cvi. what if things were different
8.13

Atlas sat around a conference table, his hands interlocked on top of a stack of paper. He didn't smile when Ellis Grey, the chief of surgery at Seattle Grace opened the door and stepped through.

"I've been looking at Seattle Pres' numbers, and I think we can absorb them the way we did Mercy West." Ellis placed her folder on the table, shifting in her seat. "I want reports on where your departments can use extra residents and equipment."

Addison Montgomery - Shepherd leaned forward. "Congratulations on your third Harper Avery Award." The room clapped their hands in congratulations.

"Portal vein reconstruction, pretty soon they're gonna rename the whipple the Grey." Arizona Robbins spoke, she grinned at Ellis Grey.

Ellis laughed, "Thank you. Well, there's some press here today — fyi. Okay, let's go. Trauma."

Owen looked up. "Uh. Abdominal closure on an m.v.c, and we'll wait to see what comes in."

"Neuro?"

"I have a laminectomy." Derek pressed his lips into a line. He leaned back in his chair when he was done talking.

"Just one? You got a golf game?" The room chuckled at Ellis words. "You know what, people? I keep saying it. If you're not innovating, be generating. Cardio?"

Callie Torres looked up from where she had been sitting, her chin upwards as she displayed so much confidence. "Yang is doing a solo thoracic aortic aneurysm. Oh, uh, and also, I'll be checking in on my kid with the artificial king who is waiting for a transplant."

Arizona Robbins raised her hand slightly, gaining the attention of the room as she started to talk. "Yeah, can I just say for the record that he's my patient, and I don't agree with this method of treatment. The fda had not approved an artificial lung on children."

"Well, I got emergent approval. It buys the kid more time, it keeps him from being ventilated and sedated. I think it's worth exploring." Callie was quick to add, her voice strict as she sent a quick look towards Arizona who was trying to make her scrap the methods she was using.

"He should be sedated. Let his body heal. This is just too risky."

Ellis didn't even seem fazed as she looked towards Derek Shepherd. "Its innovative, Shepherd. That is what I'm talking about. Let's hope it works."

"Plastics?"

Atlas peaked up from where he had been sitting, drawing squiggles on a piece of paper. He flashed a smile, "A full facial transplant."

"Wonderful... and general?"

Derek Shepherd couldn't keep his eyes off of Atlas, a daydream haze glossed over his eyes.

╚═ ☆ ═╝

Eliza Oliver Lee-Sunny placed her stethoscope around her neck and turned around, the room was full of residents. Meredith Grey, Jackson Avery, Charles Percy, Alex Karev and a few other that hadn't been close to any of them.

"Hey," Eliza moved away from her cubby, taking a step towards Meredith and April. She swung her arm around April, placing a quick kiss to her cheek. "Hi, sweetheart."

April blushed wickedly, still getting used to the kisses and the hand holding and all the couple things she and Eliza did together. They were so cute, and one may think they were so icky because of how cute and lovey they were.

"Hi, Ellie." April snuggled her head against her shoulder. "Meredith was just telling me about last night, she and Alex got engaged last night!"

Eliza smiled widely and held her arms out so she could give Meredith a congratulations hug. "Woah! Yay, Meredith! That's amazing."

Meredith smiled back, happily moving into Eliza's open arms. They were good friends, no hidden feelings or anything between the two of them. "Thank you, Eliza."

"Of course." Eliza and the room quieted when two people stepped into the residents lounge.

Christina Yang stepped in first, and then Oliver Lee-Sunny stepped in behind her. They were two bad ass people who couldn't be bothered by the world. Many people saw them as cut throat and rude, but they were just trying to make it in the world.

Eliza waved at her brother, who was quick to show a sign of kindness as he waved back.

╚═ ☆ ═╝

Things had a way of working out, good or bad.

Atlas's best friends, Mandy Bailey and Karly King were great things in his life. They all had coffee on Wednesdays, the three of them knowing each other very well by this point in their lives.  But today wasn't Wednesday, and Mandy Bailey had just gotten fired, wanting nothing more than to go home and see her and Atlas's dog snacks.  Karly King was at home with her sick daughter.

Atlas sat alone in the bar, waiting for his husband to show up. He held a drink in hand, a alcohol infused slushie that Joe had so kindly made him.

The door jingled as it opened, and inside stepped Atlas's husband. He walked towards where Atlas was sitting, placing his hands on the bar as he moved into one of the chairs beside his husband.

"Hey," Atlas spoke, choosing not to look up from where he was playing with a shell from a peanut. "You're late."

"My plane was delayed, I'm sorry, love." He whispered, grabbing the drink Joe gave him with a smile.

"I had a talk with Addison today. Glad to know she can be honest when she's upset after a surgery." Atlas started, frowning as he looked up at his husband. "Derek Shepherd isn't the babies father, but you are, huh?"

Poor Atlas Lee-Sunny.

Or Atlas Sloan. Yes, Atlas had married Mark Sloan, happily getting married after many years of dating. Things had always been rocky between them, maybe it was because of the feelings Mark hadn't ever gotten over, or the fact that Mark didn't live with Atlas and choose to continue to work in Los Angeles.

"I — it was a one time thing. I was drunk and alone in LA and Addison was there for a patient." Mark attempted to explain himself, but it was a weak way of words.

"I don't really want to hear it, okay? Can we talk about it tomorrow?"

Mark nodded and got up and left, leaving Atlas alone with his cheery alcohol infused slushie.

"Looks like we both had unfaithful spouses." Derek said, waving his hand slowly at Atlas who looked up slowly.

"Looks like it, Der."

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ahh! i loved writing this chapter.
here's a few things i didn't write but would have happened!

— oliver and christina are such a great pair, two bad ass people.
— eliza and april ! <3
— mark and atlas ! </3
— owen and oliver would be great buddies, only since oliver wants to peruse trauma. oliver bandages owens hand after he hits the window.
— atlas would have been the only attending in the emergency room when 'lucy' or the non lexie, and would have to crack her chest.
— jackson has a moment where he tells alex that he had a crush on eliza at one point.
— no alex , no april cheating on mer and ellie.
— atlas and bailey are roommates, sharing a dog names snacks. when he learnt that she was fired he told her he would go and yell at ellis.
— derek offered to take atlas to his camper so they could get away from the world, but atlas denied saying he didn't want to be worse then his husband.