightly1982
for either reviewing or adding my lil' old fic to their favs. You guys are awesome!
NB. I have no idea when George was born; I couldn't find it anywhere so the date is just a guess!
Thank you and Goodnight.
XXX