Chapter 13 – Amen

Caught Me By Surprise

Amelia sat in her office with her shoes off and her feet on the desk. Her lab coat was thrown sloppily over the back of the desk chair where she was sitting. Looking at her phone, she yawned as she thought to herself: Some days. Most days go by in the blink of an eye. Rushing around. Emergencies. The unexpected. The whirlwind. That was my day yesterday. I began by having breakfast with Owen in the cafeteria and ended up engaged and making an offer on a huge house with more bedrooms than anybody needs. Then there are those days like today…days that drag, where the minute hand seems stuck on the clock, where there might be enough to do but none of it feels compelling. Those are the days that end up taking me by surprise. The unexpected comes along and hits me alongside the head sending me into a tailspin. I can't help but wonder what's in store for me on this slow, uninspiring day.

Derek pulled Amelia out of her daydreaming as he opened the door and let himself in. Seeming perfectly comfortable barging in, he simply stated, "Amy…"

Not looking up from her phone, Amy dryly offered, "You've always been so respectful of your sisters' privacy, Derek." Grinning but still looking at her phone and not him, she sarcastically offered, "Please. Come on in."

Looking at his baby sister blankly, Derek raised his eyebrows as he focused on her feet. He sat down at a guest chair in front of her desk.

Amy ignored him for a moment, then sighed and looked up over her reading glasses, "Something?"

"Yes. I see you're incredibly busy, though. Should I make an appointment?" Derek droned on sarcastically adding a brotherly smirk with attitude.

Looking back down at her phone, Amy fiddled with it as she checked an email. She exhaled deeply and set the phone on her desk. Looking directly at Derek, continuing to lean back in her chair and keeping her feet on the desk, she stated, "You could. You could also continue to be a smartass and lessen your chances of getting what you want. Or, here's a thought, you could treat me like your boss."

Derek retorted, "Well, Amy, that's hard to do when you're sitting at your desk…my former desk…with your bare feet displayed to the world as you slouch and play on your phone, looking about 12."

"Again…and this will get you what you want how?" she queried.

Running his hands through his hair, Derek sighed heavily. He looked at his sister and grinned in a way that communicated he'd really like to wallop her. However, he refused to lose his self-control. Amy's office phone rang as Derek stalled.

Amy answered her phone, "Dr. Shepherd." Almost immediately, she pulled her feet off the desk and sprung up in her chair. For no particular reason, Derek rolled his eyes.

"Absolutely. Yes." Amy shared with the caller, "That makes sense. I'm glad you checked. I'm fairly certain we're dealing with a large prolactinoma. What the blood level showing?" After a short pause, Amelia responded, "Really? 2000?! Are you sure?" Derek leaned in curiously.

Amy continued, "This isn't emergent. Go ahead and run another screen and call me when the results are in. I'll come down then. Schedule an MRI for this afternoon if they aren't backed up. If the schedule is too full, we can skip the MRI for now. And let's discontinue the bromocriptine and start on a standard dose of caborgoline. How's his vision?"

Derek pointed below his belt. Amy rolled her eyes and nodded her head as she mouthed, "I know!"

"And run a CBC with a testosterone panel," Amy concluded. As she hung up the phone, she placed her feet back on desk, went back to slouching, and looked blankly at Derek. Dryly, she quipped, "No worries, Derek, I know a prolactinoma can affect a man's sexual function. Thank you for the non-verbal prompt." She paused to grin at her brother before continuing, "So…you barged into my office unannounced and uninvited why?"

Fascinated by the case, Derek asked, "His level is at 2000?"

Amy ignored the question, "What did you need, Derek?"

Grinning warmly, Derek offered, "Actually…believe it or not, dear sister, I stopped by for two reasons. One, to ask if you'd like to join your niece and I for lunch and, two, to let you know that for the first time since I've been in Seattle, I actually have nothing to do." Derek pulled out his phone and held it up, threatening with glee, "Now take your feet down, sit up, and act like the Chief of Neurosurgery or I'll snap a picture and send it to Mom." The picture sound snapped as Amelia looked at her brother with anger.

Standing up and learning over desk, she insisted, "Give me that phone."

Derek held his arm straight up while gently pushing her away with the other hand and chuckling, "No."

"Derek!" Amy yelled.

Laughing, Derek declared, "Ha! Just try. You can have it if you can pry it out of my hand." As he spoke, he put his other hand on Amelia's head and messed up her hair like he used to do to her when she was 5.

Amy tried to jump up to grab the phone, grumbling, "Derek…this isn't funny, I'm your boss. Give me the phone!"

Grabbing her in a headlock and laughing, Derek exclaimed, "This might be the most fun I've had in years!" Amy tried to worm her way out of Derek's hold to no avail.

Meredith was walking by Amy's office and heard Derek's laughter. Smirking and poking her head into Amelia's office, she was surprised to see a Shepherd wrestling match playing out before her eyes. "Derek?! Let go of your sister!" Taken by surprise, Derek immediately let go of Amelia and straightened up.

Sensing an opportunity, Amelia instructed, "Grab his phone, Meredith. Grab it! Grab it."

Mer grabbed the phone without a problem and threw it to Amy. Teasing her husband, Meredith grabbed Derek by the shoulders, then put her hands on his cheeks and kissed him, suggesting, "Am I going to have to separate you two?"

Meanwhile, Amy was fiddling with Derek's phone trying to figure it out. With her gaze fixed on the unfamiliar phone, Derek reached over and grabbed his phone out of her hands. Sounding like a 3 year old, he declared, "Mine!" He walked to her office door proudly and began to set up a text.

"I hate my brother," Amy growled as she tried to put her hair back in order.

Meredith giggled and shook her head, "You do not. You know you love him."

From the doorway, Derek added, "Yeah, Aims…you know you love me." Grinning widely, he put his phone in his lab coat pocket.

Amelia stared at Derek with sisterly contempt. Her fixed gaze was interrupted by a ring tone coming from her phone.

Smuggly, Derek laughed, "Oh good, it went through. So, lunch?"

Looking down at her phone, Amelia saw that Derek sent a group text to the whole family. The text included the picture of her with her feet up on the desk and the words Amelia hardly working. Must be nice being the boss. She narrowed her eyes, raised an eyebrow, and insisted, "You're paying."

Derek walked out laughing, saying over his shoulder for all to hear, "It's ok, sweetie. Your big brother can cover your lunch money, just like he always has. See you in the cafeteria." Derek trotted off to grab a table before the best ones were taken.

As Amy entered the cafeteria a few minutes later, she had her phone up to her ear. She was explaining, "Mom, it was all a set up. Yes….I know my role. Ma….Mom….Mother! Derek was just being an idiot. It was a set up….yes he was, Mom. Mom, he's a pill. You should try to be his boss…well, I guess that's true. I have a whole new appreciation for your mothering skills."

"Auntie Mia!" Zola exclaimed joyfully as she ran up to Amelia. Her aunt bent down and gave her a big hug. Derek, right behind Zola, pointed to Amelia's phone and mouthed 'Mom?' Amy narrowed her eyes, and Derek laughed aloud.

Hearing the laughter in the background, Mrs. Shepherd asked Amy a question. Amy responded, "Yeah, that is Derek. Here, Ma…he wants to talk to you." Amy smirks sarcastically, tilted her head, and handed Derek the phone before walking off hand-in-hand with Zola.

Meredith, appearing behind him, walked by whispering, "Revenge…it's sweet. You trained her well."

Owen motioned to Amelia and Zola. When Zola saw Owen, she ran to greet him with a hug and kiss. Looking at Amelia expectantly, Owen raised his eyebrows and smiled broadly, "I have something amazing to share with you."

"Really?" Amelia inquired. "Yesterday wasn't enough?" she asked as she winked and referred to their secret. The previous night, they had decided to wait before announcing their engagement. They wanted to figure out if they'd let the news out subtly over time, with an open house after they moved in, or in some other way. After they wrote up the offer on the house, there hadn't been time to figure out details.

Owen radiated joy and enthusiasm as he looked at Amelia, then reached into his pocket and handed her an envelope. "Open it," he encouraged, knowing the contents.

Amelia looked puzzled as she glanced at Owen and grasped the envelope. He smiled back proudly as she removed the letter and unfolded it. Her eyes grew to nearly twice their size as she read that the American Academy of Neurology was inviting her to speak at the upcoming conference. Smiling and looking at Owen, she said, "Really? They want me to speak."

"Keep reading," Owen advised with a grin.

"Ok…" Amelia agreed as she continued to review the letter. The Academy was asking her to be the keynote speaker at the Frontiers in Neuroscience meeting. They were requesting that she outline her findings and share her experience related to Nicole Herman's tumor surgery. Amelia slowly and cautiously sat down with a sense of shock. In the past, she'd usually attended the conference; however, she had never spoken at it nor even led a small break out session. Derek had hosted numerous small workshops and served on discussion panels, but even he had never been invited to offer a keynote.

Owen chuckled as he reached out for Amelia's hand and proclaimed, "I'm so proud of you."

"I'm so shocked," Amelia said as she blinked and re-read the letter. "Wow."

"They're meeting in Portland this year. I was thinking we could both go and take some time off together after the conference," Owen suggested. "I've been meaning to strengthen some professional connections down there anyway, so this seems like the perfect opportunity to mix some down time with professional obligations."

Smiling broadly, Amelia confirmed, "I would love that."

Derek and Meredith joined them at the table and Derek asked, "You'd love what?"

"Amelia has been asked to present the keynote at the AAN conference next month," Owen bragged.

"Really?" Derek asked with shock while attempting to sound supportive and happy.

Meredith turned to Derek and celebrated, "To think we'll be there to hear it!" Then Meredith turned toward Amelia and smiled, "Amelia! That's incredible. What an honor. Congratulations."

"Thanks," Amelia responded.

Derek forced out the words, "Amy…that's… really impressive. I'm so proud of you." He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

"I'm still trying to figure out how I even made the short list," Amelia mused as she caught Owen's knowing grin. His smug joy made her wonder if he'd had something to do with the invitation.

Owen grasped Amelia's hand and leaned further in toward the table. They had decided that they would tell Derek and Meredith about the house and the engagement as soon as they had an opportunity. Amelia looked at Owen and nodded her head, giving him the cue to share their announcements. Meredith turned her head to the side and glanced at them, sensing something was about to occur.

"Derek. Meredith," Owen began. "We have more news to share. We put an offer on a house last night and our offer was accepted this morning. It looks like we'll be able to close and move in next month."

"Great," Derek responded a bit too quickly and happily.

Amelia put her hand up in a stop motion, adding, "There's more. We aren't sharing this news widely yet, but we want you two to know that we're also engaged."

"Wow, Amy. Your life is just full of news today, isn't it?" He smirked before continuing, "I'm not surprised. We're so happy for both of you."

Meredith asked, "Any date set yet? Location?"

"Not yet, everything…" Owen laughed softly, "everything just began to fall into place last night. We haven't had time to consider details. Please keep the news to yourselves, we haven't decided how or when to announce all this."