Back to school
The last Sunday of summer Annie and Teddy drove northward. Teddy realizing how lonely she would be without Annie at home. She would miss the two of them making dinner together and talking about their day over tea and brownies. The things Teddy had done with her mom. Having Annie in her life also made her consider another baby, she had learned this summer she could be a mom but knew that an infant would be totally different than her 19 year old. Maybe her relationship with Henry would get to that point but with Annie home every night Teddy has yet to ask Henry to stay the night, but she was appreciating the old fashioned courtship with dates, long drives and innocent cuddles and stolen kisses.
Annie wasn't looking forward to her first stop after the border. She had to go back to her parents and get some things from her room and the garage. It was the first time she would see them face to face since she was discharged from the hospital 7 weeks ago. They had never made it down for a visit, hadn't seen the cozy cottage with the birds and deer or the hammock in the trees by the little stream that cut through the corner of the back yard. They haven't seen her cheerful blue room or the sun filled kitchen. Annie thought they needed a cat but Teddy said Annie was away too much and she was too busy to be fair to a pet.
They had left Seattle early enough that they beat the line at the border. Annie led the way to her parents house.
Annie parked across the street and turned off her car. As soon as she stepped out Teddy could see the nerves and Annie's anxiety was back.
"Hey your okay," Teddy said.
"I can't go in there," Annie said , "what if Jessica is home."
"Your dad promised they were dropping her off at your grandmas before we came," Teddy reminded.
"She won't go," Annie said , "doesn't want to miss an opportunity to torture me."
"She won't," Teddy reassured, "because I'm here. If She lays a hand on you. I will intervene."
"If She explodes just get me out of there," Annie asked.
"Of course," Teddy said, "but it won't happen she's not here."
They walked up the porch steps and Annie knocked on the door. She didn't know if she could just go in or not. This wasn't home anymore.
Leslie opened the door , "Annie Teddy come on in. Have you had lunch?"
"We haven't yet," Teddy replied.
"Are you hungry," asked Leslie.
"Kind of," Annie admitted.
Leslie looked closely at Annie. She had changed in the last few weeks, the scar by her ear and hairline were now more pink than red but Annie appeared slimmer, it also looked like Teddy had convinced her to take a few inches off the bottom of her hair because her bottom length hair now hung to the bottom of her ribs. Leslie didn't recognize the red dress with white polka dots Annie was wearing but thought the dress suited her matched with the red slip on keds.
Then came the screech, "what is she doing here?"
Dan ran down the stairs , "Jessica truck now."
Jessica shouted , "as long as the bitch that got me locked in the psych ward for 6 weeks is here I'm not going anywhere."
Teddy put a hand on Annie's back, letting her know silently she was right there.
Dan countered , "Jessica you have no choice here. You will get in the truck. Your sister has as much right to be here as you do."
Teddy hissed at Leslie , "you promised we wouldn't have to deal with this. Annie isn't ready."
Leslie replied , "we've had a hard morning. Someone won't take her medication and is out of control."
"Annie head down and get your stuff," Teddy directed, "Leslie can I try something with Jessica?"
"If you think it'll work," Leslie said.
Teddy strode towards Jessica. She drew on her military training and went into Major Mode. Like this she was commanding and in control. No one dared disobey her. She began directing , " Jessica you are going to get your shoes on and get in the truck. This behavior is not going to continue. If you continue to threaten and abuse your sister I will be pressing charges."
"What do you care," Jessica taunted, "you gave her up. You didn't want her you only took her back out of guilt."
"You are going to stop lying, get your shoes and leave with your father," Teddy commanded, "you are insubordinate, cruel, disrespectful, and dishonest. Get your shoes and do as you were told."
"Unlike Annie and Chris I don't blindly take orders from strangers," Jessica pouted.
"You can do this my way or you will do it the hard way," Teddy said stepping closer to Jessica. Teddy knew she was taller and stronger than the teen. She spoke again , "my way you put your shoes one and go. The hard way I carry you barefoot."
Jessica tried to swing at Teddy who caught her fist effortlessly. Jessica then tried to swing at and kick Teddy again. Teddy deflected and dodged every attempt.
"I see you've chosen the hard way," Teddy said, "you are now a threat to myself and my daughter. You didn't choose wisely there. I'll wait for you to calm down."
Dan coming in from the garage and seeing that Teddy was holding Jessica back stepped in and picked Jessica up throwing her over his shoulder.
Teddy turned and headed down the stairs. On the landing she stopped and braced her arms on the windowsill taking a few deep breaths to center herself. She wasn't okay and Annie wouldn't be okay here. She wished she had asked Owen to come with them. She wanted Owen he would have known how to stop that from happening he would have gotten Jessica to do what was asked right away. No one argued or fought with Owen.
Annie was staking things she wanted to take to school at the bottom of the stairs.
"Is Jessica gone," Annie asked.
"She is," Teddy said , "but let's get as much of your stuff out of here today as we can fit in our cars."
Annie asked, "why?"
Teddy hugged her, "it's not safe sweetie. We need to go with plan B."
Leslie came down the stairs, "what's plan B."
"Annie uses her American citizenship and moves in with me," Teddy said, "there's not enough in place here for her to be safe. We're going to take all of her clothing today and the things she wants out of her room. I'll take some home and put them in her room for her."
"You can't just take her," Leslie said.
Annie snapped , "mom just shut up. I've been happier in the last 7 weeks in Seattle then I have been in the last 6 years here. I'm going. You can come and visit, come see me on campus but I'm not coming back here."
"You can't do that," Leslie said.
"I'm 19 I can make that choice. In a year I'll be at Harvard or Columbia or Stanford anyway I'm just leaving a year early," Annie said , "you can't keep me safe. Jessica is too much of a bully. She's learned nothing from the incident but I've learned a lot. I'm not going to accept that treatment anymore."
"Annie," leslie said.
"This isn't about you or dad or mama. This about me. I deserve to be happy and healthy," Annie said , "I can't do that with Jessica's treatment of me."
Teddy added , "Annie deserves to be safe. I know this wasn't the plan and is no one's fault but she's worked too hard and come too far to go backwards."
"What do we do then," Leslie asked.
"Today we get what she needs for school until the end of October do the first two months," Teddy said, "you keep your skype dates and make a point of just you and Dan going to UBC to see her. She's going to come to Seattle for long weekends. You, Dan and Chris are welcome to come anytime to see her."
"That's it," Leslie asked.
"Annie will continue counselling at school, Jessica should be continuing to get support and so should you and Dan," Teddy said.
"We are taking Jessica to her appointments but we can't make her participate," Leslie said, "they want to meet with Annie as well."
"Why do I need to go," asked Annie.
"To give you a chance to tell your side of the story," Leslie explained.
"My medical records and the RCMP record show my side of the story," Annie said, "I don't want to meet with them. It's not going to help me. It'll be like last time where it was how I need to change to help her."
Teddy suggested, "why dont you call them and hear what they want from you. Tell them what your boundaries are and make sure they will respect that. Listen openly before you decide. But it's your choice and no one can make it for you."
Annie thought, "I'll call when I'm ready."
"Thank you," Leslie said.
"You know I will be honest with them," Annie said.
"I expect nothing less," Teddy said.
Dan came down stairs, "she's at Jim's "
Leslie replied , "she threatened Annie and tried to swing at Teddy."
Teddy tried to smooth the situation in front of Annie , "it's not the first. I've had lots of combative patients and have the training to deal with her."
"She doesn't know that her actions have consequences and others are affected by them," Leslie explained, "therapy doesn't seem to be working."
"Then get a new therapist," Teddy suggested , "I can talk to the head of our psych department and see who he recommends up here. The person Annie will be seeing at UBC was recommended by him."
"I already signed off for my file to be transferred," Annie said.
"Good," Teddy replied, "I have the copies of the post op scans and labs for your family dr."
Dan asked , "how did you get her on your insurance so easily?"
"The chief of surgery made it easy and I had a copy of the original Texas birth certificate so I could prove I gave birth to her," Teddy said, "Richard likes Annie. He's one of her 3 references from my hospital."
"He would just let you put Annie on the plan knowing about the incident," Leslie asked.
"He didn't ask many questions other then about how we planned for get her healthy and a bit about our story. Richard Webber is a good man," Teddy said.
"He wrote a glowing reference letter for me," Annie said.
"Can I see it," asked Dan.
"It's in my application binder in my car," Annie said.
"You need a binder for applications," Leslie asked.
"7 schools including UBC each needing slightly different things it's easier to put it all a binder," Annie replied.
"Her applications are in good shape," Teddy said , "we'll probably see her go Ivy League for sure East coast."
Leslie asked , "is it possible."
Teddy nodded , "her GPA, references, job expirence, extra curriculars, and MCAT are excellent. Essays need some edits. Some schools will need interviews but most do a west coast set in Seattle."
"I want to go to Harvard," Annie said, "I can do it. I've started applying for scholarships."
"Which scholarships," Teddy asked.
"There was a list April gave me and the SGMW one Dr Webber gave me the forms for," Annie replied.
Annie finished packing with help from teddy and her parents.
As they neared the end Annie asked , "dad can you bring my bike to UBC?"
Dan replied, "mom and I will do it now. Do you want to move the stuff from Teddy's car tommy truck and she can go home from here?"
Teddy replied, "I've booked to stay at the hotel in Salish tonight and tomorrow night. I'm meeting a couple of medical school friends to catch up."
"That's Dr. Milner and who," Annie asked.
"Kristen and James Andrews," Teddy said, "she was my roommate the whole way through and they got married during residency. She's an OB and he's a radiologist."
"Is this the Kristen in the stories you and Dr Milner tell," Annie asked.
"Yes," teddy smiled , "she wants to meet you."
"Look cute and be nice. Got it," Annie laughed.
They all finished gathering what Annie would need for the next couple of months and head out to their vehicles.
In the truck Leslie looked to Dan , "I think we've lost her. Jessica today was another nail in the coffin."
"I think she's scared of us and Jessica," Dan agreed.
"Why did she run to Teddy," Leslie asked.
"Teddy took her concern seriously. And the night of the incident we were in Hawaii Annie knew that and she knew Teddy was a couple hours away," Dan said.
"But she stayed with her," Leslie pointed out.
"Annie needed one on one when that happened and Teddy was in a position to do that for her," Dan said , "I don't think it's an us or Teddy. I think she's trying to have both but doesn't know how to do it yet."
Leslie grumbelled, "I don't like how Teddy thinks she knows what's best for Annie here. Medically I can see but emotionally."
Dan shook his head , "there's some truth in what Teddy said the other day on the phone. That we have to show Annie we're there for her and we have to make the big efforts. Annie is learning that she doesn't have to accept Jessica treating her badly and she's not going to for much longer. Annie chose to recuperate in Seattle to avoid Jessica and the battles."
"Even Chris said that Teddy and her friend Owen were good for Annie. He also said they didn't tolerate her pouting," Leslie said.
"Chris liked Owen," Dan agreed, "he's offered to mentor Chris. He even took Chris to that hospital and had him observe in the ER and OR. Made him wear Annie's scrub cap."
Leslie moaned, "the older two tell me nothing."
"You've been so caught up in Jessica this summer you haven't seen Annie or Chris for themselves," Dan said, "he's wondering if pilot is the right fit. He's thinking about trauma nursing. The military would pay for it then one day him and Annie could be a team."
"He will not take orders from his sister," Leslie said.
"The two of them are good at taking orders and flexing to fit other people," Dan said, "I think growing up with Jessica taught them that."
"Annie wouldn't order Chris around," Leslie said.
"Annie can be bossy with him when she chooses," Dan said, "I talked to Owen. Apparently that was the first person she felt safe to stand up and use her voice with. Owen has some good insight into both Annie and Chris."
"I still don't know why the incident happened," Leslie said.
"Jessica has her version but it conflicts with Annie, Catherine, Shannon, Tanya, Donny and Wendy. But we can't convince Jessica to consider the other side," Dan said.
"The others have to be telling the truth," Leslie said , "they all told the rcmp the same thing. I can't believe the that charges for assault could be considered."
"Annie won't do it," Dan said, "not this time. But if it happens again Teddy may convince her to."
"How do we stop it," Leslie asked.
"Maybe it's time to look into residential programs for Jessica," Dan said.
They pulled into UBC and found a spot near Annie's building. They saw Annie and Teddy carrying items up from Teddy's car. Leslie and Dan helped carry things up from Annie and Teddy's cars then the couple things in the truck. Dan went to move the truck to a better parking spot and Leslie helped rearrange Annie's room.
"Who washed all of Annie's bedding," Leslie asked.
"I brought it all home and we washed it this week and let it dry on the clothes line," Teddy said.
"Mama, where are the cookies and the banana bread," Annie asked.
"In the box with your snacks ," Teddy replied , " you should freeze one of the loaves of banana bread Evelyn made you."
"Whoes Evelyn," asked Leslie.
"Owens mom," Teddy replied, "since my parents both passed before I enlisted Evelyn has been my surrogate mom for years. She considers Annie her granddaughter like she calls me her daughter."
"Evelyn is the woman you bought my National from," Annie said, "it was uncle Owen's sisters."
"The older woman in Seattle," Dan asked, "she said her daughter didn't dance anymore that she had given up dance for the army."
"I wear Meghan's National," Annie said, "it made Evelyn and uncle Owen happy to see it dance again. They said Meghan would have wanted me to have it."
"Meghan was captured in Iraq and presumed dead," Teddy explained, "I was close to Meg as well. She was the little sister I never had."
"That's a coincidence that the outfit ended up with Annie. It's my favorite of her outfits," Leslie said.
"It fits her perfectly," Teddy said, "you'd think the vest was made for Annie."
Teddy's phone pinged and she quickly texted some one back. Annie noticed the Henry smile and if Annie's parents were there should have teased Teddy mercilessly.
Annie heard her friends in the kitchen and ran to join them.
Leslie turned to teddy and hugged her, "thank you so much for taking care of our girl this summer. You were there for her when I couldn't be."
Teddy returned the hug, "I loved having her. Thank you for making her who she is. You cared for her when I couldn't "
Teddy heard the conversation from the kitchen, young voices sharing summer stories and summer romances. She knew when Annie was ready she would tell her friends what had happened.
Leslie and Dan said good bye to Teddy then found Annie with her friends and said good by.
Cassie asked , "your parents are gone can you tell us why you disappeared with Teddy now?"
Annie looked down, "Jessie attacked me. I had a 6 hour emergency surgery then needed weeks to recover."
Teddy chose that moment to walk towards the kitchen.
Sarah asked, "what did they do? Are you okay?"
"I lost half my liver but it should be fully regrown by my birthday and I have a hideous scar. I'm not wearing a bikini ever again," Annie said.
"Teddy is she okay," Cassie asked.
"She is. Just no alcohol until her birthday. She's going to be the best designated driver," Teddy said.
"Mama," Annie said, "don't volunteer me to DD."
Sarah looked shocked , "mama you couldn't pick a better nickname."
"It came out after surgery when I was really loopy and it's stuck," Annie said.
"I spent a lot of time in Texas and the southern states it's more common there even for adults to use mama," Teddy said.
"When do you meet Dr. Milner," Annie asked.
"Getting rid of me already," Teddy teased
Annie laughed , "I've missed my friends."
"I know," Teddy smiled , "I'm going to go check into the hotel. Call me later."
"Yep," Annie replied.
"See you tomorrow little bear," Teddy said hugging Annie.
"Bye mama," Annie replied, returning the hug.