The ride back to the hotel was deathly silent. For a highly chatty person like Amelia who held her emotions on her sleeve was eerily quiet. She was not even glancing towards Link!! She just kept looking out the window. Link's worry was growing by the second. Those bitches broke her! How are they even her sisters? They don't even know who the real Amelia is! Tonight was not supposed to be like this. Say something Amelia! Anything. Just say something. I can't see you like this ! She looks so vulnerable. Plchh

Link could not hold it in any longer. He looked at her for a long time before speaking, " Are you okay? "
He was met with silence. He slightly leaned towards her to gauge her reaction but, nothing. I told her not to go! She didn't listen to me.

He made matters worse by saying a bit sarcastically, " I said we shouldn't go "
That seemed to crack her. She replied icily, " I said we shouldn't stay ".
Why is she yelling at me? Is she trying to blame me? What did I do?!

" Wow. So your sisters are terrorists but suddenly I'm your problem?? ", he said with a hint of hurt in his voice.

Amelia was feeling betrayed. Dejected. Humiliated. Ashamed. No scratch that. Not ashamed. She didn't have to feel ashamed for anything! Agitated. Enraged. Angry! She just needed to be with herself for sometime but Link didn't seem to stop talking. She obviously understand that he's worried about her about she just needs to be alone!

Link could related to her frustration and tried to console her in the best way he could. " Look, everything was going fine until your mom arrived and called us in on our bluff. And, I know it got a little rough...". She interrupts him, " A little rough? Are you serious Link? It was a lifetime of humiliating mistakes and dirty laundry on display. Do you know how embarrassing that is?! "

Trying to diss the situation and make her understand that his feelings for her does not depend on her past, he smiles, " I don't care about your laundry."

Nobody has ever said that. How can he not care about my wild past? Of course he does. How can he not? I'm incapable of love. I can't take down Link with me. He deserves someone much much better. To push him away from her, she deliberately hurts him. "Yeah. BUT I CARE!! You were my pain management. My human blue light, mood enhancing when placed over my body and now you know too much!! And I'm...uh.. I can't." I am so sorry I said that Link. But I had to do it. I don't want you to develop feelings for me.
Her words go piercing straight through his heart. They bring tears to his eyes but he doesn't let them flow. He swiftly turns his head in obvious indignation and hurt. Does she really only think of me in that way? Am I nothing more to her? The way she smiled at me and the gleam in her eyes were only for the sex that I was giving her? She's hurt, I understand. But I can't. Nope. I can't anymore. I have to let her go.

They ride in silence after that. Suddenly both of their phone start beeping. " Jonah's in respiratory distress. We need to leave for the hospital now."
Amelia instructs te cab driver, " Could you take us to the Fox Medical Center as fast as you can please? We're in a hurry! " Link was surprised at her complete change in demeanor.

They realised on examining Jonah that the surgery didn't work had to perform another surgery to replace to rod they placed. But the patient didn't want that. He was actively denying the surgery which would not in the least improve his quality of life. Amelia then suggested a vertebral column resection surgery. Link was flabbergasted!! She should've discussed it with me first before suggesting such a high-risk surgery.
                She explained the procedure and the patient seemed convinced with her idea. Link quickly recited the notable risks of the surgery but seeing Amelia's confidence, the patient went with it.

They had a blow out in the scrub room where Link was thinking that Amelia is not okay and doing this surgery only to prove a point to her bitchy sisters!
Link was really concerned about her. She was not acting okay. She finally convinced him and the surgery was a success. But Jonah still hadn't woken up even after 10 hours of the surgery. They did hourly checks on him but still nothing! They were really getting worried.
             He finally woke up with no neurological deficits. They just performed a medical miracle and gave a teenager his life back. Amelia was on an adrenaline high. He was elated. I'm so thankful to God. Their opinions don't matter to me. They don't define who I am and they certainly don't get to question my surgical skills. Hah! Booyah Kathleen. In your face!

On their way out the hospital, Amelia was aware how poorly she had treated the man right next to her who always stood by her side. Even when she acted irrationally, he never left her side. She was highly repentant. He didn't deserve such a treatment. To redeem herself, shewanted to spend some time with him out the walls of this hospital so as to make it up to him.

" Thank you Link for uhh... thank you ", she said timidly.
"You were brave and it paid off ", he smiled down at her. How can he even manage to smile at me after all the horrible things I said to him?!

" Do you want to go somewhere to eat? I know a great Mexican place here ", she  desperately hoped he'd say yes. But he looked away guiltily and unintentionally crushed her hopes. Of course he doesn't want to spend time with me. It was so stupid of me to think... I don't deserve this fine man. I'll only sabotage him. Forget it.

At her offer, Link stood there silently for a few seconds just looking at her. I know she feels sorry but I can't spend anymore time with her like that. We need to act professionally. She's my colleague and nothing else. I need to curb my feelings. She made it very clear that I was just a human blue light for her. She doesn't need emotional baggage and I'm incapable of giving that to her. I have to let her go. And I'm hurt too! I understood how she needed to vent out her feelings but not like that!

He softly denied her offer, " No, uh, I need to walk. I'll see you on the plane ", subtly indicating that he needed some alone time. Link then left the hospital in a pretty gloomy mood.

Amelia couldn't stop the dejected look from crossing her face. She wanted to clear out the misunderstandings between them and didn't want him to feel horrible for the way she acted.

Amelia also wanted to make things right with her sisters. She was at fault to some degree for never telling them about anything. They deserved to know about her brain tumor and her divorce, even if they didn't bother attending my wedding, provided they don't pass snarky comments. She reached out to Nancy because she was the most forgiving sister. She knew she had a morning shift in the hospital so she texted her. Are you in the hospital? The reply was quick. NO. Of course. How typical!

She was turning to leave when " Hey kiddo! " rang through the halls of the hospital. She focused on the owner of the voice. " MOM ?! What are you doing here? " Amelia was shocked. The last person she expected to see here was her mother!
" Do you have a minute? Cam we go somewhere and um...talk? ", Mama Shepherd looked hopeful. She missed her youngest daughter.

They were sitting on a park bench. There was some awkward silence. Both scrambling for words. No one knew where to start, it had been so long.YEARS.

Carolyn asked about her divorce with Owen. Amelia told her but nothing in detail. " It just...didn't work out." Immediately after that she asked, " Do you think I'm incapable of love? That I sabotage relationships? I don't know how to love?", she said with a breaking voice. Carolyn's heart broke for her. What prompted her to think like that? I just know it in my heart that that military man, Owen said that to her. I just knew he had some problem when I first met him.
Mama Shepherd felt protective of her daughter. Amelia didn't deserve to think like that. Oh I'll strangle that man the next time I see him!! That asshole!

Carolyn thought of a way to make her realise her self-worth. She told her about a childhood story about her tendency to never give up and not being afraid of failures. That was the quality of hers that out of all the Shepherd children made her the most like her father. She was trying to keep her tears at bay by the end of the story. Amelia sharply looked at her mother on her revelation. If there was one man in the whole world whom she loved most apart from her brother, it was her father. Amelia felt this searing love for her mother when she compared her to her father. That was the reason why she pushed Amelia away from her. She reminded her of her husband. She was the spitting image of Papa Shepherd and she could not even bring herself to look at her own daughter!

She shifted closer to her and apologized for not being there for her when she most needed her mother in the walks of life. To make sense out of life. How to cope with loss. She was never there. That was her biggest regret! She would never be able to forgive herself for that. She said, " I would like to change myself now. I wat to rectify my mistake and be there for you if you'll let me. Do you allow me to be in your life more? ", she was on the brink of tears and hopefully asked her.
         Amelia could not fathom the sudden turn of events. She sympathized with her mother and hugged her tightly. Carolyn then apologized for missing her wedding and how things never go well with the sisters. Most of all for not being there for her brain tumor. She started crying harder after saying this but then laughed at the irony of the situation.
Amelia then told her about Leo and Betty and the troubles that they brought with them with Betty being a drug addict. She finally now realizes how hard it must've been for Carolyn to take care of her. She was ten times more troublesome. She apologized for putting her mother through a lot.

Carolyn then gave her a last parting advice, " If you don't think you're worthy of love, if you don't think your love is valuable, you're wrong. And that's on me. I wasn't there for you when you most needed me so put that on me and move forward."
" What if I can't? "
" Well, then that's on you." Her mother looked in her eyes to make her realise that she was wrong to think like that. " Now go and apologize to that young man. Atticus Lincoln. Such a fine name and he calls himself Link." Both of them were laughing hysterically. " Don't let him go. I saw the way he looked at you and stood up for you. Now that is a man to hold on to. He passed the Mom Test." She waved her hand, " Now go and make things right. Tell him I say hello. And kiddo, please keep in touch." They embraced tightly for a few more minutes and went their separate ways.

Amelia now had a clear train of thought and knew what she  needed to do. She needed to make thi gs right with Link. She finally knew what she wanted. Or rather...WHO she wanted. She hurriedly went to the hotel only to find Link long gone. She took a shower, checked out and quickly went to the famous doughnut place Link told her about. Gotham Doughnuts. Huh, suits his personality since he clearly is a big fan of superheroes. She ordered several of those glazed doughnuts Link loved. She wanted to look at the surprise on his face.

She entered the private jet timidly. He was obviously watching a baseball game. How typical of him. She silently chuckled. She kept the box of doughnuts in his line of vision. She stood before him waiting to be noticed. He was not happy. He was sad. And angry? He looked up at her with an expression lacking the adoration he usually possessed. I can't bear HIM looking at me like that!

" You were kind and you were brave last night too with my family and in that surgery too. You didn't have to do that with me", she spoke softly. He kept his tablet aside and intently looked at her. She then sincerely spoke, " But you stood by me through all of that. You are...surprising to me." Link looked at her with a glimmer of hope in his eyes in beating her words. Maybe there's a chance for us after all?
" You deserve a lot better than the things that I said to you. You are more than a human blue light. Though...you are very, veryyy good at blue lighting." Link's heart swell with pride. Huh. Is that so? There was a small smile tugging at his lips but he quickly recovered. " I'm sorry. It was not my intention to hurt you in any way. I would like to make it up to you if you'll let me? ", she said with hopegmful eyes.

Link was just staring at her with hooded eyes. She was unable to read his expression. Suddenly he picked up the box of doughnuts and kept in on his lap. He then tapped the seat beside him silently asking her to sit next to him with a radiant smile on his face. She pouted slightly and looked at him opening the box. She was smiling widely looking at his astonished expression.

How can I not forgive her? She looks so innocent and cute timidly standing like that. And she brought my favourite doughnuts!! Ah she remembered!! Man I love this woman. Wait, not like thaaat. Hehe...It's too damn early for that.

He licked up on doughnut and put the whole thing in his mouth in one go. Amelia was laughing with her mouth wide open. He's just a small child when it comes to food. He strangely reminds me of Alex. Both are pigs when it comes to food. She laughed at her thoughts and quickly shook her head.

Link hummed his approval at the taste and offered her a doughnut urging her to eat the whole damn thing like him in a single shot. She looked at him with determination and opened her mouth. It was freaking too big for her mouth! She applied pressure on both the sides to make it smaller and pushed it inside her mouth but it was of no use. She had a very small mouth and it couldn't go any further!

Link was laughing hysterically looking at her antics. His laugh prompted her laugh which made it all the more difficult to eat the whole thing. Both of their mouths were filled when they tried to talk which made them laugh harder. Link picked up another doughnut but this time Amelia snatched it from his hands. He looked at her with mock betrayal but when she divided it into two pieces so that it would be easier for her to eat and offered the other piece to him, he smiled petulantly.

With a muffled voice he said, " Yeah you can eat like that too", making her laugh. They continued feasting on the doughnuts until they were completely sated.
" Thank you so much Amelia." She smiled and noticed that he had some crumbs on the corner of his mouth and pointed them out to him. She leaned a bit and brushed those crumbs with her hand. He was smiling a toothy grin and brushed the crumbs on her mouth with his finger. Both were laughing permanently shoving the fight they had at the back of their minds.

They still had their hands on each other's faces. Their smile died down and subconsciously they were inching closer. Link wanted to give Amelia the total control of the situation and waited for her to take the next move. Amelia noticed his eyes growing darker and looked down at his lips. He just looked at her waiting for her to do something. The anticipation was killing her.
         She quickly leaned down and captured his lips with hers. She wrapped one hand around his neck and held his face with the other to deepen the kiss. He wrapped his fingers in her hair to push his tongue inside her mouth. He always loved her short and silky hair. Their tongues were battling for dominance. They made out for several more minutes until Link broke the kiss and rested his forehead on hers. She caught their breaths for a few seconds until Link pulled her in for a hug. He whispered in her ear, " I missed you. And I'm sorry."

Amelia tightened the hug on beating those words and hummed, " I missed you too." They pulled out from each other's arms and were beaming.

Link then wrapped his right hand around her shoulder and Amelia laid her head on the bridge of his neck and shoulder. They laid there in peaceful silence and content.
    Suddenly Link's muscles tense and he starts fidgeting. Amelia waited patiently for him to speak his mind. Impatiently she blurts, " Out with it, Link! "
Link's eyes widen and he nods furiously, " Ok, Ok. "

" Sooo, you had a brain tumor? ", he asks with wide, worried eyes. Amelia starts laughing. Why is everybody so focused on the brain tumor topic. It's not that important, she shrugs. Amelia doesn't realise how stupid that sounds.

" Yeah I did", she chuckles. " I had a 10 centimeter benign Grade - 1 meningioma".

" TEN??!! YOU HAD A TEN CENTIMETER TUMOR IN YOJR BRAIN?! And you're behaving as if it was not that big a deal??!! ", Link shouts incredulously. Hus eyes are wide and astonished.
" Liinkkk, relax! ", she laughs again. " The tumor had been growing for ten years and then I called Tom at the time. He was my teacher. He completely removed my tumor. Sooo, not a biiig deal. "

Link didn't understand her calmness. He always hot a bit nervous when he talked about his own cancer. But here she was, as calm as the sea. I just don't understand this woman sometimes. He shook his head a d chuckled.
Link tightened his arm around her shoulders and brought her body closer to his. He buried his nose in her hair. " I'm so glad you're okay ", he said sincerely.
Amelia wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her head in his neck. He ways made her vulnerable. He had the ability to make her feel all the feelings. " Me too. I'm happy I turned out okay and not gorked. Yayy, I'm not a vegetable." The mood was suddenly lightened and both of them laughed.

" I met my mother before coming to the airport. We had a heart-to-heart. I'm glad that she approached me. It strangely cleared my head. I really needed that." She looked up at his eyes with a weird kind of hope which Link could not comprehend. He was pretty sure he had a different kind of a gleam in his eye when he looked her in the eyes.

They were content in each other's arms throughout the flight. They took a nap blissfully holding each other. Amelia came out of the airport a completely new person, her arms linked with Link's. They kissed softly , hugged and went their separate ways for the day with wide grins on their faces, silently agreeing to meet at the coffee cart or the on-call room the next day. They were thrilled for this new adventure.

Amelia couldn't wait to tell her ' original sisters ' everything about the trip as soon as she reached home. She just wanted to hug her sisters and her nieces and  nephew to call it a day. Finally something good came out of the trip, one the surgery couldn't have gone better, second her relationship with her mother at last was not bitter and they were on better terms. Lastly, she finally knew where her relationship with Link headed!!

Author's Note:

Heyy guysss!! Sorry it took me a while to update. I had certain health issues. Anyway, how was this chapter? I didn't concentrate much on the surgery part and only on the AmeLink part because, who am I kidding? It's an AmeLink fanfiction!!😂

I enjoyed writing this chapter. It would've been really good for the story had the makers included more of the plane scenes at the end of the episode. Don't forget to comment! I'll update soon. Until then.