The next Friday Nikki walked into English chatting with friends.
"Do you know anything about the field trip to the hospital on Wednesday," Sydney asked.
"Ya," Nikki replied, "my brother and his girlfriend are planning it."
"Brother," Sydney asked, "that guy that picks you up."
"Owen is 17 years older than me," Nikki replied, "he's getting cooler. I won't call him cool but he's improving."
"He usually has a blonde woman with him," Mackenzie commented.
"Teddy," Nikki replied, "his girlfriend they've been together since she got home a few months ago. My mom is out of town and I'm staying with them this week. Wednesday you all meet here and go straight to the hospital, I go straight there with whoever leaves second. I'm hoping it's Teddy, she stops for Starbucks."
"Why are they doing it," Sydney asked.
"Owen and Teddy are both surgeons," Nikki replied, "he fixes people who get blown up or wrap their cars around a pole. She's a heart surgeon."
"Why does she pick you up," Mackenzie asked.
"Owen works weird shifts," Nikki replied, "sometimes my mom works late. Mom's a nurse and can take some overtime now that Owen is home and him and Teddy are willing to drive me around."
"Do you like her," Sydney asked.
"I do," Nikki said, "she actually likes me and cares. She was a dancer her mom taught at Blackhurst in Connecticut. Teddy understands what we're doing."
"She's a dancer," Mackenzie said.
"She was," Nikki replied, "we can talk about dance together. She talked Owen down about pas de deux."
"He doesn't like you and Jason dancing together," Sydney asked.
"Hand placement," Nikki groaned, "big scary ex soldier big brother doesn't help."
"Your brother was a soldier," Corinna asked.
"He was so was Teddy that's how they met," Nikki replied, "but we don't talk about it in English in front of Miss. Whitman."
"Why not in English," Sydney asked, "Miss Whitman hates you for no reason."
"Owen and Miss Whitman were a thing for a long time, they broke up two years ago," Nikki replied, "they were engaged and he ended it after Meghan disappeared."
"Your sister," Sydney clarified.
"Yes," Nikki replied, "since Owen came home we've actually been able to talk about Meg. he tells me funny stories about her."
"Did they come to the show last week," Sydney asked.
"You didn't hear him bellowing," Nikki rolled her eyes.
"The whole theater heard that," Mackenzie replied.
"So our anatomy group project on the cardiovascular system Teddy has offered to help," Nikki said, "were supposed to choreograph something and she offered me recordings of actual heart sounds. The rhythms are interesting."
"Let's talk to her," Sydney agreed.
"She said I could have a couple friends over tonight," Nikki replied, "Owen is working."
"Should you ask," Corinna said.
"I'll text her," Nikki replied. She knew Teddy would let her have her three best friends over. Nikki might even be able to convince Teddy to make them cookies.
Nikki texted Teddy, "hey. You said it would be okay if a couple friends came over. How many did you mean?"
Teddy, "three or less."
Nikki, "Mackenzie, Corinna and Sydney?"
Teddy, "yes. Pizza okay?"
Nikki, "and cookies?"
Teddy, "I can. I'll pick you all up or do the other girls want to go home?"
Nikki, "home first. Everyone wants out of school uniforms."
Teddy, "does your mom have cookie stuff. I thought the other girls moms would be more comfortable with it at your house."
Nikki, "but your building has the pool."
Teddy, "okay."
Teddy sent the address and told Nikki to tell the other girls. Teddy was wondering if she had to swim with the teens or if she just had to be in the pool area, she could sit on one of the lounge chairs and read.
Teddy texted Owen, "Nikki is having friends at our place. I'm trying to be cool. They want to swim I can just sit in the pool area right?"
Owen, "sit and read. The pool isn't that deep. Nikki is a good swimmer."
Teddy, "I don't really want to wear a bathing suit infront of teenage ballerinas."
Owen, "are you okay to hang out with them?"
Teddy, "they want to swim and giggle. I can do this. Better me than you."
Owen, "you've been exhausted."
Teddy, "and I'm laying on the couch reading right now it's not hard. Our place is clean the other room is ready for Nikki."
Owen, "did we really agree to a week?"
Teddy, "we did. She's at school 7:30 am to5:00 pm for the summer session. She wants to do a couple of the night activities for the summer kids that they opened up to the year round kids."
Owen, "I agreed to help with rock climbing on Tuesday."
Teddy, "why?"
Owen, "get to know the punk that likes my sister."
Teddy, "be nice. Jason seems like an okay kid."
Owen, "his hands go in places I don't want to see my sister touched."
Teddy, "we've been through this, it's choreographed and the safe spots for her balance. It's her leg, shoulder, waist. Owen it's okay."
Owen, "I still don't like it or how close he gets in lifts."
Teddy, "to be able to support her he has to be close. It's farther then it looks on stage. You have to be nice when you see him. No scary major hunt."
Owen, "fine. Have fun with them tonight."
Teddy, "it's easy. Her friends are nice girls."
Around six Nikki was getting antsy.
"Your friends will be here soon," Teddy promised.
"I know. Mrs Parsons, Sydney's mom wants to talk to you," Nikki said, "Sydney has a heart condition."
"Do you know what," Teddy asked.
"No but her mom is obsessive about telling the other parent," Nikki groaned.
"I'll put her mom at ease," Teddy smiled, "head of cardio at the best hospital in the city."
When Nikki's friends texted that they were there Teddy went down with Nikki.
"Hi girls, Mrs Parsons," Teddy greeted, "I'm Teddy."
"Teddy do you have a moment," Mrs Parsons asked.
"Of course I'm sure your not the only parent with questions," Teddy smiled.
"The girls explained how you know Nikki that's not my worry. Sydney has a heart condition and goes for surgery in August," Mrs Parsons said.
"I'm a cardiothroatic surgeon," Teddy said, "who are you seeing and what's being done?"
"We meet dr Altman for the first time next week," Mrs parsons replied, "our pediatrician said she's good."
Teddy stuck out her hand, "dr Theodora Altman. I'm Head of cardio at Seattle Grace. Anything particular your concerned about?"
Sydney's mom explained the symptoms.
"Nothing to worry about," Teddy reassured, "the girls wanted to swim and I'll be in the pool area just in case. I'll monitor. Do you want to give me your number and I can call if anything comes up. It's probably good for me to observe Sydney in her natural environment. I'm teaching a couple things in their anatomy class next week so I'll go watch the girls in the studio."
"Our doctor mentioned the possibility of Sydney needing to wear a monitor for 72 hours," Mrs parsons said.
"Let me observe and see her chart and decide," Teddy replied, "it's not a bad idea but my observations in real time tell me more. I will likely do a stress test on the treadmill as well. I understand ballet and the way the girls train. I danced at Blackhurst."
"Are you sure this is okay," Mrs Parsons asked.
"I told Nikki to invite a few close friends over," Teddy replied, "Owen and I are still getting to know her and her friends after being away for a few years."
"Where were you," Mrs Parsons asked.
"Iraq," Teddy replied, "we both did a few tours. Mrs Parsons I assure you the girls are safe here. It's swimming, pizza and veggies, and a movie. I'm home all night and I was told Mrs. Brock is picking them up around 10:30."
"Thank you," Mrs Parsons replied, "do you mind if I tell the other moms about your service?"
"If it makes them feel more comfortable ," Teddy replied, "at home I'm just Teddy though."
"The girls look like their waiting for you I should go," Mrs Parsons said, "have fun and thank you teddy."
"Any time," Teddy replied.
When they reached the pool area Nikki asked, "Teddy are you swimming?"
"I'm just going to read," Teddy replied, "I have a really good book I want to finish."
Nikki gave Teddy a serious look and Teddy shook her head. Nikki had spent the night with Owen and Teddy before and they both swam with her.
Nikki spent the night hanging out with her friends, swimming, laughing and playing games. Once the kitchen was tidy and the teens had turned on a movie Teddy took her book into the bedroom. She had eaten dinner with them and stayed in the pool area to put the other girls parents at ease but they didn't want her around to watch a movie.
"How is she related to you," Corinna asked.
"Owen's girlfriend," Nikki replied.
"She's quiet," Sydney observed.
"Tonight," Nikki said, "she's trying to be cool."
"She's my new heart doctor," Sydney said, "she doesn't look like the last one. He was old and grumpy."
"Teddy is way more gentle than Owen with my injuries," Nikki said.
"One of them took you off pointe for like two weeks," Mackenzie said.
"Owen," Nikki groaned, "broken toenail got infected. He cleaned it out in the kitchen sink."
"Why would he do that," Mackenzie asked.
"Trauma surgeon," Nikki said, "thinks he can fix anything anywhere."
"Your mom is cool with you staying with your brother's girlfriend," Corinna asked.
"Owen is off work at midnight," Nikki replied, "it's their place. They both live here."
"Your mom is okay with them living together," Mackenzie asked, looking shocked.
In the other room Teddy smirked, if only the teens knew.
"They're like 34 or 35," Nikki said, "Owen is 17 years older than me."
"Really," Sydney asked.
"I'm the youngest by a lot," Nikki said.
"How much," Mackenzie asked, she was new to the school this year, "you must have siblings in between."
"Meghan was 14 years older," Nikki replied, "she was captured two years ago."
"We don't talk about her sister," Sydney said.
"What happened," Mackenzie asked.
Teddy was wandering through to get more water, "Meghan, Owen and I were military surgeons in Iraq and Meghan was captured by a group we couldn't identify. It's not something our family talks about."
"Are there any more cookies," Nikki asked changing the subject.
"On the counter," Teddy replied, "I made a double batch. Owen wants some."
Nikki followed Teddy to get the cookies.
"You okay," Teddy whispered.
"Mackenzie is new this year she didn't know," Nikki replied.
"You good," Teddy asked again.
"I am," Nikki said, "it's getting easier. She's out there somewhere just waiting to come home."
"She is," Teddy agreed forcing a smile. On day some one would have to break it to Nikki that the chances were minimal less than 1%. Meghan's status had changed to missing presumed dead. Teddy wasn't impressed that Evelyn and Owen had chosen to keep that from Nikki. She also knew that they didn't tell Nikki for almost a week after Meghan was captured. Nikki had been away performing and they chose not to tell her.
"Who made the cookies," Corinna asked.
"Teddy," Nikki replied.
"These are good," Corinna said.
Teddy took a couple cookies and retreated back into the bedroom with her book.
When the other girls moms came Nikki stuck her head around the bedroom door and told Teddy they were leaving. Teddy said goodbye to the girls and passed Nikki the key so she could walk her friends out.
Teddy quickly tidied the living room and sat down on the couch.
"Thanks for doing that teddy," Nikki said when she let herself back in.
"I was happy to do it," Teddy said, "get to know your friends."
"What do you think," Nikki asked.
"They seem like nice girls," Teddy said, "I was going to watch a movie until owen gets home do you want to put your pajamas on and watch with me?"
"What are you watching," Nikki asked.
"Step up," Teddy suggested.
"Sure," Nikki said.
"Pajamas and your pillow," Teddy said, "we'll get cozy on the couch."
"Blanket and teddy bear," Nikki asked.
"Sure," Teddy smiled and went to put her pajamas on.
Nikki beat teddy back to the couch and curled up on one end.
"Does this bear have a story," Teddy asked seeing how worn the white teddy was.
"It's mr bear," Nikki replied, "Owen got him for me the day I was born. It's embarrassing but I can't sleep without mr bear."
"It's just me and Owen," Teddy said, "who cares if you have mr bear."
Teddy pressed play on the movie and got cozy in her side of the couch.
Owen came home around one am and found Nikki and Teddy both asleep on the couch. He didn't know which one to wake first. He smiled seeing Nikki clutching her teddy bear. In her puppy dog printed pajamas and glasses Nikki looked more like the baby sister he had left behind. He decided it would be better to wake Teddy who would expect him than Nikki.
"Teds," Owen whispered, kissing her hair, "why don't you go to bed."
"Owen," Teddy mumbled opening her eyes, "how was work?"
"Hectic," Owen answered, "do you want me to carry you to bed then I'll wake Nikki?"
"I'm fine," Teddy yawned she went to get up then realized nikkis legs were on top of hers.
"I'll give you a hand," Owen smiled.
"Nikkis legs are on top of mine," Teddy whispered.
"Hey squirt it's time for bed," Owen whispered.
"What," Nikki said, "where am I?"
"My place," Owen reassured, "you and Teddy fell asleep watching a movie. You need to go to bed. You don't have Saturday class this week you can sleep in."
Nikki slowly stood up and grabbed her stuff, "night owl, night teddy."
"Night squirt," Owen said giving Nikki a quick hug.
"Night," Teddy yawned.
Nikki went into the second bedroom and closed the door.
"Hunt," Teddy whispered, "my legs are asleep."
"I'll carry you," Owen replied, scooping Teddy off the couch and carrying her to their bed.
"You smell like hospital," Teddy giggled, wrinkling her nose.
"You want me to showere before bed," Owen offered.
"Please," Teddy said, "I can't stand the smell of hospital right now."
"How are you going to work," Owen asked.
"It's a struggle," Teddy admitted, "the OR is really hard."
"How are you managing," Owen asked.
"Yang," Teddy replied, "we may need to tell more than Richard soon. It's not like we have a lot of friends at work. I've been making Yang do most of it."
"Yang is okay with that," Owen asked.
"Please she would be the attending if I let her," Teddy said.
"She would," Owen agreed, "I'll take a quick shower and come to bed."