Dan and Leslie stood outside the ICU.
Leslie asked, "are you sure she wants to see us?"
Dan reassured, "she did. We're supposed to meet Owen but I have no clue what he looks like."
Owen stepped forward, "I'm Dr. Owen Hunt, Teddy's friend."
Leslie asked, "how is Annie. Have you seen her?"
"She's in a lot of pain but she's stable," Owen said, "Annie is anxious."
"We have lots of questions," Leslie said.
"I know," Owen said, "Teddy and Annie's doctors can answer all of them."
"Will she be okay," asked Dan.
"It'll be a few month recovery period," Owen said, "she has a fight ahead physically and mentally."
"What can we do," Leslie asked.
"Be there for her and support her," Owen said.
"We can do our best," Leslie said.
Owen replied, "her sister can not factor into her care. Annie needs to do what is best for her. Teddy is going to make sure she does that."
Owen lead them to Annie's room.
Teddy saw him, "are her parents here? She fell asleep again."
Dan and Leslie stood in the doorway and smiled.
Teddy whispered, "she just fell asleep again. Come grab a seat."
Leslie noticed Teddy sitting on the side of Annie's bed with Annie curled up against her. Annie's head was resting on Teddy's shoulder, Teddy had one arm around Annie.
Leslie whispered, "how's she doing?"
"She's got a long road ahead of her," Teddy whispered, "right now she needs rest and food to heal."
"Is she eating," asked Dan.
"She hasn't really yet, just a little soup," Teddy said, "she's had lots of juice."
"How long will she sleep," Leslie asked.
"Probably about half an hour," Teddy whispered, "she seems to sleep for half an hour then get uncomfortable and need to move a little bit."
Dan asked, "how bad is the pain?"
"She's trying to be strong," Teddy whispered.
Owen added, "she's trying to refuse pain medications. She'll only accept the bare minimum to control the pain. She doesn't like how they make her feel foggy."
"She doesn't even like Advil," Leslie said.
"I know," Teddy said.
Annie stirred and opened her eyes, "mom, dad when did you get here?"
"A few minutes ago," Leslie said.
Dan asked, "how are you feeling, little bear?"
"It hurts and I'm tired," Annie said.
"I bet," whispered Leslie.
She came to sit on the other side of the bed from Teddy, "you'll be okay. Dad and I are here now."
Annie snuggled closer to Teddy before whispering, "you're going to tell Jessie where I am and she's going to kill me."
"We won't let Jessica hurt you," Leslie said.
"That's a lie," Annie cried.
"Annie," Dan scolded.
"I showed you the messages weeks ago and again before I went to Teddy's for the week," Annie said," you knew and you did nothing about it."
"I did the threat assessment protocol I would use at school and she came out as no risk ," Dan said.
"She tried to kill me," Annie said , "she told me she wanted me to die, that she wished you had never adopted me and that I should never have been born. You lied and said I was safe."
"We're sorry," Leslie said.
"Your not," Annie shouted , "you say it to me and make me apologize to her for upsetting her then it happens again. When will you stop being sorry when I die. When I leave and don't come back. I'm not safe in this family I want out."
Owen came to stand beside Teddy , "Annie we talked about this. You have a right to be scared and feel unsafe."
"We want you to stay," Leslie said.
"Why so Jessica can kill me," asked Annie. She began to sob, "Will she finally be happy then, will it solve her problems. Will it make things better for you or Chris or grandma and grandpa?"
"Annie you don't mean that," Dan said.
"I'm better off dead then with her for a sister," Annie cried , "you won't do anything to make her stop. You never have."
Teddy held Annie tight, "I know you're mad and I know you're scared. I have you, I'm not going anywhere and I am going to fight for you so will Owen. We are here and we have you."
Owen spoke, "this isn't going well we should try again tomorrow. Let Annie get some rest."
Dan asked , "what can we do?"
Teddy replied , "right now Annie needs to feel safe. We need her to feel safe and know she's safe first."
A nurse came in , "Annie we're going to take you for another CT scan to see how things look post op."
Teddy looked at Annie then at the nurse, "may I go with her?"
"Of course Dr Altman," the nurse replied.
"Annie we're going to go with the nurse for a CT to check how things look and make sure they fixed everything. I'm going to walk with you and stay until they turn the machine on. You'll only be alone for the scan," Teddy soothed , "your mom and I are going to get up so they can prep your bed to move you."
Teddy helped Annie to settle against the pillows.
Owen looked at Dan before saying , "you two can sit here with me. It should take about 20-30 minutes depending on the line for the scan. They're doing exactly what I would do."
Teddy walked alongside Annie out of the room.
Leslie asked Owen, "what do you know that Annie and Teddy aren't saying?"
"Annie asked me if I would help her to change her name so Jessica can't find her," Owen said , "she also asked me if it was possible for her to move to Seattle with Teddy."
Dan asked, "what did you say?"
"I told her that changing her name was a very drastic step we don't need to do. She also knows she's welcome at Teddy's anytime and she has keys to Teddy's. I told Annie that she's also welcome to come stay with my wife Christina and I," replied Owen.
"I thought you were with Teddy," Leslie said.
"Teddy is my best friend. We served together in Iraq," Owen replied , "she's like my sister."
"Why did she call you," asked Leslie.
"Teddy and I have always called each other when anything happens good or bad," Owen said.
Dan asked, "you just dropped everything and came with her?"
"I had to force Teddy to let me drive," Owen said, "she was too panicked to drive. Teddy and I have been through a lot together and I've never seen her that upset."
"Teddy loves Annie," Leslie said.
"She always has," Owen said, "in Iraq she used to keep the photos you sent of Annie tucked into her journal. There was one of Annie in a red tutu that she loved."
"I remember that one. It was her first pointe solo; she was a rose bud," Leslie said, "she was 12."
"Mr and Mrs. McKellar may I speak freely," Owen asked.
"Of course," replied Leslie.
"I see injuries like this quite often in my emergency room. As the trauma surgeon I deal with this type of injury often. The pattern of new injuries and the old ones in Annie's chart are consistent with either child abuse or domestic violence. Teddy identified the pattern then showed me the chart to confirm, this is more my area of expertise than hers. My concern is that without significant treatment this will keep happening until either Annie gets the strength to leave or Jessica succeeds in killing Annie. Both of your girls really need help. Teddy will stay with Annie as much as she can. I've relayed the information to our chief of surgery, Teddy has as much time off as she needs, I can have a week, my wife is one of Annie's favourite residents and will be coming up Thursday," Owen said.
Lelise looked very concerned, "why do you think it looks like abuse?"
"There is a pattern of injuries and some old bruises that are healing. Annie also talked to Teddy and I today and told us what is happening," Owen said.
"How do we help," asked Dan.
"In my opinion Jessica needs immediate confinement to the psychiatric ward. Both girls will need psych consults. And you have to corporate with the police," Owen said.
"Has Annie spoken to the police," Dan asked.
"Not yet, the officer came by three times and Annie was asleep everytime. Teddy refused to wake her," Owen said.
"When she's not panicking how is she," asked Leslie.
"She's been very fearful and anxious all day," Owen replied, "this isn't the girl that I saw at the highland games and in the hospital last week. The Annie I know is confident, bounces instead of walking, she asks the best questions, she loves scrubbing in and watching in the OR. The residents love teaching her, the department heads all love her. She has this way of making others feel at ease. When she's in Seattle theres no fear, no turtle shell. She was so excited to be in the OR last week and was Teddy 2.0 in her sea otter scrub cap."
Leslie asked, "Teddy has a sea otter scrub cap? Does Annie always steal that one?"
"It's Annies," Owen said, "caps are personal. The first time she scrubbed in I gave her one of Teddy's with birds to wear and she laughed at the birds. I asked her what animal she would want on hers and she said otters and told me all about them. I ordered the otter one from the catalogue when I was ordering myself a couple more green and camouflage ones. Teddy thought it was a good idea. And because Annie wears resident's scrubs but isn't a resident her otter cap helps us to separate her from the residents in the OR on sight."
"It sounds like people really like her at the hospital," Dan said.
"She belongs in the OR," Owen agreed, "we can't let this hold her back or get her off course."
Dan replied, "we'll do whatever it takes to help Annie and keep her on track."
"That means keeping Jessica away from her," Owen said, "there can be no punishment or restriction on Annie. She has to be free to talk to you."
Leslie said, "since Christmas she's been confiding more in Teddy than in me."
Dan added, " I think it's because Jessica has been escalating since Annie connected with Teddy. Jessica has been pushing Annie away from the family and Annie is running further from us and closer to Teddy. We're going to lose her."
Annie returned with Teddy, "mom and dad why are you still here?"
"We missed you and we want to fix this," Leslie said.
"You can't," Annie replied, "it's too late. You chose Jessica when you did nothing to protect me."
Dan stepped towards the bed, "we did not choose sides. Annie we made a mistake."
"I'm tired, can you leave," Annie asked.
Leslie stood, "we're not going anywhere."
"I don't want you here. Go back to your real daughter," Annie shouted, "I was always the consolation prize. You have two real children. Let me go."
Leslie took Annie's hand, "you were never the consolation prize. Annie you're our little bear we choose you. We fought to get you and we are going to fight not to lose you."
"I'm not safe with you," Annie cried.
"We will make you safe," Dan said, "this time Jessica has to get help. She can't come home until she does."
"How can you make her," Annie asked.
"She's being taken to the psychiatric unit at Children's," Leslie said.
Teddy added, "the RCMP are investigating, they need to talk to you. The officer is outside waiting for Annie. I can't stall him any more."
Owen said, "we're going to step out and allow Annie to speak to the officer."
A young man stepped into the room, "hello Annie I'm constable Williams from the RCMP do you mind if I ask you a few questions about last night?"
"Am I in trouble," Annie asked.
"With the information I have in your file I just need your statement and for you to decide if you would like to press charges for assault against Jessica Marie McKellar," the officer said.
"I don't want to be in trouble or make things worse," Annie said.
"I appreciate your openness Annie but you are not in trouble. By not saying something you could potentially come to more harm," the officer said.
"Can my mama sit with me," asked Annie.
"Which one is your mama," the officer asked.
"Teddy Altman," Annie replied.
"Yes she has been very protective of you all day," replied the officer, "I'll ask her to join us. But she can not speak for you. Your mama is a silent observer."
"Yes sir," Annie replied.
The officer waved Teddy into the room, "mam you are a silent observer in this process. You may sit with your daughter.
Annie told the officer about the events of the night before. And what had lead Jessica to hurt her.
"Annie do you have any record of your sister's threats," asked the officer.
"Most of them were text messages," Annie said, "mama took my phone."
"Annie would you like to show me the messages," the officer asked.
"Mama can I have my phone back," Annie asked.
"Sure sweetie," Teddy replied.
Annie unlocked her phone and pulled up the messages Jessica had been sending.
The officer read through them before speaking ,"Annie please don't delete these messages I will need copies but I need to do some paperwork before I can take copies. I should be able to come back tomorrow to get copies."
"What will happen next," Teddy asked.
"I go to my supervisor and get permission to retain copies of the messages on Annie's phone. We will do everything we can to keep Annie safe," the officer said.
"What happens to Jessica," Annie asked.
"Right now she is confined to the psychiatric unit at children's hospital, we don't have a timeline on that. With her age she is likely facing charges," the officer said.
"I'm scared to see her. And I don't want to get in trouble," Annie said.
"I've spoken with your cousins and with your aunt who was there last night," the officer said, "from what they said and your statement you have not done anything wrong."
"Will I need to talk to you again or a lawyer," Annie asked.
"I will be back when I have permission to take copies of those messages, and if you want legal advice is up to you. You are the victim here Annie. Earlier I gave your mama the information for victims services. They can provide counselling and legal guidance I suggest you call them when your up to it and give them the file number," the officer said.
"Is there anything else you need from us officer," asked Teddy.
"No mam I have everything I need," the officer replied.
"We're going to turn Annie's phone off can I give you my number if you need to reach us," asked Teddy.
"The would be much appreciated," replied the officer.
"I'll give you my business card. My personal cell phone number is on the back," Teddy replied. She took her wallet out of her purse and pulled out a business card.
"Thank you mam," the officer replied, "Annie please let me know if you think of anything else I should know about last nights or the last few weeks with your sister."
"I will," Annie replied , "thank you constable Williams."
"Have a good night ladies," the officer replied , "I hope you feel better soon Annie."
He left the room.
"Am I really not in trouble," Annie asked looking amazed.
"Sweetie what have uncle Owen and I been saying all day," asked Teddy.
"I know. But it's different coming from the rcmp officer," Annie replied.
"How are you feeling," asked Teddy.
"I'm getting hungry," Annie said.
"Why don't your parents and uncle Owen sit with you and I'll go find food. How does jello sound," teddy suggested.
"Okay but no red jello," Annie replied.