dical Center
Ring ring!
The phone chid, and Adam picked up with a grin. "So, how's the gift? Spencer like it? He does? Aweso…"
After chatting with his little sister Teddy for a bit, Adam hung up. It was just an engagent for now. They were all the way over in LA on the West Coast, and since Adam wasn't big on flying, he didn't make a special trip to celebrate. Sa deal with Mom and Dad—they'd save the big fuss for the wedding.
This wasn't so fancy Channing family affair, after all, where every little thing called for hero invites and a huge blowout.
"Dr. Duncan, what's got you so chipper?" Lexie asked, trailing behind him.
It was already night, and the Fab Four had regrouped.
"My little sister got engaged," Adam said, smiling. "She's gonna be real happy."
"Congrats!" Lexie chirped.
"Thanks," Adam replied, glancing at her. "Hey, why don't you head out early tonight and set up that apartnt of yours?"
"What?!" Lexie yelped. "How'd you know?!"
"You're not exactly subtle," Adam teased. "Did you really think you were pulling it off under the radar?"
"Sorry, Dr. Duncan," Lexie mumbled, her face turning beet red. "I just didn't wanna live with my parents anymore. I found an apartnt, but I'm broke, so it's a total dump. It needs stuff to spruce it up. I'm not a thief, I swear…"
"Alright, just don't do it again," Adam said, waving it off. He was in a good mood. "But seriously—a star Harvard d grad like you, sneaking around the hospital, swiping bedpans and urinals, stuffing bags with nursing pads? How exactly are you planning to decorate with those?"
"The nursing pads can be placemats," Lexie said, perking up now that he knew everything. "Bedpans can hold fruit, urinals can store water, and the rags can cover the ratty old sofa. They're all good stuff! That painting in the hall, the flowerpot a patient gave us—perfect apartnt vibes!"
"…" Adam's mouth twitched. "You invite anyone over to see it yet?"
"Not yet," Lexie said, her eyes lighting up. "Dr. Duncan, wanna be my first guest?"
"Sorry, I've got stuff to do," Adam shot back, no hesitation.
Kidding ? Sitting on a rag-draped sofa was one thing. But eating off a pee-soaked nursing pad "placemat," munching fruit from a bedpan, and sipping water from a plastic urinal? Nope, hard pass.
"Oh," Lexie's face fell.
"You could ask Carter and the gang to swing by and liven it up," Adam suggested kindly. "You're all colleagues—hang out more, get to know each other, grow together."
"Yeah," Lexie said, brightening a little, though she clearly wasn't thrilled. "Maybe they could help squash so roaches while they're at it."
"Roaches?" Adam grimaced.
"Yup," Lexie said with a bitter laugh. "It's an old place. Roaches everywhere. Can't get rid of 'em."
"Wow, you're really broke," Adam said, giving her a pitying look.
He could get skimping on decor with weird hospital hacks to save cash. But a pretty, put-together girl like her living in a roach-infested dump? That took guts—and a serious lack of funds.
How broke do you have to be?! 😬
"No choice," Lexie said, shrugging. "d school left drowning in debt. My mom's no Ellis Grey—just a housewife. My dad's a regular guy, doesn't rake in much."
Her half-sister redith, on the other hand, rolled into her internship with a big apartnt from their mom. Now, with Ellis Grey sick, all the assets went to redith—she had it made. anwhile, Lexie's striking out on her own ant roach motels and hospital hand--downs for furniture. Sa family, worlds apart.
"Don't worry," Adam reassured her. "Work hard, and money won't be an issue."
"I know," Lexie nodded firmly.
Stick with Adam and put in the effort? Success—and cash—were a sure thing.
"Call the other three," Adam said, glancing at her. "Get them over here, pronto."
"Yes, sir!" Lexie snapped to it and darted off.
The Fab Four assembled quick.
"Got an extra assignnt for you tonight," Adam said, scanning the group with a grin. "Lexie's moving into her new place. As her colleagues, go celebrate with her—and use your surgical skills to wipe out every last roach in that apartnt. Biggest contributor gets bonus points! Any questions?"
"Nope!" the other three chid in.
It wasn't so humiliating busywork. Plus, bonus points and a chance to bond with Dr. Duncan? Shorty and Carter were all in. George, the warm-and-fuzzy bestie type, was even more hyped—practically vibrating.
"Dr. Duncan, isn't this a bit much…?" Lexie mumbled, embarrassed.
"Nah, it's fine," Adam said, laughing. "My dad's a pest-control wizard—pro-level stuff. We've got giant bug models all over the house. If my mom didn't put her foot down, he'd have turned our place into a bug museum. I'm pretty good at it too, and now's my chance to see which of you has the knack. In dicine, tons of weird cases co from household pests. Think of it as theory ets practice!"
That flipped a switch. Shorty, Carter, George—even Lexie, the one actually getting help—locked eyes, tension crackling.
Those bonus points? Mine.
Especially Carter! He'd snagged his spot with Adam over so random braised pig's feet fiasco. Hearing the Duncan family's bug legacy? He was all over it—no one was outshining him here!
"Dr. Duncan, if there's nothing else, we'll head out now," Carter said eagerly.
"Yeah! A girl living alone's got it rough—I wanna help Lexie zap those roaches ASAP. Not one left!" George added.
"No need," Lexie cut in. "With Dr. Duncan's pep talk, I just thought of a killer way to take 'em out myself."
"…"
The Fab Four started bickering.
"Alright, no overti tonight," Adam said, chuckling. "You're free to go. Check it out, co up with your own plans. Results matter, not trash talk."
"Dr. Grey, lead the way," Shorty said, cool as ever.
(End of Chapter)
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