Jackson offers a co-worker some advice. (Inspired by Tumblr user japril's recent gif set)
He doesn't like to get involved in people's personal lives anymore. Not if he can avoid it.
One of the luxuries that comes with no longer working at Grey Sloan is just how simple his life feels now. Maybe even boring to some, and he lovesit that way. He loves going home to his wife and daughter every night, and spending quality time together as a family on the weekends. He loves knowing that every day gets to be like that now, and that he's right where he needs to be.
So, when he finds one of his co-workers at work spinning out upon returning to his office, he can't help but sigh. The last thing he wants is to be dealing with any drama, but as the head honcho, he knows he has to, to a certain extent.
Jackson makes his presence known by clearing his throat, and his employee scrambles to make himself look more presentable and seemingly like he's not on the edge of a mental breakdown. "Dr Avery! I'm sorry, I was just waiting for you. It's just, you weren't here, and I wasn't sure what else to do."
"Can I ask what this is about, Dr Hastings?" He asks, somewhat confused as to what he's doing here.
"Right, yes. I was wondering...if I can take some personal time off. I hate asking, but I'm going through some things right now, well, actually...it's stupid. The woman I'm madly in love with is moving to another country, and its killing me, I can't stop thinking about it, and I can't focus on work or eating or sleeping or...anything else. I probably sound pathetic."
He closes his eyes for a moment, feeling almost pleased that this isn't a professional emergency and is more of a personal one (for once). He sits down in his office chair, placing his hands together, and takes a deep breath as he finds some wise words he'd been told a long time ago floating around in his head.
"Listen, Dr Hastings, I'm more than happy to grant you some time off. Take as long as you need, but...can I offer some advice?" He asks, causing the shorter man to nod slowly, "If you love someone, you tell them. Even if you're scared it's not the right thing, even if you're scared it'll cause problems, even if you're scared it'll burn your life to the ground. You say it, and you sat it loud and you go from there. If you're spinning out this much over this woman? You should just tell her. Trust me, I would know."
He takes in the advice for a moment, pondering it over but looking much calmer than Jackson had seem him a few minutes ago, so he figures that must be something. "Yeah...yeah...maybe I will. Thanks, Dr. Avery."
"No problem."
With that, the other doctor exits his office, and Jackson can't help but find himself thinking fondly of his former mentor and thanking his lucky stars he'd listened to his advice.
Maybe this wasn't exactly the way he'd imagined himself passing on his knowledge - doing for someone what he did for him, but he can't help but think it feels good.