Mid April
Annie was sitting in Doctor Milner's office sorting data. It wasn't a fun task but she knew that every day she sorted data brought her one step closer to her goal. Dr Milner liked to keep the 24/7 news channel on low in the lab. Annie's head snapped up when she heard the breaking news from Seattle.
News announcer, "this just in a shooting spree has broken out at Seattle Grace Mercy West hospital in Seattle Washington."
Annie screamed , "no Teddy!"
Dr. Milner heard the scream and asked, "is that your mother's hospital Annie?"
"It is and she's operating today," Annie said.
Another student asked, "Annie is your mom a doctor?"
"My bio mom Teddy, who I'm pretty close to is a cardio thoracic surgeon at SGMW," Annie replied.
The master's student inquired, "is that why you want to be a surgeon?"
Annie replied, "I always wanted to be a doctor but I didn't know what type. Teddy is helping me narrow down what specifically is my goal."
Dr. Milner laughed, "she's pushing you to cardio surgery?"
"She likes the idea of me being a surgeon," Annie replied, "the speciality is up to me. I've enjoyed seeing trauma, ortho, cardio and neuro. Peds made me sad, seeing all those sick kids. I didn't see the point of most of what the plastics guy was doing."
News announcer, "so far the shooting had been confined to the surgical wing. The hospital has been placed in lockdown and patients and staff are being evacuated."
"Where's my phone," Annie called.
"You left it on the table," another student replied.
Annie grabbed it and began frantically calling Teddy. There was no answer and she began to panic.
After sending the other students to work elsewhere Dr. Milner tried to calm Annie, "have I ever told you about when I met your mom?"
"Teddy's told me parts of the story," Annie replied.
Dr. Milner replied, " your mom was about 7 months pregnant with you, and alone, your bio father had left her when she found out she was pregnant."
"I know," Annie said, "Teddy and I ran into Steven, my bio dad when I was in Seattle to observe in February. He wasn't happy to see her and even less happy to see me with her."
Dr. Milner continued, "your mom was my favourite roommate right from the get go. Teddy was sweet, and compassionate. She was the one that kept us all together and moving forward. Even nine months pregnant she was the organized one, the one that made sure we all studied and pushed each other. She was leading our study session pacing the kitchen while in labour with you. She didn't even tell us until she started crying and asking for her mom."
Annie stopped her, "Teddy told me that part of the story."
Dr. Milner kept talking, " I lived with your mom for the full four years of medical school. We chose surgery together and then kept in touch through letters during residency. Teddy was a bridesmaid in my wedding. I was surprised when I got her letter saying she was going to Iraq, but she had lost both her parents in the year before and needed a change. 9/11 changed your mom, then the army did. The Teddy that came to see you is a much more confident woman then I knew. When I got the email last fall saying that she had reconnected with you and you were here at UBC in pre med. I was so happy for her, for about two years after you were born she talked constantly about the day you could reconnect with her. You know you look just like her when we met."
Annie's phone went off, "mom, the hospital in seattle thats being shot is Teddy's hospital and shes not answering her phone."
Leslie replied, " Annie breath. She's probably operating or helping someone who is sick."
"But she always answers me or has the scrub nurse put me on speaker phone," Annie cried.
"Today is different," Leslie told her, "go back to your work with Dr. Milner, go to psychology and Teddy will call or text you when she can."
"But I only just found her and was getting to know her," Annie said.
"Annie she survived a war zone, Teddy is tough she will be fine, plus she has her buddy there, he will protect her," Leslie reassured.
"Owen will make sure shes okay," Annie said.
"I have to go back to class sweetie, call dad if you need him," Leslie said, "but your okay and Teddy will be fine. She'll call you soon."
"Okay bye mom," Annie said and hung up the phone.
Dr. Milner asked, "is Owen Teddy's husband? She never invited me to the wedding."
"Owen is her best friend, they worked together in Iraq," Annie said, "hes engaged to Teddy's resident Christina."'
Dr. Milner replied, "that must be hard for Teddy. Does she at least like her resident?"
Annie replied, "Teddy really likes Owen but won't act on it. Christina is okay, she likes me. Teddy says Christina doesn't like anyone except Merideth Grey."
The resident in the lab asked, "Annie are you talking about Dr. Theodora Altman and Dr. Owen Hunt?"
"Yes. Teddy is my birth mom, she had me her first year of medical school and gave me up for adoption," Annie replied, "Owen is her best friend. He calls himself Uncle Owen and lets me scrub in with him and hold retractors when I'm in Seattle."
"I've heard amazing stories about what those two can do," the resident replied, "I'm jealous of their teaching you already. Will you do medical school here at UBC then your residency with them?"
"We're looking at a few options for medical school, UBC, Harvard, UCLA, Stanford, Texas and Columbia," Annie replied, "but planning on my residency at Seattle Grace Mercy West."
"American schools how," asked the resident.
"I was born in Texas, to bring me home and do the adoption I needed an American birth certificate. I have dual citizenship," Annie explained.
"Do you think Teddy would lecture for some of our residents and med students here next time she's up," Dr. Milner asked.
"I can ask. She likes to teach," Annie replied, "shes coming up in 3 weeks."
"What's in 3 weeks," asked the resident.
Annie replied, "I'm doing my MCATS."
"Wait aren't you a second year," asked the resident.
"I just finished second year, but the way I did my course load I'll graduate this time next year," Annie said.
"Your what 21," asked the resident.
Dr Milner guessed, " you should be what 19/20 Annie?"
Annie replied, "19, I'll be 20 in October."
"Med school at 21? That's young," replied the resident, " I started med school at 25."
"Teddy did it," Annie said, "and if I don't get in first round I take more classes, fix my weak spots and try again."
"You'll be fine Annie," Dr Milner said.
They all went back to work and a couple hours latter Annie's phone rang, "Teddy, your okay!"
Teddy responded, "I am. Were you worried?"
"I was, so was Dr. Milner," Annie said.
Dr. Milner called, "tell Teddy I hope she's alright and to call me soon."
"I heard that, tell Anne I say hi," Teddy said.
"I will," Annie replied, "is everyone okay, you, Owen, Christina and April?"
"We all are or will be. Owen took a bullet to the shoulder, Derek was also injured, we lost two residents and a few nurses," Teddy said, "it was a hard day."
"Is there anything I can do," Annie asked.
"Clean your room, I'm coming this Saturday. I just need to see you," Teddy said.
"I will," Annie said, "how's Owen?"
"Minor straight through, a few stitches and a blood transfusion he'll be fine in a day or two," Teddy said, "Derek got the worst of it. It will be a long road back. But Christina and Jackson saved him."
"What about Merideth, April, Lexie and Alex," Annie asked.
"Alex is injured, the others are shaken but physically fine," Teddy reassured, " your favourite residents will see you soon."
"Before the Highland games," asked Annie.
"Maybe lets see how everyone is doing after this," Teddy said, "if you're okay I'm going to go check on some patients."
"I am," Annie replied, " see you soon. Love you."
"Love you two little bear," Teddy said.
Dr. Milner asked, "is your mom okay?"
Annie replied, "shes fine but it was her friends who got hurt and two of the residents didn't make it."
"Are you okay," Dr. Milner asked.
"I am now that I heard from Teddy," Annie said, "she's coming up for the night on Saturday."
"I'll be working all weekend," Dr. Milner said, "text me and bring her to the lab or my office. I want to see your mom."
"I'll see if Teddy wants to," Annie said.