The Lieutenant's Love

It was lecture day, so we were all sitting in the lecture hall listening to doctors talk about old surgeries. I was sat beside Alex with Addison and Arizona sat in front of us.

"Good morning. I'm excited. Are you excited? This is a, uh, teaching hospital. We learn a lot by doing. We can also learn ... we should also learn ... from other people's experiences. Their losses will save you losses. Their mistakes will save you mistakes. Their victories will inspire yours. Let's pay close attention. This is gonna be good. Dr Miranda Bailey," Derek introduced. Bailey took the stage.

"Good morning, everyone," Bailey said. She threw something. "Morning, Dr. Yang. What the ... If I have to stand here, you have to listen. Eyes forward. Answer a question right, you get a chocolate. Doze off, you get beaned in the face ask Dr. Yang. My aim is exceptional," Bailey said. "2003 ... I'm three days into my intern year," Bailey began telling us about the case.

"Single most important step ... In the treatment process ... Anyone?" Bailey asked.

"Physical exam," Jackson said.

"No. No chocolate for you," Bailey said.

"Lab and radiology evaluation," Cristina said.

"Uh, oh, come on, people. Now you're embarrassing me," Bailey said.

"Patient history," I said.

"Thank you. Catch," Bailey threw me a chocolate. I handed it to Addison and kissed her cheek. Bailey continued to tell us. "Successes or failures ... Which teaches you more?" Bailey asked.

"Failures," Jackson said.

"Yeah, but that was a gimmie. Don't get too cocky," Bailey threw chocolate at Jackson. "The patient was discharged, and a month later, she was back in the E. R. in the middle of the night. She had right lower quadrant pain, fever, vomiting ... symptoms consistent with?" Bailey asked.

"Appendicitis," Meredith said.

"Aha. You get a chocolate, 'cause that's what I thought," Bailey said. "But don't eat it yet. Pay attention. I diagnosed Alicia with appendicitis. And Dr Webber decided that that appy was going to be my first solo surgery," Bailey said.

"A healthy appendix ... the third surgery for this patient with unrelenting abdominal pain, fatigue and muscle pain. Now what?" Bailey asked.

"Test for zebras. Um, uncommon diseases," Cristina said.

"Okay," Bailey threw a chocolate at Cristina.

"Do an ANA for lupus," Meredith said.

"Lupus. Yeah," Bailey said.

"Whoa, what about lead? You test for lead?" I asked.

"Good, good. See?" Bailey threw a chocolate at me. "Sometimes I ... it's not easy. Sometimes you have to be your patient's advocate and push to get things done," Bailey said. Bailey continued.

"What was the result? Did she test positive for hemochromatosis?" Meredith asked.

"Nope," Bailey said.

"Uh, what about lime disease?" Cristina asked.

"Lime disease-negative. Celiac disease-negative. Every test I could think of-negative. So I did what I've told you all to do when you get stuck. I went to the library and I hit the books. I hit 'em hard," Bailey said. She continued.

"All my research didn't help. Dr Baylow sent the patient home. So I thought she'd won. I thought, you know, maybe I wasn't cut out for this game. But a couple of months later..." Bailey continued.

"So you cancelled your resident's surgery? Isn't that a little bold?" Lexie asked.

"Well, she was worried out adhesions, right?" Cristina asked. "Give me candy,"