"Majors Hunt and Altman" a voice boomed
"There's been a mass casualty in town, and we will be deploying the troops to provide medical assistance immediately".
"Alright Listen up everyone you will be divided into 2 squads between myself and Major Altman, from there you will each be divided into 5 teams ".
"Yes Sir" the room bellowed
"Owen the kids". Teddy said concerned
"Major Hunt you have a phone call"
"I'll be back babe, okay? It'll be okay".
She nodded, now was not the time to be a mother no matter how badly every fiber of her being told her to be. At the very least she wanted to know her children were okay".
"Everyone pack your kits Major Hunt and I will be checking them in 25 mins".
"Hello… MOM… What's wrong"?!
"OWEN Oh THANK GOD, are you, Teddy and the kids safe "?!
"what do you mean mom"?!
"Owen there was a massive bombing in the town just outside of the hospital base you're at …"
"mom I've got to go "
Convoy is ready to deploy in 2 mins everyone load up, the team that is staying back make sure your stations are prepared for anything ". Teddy yelled… "we're not sure at this moment; how many or what kind of casualties we will be seeing".
She grabbed her bags and was headed out Owen grabbed her arm "teddy I think it's best if you stay here … "
She pulled away "what are you talking about? She looked at him annoyed "Owen what are you not telling me…. OWEN?! OWEN…. "He looked at her hugging her.
"have you called the Nanny"?! she asked
"There's no service honey".
She watched as the convoy left for the town, she, and her family as of recently had been calling home
She was not typically a praying woman but sat down silently prayed that her children were safe
It was bad, Owen could not remember the last time he'd see such devastation in a long time... Feeling a sense of hope, from what he could tell his Gated community was not hit. He was still holding back reservation till he had his hands on his kids and either he or Teddy could do a physical on them.
"Major Hunt we found your children they're on their way to the base now"!
"Are they okay"?!
"We don't know sir, just hear it over the radio".
"Thank God " He sighed He knew Teddy didn't need to see this, she needed to be able to receive their kids.
The base was empty, Teddy sat anxiously waiting concerned no one had shown up yet…. It either meant the bombing wasn't as bad as reported OR more than likely it was so catastrophic there was no one to save .
"I'm looking for Dr. Theo Hunt "she heard a voice say
She looked up "You mean Major Theodora Altman"?
"You Major Hunt's wife "?
"Yes…. "she hesitantly said
"Your kids are safe; we just need your help getting them out of the truck "
She ran following behind stopping short of entering the truck she saw her terrified children covering their ears, Daniel wailing. She gulped
"Renee are you guys hurt? She asked holding out her hand to help the nanny out first running her hand over her baby's head
"NO, we're all fine, they're just a little scared "
"Sure Sure, that's okay, Mommy isn't scared though, Mommy will keep you safe okay"? She looked to her two older kids.
"Hey, Leo Monster, can you look at Mommy"?
He shook his head, her heart fell "Allison"? She hid behind Leo
"No? Why not? Leo buddy its…Momma honey"
"NO! You don't look like my Mommy! He yelled
she took off her uniform and her vest and took her hair out of her bun, wearing what she'd normally wear in the house, her shirt camo pants
"it's just me … see"? * she held out her hand *
"Come on baby, come to Momma "it took everything in her not to rush them and hold onto her kids, she knew that would be detrimental right now. She could hear Daniel still wailing she wanted to cry.
He uncovered his eyes just a little
"Hello, you" she smiled "There's my sweet boy".
"Bud, I know it's a really scary time right now, but I promise we'll go home, and Mommy and Daddy are going to make it all better".
He finally got up and ran to her
"My Baby" she buried her face in his curls. "Allison sweet pea come here "
"Mommy" she cried both kids clung to Teddy
"Okay, Okay Okay…. We're okay Shhh Shh". She said bringing her kids into the hospital
"DR ALTMAN"!
"She's got it guys," Renee told the interns "as the kids held their mom tighter "
"You know how Mommy has a pretty big job of taking care of other people… *the kids nodded* WELL… Mommy has an EVEN BIGGER job taking care of you three"
"But you're not my real mommy," Leo said
"Of course, I am! You are my first baby! What makes you say that Leo"? She asked concerned
"I didn't grow in your tummy like Alli n Danny" he whimpered
"Oh honey, that's right you didn't grow in my tummy but that doesn't make you any less my baby. I met you when you were Danny's age. I fed you and cared for you just like I do for him. You were the first baby to ever make me a mom. I don't love you any less. And taking care of you and your siblings is THE BEST job I have. So, can I still be your real mommy"?
Leo nodded "Ya, I'd be really sad if you would have said no". She kissed him on the forehead.
"Okay guys, I've to put you down and examine you okay"?
She started with Leo "Anything her baby"? Kissing him
"Allison come here sweet pea, anything hurt"? Kissing her
"Okay" Daniel was still upset "come to momma baby, I'm pretty sure I know why you're upset" as he pulled at her shirt and wailed when she put him down. "You're a hungry boy". She laughed.
Owen rushed in "OMG they're okay " !
"AHHHHHH!" Leo screamed scaring everyone.
"Leo honey its just daddy," Teddy said
"take off your uniform, he didn't believe it was me under all my gear" .
"What, why"? Owen took his stuff off
"why is he freaking out about seeing us in uniform "? Teddy asked Renee
"When we were evacuated, soldiers rushed the house to come get us. They woke the kids up from their naps. It all happened so suddenly, we were out of the house and shoved into trucks before I knew what was happening".
Owen and Teddy just looked at each other Daniel started wailing
"Oh, I know! I am sorry sorry sorry Buddy! Let us go feed you".
"hi, baby boy" she settled into a chair "sssshhh you're alright". She closed her eyes, she started to drift off this was her favorite time with her babies. She knew days of nursing Daniel were numbered but as long as he would nurse, she was willing to feed him.
Owen walked In, "Isn't that a vision for sore eyes "he smiled
"Hey"
Daniel started fussing again Teddy switched sides hoping he'd keep eating. Drink up, baby. She said patting his bum.
"What do you need. Hungry"? Owen sat down checking in
"Hunger is the last thing on my mind. I need my children to be okay. This one is doing just fine as long as he's eating… How are the other 2 "?
"They're doing better… still little shaken up but better". Owen said
"Where is home"?
"Our area of down was fine ".
"Owen, I don't know how I feel bought staying here anymore. Can't we be transferred somewhere else"?
"I'll look into it "Kissing her. "Go home after he's done"?
"Yes Please"! she said
"Dr. Altman …ahhh … Sorry" the intern spun around
"Relax I'm covered … Good luck in the medical world if you can look at a mother breastfeeding her child…..How can I help you"?
"There is a patient in the pit you need to see "
"Alright I'll be right there," she said handing Daniel to Owen … "Dad's turn, bud. I'll see you at home".
"What do we have"? She asked
"5-year-old blunt force trauma to the chest during the explosion. Chief complaint is pain and difficulty breathing "
"Alrighty, hi young man my name is Teddy, Mind if I have a listen "?
"Teddy like as in a Teddy Bear"?
"Yup! People call me Teddy Bear all the time, you can too if you want "!
"Okay, so I want to do a sonogram of his heart and an EKG "
"Alright bud, you're going to lay on your left side and I am going to use this special machine to see your heart okay?
"I'm not seeing anything that warrants surgery. I think you just took quite a blow to the chest and you're sore. I want to keep him for a few nights just to monitor. She said to the mom.
"Thank you"
"No thanks necessary".
"Bye Teddy Bear"!
"You have kids Dr. Altman? His mom asked
"I have 3 ; 3 yrs, 2 yrs , 7-month-old "
"You've your hands full "
"I do , I wouldn't trade it for anything" she said smiling
"I'm home ! awwww there's my precious lil family …. Can I join in "? She saw them all cuddled together watching a movie.
"Mommy come snuggle "!
"You guys keep watching, I need to talk to your mom".
"HEY"! He walked into their room and found her crying into her pillow
"Hey hey hey, he laid down behind her and spooned her. Why are you crying "
"We almost lost our babies today, Owen "She said sobbing.
"But we didn't, honey, we didn't "He hugged her to him tighter
"I couldn't go on living without them, there would be no more purpose " .
"what are you saying teddy'?
"Maybe we should move".
"Teddy we can"t run every time something goes wrong. You're blowing this way out of proportion You're thinking like a mother".
"AM I Owen? you're kidding me right now?! RIGHT?! Damn, Right I am thinking like a mother. Today didn't affect us, it directly affected our children, one of which I gave birth to ONLY 7 months ago. SO EXCUSE ME for being paranoid after seeing the faces of my babies terrified to even look at me b/c they were saved by people in the same uniform I wear. Excuse me if I have to hear my almost 4-year-old wonder if I would protect him like I would his siblings even though he's not biologically ours. So unless you can carry a baby for 9 months, I strongly suggest you never tell me I am blowing things way out of proportion when it comes to OUR CHILDREN. Look I came home looking for some relief and I just get shit on."
"Teddy" he grabbed her arm
"Don't touch me! I'm going back to work"