"Dr Altman," Annie mumbled into her phone just after three AM.
Josh rolled over in bed.
"Annie it's grandma," Leslie's mom said.
"Grandma what happened," Annie asked.
"Are you working," grandma asked, she had learned to ask what Annie was doing before starting a conversation.
"I was asleep," Annie said, "grandma what's going on."
She kicked Josh, startling him awake.
"Are you alone," grandma asked.
"Josh is here he's just waking up," Annie said, "grandma what's wrong? It's three AM."
"It's Jessica," grandma said.
"What happened if her tumor was back you would have called in the morning," Annie panicked.
"We're at VGH ," grandma said, "Annie you need to come home. Her doctors say less than 24 hours."
"Her and mom don't want me," Annie said, "I can't help this time grandma."
"Please come," grandma said, "Jessica is asking for you."
"What's wrong," Annie asked.
"Jessica has a new tumor," grandma said, "she collapsed after dinner it's in her heart and lungs."
"What type," Annie asked.
"I don't know they say inoperable," grandma said.
"Tell them to call Nathan Riggs at Grey Sloan or Christina Yang," Annie snapped, "Nathan is researching inoperable tumors. He's removed three in the last month."
"Annie," grandma said, "Jessica doesn't want us to."
"Is she DNR," Annie asked.
"What is that," grandma asked.
"Do not resuscitate," Annie said, "I want to talk to the cardiothoracic surgeon now. Give him this number and tell him I'm a cardio fellow. Use Altman."
"It's a woman," grandma said, "gentle early fifties brown hair."
"Name," Annie asked.
"Miller or Milner," grandma said.
"Anne Milner," Annie asked.
"Yea," grandma replied.
"Have her paged, tell her you know Teddy and Grace Altman and want Teddy called to consult," Annie said, "I'll give mama a heads up and we'll drive to VGH."
"Annie I can't do that," grandma said.
"Then ask grandmere to," Annie replied, "I worked for Anne Milner at 19 and 20 as her research assistant. She taught me to sort and read EKGs. She was mama's med school roommate and there when I was born. I've lectured in her classes at UBC with mama. Just get her to call me, she has my number. I'm going to throw clothes on and a few days' stuff in a bag and come up."
"Fast," grandma begged.
"We're getting out of bed now," Annie said.
"What's wrong with Jessica," Josh asked as Annie turned on the light.
"Mets to her heart and lungs," Annie said, "they don't think she'll make 24 hours. We should go. I have to and I need you."
"Ellie," Josh asked.
"Is coming," Annie declared, "can you pack us and I'll pack her. 5 days and funeral clothes."
"What do you want," Josh asked.
"I have a plain black dress," Annie replied, "I'll put it on the bed. Other than that casual."
They threw their things in a bag and drove north arriving at VGH just before 8am.
"Leslie," Annie greeted holding Ellie's hand tight in the strange hospital. The toddler was used to hospitals and would happily run around in the halls looking for her grandparents and extended surgical family who could always be counted on for hugs and cuddles.
"Ellie can you say hi to granny," Leslie asked.
"Leslie she's only seen you the day she was christened she doesn't know you and in a strange place she's shy," Josh said.
"Uncle Chris," Ellie yelled seeing Chris and Jenna coming down the hall, "Ty."
"We're all together," Chris said grimly, "when was the last time this happened?"
"11 or 12 years," Annie replied, "I need to speak to Dr Milner."
Dr Milner found them, "Dr Grace Altman I didn't expect to see you."
"My adoptive sister," Annie replied, "can you and I go over her scans and chart?"
"I've spoken to Teddy and Christina Yang," dr Milner said, "I'm sorry Annie there's nothing I can do."
"Show me the scans please," Annie begged, "I've been researching heart and lung tumors that are non cancerous. My most recent research may apply, I had a break through about six months ago."
"Annie I've read your paper and seen your data. It's good but it's in the pericardium and every lobe of both lungs," dr Milner said, "Yang, Teddy and I agree I spoke to them. There's nothing I can do."
"Emergent transplant," Annie asked, grasping at straws.
"She's not a candidate," Dr Milner said.
"EMCO, LVAD," Annie through out.
"Annie those wont work here," Dr. Milner said, "come with me."
Annie followed Dr Milner down the hall.
"Teddy told me to tell you that you are strong and you can do this. Annie this is the end. You're free after this the threat from Jessica is ending. This is hard but you've done harder things Annie. I'm in the hospital all day today. Teddy said to call her whenever you need she's not in the OR," dr Milner said, "I know what happened Annie. Teddy told me the whole thing. You are as brave and strong as your mama. The first day you knocked on my door to introduce yourself and interview, I knew you would do great things. You had this hidden strength even then. You were 19 and so shy knocking on my door but a miniature of your mother. That two years you worked for me you showed so much promise then when you came to lecture you proved me right. Annie you can get through today. What happens after is up to you. I was also told to tell you to breathe and tell Josh if you need a hug."
"Thank you," Annie whispered, hugging dr Milner.
Annie and Josh joined the family in the room waiting. Seeing Jessica's stats drop Annie called for a nurse to adjust her oxygen flow. Usually Annie would do it herself but here in an unfamiliar hospital in a country she wasn't licensed in she couldn't.
Around noon Katie came to stand beside Annie.
"Last semester of med school," Annie whispered, "and it's match day."
"I'm praying for Grey Sloan," Katie said, "I've done both my Canadian and American exams."
"One last set," Annie said.
Katie's phone buzzed, "Annie can you look?"
"Your residency you look," Annie said.
"It's American," Katie gulped.
"Open it," Annie prompted.
Katie opened the email.
"Grey Sloan Memorial," Katie beamed.
"On behalf of the cardio department, welcome aboard," Annie said, hugging her cousin.
"Welcome from neuro," Jenna added.
"Trauma surgery is happy to have you," Josh agreed.
"Welcome to GSM thing three," Annie giggled.
"Three," Chris asked.
"What Yang calls her when she visits," Annie said, she pointed to each of them, "one, two, three."
"So neurosurgery right Katie," Jenna teased, "we have three trauma and three cardio. I'm badly outnumbered."
"What's going on," Katie's mom asked.
"It's match day auntie Terrie," Annie said.
"Where are you going," Terrie asked.
"Grey Sloan memorial in Seattle with Annie," Katie said.
"That's not far," Terrie smiled.
"Three hours," Annie said, "and there's family."
"Seattle," Dan said, "I'm down there most of the time."
"You'll come to Sunday dinners," Annie said, "it rotates and whoever isn't working goes. Mama, auntie Meghan, nana and I take turns."
"If my place was bigger I would host but we don't all fit," Dan said.
"Ours is cozy but we manage," Annie said, "mama has the best space."
"Annie," Leslie snapped.
Annie looked at Josh who nodded. They had brought the stroller in and Ellie was asleep in it. They hardly used it now but for this it was helpful to have a safe spot for Ellie. Jenna was sitting in a chair cuddling 18 month old Tyler.
"Chris," Annie said motioning for her brother.
They walked together into the room with Dan and Leslie. Annie felt like she was intruding. She hadn't been part of this family since she was 20, for 12 years she hadn't been part of this family of five. This would be the very last time they would ever be a family of five. The was where her pain and her trauma originated the person in the bed and the woman sitting on the edge. The person in the bed no longer resembled Jessica, it was clear she had been sick a long time.
"Annie are you okay," Dan asked.
"Nothing I haven't seen before," Annie said.
"Ann you can cry," Chris whispered, "you don't have to be a doctor."
"Not here," Annie said.
They all sat in silence for a while before Annie sat on the edge of the bed to whisper.
"I'm sorry we couldn't save you," Annie said, "I wish we could have had a chance to really know each other. Jessica I forgive you. I forgive you and I love you. You're going to go to heaven and I will see you there. It's going to be okay. Jessie you can stop fighting, we love you. It's time."
"It's time Jessica," Dan said, "you can let go now. I love you little girl."
"Go Jessica," Chris said, "we're all okay here. We're going to be okay. You go be in heaven we'll see you there. I love you."
"Its okay Jessica," Leslie said, "you can go now. I love you."
Annie watched the rhythm on the monitor become erratic and slow down each beat taking longer until it flat lined.
"What's that noise," Leslie asked.
Annie checked her watch, "15:27."
"What," Dan asked.
"15:27,"Annie said, "her heart stopped. She's gone."
"No," Leslie threw herself on the bed beside Jessica, "not my baby not my daughter."
Annie hit the call button.
Dr Milner came into the room, "Dr. Altman did you get the time?"
"15:27," Annie replied.
"I'm so sorry for your loss," Dr. Milner said, "Mr and Mrs. McKellar I'm very sorry for your loss."
"Thank you," Dan said.
"Get her back," Leslie wailed.
"We can't," Dr. Milner said, "she signed an DNR when she started treatment six weeks ago."
Annie and Chris looked at eachother, six months no one had told them.
"Six weeks," Dan said.
"She asked that no one in the family be told," Dr. Milner said.
"I understand," Annie replied, "we could have helped."
"No Grace you couldn't have," Dr. Milner said, "there was nothing I could do. I took it to Yang with out a name when she came in."
"Christina knew," Annie said.
"All she knew was a 28 year old female," Dr. Milner said, "Teddy didn't know until you requested she be called."
"Why when you knew didn't you call," Annie shouted.
"Dr Altman my office," Dr. Milner said.
Annie followed Dr Milner motioning for Josh to come.
"Dr. Riggs," Dr. Milner said, "I'll give you two a minute. Annie I'm so sorry for your loss."
"Thank you Dr. Milner," Annie replied.
With the door closed Annie fell apart sobbing on Josh's shoulder.
"Breathe babe," Josh said holding her tight, "just match my breathing you're okay. You're okay I'm right here. You're free."
Teddy had decided to come up after hearing from Jenna that they would all need more time, the rest of the family would come up to support Annie and Chris at the funeral but she thought she was needed.
"Anne," Teddy called walking out of the elevator.
Anne Milner shook her head, "Annie and Josh are in my office."
"Where is Ellie," Teddy asked.
"Katie McKellar," Dr. Milner said.
Katie had been walking Ellie through the halls trying to keep the toddler calm.
"Grandma," Ellie yelled.
"Hi Ellie bug," Teddy said, scooping Ellie up.
"Allie, Leo," Ellie asked.
"No they're home with Grandpa," Teddy said, "I just came up to check in. I have to go home after dinner."
"I'll take you to them," Dr. Milner said.
"Thank you," Teddy replied.
"Miss McKellar it's match day have you heard," Dr. Milner asked.
"Grey Sloan surgical residency," Katie said.
"Welcome," Teddy said, shifting Ellie to give Katie a hug, "from cardio and our surgical staff."
"Cardio and neuro have already hugged me," Katie said, "we knew around 11 this morning."
"My sunshine twins," Teddy said, " Dr. Altman and Dr. Silverstone and you know the twisted sisters are Grey and Yang."
"Grey and Yang are friends," Dr. Milner said.
"You have no idea," Teddy said, "since they were residents."
Dr Milner opened the door to her office.
"Mama," Annie sobbed, "Jessie died. A tumor no one could fix it."
"I know baby girl," Teddy said.
"A tumor like Henry's," Annie bawled.
"I know baby girl," Teddy said, "it's your sister this is hard. Just breathe."
"Can I go home," Annie asked.
Teddy looked at Josh who nodded.
"Let's get some information and then decide," Josh said.
"I need to go home," Annie said.
"Mommy no cry," Ellie said.
"I'm sad right now Ellie bug," Annie said.
"Daddy sad," Ellie asked.
"I am," Josh agreed.
"We were never close," Annie said, "but this still hurts."
"She was your sister," Teddy said, "it's your sister."
"She was," Annie agreed, "you didn't have to come."
"Josh and Jenna asked me to," Teddy said.
"I'm okay," Annie said, "I need to process."
"I know you do," Teddy said, "what do you need sweetheart?"
"A hug then some space," Annie said.
Teddy passed Ellie to Josh.
"Your okay," Teddy whispered, "your going to be okay. Annie sweetheart your free."
"I'm free," Annie echoed.
"You're free," Teddy repeated.
Annie took a deep breath and rejoined the family holding Ellie in one arm and Josh's hand with the other.
"I'm so sorry for your loss," Teddy said hugging Dan.
"Thank you," Dan said.
"She was so young she never got to live," Chris said.
"She's at peace now," Annie said ,"she's healthy."
"Where's Leslie," Annie asked.
"Grandma took her home," Chris replied.
"Let's leave it for today," Dan said, "we'll need to plan a service."
"Tomorrow," Annie said, "we all need to rest."
"Dan let's go home," Doug said, "we drove you here."
"We'll follow," Josh said.
"Stay with us," Marie said, "Annie, Josh, Chris, Jenna we'll go home. Have something to eat, showers and we'll talk."
"Thank you grandmere," Annie said.
"Teddy you'll have supper with us," Marie said.
"I can then I have to go home," Teddy said.
"The drive," Marie said.
"I'm okay Marie," Teddy said, 'I needed to be here for Annie today. I have to be home tomorrow to go on a field trip with Allison. I'm driving a group of kids and with them at the zoo. I've been looking forward to it for weeks."
"I understand," Marie said, "three kids, very different ages and all need you."
"They do," Teddy said, "I think Annie will be okay once she's had time to think. She needs to be alone with Josh and to have her big feelings."
"We'll give her space," Marie said.
"I'm so sorry," Teddy said.
"Teddy Jessica hasn't been well since before you treated her in Seattle," Marie said, "she's free. She's healthy now and in god's arms."
"She is," Teddy agreed.