CODING ━ grey's anatomy

chapter nine

George opened his mouth to protest, but Cassie cut him off before he could so much as get a word out. "Seriously?" she scoffed loudly, startling the group. "Honestly, George, just do your job, and quit whining about it like an overgrown toddler."

George gaped at her, looking to Bailey for help.

"Okay," Bailey said slowly, looking at her intern with concern. "Uh, Grey, you're done here, I have a bowel obstruction for you. Harper—" she paused, "—the patient in bed four needs some sutures."

Cassie nodded curtly, making her way into the pit. The other three watched her go.

"Hello there," she kindly greeted the patient, pulling out her chart. "I'm Dr. Harper, I'll be taking care of you today."

"Nice to meet you," the woman smiled, holding her sleeping daughters hand, who couldn't have been over five years old.

"Lena Richards, in for nine stitches on the right side of your stomach from a fall in the kitchen, yeah?"

Lena nodded. "That's me. Hurts like a bitch."

"The pain should go away in a few days or so," Cassie informed her, gathering her supplies and sterilizing the wound. "Alright, before I begin, do you have any medical conditions or allergies I should know about?"

"Um, just one," Lena sighed, as if it were routine for her to explain. "I have stage four breast cancer."

Cassie froze.

"Breast cancer?"

"That's actually the reason I fell," she continued, not noticing the change in her doctor's demeanor. "One of the symptoms is lightheadedness, and at my stage, it's even—"

"Even more common than usual," Cassie cut her off, hands shaking slightly. "Yeah, um, I-I'll actually be right back, I have to, um, I'll get someone else to take care of this, I-I'm sorry."

Despite Lena's confusion, she stood up, abandoning her supplies and paging another doctor to cover for her as she speedily left the area.

☆

Unable to see through her glassy eyes, Cassie ran directly into someone as she fled from the pit. Since whatever higher power was out there had decided to make her life a living hell for the day, they happened to be the last person she wanted to see.

"Cass! I've been looking for you all day," Derek grinned.

"How can I help you, Derek," she responded with little emotion.

He didn't say anything, and just held out a small box with a large cupcake inside. Cassie stared blankly at the box before she met his eyes.

"Take it," he smiled.

"I'm good, thanks."

Losing his smile, Derek sighed heavily. "Look, I know you're still mad at me, and that today isn't your favorite day of the year, but you still deserve to celebrate," he said with sympathy.

She rolled her eyes, brushing past him and slightly knocking his shoulder. "If there were anything to celebrate, then I would."