Saturday afternoon Teddy pulled her rental car into the parking lot in front of the main building at the Parkridge Ballet Conservatory. She had been here a few years before to see Danika on her last approved visit. Grabbing her purse from the passenger seat she walked into the building and followed the signs for the administrative office. Sitting on a bench outside the office was a teenager with her blonde hair in a bun. She looked up hearing Teddy's heels in the silent hallway.
"Teddy," the girl asked.
Teddy rushed forward, "Danika. Oh sweetheart I'm so sorry."
Danika launched herself at Teddy and collapsed in her arms. Suddenly the girl felt safe. Her older sister was always calm and confident. Teddy would know what to do. She knew she could cry now that Teddy was here. She was still an orphan but maybe her big sister would care.
"Hey, hey," Teddy said, "your alright. This is hard, I know."
"I'm all alone," Danika sniffed, "you'll be here, change all the paperwork with the office then go back to Iraq."
"I'm done with the army " Teddy said, "I've applied for a job in Seattle. Seattle Grace needs a cardiothoracic surgeon. It's only 15 minutes from here. I interview on Monday but it sounds promising."
"You'd come here for me," Danika asked.
"My moms gone, all my grandparents are gone, you're my only living relative," Teddy said, "let's go talk to Mrs LaChance then why don't we get you off campus for a few hours. Go for a walk somewhere and have something to eat."
"I don't have off campus permission," Danika said.
"I'm taking you," Teddy replied, "it has to be finalized but I'm your legal guardian they can't stop me from taking you off campus."
"You're really in charge," Danika asked , "I can stay here right?"
"I have no plans to move you," Teddy said, "you have friends and your teachers here. I want to get the whole picture from your principal and counselor. Talk to your house mom."
"Why," Danika asked.
"Because I'm trying to get the full picture," Teddy explained, "see it from all sides."
"Don't you just write the check and leave," Danika asked.
"No," Teddy said, "yes I've controlled the money for a while and I still do. We have some decisions to make together when I have the full picture. I need a job and a place to live first. Mrs LaChance offered me to stay in the family suite so I'm going to do that until I have a job and a place. I will find something in Seattle or Tacoma. I'm going to stay close."
"What about your boyfriend," Danika asked.
"Don't have one," Teddy said, "it's you and me kiddo."
"What about that guy you brought to the Nutcracker," Danika asked.
"Owen and I are friends but I will see him soon once you're sorted out," Teddy said.
"Danika," Mrs. LaChance said, "who is this?"
"Dr Teddy Altman," Teddy introduced herself.
"Deborah LaChance," Mrs. LaChance replied, "Dr. Altman could you come into my office. Danika I believe you have pointe class with Mrs. Anton. We will come get you."
Teddy followed the principal into the office.
"Dr Altman I'm going to be blunt with you," Mrs. LaChance said.
"Teddy please," Teddy said.
"Teddy. Danika is not in good shape," Mrs. LaChance said, "that was the first time I have heard her speak in 48 hours. Her house mother said she locked herself in the bathroom last night sobbing. I know the her mother wasn't the warmest and most motherly."
"I was 22 when our father married June and 23 when Danika was born," Teddy said, "I can't say I know her well. June severely limited my ability to see Danika after our father passed in 2001. Danika was 7 at the time."
"She has been in residence here since she was 9," Mrs. LaChance said, "our staff cares for her a great deal. Typically Danika only leaves campus for two weeks per year and seems content with the arrangement."
"Once I have somewhere to live in Seattle I would like to look into her living with me if that is her choice or the possibility of overnight or weekend visits," Teddy said.
"I'm sure Danika will appreciate it," Mrs LaChance said, "she's been jealous when her friends go off campus for a few days."
"June didn't take her home," Teddy asked, "she only lived 90 minutes away."
"Mrs. Altman was not the most motherly," Mrs. LaChance said.
"There was some mental illness," Teddy replied, "I'm not aware of the specifics."
"You share the same father," Mrs. LaChance said, "and have different mothers?"
"Yes," Teddy replied, "I never met June, Danika's mother's extended family. I can't help in locating them at all."
"When I spoke with the social worker yesterday he mentioned you were the next of kin," Mrs LaChance said.
"I need to meet him Monday," Teddy said, "I will let you know as soon as I do what the situation is. My plan is to keep Danika here because she seems to be doing well in her emails. She has her friends and familiar adults here."
"She's doing well in all her classes," Mrs LaChance agreed, "minimal effort in her academic courses. She says she doesn't see a point to giving more effort when she has Bs. She either likes something and works really hard at it or does just what she has to."
"Health care wise," Teddy said, "I obviously don't have her history."
"We have a full time licensed clinical counselor Bev," Mrs LaChance said, "she will be working with Danika a few times a week. We have two full time physiotherapists that dancers have access to six days a week. There is also a sports medicine doctor that comes on tuesdays and Thursdays and sees company members and students by appointment."
"I'm probably going to take her to an adolescent medicine specialist once I get a name," Teddy said, "I'd like a full work up."
"I can give you Dr Russels number," Mrs LaChance said.
"A close friend is the head of trauma surgery at Seattle Grace," Teddy said, "I'm interviewing there for a cardiothoracic surgery position. I'll speak to Owen and get a name from him someone he recommends to make sure Danika is healthy."
"We take students to Seattle Grace if they need emergency care," Mrs LaChance replied.
"I'm going to call Owen and get his recommendations," Teddy said, "my career has been on the East coast or with medical command in the army. I want someone independent of the school to do the assessment."
"I'm seeing that you want the full picture which you need to make any decisions," Mrs LaChance said, "why don't I print you her report card from last term it was mailed to Mrs Altman but you obviously need a copy as well. Danika's report card has all her academic and dance classes as well as the social emotional and behavioral comment from her house mom. Her house mother is a senior ballet mistress for the company and a lovely warm woman. Danika is really blossoming under Tatiana's care. They call her Auntie T out of love in the house."
The principal printed out Danika's report card and handed it to Teddy. Teddy read the document carefully noticing that the remarks from the teachers were consistent about Danika's attitude and behavior. Teddy was pleasantly surprised in the academic section it appeared that Danika was a gifted writer and excelling in her English and creative writing classes. Their dad had been a partner in a publishing company and a gifted writer always encouraging Teddy to read more and to write. Danika hadn't really had the chance to know the man but Teddy was sure she could in time tell Danika about their dad.
"She enjoys English and writing," Teddy commented.
"She does," Mrs LaChance agreed, "she needs to be pushed further."
"B+ in math and her sciences is acceptable," Teddy said, "I'd like to see her history and French marks come up. Music is acceptable."
"She doesn't care for French or history," Mrs LaChance replied.
"Your academic program when she graduates what does she come out with," Teddy asked.
"We follow state standards; she'll have her Grade 12 diploma," Mrs LaChance said, "in eleventh and twelfth grades she has the option for AP classes. In tenth honors classes in her strong subjects are an option."
"I want her to dance and I know she loves it but I also need to see that she has an education that will allow her to go to college if she chooses," Teddy said.
"We do prepare our dancers for that even at a school like this not all will make it professionally," Mrs LaChance said, "we encourage exploration into other related fields. Danika might enjoy something to do with writing."
"Our dad was in publishing," Teddy said, "dad wrote and read an incredible amount."
"Danika has about an hour left of pointe class then a half hour break before her 90 minute repotire class " Mrs LaChance said, "would you like to get settled in the family suite?"
"I'd like to put my bags there," Teddy agreed, "I need to see Danika's room and meet her house mom."
The principal walked Teddy to the family suite showing her how the keypad access worked to various parts of the buildings. Only the main office was accessible to the public students and staff had key codes and fobs that allowed them access to areas they had permission to be.
Teddy walked into Danika's room and shook her head at the disarray, clothes scattered on the floor, books crammed on the shelf, the bed unmade. She knew she had half an hour before Danika would be back so decided to tidy up. She made the bed finding the stuffed polar bear she remembered from their last day out with their dad. They had gone to sea world and Danika had loved the polar bears. The bed made, Teddy tried to sort out the clothes on the floor. If she was in doubt it went in the laundry basket. Teddy liked order and everything in its place. She straightened the bookshelf and tidied the top of the dresser. She smiled at a couple of the photos on the bulletin board over the desk. One was of their sea world day of Danika and their dad, Danika in Teddy's arms at Teddy's med school graduation, the two of them with their dad in the snow, Teddy's last visit with Danika in her gingerbread cookie costume.
Teddy sat in the desk chair and called Owen, she needed her best friend. Today she was wishing for the millionth time that he wasn't engaged.
"Hunt," Teddy greeted when he answered the phone.
"Teddy," Owen replied, "are you on your way to Seattle?"
"I'm at Parkridge," Teddy said, "waiting for Danika to finish classes. I've met with her principal and house mom and cleaned her room."
"Messy," Owen asked.
"I like order and she's a teenage girl," Teddy said, "I'm interviewing with Webber Monday. He called me right after I sent my resume. Thank you for putting in a good word. I need something in Seattle. Do you know of a good pediatric or adolescent medicine specialist? I want to take Danika for a full work up because I have no clue about her history?"
"I'll talk to peds and see who they recommend," Owen said, "Arizona Robbins our head of pediatric surgery may be willing to do it."
"The records the school has were pulled, nothing concerning on my end a few ear infections over the years, strep throat, pink eye," Teddy said.
"Kid stuff," Owen said.
"I guess," Teddy replied, "I've been so focused on cardio for so long I just want someone to double check."
"How is she," Owen asked.
"She threw herself at me sobbing," Teddy said, "she hardly knows me and I think it's the first time someone hugged her since it happened."
"What can I do," Owen asked.
"I don't know," Teddy admitted, "I need to get that job, find somewhere to live, sort out the legalities of being her guardian and actually get to know Danika."
"Come live with me," Owen said, "I just bought a place, two bedrooms."
"Owen what would Beth say," Teddy replied, "she doesn't like me."
"Beth and I are done," Owen said, "I'm single."
"I need somewhere Danika can come stay with me on the weekends, get her off campus," Teddy said, "she hasn't left school grounds since Christmas."
"It's May," Owen said.
"Her schedule makes residency look calm," Teddy said, "only Sunday off. Academics 5 days a week with tutorials and study hall on Saturday. Dance six days a week. She's in class now learning Giselle."
"They have her dancing," Owen said, "after that?"
"The counselor here and her teachers think it's best for her," Teddy said, "they know her best. I've spoken to the counselor on the phone, she's a registered clinical counselor with a Phd she's worked with the school a long time. She knows Danika, there is a plan for 5 day a week counselling then to taper it down."
"You've got things in order," Owen said.
"The school has done a lot," Teddy said, "the principal is a bit of a mother hen and her house mom is a lovely older russian woman."
"Dinner tonight," Owen asked.
"How about lunch on Monday," Teddy replied, "I have to be with Danika, she needs me."
The door opened.
"Teddy," Danika said.
"Hunt I've got to go," Teddy said," into her phone I'll call you later."
She hung up.
"How were your classes," Teddy asked.
"You cleaned my room," Danika said skeptically.
"Just a quick tidy," Teddy said, "I need to keep my hands busy while I think."
"Is everything okay," Danika asked.
"I'm good," Teddy said, "I was just talking to Owen."
"Boyfriend," Danika asked.
"No my best friend," Teddy clarified, "he's in Seattle and works at the hospital I'm interviewing at. We worked together in the army."
"Can I ask you a few questions," Danika asked sitting on her bed.
"Anything," Teddy said, "I will always answer your questions."
"Why didn't you come visit," Danika asked.
"It was hard to come during my tours," Teddy said, "June asked me not to, she said it was confusing for you."
"I wanted to see you," Danika said, "why would she do that?"
"Her and I were never close," Teddy said, "she's only 6 or 7 years older than me. I didn't make it easy for her to get to know me either."
"I know you didn't like my mom but do you hate me two," Danika asked.
"You never," Teddy said, "I begged for a sibling for years. I don't expect to be 23 but that's okay. Dad used to bring you to visit me in med school and residency do you remember?"
"I remember going to New York," Danika said, "I was five or six."
"Six," Teddy said, "we went to Central Park and saw Annie on Broadway."
"Daddy got mad you put makeup on me," Danika said.
"It was mascara." Teddy said.
"Can I wear makeup not on stage," Danika asked, "all My friends do but mom said no."
"I have no problem with it," Teddy said.
"Teddy when daddy died we had a funeral will there be one for my mom," Danika asked.
"I don't know. I've been worrying about you," Teddy said, "do you want me to find out."
"Will you go with me and hold my hand like at daddy's," Danika asked.
"I will," Teddy said.
"I don't really remember daddy's," Danika said, "I remember mom crying and that you held my hand. There was an English lady that called me poppet she was at the hospital two."
"My mom," Teddy said, "I need her. She was the most loving and forgiving woman I've ever met. She took care of you a lot the last couple weeks so your mom could be at the hospital."
"Did you tell her you have to take care of me now," Danika asked.
"She died about 7 months after dad," Teddy said, "you're all I have left."
"Will it always hurt this much like there's a hole inside," Danika asked.
Teddy moved to sit beside her, "for a while. It gets better slowly. Not tomorrow or even a week from now but slowly it will get better."
Danika began to cry huge gulping sobs that shook her whole body. Teddy wrapped both arms around her baby sister and held her.
"You're not alone," Teddy said, remembering, the words her best friend had whispered when her mom passed, "your not alone Danika. I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere until you're ready for me to. Just cry kiddo I know this hurts."
Gently with one Teddy began to pull the pins out of Danika's tight ballet bun. Knowing how much she hated leaving her own hair in a bun longer than she had to.
When the crying stopped Teddy suggested, "why don't you go shower then we can go get something for lunch and some ice cream?"
"Okay," Danika agreed, grabbing her shower stuff.
