Annie arrived at Teddy's late Saturday night after waiting nearly three hours in the border line. Annie's long hair was still in her bun from teaching dance that day when she knocked on the door of Teddy's cottage. Teddy had been sitting in the front window her hands wrapped around a mug of coffee that had slowly grown cold. She had a quiet day with no unscheduled surgeries and fairly compliant patients, even Christina hadn't been on her nerves as much today.
"Come in, how was the drive," Teddy said.
"The drive was okay. The border line sucked," Annie said.
"Have you eaten," asked Teddy.
"Not yet," replied Annie.
"I was waiting for you, how about some soup and grilled cheese it's getting late," Teddy offered.
"That sounds perfect," Annie replied, "how can I help?"
"Sit at the counter and keep me company," Teddy directed.
"Teddy, do you have a boyfriend," asked Annie.
"Not really," Teddy replied, "I've only been in seattle about 6 months. I didn't really date while I was in the army it would have made things awkward. There were a few flings but nothing that stuck."
"Is it because you like Owen," asked Annie.
"Why do you think that," Teddy asked with a surprise look.
"You look at him the same way Sarah looks at her boyfriend," Annie replied.
"I did like him. But he was with another woman before and with Christina now," Teddy replied, "I've moved on. I've been on a few dates with a man named Mark. You'll meet him at the hospital this week, he's the head of plastic surgery."
"Plastic surgery? Is that like nose jobs and fake boobs," asked Annie.
Teddy laughed as she ladeled soup into bowls, "it is but don't say that to Mark. He does a lot of work with burn victims and babies with cleft palates."
"I won't. Are there other friends of yours I'm meeting this week," asked Annie.
"You will," Teddy said, "Owen has offered for you to spend time in the ER, Arizona wants you to see pediatrics, Richard Webber has offered for you to join some med students for a suturing class he's teaching and Callie has something she wants you to see in orthopedics."
"Wow, that's a lot are you sure it's okay," asked Annie.
"It is. Everyone is happy to do it," Teddy said, " Monday morning you're joining the first year medical students. Christina will be leading your group. She has scrubs for you when you meet her. I already had her grab what I thought would be your size, there in her locker."
"She would do that for me," Annie looked shocked.
"Christina Yang will do anything to get on my good side," Teddy said.
"Will I get to work with you," Annie asked.
"Yes you will. Depending what comes up you might be able to scrub and watch a simple procedure from the OR. I'm waiting to hear about a heart for a heart transplant patient of mine. If we get that call we go straight to the hospital and you can watch from the gallery," Teddy said.
"I'd like to come in the OR with you and see what it's like," Annie replied looking excited.
Teddy laughed, "enough medicine for one night. Tell me about the boy in your chem class."
Annie giggled and blushed, "his name is David. He's from Toronto and wants to be a materials engineer."
"Not his resume, what does he look like," Teddy laughed.
"We hung out on Tuesday after the chem lab and we took a picture. Do you want to see it," Annie asked.
"Of course," Teddy replied.
Annie scrolled through the pictures on her phone and passed it to Teddy, "this is David."
Teddy looked at the photo, the boy in it reminded her of a friend of hers from high school. Dirty blonde hair and bright blue eyes, in the photo the top on Annie's head barely came to the boy's shoulder.
"He's cute," Teddy said, returning Annie's phone, "are you going to hang out with him again?"
"We're going skiing on Friday," Annie said.
"Skiing isn't a date," Teddy laughed.
"It's not a date. We're just hanging out. I don't think he's really into me," Annie said, "boys usually don't want to be around me when they find out that I've never had a real relationship. And that I won't go home with them at the end of the night."
"You shouldn't go to their room or have them in yours unless you really love them," Teddy said, "the first boy I was with was your father. I thought I loved him, but he didn't love me the same way. You will know when it's the right boy, your heart will tell you."
Annie and Teddy talked late into the night before it looked like Annie was about to fall asleep on the coach. They had spent the evening talking about boys and relationships and Teddy had even answered some questions Annie was scared to ask her mom. In many ways Annie felt that Teddy wouldn't judge her. She was relaxed curled up on Teddy's couch with a cup of tea chatting about boys and relationships and friends. Teddy had been telling Annie stories of her own college days and the antics she got into with her friends on the soccer team. It reminded Annie a lot of her dance team friends.