Chapter 45: An Uncomfortable Situation
January 20
"The good news is that you are almost at the point where you can stop bedrest," Addison encouraged Amelia over the phone as they FaceTimed. "If you're lucky and if your little monkey has finally decided to pass the carseat test, you might even get to go home before the C-section. I imagine Asha or whatever you might end up changing her name to – will be in fine shape very soon, so why stay on bedrest if that's the case?"
"It would be so nice to go home for a few days," Amelia shared. "Although, I have to admit, Owen and the kids have outdone themselves in making over the room."
Addison eagerly responded, "How so?"
"I have a rotation of comfy PJs, my own pillows from home, and one of my coziest blankets from the sofa. As I scan around the room, the walls and the windowsill are filled with flowers, picture frames, and drawings from the kids. Bless my husband, he also bought a thick foam pad for the bed," Amelia described as she panned the room with her phone. "Between all this and my meal deliveries, I'm kind of enjoying having my own place."
"Amy, You. Are. Spoiled," Addison declared.
Amelia nodded proudly, agreeing, "Yep. Pretty much. Now, when are you getting your ass up here to deliver this other baby?"
"Oh, sweetie, I wish I could. Henry's been sick with this nasty, oozing, green phlegm disgusting-itis. He didn't sleep at all last night, and I'm pretty sure he's developing an ear infection. Jake is off speaking at a college until tomorrow night. Believe me…if I could manage to steal away to Seattle, I'd be there in a heartbeat," Addison admitted.
"Mmmm Hmmmm… likely excuse," Amelia jested. Alex came to the room, nodded at Amelia and headed toward Ella. He popped his stethoscope into his ears and listened to the baby's heart as Amelia joked, "Addie, I gotta go. That hot Peds surgeon just walked in."
"Let me see him!" Addison demanded. Amelia moved her phone so Addy could see Alex standing next to the baby's bed. Addison hollered, "Karev!"
Alex looked up with a playful grin and responded flatly, "Dr. Forbes Montgomery Shepherd Reilly."
"Very cute, Alex. Very funny. Truth be told, you only know all my names because you like me. Now grab Amelia's phone and show me my beautiful goddaughter," Addison ordered.
"I'm a little busy here, like, actually doing my job," Karev retorted.
"Yeah, right. C'mon Alex," Addison begged and began to whine, "I want to see the baby!"
Alex looked up at Amelia with a sly grin as he tested Ella's reflexes and lightly tickled her tummy, commenting jokingly to Amelia, "Your caller is as whiny as your three-year-old. Must be the red hair." Alex looked back down at the baby and continued his exam as Amelia pointed her phone toward Alex and zoomed in on his rear.
"Oh, now that view's not bad," Addison purred with sultry tones. "Leave the camera pointed right there." Alex glanced up and determined where Amelia had aimed the phone. Rather than shy away, he shook his hips slightly as he pretended to dance to the tune he began humming.
Owen walked in and stopped in his tracks as he saw Alex shimmying and heard Amelia and Addison cackling. "Good morning, all," he announced with a look of surprise as he attempted to process the scene.
"Hi, Owen!" Addison roared from the speaker of Amelia's cell phone in a flirty style.
"Ah," Owen remarked with a wide smile, "Now this all makes sense." He walked over to Amelia and kissed her as he whispered, "Good morning, beautiful." Amelia smiled as she reciprocated the kiss. Owen proceeded to the baby and asked Alex, "So, how's my girl today?"
"She's excellent," Alex declared. "She's eating well, is completely off the vent, and is down to just a little oxygen, no serious issues whatsoever. Heart rate, borderline anemia, BP and sugar all great. No reflux, no jaundice. She's a strong little preemie. In fact, she can go home as soon as she passes the carseat test. Should we set it up?"
Owen advised, "Let's wait until we have a clearer picture of Amelia's discharge options."
Alex nodded as he flipped his stethoscope around his neck. He approached Amelia and reached his hand out for the phone, saying to Addison, "Now I can take you to your goddaughter."
"Thank you, fine sir," Addison proclaimed.
Alex aimed the phone at the baby and began reviewing his exam findings orally with Addison, sharing, "Umbilical area is healing nicely. She's on just a small amount of oxygen and breathing well. We're keeping the apnea monitor in place just to be careful. BP has steadied, still no signs of jaundice whatsoever, weight is in great shape, and NG tube was just removed. This one's resilient."
"Look at her," Addison cooed with a high pitched voice. "Oh, she is beautiful. Look at all that red hair! And her little toes and fingers." Addison sighed dreamily, "Well done, Alex. Well done."
Alex shrugged as he walked back toward Amelia to return the phone, claiming, "I didn't do much. She's the one who's been working hard." He handed Amelia the phone and whispered, "Page me if you have any questions. She's doing great." Amelia nodded as Owen followed Alex into the hallway.
"Karev?" Owen called.
"Yeah?" Alex voiced as he stopped and turned toward Owen.
"How will this all work? What if Ella's ready to go home and Amelia has to stay? And what will we do when Asha's born, and we have one baby ready to be at home and one newborn in the NICU?" Owen asked.
"Let's check with Robbins. My guess is that both Amelia and Ella can be released for now, but Amelia's status isn't my call. When Baby #2 is born or if Amelia needs to come back for hospital bedrest, Ella can hang in Amelia's room and, depending on their relative size, she may even be able to sleep with her sister. There are benefits to putting twins in the same bed. I'll let you know. It'll all work out, Chief," Alex opined.
January 22
Either Annalisa or Arizona came by each day to check on Amelia. Every other day, one of them would perform a more comprehensive assessment and consider next steps. On the 20th, Amelia had been disappointed that she'd received a clear and emphatic veto regarding her request to go home. She was hoping that this day would be different.
A family emergency had arisen in Annalisa's family the day before, so one of her colleagues and friends from Seattle Presbyterian was covering a portion of the cases and rounds for her at Grey-Sloan. Arizona tried to dole out the simpler cases to the sub because the wonderful woman was pulling 10-hour shifts at Seattle Pres and then 5-6 hour shifts at GSMH. Since she was nearly certain that Amelia would receive the green light to rest at home, Arizona decided to hand Amelia off to the sub.
Unbeknownst to Arizona, Amelia had just mentioned to a nurse that the incision site from Asha's Spina Bifida surgery suddenly felt stretched and uncomfortable. When the pain arose out of nowhere, Owen had just left to pick Oliver up at school. Had he been there, Amelia would have told him about the sensation and prayed that Owen was unconcerned. She was deeply hoping that this was just another step in the healing process and not something that would keep her in the hospital.
The doctor knocked softly on the door and entered. Because of Amelia's delayed interval delivery, she was surprised Arizona gave her the case. However, she noticed that discharge seemed to be the plan after a couple quick and routine tests. She imagined she'd be in and out of the room within an hour tops. Looking at Amelia's electronic chart as she approached the hospital bed, the distracted doctor extended her hand and introduced herself, "Hi, Amelia. I'm Doctor Marling. I'm covering your case while Dr. Wakefield is out of town." Emma looked at her patient, smirked briefly, and then began reviewing the readings on Amelia's monitors. She assessed Amelia's vitals and compared them to the numbers that were listed in the electronic chart.
"Any obvious contractions today?" Emma asked Amelia as she palpated the baby bump.
Rubbing her side, Amelia offered, "Contractions aren't my primary worry. Dr. Robbins performed in utero surgery when I was at 24 weeks and all of the sudden, I'm having some pain at my incision site," she explained as she rolled onto her side so the doctor could see the stitches and incision. Amelia continued, "As far as contractions go, I'm not sure if the monitor recorded some pangs about an hour or so ago. They were sharp and quick without a pattern. I'm not sure if they were contractions or something else."
Smiling with affirmation, Emma complimented Amelia, "You've been tracking all this quite a while. Excellent job paying attention to that level of detail." Amelia giggled internally, thinking, If you'd reviewed my whole chart, Pretty Girl, you'd see I'm a brain surgeon. Emma proceeded over to the monitor to review the print outs from the last two hours. She ran the paper through her hands, looking for the pangs Amelia had mentioned.
Emma stood beside Amelia's bed and investigated, "You mentioned to the nurse that the incision site feels like it's stretching? I'd like to take a look at that and also show you what I'm seeing on the print outs. But, first, when was your cervix last checked? I'm having trouble finding a date in your file."
"Dr. Robbins checked it about a week after my surgery and then again around 28 weeks. She performed a cerclage when my first twin was born at 32 weeks and told me that she wanted to decrease the chances of infection and wouldn't check again unless I went into labor. I'm not sure which dates are most helpful for you," Amelia shared as she once again noticed how hospital patients lose all privacy.
"I see," Emma responded. "I'd like to go ahead and check the cerclage and see how it's healing. Then we'll do a quick ultrasound and review printouts. Assuming everything checks out, we may be sending you home soon."
Emma pulled the curtain between the door and the room completely closed, put on a robe, and walked over to the sink. She called the nurses' station and requested someone come set up instruments. The nurse came in right away and greeted Amelia, "Hi, Dr. Shepherd. How have you been?"
Looking puzzled as she glanced at the nurse, Emma turned to Amelia and questioned, "Doctor? I'm sorry, I didn't catch that from your file. What type of medicine do you practice?"
"I'm a neurosurgeon," Amelia responded as humbly as possible. She liked this substitute doctor and didn't want to embarrass her. "Or at least I used to be. It's been weeks since I've operated. It feels like another lifetime."
In response, Emma grinned and explained that the exam would probably be fairly uncomfortable. She promised to be as gentle as possible. She also told Amelia that the less Amelia moved, the quicker the exam would be complete. After Emma spotted a huge rock and a wedding ring on Amelia's hand, she asked, "Would you like your husband to join us? Is he nearby?"
"Actually," Amelia explained, "he should be arriving any minute now with one of our sons."
Emma turned to the nurse and confirmed that a Do Not Disturb – Examination in Process sign had been hung. The nurse answered, "Yes, but he'll probably find someone to watch their child and then walk right past the sign."
"Oh," Emma mildly exclaimed with shock, "He's… uh… he does what he wants, hmmm?"
Not wanting to embarrass Dr. Marley even more by mentioning that her husband was the Chief of Surgery, Amelia shrugged, "Well, he's a red head. Stubborn as hell."
Knowingly, Emma casually shared, "I completely understand. I almost married a red head once." Then she began the exam as Amelia winced and wiggled. The nurse moved to hold Amelia's hands and encouraged her to be still.
Through gritted teeth, Amelia grumbled as her freshly post-partum body underwent the exam, "It hurts like hell."
"I know, I know," Emma said softly. "Keep still so I can see the whole area. We're 60% done." Amelia continued to moan and groan but tried not to move. Emma completed the exam, draped Amelia's lower half, and was just about to assure Amelia that the cerclage looked healthy and effective when Owen knocked softly on the door and came in.
As she prepared the ultrasound, Emma asked Amelia, "Is that your husband?"
"Owen?" Amelia called out.
"Yep, what's going on, Aims?" Owen asked.
"Just a quick exam that will hopefully prove I can head home. C'mon in," Amelia explained. Emma rolled backward on the stool she was sitting on and reached down into a drawer looking for a smaller transducer.
Owen stepped into the room and stood by the side of the bed opposite the ultrasound. He mumbled, intending for only Amelia to hear him, "You look like you're hurting. What happened between when I left and now?" Amelia explained the exam she'd just undergone and confirmed that she was in pain. In their own little bubble of reality, Owen leaned down and kissed Amelia's forehead. Emma sat up to attach the transducer, shocked to see her ex-lover across from her. Oblivious to what would quickly be an awkward interchange, Owen then stroked Amelia's cheek with his thumb and forefinger before leaning the top of his forehead on the top of hers and whispering, "I'm sorry it hurt."
Emma quickly decided she was not going to lie or pretend that she didn't know Owen, but she also hoped her previous relationship with this adorable patient's husband would not be disclosed by said husband. Emma cleared her throat and held out her hand in order to shake Owen's hand, uttering confidently, "Dr. Hunt, how nice to see you again. Dr. Emma Marley." She concluded with her name to sound as if she might have to remind him of it. Bearing no ill will toward him, she also did so to warn him.
Owen grasped the doctor's hand and shook it as he glanced up. From the ashen color of his skin, his shocked expression, and his continual blinking, his face screamed astonishment. He lifted his hand over his eye to scratch his forehead before speaking. Amelia happened to witness his transformed presence and possible non-verbal denial of who stood before him, but she wasn't sure what to make of it. Owen then sputtered out, "Thanks for covering Annalisa's patients."
Emma bored her eyes into Owen's eyes with a curious grin and responded, "My pleasure. Annalisa's a great friend and colleague. I'm always happy to help out a friend." An awkward silence fell on the room and nobody spoke.
As usual, Owen broke the silence by mentioning apologetically, "I'm the one who interrupted your work. Please, proceed with whatever you were doing. I'm…I'm going to step… I'm going to step out for a moment and check on our son. He's stuck at the Nurses' Station right now."
Swallowing a large gulp, Emma took in a deep breath and invited Oliver to join them, "All we have left is the ultrasound and some printouts to review. If your son would like to see the ultrasound, he's welcome to join us."
Owen stepped out quickly and was away for about 5 minutes even though the nurses' station was only about 30 feet away. Assuming Owen would return within a minute, the two women waited silently for his return. After a couple minutes, when it was obvious Owen might be awhile, Emma attempted to start a conversation, "So, the twins are your second and third children?"
"Actually, our 4th and 5th, but we've only been married a year and have been together a little less than two years." Amelia knew her words would throw Emma off.
Emma was thoroughly confused but respectfully asked, "Do you have another set of multiples?"
"My husband was listed as guardian for his cousin's children. Not long after our marriage, she died in a car accident. We became instant parents to a 3, 7, and 11-year-old," Amelia explained.
Emma leaned forward and responded with an unemotional response as she'd been trained to do, "Oh… that must have been quite an adjustment."
Before Amelia had an opportunity to respond, Oliver burst through the door by himself. He was full of energy and ran up to his mom, hugging her and announcing, "Mommy! I missed you today."
Still hugging Amelia and burying the majority of his face in her baby bump, Oliver glanced over at the other lady in the room with the one eye that wasn't buried from the hug. She smiled at Oliver and inquired, "And what's your name?"
"Oliver," Oliver answered factually. "Oliver Blake Hunt."
"That's a great name. I like it. I'm Dr. Marley," Emma commented as she smiled kindly. "Let me guess, you're probably about… hhhmmm… 8 ½ or 9, huh?"
Straightening his back, Oliver confessed, "8, but I look older." Amelia smiled proudly at Oliver's adorable pride.
Emma giggled lightly, noted Owen's absence, and announced that she was going to begin. She put the transducer on Amelia's bump, explaining, "First I want to get an overall survey. Let's check fingers and toes and umbilical cords." After checking out the basics, Emma confirmed that everything looked great. "Now, Amelia, can you show me two sites? Where was your uterus cut and where do you feel discomfort now?" Amelia pointed out both sites and Emma noted the locations.
Owen quietly slunk back into the room and picked up Ella. He rocked her in his arms and gazed out the window. Internally, he thought to himself, I really cannot believe this. 'Oh, hey, Emma. All those kids we dreamed about having together? Yeah, well, I'm having them with the hot neurosurgeon instead.' Not only is my ex-girlfriend just feet away from me, but she's examining my wife!
Even though his relationship with Emma had concluded long before Owen and Amelia became a couple, Owen now felt awkward that he'd never mentioned the relationship to Amy. He wished he could have gotten away with not returning to the room or that he could quietly slip out unnoticed, but he knew both options would have been far too obvious.
"Dr. Hunt, would you like to join us?" Emma spoke as a simultaneous order and suggestion.
Owen set the baby in her bed and walked over. Oliver was sitting on the one bedside chair, so Owen picked him up and placed him on his lap as he sat down. He joked, "Gotta give up your seat to the elderly, pal." Oliver just looked up at Owen and smirked. Owen, sensing an opportunity to start rebuilding bridges, whispered and explained the ultrasound to his son as Emma kept repeating internally, remember: he's a patient's husband – that's all he is.