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CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN
perfect little accident.
season six, episode sixteen.

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"So, you left your father a message," Miles concluded the conversation, sat at the table of Jackson and Billie's apartment eating a bowl of cereal.

"Yes. And I'm totally freaking out," Billie said, sprinting laps from one side of the kitchen to the other. "I mean, I didn't even say much, just asked him to come to Seattle so we could talk and clear things out and then he'd leave. But I'm gonna see my father—my abusive father—for the first time in two years and he's gonna be sober, which will be like being ten all over again because I've seen more of him drunk than anything else and I just don't know."

"It's okay to freak out, babe," Jackson said, walking out of the room he shared with his girlfriend to take a seat by his friend at the table. "Pass the cereal?"

Billie tossed him the cereal box. "Yeah, I know. It's just... it's weird. What am I even gonna say? I mean, I've changed so much."

"You know we can go with you if that'll make you feel better," Miles reminded her through a mouthful of his breakfast.

"No, I already told you, I have to do this alone. If I go with one of you, I'm just gonna freak even more."

"Well, we can keep discussing this on the way to the hospital, because we're late," Miles stated, standing up from the table to leave his now empty bowl on the sink.

"I'm not washing your dirty dishes," Billie told him with a grimace.

"Yeah, yeah. Jackson, drive us?" 

"Actually, I need to go drive my grandfather to the airport, so you two go alone and I'll meet you there later," Jackson stated as he prepared his breakfast.

"Oh." Billie frowned. "Your grandfather's coming? How did I not know that?"

"You do now."

"Well, am I gonna meet him?"

Jackson hesitated. "Probably not. He's not the nicest person."

"Oh, c'mon. I'm your girlfriend!"

"Billie, we're late!" Miles, who'd already gathered his stuff and walked halfway through the door, exclaimed.

"Wait!" Billie yelled back. "Jackson, c'mon. We'll go for some lunch and you'll introduce me to him. How else are we gonna become a serious couple if you can't even introduce me to your family?"

"You haven't introduced me to your family either," Jackson frowned, but then realized. "Oh, right."

"Yeah." Billie nodded.

He took a second, but finally accepted reluctantly. "Fine, I'll think about it. Now go."

Billie smiled triumphantly, walked over to him to peck him on the lips, gathered her stuff and then ran out through the door, chorused by Miles frantic calling.

☆

Later that day and much to her surprise, as she chatted with a nurse by a nurses station, Billie caught sight of Jackson walking into the ER, following two paramedics along with a gurney where a man in a suit lay.

"Call my driver and tell him there's still time to make my flight if he comes straight here," the man told Jackson, who seemed worried.

"You passed out in a restaurant and you have abdominal pain. You're not getting on a plane," Jackson argued.

"The pain's gone. Whatever's caused it can wait till I get home. Let me off of this thing."

Billie frowned and immediately rushed towards them, just as the man was offloaded onto one of the beds.

"Oh, hey, Jackson. What's going on?" she asked, then looked at the man on the bed. "Sir, be careful."

"Wait, Billie. I got this."

"Let me examine you," she said, then looked back up at Jackson. "What happened?"

"Tell this lady to back off, Jackie," the man complained.

Billie frowned, suddenly confused. "Jackie?"

Jackson's eyes widened. "Whatever, that's not... look, I already paged Bailey and he's not surgical or anything, so you can... lose interest."

Billie began palpating the man's abdomen, slightly confused about the whole situation and Jackson's reluctancy to her presence there. She looked at the man and smiled.

"Sir, I'm a very good surgeon, so there's nothing to worry about."

"So is my grandson, so why don't you take your hands off me?" the man stated.

Billie froze. "Grandson? This is your grandfather?"

"Seriously, I can handle this till Bailey gets here," Jackson kept arguing, clearly uncomfortable.

"No, because you're not allowed to treat family members," she said, then turned back to the man. "You're his grandfather? It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm—"

"Yes, yes. Dr. Harper Avery," he introduced himself, reaching out a hand for her to stretch. "And your name, doctor?"

Billie's jaw fell wide open.

"Harper Avery?" she repeated as she slowly stretched his hand.

"Uh, no, that's my name."

"As in the Harper Avery Award?"

"Bingo." He nodded uninterestedly. "Get a new surgeon, Jackie. One with no loose jaw, preferably."

Billie was still in shock. Slowly, her mouth still wide open, she turned to Jackson, who was pinching at the bridge of his nose.

"You're Harper Avery's grandson?"

☆

"Did you know Jackson's grandfather is Harper Avery?" Billie told Meredith as they strode down the hallway.

"No way. Really? Like, the Harper Avery? From the Harper Avery Award?"

"Exactly him. And I went all doctor-y on him like he doesn't already now, like, everything. Do you know what that does to my chances of ever winning a Harper Avery?"

Meredith laughed. "He could die before then. I mean, he could die today even."

"Yeah." Billie sighed pensively, then widened her eyes. "Wait, I shouldn't say that. He's Jackson's grandfather."

"Yeah, you're right, you shouldn't."

"But can you believe he didn't tell me?"

Just then, Lexie—who was now blonde—approached them and began walking by them.

"Is is true Harper Avery's here?" she asked Billie, baffled.

The brunette bit her lip and shook her head, still disbelieving. Meredith, on her hand, laughed.

"So Derek walked in on her naked this morning in Alex's bed," she told Billie.

Billie frowned and turned to Lexie. "You're screwing Alex? Did you know he's my ex? That's, like, totally zero codes."

Lexie's eyes widened. "Wait, I am so sorry."

"I'm just messing with you." Billie laughed, even though it wasn't quite a joke. "Anyway. You can't have feelings for him, but that has nothing to do with me. Alex is like Meredith three years ago."

Meredith nudged her with her elbow. "I said that!"

"I don't have feelings for Alex," Lexie clarified.

"Yes, you do. Your heart's like in your vagina."

"I said that!"

"You are both monsters!"

Lexie walked away as Billie and Meredith looked at each other, amazed at their connection. They walked past Derek and Cristina, who quickly joined in on their conversation.

"Billie, I heard you met Harper Avery," Derek said. "Tough way to get introduced to your boyfriend's family."

"Your boyfriend's grandfather is Harper Avery?!" Cristina exclaimed.

"Well, did you know that my boyfriend's grandfather was just God?"

"I didn't know. That is kinda cool though." 

"No, it's not cool, okay?" Cristina said. "He's an entitled brat with no skills, except a really good bloodline."

"Hey!"

"It is not Jackson's fault that he's related to Harper Avery!" Meredith butted in.

"Yeah! Plus, he's really smart and amazing in bed," Billie complained.

Cristina scoffed. "Oh, whatever, Ivory LeBlanc's daughter."

☆

Billie, Meredith, Ian, Derek and Bailey now found themselves in the ER, surrounding Dr. Avery's bed. Jackson was there too, seemingly uncomfortable. Everybody appeared disturbed by the bickering of the two women on the continuous bed, who were yelling at each other.

"Is it me or are those two women terribly annoying?" Harper told his grandson.

"My apologies, Dr. Avery, we're working on getting you up to your own room as soon as possible," Bailey said immediately, slightly nervous at the presence of the man.

The man scoffed. "You said that before." He then took a look at Derek. "Is this Dr. Shepherd? You brought me a neurosurgeon for some abdominal cramps?"

"No, I... Dr. Shepherd is our Chief of surgery, sir."

"I don't need a cruise director, I need an experienced surgeon," Harper argued. "Page Dr. LeBlanc."

Ian shared a look with Billie, then frowned. "I'm Dr. LeBlanc."

Harper scoffed again, this time, mockingly of the young surgeon's words. "Hm. Either the world's most talented plastic surgeon works here, or you're not Frank LeBlanc."

Billie tensed visibly.

"He was my father. He no longer works as a surgeon," Ian explained briefly with a laugh.

Something in Harper's expression appeared to soften.

"Oh, I didn't know," he muttered, seemingly confused. "Well, who else then? Does, uh... Richard Webber still work here?"

"Yes, uh... unfortunately, he is not available today," Derek announced.

Suddenly, Owen and Cristina came out of a trauma room wheeling a seizing man in a gurney. They stopped right in front of them to turn the patient over on his side.

"Push two of Ativan! Percy, let's get him on his side," Owen said. "Cristina, watch that neck."

"Oh, my God! What are they doing to that man?" the loud woman on the continuous bed yelled.

Suddenly, something on the man's chest burst, spurting blood onto Cristina's face and scrubs.

"Oh! Applying pressure," she yelled.

Derek turned back towards Harper with a long sigh. "I'll page Dr. Webber."

☆

"Hey." Billie approached Jackson later that day.

The man was standing right outside his grandfather's room, surveying Webber and Derek as they talked with the man. Billie stood by him.

"I heard your grandfather wants to be awake throughout the procedure, is that true?" she asked.

"Unfortunately, it is." Jackson nodded.

"Wow." Billie chuckled. "Your grandfather's hardcore."

"Nope. He's just an idiot," he corrected, then glanced back into the room. "Ah, here we go. He's giving them the speech."

"What speech?"

"About the wonders of medicine. About how, as surgeons, you know, we're meant to push boundaries and do what no one has ever done," he mocked sarcastically.

Billie smiled. "Sounds motivating."

"It's cheesy, is what it is," Jackson corrected. "You hear it enough times at your grandparents' dinner table, you can't help but wanna be a surgeon when you grow up."

"You had a dinner table? I didn't know world-class surgeons had dinner tables," Billie mocked him. "I feel gypped."

"Ha, ha, very funny." He grinned. "That's just 'cause you haven't heard the speech yet."

"The only speech I'd like to hear is the one you have to give to me for not having told me Harper Avery was your grandfather," Billie fired.

Jackson eyed her sideways. "No speech."

"Oh, that's what I thought. Pussy." She chuckled, earning a laugh in response.

"Not a pussy, just... you don't go around telling everyone who your parents are, right?" he asked.

"Well, no, but—"

"Exactly," he cut her off. "If I tell people I'm Harper Avery's grandson, then there's no matching up to that. I'll just be seen as Harper Avery's grandson. I wanna be my own person first."

Billie stared at him. "Wow."

"What?"

"The motivational speech thingy runs in the family then, huh?"

Jackson laughed and nudged her with his elbow.

☆

Billie had been chosen to assist on Harper Avery specifically by the patient himself after finding out who her parents were, so now, Webber, Jackson and her were operating.

"Not a bad-looking bowel, is it, Webber?" Harper said, looking at his insides through the image projected on the screen in front of him.

"No, sir. If I had to guess, I would say it was the bowel of a fifty-year-old," the man replied through his mask. "Suction, Dr. Black."

"Dr. LeBlanc, I've got two questions for you," Harper began, looking at the resident. "They're of a personal nature."

Billie glanced at him, suddenly nervous, especially once she heard the name he'd used to refer to her. "Yes, sir?"

"If any of your parents were still working here, would you have chosen to study at a different, lesser-quality hospital in order to avoid the advantages of their legacy?"

Billie froze and glanced at Jackson for help.

"I'm waiting here, Dr. LeBlanc," Harper insisted. "Or... Dr. Black, is it?"

"Dr. Black is fine," Billie said, touching Jackson's foot with her own for support. "Uhm..."

"Dr. Webber, what do you think about intraoperational dye to help determine intestinal viability?" Jackson changed the topic, shooting a dirty glance in his grandfather's direction.

"Uh, well, they say that it enhances clinical judgement. I'm not really sure," the attending replied.

"I'm still waiting for my answer," Harper said.

However, the monitor suddenly went off.

"BPs dropping!" Billie announced.

"I think I got a bleeder. Suction," Webber demanded. 

"Did you check the SMA?" Harper asked.

"Yes, it's okay. Dr. Avery, stay calm."

"I'll be calm when you find the damn thing!"

"Okay, shouldn't we put him out?" Jackson asked nervously.

"No, don't put me out," Harper argued instantly. "Hang another unit of FFP. Maybe... you should consider..."

"Eighty over fifty," Billie announced as the man's words slowly slurred together drowsily.

"There it is. I got it," Webber said once he finally managed to clip the bleeder. "I've got it. How are you feeling, Dr. Avery?"

"Okay," the man replied, still slightly out of himself. "Heart rate's stabilizing." 

"Hang in there just a few more minutes, okay? 3-0 silk."

"Silk? No, use chromic," Harper requested. "Don't get lazy on me."

"Yep. He's fine," Jackson muttered to himself.

Webber nodded. "Right. Chromic instead."

☆

After the surgery, Billie was updating some charts in the residents' lounge when suddenly, Jackson strode into the place followed by an army of eager residents, led by Alex, who wanted to meet Harper Avery.

"Look, it's not gonna happen," Jackson said.

"C'mon, man, five minutes with your grandpappy, that's all I ask," Alex insisted. Billie eyed the interaction.

"Right," Jackson turned, "'cause the two of us are such good friends."

Alex peeped a glance in Billie's direction, then drew a cheeky smile. "Well, this could go a long way to help that."

"Back off, Karev. If anybody's a friend here, it's me," Charles interrupted, staring at Jackson expectantly.

"You're not meeting him either," the man replied.

"Dude, what happened to 'Mercy West forever'?"

Jackson frowned. "That was never a thing. Now, leave."

The residents groaned and shot dirty glances in Jackson's direction before leaving the lounge. Once they were gone, he propped down onto a chair wit a sigh, looking at Billie.

"I get it," she said, her eyes on the chart she updated.

"Yeah." Jackson nodded. "I hate it. I hate it when they know I'm related to him. The way they treat me, the way they watch me as soon as they find out. And I know the name has... helped, but he is not easy. Brilliant, but really not easy to be related to."

Billie smiled. "I get it, really."

"How do you do it?" Jackson then asked.

"Well, I don't," she replied. "Not many people know I'm related to them."

"Right." He nodded in realization. "Billie Black."

She let out a soft chuckle. Just then, Jackson's pager went off. Once he checked it, he immediately jumped to his feet.

"It's him. 911."

Both Billie and Jackson bolted out of the lounge.

☆

"What is it? You paged?" Jackson asked worriedly as him and Billie burst into Harper's ICU room.

However, the room was empty, save for the man himself, who was calmly laying on his bed skimming through a magazine. Billie eyed the monitor with a frown, but his vitals were intact.

"We never got a chance to finish our talk from this morning," Harper said.

"Our talk? What, are you kidding me?"

"You brought Dr. Black, that's good, actually. I still had my two questions left," he continued once his eyes fell on Billie behind Jackson. "Answer me this time, Dr. Black. If a spot was being held for you to study at the greatest hospital in this country, would you turn it down?"

"A... spot?"

"Yeah, he saved a spot for me at Mass Gen ever since I graduated," Jackson suddenly interrupted, annoyed. "Which is the only reason he came to visit, to try to convince me to take it. Again."

"It's an incredible opportunity," Harper said.

"An opportunity I don't want! I don't wanna work for you, I don't want your help, I don't—" Jackson cut himself off. "Look, it's enough."

"No!" the man suddenly yelled. "I decide when I've said enough. You think I am arrogant and overbearing, and you've made that very clear. Maybe I am. But I am also your only living grandfather, and it has become very clear to me today that my time is coming. I do— I can't—"

Harper lost consciousness at the same time that the monitor went off.

"Grandpa?" Jackson frowned. "Grandpa!"

"V-tach!" Billie announced.

"No pulse. No pulse here! Get a crash cart in here now!"

☆

"Your CT shows that there's been a complication," Derek explained to Harper once Billie and Jackson managed to save him. "Dr. Webber will take you back into the OR and fix it right away."

"Fine," he said weakly, "but you're not putting me out. Clearly, a mistake was made. I'm not letting that happen again."

"That's not gonna happen this time," Derek declined. "You're in my hospital today. You will abide by my rules. That means you go under general. Your grandson will be sitting in the waiting room as family. If you refuse, then I will personally declare you unfit to make decisions regarding your own care."

There was a pause. Harper seemed to be scared to talk.

"That is how a Chief does things," Derek said, turning on his heel to leave. "Take note."

He left, Webber behind him. Then, Jackson left too. The room was empty save for Harper and Billie, who'd stayed behind.

"Sir," she called. "What was the second question?"

"Oh, yes." The man swallowed thickly. "Dr. Black, are you dating my grandson?"

Billie suddenly froze. 

"Don't think I haven't noticed the way he talks to you. If you aren't dating, then he really cares for you," he explained.

"I am dating your grandson, sir," she revealed, her throat far too dry.

"Well, then, as his girlfriend..." Harper continued, "you could convince him to take up on my offer."

Billie slowly understood. "Sir, I—"

"This is an incredible opportunity for Jackie," he explained. "He's been refusing me ever since he graduated from college, but I think this will be good for him."

"Sir, with all due respect, I disagree," Billie said, earning a frown in response. "You are a renowned high class surgeon. There's not a single doctor who won't recognize you just by saying your name. Jackson, he... he just wants a fresh start. A clean slate. He wants to be Jackson Avery, not your grandson. He wants to work in a hospital he earned his place at, not one where he can only get in if someone pulls some strings for him."

There was a moment of silence.

"You should rethink it," Billie said carefully. "And I'll see you in surgery."

☆

Billie did, in fact, scrub in for Harper's second surgery, alongside Webber and, this time, Bailey.

"His bowels are all swollen and hardened, the anastomosis is leaking," the latter claimed.

"Which explains why he went into shock," Webber finished.

"All in all, I'd say this is about the best news we could've asked for, Dr. Webber." Bailey smiled.

"I don't understand." Billie frowned. "His bowels are perforated, he's leaking intestinal contents. How is that a good thing?"

"Because Dr. Avery was allergic to the chromic suture. He didn't know because he was always wearing gloves in his own surgeries," Webber explained.

"Oh. And you couldn't have known either."

The man nodded. "Which is why I'm smiling behind this mask."

☆

"Hey," Billie called to Jackson, who sat in the waiting room.

As soon as he heard her voice, he immediately jumped up nervously.

"So he's fine. It was an allergy caused by the suture," she explained briefly.

"It was his fault then," Jackson reasoned. "Wow. That's awesome. Why don't they publish that story?"

"Yeah. I know, I get it. The famous grandfather, the legacy he's tryna force on you. You didn't ask for any of it. Trust me, I get it. You're putting up walls and you're avoiding him and you don't wanna introduce him to your friends or girlfriend. If people had known who my parents were, I'm sure it would've been the same," Billie explained sympathetically. "But if my father was here right now, in a room upstairs, I would wanna go see him and make things right with him. And I definitely would want to go learn from him. And you still can."

Billie could see it in Jackson's eyes as he pondered on her words. Having to go check on her patient, she turned around and intended to leave, but someone stood in front of her to stop her.

"Oh, sorry to hassle. I was told I'd find you her," he said. "Hi, Lizzie."

Billie froze on her step.