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walks into one of the research labs, one brow raising as he sees the figure slumped over the table, snoring.

He is quiet as he walks over, carefully moving the coffee cup and piles of paper out of the way before leaning down to whisper into the persons ear.

"Doll, the robots have finally attacked."

"Gah!" Eleanora let out a small yell, waking up quickly with wide, terrified eyes. She looked around before her eyes fully concentrated on her, now cackling, husband, smacking at his arm. "Mark Sloan! Not funny."

"I think it was hilarious." Mark wheezed out, leaning on the table a bit. He wiped under his eyes before focusing on his pouting wife, tilting his head. "This is the second time you've fallen asleep in the lab this week, doll."

"I know, I know. I'm sorry." Eleanora gets out, standing up. She begins to gather all the paperwork, shaking her head. "It's just that Derek and Callie's project is taking a lot more energy than previously thought out, so they keep handing more stuff off to me."

"You know, I get that I'm still a Fellow and I have to do what they say, but when I was a resident and helped Derek with his Research Projects or Trials, I at least got to be involved in the fun, surgery parts. Now I'm just doing the surgeries he doesn't think are worth his time, which can get kind of boring."

"Well, it's your final year of learning, doll." Mark told her, helping her clean up. "He's probably trying to teach one last lesson or something."

"Is that lesson that he and Callie have basically no clue how to do paperwork properly?" Eleanora grumbled, Mark snorting. He handed her the pile of paper in his hand, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"Nice to know you're still so sweet when you wake up. The kids are all in daycare, Luca and Elijah dressed themselves like you asked. Although they look absolutely horrid, I let them walk out of the house."

"It's a good way to encourage creativity and individuality in children, Mark." Eleanora reminded him turning to face him. "Besides, they're starting preschool in a few weeks. They should start to develop more responsibility. It's healthy."

"They still look absolutely horrible. At least they have good genetics to make up for the monstrosities that are their outfits." Mark wrapped an arm around his wives shoulder and began to lead her out of the research lab, grabbing her coffee cup.

He took a sip and then made a face, gagging. "Oh, god no. This tastes old. You need a fresh cup, and probably some food."

"You pay for it, I'll eat it." Eleanora sing-songed, Mark snorting before leaning down to whisper playfully in her ear.

"Last time I checked we have a shared account, Dr. "

Eleanora playfully hip checked him, the two's laughter growing louder as the lab doors shut behind them.

_____

   at these." Derek spoke suddenly as he appeared at Eleanora's side. The Fellow jumped, sending him a small glare as she took the films offered.

"Hello, Derek. Good morning, Derek. How was your night, Derek?" At the odd look he gave her, she just raised a brow and looked at the films. "That is how you greet people properly."

"I'm sorry, Ella. Rough morning." He pointed at the films, face uneasy. "What do you see?"

"Your patient has a glioma." She told him, flipping to the other side of the film. "Pretty nasty one, at that. Which patient is this?"

"Mickey." Derek sighed, leaning on the nurses desk and sighing. Eleanora's face falls as she turns to Derek, her voice sad.

"Oh."

"Yeah." Derek shook his head and took the films, glancing over them one more time. "I'll have to take the sensors out, remove him from the trial."

"It's too big for glue, and there's no way you can go in surgically. It's too close to the brain stem." Eleanora told him. She crossed her arms, eyes sad. "You finding Callie?"

"She dropped out of the trial about an hour ago. Said something about ''." Derek huffed, the words making Eleanora's eyes widen. "Listen, would you mind helping me tell Mickey? He likes you, and I don't know if—"

"You can do it yourself. Yeah, got it. I have a consult in about ten minutes, but after that I'm free." Eleanora gave him a reassuring smile before squeezing his shoulder. "Sorry about the sensors, Der. Hopefully we can find another patient."

"Yeah, hopefully". He mumbled back, sending her a tight smile before walking off. Eleanora sighed, looking back at the chart in her hands.

_____

nothing we can do about it." Derek told Mickey as him and Eleanora stood in front of the man. "I'm sorry."

"The best course of action for you is to leave it alone and hope for the best." Eleanora told the man, crossing her arms across her chest.

"We'll...keep doing the study, right?" Mickey asked slowly, looking between the two neurosurgeons. Derek shakes his head, Mickey huffing. "Come on! Why?"

"Because it is too dangerous. Also, the tumor could give us abnormal results." Derek told him, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"What if you take the tumor out? I could keep doing the testing."

"You could, but—" Derek starts, Mickey cutting in quickly.

"Then take it out, man!" Eleanora's eyes widen just a fraction at the yelling, used to Mickey being laid back and happy-go-lucky. Derek is obviously shocked as well, and Mickey takes a deep breath before continuing.

"We're so close, right?" Mickey glances over at Elenaora, eyes bright with pride. "This morning, Dr. A, I was miles beyond anything what I did last time—"