"You just became, my favourite person" Amelia tells Kai, a grin playing at her lips.
"Why?" Kai questions offering a quaint smile in return, wondering what would promote such a bold statement from Dr. Shepherd. All they did was ask who the beautiful neurosurgeon's brother was. Was he someone well known? Should they know who he is? Have they been living under a rock? Kai muses to themself.
Amelia contemplates the situation for a moment, wondering whether Kai was just flirting with her or whether they really didn't know who Derek Shepherd is, was. Kai lived in a very different world. They were all about the science, not medicine. It made total sense that they would never have heard of either of the Shepherd siblings prior to being drafted in to help cure Parkinsons. The science was fascinating. Kai could sit with the theoretical and didn't have to deal with the feelings. The feelings aspect of science terrified them. Kai was all about the physical. The tangible. Of course Kai had never heard of Amelia Shepherd. What they did know though, was that Amelia Shepherd was someone worth getting to know. That had been evident from the first time they were introduced to each other. The moment Amelia had fangirled over Kai's research. It had surprised Kai that Amelia would know who she was seeing as Neuroscience and Neurosurgery were so similar, yet so different.
"Derek Shepherd was my brother." Amelia states plainly, not giving anything too much away. Kai's mind takes in the statement as they consider the words behind it. Was? He was her brother? He must have passed away, Kai assumed. But the name rings no bells in their memory, they really had never heard of Derek Shepherd.
"Should I know who Derek was?" Kai asks kindly, not prying for too much information to begin with. They figured they should start slowly. Amelia seemed like someone that would shut the conversation down in a heartbeat if it got even a little bit complicated and Kai enjoyed talking with her. They didn't want this to end.
"Derek was my older brother, he was a world renowned Neurosurgeon. The best in the field. He even worked for the President of the United States" Amelia stated proudly. Everyone had always told her that her brother was the best and Amelia truly believed it. She'd always strived to be the better Shepherd but she never believed she would be. Amelia's insecurities would always exist. She'd grown up in her brother's shadow and that wouldn't go away anytime soon. The longer he was gone though, the more she had been recognised for her work. She knew she was becoming better known, but still, Derek would always be the better sibling. And that is why it felt so good to come across someone who didn't know who he was. It was refreshing.
"Wow, two neurosurgeons in the family, that's impressive" Kai couldn't quite believe what Amelia is telling them.
"Oh, you think that's impressive. My three sisters are also doctors. Nancy is an OB/GYN, Kathleen works in psychiatry and Liz, well she does some fancy research stuff" Amelia shared almost proudly, surprising herself in the process. She wasn't usually one to sing the praises of her sisters seeing as they've always treated her like a baby, but it felt safe sharing this information with Kai. Kai made the conversation feel safe.
"Big family" Kai marvelled. They were an only child and had never known what it was like to be anything other than their mother's whole universe. "Your parents must be so proud of you all" Kai states. They knew they would be if it was their children.
"They are" Amelia says, not wanting to get into the story of her father at this time. It's still painful for her, all these years later.
"You said Derek was your brother?" Kai questions cautiously, careful not to put too much expectation into the statement.
"Yes, he died. His SUV was hit by a Semi and he had a traumatic brain injury. Did you know Derek was also Meredith's husband." Amelia states, talking more about her family with Kai than she had done with anyone else in a long time.
"I knew Meredith's husband died, I didn't know he was your brother. I guess it makes sense though, you are sisters." Kai responds, piecing parts of Amelia's life together in their mind.
"Yeah. It was a difficult time." Amelia said, effectively putting an end to the conversation. Kai and Amelia return to working on the cure for Parkinsons in relatively comfortable silence for a while, trying different options to try and get the viability over 90% ready to test it on Dr Hamilton. He'd given Meredith a stern talking to earlier that day because things were not going the way he had hoped. Hours passed and no progress had been made, frustrating Kai to the point that they have to walk away from the study for a while.
"They're my…coping mechanism. Left over from my days on the swim team. It's a problem" Kai informed Amelia, referring to the chips in their hands. Amelia chuckles, finding Kai's vice adorable. Amelia wished her problems were chips. How much simpler life would be. Internally Amelia began to panic. Realising that Kai knows nothing about her history with addiction, the pills, the alcoholism. It's both freeing and terrifying at the same time. What would Kai think of Amelia if they knew?
"There are worse habits." Amelia stated plainly, not giving anything away about her own improprieties for the moment. Maybe one day but this moment, this day, it isn't the time Amelia thinks, brushing over those feelings inside of her.
"Yeah but chips are like a gateway to fries" Kai responds with a wide grin. Amelia can't help but find it charming. A moments pause forming between the two of them before Kai asks the question that's really on their mind. "If Grey walks, would you really leave too?" An almost anxious look on their face. Amelia took a second to think before responding, every fibre of her being not wanting to be so loyal to Meredith but she is family and if Amelia had learnt anything from having sisters, non blood sisters, it's that family comes above all else.
"She brought me on the project, and she's family" Amelia states, a silence falling between them before Kai breaks the moment asking if Amelia has any ideas yet. The conversation falls back to the project.
Amelia and Kai exit the building together for a change. Usually Kai is the last to leave, if they leave at all, and Amelia knew that fairly early in the project, especially since Kai told her that they need very little sleep to function. The change in the normalcy leads Amelia to question the situation, internally as well as verbally. "I thought you never left the clinic?" the neurosurgeon asked.
"Only when I've had a major breakthrough, and to feed my cat" Kai responded, causing Amelia's eyebrows to raise. Kai has a cat? she thinks to herself
"You saved our project today. We're lucky to have you as our lead neurosurgeon" Kai states, offering rare praise to Amelia, something she is surprised by. Amelia is not used to receiving praise from anyone, let alone someone as renowned at Kai. As genius and clever as Kai.
"It was a group effort," Amelia offered, feeling self-conscious by the praise."And the surgery is not even the most complex part of this project."
"Maybe, but a lot of other neurosurgeons would have passed, the risk of failure is too big, but you're driven as much by the process as the outcome." Kai told her, Amelia knew this was true. She did enjoy taking a risk that was, for once, not involving having someone's life in her hands in a split second, life or death, decision making moment.
"There's a big difference between not giving up and being good." Amelia stated, showing her vulnerability for a split second. Allowing her walls to come down for just a moment within the safety of a conversation with Kai. It's something Amelia has found herself doing more and more lately.
"I don't think Meredith Grey suffers fools. The way I see it; you fell in love with neuro when you were four and you wanted to see where feelings came from, and you still love it. Your eyes light up when you look at brains, even the plastic ones! And you're unrelenting, you don't settle and that's what matters when you want to break new ground." Kai offers. The two of them stood there for a few moments just looking at each other. Amelia doesn't know what to say, she isn't used to someone saying such nice things about her, such confidence building things. It's one of the things that is drawing her to Kai. Kai makes her feel good about herself by simply giving her facts, and the occasional opinion. Amelia bites the edge of her lip coyly before deadpanning.
"I'm glad today worked out" Amelia states, avoiding all the things Kai just said to her, except to state simply, how she felt about it.
"Me too. It means we get to keep working together." Kai responded, a smile playing on their lips. Barely a second passes before Kai finds themself asking the next question on their mind "You want to celebrate, grab some dinner?" Amelia pauses for what seems like an eternity to Kai, clearly thinking as her gaze drops to the ground for the slightest moment before returning to Kai's face.
"I have to catch a plane, but I will see you next week" Amelia said, wanting nothing more than to agree to dinner with Kai, but she really does have to catch her flight. Or does she? Amelia thinks for a second as Kai begins to walk away. Amelia takes a few steps, releasing a huge breath that she didn't realise she'd been holding in before stopping in her tracks.
Kai turns to look back, noticing that Amelia has stopped walking.
"Shepherd?" Kai questions.
Amelia turns on her heel, her arms flapping slightly in her usual excited, unsure, anxious manner before she finally blurts out "My flight can wait, I want to get dinner, if the offer still stands, do you know a place?"
"I know somewhere. I'll drive, come on" Kai states, causing Amelia to nervously shuffle in their direction.
A little while later the two of them arrived at a quaint little Italian restaurant. The restaurant looked like it'd been built into a house, set back from the road with wide, sweeping arches and dangling shrubbery. There was a patio area and the weather wasn't especially cold. Amelia eyed the area as she and Kai walked up the cobbled pathway to the entrance together. A large, proud Italian flag draped over the entrance way.
"Is this ok? I hope you like Italian." Kai asked nervously, taking in Amelia's expression of amazement. It's unusual for Kai to be nervous but they also never expected Amelia to agree to dinner at such short notice. Kai imagined that getting Amelia to agree to dinner would take meticulous planning around flights and lab work.
"This is more than ok. Italian is my favourite." Amelia tells them, offering a huge grin as she does. It isn't often that anyone asks her for dinner, let alone someone that obviously paid attention to the smallest detail about her. How did Kai know Amelia liked Italian? She thinks. Probably all those nights of take out in the lab she assumes.
"I knew that." Kai states proudly, clearly having gained points with the Neurosurgeon just by bringing her to an Italian restaurant.
"How?" Amelia asks, feigning surprise
"You always ask for Italian when we order to the lab" Kai responded nonchalantly.
The two of them walk into the restaurant where they are greeted by what looked to be an eighteen year old young woman who asked if they wanted a table for two. Kai lets the waitress know that she is correct and the young lady guides them to a table on the patio. She asks if that is ok and Amelia and Kai both agree.
Amelia stands there, kind of awkwardly but Kai steps behind her chair and pulls it out in true gentleman style, prompting her to take her seat.
"Thank you" Amelia says with a smile, hanging her bag over the arm of the chair as Kai walks around the table and takes their seat.
The waitress comes bustling back with a jug of water and menus before leaving again.
"Do you want something else to drink Shepherd?" Kai asks, causing Amelia to give them a raised eyebrow over her menu.
"Shepherd? That's what you're going with?" Amelia responds grinning, before continuing to answer Kai's question. "Water is good for me, thanks."
"Sorry. Calling you Shepherd has become a habit after weeks working in the lab together." Kai responds looking down at their menu.
"Amelia is fine, we aren't at work now." Amelia states, a hint of flirtation in her tone causing Kai to look up from their menu once more. This time with a smile on their face. In reality Amelia is relieved that Kai doesn't suggest wine to drink. That would be usual with Italian food and Amelia did not want to have to explain her sobriety.
A comfortable quiet falls over them as they both peruse the menu, deciding what they would like to eat. It's a few minutes until the waitress returns to take their food order.
"Are you both ready to order?" she asks shyly, clearly nervous in her job. She must be fairly new, Amelia assumes. She points to Kai to order first.
"I'll take the Lasagne please." Kai tells the waitress before placing their menu down on the table. Next is Amelia's turn and she's all but decided. This place serves her favourite Italian meal so of course she's going to have that.
"Can I have the Pesto alla Genovese with Gnocchi please?" Amelia asks the waitress in an almost perfect Italian accent, surprising Kai in the process. The waitress quickly scribbles the orders down and scurries off to get them made.
"You are full of surprises Shep… Amelia." Kai says, correcting themself before calling Amelia Shepherd again. Amelia gives them a questioning look. "Well you ordered that in perfect Italian. I didn't know you spoke multiple languages."
"I don't, well no, I do. I mean I speak German and apparently French but the only Italian I know is from fancy Italian restaurant menus!" Amelia shares smiling across the table at Kai.
"Apparently French?" Kai asks, now curious.
"I went to a French preschool. The apparently part is a long story though, for another time." Amelia tells Kai, not wanting to get into the whole brain tumor thing during their first dinner out of the lab together. Amelia was beginning to like Kai more and more and definitely did not want to get into some of her more complicated history and scare them off.
"Well I'm impressed with your Italian. Fun fact for you, I actually do speak fluent Italian and your attempt when ordering was flawless!" Kai tells Amelia before taking a sip of their water, impressed with the neurosurgeon.
The waitress brings out their meals.
Whilst eating the pair pass their time with chit chat about the project, Kai's cat, Amelia's job as a neurosurgeon and how Kai came to be in Minnesota. All of it is fascinating to both of them.
Before they know it the waitress is coming over and explaining that the restaurant is about to close and asking if they are finished with their meals.
"Wow, is that the time already?" Amelia asks, checking her watch.
"Time flies when you're having fun" Kai retorts, standing from their chair opposite Amelia.
Kai disappears before Amelia can say anything else, leaving the woman to look around and wonder where they had gone for a couple of minutes. When Kai returns they stand behind Amelia's chair, prompting her to stand.
"Where'd you go?" Amelia asks out of curiosity.
"To pay the bill" Kai states plainly.
"I was going to pay." Amelia tells Kai, after all, she had been the one to change her mind about dinner and was this a date? Amelia was unsure of the situation.
"No, I asked you to dinner, I pay. Simple." Kai states, leaving no room for argument.