Chapter 20

Two days after the ferry boat ride with the Shepherds Alison was finally able to find some free time to skype her family. She texted occasionally David and her sisters Ashley and Bella, but as more time passed it just stopped being enough. A lot has happened to her in the last two months and every single thing that happened was literally lifechanging. It wasn't easy dealing with everything and she couldn't help herself but to feel lonely sometimes. The hotel wasn't home, the crappy food she was eating couldn't come even close to Nana's delicious meals. And the people... They were all new and she liked them, but still, they couldn't quite compare to her big loud and loving Jean family. Alison missed them deeply.

All those fun games they used to play every Sunday, home karaoke parties, their private little masterchef competitons in which Nana and David were judges and Ali, Ashley, Nate, Lucas and Bella were the fierce competitors, their tennis tournaments in which Ali would always win, all the fun they had while trying to avoid making Nana angry and with five hormonal teenagers Nana often had reasons to be angry. But now, when Alison was so far away from them, she even missed all the bickering and the fights that went on on a daily basis.

Normal eighteen-year-olds were now at college and Alison was living alone on the other side of the country from her family, working and being an intern; while in the meantime meeting her mother who left her when she was born. That would be a lot for a full grown-up person, let alone for an eighteen-year-old. Sometimes she wished she wasn't so advanced in school. Sounds stupid, but she missed all the fun of high school and college because she was just a child. She was somewhat of a genious with a photographic memory, but still a child. Then Alison didn't look at it that way, her hunger for knowledge was insatiable. But looking back now, she realized she could've done everything a little bit slower.

Talking about it with David helped.

''I'm not complaining or anything. It'll all come to its place I hope and I love Amelia, but I miss you guys a lot. And I miss you even more when I'm exhausted like I am now.'' – Ali said to David.

''I can see that'' – David chuckled – ''You get all whiny and everything. It kind of reminds me of you when you were around 7.''

''Heeey, I'm not whiny. Just contemplating on my life.''

''Ohh that's how you call it nowdays. I see...'' – David laughed.

''Nanaaaa, he's teasing me. Make him stop.'' – Alison whined again.

''Oh sweety, you know he's just joking...When are you coming home?'' – Nana came to save the day.

''Hopefully for Christmas, Nana. I'll...'' – her pager started buzzying and interrupted her – ''This damn pager! I'm going to throw it in the toilet and flush it one of these days.''

''I know you're tired and annoyed, but watch your language young lady.'' – Nana gave her 'The Look'.

Ali apologized and they said their goodbye's. She jumped from the bed and rushed to answer Dr. Edwards page.

At the time Alison was skyping with David and Nana, Amelia had her first encounter with Meredith after Zola's mouth did their magic and told Meredith about the new found family member.

''Amelia Shepherd! Did you want me to have a heart attack?'' – Meredith started making Amelia very confused. ''Zola came to me yesterday to tell me she found out she has a sister, who has the same name as Bailey and she. And that she's so happy to have another princess in the family. Then she said the girl's name is Alison and I remembered the intern that reminded me so much of Derek and THEN I FREAKED THE HELL OUT thinking she was his daughter.''

''Ohh...'' – Amelia mouthed a little bit surprised with the sudden attack. ''Well, as you are here yelling at me I figure you know the truth.''

''He explained, after he was done being mad because I doubted him.'' – Meredith rolled her eyes and continued more calmy – ''Soo, when did all that happened? You having a teenage daughter...?''

Just as Amelia opened her mouth to say something her pager started going off.
''911. Sorry, have to go. We'll talk later. Please, don't say a word to anyone.''

''Yeah, yeah I know. Royal secret or something like that. Don't worry, the secret is safe with me.'' – Meredith winked.

Minutes later Amelia was scrubbing in for an emergency surgery. The patient was working with Torres on her robotic leg project. He's a war veteran and he pushed too hard, thinking he could take on almost anything because of being a soldier. Unfortunately, he slipped, fell and hit his head. Now he was on Amelia's table and she wasn't sure how much she could do for him.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Owen.
''Hey, how does he look?''

''He's going to need a full craniotomy. I'll know more once I'm in there.'' – Amelia answered, while trying really hard to hide her doubt about the patients recovery. She was ready to do the impossible, but the haemorage was profuse and concerning.

''Page me when you're out. Okay?''

Amelia nodded and paused with the words lingering. '' Umm, I feel like I owe you an explanation...about what you heard last week.''

Owen realising what she was talking about said – ''You don't need...'' – but he was quickly cut off.

''I had a pill problem. I got clean. Three years ago I relapsed and for a brief time I got into oxy...'' – she swallowed hard before continuing – ''...and then shooting oxy. I lost someone. Um... That was rock bottom and I have been clean ever since.''

''Listen. Derek told me everything he needs. You don't have to...''

''I work for you and I respect you. And...I like you. So if it's alright I don't care to hang my professional relationships on Derek Shepherd's reputation. I needed you to hear it from me.'' – Amelia said very confidently – ''I know it's a choice. Keeping me on... I know I'm a risk.''

''We're all a risk.'' – Owen said and pretty much surprised Amelia pleasently. ''We all have something. I have my own version. It's different. It took a different toll. Still does. And... I push through every day. I'm assuming you're doing the same thing. Unless I see otherwise. Okay?'' – he offered a sincere smile.

''Okay.'' – Amelia too offered a smile, understaning where he was coming from. She then finished scrubbing in and went into the OR highly concentrated.

Alison's day was going terribly. From three cases she was working on, two were lost causes and have died in the trauma room, and the third patient was a little boy with a stomach flu who ended up throwing up all over her. One could say she was pretty miserable, mostly because her brain cells were barely used and she was so tired.

Edwards seeing that Alison was almost as miserable as she was, 'cause she was sent to do the ultrasound on April Kepner (the person for whom she was left by her boyfriend, who then went on and married the mentioned person and made her pregnant), called her to act like a buffer and make her feel like she was there just for educational purposes, to teach Alison how to read the ultrasound.

Knowing how awkward it's going to be, Alison rolled her eyes and sighed loudly asking the universe if the day could go any worse. Zack seemed pretty entertained with the situation.

''Good luck, Jelly Jean.'' – Zack laughed out loud.

''Oh just shut it Zack!'' – Alison retorted without turning to look at him, which made Zack laugh even more.

Just like Alison thought, the ultrasound was so so awkward. Her desire to run from that room couldn't even be measured. And everything became even more awkward when Edwards blurted out that the baby was a boy right after Kepner specificaly told she didn't want to know. It was an honest mistake, but still, it was a mistake that shoudn't have happened. While reading the ultrasound Alison and Edwards noticed some irregularities. A huge lump was created in Alison's throat when she realized what could be the reason for them. She saw in Edwards's eyes that she thought about the same condition as well. But what confused Alison was that Edwards never mentioned anything. She just kept looking until Kepner had to cut the 'happy meeting' short and go to the ER.

''Dr. Edwards, what was that about? Why didn't you say anything?'' – Alison stopped Edwards from leaving the room.

''What?'' – Stephanie acted confused.

''I know you saw it. Why didn't you say something?'' – Alison wasn't about to give in.

''I'm not sure what I saw and I am definitely not the right person to say anything to them. And niether are you. So just step out and let me handle it.''

''It's terrible! But I am sure that we are right. As much as, like you, I don't want us to be.''

The silence took over the room. And heaviness. Huge heaviness in the air. Alison hated this part of the job. Hated it beyond anything else. The feeling of helplessness was the worst feeling a doctor could feel. In those moments they saw clearer the obvious fact, that they forget at times. Everything wasn't in their hands. They couldn't save everyone.

''We need to find Dr. Robbins.'' – Edwards muttered in defeat.

Amelia's surgery was finished few hours later. She did everything she could. Everything they could do was wait and see. So she decided not to page Owen just yet. There wasn't anything she could say except that the surgery was over. She wanted to wait for anestesia to wear off and see how the patient will react or if he will react.

Her stomach was informing Amelia that it was necessary for her to eat if she wanted to function, but her pager warned her not to listen to her stomach and to, yet again, postpone the lunch. She sighed and went on to pick up the mail she was informed just came in for her. Amelia tried to remember if she was waiting for something to be mailed to her, but there wasn't anything she could think of. And yet, there it was, someone's whole medical chart divided into four huge envelopes waiting for her. She checked if they've mistaken her with Derek, but there wasn't any mistakes. It was for Dr. Amelia Shepherd.

Then she heard Arizona talking to the desk lady.

''Hi. Did you get anything for Dr. Shepherd? A chart. Might've been addressed to Dr. Robbins.'' – Arizona asked.

While the lady was looking through the mail Amelia walked in carrying four envelopes and asked Arizona suspiciously – ''Looking for this?''

''Yeah.'' – Robbins answered, trying to hide her guilt – ''Yeah... Thanks.''. She took the envelopes from Amelia and started walking out.

''Is this our Nicole Herman? Dr. Herman?'' – Amelia questioned.

Arizona froze in the moment, not knowing if she should run without answering or turn around and face Amelia. The first choice wasn't actually a good choice, so she turned around looking at the floor.

''What's going on?'' – Amelia furrowed her brow, becoming more and more suspicious with every second that passed.

A/N: This chapter is kind of a set-up for the stories I intend to tackle in the future chapters, so that's the reason why there isn't any Amelia-Alison interraction. But bear with me please. A lot of strugles are awaiting for them. The situation with April's and Jackson's baby will open a lot of questions between Amelia and Ali. Owen is slowly becoming a more integral part of the story. Herman's surgery is in sight.
Did you like Meredith's reaction on the news? What do you think will be Alison's reaction on everything? And how will Amelia handle being torn in so many different directions? I'd like to hear your feedback.

Thank you for reading./Gracias por leer. :)