Monday morning Annie bounced into the surgical wing with Teddy.
Bailey laughed , "Altman your daughter does not need any more caffeine."
Teddy rolled her eyes , "she's had none. Annie wakes up like this."
"How do we bottle that energy," asked Callie.
"It's called being 19 and on summer break," Teddy joked.
"Meredith tell, your husband Altman's kid needs a neuro work up," Alex said.
Meredith questioned, "why?"
"She's incapable of walking; she bounces everywhere," Alex said.
"So does Lexie," Meredith replied, " she's fine."
Teddy had heard them , "Annie does not need Derek to check her out. I promise you she is fine."
"Teddy what am I doing today," Annie asked.
"You're with Owen today, helping him with a trauma training event," Teddy responded, "I'm not operating unless an emergency comes in."
"So am I a patient and get to be overly dramatic," Annie asked.
"You'll have to ask Owen," Teddy said, "but I think you'll enjoy it."
"So I have to go to the pit and find him," Annie asked.
"Already paged Owen here," Teddy said, "go find April or Meredith to get scrubs."
"Not Christina," Annie asked.
"She's not cleared for surgery yet so she's taking time off," Teddy said.
"Will she be okay," Annie asked.
"I hope so," Teddy said, "I thought the wedding would have helped. I'd like to see her back at the hospital soon."
"I'm disappointed I missed the wedding," Annie said.
"It was low key," Teddy replied, "just hospital friends and Owen's mom."
Andrew Perkins came around the corner and hugged Teddy, "good morning."
Teddy spun around, "Andrew I'd like you to meet my daughter Annabeth McKellar. She usually goes by Annie."
"It's nice to meet you," Annie said, "are you a surgeon like Teddy?"
"I'm a trauma counsellor," Andrew replied.
"Because of what happened a couple months ago," Annie asked.
"Yes," Andrew replied, "were you worried when you heard about it?"
"I was pretty upset, but I had work to focus on which helped," Annie replied.
"What are you studying," asked Andrew.
"I'm pre-med at UBC," Annie replied, " I'm hoping to go to Harvard or Stanford."
"I have an appointment with a member of the staff," Andrew said, "I'll see you soon."
After Andrew was out of ear shot Annie turned to Teddy, "you can do better than that."
"You didn't like him," Teddy asked.
"He seemed very full of himself," Annie replied.
"It's nothing serious," Teddy said, "I'm just getting to know him."
"McKellar, you're in the pit with me," Owen called down the hall.
Annie bounced down the hall.
"Annie walking please," Owen said, "didn't you jump all weekend."
Richard called, "McKellar we walk in the hospital."
"Sorry," Annie called out.
She followed Owen to the pit, "what do we have today?"
"I don't know yet," Owen said , "your mom said you like trauma so you get two days with me this week."
"Do I get to scrub in," Annie asked.
"If it's a good case for you to," Owen replied , "but that's my decision and your moms. Today you're an accident victim. Put your drama skills to the test."
"I liked drama," Annie replied, " I was in the school musical every year."
"Okay I'm doing a trauma certification for the third year residents, I've already done the fourth years and am working my way down," Owen explained.
"So what am I exactly," Annie asked.
"You are the patient," Owen said, "I'm going to give you a script."
"I can do that," replied Annie.
Annie followed Owen outside and participated in the trauma training exercise. She was a little overwhelmed by the intensity of the exercise and she was only a patient.
"That was intense," Annie said to Teddy when she went inside after her character had been killed off.
"It is a hard exercise," Teddy said, "we only do it with second year residents and up. I knew it could be a stretch for you."
"Then why did you send me," asked Annie.
"I needed to meet with Richard about Christina," Teddy said.
"I hope she comes back," Annie said.
"We could try you asking her to teach you," Teddy suggested, "even just going into the skills lab."
"I don't know," Annie said, "would it make her mad. I don't want to push her."
"Owen thinks she'll come back when she's ready," Teddy said, "it's just hard to see the best resident I've ever seen crash and burn."
Teddy's pager went off.
"Where are we going," Annie asked.
"The pit, we're running," Teddy called over her shoulder.
Annie took off after Teddy. They raced to the stairs and down to the pit, Annie stood back and observed as Teddy got up to speed on a man having a heart attack.
"Let's get him up to the cath lab," Teddy called.
Annie followed her to the lab.
"Annie come stand behind me," Teddy said as she sat down on the stool in front of the screen. She guided the instruments and was able to place two stents using the tools in the lab.
"Why did the man's arteries look so dirty," asked Annie.
"That's plaque," Teddy said, "it's from poor diet and exercise. It clogs the vessels and makes it hard to get enough blood flow, that's what caused his heart attack."
"Why would diet do that," asked Annie.
Teddy replied, "high fat diet, lots of fast food, too few vegetables, not enough fiber and no exercise."
"Should I worry about my brother," Annie asked, "he likes fast food."
"I don't think you need to yet," Teddy replied, "Chris is living on the base so his food will be acceptable and he gets more than enough exercise."
"Okay," Annie replied.
"I've seen what you prefer to eat," Teddy said, "and the way you dance I'm not going to worry."
"Mom worries I don't eat enough meat," Annie said.
"I think you're probably okay," Teddy said, " you get enough protein with all of your chickpeas, quinoa and beans."
"I eat what makes me feel good and have energy," Annie replied.
"That's how you should do it," Teddy agreed.
Annie followed Teddy though the hospital observing and asking questions. She enjoyed the time with Teddy and having Teddy's full attention without her birth mom trying to teach Christina. She wasn't used to the one on one parental attention. At home she tried to fade into the background to avoid bothering Jessica and Chris was more extroverted and a bigger personality. While Annie knew her parents loved her they didn't understand her hopes and dreams the way Teddy did. Teddy understood what she wanted to do and her plan to get there. Annie also now understood why she was given to her parents. It was out of a mother's love and wanting the best for her baby.