May 13, 2021
Dr. Miranda Bailey was at her desk, unhappy at the upsetting news about her OB/GYN having to leave because of her work visa. On top of that, said attending's brother was stab to death by a madman as well. And now Jackson is leaving along with Tom Koracick, which she never expected to leave as well.
Miranda buried her face in her hands, tired of everything happening lately. All she wanted to do now is to go on a long vacation, maybe with Ben. Or not, serves him right, she thought to herself, chuckling.
Bailey looked around the office, sighing. Finding new surgeons to replace old ones was already hard enough, especially since Wilson changed specialties which leaves her without a general attending as well.
She could feel the stress all throughout her body, trying to calm down. After all, she did not want to be admit for another heart attack episode. Bailey took a deep breath in and out, steadily for 10 minutes.
-Ring, ring-
Bailey's office phone began to ring, taking her out her trace. She picked up the phone, glancing the number appearing on the screen.
"Dr. Miranda Bailey, who is speaking?" she asked, a question in her voice.
"Hello Dr. Bailey, this Dr. Gwendonna Coleman from University Hospital, do you have a moment to speak?" a thick New York accent spoke over the phone. Bailey looked questioningly at the phone, wondering why a doctor from New York was calling her, in Seattle.
"Yes I do, what is the nature of this call?" Bailey inquired to the woman.
"This may seem quite odd, but I heard from some colleagues that you were in need of a OB/GYN?" Dr. Coleman asked hesitantly. Please say yes, please say yes.
Bailey wonders how this woman knew about her lack of doctors and where the conversation was going.
"Let's say I did, and why would you need to know that information? What does it concern of you?" Bailey added with a edge in her voice, or known as her 'Bailey Voice'.
"Well, we have a fine young doctor who specializes in Neonatal surgery and would be a great replacement for your hospital." Dr. Coleman said, anxious.
"While I thank you for the offer I will have to decline as we have to interview different doctors for the position." Bailey spoke in a professional tone, ready to hang up.
"WAIT! Dr. Bailey this doctor is a great surgeon and valuable to your hospital. Plus, Neonatal is a specialty that the hospital hasn't have in a while I heard. A doctor Addison Montgomery used to work there and has done amazing work when she was. Think about it, having neonatal back can help provide services to those who need it." Dr. Coleman pleaded towards the woman; her accent heavy.
"Why do you want us to have this surgeon so bad? Wouldn't that be beneficial to your hospital?" Bailey asked again, feeling a bit annoyed but intrigued.
"There was a uh situation that happen and we thought it would be best if they go to Seattle with your hospital. We heard great things about the place!" She insisted, trying to sweeten the deal.
"And pray tell what this situation was?" Questioned Bailey, interested in the new development.
Dr. Coleman proceeds to tell Bailey what happen and why this call was made. It was shocking to Bailey but not as shocking as she works for Grey Sloan, where anything happens. Both women proceed to talk until they come to an agreement.
This July, Grey Sloan will be gaining a new Neonatal surgeon. Although this wasn't what she expected, this change was good. Especially good as her surgeons seem to be dying, quitting or out on maternity leave. Calling for a few replacements might be hard at this time, but Miranda Bailey will get it done.
After all, she is the chief of surgery of this hospital.
May 27, 2021
A small brown figure sat in front of Dr. Coleman; arms crossed in a angry manner. The figure was Dr. Tessa Johnson, M.D. and F.A.C.O.G or Dr. Johnson for short.
She was on the small side: 5'1, dark brown skin, dark red lips in a displeased manner and large brown eyes in a glare at her now former boss. It almost looked comical due to her height, it gave the impression of being in the principial office, a feeling Tessa remembers all to well.
Dr. Coleman gives her a sympathetic look to her former student turned doctor. Tessa tries her hardest to look angry, but Gwen wanted to point out she was a grown woman and not a child, which would cause another fight.
"So, you shipping across the country, without a care? Like I don't have family, friends, clients, and a child here?!" Tessa argued to her former boss, emotion taking over.
"Tess, I know-"
"You don't get to call me that anymore!" She counter back, rising from her chair. The dangerous look in her eye got her in this situation in the first place.
"Tessa please, I done everything I can, my hands are tied. You knew what you were doing and are facing the consequences. The board decided this was the best way instead of losing your license." Dr. Coleman responded, giving her a hard look back. Tessa had the grace to look slightly ashamed of her actions, but it was replaced with anger and sadness.
"I did the right thing and being punished for it. I have to move to Seattle in a month and find a house? I'm not exactly made of money." She countered back, going back to her original pose.
Dr. Coleman pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed at her former student. She's a great doctor but so damn headstrong it felt impossible sometimes to talk to her and now she must send her away.
"Well, I know you have enough to live on and I'll send some recommendations for apartments in Seattle." She said, sliding a sheet over towards Tessa, who peered over to look at it.
"And Dr. Bailey was thrilled on having you, plus that band you like was from there so see, in a way it's like a paid vacation you always wanted." Gwendonna smiled at her, trying to ease the tension. This managed to crack a smile of Tessa, a tiny one.
"Gwen, my kid. I'm going to be away from my kid for a year." Her voice wavered. Dr. Coleman gave her another sympathetic smile, understanding the feeling of being away from her child.
"I know it's hard, but you have to understand; it was either that or having your title taken and everything else." She spoke back to her. Tessa nodded in agreement; her hands tied of everything.
Dr. Coleman's beeper paged, which meant this meeting was over. Both ladies stood up and shook hands, walking in two different directions, both metaphorically and realistically.
For the next month, Tessa had to sign papers, send her patients to different doctors, avoid hospital gossip and her family's calls. She had to pack, which was difficult especially with her daughter, who she had to explain everything to.
It was hard and her daughter didn't understand too much but the hurt in her eyes kept her up at night, leaving her with her sister for a year. She offered to pay her sisters rent for a year while she stayed at her 4-bedroom apartment overlooking Central Park.
At least her daughter would be with family and in the comfort of her own home. A home Tess fought to give her a life her daughter deserved. And now she's being uprooted to fucking Seattle.
If she were 16 again, maybe she would be happy but at this age, she's a bit less than please.
July 5, 2021
Well, here she is, Grey Sloan Hospital. It huge in person and very business, which is a good and possible bad thing. Tess tightens her grip on her handbag she got on 25th street from a bootlegger she had known for a while.
Tess tried to put on a brave front as she walked in the hospital until she realized she didn't know where to go nor had Dr. Bailey's phone number.
It was a good thing she dress professional; a dark red silk blouse, formed black slacks and her dark wedge boots, which gave her some height from 5'1 to 5'4. She wore her new GSMH jacket which Tess felt weird as it was a bit longer than expected. It wasn't a doctor's coat but did the job for now.
Tess walked around the building for 20 minutes, still loss and getting annoyed. She decided to go towards an elevator, hoping to finally meet someone who knew the way here. It was only a blonde man in the elevator with her, she exchanges a polite greeting towards him.
Looking around the elevator, muttering to herself about the lack of signs in this 'big ass hospital'. A tall blond man chuckled on her comment which she looked over to him.
He's cute, in a Barbie and Ken way, the New York native thought. She gave him a once over before introducing herself.
"Hi, I'm Doctor Tessa Johnson and very lost." She greeted the man, sticking her hand out.
The man returns the handshake back, grinning "I'm Dr. Atticus Linkoln or Link for short."
She laughed, "Atticus huh? Either your parents love that book or enjoyed the band a lot."
"You like Atticus too?" Link exclaimed, not believing another doctor heard of this band. Both doctors talked animatedly throughout the elevator ride until it dinged on the surgery floor.
"Wait is this the surgery floor?" She asked as they both stepped out the elevator. She looked around, hoping to be right. He looks down at her, confused.
"Yeah this is it, I take it your new here?" He asked her, which she nodded. Link chuckled as he led her towards the center of the floor.
Tessa wide brown eyes looked all around her, trying to take it all in as interns and residents followed their attending, nurses helping patients, and other chaos. He brought her to the board, giving her a quick rundown of it and sent her a list of the hospital's map in case she gets lost (she will).
Link's pager goes off, flashing an apologetic smile towards his new co-worker as he dashes off to surgery.
Bailey's office! Dammit I should had asked him that. Ugh and I can barely read this damn map! Tessa cursed in her head, walking aimlessly through the halls with her phone in her hand. She tried to follow the map but ended up more lost than before and didn't have a way to contact Link.
Sighing, Tessa finds a wall to lean back on, breathing angrily as she cannot find her new boss's office.
"This is really great. Fucking lost already on the first day, great." Tessa mumbled to herself as she put her hands on her first, not caring how she looked.
She felt a tap on her hands, a light touch that remove said hands from her face. A curly haired woman appeared at crouching level towards her face.
A sultry pair of brown eyes looked into her own brown eyes. A soft grin appears on the curlier woman's face as Tessa gave her a confused look.
"I take it you're looking for Dr. Bailey?" A heavy Dominican accent escaped from her lips, looking back at the Bronx native doctor. Tessa nodded and took her hand to get up from the hospital floor. Nameless Doctor (nurse?) told her to follow them as they were on their way to the faceless Doctor Bailey's office.
"So, you're new as well?" Nameless Doctor asked Tessa, who was trying to keep up with the tall woman.
"Yeah was transferred from New York." Tessa answered back, somewhat keeping up with the lady.
"Really? I moved from New York to here, heard they needed a plastic's surgeon since the last one left." She countered back to her small co-worker.
"Yo you from New York too? I just came from University Hospital. Which hospital you came from? " Tessa said shocked, surprised at the woman.
"Mount Sinai and it was a hellhole. I jumped ship as soon as I finished my boards and now imma first time attending here. And this is your stop." Tessa was so caught up with the woman she didn't notice they stopped outside the office.
"Oh uh thanks for helping me, swear these damn maps didn't do a thing for me." Tessa replied, looking sheepish at the woman. She laughed at her new co-worker and wished her luck with her meeting as she had one later the day. That left Tessa to walk into the spacious office, taking it all in.
Damn maybe I lucked out by getting transferred here, Tessa thought to herself as she looked around the office. She saw a picture of a small black woman and man with two male teenagers posing like a family. Not much was in the office, almost as it hasn't been used.
"What are you doing?" a sharp voice made Tessa jumped up as she was caught looking at her new boss personal photo. She turned around and came face to face with Doctor Miranda Bailey, chief of the wonderful hospital.
"Sit down and let's get started." She commanded and Tessa quickly got settled into the plushy seat while facing Dr. Bailey.
"I was already informed by your attending about your situation and the board, so that's out the way. Now," she glared at the Bronx native, who squired under the glare.
"Doctor Johnson if you make one small mistake or movement I don't like, your ass will be out of here! I already have to deal with my own surgeons messing up, so I do not need an outside troublemaker causing ruckus in my hospital are we clear?!" Bailey gave her a 'look' which she replied.
"Good, here's your charts, a map, pager, your jacket is in the attendings lounge, I already email your schedule, and we will have weekly check-ins to see if you are still fit to be a doctor." Bailey said, sliding over said items while giving the doctor a look over.
Tessa rolled her eyes at the small height woman, collecting her things as she got up. Doctor Bailey got up as well to give her a brief tour, not before looking at her properly.
Tessa caught her staring at her, making her feel uncomfortable. Where she's from, this would warrant a strong cursing out or a dirty look back, but since she is already on thin ice, she gave a questioning look back.
"Your makeup…." Bailey statements, critically examining the makeup of the Doctor.
Tessa watched as she walked around her, wondering what the hell her makeup had to do with anything. Dark red eyeshadow with a black outline, light eyeliner, and a matching red matte lipstick to go with her blouse. Her makeup wasn't as wild as it used to be since this is a new job and start.
"It's acceptable." Bailey finished, wanting to give some scare into the doctor before her. She started walking towards the door, which Tessa quickly followed.
Bailey showed her the OR's, gallery, cafeteria, bathrooms, and the general areas of the hospital. Tessa was beginning to get tired as she tried to keep up with the woman with similar height walking ahead of her. The last stop was the attendings lounge.
Tessa was wowed at the slick and clean area and space of the room. Way different form the one in New York. They even have an expresso maker! She took a look around at everything in the room while Bailey observed.
Miranda didn't know what to think about this new surgeon. What she heard about her was shocking but seeing her in front of her is making her rethink. But then again she will keep her eye out on this doctor.
Luckily it was two birds and one stone as she gained a neonatal and a head of plastics surgeon as well. There was still an opening for a neurosurgeon as Tom left which she put out feelers around the country for.
While Bailey was deep in thought, Tessa went over to her locker and opened it. It was bare but had a small welcoming basket and her Grey Sloan coat in there, which she switched with her jacket.
She put her hair into a ponytail with two stands on the side of her head, giving it an artist flare.
"Is that all Dr. Bailey?" Tessa asked her new boss, wanting to leave before more questioning.
Bailey shook out of her thought and gave a firm nod to the new doctor. As Bailey left the room, Tessa plopped on the very nice couch and sighed.
Day 1 and she's already on thinner ice.