Saturday
Annie was sitting at her desk studying when Teddy texted that she was outside. Annie ran down the stairs and out the door. She hugged Teddy tight, "you're okay, you're alive."
"I am," Teddy said, she held Annie tighter and kissed the top of her head, "the whole time the shooting was happening all I could think about was getting to you. I just wanted to hold my baby."
David walked by, "Annie, Teddy how are you?"
"I'm a lot better now that I'm here David," Teddy replied.
"Are you alright after what happened," David asked.
"I've seen shooting and gun shot victims many times David. It's not new to me," Teddy said, " I spent 6 years as a field surgeon in Iraq with the US Army."
"That's impressive," David said, "my grandpa was a field surgeon. I've heard his stories. That's a tough job."
"It has its ups and downs," Teddy agreed, "I worked with an incredible team."
"I should get going I have practice," David said, "since Teddy is here we can hang out tomorrow Annie?"
"I'll see you tomorrow, maybe head to Kits Beach," Annie suggested.
"Sounds good, meet you here around oneish," David said.
"I think so, I'll text you in the morning," Annie said.
"See you tomorrow then," David replied.
Annie hugged him and he gave her a quick kiss. Teddy turned away.
As David walked away, Teddy said, "really kissing your boyfriend in front of your mom?"
"I thought you would be cool," Annie replied.
"I am," Teddy said, "just surprised."
"What? There was no tongue and all hands were outside of clothing," Annie replied.
"We'll talk about this inside," Teddy said.
Annie led the way inside, "what did I say?"
"Hands under clothes," Teddy asked, "is that all?"
Annie blushed, "shirts off and only shirts off. I'm afraid to go any further."
"We are not having this talk now, but we should," Teddy said.
"Before you go home," asked Annie.
"I have questions I'm scared to ask mom, she'll get mad," Annie said.
"You can ask me anything and I will be honest," Teddy said, "but I need wine before we talk about this and it's too early for that."
"I have cider," Annie offered, " or vodka."
"You're 19, how do you have that," Teddy asked.
"Drinking age is 19," Annie replied, "I go to the liquor store."
"Sorry I forget that difference every time," Teddy said.
"That's okay," Annie replied as she opened the door to her room.
Teddy noticed the air mattress sitting inflated on top of the bed, "you didn't need an air mattress, I have a room at the hotel across the courtyard. I've already dropped my bag in my room."
"I'll take it back to the living room," Annie replied, "we usually have it on the floor against one wall as extra seating."
"We used bean bag chairs," Teddy laughed.
"Dr Milner told me," Annie said, " we talked a lot about you this week."
"What did she say," Teddy asked.
"She tried to tell me about the day I was born, she also said she wouldn't have made it through medical school without you," Annie replied, " she's in the lab all weekend and told me to text her if you wanted to say hi."
"It's still early we could take a walk and say hi to Anne," Teddy replied.
They went for a walk around campus, Annie showed Teddy all of her favorite spots, the rose garden, museum of anthropology, the blue whale skeleton in the Beaty museum window. Finally ending up at the hospital and medical school complex. Annie took her keys from her pocket and swiped the fob that would let her into the building with Dr Milners lab. She led the way up the stairs and down the polished hallway to the lab.
Annie opened the door then went to her work space calling out , " Dr. Milner, Teddy's here!"
Dr Milner came out of her office , "Teddy Altman it's been too long."
"Good to see you Anne," Teddy replied , "thank you for looking out for my daughter the other day."
"It was nothing Teds," Dr Milner replied , "she's a joy to work with. So talented, she's really getting quick at seeing the EKGs and sorting normal from abnormal rhythms. She may be another cardio goddess."
"I have one I'm training now who is excellent, but Annie is going to be my star," Teddy said.
"A little parental pressure there," Dr Milner teased.
"She wants it," Teddy replied , "where did she go?"
"Check her work station," Dr Milner said , "she likely has her headphones in. She usually does when she's sorting ECGs or doing research and summarizing things for me."
"She's understanding the articles," asked Teddy.
"Your daughter is a genius," Dr. Milner said , "but the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. She gets that from you."
Teddy blushed , "I only take full credit for appearance, Dan and Leslie did the rest."
"It's nature vs nurture," Dr Milner said , "some things like that are genetic and they nurtured the gifts she was born with. I just wish she wasn't so shy sometimes."
"Annie can be an introvert in bigger groups," Teddy said , "she's a keen observer."
"That will serve her well," Dr Milner said.
They continued talking, catching up about careers, love life's and Dr Milners 4 year old. Teddy kept glancing at Annie who was silently immersed in her work. She could see Annie's brain working, typing summaries and highlighting sections of interest or concern. Teddy chatted with Anne for over an hour before Teddy she had an idea.
Teddy pulled up a chair next to Annie, "can you show me what you're working on?
"I'm sorting EKGs into normal and abnormal patterns," Annie explained, "Dr. Milner and Jan her resident will go though both piles after to actually get the information."
Teddy saw that all tests had numbers not names, "can I show you how to read them?"
Teddy saw Dr. Milner nodd before Annie replied, "can you?"
"Of course," Teddy said, "I use these every day. Grab your normal pile."
Annie pulled the normal basket closer to her. She laid the top page on the desk between her and Teddy. Teddy began to explain why the test was normal and how she knew that, she showed Annie the different parts of the test and how they connected to the four chambers of the heart. Teddy also explained some of the abnormal readings and what was happening in them. Annie asked a lot of questions, which Teddy answered.
Standing behind them Dr. Milner snapped a picture with her phone and texted it to Kristen in Boston, "Teddy reunited with her baby girl. Annie (left) is my undergraduate research assistant. They are identical, Annie is a lot like Teddy when we met in looks and personality."
Kristen typed back, "I'm happy she found her little girl after what 20 years? Do they get along?"
Dr. Milner typed, "Annie is 19, 20 this October. They are a good pair. Teddy is already teaching her to be another 'cardio goddess'."
Kristen typed, "say hi to her for me. If Teddy is local I should come visit both of you soon."
Dr. Milner replied, "she's in Seattle, at the hospital that was attacked this week. She just needed to see that Annie is safe and okay. I'll suggest a reunion. She will like the excuse to come up and see Annie at UBC."
At the desk Teddy's stomach growled, she checked her watch, "I'm getting hungry should we go find dinner?"
Annie was also getting hungry, "Teddy should we continue exploring?"
"We could," Teddy said , "we should let Anne get home and you and I need to eat."
"There's a couple decent pubs on campus," Annie suggested, "or there's a really good sushi place."
"Sushi sounds good," Teddy said.
"My friends are all gone for the weekend so we can have it at my place," Annie said.
"That works for me," Teddy said.
They walked over and picked up their sushi order. Back at Annie's they spread the containers on the table and picked at them with chopsticks. Teddy was enjoying the calm, quiet of being with Annie. Somehow seeing that her girl was thriving soothed her and took away her stress. She also felt bad for the mothers who would not be holding their children this weekend. She thought of the mothers that her and Richard had called to say their child was injured, the worst for her was Evelyn Hunt, she had lost one child to a war and now her remaining child was shot in the OR while doing his job, Evelyn had assumed that the risk of losing Owen was gone now that he was in Seattle. Teddy also had cried with the Adamson family over the loss of Reid, while she hadn't known the resident well she had liked the friendly hard working girl. But it was the call to the Percy family that broke her, an only child his parents' lives were crushed by the loss of Charles. Teddy didn't know why she had agreed to call the families of the doctors who were injured or killed, but she did her bit and Richard called the families of the nurses and other staff.
Annie pulled Teddy from her thoughts, "you okay?"
Teddy smiled, "just glad to be here with you. It was a tough week."
Annie nodded, "can you give my residents a hug for me and Owen?"
Teddy replied, "of course I will. I should call and check on Owen and Christina if you want to say hi."
Teddy quickly found Owen's number and pressed the button to call, "Hi Owen."
"Teddy, it's good to hear from you," Owen said, "did you go see Annie?"
"You're on speaker," Teddy said.
"Hi Owen," Annie called.
"Annie, how's it going," Owen said.
"I'm good. Teddy said you got hurt are you feeling better," Annie asked.
"I'm feeling better, it was minor," Owen replied, "Christina is still shaken up."
"Say hi to her for me please," Annie said.
"I will," Owen said, "you take care of Teddy for me,"
"I will," Annie replied.
Teddy asked, "how is Christina holding up?"
"She's not talking yet," Owen said, "she'll be okay. Webber is flying in Andrew Perkins as a trauma counselor for the staff."
Teddy laughed, "because Yang is going to go to counselling."
Webber already said it, "no counselling, no surgery."
"Yang will want to cut," Teddy said.
They continued the conversation for a while until Christina decided she had had enough talking.
Teddy asked, "how are things going with David?"
"Great," replied Annie, "he's invited me to go camping with him and a group of his friends for the May Long Weekend. Cassie is dating one of his best friends so she's going."
"Are you sure you're ready to spend the night with him," asked Teddy.
Annie thought, "I want to go camping but I don't have to go all the way do I?"
Teddy nodded, "you don't have to unless you know you're 100% ready. Don't rush it and your first time should not be in a tent on a group camping trip. He has to make it special."
"I'm scared to," Annie said.
"Scared of what," Teddy asked.
Annie paused, she didn't know how to say it.
Teddy asked, "you're afraid of getting pregnant?"
"Yes," Annie replied.
"That's easy enough to deal with," Teddy said, "you go see your doctor or any doctor at the health center on campus. Ask them for birth control, take your hashimoto's medications with you so they can find something that will work for you."
"That's all I have to do," Annie asked.
"Yes, and follow the directions exactly. I had you because I got forgetful about taking it everyday," Teddy said
"I can do that," Annie said, "I'm already in the routine of taking my other medications."
"Make sure this is the boy you want for your first time," Teddy said, "it only happens once it has to be special. And someone you really love, not just because he wants it. If he's a good guy he'll wait for you."
"He hasn't said he loves me yet," Annie said.
"Then you wait," Teddy replied, "make sure it's right and special. If he respects you he will only go as far as you want."
"I think I can trust him to do that," Annie said.
"Think or know," asked Teddy.
"Think," Annie said.
"Then I think you should wait for this camping trip or share a tent with Cassie," Teddy said.
"I can talk to Cassie," Annie said, "her and her boyfriend have been together less time than me and David. But I've seen Eric coming out of Cassie's room in the morning."
"Talk to her and explain," Teddy said, " same with David."
"I will," Annie said.
"Before you go camping," Teddy clarified, "what has your mom said about this trip?"
"I haven't told her yet," Annie admitted, "they won't like it."
"Maybe sit this one out," Teddy said, "what else could you do?"
"Vancouver Island Highland Games," Annie replied.
"Have you registered," Teddy asked.
"Not yet, the deadline is noon tomorrow for online," Annie replied.
"Ask your mom and register for that," Teddy said, "there will be plenty of weekends when you've gotten to know David better."
Annie texted Leslie and asked about the games, she got the reply that Leslie would call her aunt in Victoria and see if Annie could spend the weekend.
"Mom, said they'd pay the entry for the games and I can stay with Auntie Margert," Annie said.
"Perfect," Teddy said, "go spend the time with your auntie, dance and hang out with your dance friends. David will understand."
"I told him I would think about the camping trip," Annie said.
"You did think about it, but your mom had you entered for the games already," Teddy said, " gives you time to talk to him about spending the night together and expectations."
"Do I have to talk about it," asked Annie.
"Yes you do," Teddy said, " you need to talk to him about being smart with it. But it will happen when it happens."
"Fine," Annie huffed.
"Okay enough sounding like a total mom for one night," Teddy said, "I'm trying to be the cool one."
"You are," Annie said, " at least you talk about it with me. I try to talk to mom and she gets angry."
"I told you, I will always be honest with you and answer your questions, I don't like talking about it either but I'd prefer the information comes from me than google," Teddy said.
"I'm not googling that," Annie said, "don't worry."
"Good," Teddy said.
"How do you know if some one is right for you," asked Annie.
"I don't know," Teddy said, "I'm still looking for him."
Annie asked again, "what's Mr. Perfect like?"
Teddy laughed, " smart, funny, compassionate, hard working, kind, understands the time pressure of my career, accepts you."
"Why am I a factor," Annie asked.
"You're my daughter," Teddy said matter of factly, "any man I date must accept that I have you and you come first."
"I'm not a baby," Annie said, "I'm off to med school in a year."
"Don't remind me," Teddy said, " making me feel very old over here."
"You're 16 years younger than mom and dad," Annie said.
"That made me feel better," replied Teddy.
They stayed up talking through the night about family and boys. Teddy told Annie more about her parents and grandparents, the small town in New York she grew up in, her childhood cat. Annie told Teddy more about her favourite places to visit and suggested that she come on the fishing trip this summer, or at least a few days of it.