The next day.
Medical Center.
Changing Room.
"Adam, hit me with some questions!"
As soon as Adam walked in, Cristina called out to him with a grin.
"Me too!"
Meredith and George chimed in eagerly.
"What are the symptoms of a central line infection?"
Adam smiled, slipping into his scrubs while tossing out a casual question.
With only two weeks left until the end of their intern year and the resident exam looming, all the interns were cramming hard. Whenever they had a spare moment, they'd quiz each other relentlessly.
Of course, when it came to Adam, he was the designated question-asker—and the one with all the right answers.
"Pus, redness, and a high fever!"
Cristina shot her hand up, practically shouting her answer.
"What's Conn's syndrome?"
Adam threw out another question, still smirking.
"Wait, I've got this!"
Meredith raised her hand, fumbling for the words, but someone beat her to it.
"Excess aldosterone secretion!"
Cristina jumped in again, then pumped her fist. "Come on, Adam, give me something harder! 😤"
"The resident exam tests an intern's competence, not how tough they can make it," Adam said with a chuckle, shaking his head. "Besides, for you, it's the basics you need to brush up on most."
"Are you saying my foundation's weak?"
Cristina huffed, clearly annoyed.
"Is it rock-solid?"
Adam gave her a teasing, smug smile. "What are we doing right now, then?"
"…"
Cristina clammed up, speechless.
Compared to Adam, nobody's foundation felt solid—not even hers. If she were as confident as he was, she wouldn't still be here reviewing and begging for questions. The exam was just too important, and deep down, she wasn't 100% sure of herself.
"George, did you do what I asked?"
Cristina pivoted, changing the subject.
Meredith perked up, shooting a sneaky grin their way.
"Shut up, Cristina!"
George snapped, his face flushing with embarrassment.
"What's wrong?"
Cristina blinked, genuinely confused. "I just told you to ask Callie for her study cards. Isn't she your girlfriend now? What's the big deal?"
George's current girlfriend, Callie—an ortho resident—had aced the resident exam with the highest score. Rumor had it she owned some legendary study cards. Cristina, always thinking ahead, had nudged George to snag them so they could all take a peek.
Her wording, though? Not exactly tactful. It basically turned George into a tool to butter up Callie. Same task, totally different vibe. And while George might be the group's "guy bestie," he still had some pride.
"I'm not that kind of person!"
George fumed. "And even if I did get them, I wouldn't show you!"
"Wait a sec!"
Cristina narrowed her eyes at him. "You're planning to keep them to yourself?"
"I…"
George glanced at Meredith, who was still smiling mischievously, and swallowed his next words. "I just wouldn't show you."
"What about Meredith, then?"
Cristina pressed.
"Of course I'd show Meredith!"
George answered without hesitation.
Sure, he was dating Callie now, but Meredith would always be his unattainable dream girl.
"Then we're good."
Cristina waved it off like it was no big deal.
Meredith was her bestie—she told her everything. A little thing like study cards wasn't a boyfriend. If Meredith had them, Cristina basically did too.
Adam finished changing and headed out of the room.
"Adam, ask me a few more questions!"
Cristina chased after him, pestering him again.
---
Dr. Bailey led the group on rounds.
Outside a patient's room, she stopped and turned to face them. "You've got two weeks until the exam, so your top priority for the next two weeks is to study as much as you can.
No matter how great a surgery is, don't fight over it!
Don't get cocky!"
She shot a pointed look at Cristina, who was tilting her head to avoid eye contact. "Trust me, even if you pull off some incredible surgery in the next two weeks, it's nothing compared to failing the exam and losing at least a year.
And picture this: if you fail, you'll be stuck shadowing your old colleagues—maybe even the newbies—taking orders from them.
Unless, of course, you're absolutely certain you'll pass."
At that, Bailey glanced at Adam.
"We get it, Dr. Bailey," George and Meredith said, their faces turning serious.
The thought of trailing behind their former peers was bad enough—even if it was someone like Adam giving orders, it'd still sting. But the real nightmare? Taking orders from Cristina. She was famously brutal—any mistake, and she'd chew you out in front of everyone without a second thought.
If that happened, as the saying goes: This place would be unbearable, and life wouldn't be worth living!
"Good."
Bailey gave a knowing smile. "I hope you mean it. The test starts now—don't forget what I said!"
With that, she pushed open the door and stepped inside.
And then—
Everyone's eyes lit up.
Two identical white men, dressed in matching patient gowns, were leaning against each other.
Emmm.
Literally leaning.
The backs of their gowns revealed a seamless connection—no gap in sight.
"Dr. Duncan, you're in charge," Bailey said after a quick check and a few words with the conjoined twins. Her gaze swept over the wide-eyed interns before landing on Adam, assigning him as the primary doctor.
"Yes, Dr. Bailey."
Adam smiled calmly.
"Dr. Bailey!"
Cristina couldn't hold back anymore and threw her hand up. "These are two patients. I think Dr. Duncan could use some help. I'd be happy to assist!"
"I knew all my warnings were for nothing," Bailey muttered, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Dr. Duncan, what do you think? Need help?"
"I'm fine either way," Adam said with a laugh.
"Alright, then."
Bailey nodded. "Dr. Yang, you've got your wish. This surgery's going to need plenty of hands anyway."
"Dr. Bailey, I—"
George and Meredith started to pipe up, unable to resist.
"Both of you, out with me," Bailey snapped, cutting them off with a glare. "There are tons of patients who need doctors. You're not expecting me to handle every single bed myself, are you?
Don't forget your place!
You're still interns!"
George and Meredith instantly backed down. They didn't have Adam's skills or Cristina's guts to push back.
That said, Bailey didn't actually bury them in work. She gave each of them one light patient assignment—something easy so they could focus on studying. Quietly, she took on the rest of the workload herself.
Back in the room, Adam and Cristina exchanged a look, both buzzing with excitement.
This was a rare adult conjoined twin separation surgery. 😮
(End of Chapter)