484-487

Chapter 484: The Real MVP of Showtime 

Nighttime at the Medical Center  

The little study session was back in action.  

“Huh? Just you tonight?” Adam asked, surprised to see only Christina there.  

“Yeah, Meredith didn’t feel like coming—she’s at the bar,” Christina said casually as she plopped down with her neatly organized notes. “George tagged along with her. Izzie’s swamped working under Dr. Montgomery—she’s basically a dog on a leash with no time to spare. As for Bianca and the others, well, that’s on you.”  

“Ahem,” Adam coughed lightly, giving her a chill grin. “The ones who wanna show up will. No point forcing the rest.”

Christina shot him a little smirk, like she was calling his bluff.  

So, why wasn’t Bianca here? Simple—she and Adam were in a bit of a tiff. It all started recently: Adam’s been juggling helping Kate with her case while also playing baby-prep assistant to Peggy, getting ready for their “first kid.” That meant Bianca’s usual slot on his schedule got squeezed down to almost nothing.  

Sure, Adam’s stamina could rival Naruto’s, but he doesn’t have some Reverse Harem Jutsu to split himself into a dozen clones. One’s in New Jersey, the other’s in New York—doesn’t matter how tough he is if he’s not even in the same zip code. Over time, even though Bianca knew the deal going in, she couldn’t help but throw a mini tantrum.  

Adam, being the stand-up guy he is, didn’t pull any fake sweet-talk to smooth it over. He left it all up to her—her call.  

Emmm… This definitely isn’t some “don’t reject, don’t initiate, don’t take responsibility” move! Nope, not at all!  

Tonight’s study session was just Adam and Christina—smallest stove crew yet.  

After wrapping up…  

“No date with Dr. Burke tonight?” Adam asked as he finished calming Alice Grey down and gave the nurses some instructions. He fell into step with Christina as they headed out.  

“He asked,” Christina shrugged. “But I blew him off. Dating’s cool and all, but shadowing Alice Grey? That’s the real deal.”  

“You’re killing it,” Adam said, flashing a thumbs-up. “You’re gonna be one hell of a surgeon someday.”  

For someone without a cheat code or golden ticket, Christina’s got the perfect combo: talent and relentless hustle. Barring any wild curveballs, she’s got success in the bag. Maybe not Alice Grey’s legendary status—that takes more than grit; it’s like winning the cosmic lottery—but hitting Dr. Burke’s level of “famous doc” or even Chief of Surgery Richard’s “big shot” tier? Totally doable.  

“Just good?” Christina rolled her eyes at him. “You mocking me? My goal’s always been Alice Grey.”  

“Nah, you know I didn’t mean it like that,” Adam laughed.  

She gave him a quick look and nodded. “Good. Yeah, there’s a gap between us, but I’m always chasing it. I don’t do surrender.”  

“I bet your dates with Burke are a riot,” Adam teased.  

“More like a nightmare,” she groaned. “He doesn’t get me at all. He’s never even seen me outside the hospital…”  

“Oh, really?” Adam grinned, leaning into it.  

“Naked doesn’t count,” she added quick, then kept ranting. “He’s like some relic from the ‘50s or ‘60s—sleeps with a woman and suddenly he’s ready to slap a ring on it without even asking if we’re game! I hate talking personal stuff, but now he’s all curious about my life. It’s driving me nuts! I wish he’d be more like you.”  

“Hmm?” Adam’s eyes slid over to her, suspicious.  

“It’s a compliment!” Christina threw her hands up. “Aren’t you that guy? You and your lady friends seem to get along just fine.”  

“True,” Adam nodded, owning it.  

She wasn’t wrong!  

“Seriously, why bother with some fancy dinner date?” Christina griped. “We’ve got a better spot right here—crash Alice Grey’s open lectures together. Learn some cutting-edge stuff and have a blast. What’s not to love? He’s into it too, but nope—too stuck-up with his ‘attending surgeon’ and ‘thoracic surgery bigwig’ ego to show up!”  

“You could push a little harder,” Adam said, eyes lighting up as he egged her on. “That’d be a fun date.”  

“Right?” Christina perked up. “You get it too, huh?”  

“Totally,” Adam agreed. “All your time with Burke’s been in the hospital. He’s into the version of you he sees there—outside life doesn’t even matter.”  

“Thanks,” she said, her face screaming finally, someone gets me.  

“Heh,” Adam chuckled.  

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Truth is, Adam’s got an angle here: he’s trying to rope Burke in as extra muscle. During work hours, Burke’s teaching moments are all in the OR—short bursts, hit-or-miss timing. But if Burke joined the study crew? Adam could go full throttle, picking his brain for hours.  

Burke might not be Alice Grey’s legend-tier, but he’s still a name-brand doc with some unique tricks up his sleeve. Plus, he’s always in the OR, always leveling up. For Adam, that’s gold. Normally, dragging an attending like Burke into something like this would be a pipe dream—guy’s got a life after clocking out. But seeing how clueless Burke is with romance?  

Using Christina as bait could totally work. And the best part? She’s on the same page—same goals, same payoff. Tsk! That’s why, out of all the docs he works with, Christina’s the one he vibes with most as a friend.  

The Next Day 

Bright and Early  

New day, fresh start.  

Meredith was slumped on a bench outside the building, nursing a hangover with a coffee in hand. Christina was chatting her up.  

“Every time I kick them out, they look so sad,” Meredith said with a laugh. “Seriously, why don’t these guys get it? Taking them home from the bar doesn’t mean it’s real.”  

“Easy,” Adam chimed in, strolling over after catching her line from a distance. “Usually, it’s guys saying that! When it’s you, they’re just thrown off—not actually heartbroken.”  

“Well, you guys better get used to it,” Meredith grinned. “More and more women are gonna start treating you like that.”  

“Let’s hope not,” Adam said, his mouth twitching into a half-smirk.  

“Meredith,” a random guy interrupted, walking up to her. “You work here?”  

“Steve, what are you doing here?” Meredith’s face darkened.  

This was her bar hookup from last night—the “tool” she’d just booted out. She had a sneaking suspicion he’d followed her.  

“I’ve got a little problem…” Steve hesitated.  

“What kind of problem?” Christina asked, instantly switching from bestie mode to doctor mode, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.  

“Well, actually, it’s a big problem,” Steve said. He dropped the jacket he’d been holding in front of himself, revealing said issue.  

“Pfft!” Adam nearly lost it, choking back a laugh so hard he almost hurt himself.  

From now on, if anyone asks who the real showstopper at the medical center is? Adam’s got one answer: Meredith Grey!  

Chapter 485: "Oh, This? Now I’m Pumped!" 

Medical Center 

Outside the building…  

Meredith’s latest hookup, Steven, decided to show off his… issue to Adam and the crew of doctors.  

Adam nearly lost it trying not to laugh.  

Before, he’d pegged Meredith as just a seasoned pro—y’know, the type with a 100% pants-dropping superpower when drunk. But now? Oh, he’d underestimated her. She wasn’t just a pro; she was a legend—the queen of chaos herself!  

Cristina, meanwhile, had this creepy grin plastered on her face, staring like she’d hit the jackpot.  

Meredith, who’d been ogling Steven’s face up until now, finally clued in and glanced down at his… situation.  

And just like that, she was done.  

“I’m screwed!”  

That was the only thought thundering through her head.  

She’d just been dumped by Dr. Shepherd, and the “mistress gets ditched” drama was already the hottest gossip in the hospital. Everywhere she went, people pointed and snickered. And now this? She was officially persona non grata.  

“Cover it up,” Adam said, barely holding in his laughter. “This place is a revolving door—save the details for the exam room.”  

“Oh, right, right!”  

Steven fumbled, grabbing his jacket to shield himself. He’d only flashed everyone because he was freaking out. No sane guy would willingly air that kind of laundry in public.  

“Let’s head to the exam room,” Adam said, waving them along.  

“Yeah, let’s go!” Cristina tossed her coffee aside, her eyes practically sparkling with excitement.  

Of course, she didn’t forget to drag her shell-shocked bestie Meredith along. After all, Meredith was part of this mess—she’d need to weigh in on the “condition”!  

Erm… Not that this was about gawking or anything. Nope, totally legit patient-care protocol. 😏  

“C’mon, move it,” Cristina said, slinging an arm around Meredith. “Let’s get him checked out while it’s quiet. If it’s no big deal, we send him packing—smartest play here.”  

“But what if we can’t fix it?” Meredith whined, her face a picture of misery.  

“With Adam around? We’re golden,” Cristina said confidently. “As long as he’s cool keeping it on the down-low for you.”  

“Right!” Meredith perked up, snapping out of her daze. She bolted after Adam, grabbing his arm. “Please, help him—and keep it quiet!”  

“I’ll do my best,” Adam said with a noncommittal shrug. “But if it’s serious, it’s gotta go up the chain. Full protocol.”  

Meredith wasn’t thrilled, but she knew Adam was a stickler for the rules. Resigned, she just prayed Steven’s problem was minor.  

Too bad life loves a curveball—nine times out of ten, it doesn’t go your way.  

Emergency Department 

Exam Room  

Adam suited up—white coat, gloves, all business—and after a thorough check, he turned to a fidgeting Steven. “You been taking any meds?”  

“Meds?” Steven blinked, caught off guard.  

“Meds?!” Meredith blurted. “No way!”  

Steven was still processing, but Adam and Cristina exchanged loaded smirks.  

Why was Meredith so sure? Oh, the pro was throwing shade at his… performance.  

“Y’know, stuff for erectile dysfunction,” Adam clarified. “What you’ve got going on? It’s called priapism—usually happens from overdoing those kinds of drugs.”  

“No! I swear, I haven’t taken anything!” Steven protested, glancing at a now-suspicious Meredith. “Everything between us was totally natural!”  

“Alright, since there’s no proof you’re lying, we’ll take your word for it,” Adam said, all serious-like. “But that means we’ve gotta dig deeper—tests, treatments, the works. It’s gonna be rough, uncomfortable, maybe even make you wish you didn’t have… well, that. So, you sure you don’t wanna rethink your story?”  

“Steven, you have to be honest,” Meredith pleaded, voice tight. “Dr. Duncan’s not kidding—those tests and treatments? They’re brutal…”  

She rattled off a few unmentionable details.  

Steven’s tan face went ghost-white, and he instinctively hunched over.  

“Taking meds isn’t a big deal…” Meredith muttered, practically begging him to fess up.  

If he had, they’d have a clear cause. Easy fix, no circus.  

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The story might just stay in their little circle if she played it tough—her friends wouldn’t blab.  

“You’ve gotta tell us the truth so we can fix this fast and stop the pain,” she pressed.  

“I didn’t take anything,” Steven croaked, pale and shaky. “If I had, I’d say so!”  

“Sorry, Meredith,” Adam said with an apologetic grin. “Looks like Steven’s checking in. He’s probably not lying. Meredith, grab some sedative, draw some blood—we’re rolling out the full test lineup.”  

“Me?!” Meredith yelped.  

“Either you or Cristina—your call,” Adam said, smirking. “I’ve got stuff to do.”  

Basic tests? A decent nurse could handle those. No way Adam was sticking around for grunt work that ate up hours—not unless he was the attending on this case.  

Plus, if this kept up, Steven couldn’t stay… inflated forever. Too long, and it’d turn into ED, thrombosis, or worse—necrosis. Next stop: involuntary kung-fu monk status.  

Sure, it’s all “zero times or a million” in theory, but no guy’s signing up for that step willingly.  

So, odds were they’d need to physically intervene—shrink those blood vessels.  

AKA: someone’s doing an enema.  

If that flopped, it’d escalate to needle aspiration.  

Whether Meredith handled it or begged Cristina to step in, Adam knew one thing: he wasn’t touching it.  

“I’ve got stuff too,” Cristina chimed in, bolting after Adam.  

Watching the drama? Fun. Treating her bestie’s hookup like this? Hard pass. Even a pro like her had limits.  

Meredith opened her mouth to protest, but they were already gone. She was stuck, awkwardly running tests with the guy she’d kicked out of her place that morning.  

One Hour Later  

“Adam!”  

Meredith sidled up to him.  

“How’d it go?” Adam asked, finishing up with a nurse before turning to her with a grin.  

“Steven’s tests came back normal. Cristina helped with the enema—didn’t work. Then we did needle aspiration, and it finally… calmed him down,” Meredith whispered.  

“That’s great,” Adam said, nodding. “So, what’s the problem?”  

“We don’t know,” she said, flustered. “It just happened again! Adam, come take a look?”  

“Again?” Adam’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s neurological then—maybe a tumor. Let’s go check it out.”  

Oh, this? Now he was pumped.  

Tumor surgeries? Never small potatoes.  

Chapter 486: High-Energy Alert 

Medical Center, Ward Room  

“Dr. Bailey?”  

Adam had been dragged over by Meredith, and the second he opened the door, he was met with a face sporting a chilly smirk.  

Christina shot him a helpless look. 😬  

“You’re surprised I’m here?” Dr. Bailey said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Unless I’m remembering wrong, you’re one of my interns. Every move you make in this hospital needs my approval. Or do you think you can sneak around behind my back again?”  

“Sorry,” Meredith jumped in quick. “Dr. Bailey, this is my friend. His condition’s a little… unique, so we thought—”  

“You thought?” Bailey cut her off sharp. “This is a hospital. I don’t care what you think—I care what I think! And what I think is simple: you follow orders, stick to the rules, and learn how to be a proper surgeon. Is that so hard for you?”  

“Not hard at all,” Christina piped up fast, eager to stay out of the crossfire.  

She wasn’t about to get lumped in with Meredith on this one. If Meredith weren’t her bestie, she’d have thrown in a “It’s just her, not me—I told her not to do it” for good measure.  

“Not hard?” Bailey snorted. “So you’re just deliberately trying to piss me off then?”  

“…” Christina and Meredith were speechless.  

Adam, meanwhile, kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart—total Zen mode. He wasn’t one of Bailey’s interns, and he wasn’t your average newbie either. But if he dared open his mouth, Bailey’s wrath would hit him like a carpet bomb. So, he stayed out of it.  

Too bad the universe doesn’t care about your plans.  

“And what’s your deal?” Bailey asked, glaring at her two star interns for a bit before turning her still-simmering fury on Adam, who’d been trying to play invisible.  

“Meredith asked me to check out the case,” Adam said with an innocent grin.  

“Ha!” Bailey scoffed. “We all know you’re hot stuff, but no matter how good you are, you’re still an intern. Consults like this—are you even allowed to handle those?”  

“Nope,” Adam nodded honestly. “That’s why I’m just taking a look. If something’s off, I’ll report it right away.”  

It sounded blunt, but it was the truth. Adam’s skills were top-notch and still climbing fast. Still, as an intern, he couldn’t officially see patients without a senior doc’s green light. That’s why he’d shot down Meredith’s plea to secretly take on Steve’s case from the start.  

“Hmph!” Bailey pursed her lips. She was actually cool with Adam’s attitude—he wasn’t her problem, and a quick nudge was enough. Then she zeroed back in on Meredith.  

“Your friend here—all his tests came back normal. Enemas, needle aspiration, nothing’s worked. It’s probably neurological.”  

“That’s what we thought too, so I got Adam—” Meredith started.  

“You should’ve gone to Duncan!” Bailey interrupted. “Neurological issue means you call in a neuro expert, not Adam! Drag this out any longer, and that thing might actually die off.”  

“Ah!” Steve, who’d been lying in bed watching the drama unfold like a flagpole, let out a panicked yelp.  

“Relax, I’ve already called for a consult,” Bailey said, calming him down.  

“A consult?!” Meredith’s voice shot up ninety degrees. “You called neurosurgery?!”  

Adam felt that uncontrollable urge to laugh again, just like when he first saw Steve. Holding it in was torture—he was dying over here. How does something this ridiculous even happen? Meredith, you’re the queen of chaos!  

“Hey! It’s not my fault!” Bailey snapped, totally getting why Meredith was freaking out but not about to let it slide. She planted a hand on her hip. “You’re the one who broke this guy’s little buddy.”  

“…” Meredith clammed up, mortified beyond words.  

Christina ducked her head low—real low, practically smushing her face into her chest—to hide the laugh she couldn’t hold back.  

Adam wanted to play fair and say something like, “There’s tissue damage, sure, but it’s not broken—no need to exaggerate…” Then he remembered Meredith’s morning rant about how guys shouldn’t expect feelings from a bar hookup.  

Yeah, fair. A woman takes a guy home from the bar, and he thinks she’s catching feelings? Nah, she’s just using him like a workhorse. In Adam’s past life, there were plenty of classic lines for scenes like this. Anyone in the know gets it.  

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Thinking about it, Meredith kicking Steve out first thing was practically a mercy. At least he walked into the hospital on his own two feet instead of hobbling in, clinging to the wall. Emmm… Meredith’s not the type to drain the pond dry—she’s got some decency!  

“Good morning, everyone!” A chipper voice rang out just as Meredith was drowning in shame and Adam and co. were snickering under their breath. Footsteps followed the greeting.  

Bailey’s neuro consult had arrived. And who else could it be but Dr. Shepherd, the neurosurgery chief himself?  

Meredith, facing away from the door, squeezed her eyes shut. Her body swayed like she might collapse. The final blow had landed.  

“So, what’s the situation?” Shepherd asked, nodding at everyone with a grin.  

He was in great spirits. Last night, he and his girlfriend Meredith had officially called it quits. Well, ex-girlfriend now—she’d come to her senses, and they’d parted on friendly terms. He knew she didn’t blame him.  

Blame fate’s twisted sense of humor instead.  

With that weight off his shoulders, he’d gone home and, for the first time in months, rekindled things with his wife—they’d nearly divorced over the drama. Barney’s got a saying: “A little time apart beats a fresh honeymoon.” It’s up there with breakup sex, makeup sex, all that urban legend stuff.  

Shepherd couldn’t not be glowing today. Everyone got a smile.  

Bailey glanced at Meredith, signaling her to explain.  

“Here’s the deal…” Christina stepped up—bestie to the rescue. She might’ve been laughing, but with Meredith about to faint, she took over and ran through the case.  

“Hmm,” Shepherd nodded, not overthinking it. He stepped to the bed, lifted the sheet covering Steve, and took a peek.  

“When did this start?”  

“Last night after I, uh, finished, and it was still like this when I woke up,” Steve said, oblivious to Shepherd’s history with Meredith, answering naturally.  

“Dr. Shepherd, if I’m not needed here, I’ve got stuff to do,” Bailey said, clearly done with the soap opera about to unfold.  

“Sure,” Shepherd nodded, turning back to Steve. “When was your last, uh, finish?”  

Adam smirked with a playful glint. Christina’s sideways glance at her bestie was pure meme material.  

Meredith wasn’t even registering Adam or Christina—her face screamed “kill me now,” silently begging for this nightmare to end.  

But the more you dread something, the faster it comes.  

“I don’t remember,” Steve said after a pause. No answer came to mind, so he turned to Meredith casually. “Meredith?”  

Her eyes slammed shut in agony.  

Shepherd froze mid-note, pen hovering. He looked up at Meredith, disbelief wiping out his day-long high in an instant.  

Chapter 487: "One Slice to Cut Through the Drama" 

Medical Center 

Inside the Ward  

“I… uh, Dr. Bailey gave me some stuff to do…”  

Cristina couldn’t even look anymore. She mumbled an excuse and bolted for the door, shooting Adam a “let’s bounce” glance.  

But then she regretted it instantly.  

Because Adam? He just stood there, cool as a cucumber, totally ignoring her signal with a smug little smile. It was blinding.  

Oh no!  

I messed up!  

Cristina felt like she’d been zapped by a lightning combo—five hits, full body jolt. But she’d already opened her mouth, and her feet were halfway out the door. No turning back now. She threw Adam a bitter “you’re a dirty fighter” glare and sulked off.  

Feelings really do screw you over! If Meredith weren’t tangled up in this, Cristina would’ve stayed and fought tooth and nail for that surgery. She’d already done Steven’s enema and needle aspiration—she had the edge!  

Adam watched her exit stage left, then turned back to the awkward-as-hell vibes in the room.  

A juicy surgery and prime gossip? No way he was bailing just to spare Meredith’s feelings. Plus, she probably didn’t want to face her “dream guy” solo in this mess anyway.  

What’s that? She broke up with her dream guy last night for good? She’s free to do whatever, no judgment?  

Oh, please.  

If it was a hate-filled breakup, maybe. But a peaceful split? When you leave things too open-ended, the spark doesn’t fizzle out that fast. Plenty of folks rekindle the flame after a “friendly” goodbye.  

Meredith and Dr. Shepherd? They definitely still had feelings lurking. That’s why this was so damn awkward.  

“Meredith,” Steven said, the only one clueless about the tension. He was still… standing at attention. When she didn’t respond, he tried again. “So, when are we…”  

He trailed off, all considerate-like, tilting his head with a “you know what I mean” look.  

“Yeah, Meredith,” Dr. Shepherd chimed in, snapping out of his shock. His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “When did you two…”  

He couldn’t finish either.  

This was his ex, after all. The ex he’d officially split with last night—the one he’d loved deeply.  

Well, damn!  

She’d said “see ya” to him, and now she’d gone and… broken some guy?  

Should I thank you for not breaking me instead?  

“Dr. Duncan, here’s Mr. Warden’s CT scan,” a nurse interrupted, handing over the films and slicing through the thick air.  

“Dr. Shepherd, the CT shows a tumor at the lower spine, pressing on the nerves causing the priapism,” Adam said, glancing at the scan and dropping his verdict like it was no big deal.  

“Tumor?” Steven blinked, still lost in the vibe. “Wait, should I be scared? Yeah, I should totally be scared right now!”  

He grabbed Meredith’s hand on instinct.  

“…”  

Dr. Shepherd’s eye twitched. Forcing himself to look away from the blinding scene, he snatched the CT from Adam and gave it a dramatic shake.  

Crinkle.  

Crinkle.  

The film whimpered in his grip. He held it up to the light, face blank. “Yup, tumor alright. But a quick surgery’ll take it out—no biggie.”  

“Right,” Meredith said, awkwardly trying to pull her hand free. “Dr. Shepherd’ll set you up for surgery. Once it’s gone, you’re good as new.”  

“Yeah, cut it out clean, and everything’s back to normal,” Shepherd said, locking eyes with Meredith. He mimicked her “solemn goodbye” stare from last night—loaded with meaning.  

“Adam, can you take this one?” Meredith’s voice cracked as she turned to him.  

Last night, she’d dumped Shepherd, full of self-righteous “I’m cutting ties” pride. No real sadness back then. But now, with her dream guy throwing it back in her face? She was drowning in bitterness and hurt.  

“Sure thing,” Adam said with a nod.  

He’d stuck around through this trainwreck for the surgery—why wouldn’t he jump at it?  

“Steven, Dr. Shepherd and Dr. Duncan’ll take care of you. I… I’ve got stuff to do…” Meredith forced a smile at Steven and bolted.  

“Normal as in normal normal?” Steven asked, panicking a little.  

“Yup,” Adam said, grinning. “Urology’ll chat with you after, but yeah—normal normal.”  

“Phew, good,” Steven sighed, then frowned toward the door. “What’s up with Meredith?”  

“She’s got stuff,” Adam covered for her.  

“Oh,” Steven said, disappointed. “I was hoping she’d call my mom for me.”  

“How long have you two been dating?”  

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Dr. Shepherd’s face darkened. He could feel the green creeping in—from a desert wisp to a full-on prairie.  

“We met last night at Joe’s,” Steven said, a goofy smile spreading across his face.  

Adam knew that smile. It was the same one Leonard had when his professor asked, “What makes me worthy of marrying a billionaire?” and he’d shot back, “Yup, I’m just that good.”  

Erm… More like Leonard’s “I’ll take one for the team” grin before a fight—early rounds only. The later rounds? All Dr. Shepherd’s current scowl.  

“Joe’s bar?” Shepherd forced a smile. “I met a girl there once too… long time ago, though. Duncan, you handle Warden’s pre-op.”  

“Yes, Dr. Shepherd,” Adam said, keeping his face neutral.  

A smile right now? Bad move. Trouble bait.  

After Shepherd stormed off—  

“Why’s everyone acting so weird?” Steven finally clocked it.  

“Doctors, y’know,” Adam said with a light shrug.  

Operating Room  

“Duncan, wanna take the lead on this one?” Shepherd asked out of nowhere while scrubbing in.  

Adam blinked, then jumped. “Yes!”  

“You confident?” Shepherd pressed.  

“Absolutely,” Adam said, steady as a rock.  

“Good. You’re primary on this,” Shepherd said. He fired off a few surgery questions, and Adam nailed every one. No wonder they say he’s attending-level, Shepherd thought, nodding.  

“Thanks!” Adam said, quick and grateful.  

“You earned it with your skills. Still—think about neurosurgery, yeah?” Shepherd said with a small smile, heading into the OR.  

“Heh, I will,” Adam said, playing along.  

Then it clicked. Why was Shepherd being so generous?  

Steven, the guy on the table, was basically Shepherd’s rival. The surgery? Remove a spinal tumor without nicking the priapism nerves. One slip, and Steven’s out of the game—permanently celibate.  

Even a pro like Shepherd couldn’t be 100% chill about that. What if, mid-cut, he flashed back to this whole mess starting with that guy? One emotional twitch, one wrong move?  

Satisfying, sure—but not a consequence he’d wanna live with.  

With any other intern, Shepherd would’ve taken it himself. But Adam? He knew Adam could handle it.  

Better to toss him the reins—and a favor—than risk a slip-up over buried feelings.  

(End of Chapter)