“Mommy.” Isabella’s small voice rang through the one bedroom apartment. Isabella was Amelia’s daughter. Ryan had passed but he had left Amelia with a daughter.
Isabella had Ryan’s dark hair but Amelia’s natural beach waves, with a perfect mix of bright and light blue eyes from both her parents.
Amelia had lost her job due to her drug habits with Ryan years before. She lived in a small one bedroom apartment with Isabella, no matter how hard it got Amelia made sure Isabella had food and clothes.
The clothes were mainly hand me downs and the food was not as great as it could be. Isabella being young still did not mind. Deep down Amelia wished she had been careful and cared more so that Isabella could everything that Henry or Zola and Bailey had.
“What do you want for breakfast beauty?” Amelia asked as she picked Isabella up.
“Pancakes.” Isabella gave Amelia a big smile, no matter how stressed, tired or worried Amelia got about their financial situation, looking at Isabella’s face gave her a reason to keep going.
She reminded her, Isabella was her baby and deserved the whole world. Isabella hadn’t asked for any of this and she wanted to be able to give her the world.
Amelia made pancakes as Isabella watched her, Isabella being young had no idea what kind of stress Amelia carried on herself.
Addison offered to let them stay at her house, Amelia did not want to admit defeat- but mostly didn’t want Isabella to grow up hating her for not being able to give her everything that Henry had.
“Mommy, we have to do this assignment for school so where did my name come from?” Isabella asked as she poured the syrup onto her pancakes.
“Well you first name is Isabella and I thought it was very pretty, then Ryan was your daddy’s name. I wanted you to have that as a part of yours.” Amelia smiled as she watched Isabella eat.
As Isabella ate, Amelia flipped through the pile of mail. Her heart raced and her palms sweat as she saw the amount of bills she had to pay.
She had a job as a waitress but that was barely putting food on the table and Amelia did not want to have to admit defeat.
In Amelia’s mind- she was a grown up with a child. She should be able to give Isabella the world.
-
Amelia quickly tied her apron onto her waist and grabbed her notepad. The worst part of this job was that sometimes people she knew would come and she would have to be their waitress.
A man with sandy blonde hair, ocean blue eyes and in a dress shirt and pants sat in the booth.
“Hi I’m Amelia, what can I get you to drink?” Amelia asked putting on her best smile, the nicer you were the better the tips.
“Hi Amelia, I’ll take just a coffee. Decaf please.” The man smiled, setting his menu down.
“Coming right up.” Amelia said as she mentally took note of his drink order before walking to the kitchen to grab it for him.
Amelia came back and slid the cup to him. He looked up and gave her a small smile, his blue eyes glistening when he did.
“What can I get for you?” Amelia asked as she took out her pen, clicking it so she could write.
“The pancakes and eggs. Eggs over-light please.” The man smiled closing his menu, handing it to Amelia.
“Coming right up-“ Amelia said pausing, realizing she didn’t catch his name.
“Atticus Lincoln, but you can call me Link.” Link said as he clasped his hands together.
“Nice to meet you Link. That will be right out.” Amelia said before sticking her notebook into her pocket and walking away.
As Link was getting ready to leave, he waved to Amelia and flashed her a smile.
Nice eyes, good hair, not that any of that mattered obviously. Amelia was trying to be present for Isabella.
“Bye Amelia.” Link called as he walked out the restaurant.
“Bye Link.” Amelia said quietly as the door shut.
It was late when Amelia got home, she hated late nights. They made her feel like she was missing Isabella’s life.
“Thank you. I’ll pay you back.” Amelia said as she sat her purse onto the small table.
“Don’t mention it. I love you guys.” Addison said pulling Amelia into a hug.
“Thank you still.” Amelia said.
“I’m out. She’s asleep.” Addison smiled, picking her purse up.
“Bye.” Amelia waved, walking to the bedroom. To see Isabella’s tiny chest fall and rise.
“I love you baby girl.” Amelia whispered, pushing a piece of hair out of Isabella’s face.
Amelia kissed Isabella’s cheek, before getting in the shower. Afterwards Amelia sat on the couch, trying to figure out how she was going to make it work this month.
Amelia felt tears roll down her face. She wanted to give Isabella the entire world. But she could barely keep food on the table and a roof over their heads.
“Mommy?” Isabella’s voice said as she clutched her teddy bear.
“Hi baby girl.” Amelia quickly wiped her tears.
“I missed you.” Isabella said crawling into Amelia’s lap, wrapping her small arms around Amelia’s neck.
“I missed you too baby. Mommy’s home now.” Amelia said running her fingers through Isabella’s beach waves.
“I love you Mommy. So much.” Isabella said sleepily.
“I love you more my Isabella.” Amelia kissed her cheek.
Link raced into the elevator last minute, squeezing himself between the doors the second before they closed. He checked his phone for any texts from his wife, who was heavily pregnant and sulking at home, and pressed the button of the OR floor.
“Hey,” he greeted the woman he had momentarily glanced at while racing into the elevator before spinning around in shock. “What the hell, Amelia!”
“I’m sorry,” she groaned. “I had to grab my charts considering that I’m going to be spending the next couple of weeks in bed.”
“Did you drive? How did you even get here?” His voice was filled with anger as he stared at the neurosurgeon who was uncomfortably shifting on her feet and pressing a hand to her lower back.
“Mer drove me,” she responded proudly.
“Traitor,” Link mumbled under his breath. “Amelia, you’re being irresponsible. Carina wouldn’t advise not working if she didn’t think it was necessary.”
“I can’t just sit on my ass all day and worry!” Amelia’s hormones had been all over the place lately and it showed in the wavering of her voice.
“It’s better than worrying about your patients at the hospital where you’re on your feet all day,” Link argued, turning away from her and pressing the elevator button repetitively.
“Don’t be mad,” Amelia mumbled.
“I’m not mad, I just could’ve brought you your charts.” He caved, moving to hold her and support the bottom of her bump for a moment of relief and noticed the small puddle on the elevator floor. Amelia looked up at him with worried eyes. “You’re kidding. You’re not due for two weeks.”
“I’ve had a stressful day. You aren't helping.”
“Well, now I'm happy you're at the hospital,” Link sighed, turning to press the OB/GYN floor button. “Why isn’t it lighting up?” He muttered. The lights above their head flickered before surrounding them in a dim light.
“Link?” Amelia’s voice was fragile.
“Just stay calm,” he ordered, continuing to jam the button and trying to keep the worry in his voice minimal. “Sit down.” Amelia slid slowly down to the floor, cradling her head in her hands. “How did your water just break? Have you been having contractions?”
“You’ve had two babies, what do you mean you thought they were braxton hicks?” Link groaned. He glanced at his phone. “I’ve got one bar.”
“Have you tried the emergency button?” Amelia asked through gritted teeth.
“Of course I’ve tried the emergency button!” Link exclaimed, allowing his panic to show. “I’ll try Bailey.” He muttered, not noticing Amelia’s pained state on the floor. “Hey? Can you hear me?” Link paused. “We’re stuck in the elevator. Power’s out? I don't know what you're saying.” The call abruptly failed. “I think she got the message.” He turned back to Amelia who was curled up against the wall, her eyes squeezed shut into slits. “Oh, shit! Are you having a contraction?”
“What do you think?” She moaned, breathing heavily as she caressed her abdomen. Link felt the exact same way that he felt when Amelia had braxton hicks with Scout, frazzled and completely out of control. “Are we seriously stuck in a fucking eleveator right now?”
“Not for much longer,” Link knelt down beside her, pushing fallen strands of hair behind her ears and trying to sound optimistic. “Breathe, Mia.”
“I’m trying,” she got out, through ragged breaths while swatting his arm off her shoulder. “Did Bailey tell you that someone was coming or are you just making that up?” He felt her relax as the contraction began to subside and he was met with more worry than anger.
“I’m not sure,” Link confessed. “I think we’re between floors.”
“Link,” her voice was quiet and scared as she gripped his forearm. “This baby is coming fast.”
“How long have you been contracting?” He asked, internally wishing he had more OB experience and wondering if he’d been able to pick up anything from Jo.
“The first braxton hicks that was really painful happened last night around midnight, so maybe that was my first contraction?”
“Why didn’t you wake me?” Was his immediate response.
“I don’t know, Link. That’s not very important now.” She let out a whimper and leaned her head back.
“Again? That was like five minutes.” He was trying to hide the panic in this voice. Amelia moaned in response, leaning her head on his shoulder and willing the pain to pass. It seemed to go on forever until she basically collapsed into his lap, panting. “I should examine you.”
“What do you know about birthing babies?” Amelia grimaced, taking her pants off anyways to reveal black, lacy underwear.
“Now I understand why you were so adamant about coming to the hospital,” he grinned.
“Shut up,” she mumbled, flinching as he slid them down her legs and tossed them to the side.
“Shit,” Link whispered, pulling his wife down to a lying position and bending her legs gently. “I would say you look about eight.” He bit the back of his fingernail nervously. “But I can’t be sure.”
“Well how much longer do you think they're going to take to get us out of here?” Amelia asked, waiting for Link to respond and staring up at the elevator floor. “I feel like I should start pushing soon.” No response. “Link?”
“We're going to have to deliver in here.”
“Are you freaking kidding?” Link felt her tense up as another contraction started, he glanced at his watch, two and a half minutes.
“Amelia, if you don’t push you and Charlotte are at risk for sepsis and all kinds of complications.” Link rubbed reassuring circles on her bare thigh as Amelia squirmed and cried out in pain, wanting to plug his ears and run away. “Do you feel like you need to?” Amelia nodded through tears as the contraction slowly left her system.
“What if she’s born and isn’t breathing or gets caught in the umbilical cord? We can’t help her in here.” The worry in her voice was evident and Link willed himself to not show how scared he was.
“Next contraction,” he made her promise. “It’ll be okay. I got you.” Amelia nodded, staring at him with piercing blue eyes full of concern and exhaustion. “You let me know when.” She didn’t have to, he could tell exactly when the next contraction hit her full force as she stifled a cry with the back of her hand and squeezed her eyes shut. “Good job, Mia, you’re crowning.” Link assured her, having his hands ready to guide their baby out as he’d witnessed Jo do the other day in the OR. The next couple of contractions were agonizing for Amelia and he could feel his wife getting weaker in his as time went on. “It’s okay babe, just past the shoulders now.” He wasn’t able to process that he was holding their unborn baby in his bare hands.
“Link, I’m tired,” her voice was weak. He glanced up at her face which had recently paled.
“Hey, are you feeling okay?” He let his concentration turn away from their infant for a moment to take in her shivering and white complexion. Amelia didn’t have time to answer, another contraction hit her hard and she let out a little cry. “You need to push,” he ordered. “You’re so close.” Finally their baby was in his hands. He wasn’t sure whether to cut the umbilical cord but he ended up doing so with his pocketknife and held the crying girl into his chest before glancing at his wife who was completely unconscious, a pool of blood forming at the base of her legs.
Ever since she snapped at him last week, Link had been trying desperately to not be affected by Amelia’s nightmares. Since Meredith had been put on the vent, there wasn’t a single night that his girlfriend hadn’t woken up sweating and thrashing like a maniac, and to say that it was concerning Link was an understatement.
“Amelia,” he hissed, into the darkness, while shaking her awake. Amelia sat up so abruptly she almost pushed him off the bed.
“What?” Her voice was thick with sleepiness. “Oh...fuck, sorry.” She pushed her curtain bangs out of her face and glanced at their bedside table to check the time.
“I can make some tea?” He offered.
“I’m literally fine, just go back to bed,” she replied dismissively.
“You’re shaking.” His hand brushed her bare shoulder affectionately.
She shrugged him off, sighing and mumbling, “I’m just gonna get a glass of water,” before tugging on one of Link’s hoodies and quietly leaving their bedroom. She paused at Scout’s makeshift bedroom in the office to peek inside. Like always, their little boy was sleeping soundlessly in his crib. She brushed a finger against his pudgy cheek, lingering for a moment and debating whether to pick him up. If she felt in control of one thing right now it was Scout. Making up for the three others, his first couple of weeks had been almost effortless. He was a movement baby for sure but Amelia didn’t mind. She’d simply put him in the wrap they’d bought and carried him around most of the day.
“If you wake him up he’s going to be grump tomorrow.” Link’s calm voice made her jump, her heart still racing from the nightmare.
“I know,” she whispered back resentfully, “I was just making sure he was okay.”
“Was that what your dream was about?” He pressed. “He’s safe, Mia, we always have the monitor running.”
“I know.” She ran a stressed hand through her hair before pushing past him and into the hallway and quietly walking down the old, creaky set of stairs. The sound of Link’s clunky footsteps followed her apprehensively and he wrapped his arms around her as she filled a glass of water at the sink. It was then that she started to sob. Link had witnessed a couple of Amelia breakdowns before but this time it was different.
“Hey, look at me,” he ordered as her breathing started to rapidly quicken, “deep breaths.”
“Link.” Her voice was as fragile as a china doll.
“You’re okay,” he assured her, resting his chin on the crown of her head.
“I’m falling apart trying to parent these kids for two weeks. If she dies. What’s supposed to happen to them? They’ve already lost their dad, “she was palming her chest as if her heart was physically hurting, “Derek, he’s gone.”
“Amelia it’s--”
“Scout. As he gets older. He looks more and more like him every day. I compare pictures of him and my brother as a baby and it’s almost terrifying. Our son is beautiful and perfect but every time I look at him, in some weird and twisted way, it’s like I’m looking at my brother.” She pulled out of his grasp, leaning over the kitchen counter. Link watched her turn a shade of white before throwing up into the sink.
“Mia.” He was cupping her hair out of her face a second later while she heaved. “You’re okay, it’s okay.” He was trying to find a way to console her as she grieved someone he’d never even met.
“It’s too much,” she groaned. “How are we supposed to take care of four children and not completely fall apart.”
“She’s going to pull through.” Link rubbed her upper back in circular motions, momentarily being taken back to nine months ago.
“You don’t know that,” Amelia gagged. “Bailey hates me enough. If I have to tell him--”
“Amelia, you won’t,” Link interrupted firmly. “Obsessing over the worst case scenario is making you sick.”
“How can you not though?” She winced, spitting out the last of their takeout dinner.
“Because if I keep telling myself that everything’s going to go back to normal soon, it makes every day more bearable. Do you think I don’t wish I was in the OR right now? Or raising Scout in our apartment like we planned?” Amelia shrugged, weakly lowering herself down onto one of the stools at the island. “Of course I do. But if that’s all I focus on, I'll start to go insane.”
“Join the club,” she chuckled darkly. “And if we’re putting everything out on the table. I don’t trust Winston.”
“Babe, what?” Link sighed. “You’re obsessing over things because you're stressed.”
“No, I’m not.” She slammed her fists down on the counter. “She disappeared with a guy we barely know anything about and when he came he got all weird about Jackson.”
“Cause he’s Maggie’s ex.” Link tried not to act condescending. “You think I don’t feel uncomfortable when I work with Owen?” It was like he was watching his girlfriend fall apart before his eyes.
“I saw what I saw,” she argued. “I’m not making stuff up in my head.” She placed her forehead in her palms. Link was about to make a joke about Deluca when he realized that he was dead too. Everything really was starting to look a little too depressing. Link shook his head, trying to shake the underlying, familiar feeling that was beginning to creep up on him.
“Can we go lie on the couch? I don’t know how to help you in any other way but to just hold you.” Amelia nodded through slow rolling tears, with an expression on her face that broke Link’s heart into millions of tiny pieces. “Come on, babe,” he sighed, lifting her into his arms and laying her onto Meredith’s couch, cradling her tightly as hours passed.
Amelia’s phone buzzing in the pocket of her sweat shorts finally woke them in the early hours of the morning and the little gasp that followed pulled the rest of the sleepiness out of Link.
“It’s the hospital.” Her shaky hands threatened to drop the phone as the couple stared at it with hesitation. “Dr. Shepherd,” Amelia finally answered, trying to mask any emotion in her voice. “Hey, Bailey. Do you...okay...yeah they’ve been good...yep you can tell her that…” Amelia’s voice broke a bit. “...tell her that they’re doing fine and that they miss her. Oh, and don’t forget about Bailey’s tooth...yep, one of his molars. Make sure she knows that...and Zola’s math test...yeah, an A. Am I on speaker?” Amelia grinned as tears rolled down her face. Link hugged her tightly into his chest, needing no explanation. “Ellis finally tried broccoli...yeah of course it was Link that convinced her...yep and she makes him read her five books every night...takes like half an hour. Scout’s good...yeah eating better now...still bites my nipples though,” she laughed. “Bailey too? Of course he did...okay...yeah of course...get some rest...bye...love you.” She put her phone down and practically tackled Link with a hug. “She’s off the vent.”
“I figured.”
“Her levels are going up by the hour.” She wiped the fat tears rolling down her cheeks. “She’s talking about some beach, Lexie and all this nonsense but they aren’t too concerned about it. Oh my god, Link, she’s okay.”
“Told you so,” he teased, trying to hide his relief. “She needs to come take back Hayes before Jo gets too ahead of herself.” Amelia laughed, shaking her head.
“Well, someone’s gotta tell her, that man’s heart beats for Meredith Grey. If anyone is happier than me right now, it’s him.”
[][][]
bc what tf was that interview w krista about Jo and hayes possibly having a romantic spark. like yes krista, jo making rude remarks and comparing hayes dead wife to alex is a great flirting tactic. i love jo but absolutely not. hayes is here for mer and only mer.
-this was a very quick response to an anon that seemed to disappear overnight-
“Is Mama, okay?” Scout asked as Link poured milk into his son’s cheerios.
“Of course bud. She’s just feeling a bit sick because of the new baby,” he explained, ruffling Scout’s messy brown hair.
“Oh...did I make her sick when I was in her belly?” He inquired, worriedly.
“A bit,” Link affirmed. “But not for too long.” Scout nodded in response, seeming to ponder the information for a moment before taking a large bite of his cereal. “You good to keep eating, bud? I think I’m just gonna check on your mom.”
“Yeah, I’m good. Can you tell her that I didn’t get my morning hug?” He asked. “Mom gives the best morning hugs.”
“Of course but I better be a close second.” Scout shrugged in response, giggling as Link poked his stomach and pouted. In their small apartment Amelia’s retching could be practically heard from the kitchen and Link momentarily wondered if they should start looking for a bigger place. “Hey,” he announced, stepping into the cold bathroom. Despite cranking the AC, Amelia was covered in sweat. “It’s bad this morning?”
“Been better,” Amelia groaned, leaning her head against the bathtub. “It’s always when I think it’s finally gone.”
“Yeah, she gave you the last week off,” he added lightheartedly.
“She?” Amelia replied with a weak smile.
“I’m convinced,” Link grinned back. “She’s already been hell compared to Scout. Can’t be another boy.”
“So you’re basically saying that our little girl is going to be a terror already?” Amelia scoffed.
“Nah, she’ll get it all out of her system before she’s born.”
“So now you’re just wishing me a tough pregnancy? You’re on thin ice, Link,” she teased. “I don’t remember being this exhausted with Scout though. You might be right.”
“Maybe I should call us in sick,” he offered, kneeling down to her eye level and brushing her chocolate curls out of her face.
“No, Link, I need to get ready,” she stated, slowly pushing herself off the ground and staggering over to the sink. Link watched the colour drain from her face and grabbed her hair as she fell back over the toilet.
“Let’s hope she isn’t as stubborn as you,” he winced as she heaved. “I’ll call Bailey and make you some bone broth or something.”
“Fine,” Amelia lamented, flushing the toilet with resentment, “but I’m going back to bed.”
[][][]
Scout had somehow convinced his father to stay home from school as well. To be fair he did cheer up Amelia and was so cute when it came to tending to her that Link couldn’t refuse. He brought a steaming mug of bone broth into their dark bedroom to find his wife and Scout curled up together in bed, fast asleep. He felt bad waking her up but he couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten and kept food down.
“Hey, babe,” he whispered, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. “Drink this for me and then you can go back to bed.” Amelia yawned, accepting the warm mug and taking a sip. “Feeling better?”
“Yeah, my cuddle buddy is helping,” she acknowledged their motionless son. “You’d think he didn’t sleep all night.”
“He’s always been a good sleeper,” Link noted, rubbing a tender place at the root of her neck.
“Are you going to join us or do you have work to do?” Amelia asked, relaxing into his gentle massage.
“My resident is going to send me some scans to look over throughout the day but I haven’t heard from him yet. He’s pretty independent. Reminds me of Nico.”
“That’s good,” Amelia yawned, lifting the covers and allowing him to crawl into bed beside her. Link lifted a limp Scout onto his chest with a small chuckle and wrapped his arms around his wife.
Jo was stuck between two doors, waiting for the electricity to come back on. Bailey had sent out a mass text about a half hour ago saying that they were doing their best to get the generator working. She glanced out the window, it seemed as if all of Seattle had plunged into darkness.
“One hell of a storm,” she muttered to herself, checking her watch for what felt like the millionth time in the last five minutes. It wasn’t like she had anywhere to be. She was actually on her way home before she’d been stuck. She made a small, appreciative prayer that she wasn’t driving when the power outage hit. If anything the thirty minutes she’d spent sitting on the hospital floor were kind of peaceful. She hoped everyone was doing okay. Finally the hospital lights and machines whirled to life after flickering on and off for a couple of moments. Jo sighed, brushing the dust that had accumulated on her lap away and standing to push the door open. As she looked down the narrow hallway she heard the elevator ding as the doors began to open. “Thank god I wasn’t stuck in there,” she found herself saying out loud, she fixed her eyes on the lift, wondering who had been waiting inside. As soon as she saw the two familiar attendings she felt herself running towards them without hesitation. Link was cradling a newborn in one hand, covered in blood, while trying to perform CPR on his wife at the same time. The baby was wailing and Link’s muttering to his wife could barely be heard over the cries.
“Come on, Amelia,” he whispered, over and over.
“Link, move!” Jo pushed her panicking friend aside before picking up on compressions where he left off. “Someone get a crash cart!” She yelled. “And get us an open O.R.” A nurse took the baby out of Link’s trembling hands and he began to sob.
[][][]
“What’s going on?” Owen’s gloves snapped on as he entered the room.
“She’s lost so much blood,” Jo replied, doing what felt like her thousandth suture. “Is anyone with Doctor Lincoln?” She asked to no response.
“I can go,” Maggie eventually sighed, she was sitting by Amelia’s side, clutching her sister’s hand. She pressed a kiss to Amelia’s forehead before reluctantly leaving the E.R and asking one of the nurses to keep her updated.
“Hand me the staple gun,” Owen’s voice lacked the usual sternness. “How’s her BP?”
“Are you sure you’re good to be here?” Jo asked, glancing up at the worried trauma surgeon, who was staring at Amelia's blank face with concern.
“Is anyone?” He responded, gruffly. “What the hell was Lincoln thinking?”
“It was the right move,” Jo answered. “He couldn’t have known how long the power outage would’ve been.”
“Suction,” Owen ordered in response, nodding thank you to Bokhee before refusing to engage in small talk for the rest of the operation.
[][][]
Maggie found Link in the staircase after what felt like hours of searching. Her sister’s husband was a wreck, sitting with his head buried deep in his hands and his phone sitting open on the stair beside him, Jo’s name lighting up the screen with zero updates.
“Hey,” Maggie placed a hand gently on Link who flinched before realizing she was sitting beside him. “Have you gone to see Scout?”
“I can’t lie to him right now. He’ll ask me what’s wrong.” Link shook his head firmly. “That boy is a mind reader. So much like his mom. They can both tell when someone is hurting.”
“She’s going to pull through, Link. She’s so strong.” The minute the words left her mouth she regretted them.
“You were in the O.R., she’s doing okay?” He asked hopefully. Maggie bit her lip, trying to conceal her internal panic. “I don’t know why they wouldn’t let me in there. I should be with her.”
“Jo and Owen are working really hard.”
“They called in Owen?” Link’s complexion turned pale, if he threw up all over her she wouldn’t be surprised.
“Yeah,” Was all Maggie could think of to say. “It’s good. Owen is good.” Link nodded, running his hands through his shaggy hair and glancing at his phone for the millionth time.
“I think I fucked up, Maggie,” he confessed. “I think I killed her.” He flinched as the last couple of words came out, as if they hurt him physically to say aloud.
“Link, you did what any of us would’ve done. Charlotte is safe in the NICU and Amelia’s being taken care of by the best surgeons in the country. It’s--”
“You would’ve done the same thing?” He interrupted softly.
“Yes.”
“Okay,” he exhaled and began to shake softly. Maggie didn’t realize he was crying until he wiped his face with the sleeve of his scrub top. It was weird seeing the most positive person she knew break down. She had no idea how to comfort him. Link’s phone buzzed and they both grabbed for it. Link got it first, brushing more tears out of his eyes to get a clear image of the text he’d received from Jo that read: out of surgery. she’s weak but stable. it’ll be a long recovery, she lost a lot of blood. but she’s ok. Maggie doesn’t remember ever receiving a hug from Link but she immediately thought of the big, calm mountain reference that Amelia always brought up. Except minus the calm cause he was shaking so much. Then he was gone, in his usually Link fashion, bolting through the hospital hallways to find his wife.
“I’m not good at secrets,” Link complained as they pulled into the hospital parking lot. “Especially when it’s good news.” He glanced at Amelia with a wide, boyish grin on his face that made her chuckle.
“I know, babe.” She rolled her eyes. “You were telling Jo within seconds after I told you last time and we weren’t even sure that was good news yet.” Link’s eyes widened as his best friend’s name was mentioned.
“Shit, that’s gonna be hard.”
“Avoid her,” Amelia groaned, grabbing her work bag and opening the car door.
“Hey!” She glanced back to find Link waving a banana and a bottle of water.
“Not this again,” she muttered, remembering the constant nagging she received during her pregnancy with Scout. “We found out last night, Link, I don’t even qualify as pregnant yet.”
“And that’s where you're wrong. I put the prenatals in your purse. Remember the folic acid. We don’t want neural tube defects.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Amelia responded, grabbing the banana and water bottle from his wavering hands. “Wipe that grin off your face, everyone’s gonna know the moment you step into the E.R.”
“We’re having another baby,” Link sang, jogging a couple steps in front of her and glancing back with amusement.
“I hate you!” She called, trying to wipe the grin off her face as her husband waved goodbye without turning back.
Unlike Link, Amelia wasn’t paged for the upcoming trauma. Something she didn’t necessarily mind so she made the quick trip to her office instead. The room seemed stale from the week of time off they’d taken for their honeymoon. Scout’s face was priceless when the couple walked into the house last night after spending the week with Link’s parents. She wished they’d been able to spend more time with him but she promised they’d visit him at daycare, which Mer was dropping him off at for them midday. She fished through her bag finding that Link had gone a little overboard on snacks.
“Classic,” she muttered, knowing he’d probably end up eating half of them anyway. She took the prenatals easily, washing them down with the water bottle that her husband had provided and internally wishing she had a thermos full of coffee.
“Hey, are you not coming?” Maggie, stuck her head in Amelia’s office, breathless from running. “Big trauma? I’m sure you’re needed.”
“I didn’t get a page.” Amelia replied, now understanding Link's inability to keep good news to himself. Staring at Maggie’s happy expression made her want to blurt out the news so bad.
“Probably a mistake since you were off for the week. We need to catch up later over dinner or something. Just come with me now.” Her eyes flicked to the desk. “Whoa what’s with all the vitamins? You always made fun of my ‘bullshit’ morning routine.”
“Uh, Bali inspired me I guess,” Amelia sputtered.
“Ugh, I’m so jealous!” Maggie squealed. “Can’t wait to hear all about it.” Amelia nodded, following her sister as they joined the mass of doctors that were heading to the E.R.
[][][]
“Did you page, Amelia?” Was the first thing Link said to Bailey after their week off. Bailey stared at the ortho surgeon blankly, trying to control the chaos that E.R. was descending into. “Wha--”
“I made sure she wasn’t,” Webber affirmed, seeming to come out of nowhere. People were staggering around like zombies and Link swallowed uncomfortably.
“She can’t get near this today. Can we send a resident up to her office to distract her? Or just ask her to take the day off? Are you okay with being here?” He asked Webber, glancing around the room.
“I’m fine,” Richard affirmed to him and Bailey. “More of a drinker.”
“Amelia says it’s all the same.”
“If I wasn’t fine I would make that clear,” Richard shook his head. “I’ll find a resident for Shepherd. You’re needed in trauma four.” Link nodded, glancing around the E.R. once more before following the general surgeon into the crowded room.
[][][]
It was the smell that hit Amelia first as she and Maggie entered the E.R. It wasn’t like she hadn’t treated patients who reeked of weed before but the entire wing seemed to be exuding the smell of marijuana. She stumbled back slightly.
“What happened?”
“Train slid off the rails over that skate park on Elm where all the stoners hang out,” Teddy yelled over the commotion. “The majority of those injured are completely out of their minds. One of my guys tried to shoot himself up with saline. All the nurses are complaining about veins.”
“Oh,” Amelia swallowed, Teddy nodded and turned back to her patient who had begun to seize. “Little help, Shepherd?”
“Just a sec,” Amelia answered blankly, turning the corner abruptly to try and get away from the smell that was seeping into every pore of her scrubs. She pushed an intern aside before stumbling over to a waste bin and throwing up the contents of her breakfast. She tried to push the intrusive thoughts entering her mind away with no success. Her arms covered in needles, her head in a peaceful daze, Ryan. Every part of her wondered what her life would be like if he were still here, holding her, every night.
“Amelia!” A voice snapped her out of her thoughts before strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her up from her place against the wall. “Can you hear me?” She willed herself to answer, trying to focus on the familiar face that was shaking her shoulders forcefully. “Get out of the way!” Link shouted as hospital staff parted to allow for him to lead her out of the E.R. and into an on call room. “Amelia.” He pulled her into his chest, running concerned hands through her hair.
“The smell is covering me,” she mumbled, Ryan still flickering in her mind. Link nodded, pulling off his scrub top before removing hers, along with the rest of their clothes and tossing them into a waste bag.
“Go shower,” he motioned to the small bathroom connected to the room. “I’ll grab your clothes and be right back.”
“Don’t leave,” she begged, knowing that if he did she might find herself back in the E.R. surrounded by the very thing her mind was aching for. Link nodded, texting a quick message to Maggie before guiding her into the bathroom and turning on the shower head. Amelia’s thick hair absorbed smells quickly and he cleansed it until all that was left was the light fragrance of spring flowers before doing the same to his own. Maggie knocked on the door as Link wrapped Amelia into a towel and led her towards the bed.
“I’m sorry, this is all my fault,” Maggie exclaimed as she handed Link their clothes through the crack in the door.
“It’s okay, you couldn’t have known,” Link assured the worried cardio surgeon. “Bad day to come back,” he tried to joke, the worry in Maggie’s eyes didn’t lessen. “I’ll keep you updated,” he finally said. Maggie nodded, slowly shutting the door.
“Do you remember when we had that conversation after Scout was born?” Amelia’s voice came numbly from behind him. Link turned, making his way to the bed and placing a hand on her thigh before answering.
“Yeah. The one after I tried to propose to you the first time?” He willed his voice to be light.
“When I told you about wanting to get high before I went to bed and when I woke up and every so often when I was feeding Scout.” Link waited as her voice wavered. “It’s gotten better. Now it’s usually only right before I close my eyes at the end of the day. Just a little rush of euphoria I get that begs me to sneak out of our apartment and drive to a dispensary. And then I really think about it and I realize how much that would fuck up everything that I love the most. But the thought never goes away. It just lingers and waits until something like today happens. And then that little voice is suddenly screaming and I’m stuck trying to convince myself that my love for the people in my life trumps the love I have for the feeling of being high.”
“Does it?” Was all Link could think of to ask as he carefully slipped a tank top over her shivering chest.
“When there’s an E.R. full of people who have devoted themselves to feeling exactly what my body craves for every day, I’m not sure.” She answered truthfully, relaxing as he guided the tank top over her flat stomach. Link nodded, trying to suppress the impulse to yell at her about the condition she was in. “But then I remember that I’m a mother...and that I owe it to my kid...kids to be stable enough to bring another life into the world. Even though I know they’d be fine with just their dad.”
“We would not be fine,” Link acknowledged firmly, wanting to shake her out of the daze that she was in. “I would not be fine.” Amelia nodded blankly.
“Can you hold me?” Her voice was soft. “And can you describe our baby again? Like you were doing last night?” Link nodded, rolling up her shirt carefully and placing a gentle hand on the bottom of her abdomen.
“Mhmm,” he held back any tears that were threatening to fall from the thought of ever losing her. “Our baby is going to be a splitting image of her mother. With long chocolate curls and ocean blue eyes. Oh and stubborn, to the point where you can’t bother arguing with her because she is also always the smartest person in the room. She’ll have my nose and skin that actually sunburns. Which means she’ll have to learn to apply sunscreen like her dadda and not like her brother or mom. She’ll be upset about this first, wanting her mother’s perfectly tanned complexion but she’ll get used to it. She’ll have her mother’s body type, slim and athletic, but her dad’s height and, like Scout, she will…”
“Why’s Amelia at the hospital?” Carina grumbled, placing her hands on her hips in annoyance. She’d been trying to get the restless neurosurgeon to stop working for weeks now with no complaisance shown on Amelia’s part.
“Carina…” Link sighed, he wore a look of exhaustion. Carina took in the couple’s appearances and realized they looked as if they’d just rolled out of bed.
“Fine, what’s going on?” She gave in. She enjoyed being along for the ride of Amelia and Link’s pregnancy. Despite it being unexpected, it had mostly been drama free. Which was out of the norm when dealing specifically with pregnant surgeons at Grey Sloan.
“She’s been complaining about Braxton hicks all day,” Link reports, glancing at Amelia who looked, if it were possible, even more tired than him.
“He made me come in,” she muttered. “I was keeping him up.”
“Okay, let’s get you checked out.” Carina wheeled in the portable ultrasound before Amelia could even hoist herself up onto the patient bed. However the patient bed was relatively tall and Amelia was anything but that. Hoisting herself up was probably giving herself more credit than she deserved; she realized, as she accepted Link’s hand. “Alright, Amelia, lets see what’s going on.” She nodded, pulling up her shirt to reveal her tummy. Her skin had stretched so much that it was hard to shake the feeling that she was about to pop, not sure how much more her body would give. “How have you been feeling?”
“Okay, I guess. My ankles are huge, I had to wear Link’s shoes.” Carina glanced at down and was amused to indeed find Link’s massive shoes practically hanging off Amelia’s feet.
“Sounds about right. Any pain anywhere that doesn’t feel right?” Amelia shook her head in response, stifling a yawn. “No bleeding or anything like that?” Carina asked again.
“Nope,” Link answered over Amelia’s sharp intake of breath. He watched her sympathetically as she leaned her head back in pain and squeezed her eyes shut.
“I’m going to do an ultrasound,” Carina told him, waiting for Amelia’s pain to suppress. “How far apart are the Braxton hicks?”
“About a half hour,” she replied through gritted teeth.
“And do you find that they’re random?” Carina jotted some notes down on her Ipad.
“No, I can usually predict when one’s coming.” The OB/GYN could tell Amelia’s contraction was over as soon as she swayed forward and closed her eyes in fatigue. She stopped the timer she’d started on her phone and jotted down that as well.
“Okay,” Carina responded, maneuvering the wand around Amelia’s bump. “There he is. Not a lot of movement. He’s getting ready.” After getting what she needed she turned off the machine and wiped the gel off Amelia’s stomach. “I know you're tired but this could be the start to a long night. Do you have any questions?”
“I don’t think so,” the brunette answered, pulling her scrub top back over her large stomach.
“Have you been having any back pain?”
“Yes, she has,” Link confirmed, locking eyes with his girlfriend and giving her a small smile.
“Alright Amelia, I’m pretty sure you’re in the early stages of labour,” Carina told her slowly, watching Amelia recoil a bit in fear. “Your water hasn’t broken. Normally I would send someone in your condition home but I don’t trust either of you to not fall asleep at the wheel right now. Maybe go to your office? As soon as it does break, come down and we’ll get you a room.”
“We’re having a baby tonight?” Link verified, glancing at Amelia who looked to be having an internal freakout. .
“Possibly. It looks to be progressing slowly so it might be more like tomorrow.” With that she left the couple to have their peace.
“Wow.” Was all Link could say, barely noticing his girlfriend’s concerned expression. “Did you hear that, babe? Tomorrow?” He turned to Amelia to find her slowly rolling back her top, her mouth formed a thin line.
“I’m not supposed to be due until next week,” she stated as he helped her out of the bed.
“One week won’t make a difference, Mia,” Link chuckled. “The baby will be fine.”
“Tomorrow’s his birthday.”
“Who’s--” Link could barely get the words out.
“Christopher’s,” Amelia choked out. “It’s supposed to be his day. Why would the universe do this? I thought having their due dates a week apart would be hard. This feels almost spiteful.” He could tell she was trying not to cry. Instead, she cursed something about hormones and brushed the tears away.
“Hey, this is a good thing, remember? We’re having a baby. Now we can celebrate their birthdays together. Do you usually do anything special for him?”
“I usually light a candle. In the chapel downstairs,” she admitted.
“Well I’m not letting you waddle all the way down there right now.” He bit his lip, trying to keep a smile off his face in response to her scowl of frustration due to him bringing up her ‘waddling’. “But I can run down there right now and light one. And then every year after this we can all come. You me and the baby. And maybe more babies.” He grinned at the idea of that. “And we can all light one every year for Christopher’s birthday.”
“Really?” Her eyes misted at the thought of that.
“Of course,” he promised. Amelia abruptly yelped in pain, leaning against the wall for support. “That was twenty six minutes,” he noted, glancing at the clock.
“Fuck,” She grimaced. “Are we ready for this?” Link’s head bobbed, Amelia, in all her weariness, suddenly realized that her boyfriend was the human embodiment of a golden retriever. “Well you better get running then.” She smirked at the thought of Link doing his frequent sprint through the hospital. “If I have to go through a contraction without you here I might just file for full custody.” She looked back to find that Link had taken her comment quite literally and all that was left of him was the sounds of his heavy footsteps echoing through the hospital corridor.
