Same day. 

INT. GREY SLOAN MEMORIAL – MORNING

The hospital hums the way it always has.
Stretchers rolling. Voices overlapping. The familiar chaos.

Link walks slowly down the hallway, sling still on, posture careful — not fragile, but aware.

People notice him.
A nurse offers a quick smile.
Someone murmurs, “Good to see you back.”
Another gives him a nod — warm, tentative.

He belongs here.
And still — not quite.

Link pauses near the OR board, reading it out of habit.
His name isn’t there.

He exhales, then turns as Owen approaches.

OWEN
Hey.

LINK
Hey. 
Just the man I wanted to see.

They stand there for a beat — two surgeons in a space that still smells like adrenaline.

OWEN
You’re not cleared yet.
You know that right?

LINK
Yeah.
Couldn’t stay away.

Owen eyes the sling.

OWEN
Obviously, you can’t operate with that arm.

Link nods. No argument.

LINK
I know.

A beat.

LINK (CONT’D)
But I wanted to talk to you.
I was thinking… consult.

Owen considers this. Not dismissive. Thoughtful.

OWEN
That could work.

Link lets out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

OWEN (CONT’D)
You’d still need clearance.
Short stints. No heroics.

LINK
(smiles faintly)
I’m done with heroics.

Owen studies him — really looks.

OWEN
You're in a rush to get back?

Link shakes his head.

LINK
Not fully.
When the twins are born, I’ll take time.
Real time.

Owen nods. Approving. Respectful.

OWEN
That makes sense.

A pause.

LINK
I just—
I need to do something right now.
If I stay home alone one more day, I’m going to lose my mind.

That’s the most honest thing he’s said.
Owen doesn’t tease. He doesn’t minimize it.

OWEN
Yeah.
I get that.

Another beat.

OWEN (CONT’D)
We’ll make consult work.
Ease you back in.

LINK
Thanks.

Owen starts to leave — then stops.

OWEN
PT going well?

LINK
Not as fast as I want.
But yeah.

OWEN
For what it’s worth…
It’s good to have you back.

Link swallows.

LINK
It’s good to be back.

OWEN
Just stop by HR, get the paperwork started.
I’ll let everyone know you’re back in a consult role.

LINK
Okay.

Owen disappears down the hall.
Link stays where he is for a moment.

The hospital buzzes around him — cases, urgency, life moving fast.

Link looks once more toward the ORs.
Then he turns away.

INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR – LATER

Link walks out of HR. 

He carries a thin patient file under his arm. Just enough to feel useful.

He checks his watch.
Then his phone.

A text from Jo:
I’m downstairs.
Ready for that lunch you promised.

A smile tugs at his mouth.
He walks with more purpose now — not retreating, not lingering.

As he passes a group of residents, one of them looks up.

RESIDENT
Dr. Lincoln—
You sticking around?

Link doesn’t stop walking.

LINK
(grinning)
Consult.
Not now though.
I’m taking my wife to lunch.

The resident smiles.

RESIDENT
Good to have you back!

Link exits toward the elevators.

INT. HOSPITAL – NURSES’ STATION – 5 MINUTES LATER

Jo stands near the nurses’ station, finishing a conversation with Miranda Bailey.

She shifts her weight slightly, rubbing her lower back absentmindedly.

Link approaches from down the hall.
Bailey spots him first.

BAILEY
Well.
Look who’s roaming the halls again. 

LINK
(smiles)
Word travels fast.

BAILEY
It does when Owen Hunt’s involved.
(she laughs)
I ran into him in the elevator just now. 

Link glances at Jo — playful, conspiratorial.

LINK
Guess I didn’t even get to make the announcement.

JO
(teasing)
I’m honored to be second.

Bailey clocks the easy intimacy, smiles.

BAILEY
I’ll let you two escape before someone pages you.

She steps away.

Link turns fully to Jo now.

LINK
You hungry?

JO
Always.

He gently slides his good arm around her back.

LINK
Good.
Come with me.

JO
Where are we going?

LINK
(smiling)
Don’t try to guess, that’ll ruin it. 

JO
You know I'm driving, right?
You'll have to tell me eventually. 

LINK
I'll do the GPS.

As they start down the hallway together, Link leans in and presses a brief, soft kiss to her temple.

Nothing dramatic.
Just familiar.

They walk on — shoulder to shoulder — disappearing into the flow of the hospital.

FADE OUT.