Chapter 23: What's Wrong Amelia

"Who's first?!" Owen declared with glee as Finley finished clearing dinner dishes.

Finley, ever the first born, shared, "Oliver can help me with dishes while Bronwyn takes a bath."

"Whyyyyyyy do I always go fiiiirrrssstttt?" Bronwyn responded dramatically, her lower arms flapping in front of her with her hands palms-up.

"Because you're the baby!" Oliver piped up.

Bronwyn put her hands on her hips, "I am NOT a baby! I'm almost growed up." After a long talk with Jessica earlier in the afternoon, Owen decided to let this conversation play out. Jessica had been indispensable in offering Parenting 101 advice.

"Bronwyn Kate, if you didn't go first, you'd whine about that," Finley firmly insisted, "and you are not almost a grown up, but, you're right, you're not a baby either."

"I ams too almost growed up," Bronwyn argued, determined to have her way.

Finley sighed with exasperation, "Uncle Owen, are you really going to let her keep this up?"

Owen smiled and interjected, "My precious Katie girl, I think you're allllllwwwwaaaaayyyyyyysssss first because you're the lady. Your brothers know that ladies go first."

"Hm.," Bronwyn pondered thoughtfully.

She headed toward the tub as Owen reminded her, "You can run the water but don't get in until someone is in there with you, Kate."

From around the corner, her little voice shouted, "I know, I know." She shed her clothes as she headed to the tub, leaving a trail behind her.

"Oliver, help Finley out while I wash Bronwyn's hair," Owen requested. Oliver grabbed a dishtowel and began wiping off the table. "Finley, holler if you need me," Owen instructed.

As Owen walked to the bathroom, his phone rang and he answered it, "Meredith, hi!"

"How's Canada and instant parenthood?" Meredith queried.

"Ha. Yeah. I'm keeping busy. I had a question about nannies…" Owen turned to Bronwyn and told her, "Bronwyn, enough bubbles. Now turn off the water and hop in."

Bronwyn responded, jumping up and down naked, "But my Barbie needs a bath too. She's not in here."

"She'll have to wait," Owen offered authoritatively, raising his eyebrows and staring back at Bronwyn. "Aaahhh….aahhhhhh….none of that, my dear," Owen added as her bottom lip began to jut out. "Sorry, Meredith."

"Bath time. I called at a horrible time, didn't I?" Meredith observed.

"Well maybe we can make it quick and chat more another time. I'm calling to find out about nannies. You interviewed one when Derek was in DC, right?" Owen inquired.

"Daddy, what's a nanny?" Bronwyn asked as she piled bubbles on top of her head. Owen held his index finger up to his lips and pointed at his phone. She kept looking at him as she put bubbles on her chin and exclaimed that her face was like his. Owen grinned and nodded affirmatively.

Meredith explained the process she went through and her positive impression of Lynne. Even if Lynne was not available, she might know someone who was looking for a new family. Owen listened as he washed and rinsed Bronwyn's hair and balanced the telephone between his ear and shoulder. Since his hands were full, Meredith offered to text Lynne's contact information to Owen.

"Meredith, I truly cannot thank you enough," Owen summarized at the end of his phone conversation with his sister-in-law. "I'm going to call Lynne tonight. We're heading down to Seattle tomorrow." Owen played with Bronwyn for a few minutes before lifting her out of the tub and wrapping her up in a big towel. His shirt was as drenched as Bronwyn's dripping hair.

Carrying the little redhead to the kitchen, Owen checked on the boys who had done a fairly impressive job with the kitchen. Oliver headed to the shower while Finley sat at the table to finish his math homework. Owen and Bronwyn headed upstairs to get her ready for bed. The peaceful evening balanced out the morning's chaos.

Snuggled together on Bronwyn's bed, Owen read The Very Hungry Caterpillar, "On Monday…he ate through one apple."

Bronwyn piped up, "but he was still hungry!"

Owen grinned and continued, "On Tuesday, he ate through two pears."

Repeating her line, Bronwyn completed the sentence, "but he was still hungry!"

"On Wednesday, he ate through three plums," Owen exclaimed with surprise. Together, the two called out, "but he was still hungry!" Owen reached over to tickle Bronwyn, who giggled with delight.

When Owen reached Saturday, with the long list of foods that the caterpillar consumed, he elaborated on the last sentence, "that night he had a stomachache and ended up in the hospital in a diabetic coma."

Bronwyn pushed Owen's arm and insisted, "I don't know what a lie-bah-let-ick coma is, but that's not what the book says, Daddy. And the hungry cappalitter doesn't go to the hopspital, silly."

Laughing, Owen admitted, "Okay, okay…you caught me." Then he snuggled Bronwyn down into her blankets and tucked her in with a kiss. "I'll see you in the morning, adorable girl."

"I'll see you in the morning, adorable Daddy," Bronwyn offered with a grin.

After leaving the room, Owen and Oliver took turns reading a page a piece of his chapter book. The more he read; the more Owen yawned. The bedtime stories seemed to affect him more than Oliver. Eventually, Owen suggested Oliver could read for ten minutes on his own before lights out.

Once the little kids were in bed, Owen and Finley had time together each night and this night was no different. Since homework was completed, the two played cards as Owen casually asked about Finley's day and learned more about him. Once the kids were all asleep, Owen eagerly called Amelia.

"The kids are all asleep and I'm feeling really lonely," Owen offered in a sultry voice when Amelia answered the phone.

"Yeah? Hmmm…too bad you're not here next to me, you sexy man," Amelia purred.

Owen chuckled, "Really? Hmmm…quiet. Let me imagine the scene."

After a 10-15 second pause, Amelia began suggestively, "Want me to describe the scene for you?"

"MmmmmHmmmm."

"Let's see," Amelia flirted, "I'm wearing blue. My hair is in an updo just waiting for you to undo it. Your side of the bed is filled with pillows trying to stand in for your absence…"

"Tell me more," Owen chuckled with anticipation.

Amelia groaned, "Just a minute!"

Owen threw his hands in the air in frustration and sighed aloud as he heard Amelia getting sick in the background. He frowned and ran his fingers through his hair repeatedly as he waited for her return.

"I'm back," Amelia purred once again.

"Mia…I just heard you vomit. This isn't going to work," Owen grumbled.

Amelia cleared her throat and asked playfully, "But you're a doctor – that sound doesn't work for you?"

"No," Owen responded sharply. "Now 'fess up, how sick have you been today?"

With a sultry response, Amelia teased, "I'm not going to tell you, sexy. I want to finish describing the scene."

"Really?" Owen groaned in disbelief.

"Give me another chance," Amelia begged. Without waiting for his agreement, Amelia described, "So…that blue I'm wearing?"

"Yeah," Owen chuckled.

With a breathy voice, Amelia shared, "It's terry cloth, baby." Owen laughed. "And that updo? I grabbed a rubber band and threw my hair on top of my head so I wouldn't throw up on it."

"Now, you're turning me on," Owen joked. After a pause in their conversation, Owen said softly, "I love you."

"I love you," Amelia echoed in an unvarnished response. "And I spoke to the car guy today. He had questions I couldn't answer so you need to call him."

"Will do," Owen promised. "I spoke to Meredith about the nanny she interviewed. I'm going to meet with her when we return. We'll be in Seattle tomorrow evening."

"How are the kids?" Amelia inquired curiously.

"I'm in love," Owen admitted. "Finley has to be the most responsible, insightful, intelligent eleven-year-old I've ever met. Oliver…oh, Oliver…. he's a ball of positive, silly activity and quirky insights. Is that a seven-year-old thing or an Oliver thing? And Bronwyn…"

Amelia interrupted, "she's got you wrapped around her pinky already, doesn't she?"

"Oh, Mia, her mispronounced words and playfulness can turn any challenging mood into joy," Owen mused. "This parenting thing…turns out it's going to be wonderful, exhausting, at times frustrating, and amazing."

"I can't wait until tomorrow night when we'll all be together," Amelia shared dreamily.

The two continued to chat for quite some time. Owen shared his peculiar color-changing door dream, and the two attempted to sort out any possible meaning. Each explanation led to further laughter.

Although the phone sex attempt had bombed, simply laughing together and dreaming about their life as a family was in itself satisfying. Both Owen and Amelia fell deeply asleep after their shared conversation.

At 2:00am, Bronwyn came quietly padding into the Master Bedroom sniffling and lightly crying. Rather than wake Owen up, she stood at the edge of the bed just inches from Owen's ear. Feeling the preschooler's warm breath and hearing the soft noises of her presence, Owen opened one eye and asked sleepily, "Hey, Bronwyn. What's up?" He put his arm around her with tenderness.

"I miss my mommy," the little girl wept.

Owen lifted her up onto the bed and hugged her, responding, "I'll bet you do, sweetie."

She buried her head into his chest as he leaned back onto the headboard. Owen rubbed her back as his compassion for her overflowed. Mumbling from inside his embrace, Bronwyn inquired, "She really can't come back ever? Never ever?"

Closing his eyes, Owen hugged her tighter and rocked her from side to side. "I'm sorry, Bronwyn. Never ever. But you know what? You will always remember her, and there will always be a part of your mommy in your heart. She'll be with you even if you can't see her and she'll never stop loving you. Ever." He continued to rock her in his arms until he felt the weight of her body surrender to sleep. Too heartbroken to put her back in her bed alone and too tired to carry her across the hall, Owen set her down alongside of him in the large bed. She slept peacefully the rest of the night.

By morning, he had discovered just how much room a three-year-old uses when they sleep. Having been kicked and awoken by a preschooler's mumbling and dream noises in the early morning hours, Owen thought he might be more exhausted that morning than he'd been before going to bed the previous night.

When Owen called to check in on Amelia, she was still ill. "You're going to the hospital, right?" he asked firmly.

After a brief pause, she admitted, "No. Owen, it's nothing. Just a bug. No fever, no intestinal symptoms, no sore throat. Just a queasy stomach and exhaustion."

"I know you started your period, but this all sounds like you're pregnant anyway. Are your breasts tender?" he asked in full doctor mode.

Amelia giggled, "Phone sex this early in the morning? You do miss me."

Even though nobody could see or hear him, Owen blushed and chuckled, "I'm attempting to do a workup over the phone, Miss-I-don't-need-to-go-to-the-doctor. It's been a week, Mia. You've got to be dehydrated. Besides, if you don't go, I'm calling 911 on your behalf."

"You wouldn't dare, Owen Hunt!" Amelia retorted.

With a tone of resolve, Owen calmly responded, "Try me." Amelia growled in frustration, even though she knew he was right. "I love you," Owen offered sweetly.

"I love you too," Amelia grumbled back.

Owen insisted, "I'm sending someone to come get you. You shouldn't be driving."

"You're going to tell me I have no choice in the matter, aren't you?" Amelia resigned.

"Pretty much," Owen uttered pragmatically.

Letting out a huge sigh, Amelia gave in and promised, "I'll let you know how it goes."

Owen was able to touch base with Meredith, who picked Amelia up shortly thereafter. Looking at Amelia, Meredith hated to admit that she agreed with Owen about Amelia not driving. The sisters-in-law commiserated about the drawbacks of being simultaneously sick and married to a doctor. Both agreed that they were never a problem when their husbands were sick, as they laughed knowing that was actually not the case.

Before they arrived at the hospital, Owen had already called April Kepner. Meredith dropped her off at the ER entrance and went to park the car. She swore she would come find Amelia after she checked on a few patients.

Amelia walked to Kepner at the desk and downplayed any concern, "I'll be in my office working on charts and paperwork. Just page me when you guys have some time and I'll head back down here."

"Oh no, you won't," April insisted. "Chief Hunt already called me and I'm under strict orders to keep you from working." April pointed to a treatment room and urged, "Get on over there. C'mon. You know the drill. Change into a gown. I'll be in there in a minute."

"April, that's really not necessary," Amelia indicated with a soft smile flashing her Shepherd blue eyes in an attempt to convince April to dismiss Owen's instructions.

April folded her arms and lowered her chin, "Dr. Shepherd-Hunt, this is not an option. Now go or I'll find someone far less nice to handle you." Amelia's shoulders sagged as she gave in and headed to the treatment room.

Derek happened to stroll by and see someone out of the corner of his eye. He thought he caught a quick glimpse of Amelia but wasn't positive. Confused, he asked Kepner, "Was that my sister?"

"Yep," April confirmed, "Chief Hunt insisted she come in. She's been vomiting for 5 days pretty much non-stop. I'm pretty sure it's a stomach bug, but that's just a hunch. I haven't checked her out yet."

"I'll go," Derek grinned. Derek ignored April as she sputtered that he shouldn't be the one to examine her.

Amelia had changed into a gown and curled up in a blanket that she grabbed directly out of the warmer on the way to the room. At least working in the hospital had some perks – most patients had no idea there was a blanket warmer just around the corner. After changing, she grabbed an emesis basin, turned out the overhead lights, and curled up on the exam table.

Derek walked in and asked with concern, "Amy? What's going on?"

"Why are you here, Derek? My brain and spine are fine," she moaned.

Derek said nothing. He grabbed his pen light and pulled up on her closed eyelid. Then he began a basic exam, pulling Amelia up to a seated position. Since a nurse hadn't been in yet, he took her blood pressure and checked her pulse. Amelia was too sick and too weak to resist her insistent brother. He listened to her heartbeat and looked in her throat, nose, and ears. He teased, "I'm not seeing much wrong, Aims. Sure, you're not just trying to get out of going to school?"

She brought the emesis basin up to her mouth and threw up. Handing it to him when she was done, she responded with a sly grin and a hoarse voice, "Nope. I'm sure. I've been barfing for days. Welcome to being my doctor, hot shot."

Derek moved his head back as he grabbed the basin and set it on the counter. "Have you been eating?"

"A little. Nothing sounds good but crackers. I've had a little bit of soup and I've been trying to stay hydrated." Amelia snuggled back onto the table and under the blanket, whining, "I need a new blanket – this one's not warm anymore."

Shaking his head and chuckling, Derek responded, "I'll get right on that, Princess. But first, lie on your back. Let me check you out." He popped a thermometer in her mouth and noted the time. As he examined her, he asked, "Any dizziness or lightheadedness?"

"Don't push on me," Amelia argued, sounding like a little sister whose brother had just pushed her toward a mud puddle. "My appendix is fine. My gallbladder doesn't hurt," she explained through the thermometer as her brother ignored her. He wheeled back just a bit, looked at her as he thought, and wheeled closer to continue her exam.

"Ow! Stop it! That's tender." Amelia exclaimed.

"That was your uterus…that…just perhaps… is growing. Are your breasts tender? When was your last period?" he asked.

Amelia closed her eyes and wrapped the blanket around her tighter, "I'm having it now, and I'm not talking to my brother about my breasts."

"You're as much of a pill as you've always been," Derek grinned before adding, "I've got a deal for you, Amy." Derek held up a specimen cup, "You pee in this cup and I'll get you a new blanket." Derek helped her put a gown on backwards on top of the one she was wearing so the opening in the back of her first gown was covered.

Amelia gave Derek the stink eye before trudging down the hall to the bathroom. She left her sample and headed back to the treatment room. Derek was waiting for her with two warm blankets. He boasted, "See how nice I am? I brought you two blankets."

"Whatever, Derek," Amelia grumbled, "Can I have an IV to get rehydrated? And maybe some Zofran or Compazine?"

"Let's see what your UA shows, first." Derek declared. "Your BP is 88/60 – probably because you're dehydrated. Those are low numbers though. I don't like them, and I want to keep an eye on you."

Amelia joked dryly, "You probably haven't taken a BP since residency. I don't trust your readings."

Derek shook his head and confirmed, "You aren't seriously ill – you still have enough energy to be sassy." Amelia rolled so she was facing away from him.

A few minutes later, a nurse knocked softly on the door and said quietly, "Dr. Shepherd?" Both Amelia and Derek responded verbally as Derek stood up and went to the door. He looked at the test results and caught the nurse's beaming smile. He smiled back and whispered with amusement, "What do you know?"

Looking delighted, Derek turned to Amelia and announced, "I'm pretty sure it's not the stomach flu, Amy."

"I don't care what it is, just get me some drugs to calm my barfy stomach," Amelia whined without turning to face him.

Derek walked over to his sister and put his hand on her shoulder. She turned her head just enough to glimpse at him as he declared with a huge grin, "You're pregnant."

"I'm…I'm what? Holy…I'm?" Amelia sputtered.

"Preg…nant," Derek sounded out slowly. "Congratulations!" he chuckled.

In response, Amelia groaned, "But we just inherited three kids, and we decided to stop trying for now. I'm having my period, and Owen's not here, and…" Amelia tried to talk Derek out of the diagnosis.

Derek, standing by the door and buzzing to the nurses' station on the phone, smiled widely as he ordered, "Let's get IV fluids in here so Dr. Shepherd-Hunt can rehydrate, 10 mg Reglan, and discreetly page OB." He hung up the phone and smugly smirked at his little sister.

"I need to talk to Owen," Amelia mumbled weakly, still feeling miserable.

Derek took his cell phone out of his pocket, dialed Owen, and handed Amelia the phone, "Here."

"Derek? What's going on?" Owen asked as he answered after seeing the caller ID.

"Owen, it's me," Amelia grumbled.

Owen responded with immediate concern, "Mia, you sound weak. What's going on? Are you ok? Did Meredith come get you? Did you make it to the hospital safely?"

"That's too many questions," she responded with her eyes closed. "I feel crummy. Yes, I'm at the hospital. How are the kids?"

"They're…they're fine. But what about you?" he asked with apprehension.

Amelia attempted to grin despite her sour stomach, "Are you sitting down?"

"Actually, yeah. I'm at the park with Bronwyn. Why?" Owen inquired with curiosity.

"I'm pregnant," Amelia announced.

Owen laughed heartily. "Mia!" he shouted into the phone, "That's incredible. That's wonderful! I knew it! I wish I could kiss you right now. I love you, Amelia."

"I love you, Owen," Amelia responded sleepily as she motioned for the emesis basin. Derek quickly handed it to her and grabbed his phone.

"Owen, congratulations," Derek offered.

"What happened to Amelia?" Owen wondered aloud. He heard his answer just after he asked. "Oh… Derek, listen, I want OB to admit her and do a full workup. I want hourly updates. What's her BP? Has she had bloodwork yet? Order a full CBC along with the standard early pregnancy blood work and monitor her. Has her kidney function been tested? What's her glucose level?"

Derek chuckled, "She's pregnant, Owen. Not dying. OB's on their way, but I'm sure they'll clear her for discharge."

"I'm insisting, Derek. She's staying at the hospital at least tonight. Start her on Diclegis or metoclopramide and get her eating," Owen ordered.

"Not to worry – an IV is on its way as well as 10mg of Reglan. We already paged OB," Derek assured Owen.

Owen grumbled firmly, "She's staying there overnight."

Derek found Owen's tending of Amelia endearing, but decided he would turn the argument about treatment over to OB. "I'll pass your concerns along, Owen. I'll stay here with her until OB comes. Let's proceed from there."

"Is he barking orders?" Amelia moaned inquisitively.

Derek smiled and nodded, "Pretty much. The OB's going to love dealing with him."