It's Killing Me!

Medical Center.

Morning.

Rounds began.

Adam and the others each had four interns with them as they followed the attendings to check on the patients assigned to their respective departments.

Dr. Burke glanced at Adam. Adam glanced at The Four Interns, who were staring at him with bright, eager eyes, then tipped his chin at Lexie. "Dr. Grey!"

Whenever Meredith was absent, Adam dropped the "Little" when addressing Lexie in front of patients.

"Samantha Jones, thirty-two years old, early-stage breast cancer, scheduled for breast-conserving surgery today..."

Lexie immediately stepped forward and began introducing Samantha's condition with practiced familiarity.

This was Adam's patient. Dr. Burke stood to one side without speaking, allowing Adam to question Lexie about certain surgical details.

The attendings working with Adam were now attendings in name only.

"Very good. Looks like you did your homework."

Adam nodded. "Dr. Grey, you'll be responsible for Ms. Jones's preoperative preparations."

Although Samantha probably did not care whether her doctor was male or female, some matters were still more convenient between a female doctor and a female patient.

"Yes, Dr. Duncan."

Lexie answered.

After saying a few words to Samantha, Adam left the room shoulder to shoulder with Dr. Burke. Cristina took three steps in two and moved to Dr. Burke's other side.

Other than Lexie, who stayed behind to look after Samantha, the other three of The Four Interns, along with Cristina's Interns One through Four, all followed behind Adam's group of three as they headed to inspect the second room.

Most cases Adam had not personally taken on were handed over to Cristina.

When Dr. Burke asked a question, Cristina started blurting out answers again. But after saying a few words, she stopped beneath Adam and Dr. Burke's gazes.

"Number Three, you answer!"

Cristina could only point at someone