A month after Teddy returned to work she was paged to the emergency room to look at injuries on a young soldier.
"Why am I being called for this and not Hunt," Teddy demanded.
"It's private Maxwell Altman ma'am," the emergency room doctor said, "I assumed you were related and wanted to see him yourself."
Teddy strode into the trauma bay where Nathan was already running the code, "Riggs status?"
"Suspected tampande," Nathan said, "chest tube is in and head injury. Family needs to be notified."
"Get him up to the OR and someone get me his file," Teddy barked.
The young soldier's information in hand Teddy returned to her office and saw the contact number Jordan Altman in Birmingham Alabama.
With shaking hands Teddy dialed the number she waited while the phone rang and a sleepy female voice answered " hello?"
Teddy replied,``Is Jordan Altman there please."
"I'll wake him," the woman said, "May I ask who's calling?"
"Colonel Theodora Altman," Teddy replied, "I'm calling about private Maxwell Altman."
"Max is he dead," the woman asked, "and Thea, why are you calling?"
"Please pass the phone to Jordan," Teddy replied, "private Altman's file indicates that his medical information be given solely to his father."
"Thea," Jordan said answering the phone, "Thea what's wrong?"
"Mr Altman there's been an accident," Teddy said, deliberately being formal and detached with her twin, "private Altman was thrown from the back of a vehicle during a training exercise. He has several broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a subdural hematoma, bleeding under his skull. He also broke his collarbone and left tibia."
"Is he okay," Jordan asked.
"He's in surgery now with Major Owen Hunt and dr Nathan Riggs," Teddy replied.
"Are they good," Jordan asked, "Thea, you're on speaker so Faith can hear."
"Major Hunt is the best Maxwell could have," Teddy replied, "he is a phenomenal trauma surgeon, the best I've ever seen, and I'm not just saying that because we're engaged, Dr Riggs is my brother in law and one of the best cardiac trauma specialists in the world. Our neurosurgeon on call lieutenant Last will treat the brain bleed. So I know how I can be involved in this case I have to know is private Altman my nephew?"
"He is," Jordan said.
"I will not be able to directly oversee his care major Hunt will have to," Teddy replied.
"Will he live," Faith asked.
"He will," Teddy assured, "we see this type of injury all the time. Some rehabilitation time but he'll still have a great military career. I'm Chief of staff and oversee all of the medical staff and hospitals here and in the Middle East. I'm very hands on with my hospital here and right in the ORs and on patient wards. Do I have your permission to reveal the connection to private Altman?"
"He knows about his auntie Thea," Jordan said, "I told him before he left for Germany. He was to look for you."
"I use grandpa's old nickname of Teddy now," Teddy replied, "I haven't been Thea in 25 years."
"Still trying to play hero and never going to settle down now," Faith said.
"Respectfully," Teddy replied, "I have not seen you in 20 years. I am engaged and have three children. Leo is 4, Allison is two and a half she'll be three in May and Daniel is 7 months. My fiancé and I have settled here in landstuhl."
"Not married," Faith said.
"We've chosen our own path and our chosen family supports us," Teddy said, "Jordan faith we should get back to the topic of private Altman."
"Can we see him," Jordan asked.
"Ordinarily I would say yes," Teddy replied, "but COVID cases are on the rise. I can not allow you in my hospital at this time. My staff have yet to be fully vaccinated and it hasn't been released to the general population yet for you to be. I will be able to set you up with video chat and major Hunt and dr Riggs will update you once Maxwell is out of surgery."
"Thea it's good to hear your voice," Jordan said, "you sound the same."
"You as well," Teddy said, "I'm sorry that this is the first call you're getting from me. We will send you updates when you know more."
"Thea, call us yourself," Jordan asked.
"Respectfully I haven't been Thea in 25 years. It's Colonel Altman, Dr Altman or Teddy," Teddy commanded, "I do not answer to Thea. I haven't since mom passed. No one here will know who you mean. My fiancé doesn't even know that nickname."
"What does he call you," Jordan asked.
"Teddy," Teddy replied, "I'm being paged to the OR someone will update you."
"Thank you Teddy," Jordan said.
"We'll talk soon," Teddy said, "I have to go. They need my expertise in the or."
Teddy hung up and ran to the OR.
"Altman," Nathan said as Teddy entered the OR, "it's mangled we need your hands."
"Let me scrub," Teddy said, "patient?"
"Private Altman," Owen said.
"I can't, he's my nephew," Teddy said, "Perry has a CABG next door I'll trade him. He hasn't started."
"We need you," Owen said.
"I can't," Teddy replied, "Hunt, don't push me right now. I've just spoken to his father."
"You spoke to Jordan, " Owen said.
"I called," Teddy replied, "you'll need to follow up."
In Birmingham Jordan and Faith began arguing.
"You have to go and keep your deranged twin away from our son," Faith yelled.
"Teddy is in charge there. I think she's happy," Jordan said.
"What do you know," faith demanded.
"t Bear on Twitter and Instagram that's Thea," Jordan said, "Grace is her middle name and Johnson was mom's maiden name. We've been emailing since November. She's happy."
"Finally settling down at 49," Faith said, "still playing hero. Did they adopt those kids? There's no way she had them."
"Leo is adopted," Jordan said, "then Allison and Daniel are theirs. She sent pictures from last August. She's clearly pregnant in those photos. She's good. Instead of panicking about my twin sister who you decided I couldn't have contact with, we should be focused on Max."
"She won't let us see him," Faith yelled.
"The pandemic," Jordan snapped.
"It's a hoax," Faith snapped, "find me a flight I'm going to my son."
"Even if there were flights we can't afford it," Jordan said, "trust Thea. She knows and will take care of him. She knew he was there for a while but hadn't had a chance to meet him. She's just back from maternity leave."
"I can't trust your sister," Faith said.
"We have no choice but to trust Thea," Jordan yelled.
"We have to go to him," Faith screeched.
"We can't," Jordan argued, "I'll email Thea and ask her."
Hours later Teddy walked into the ICU.
"Private Altman," Teddy said, "how are you feeling?"
"Horrible ma'am," Max Altman said.
"I understand private," Teddy smiled, "my name is Colonel Altman. I know your father."
"Are you Thea," Max asked.
"I am, your father and I are twins," Teddy smiled, "last time I saw you, you were just a baby. Here in this hospital I'm colonel Altman. When you are released to PT I would like to have you for dinner come meet my fiancé and your cousins. At home you call us auntie Teddy and uncle Owen. I will not respond to Thea. Here you call my fiancé major Hunt he is your primary surgeon."
"You have kids," Max asked.
"Three." Teddy replied, "Leo is 4, Allison is almost three and Daniel is 7 months."
"Are my parents coming ma'am," Max asked.
"With the current COVID numbers they can not come into this hospital," Teddy replied, "I have spoken to your father he knows and is worried. I'm going to get them to give you a tablet to call."
"Altman," Owen said entering the room.
"Private Altman this is major Owen Hunt," Teddy introduced, "Owen this is our nephew Private Max Altman."
"It's good to meet you sir," Max greeted.
"Good to see you awake," Owen said, "I heard your aunt we would like you to join us for dinner once you are released and get to know you. I will be your primary surgeon until you're on the mend."
"How bad," Max asked.
"We repaired some lacerations to your spleen and liver, reset your left arm and repaired your collapsed lung as well as drained a bleed under your skull," Owen explained, "you're looking at 3 or 4 more days here in the ICU then a couple weeks in the hospital before you'll be discharged for PT."
"How much," Max asked.
"The Army covers it," Teddy replied, "we will take care of you and you and your parents will never see a bill."
"Thank you ma'am," Max said.
"It's how we work here," Teddy said, "you were hurt on the job we cover it."
"My parents could never afford this," Max said.
"Why did you join," Teddy asked.
"I want to be a doctor," Max said, "I work a few years then I can get college paid for."
"Max there are programs that we can help you through college and med school then you owe the army some time when you graduate," Owen said, "we can help."
"Let's get you on your feet first," Teddy said, "I will check on you later."
"Thank you ma'am," Max replied.
Owen followed Teddy out of the room and to her office.
"We have a family to call," Teddy said, "the worst part of my job."
"Your brother," Owen asked.
"Yes," Teddy replied, "I'm going to use video chat and I want you with me. How do I look?"
"Regal, like a queen," Owen smiled.
"Seriously," Teddy asked.
"Gorgeous," Owen replied.
They walked to her office and Teddy video called her brother.
"Teddy," Jordan answered.
"Jordan," Teddy greeted, "this is Major Owen Hunt, my fiance. Owen, this is my twin Jordan Altman."
"How's Max," Jordan asked.
"He's talking," Teddy said, "he's awake and talking."
"Will he be okay," Jordan asked.
"He will," Teddy smiled.
"Mr Altman," Owen said, "we expect your son to make a full recovery."
"Did he tell you why he joined," Jordan asked, "I told him about Teddy when he started talking about it. He told me that he wanted to be like you."
"We can help guide him," Teddy agreed, "he won't be alone here. I know we don't know him well. But he's family, we will take care of him."
"You look good Thea," Jordan said.
"I'm in my uniform," Teddy smiled, she looked at her brother, he looked worn down and beaten down.
"It's good to see you Jor," Teddy smiled, "to see one of your kids."
"Faith is on me to get her there," Jordan said.
"There's no non military flights in," Owen said, "the numbers are still too high."
"We're sorry," Teddy said, "if I could get you here I would."
"Are you ever home," Jordan asked.
"The closest I have to home is Seattle," Teddy said, "this is home now. Owen and my kids are here."
"Your kids look happy in your photos," Jordan said, "your daughter looks like mom."
"She does," Teddy smiled, "Allison looks like mom but acts like Owen's sister."
"Two boys and a girl," Jordan said.
"Our family," Teddy said, "we're stopping there. Allison we never expected and Daniel is a miracle at our age. I'm lucky."
"Kids always are a blessing," Jordan said.
"I don't know how you manage 13," Owen said.
"It's hectic and the oldest help out," Jordan replied, "Max can I talk to him?"
"He's sleeping now," Teddy replied, "when he wakes up a nurse will give him a tablet and he can call you."
"Will you call again," Jordan asked.
"Will you tell Faith you're talking to me," Teddy asked.
"She found out this morning," Jordan said, "Thea how much is this going to cost?"
"The army covers it," Owen said, "there's no cost to Max and your family."
"Thank you," Jordan said, "we're not insured."
"Jordan," Teddy scolded.
"Do you know how much insurance is," Jordan said, "for 15 people."
"I haven't looked at it in years," Teddy admitted.
"I should go," Jordan said, "in case Max calls. It was good to see you."
"It was good to see you two," Teddy replied.
"Call me soon," Jordan said.
"We will about Max and you can call me as well I've sent you my home contact info," Teddy replied.
They hung up the call and Teddy put her tablet screen down on the desk.
"That's your twin," Owen asked.
"He's aged," Teddy said, "he's not well looking at him."
"Something is off beyond 13 children," Owen said.
"I know," Teddy said, "I'll talk to him when he's not worrying about Max. no insurance it's wrong."
"We see it too often at Grey Sloan," Owen said, "one thing I appreciate here every one is treated with the best possible care."
"It should be standard," Teddy replied, "I've always thought so."
"You always did so much pro bono work at GS," Owen said.
"I talked to my brother," Teddy said, "20 years."
"He was civil," Owen said.
"Faith wasn't there," Teddy replied.
"You have things to work out," Owen agreed, "I did with Megan."
"We will work it out," Teddy said, "I hope we will."
"I'll help," Owen said, "maybe when this ends we take our kids to meet him."
"Baby steps first," Teddy replied, "talk not at work and not in uniform."
"That's a good next step," Owen agreed.