Hello from the other side.

It is me again. The truth is that I wanted to bring you this chapter yesterday, we would have Teddy back after weeks, but that episode happened and... I won't talk about it now. I still have too many mixed feelings.

So I thought about bringing this to you today. A little distraction from the disaster that is happening in the show.

Honestly right now I don't feel inspired to write BMHA. And it's not because I'm writing this now, it's about last night. Hopefully when my head puts my my feelings in order something comes up. I don't want to give you somenthing I don't feel.

Lastly. Thank you very much for your support in this fic. This chapter is dedicated to all those who left a review. Thank you for inspiring and supporting me. I hope you like this chapter!

***TRIGGERING WARNING. SENSITIVE TOPIC AHEAD***

OWEN

Throughout my turn I can't stop thinking about Theodora. Such a strong name for such a shy person, or so it seems. Judging by the way she spoke to Cristina and to me she seems to have quite a strong temper. Even so, her face seemed the most angelic thing I've ever seen in my life. Sharp features, but with the exact touch of sweetness in her delicate nose and pink lips. And her eyes, my God, I felt that I was completely exposed before her eyes. So green and so beautiful, but also so sad, her gaze was sad.

Who are you, Theodora Altman?

"Owen! Owen!"

Cristina calls my name taking me out of my reverie. "Yeah?" I ask, shaking my head slightly.

"Did you put the report?" I look at her narrowing. "The report to the paramedics!"

"Oh, the report. Yes, I put it." I lie.

"Good, good. That girl has to learn to stay in her lane. She's just a paramedic, she can go over us!"

"Why do you take it so hard on her?" I ask a little defensively and Cristina looks at me in confusion.

"Excuse me?! They can't do that! Or are you defending her? The righteous of Owen always to the rescue of the helpless."

"I'm not defending her!" I lie again. "But you're taking this too far, the way you talked to her surpassed all the lines, the nurses are furious with you in case you didn't know."

"As if I care." Cristina answers carefree.

"You should. The worst thing you can do is have the nurses against you. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do." I turn to leave, but she takes me by the arm.

"Hey wait!" She hugs me by the torso. "It's not worth fighting for that nobody. What do you say if you and I go to an on call room and I don't know... I help you relax a little maybe?"

I get out of her arms, "Not now. I have work to do." I turn around and leave her standing there.

I walk through the hospital corridors without a course. I don't know why the way Cristina talked about Theodora bothered me so much, it shouldn't bother me, I don't know her and, on the contrary, Cristina is my girlfriend. But there is something in her, something in Theodora that made me want to protect her, to take care of her. Something in her gaze and in her voice made me want to hug her. She seems to be in need of a hug.

I lock in an on call room and lie on bed. I take out my cell phone and search among my contacts. I'm determined to know who Theodora Altman is. Teddy. I smile at her nickname. It's so sweet, it fits perfectly with her sweet face. Theodora and Teddy, both perfect for her. Tough and sweet. Strong and fragile.

I write to all my army friends who were in Baghdad. Some never heard of her, others only knew her briefly, until Logan, a very good friend and known for knowing practically half the army sends me an extensive and detailed message about Theodora. Teddy. I love the name Teddy, I'll call her that from now on.

"Hi man, what a pleasure! Of course I know Theodora Altman. Here what I know.

Army nurse (also certified as a paramedic). Captain. She joined right after the S-11 attack. Two one-year tours. She returned to the USA after the base where she worked was blown up by a bomb a year ago, she was the only survivor, she wasn't at the base. I don't recommend you hitting on her, she's a cold bitch. She turned down all the men who hit on her. She didn't talk much so I don't know anything about her personal life, I tell you, cold bitch. A little tomboy, I think she's lesbian, just hanging out with women.

Why the question? Do you want to bang her? Go for it Hunt, if you can. She is beautiful, I must say. But tough."

Of all the extensive message Logan sent me, the first thing I recover is cold bitch and my blood boils. It bothers me that he expresses in this way of a woman. Surely she turned him down.

I thank the information and analyze the rest of the message. Captain. Nurse. S-11. Tough. Cold. I can believe hard, but cold? Yesterday she was anything but cold. She tried her best to save that young man, a cold person would never have worked so hard and break the rules to save a life. But specially, a cold person would never have been so affected by the death of a patient. Cristina has never been affected by the death of a patient.

I don't have more time to keep thinking about Teddy when my pager goes off.

TEDDY

I do my best to keep my patient alive, but it's in vain. Just when we are literally meters from the hospital, she dies and I can't do anything to resuscitate her.

"Time of death 12:15 am." I declare her.

Doc turns off the sirens and we park outside the ER of the Seattle Grace. Dr. Hunt receives us and my heart skips a beat.

"What do we have?!" He asks, ready to start working.

"Nothing." I answer dryly. "She died literally seconds ago."

He shakes his head disappointed. "Take her to the morgue."

Doc and I nod and roll the gurney straight to the morgue. Once they have received the corpse, Doc takes care of all the paperwork before leaving, while I wait.

"I'll go to the toilet." I inform Doc.

"You can leave if you want. Our shift is over; I just have to finish the paperwork. I take the ambulance back to the station."

"Really?"

"Really. Or you prefer to take you back to the station for your bike."

"No, today I came in the subway. But thanks."

"Okay. Have a good night, Altman."

"Same." I give my radio and my stethoscope to Doc to return it to the station and go to the toilet. I do what I have to do and then I walk around the hospital corridors. It's so big and so modern. I would die to work here, the salary must be incredible.

I keep walking through the halls until I see the OB-GYN and Peds wing. I walk straight to the nursery and stand in front of the glass looking at the tiny and beautiful babies. A knot forms in my throat. I long for a baby, it's one of my biggest dream to be a mom. Grown a life within me, bring it to the world, take care of it, love it... but...

I stop before my mind goes to that place. I focus on the babies and I smile.

"Hey, Teddy!" I hear someone call my name and turn to where the voice comes from. It's Dr. Hunt. "Sorry, I mean Theodora."

"Oh, no, no, it's fine. Teddy is fine. In fact, I prefer it over Theodora."

"Ok, so Teddy is."

We both remain silent looking at the babies on the other side of the glass. I feel nervous in the presence of Dr. Hunt. He is so imposing, I'm afraid to even look him in the eye. I feel that just a few seconds would be enough for him to know everything about me just by look me in the eye.

"How was your day?" He asks me. "Night shift?"

"Today was quieter than yesterday." He chuckles. "And in fact my shift is over, I just was passing by."

"The ER is on the ground floor." He points, but not in a reprimanding tone.

"Yes... I mean, I... I went to the toilet... and-and-and—"

He laughs out loud. "It's okay. I'm not angry and I won't report you. You won't steal a baby, isn't it?"

"Oh, good lord, no!" I cry.

Then his face softens and he looks at the babies with all the tenderness in the world. "They are beautiful, aren't they?"

"They are."

"By the way, taking advantage that your shift ended, I wanted to show you something." I look at him questioningly. "Come with me." He tells me to follow him, but I doubt for a moment. "Trust me, it's worth it."

I smile shyly and follow him. One step behind him. We take the elevator and go up 3 floors until we reach the ICU.

"What are we doing here?! I can't be here!" I'm afraid someone will catch me here without authorization.

"Calm down, you are with me."

"What are we doing here?"

"You will see." He takes me out of one of the rooms. "Look. That young woman just received a heart. Thanks to that she will be able to return to college. Law school.

Then he takes me to another room. "That one. He received a set of lungs. Pastor. Grandfather. His family could fill the entire ICU, they are amazing. And finally that woman. Single mom, everything her teenage daughter has, received a kidney this morning."

"Wow... this is... Why are you doing this?" I'm speechless.

"Teddy, these are just some of the lives that were saved last night thanks to you."

Without being able to contain it, my eyes fill with tears and I sigh shakily as I look at these people. They just received a second chance to live. "I'm sorry." I excuse myself while I wipe my tears with my hand.

"Don't be!" He answers with a sweet smile and places his hand on my back gently rubbing it softly. Unintentionally I jolt away a little too sharply. It has become an automatic reaction in me.

"Sorry! Sorry, I—"

"It's fine, it's fine." He apologizes raising his hands in front of him.

"I… I have to go, it's late and I shouldn't be here. Thank you very much for this, Dr. Hunt, it's good to know that at least my insubordination was worth it."

"This was thanks to you. Don't forget. I walk you to the exit."

We take the elevator back to the ground floor and the trip down makes me a little uncomfortable. I shouldn't have reacted like this, he'll think I'm a freak.

"So... I heard very good comments about you." He says out of nowhere, surely to end the awkward moment.

"About me?"

"Yes. Some of my army mates met you."

"Really? That's a surprise… I didn't make many friends over there." I answer looking at the floor a little embarrassed.

"Don't feel sorry. I wasn't exactly a popular guy over there either."

"Well, no offense, but I never heard of you."

"No offense taken." He answers smiling.

We reach the ground floor and the elevator doors open. He stands in front of the doors to keep them open lets me out first. A gentleman.

"But I did meet another Hunt, maybe you met her. Her name was Megan, Megan Hunt."

His face changes completely and for a moment I fear he will pass out. His face is pale, his lips in a thin line, his forehead wrinkled, his eyes empty. I think I just screwed up.

"I... I think I should go, it's almost 1:00 am." And I turn to go.

"I did meet her." He says, he doesn't scream, but his voice is loud enough to hear the pain in it. "Megan... she... she was my sister." He walks toward me until we are a few inches away. His eyes are watery, he wants to cry. And I want to hug him, yes, I want to do it.

"She was my younger sister. She." He swallows the lump in his throat. "She disappeared almost a year ago, she was kidnapped by Iraqi people, since then we don't know anything about her. It was her first tour."

I feel like crying with him. I only met Megan for an hour or so, but it was enough for her to stay in my mind and in my heart for a lifetime. I owe her my life.

"I... I'm so sorry Dr. Hunt." He smiles at me sympathetically. "I think... I think I should go."

"Yeah." He answers and wipes a tear with his thumb, but smiles at me. "Have a good night."

"Likewise."

I turn around and leave the hospital. Now I have to think how the hell I will return home. Yes, it was a better idea not to return to the station since it is farther from my loft than the Seattle Grace, but my stupid self didn't count on me only having 5 dollars in my pockets. At least at the station someone could've given me a ride. Then I remember my backpack is at the station, or rather, my backpack with my keys.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" I mutter between clenched teeth. I think about it. It's about 20-30 minutes walking to my apartment, but I don't have keys and if I knock at Mrs. Evans' door she'll be furious. On the other hand, it's around an hour walking to the station. I look at the clock, it's 1 o'clock, I can still take the late night bus. I think about it. I'm terrified of walking alone through the streets this late, but I have no other choice.

I turn around the corner of the hospital and walk down the main avenue. There are still a few cars and people on the street, but still I feel insecure. I walk quickly and hugging myself. A light rain has begun to fall. A car stops next to me and my blood freezes. I step out, but the car follows me.

"Teddy?!" When I am about to run the car driver calls my name. I turn around and find that it's Dr. Hunt. "What are you doing here?!"

"Doctor Hunt? What are you doing here?"

"I asked first." He answers mockingly and I giggle.

"My partner left without me, I was on my way to—"

"He did what?! Why? Why did he leave you?!"

"Oh no, it wasn't like that. I told him to leave, my house is closer to the hospital than to the station, but I forgot that I have my backpack with my stuff there. I was walking to the station."

"You are not going to walk at this hour, with this weather and alone to the station! Get in, I take you to the station and then to your house."

I doubt whether to take his offer or not. I look at the sky, the rain is getting worse. I don't know what to do, on the street I feel terrified, but in Dr. Hunt's car... I don't know him, but something tells me that he wouldn't dare to do anything to me. He is not like those men.

"Please." He tells me and sounds almost pleading. "I'm harmless, I swear. The only torture will be listen to my music, that's all."

I huff. "You're listening to Duran Duran, that's hardly torture."

"Do you like Duran Duran?"

"I love them."

"So?"

"I will wet your seats."

"I don't care. They're leather."

I smile shaking my head and get in his car. It is probably the most luxurious car I've climbed into. I've never had a car, in New York I always moved by subway or bus. My father used to have an old Ford Escort 80 that he looked after as if it were his child. My mother and I used to joke with him about that he took more care of his car than us.

I close the door being careful not to make it too loud, I put on my seat belt and get comfortable in the seat. It's so warm in here.

"You can change the music if you like." Owen kindly tells me.

"No, it's perfect. I love listening to Duran Duran a little too loud, I think my neighbors already hate me."

He laughs. "That is impossible! Who could hate you?"

I smile nervous and shy. We arrived at the station in less than 20 minutes. As much as I try to convince him that I am fine and that I will go home from there on the late night bus is useless, he insists to take me to my house too, which, coincidentally, is only 4 blocks from his. What a coincidence. I hurry to enter the station and take my stuff, I don't even take my uniform off, anyway, it already needs a wash. I go out and Owen is still waiting for me, he's even talking to Jimmy Doherty, one of the firemen.

"Ready?" Owen asks me opening the car door for me to get in.

Jimmy looks at me with a look and a mischievous smile. I think I know what he's thinking.

"Yeah."

"Perfect. It was a pleasure talking to you." Owen tells Jimmy and they both say goodbye with a hand shake.

"Good night, Teddy." Jimmy tells me and I just smile tightly and get into the car.

We move through the now lonely and wet streets of Seattle. We are both silent. He stares at the road and I watch the raindrops fall on the window.

"I hope is not an inconvenience what you are doing for me." I say when I see him yawn.

"No, don't worry, tomorrow is my day off anyway. I can sleep until noon if I want to." He smiles with a sleepy face.

"Lucky you. And your family says nothing about you getting home this late? I mean, it's almost 2:00 AM."

"I have no family, or rather, I don't live with them. I live with my girlfriend, but she is on call tonight."

I can't help feeling a twinge in my stomach when I hear he has a girlfriend. Of course a man like him has a girlfriend. He is so different from all the men I've met in my life, so different from those damn bastards. He is caring, gentle… a gentlemanly. He makes me believe in men again, that there are still good men out there.

"And you?" He asks me. "Someone waiting for you at home?"

"A bottle of red wine." I answer trying to sound funny, and it seems to work since Owen laughs and looks at me. And we keep looking at each other. And I can see how his eyes scan my face. How his gaze hangs on my lips and I hang mine on his until the horn of the person behind us interrupts us. The traffic light has turned green.

We arrive at the apartment tower and he parks. Before I can get out he is already opening the door for me. He offers me his hand, but I don't take it. He closes the door behind me.

"Thank you very much for bringing me, I have no way to pay you."

"You don't have to pay me, it was my pleasure! I couldn't leave you alone in the street at this hour, I wouldn't have forgiven myself if something happened to you."

His words touch me to the edge of feeling a tickle in my nose and in my eyes.

"Even so. Thank you. It's hard to trust people these days. Well, I don't keep you anymore, good night Dr. Hunt."

"Oh, please call me Owen, I call you Teddy, it's just fair."

I smile. "Ok."

"It can be said that we are almost friends, isn't it?"

I don't answer that question and instead I say goodbye. "Good night, Owen." This time it's me who offers her hand and he takes it with a slight shake, then I turn around to enter the building.

"Hey wait! Is there a way to contact you? Your phone number or something?"

"Why?" I ask sounding a little defensive.

"Well… to contact you, talk? Message? Now we are friends, aren't we?"

I smile sadly. "You don't want a friend like me. Good evening Dr. Hunt." I turn around and enter the building. Without even bothering to take the elevator I run up the stairs. I want to get all this inside of me out. This feeling that oppresses me and that has screwed with my life since that night. I want to run, shout, break things, cry until I run out of voice.

I manage to reach the top floor of the building where my loft is located. Tears and sweat run down my face. I open the door and throw my backpack and my jacket no matter where they fall. I throw the keys on the kitchen island and take a bottle of red wine without caring about having a glass. I open it and I sit by the wall-window crying my eyes out.

Images of that night invade my head. That disgusting man on top of me, his dirty hands squeezing my legs, my arms, my breasts, nailing me to the ground. His alcoholic breath on my face, his gross tongue licking my neck. I remember the pain, the humiliation, the sadness, the rage, the fear.

Then I remember that other man. His fat body on me and then Bang! He was gone. His limp body on top of me. Megan Hunt standing there. Her weapon still pointing.

I shake my head trying to erase the memories, but it's useless. I take the bottle and drink almost half in a single gulp. The red and bitter liquid drains out of my mouth and down my neck and my chest mixing with my tears staining my shirt. I finish the whole bottle in just 4 long drinks. I get up and take one more. This will be a long night.

What do you think will happen now?

What will Owen think Teddy met Megan?

Will he want to know how?

Why do you think Teddy doesn't want to be friends with Owen?

Let me know!