CODING ━ grey's anatomy

chapter twenty five

"She's not unstable," George shook his head.

"Have you been to Joe's recently?" Alex asked as if it were obvious. "She practically lives there."

"It's Izzie's fault," Cristina said. "It's her first day back tomorrow."

"Should we be worried?" George asked.

"She's fine," Meredith and Cristina said in unison, sharing a look that showed they both knew she definitely was not fine.

Alex watched as they continued to fight. "She's totally unstable."

A few feet away, Mark glared at the intern. "Hey, Karev!"

"Dr. Sloan," Alex greeted nervously. "What can I do for you?"

"You ever say anything like that again, and I'll make sure you don't see the inside of an OR for months," Mark threatened lowly. "Understood?"

Alex gulped. "Understood."

Back in the Chief's office, Cassie was pacing across the floor. "What do you expect me to do, just work around her like nothing ever happened?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I expect," Richard said sternly. "You are a surgeon. Good surgeons put their personal issues aside and focus on their patient no matter what. And you are a good surgeon, Harper."

Cassie paused. "I don't know if I can do that."

"Izzie is an intern. She made a bad choice, and she lost the man she loves and a close friend because of it. She messed up, but that's what interns do. And there's no doubt in my mind that one day, you'll mess up too." He took a deep breath. "I'm not saying that you have to forgive her. I'm saying, that if you're not able to do your job with her around, we will need to have a longer discussion about your future at this hospital."

Cassie took a long look at him.

"If I were you, I would contact your lawyer."

She stormed out of the office.

☆

"Isobel."

The blonde's head snapped over to her bedroom door, where Cassie was standing in the frame with a blank look on her face.

"Cassie!" Izzie said in alarm, standing up from her place on the bed. "I—"

"Shut up."

"Okay."

Cassie waltzed into the room nonchalantly, observing the decor and leaning against the dresser. Izzie watched nervously, scared for what she would do.

"You're coming back to work."

"I, um, yes. I am."

Cassie nodded slowly, bringing her piercing gaze back to Izzie's eyes. "I was going to sue the hospital for negligence, and sue you for malpractice. Or murder. I didn't decide."

Izzie gasped. "You can't do that, Cassie, the hospital will lose it's transplant accreditation and—"

"Shut up," she repeated. "I said was. Past tense. God, can't you listen?"