Sparks Fly (Kaimelia)

Part 1

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome onboard flight AA724 from Seattle, Washington to Rochester, Minnesota. We are expected to be in the air in approximately ten minutes."

Amelia leans back in her seat, relaxing and putting in her earbuds. She has flown back and forth so many times that, at this point, it's routine.

She reaches in her bag to pull out an envelope, the main reason for her flight. She's been in Seattle since Christmas and now, on December 31st, she's on a plane.

The paper is clean and rich, with thin gold lettering that dances in the light. Her eyes scan over the text.

Dr. Amelia Shepherd,
Your presence is requested by Dr. David Hamilton at the Mayo Clinic Annual New Year's Eve Gala.

It's a hospital party, but she assumes it's mostly for their benefactors and investors, since it also doubles as a fundraiser. It would give her a chance to meet the other doctors in the hospital, though. It had come in the mail a few days ago and she figured why not.

Secretly, she was hoping Kai would be there.

She pulls out her laptop and opens her most recent email from them. It details new parameters for testing and their latest cell counts. She reads the data for the hundredth time before closing the tab and fighting the urge to fall asleep.

Finally it gets the best of her and she drifts off, only to be woken by the plane's intercom. "Now arriving in Rochester, Minnesota."

She arrives at her hotel and immediately starts getting ready. The party is set to start at 9 and go until... she glances at the invitation. That's all it says.

She loosely curls her hair, brushes mascara across her lashes, and pulls her dress on. She looks herself up and down in the mirror. Not bad.

The dress is a little much, though. Maggie had helped her pick it out, stating that it was just perfect for a "rich doctor's New Year's Eve party."

It's a deep emerald green that comes to almost her ankles, with a teasing slit up the side. Nothing too revealing, of course. The neckline dips a little and the fabric gently hugs the sides of her, flowing like pure gold.

Speaking of gold, she slides in her earrings and slips on her heels, giving herself another once over in the mirror before heading outside. The drive there is quiet, with only her thoughts to accompany her. She hasn't been to an event like this in years. She tends to avoid galas and parties but this one seems different.

That's a lie, Shepherd. Amelia knows exactly why she's going, but she's not ready to accept that just yet. She's not ready to accept that she's falling for a brilliant, gorgeous neuroscientist.

Finally, she arrives. A man dressed in a black suit greets her at the door.

"Invitation and name?"

"Dr. Shepherd." She smiles, handing him her invitation. She gets a brochure back and glances at the front. A beautiful painting of the Mayo Clinic with its mission printed below.

"Inspiring hope and promoting health through integrated clinical practice, education and research."

The man skims over the list in his hand before looking up at her again. "You'll be at table 7."

She thanks him, pushes open one of the elaborately carved doors and steps inside, the air in her lungs literally disappearing.

The venue is gorgeous. It looks a lot like a ballroom, except with elegant round tables. They're set with several plates and candles and bright colored flowers and surrounded by chairs. So many chairs. Aside from the bar in the corner and the stage up front, basically the entire room is seating.