Seattle Move

21. Dean

Amelia and Ryan strolled into the lobby of the hospital, Ryan chattering excitedly about the playground he wanted to visit when, suddenly, he spotted Owen, standing by one of the elevators, glancing through his phone.

"Mr. Owen?!"

Turning away from the elevator and in the direction of where he heard the voice, Owen was surprised to see Ryan by the front desk, holding Amelia's hand and clearly wanting to let go to run over to the trauma surgeon and say hello. He hadn't seen Ryan in weeks.

It was then that Amelia turned around and looked at him, clearly not conveying the same level of excitement.

"Can I go say hi?" Ryan asked, looking up at his mother, milking her with his sad, puppy dog gaze.

Amelia sighed, letting go of his hand and putting on a fake smile. "Go ahead." The second she let go, Ryan went barreling head first into Owen, jumping into his arms and letting the surgeon lift him up into the air. Amelia paused, a flicker of warmth lighting her eyes at the sight of her son's excitement. As she caught up to them, she offered Owen a cordial smile.

"How are you, Captain?" Owen asked as he bore most of Ryan's weight on his hip.

"Mommy bought a house," the boy explained, opening his hands wide to describe the size of the house.

It caught Amelia off guard. She had kept the details close to her chest, still processing the whirlwind of packing up their lives again for a fresh start. "Uh, yes, I did," she confirmed, her voice slightly uncertain.

Owen's curiosity piqued, he looked between them. "A new house? That's exciting! When's the big day?"

"Saturday!" Ryan chirped, his eyes widening with hope.

"Well, it sounds a lot bigger than my trailer."

"It is, silly," Ryan giggled, wrapping his arms around Owen's neck and hugging him. He'd missed Owen so, so much. Amelia watched as her son burrowed his face in the neck of the man she'd become estranged with over the past month, feeling a little guilty. "Come help!" Ryan suddenly suggested. He looked over at his mother. "Can he, mommy?"

Amelia opened her mouth to decline immediately, but Ryan's pleading gaze held her back. "Oh, sweetie, I don't think—"

But before she could finish, Dean sauntered in, his tall frame cutting an impressive silhouette. He held two steaming cups of coffee, one for himself and one for Amelia. His sharp features softened as he saw her, a genuine smile breaking through. He walked over, kissed her cheek lightly, and handed her the cup.

"Hey! Everything okay?" Dean asked, concern flickering in his hazel green eyes.

Amelia smiled up at him, a quick assurance. "I'm fine, just chatting with my boss."

Boss? The trauma surgeon scoffed quietly.

Dean's gaze moved to Owen, an almost imperceptible shift in his demeanour. Though he wore a polite smile, something unspoken clung in the air. It was a protective barrier, a hint of discontent that only Amelia and Owen seemed to feel.

"Hey," he said, his tone friendly but controlled. "Nice to meet you again."

"Good to see you in better health," Owen replied, his eyes dancing with a provoking light as he rest Ryan down on the ground. Amelia had never disclosed whom it was that she was seeing, but now that he knew it was her old patient, he couldn't help but feel an innate desire to tease her about it.

"Mr. Owen can lift all the heavy stuff!" Ryan insisted as he continued their previous conversation, looking back at Owen, who was leaning in, a grin playing on his lips.

"Ryan wants me to invite him to help us move," Amelia explained to Dean, intending to gently redirect her son. But Ryan's big, pleading eyes stopped her again.

"It'd be nice to help out, Dr. Shepherd," Owen chimed in, leaning back casually, his posture open yet somehow amused. "I mean, I'm pretty good with packing tape."

Amelia sighed, caught in the crossfire of her son's enthusiasm and the protective stance she sensed from Dean. She glanced at Dean and caught the subtle tightening of his jaw. "I don't think it's a good idea, Ryan. We have everything arranged with Dean's help."

Ryan's disappointment was palpable, his brow furrowing slightly. "But Mom—"

"Sorry, buddy," Amelia said softly, ruffling his hair. "How about we just focus on the two of us moving in? It will be a big day!"

Owen chuckled softly, crossing his arms with a mock contemplation. "You might need a pack mule for all those boxes, if I remember from the last time I helped you move."

Amelia chuckled, but her eye caught the momentary twitch of Dean's mouth, an effort to keep the smile in check while suppressing a hint of annoyance.

"Maybe next time," she managed, meeting Owen's teasing gaze with one of her own. She could feel a simmering tension thickening the air around them.

"Oh well, just let me know if you need that packing tape," Owen replied, holding up an imaginary roll, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. He stepped back slightly, feeling the invisible boundary Dean had created.

As Owen walked away, Dean turned to Amelia, his eyes narrowing. "What was that all about?"

"Nothing," Amelia said, attempting to act nonchalant. But she knew deep down that it was more than just an encounter. Owen embodied old flames, past regrets, and unfulfilled potential.

"You still like him," Dean said bluntly, his voice steady but edged with concern.

"What? No! Dean, that's ridiculous," Amelia stammered, feeling her cheeks burn. "We've had a history, sure, but that's over."

Dean regarded her with skeptical eyes. "Is that why Ryan wants to have him help with the move?"

"Ryan adores Owen. You know how kids are—they're drawn to energy, and he brings a playful side out in him. But that doesn't mean I want him around all the time," Amelia insisted, her voice lifting a pitch in frustration, which didn't go unnoticed by him.

"How long did he have to wait to sleep with you?" he prodded further, immediately regretting his words when he saw the look of discontent on her face.

She took a deep breath. "Don't make this into something it isn't."

His expression softened. "Look, if you feel like you and your 'boss'..."

Amelia smiled gently, placing a comforting hand on his bicep. "I really like where we're headed."

Dean nodded, the tension lifting as he felt somewhat reassured. But in the back of Amelia's mind, Owen's teasing glance lingered, provoking her conscience. With Ryan tugging at her hand and Dean at her side, she chose to push the past entirely aside. But with feelings as tangled as theirs had been, the shadows would take time to disappear.