"First day back," Owen said as they walked into Grey Sloan.
"Dr Altman," Maggie called as they entered the hospital.
"Dr Pierce," Teddy replied.
"We have a cardio meeting," Maggie said, "the conference room in 10."
"It's still there, good," Teddy smiled, "I moved it there when I was running cardio."
"I guess you're hitting the ground running," Owen said.
"How I like it," Teddy smiled.
Teddy went to the locker room to put her bag away and get scrubs. It felt strange to her to be in her own clothes at work.
Maggie started the cardio meeting, "we want to welcome Dr. Teddy Altman to our cardio team. She is an expert in both cardio and trauma. Dr. Altman do you want to tell us more about your background?"
Teddy stood up, "my names Teddy Altman. I'm returning to Grey Sloan after spending 12 years as Cheif of surgery and chief of staff for medical command in landstuhl Germany. Prior to that I was chief of cardio here for three years. I went to UT south western for medical school, did my residency at George Washington then fellowship with Mayo before spending a couple years at Columbia as an attending. Following 9/11 I joined the army and have spent most of the last 20 or so years there as first a major then a colonel. My fiancé and I have three children two boys and a girl, 5, 4 and almost 2. We're looking forward to settling into normal life and spending more time with our kids."
"Welcome ma'am," Casey Parker smiled.
"You called me, Ma'am your military," Teddy said, "name and rank soldier?"
"Lt Casey Parker ma'am," Parker responded.
"Your on my service," Teddy declared.
"Thats settled," Maggie said, she had been intending to pair Parker with Teddy at first, to help her step down from her military role, some one who would be able to handle Teddy's strict military style while she relearned being in a normal hospital.
At the end of the meeting Teddy was paged to the pit.
"Parker lets go," Teddy commanded.
"Yes ma'am," Parker replied running after Teddy.
Teddy ran into the trauma room with Owen.
"This feels normal," Teddy commented.
"It does," Owen said, "you look good in navy."
"I've missed seeing you in navy," Teddy commented before turning back to the patient."
Together they stabilize the patient falling into their usual rhythm when working together. For those that had never watched Teddy and Owen work together they were impressed, there was very little talking they just got to work only communicating when needed with the staff around them, anticipating eachother's every move.
They sent the patient to be prepared for surgery and went to scrub.
"Have you seen anything like that," an intern whispered.
"Never," a resident whispered.
"They've always had a short hand and been a good team," Richard said.
"Will she go after the chief of staff position," Bailey asked.
"Teddy might," Richard said, "she's done it before and is more than qualified."
"No," Meredith disagreed, "new city and three kids."
"How do surgeons manage three kids," a resident asked, "I've heard she's a single mom."
"Her and Hunt are engaged, they have three kids," Meredith said.
"It's good to have them back," Jackson said, "to have people come back."
"It is," Meredith agreed.
"She was a good teacher," Jackson remembered.
"She was," Meredith agreed.
The gallery was full of people wanting to see the new surgeons work. Many long time staff recognized Owen from his many years at the hospital, a few remembered Teddy as well.
They scrubbed out after the long surgery.
"Some things don't change," Teddy commented.
"That never does," Owen agreed, "we can always do that."
"No matter where we are," Teddy agreed, "anywhere on this planet, no matter what happens around us we've always been able to do that."
"I fell in love with you over an OR table," he said.
"So did I," Teddy agreed.
"Teddy it's late," Owen said, "should we get the kids?"
"We should," Teddy agreed, "their first day in daycare here."
"Not Leo's," Owen argued.
"True," Teddy agreed, "but he doesn't remember it."
They walked up to daycare and found their kids happily playing.
"Mommy," Daniel yelled.
"Hi baby boy," Teddy greeted.
"Dad," Leo yelled, "Harrietts here."
"You used to play with Harriett a lot," Owen said, "when you were babies."
"Daddy," Allison called, running over.
Teddy shook her head; the kids rapidly shifting alliances sometimes baffled her. The parent they preferred seemed to shift monthly. She did know that as soon as anyone was sick, tired, or scared they just wanted her. They would curl up in her lap and bury their little faces in her shoulder while she rubbed their backs and hummed to them. She had never thought she would enjoy being mommy as much as she did.
Leo saw her and ran to Teddy chattering about his day in German. She quickly hugged him and responded in German.
"German," Amelia asked, coming into daycare to pick up Scout.
"We don't want them to forget it," Teddy said.
"We haven't started a second language with Scout yet," Amelia said.
"We were using both in Landstuhl so all three are used to using it. I'm fluent," Teddy said, "the kids are good. Leo can even read a bit."
"I speak it but it's been so long since I read it," Amelia said.
"We're happy to speak German with you and Scout," Teddy offered.
"That would be good," Amelia smiled, "are you sure that's okay? You don't disdain me."
"Six years ago and you had a brain tumor," Teddy said, "we've all moved on."
"No one gives that tumor the credit it deserves," Amelia smiled.
"I remember getting that call," Teddy said, "I almost came back."
"I couldn't have handled that," Ameila said, "you hated me."
"No," Teddy said, "I didn't think you and Owen were the best fit but I didn't hate you."
"You wanted him," Ameila said.
"I always loved him," Teddy said.
"It was obvious to everyone but the two of you," Ameila said.
"Hows Link," Teddy asked.
"That didn't work," Ameila said, "it ended a year and a half ago."
"I'm sorry Ameila," Teddy replied.
"Mom can we go to the park," Leo asked grabbing Teddy's hand.
"We can," Teddy agreed, "a quick park trip before dinner."
"The park," Ameila asked.
"Theres one a couple blocks from our house the kids like," Owen explained, "we didn't have a yard in Germany so we're in the habit of going to play at the park every day."
"The one with the big trees and the spray park," Ameila asked.
"Yes," Owen said, "they love the spray park."
"I've taken Scout to that one a few times," Ameila said.
"This weekend we can take all the kids," Teddy suggested.
"That sounds good," Ameila agreed, "I'll let Mer know."
"We can bring a picnic," Teddy suggested, she knew her kids loved picnics in the park.
After their usual evening routine of play time, dinner, baths stories and bed the kids were asleep and all now staying in their own beds in their own rooms.
"Are we really having a picnic with Ameila," Owen asked.
"I thought you were friends now," Teddy said.
"I'm more worried about you," Owen said, "you didn't like her."
"Six years ago and I was in love with you. I wanted you and she ignored you," Teddy said, "we all work together. It's better for all of us to be friendly and the kids need friends. Scout is only a little older than Danny."
"They do need friends," Owen agreed.
"They've started bickering being just the three of them all the time," Teddy pointed out.
"How was being back at Grey Sloan," Owen asked.
"Weird," Teddy replied, "but my resident was military so that's helpful."
"You got Casey Parker," Owen said, "he was a good worker."
"He's good," Teddy agreed, "how about you?"
"In some ways like I never left but at the same time it's so different," Owen said, "so many people have left or joined. But us working together that felt like it always has."
"It always does," Teddy said, "I could do that for the rest of my life."
"So could I," Owen agreed.
"We impressed those that don't know us," Teddy said.
"People that haven't seen us operate together always are the first time," Owen said, "I had an email from Mooney today. He's going into the field."
"He's ready," Teddy smiled, "Dan would be so proud of him. Tell him to keep in touch and that we're thinking of him."
"I will," Owen said.
"Max is doing well," Teddy said, "he wants to visit soon."
"He's where," Owen asked.
"University of Washington," Teddy smiled, "he's going to do nursing."
"Good for him," Owen said, "leaving that family."
"Jordan is coming on his own to the wedding," Teddy said.
"Just Jordan," Owen asked.
"Jordan, Sarah and Max," Teddy said.
"Not all 15," Owen said.
"Faith doesn't trust us," Teddy said, "she won't see me. She still doesn't like when I call."
"It's your brother," Owen said, "it's like Riggs not letting me talk to Meg."
"I call his cell," Teddy replied, "or his office."
"He's working again," Owen asked.
"Not the physical part," Teddy said, "he's doing all the office work and the boys do the physical labour now."
"Any word," Owen asked.
"He's hopeful the colostomy can be reversed this winter," Teddy said, " he finished his last round of chemo 3 weeks ago."
"And he's working," Owen asked.
"He's always done a little," Teddy said, "he likes feeling useful. His numbers looked good when he sent me the latest labs. "
"We got good margins on his surgery," Owen said.
"He says he's up to coming to the ceremony and will decide about the reception," Teddy said.
"But he's coming," Owen said.
"We're working it out," Teddy agreed.
"You've made a lot of progress in the last couple years," Owen said.
"We have," Teddy agreed, "I think us leaving the army will help."
"Maybe with Faith," Owen agreed.
"It's time though," Teddy said, "I gave them nearly 20 years."
"I know you did," Owen said, "and we would always be welcomed back."
"No," Teddy said, 'our kids need a normal life."
"They do," Owen agreed.
"They seemed happy today," Teddy said.
"They did," Owen replied, "Leo seemed to remember Harriett."
"He did and where to go," Teddy said, "but he wasn't two yet when you moved."
"Our first weekend in Germany you insisted on making him a birthday cake," Owen said.
"Of course he needed a cake and birthday cakes are home made," Teddy said, "I always make their cakes. There's only been one I havent."
"Leo's first," Owen said.
"Thats from the dark days," Teddy replied.
"Dark days," Owen asked.
"When we weren't talking," Teddy said.
"I didn't know you called them the dark days," Owen said.
"The only bright spot for me then was Allison," Teddy shrugged.
"Leo," Owen countered.
"We're past it now," Teddy said.
"Two weeks to the wedding," Owen said.
"Two weeks will go fast," Teddy replied.