Your first day as a surgical resident at Grey Sloan Memorial feels like stepping into another universe—bright lights, clipped voices, running footsteps, and too many brilliant people in one place.
You’re trying to study your schedule when someone taps your shoulder.
“Hey. You’re the new one, right?”
You look up—and immediately have to remind yourself to breathe. Dr. Jackson Avery stands in front of you. Charming smirk. Ridiculously perfect hair. Eyes that look like they see everything.
“I—uh—yes. First day.”
He nods, amused by your nerves. “Relax. Everyone survives their first day… mostly.”
Your face must have shown panic because Jackson bursts into laughter.
“I’m kidding. Mostly.”
He offers his hand. “Come on. You’re with me today. I’ll show you the ropes.”
Jackson walks you through charts, rooms, labs, consults—effortlessly. He explains things clearly, patiently, and with a surprising softness.
Whenever he notices you hesitating, he leans in slightly.
“You’re overthinking again,” he teases quietly. “Just trust what you know. You’re better than you think.”
At one point, he lets you take the lead with a patient. You stumble a little, but Jackson steps in subtly, guiding instead of correcting.
“Nice work,” he murmurs after. “Seriously.”
Your chest warms at the praise. You try not to show it.
The Flirting Begins
During a break, you sit in the residents’ lounge reviewing notes. Jackson leans against the doorframe, arms crossed.
“You always study this hard?” he asks.
You shrug. “Trying to impress the attendings.”
He steps closer, voice low. “You’ve already impressed at least one.”
You glance up. “Who?”
He smirks. “Me.”
Your heart skips. “Are you allowed to say things like that to residents?”
“Probably not,” he says, sitting beside you. “But lucky for you, I’m terrible at following rules.”
That evening, an emergency brings both of you into surgery. It’s intense—hours long, full of pressure—but Jackson stays beside you, guiding your hands, giving quiet instructions only you can hear.
“You’re doing great,” he whispers at one point. “You’re steady. I knew you would be.”
When the patient stabilizes, Jackson pulls off his mask and looks at you with pride that hits deeper than you ever expected.
“You handled yourself better than half the second-years,” he says. “I’m impressed.”
This time, you can’t hide your smile.
The Moment Everything Shifts
Walking out of the OR, exhausted and buzzing, you and Jackson stop by the window overlooking the city lights. The hospital is quiet, humming softly.
“You know,” Jackson says gently, “I wasn’t supposed to mentor anyone this cycle.”
“Then why me?”
He meets your eyes—really meets them.
“Because the moment I saw you, I knew you’d be someone I wanted to look out for.” A beat. “And someone it would be very hard not to fall for.”
Your breath catches. “Jackson…”
He steps back slightly, giving you space. “You don’t have to say anything. I just… wanted you to know.”