#atticuslincoln

—

Part III

•••••••••••••••

it’s a bright sunday morning. Link and Amelia woke up with the light touching their faces, rays coming in through the window blinds made it look like a spotlight. Amelia’s face looked more radiant than ever.

the stunning view put a huge smile on Link’s face, he slowly places his hand on her cheek and runs it down the side of her neck.

“good morning beautiful.” he says.

Amelia smiled back, closes her eyes and held his hand. “good morning. how’s your sleep?” she replied.

“it’s good, i dreamt about you actually.” Link responded.

She opened her eyes. “oh yeah? what’s the dream about? do i look good in it?” Amelia chuckled. she turns her body away from him and wrapped his arms around her.

Link embraced her from the back “of course you do babe.” he said, planting a kiss on her shoulder.

“well, for starters, we’re in LA. at the beach. you were lying on the sand and i was reading a book. you told me to put sunscreen on you and so i did. seconds later, we were making out. then i woke up.”

“i’d say that’s a perfect way to end a dream. you uh... wanna do it now that you’re awake?” Amelia replied. she rolled over and kissed him passionately like it’s the first time.

link pulled down the straps of Amelia’s night gown revealing her soft pale upper bust.

as they were about to take each other’s clothes off, the baby monitor started making noise, a sign that scout is already wide awake. the couple had no choice but to put the idea to rest.

“ahhh. of course.” Amelia rolled her eyes. “every single time. i’ll get him. gonna make us some breakfast too. talk of the town, Amelia Shepherd makes the best waffles.”

Link finds it cute when she speaks in third person. Amelia winked at him and gets out of bed.

“you do. i can eat it everyday.” Link watches as Amelia walks out of the room. he’s so in love with every inch of her that every move she makes is endearing to him.

Amelia approached the door and turned around. “i love you.” she says.

Link glared at her. “i love you too.”

 “i’m a lucky girl.” Amelia sighed.

 “not as lucky as i am.”

both of them made a pact that they wouldn’t spend a single day without both or one of them telling those three words to the other. as surgeons, they knew that life is too short, that if you have the opportunity to tell someone you love them, you do it. before it’s too late.

•••••••••••••••

“aaahh that smells so good. best waffles ever.” he said, placing his hand on her waist.

Amelia wears this cute white apron that says “i’m a neurosurgeon. okay?” every time she’s cooking. Alex gave it to her as a joke few years ago but she loves it. she says it’s very fitting. her sisters keep making fun of it, asking her if she’s not worried that people might be scared of what they’re gonna eat. but nothing they say can make her give that apron up.

she’s a very sentimental person. Alex became one of her people and keeping that gift is her way of remembering the good times they shared.

—

“hey little man, good morning. wanna go to the beach today?” Link squishes Scout’s cheeks and unfastens the buckle of his high chair straps. Link carried him and placed him on the kitchen counter where Amelia is preparing the plates for their breakfast.

“didn’t know we have beach plans today. did you just think about it this morning?” Amelia asked.

“yeah, can’t stop picturing it. you want to? we can go to Madison Park.” Link responded. “sounds great! i miss that place.” she said with enthusiasm.

“maybe we can make that dream of yours a reality.” Amelia teased him with a smirk.

“i would love that. but we need someone to watch scout.”

“i’ll call the babysitter, she can come with us.”

“great idea.”

•••••••••••••••

carrying Scout with one arm, Link knocks on the bathroom door.

“babe, i’m afraid we might have to cancel Madison Park today, Winston texted me, says it’s too crowded.” Link said with a little disappointment.

Amelia grabs the shower knob and turned it off.

“oh man, i was really looking forward to it.” she said.

“yeah i’m sorry, maybe next time.”

“yeah....” Amelia sighed. “wait-“

“what?” Link said, curious as to what she has in mind.

“i mean... we can visit LA. Charlotte’s been begging me for years. it would be nice to see their faces again.”

“now? but we have work tomorrow.”

“i have Dr. Harvey on-call tomorrow, he can take over my service for a little while, plus the new batch of residents are good so i’m not worried about that. what you think?”

“i can delegate some stuff too. move some of my surgeries under Dr. Randall. okay, you know what, let’s do it. let me make some calls.”

“me too. i’m gonna cancel the babysitting. we should start packing though.”

“i’ll handle mine and Scout’s. you can just pack your things.”

“thanks babe. don’t forget his beeboo. or we’re in so much trouble.” Scout is still on the stage of forming his words properly, he calls his precious brown furry teddy bear, beeboo. he got it as a present from his Uncle Owen during his first birthday. he can’t live without it since.

Amelia gets out of the shower, started fixing her hair and put on some makeup.

—

Amelia and Link sat on their seats. surprisingly, Scout is well-behaved for a kid who’s riding an airplane for the very first time.

“you alright turkey? we’re gonna fly. like Peter Pan. woosh!” Link gestured his hand in a flying motion.

“yaaaa!!” Scout exclaimed.

Amelia gave a sigh of bliss. looking at her beautiful little family.

“may we request everyone sit down. fasten your seatbelts, we are about to take off.” the flight attendant spoke over the microphone.

Amelia and Link held Scout’s hand making sure he feels safe the entire flight.

-

after an hour, Scout fell asleep peacefully. he rests his head on his mommy’s chest.

“gotta be honest, i’m a little scared.” Amelia said.

“what are you scared about?”

“i don’t know, the memories maybe. staying in LA is one of the best days of my life but also the worst. have i told you that they set up an intervention for me in that place? i was too high at that time, i was a mess. a big scary mess.”

“yeah you mentioned the intervention but not every little detail. and i’m not gonna force you to tell me everything if you’re not comfortable. that was all in your past. you’re a better person now.” Link kisses her forehead. he grabbed Amelia’s hand to reassure her. their fingers danced to the beat of their hearts.

“i’ll accept you and your flaws, whatever they may be. that makes you, you. and i love you.” he added.

“don’t know what i’ll do without you, really. my big calm mountain.” Amelia kissed his hand in return. “but i’m also very excited to see everyone. it’s been a long time.”

—

Amelia and her family arrived at Seaside Health and Wellness.

“does anyone know we’re coming?” Link asked.

“i texted Addie, she’s at the hospital for a surgery. she’ll be back at 5.”

“and Charlotte?” Link replied.

“she surprised me. i’m returning a favor.”

—

as they’re about to step foot in the building, they heard a loud bang. people are screaming.

a lady got out of the car, “we need help!! somebody call an ambulance!!” she yelled.

“well, guess you’re the one who got surprised.” Link remarked sarcastically.

they both rushed to the scene. “i’m gonna check on them. call 911.” Link handed Scout to Amelia so he can check the severity of the situation. the little baby started crying so Amelia stepped aside to attend to their son, “honey everything’s okay, but don’t look over there. i don’t want you to see that. mommy’s here, you’re gonna be fine. i got you.”

Amelia calls the line. “hello. i’m Doctor Shepherd. we need an ambulance in front of Seaside Health and Wellness, please. a car ran into a pole right around the corner, multiple injuries.”

“we’re on our way doctor.” the paramedic answered.

“Link, is he responsive? Link!” Amelia worries.

“sir.. sir don’t move. i’m Doctor Lincoln. follow my finger” he puts his index finger in the air and let the man follow his direction. he poked the guy’s arm a little bit, “can you feel that?” the man nods. he responded well.

“he’s responsive... atleast for now. his head is bleeding, i see some glass shards. and his arm is broken, we need to get him to the hospital, fast.” he said.

the paramedics got into the scene after few minutes.

“i have to go with them, Amelia.”

“no, yeah you should. i’ll go straight to the hospital, i just need to leave scout with Violet, i hope she’s there. i need to check on that bleed.”

—

“Amelia!! ohmygod!! hi how are you??” Violet yelled of excitement. she has not seen or heard from her for years.

“i’m good, but there was an accident right out front. my boyfriend Link went with the paramedics. he’s an orthopedic surgeon. and i have to check the guy’s possible hemorrhage. it’s quite bad.” Amelia said all these words in a matter of seconds, she’s clearly in a rush.

“oh and by the way, this is Scout, my son. can you watch him for a minute? please?”

“yeah yeah no, it’s fine. there’s a play pen in the lobby, he’s gonna love it. hi there little guy.” Violet accepted and carried Scout in her arms.

“thank you so much. i’ll catch up with you when i get back, i swear.”

“mommy will be back. okay babe? i love you.” Amelia kissed his cheek before rushing through the elevator.

“thank you Vi!” Amelia waved goodbye.

—

Amelia entered the emergency room and saw Link wearing a trauma gown.

“hey, how’s our patient?” Amelia asked.

“he’s stable. his speech is a little slurred though. i stabilized his arm but he needs surgery. just waiting for the scans.”

“Charlotte gave you privileges? where’s she?”

“the next room. i already told her you’re coming, you have yours now too.”

Amelia grabbed a trauma gown and started checking on her patient.

“we need to get him a head CT. and book an OR please. we don’t know how much shards are in there” Amelia ordered the nurse.

“MVC incoming!”

Amelia stopped for a brief moment before she realized who that person is.

it’s James.

“ohhh no.” Amelia gasped.

she didn’t imagine that the love of her life and James, the guy she almost married, will be in the same room together. ever. this was not in any of her plans. shit.

Amelia tried to run away but James already saw her.

“Amelia?”

she had no choice but to turn around. he saw her, it’s too late. she can’t run now.

“James. hi. umm.. there was an accident, we were visiting and there was... an accident. in front of our eyes. life’s funny that way.” Amelia bursted in fake laughter.

“haven’t seen you since...” James got interrupted when Link entered the room.

“hey babe, let’s go.” Link said, handing Amelia the charts.

“hi, i’m James Peterson. i run the ER. nice to meet you doctor....”

“Lincoln. ortho.”

“oh, well nice to meet you Dr. Lincoln, thank you for your help. appreciate it.”

“ofcourse. pleasure to meet you too Dr. Peterson.”

“Dr. Shepherd.” James nodded and smiled at her. he left the room right away.

—

“must be nice to see familiar faces huh.” Link rubbed Amelia’s shoulder.

“yeah. but.. i expected you to react differently. i’m surprised you weren’t fazed or something.”

“why would i be?”

“it’s James... the one i ran away from. we were engaged.”

“that’s him?”

—

“Have you seen Amelia?” Was the first thing the general surgeon asked Link at the beginning of the work week on Monday. Link shrugged, pushing his overgrown shaggy hair out of his face and tugging his Ipad aggressively out of the charger.

“Nope.” He popped the ‘p’. Meredith eyed him in a way that made him uncomfortable enough to continue. “Scout and I have been crashing at Jo’s since Friday. I’d assume she’s at my apartment.” He didn’t get very far before Meredith stepped in front of him.

“Look, as irritating as it is, the minute shit is going down in her life she’s at my house in seconds. She didn’t come to the after party and hasn’t shown up for her shift yet today. I really doubt she’s just hanging out in your apartment.” She crossed her arms, looking somewhat terrifying, despite the fact that he loomed over her.

“I can't talk right now, I have surgery.” He replied, pushing back any fears of where she might be and focusing on the chart in front of him.

“She rejects your proposal and now you’re just done? What happened to you guys?” Link’s jaw tightened so hard you could hear the sound of his teeth clashing.

“She doesn’t want to be with me. It’s as simple as that.”

“I don’t think she doesn’t want to be with you. She just obviously isn’t ready to get married. And I think you knew that.”

“Whatever, Meredith.” Link’s throat was tight as he pushed past her, swallowing down his guilt.

She had somehow found herself to Link's apartment in a daze, praying he wasn’t there as she pushed through the door. He wasn’t. She grabbed some clean clothes and more cash before leaving once again.

It was somewhat exhilarating, living on the edge. Chasing high after high and making sure that the timing is perfect to prevent any meaningful thoughts from actually surfacing. So far she'd been excelling at it. However, it was when she was halfway back that she realized she had fucked up. Anger and self hatred hit her like a ton of bricks and she almost staggered back. The high had worn off and her mind had started to scream. You are so weak. Back here again after you promised the last time was the end. So many promises, she thought. So many empty promises that she’d broken time and time again. The promise that she’d made to be a good mother. Failed, again. Why should she even attempt to pick up the broken pieces after she found herself back to square one each time? Why not stop trying to fix it and just accept herself for who she truly is, an addict? Why keep disappointing the people that care about her over and over? There was no point. Not anymore. Scout’s name was blaring in her mind like an alarm. He’s better out without you. She convinced herself. Don’t let yourself ruin him. You destroy everything you touch.

“Amelia.” Camilla was looking at her weird. She tried to focus on her new friend, attempting to calm her shaking hands. “Wait too long?” She asked, digging into her bag. All Amelia could do was nod and pull out the cash. “This one’s on me.” Camilla placed a reassuring hand on Amelia’s shoulder as she rolled up her sleeve. She paused, with bated breath, until the image of Scout faded from her mind.

“Can you hear me?” Meredith practically yelled into the crackling phone. “I’m sorry, I know this is your honeymoon. I just still haven’t heard from her and you know her better than me so I need you to tell me what I should do.”

“Is this about Amelia?” Maggie’s groggy voice asked into the speakerphone. “You still haven’t heard from her?”

“I wouldn’t have called if I hadn't. I’m worried about her.” She could practically hear Maggie’s hesitation. “Don’t come back. Don’t even offer that.”

“She’s been having a rough time,” Maggie sighed. “Richard doesn’t let on too much but I know COVID has been hard on her. Link has good intentions. He just hasn’t ever had to see her at her lowest.”

“You think she’s using?” Meredith’s voice was hushed as she passed her Ipad to a nurse and thanked her quietly before letting herself into her office.

“I mean if I rejected a proposal from a man who meant a lot to me because I wasn’t ready I’d probably down a bottle of wine out of guilt." Maggie smiled bitterly.

“She’s stayed sober through a lot worse,” Meredith countered, glancing up to find Bailey waiting at the door with an expression she knew too well. “Hey, I’ve got to go. Tell Winston I say hi.”

“I will. Talk to you later.” Meredith placed her cell phone in her scrub pocket before meeting an irritated Bailey at the door.

“Where’s Shepherd?” Meredith knew what she was going to say before she even spoke the words. She bit the inside of her cheek, not knowing how to respond.

“Why?” She asked, receiving an eyebrow raise.

“Because she’s got a gliosarcoma in an hour and she hasn’t clocked in,” Bailey stated, fixing her lab coat and giving Meredith an exasperated look. “Look, whatever drama she and Doctor Lincoln are having, I don’t care. She can show up to work.”

“I don’t know where she is,” Meredith responded. “I honestly have no idea.”

“Wha--” Bailey started. She let out a grunt of disapproval before waving an agitated hand in the air and storming off. Meredith bit the nail on her thumb, sending yet another message to the missing neurosurgeon and wondered guiltily, for a moment, why she was so self destructive.

Link spent a lot of time in the ER compared to his colleagues. Compared to most other specialties, the majority of cases that presented themselves in the emergency room were ortho related. Most of the time it was pretty mundane, whether it be a broken ankle or a dislocated shoulder, but to keep the hospital from impending lawsuits, he was usually needed to supervise the interns, who were prowling in the ER looking for cases and trying to pop limbs back into place or reset joints, thinking they could handle it easily on their own.

As a result of this, Link was already in the OR when the trauma came in. He was sitting in the swivel chair behind the desk, dragging his feet across the floor to propel him side to side. He wasn’t paged so he was unfazed by the ambulance pulling up. Then again, he wasn’t really fazed by much these days after falling into a somewhat self deprecating state. He stared at the clock, hoping he’d be let off early.

“Did you hear about this?” Bailey asked Richard, as she secured her gown around herself and handed him a pair of gloves.

“Yeah,” Richard’s voice was a tone that Link couldn’t quite decipher. “Bunch of overdoses at Quilchena, saw it on the news in the lounge. Must’ve been something laced in whatever they all were doing.” He snapped his gloves aggressively over his hands as if he were mad at something. “This kind of thing has been happening all the time because of COVID. Addicts have been struggling during the pandemic. Never seen meetings so full.” Link found himself wondering if he was talking about Amelia. Bailey nodded to Richard sympathetically ask they rushed to meet the gurney’s being pushed into the ER.

“John Doe,” the paramedic announced. “Got naloxone at the scene, friend administered it. Conscious but having trouble breathing.”

“Page cardio,” Bailey ordered to a resident. Link watched curiously as Richard froze in place.

“Jane Doe,” the paramedic continued. “Unconscious but breathing. She--”

“Put her in trauma one,” Richard ordered firmly. Link wished he could see what was going on as he watched the blood drain from Bailey’s face. “Don’t let anyone see her. She wouldn’t want that.” It clicked in Link’s brain at that very moment when the pair of them turned to look his way. He got out of the chair he was in so fast that it clattered to the ground behind him.

Her face was so pale it was practically grey and her arms and lips were tinted a purpley blue. She looked so slender he felt like one could reach out and just snap her in half. Her expression was almost peaceful though, and that’s what haunted him most. The image of her was burned into his mind immediately and he knew, as they wheeled her away, that it would never be forgotten.

As Bailey and Richard steered her gurney away he felt frozen in place before finally, and without any indication from his mind, his feet began to follow them.

“She’s seizing,” Bailey exclaimed, her hands flying up to either side of her head to avoid holding any of her limbs in place. “Where the hell is trauma?” Link watched as she twitched, bile building up in the back of his throat. He felt slightly dizzy. He’d never been one to get queasy, even in med school while the rest of his peers either fainted or threw up during their first time observing in an OR. That’s when he knew he wanted to become a surgeon. He wasn’t sure if it was his ego telling him that he was superior for being the last one standing or the tiny and quick glance of approval the attending gave him before going back to ignoring him completely. Though, there must be something different about seeing someone he loved in this situation because he had to place a hand on the doorway to steady himself and looked away. Teddy came through the doors at that moment, brushing past him as if he didn’t exist. For a reason he couldn't quite explain let out a breath of relief that it wasn’t Owen. Something in his mind was screaming your fault, your fault, your fault. And selfishly, he hoped that Meredith, or really anyone who cared for Amelia half as much as he did, wasn’t at the hospital, and theorized that she’d probably beat him to a pulp.

“Can I help?” He found himself croaking, receiving only a glance from Richard.

“Absolutely not,” the general surgeon replied firmly, before finally getting Amelia connected to the monitor. Everyone in the room kind of paused for a moment, reading the levels and unanimously thinking to themselves silently, fuck.

“She’s coding,” Teddy proclaimed, as the alarm-like sound began to reveal itself. Link’s heart sank and he reached out to grab her hand, ignoring Richard’s orders for him to leave. Her palm was cold like ice, but not the dead kind of cold. Cold as if she’d just run in and out of the water, grinning and calling to him as if the ocean’s touch had electrified her, sending a rush of serotonin through her veins. Link remembers that look from when they’d gone down to California, for a conference that she was speaking at, like it were yesterday. She’d convinced him to go swimming, despite it being mid February, and had explained that diving into the frigid waves replicated the feeling of euphoria she used to get when a really good high would hit her full force. She’d told him about how she would swim a lot when she was first getting sober, craving the way the world felt like it was on pause and the way that silence filled her ears when her head was completely underwater. That was really the last time she’d grinned at him like that. Right before Covid had really hit. The first time they’d left Scout for the weekend with his parents. Coming up out of that water like she had been brought back to life.

He’d been so blind. He’d watched her slip into a mindless routine. Go to work. Drive home. Feed the baby. Put the baby to bed. Go to bed. Wake up. Every day, over and over. She would walk around like a ghost, stuck between life and death. He had ignored the way she'd fill her free time with meetings and when she had started going to sleep before he got home, brushed it off as postpartum and told himself that everything between them was fine. Postpartum doesn’t last this long you idiot.

“Clear!” Teddy’s calm voice echoed through the room, snapping him back to reality, and he pulled away his hand last minute before her chest rose and fell. His eyes flicked to the heart monitor, nothing. “Again, charge to three fifty. Clear!” The room fell silent as the compression pads thumped. Nothing. Teddy paused, staring at the monitor.

“Dr. Altman?” The nurse called out. “Again?” Her voice was quiet as the trauma surgeon lifted a hand in response.

“Wait,” her voice had become soft. The monitor beeped as a small peak rose and fell. “Come on, Amelia,” Teddy muttered.

“Charge again,” Bailey ordered.

“Just give her a second,” Teddy pleaded, not taking her eyes off the screen. “She’s fighting.” The trio of doctors stared at the monitor while Link fixated his eyes on his girlfriend and slid his hand into hers once again, interlocking his fingers with hers. Don’t die, don’t die, don’t die. The monitor beeped, and then beeped again, and then again. Link forced himself to look up and watched as the numbers climbed.

“Thank you, god.” Bailey brought a shaking hand to her face before closing her fingers into a fist and pressing it to her forehead. “We are lucky that the lord is looking out for this woman because the people in her life seem to not be.” The comment cut through Link like a knife.

“Bailey, that is not fair!” Richard exclaimed. Link had never heard the man raise his voice with such aggravation, even Bailey winced as she stormed out of the room, throwing her gloves to the side.

“She’s lost a lot of people...and a lot of surgeons,” Richard muttered in apology to him.

“Can she breathe on her own?” Link choked, looking at Teddy, who shifted on her feet.

“She’s weak. I’d like to keep the tube in for a couple of hours at least. See how she does. I’d also like to get neuro down here to give her a check. Let’s get her up to the ICU for now and monitor her closely. She’s stable. Let’s focus on that for now.” Link nodded, not knowing what else to say as Teddy pulled off her gown and tossed it into the bin before practically staggering out of the stuffy room.

“I didn’t know.” Something about the way Richard was looking his way was causing a buildup of defensiveness inside him.

“How?” Richard shook his head with disappointment, massaging his throbbing temple and trying to block out the emphysematous but rhythmic breath sounds coming from the breathing tube. “How, did you just not know?” His colleague was radiating judgment and Richard’s eyes narrowed into tiny slits before his entire body slumped, in no effort to lecture Link about something he should be hearing from Amelia. He looked at his friend, without a trace of condemnation, knowing, so easily, that it could be him in that hospital bed and her where he was standing. “It’s not my place,” he finally stated, tearing his eyes away from Amelia and blinking away any buildup in his tear ducts. He turned to the nurse and thanked her, always polite. “When you take her up can you make it discreet?” He knew the woman had recognized Amelia immediately. “Her reputation is on the line.” The nurse nodded as if she understood. Richard thanked her again before exiting the room.

Richard had ended up telling Meredith, who stopped by to let Link know that she and Hayes would pick up Scout from daycare and take him home with them. Link couldn’t read her expression, it was clouded as if she was undergoing an internal conflict that caused her to wince and look away upon glancing at Amelia. Some of the colour had returned to her cheeks, they looked as if someone had applied too much blush to a pale complexion and were hot to the touch. Teddy had removed the breathing tube about an hour ago. She’d gasped at first, her lungs whistling and wheezing in protest. Enough to make Teddy almost contemplate putting it back in before the breathing had settled.

“You didn’t look for her,” Meredith blurted out, as if she’d been trying to keep the words at bay. The look on her face told him that she regretted saying it almost immediately.

“Neither did you,” he bit back, more aggressively than he would’ve liked. Meredith’s face snapped away from him so quickly it was as if he’d physically hit her.

“If you really loved her. Enough to marry her. Her response shouldn’t have mattered,” her voice was as sharp as a knife. “She loves you and she’s been unfortunate enough to have most of the people she’s loved taken away from her. Do you know how rare it is for Amelia to come to Maggie and I teary eyed because she finally feels safe and loved and not being pressured into anything by the person she loves? " Meredith took a step back as if she didn't want to continue but couldn't help herself. "Amelia is a runner. She breaks under the expectations that the people that she loves have of her and she functions under the fear that the people she loves are going to leave her or die. So if you want to be an ass and make her feel like she isn’t enough for you because she doesn’t feel the need to commemorate her love to you on a stupid peice of paper, I will remove you from my sister’s life.” She was gone before he could even think of a reply and he stared wordlessly at the spot she’d just vacated.

“No,” the voice was so soft he could barely hear it. His head whipped to where she was lying. “No, no, no, no.” Amelia’s eyes were wide and she recoiled as he reached out to touch her. Her heart monitor climbed and he pulled back his hand. She was looking at him in a way that made his skin crawl. He realized, then, that she was looking at him in fear. She looked scared. It shocked him how quickly everything had fallen apart. How quickly he’d gone from someone she’d loved to someone she felt as though she barely knew. But it wasn’t really that quickly, a part of him was whispering over his shoulder. You just didn’t want to accept it.

“Hey.” The words sounded stupid as soon as they left his mouth. “It’s okay. You’re okay.” He found himself wondering what had happened to her over the last couple of days, the bruises scattered along her arms had become more evident as colour had returned to her skin. She gagged suddenly, moaning in a way that made him sick and he slid a kidney dish under her just in time. There didn’t seem to be much in her stomach so it was mostly dry heaving. Her heart monitor climbed every time he tried to touch her and he gave up on trying to hold back her hair.

“She’s awake?” Teddy stood in the doorway. Amelia looked up at her blankly before laying her head back against the hospital bed and staring up at the ceiling. The shame in her eyes were evident. Link nodded to Teddy, who gave him a somewhat genuine smile. “I’ll just do a quick vitals check.”

“No,” Amelia moaned, the pain in her voice causing Teddy to stop in her tracks. “I just want to go home. Let me go home.”

“You’re not going to go home though, are you?” Link glanced up to find Richard standing at the foot of the hospital bed, arms crossed. His stern expression was slightly wavering. Link wondered how hard it was for him to even be within two meters of her.

“Shut the fuck up,” Amelia spat, pulling her IV out of her wrist and throwing it across the room hard enough that the machine screeched against the concrete floor. Link grimaced as the IV site began to bleed. The sudden bout of energy seemed to exhaust her as she collapsed back onto the bed.

“We’re good for now, Doctor Altman,” Richard said softly, not wanting to watch as his coworker, and friend, incriminated herself in front of someone she’d regret. “You can go home with Maggie or I can check you into a rehab clinic, the choice is yours.” Link’s eyes fell to the floor, his face burning at the idea that he couldn’t be trusted to take care of her.

“Maggie’s on her honeymoon,” Amelia mumbled, the anger dying out in her eyes as she realized what his response would be before he even spoke it.

“I called her,” Richard confirmed her prediction. “Meredith is taking care of Scout and I shouldn’t even be in the same room as you.” Hot tears spilled down Amelia’s cheeks as she glared at him. You ruin everything. The voice in her head had been telling her over and over since she’d woken up.

“Rehab. I choose rehab. Call her and tell her not to come.” Maggie had arrived at the hospital an hour ago but Link decided to keep his mouth shut.

“Fine,” Richard sighed. “I’ll call right now.” He stepped outside where his daughter was waiting anxiously and placed both hands on her shoulders trying to calm her down.

“I need to go in and see her,” Maggie’s breathing was asynchronous, she held her shaky hands into her chest, trying to look into her sister’s hospital room.

“Don’t,” Richard warned. “She’s not herself right now. I shouldn’t have called and stressed you out. She chose rehab.” He watched as her face twisted in confusion.

“What? That’s ridiculous.” Maggie shook her head in disbelief. “Let me take her home.”

“I wasn’t expecting her to be this bad. It’s too much responsibility to put on anyone. I...I just don’t think it would be a good idea, Maggie.” He pulled her into a hug as she started to sob.

“Link, is he…” she trailed off as she buried her face into her biological father’s scrub top.

“It’s not anyone’s fault,” Richard sighed. “But out of everyone, he’s the last person that should be taking care of her right now.” Maggie nodded, cursing herself for not doing more as she had watched Amelia change over the last couple of months. “Has she mentioned anything about her friend Charlotte? She needs an ally, someone who understands how her brain works. I know how much you care about her, Maggie, but you can’t help her the way she really needs in a couple of days when the realization of what she’s done has hit.”

“Charlotte, the one in L.A.? I’ve talked to her a couple times, never really for too long, just over FaceTime when Amelia used to call her while living at Meredith’s.”

“Amelia brought her up a lot at meetings,” Richard bit the inside of his lip, hoping that he was making the right decision. “I think we need to call Charlotte. I think that she knows Amelia on a level that not any of us in Seattle can really understand.”