Afterwards she's thrilled to see Jackson even though he doesn't seem as thrilled to see her, and she acts like any mother, surgeon or not, as she comments on how he looks skinny and asks how he is sleeping. She then immediately wants to meet his ladyfriend -- she does know that her name is Lexie but that isn't thanks to Jackson, who is appalled that she found out the info -- and mocks him for sending her out of town, asking if he is ashamed. They are interrupted by Mark and it's probably the first time ever that Jackson has been relieved to have him walk up and take over a conversation. He brings up some more of his concerns about a transplant and in the course of the conversation it comes up that he is mentoring Jackson. Catherine is stunned and just the teeniest bit wistful to have not known this but Mark just plows ahead and actually compliments Jackson's surgical abilities. The sky is green today, ladies and gentlemen, and pigs are flying past. She invites Mark to scrub in so that she can hear some more about her son but after he leaves, Jackson tries to get her to mind her own business. She of course has no interest in doing so and gets in one more dig at Lexie's expense with a giggle. Jackson might at least admit that he sent her away rather than let his mom think she's a coward, come on.

Jackson then finds Mark and tells him that he's not going to compete for a spot in the surgery, but Mark is having none of it -- he orders Jackson to suck it up and take advantage of the opportunity, adding that it would also look good on his boards. Jackson doesn't exactly agree but he doesn't argue either, just hangs his head like a sad puppy, which is his general look for much of the hour.

Catherine has the skills lab set up with what I think are giant microscopes and a pan of raw chicken at each seat. She asks them who has worked with penis tissue and Alex can't help but crack at April to keep her hand down so that the entire room can hear. The procedure is delicate and the surgeons need to be graceful, and the two who show that and are the best at doing medblahotisitis with their chicken's femoral vessels will earn the right to scrub in to the surgery. Everyone gets to work and the first person she taps is April, who thinks she's won the lottery. Sadly, Catherine actually tells her she's too tense and dismisses her. Cristina's hand is shaking from all of her crazy lefty workouts and so she is dismissed as well, and Catherine reminds the rest that all they have to be is perfect.