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Do no harm.
It’s the promise that doctors all across the world take upon themselves: do no harm. They are the ones who save lives, their genius, their medicinal knowledge save hundreds upon hundreds of lives everyday. They also end them.
A simple mistake such a misread chart or missing the elevator can be the line between life and death. Most of the time it’s out of their control even if it feels like it is all their fault. They were trusted to heal their patient and they only ended them quicker.
Dr (L/N) felt that more than anyone. She had made a mistake which cost a man his life. She had killed him and she had nobody to blame but herself.
She wasn’t even meant to be in that OR. Interns were rarely allowed into procedures like this. A man had misfired his staple gun directly into his brother’s chest, piercing the nerves. Dr Shepherd had asked her to find the last few staples that he couldn’t see. But she missed one. And now a man was dead.
“You couldn’t have known.” (L/N) turned to find Karev behind her, this time without his signature smirk or condescending gaze “It was easy done. Move on.”
“I should’ve known. It doesn’t matter about coulds and couldn’ts. I should’ve known and I didn’t. That what matters.”
“Even Shepherd missed it.”
She slammed her locker shut and swung her bag over her shoulder. “We took an oath. And I broke it today. I should’ve checked the vital organs. I should’ve seen it. He should’ve lived.”
Alex sighed as he watched her move towards the door, making no move to follow her. “You know for next time.”
“Why are you being nice to me? You’re never nice to me - or anyone.”
“I can stop?” He scoffed, pretending to be offended.
(Y/N) rolled her eyes, turning to face him once more. “No, it’s nice. This Alex is nice.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”