The Christmas holidays at the McKellars had not gone as planned. Jessica had continued to be verbally abusive as well as physically. This trip had resulted in 20 stitches on Annie's shoulder, Teddy had done these ones herself not wanting to deal with the ER the day after Christmas. It had been hard for her to work on Annie, not just because of the tears but seeing her daughter in pain and knowing that for a few minutes she was contributing to it. Teddy had hardly had enough freezing to numb the skin and had to rely on Chris and Henry to help keep Annie calm and still. Teddy had also had to stitch Dans hand where he had been cut taking the knife from Jessica. While she had done 20 minutes of sewing it had taken Leslie and Dan over two hours to deescalate Jessica. The teen was out of control to the point Teddy strongly suspected substance abuse.

"Mama," Annie asked from her room, "why did you just do my stitches last night? Were you trying to avoid having me in the ER again and that record?"

"I had a suture kit in the car, I always do," Teddy said, "it was 10 minutes for the numbing to kick in and 20 minutes for me to sew it. It would have taken 20 minutes to drive to the hospital and 5-6 hours before you were seen. I would have been a lot faster if you had stayed still. You were panicking and in shock it was better for you for me to do it at home. Henry was a good assistant and Chris was better to keep you calm than a random ER doctor."

"Will it be okay," Annie said.

"I do stitches every day," Teddy said, "you move more than my patients usually do."

"Your patients are usually under general anesthetic," Annie said, "I only had my shoulder numb."

Chris asked, "what is the plan for the next few days?"

"We go home from here for a couple days," Teddy said, "then on the 29th we go to the Hunt's cabin at Mt. Baker we'll ski for two days and then go back home on the 2nd. Annie goes back to Boston on the 5th, when do you have to be back on your base?"

"I have to be back on the 8th," Chris replied, "my plan is to take a bus back to vancouver and then dad will take me to YVR."

"You want to spend your leave with us," Teddy asked, "what about your friends?"

"Annie is more important," Chris said, " I have nothing in common with those guys any more."

"If you're sure," Teddy said.

"I want to come if it's still okay," Chris said.

"We're happy to have you," Teddy smiled, "go pack. Get both of your skis and boots please and take them to Henry outside."

"Yes mam," Chris replied.

Teddy smiled, she liked the manners and discipline of the older two. She would be happy to call Chris her own as much as Annie.

Annie stepped into the guest room, "mama?"

"Yes sweetheart," Teddy replied.

"Do I have to come back here," Annie asked.

"Why do you ask," Teddy questioned.

"Every time I'm here I get hurt. I can't take it anymore," Annie said.

"Let's not make a decision now," Teddy said, "you're upset. We'll go home, talk about it then decide when both of us are calm. But grab a few sentimental things that you really want. There's room in my bag and Henry's."

"I will," Annie replied.

Annie went into her room and packed the things she had brought from Boston as well as grabbing a few favourite books and her scrapbooks.

"Mama, can you grab by scrap books," Annie asked.

"I'll get them in one of our bags," Teddy said, "do you have anything in the laundry?"

"Nope it's all packed," Annie replied, "I wouldn't mind doing laundry when we get home."

" Henry and I have laundry while we're home. Just throw it in the basket when we get there. Anything else you want me to grab from your room," Teddy asked.

"A few more photos and a couple of my stuffed animals," Annie replied, "but I don't want them at school."

"Leave them at home," Teddy said, "your closet has lots of room. Grab any yearbooks as well when you're my age you'll want them."

"In the pile with my scrapbooks," Annie said.

"I'll come grab them," Teddy said, "Henry will wonder why his bag is suddenly so heavy."

"Am I doing the right thing," Annie asked, "running away?"

"Is it running," Teddy asked.

"When I was in the hospital uncle Owen said that I didn't have to put up with this and that I had a choice if I wanted Jessie in my life. I don't think I do anymore," Annie explained.

"Then you don't have to," Teddy said, "your safety is what matters."

"Are you sure mom and dad won't be mad," Annie asked.

Teddy replied, "they'll be confused and hurt but they should get that it's for your safety."

"Do I tell them," Annie asked.

Teddy replied, "it's up to you. Right now your in classes all summer then have 12 months of clerkships where you won't come home. It'll be almost 2 years before you'll come back for more than a few days."

Annie asked, "can we take my stuff to your house then figure it out from there."

"We can," Teddy replied.

Annie asked, "will dads hand be okay?"

"It was only 8 sutures," Teddy replied, "as long as it doesn't get infected it will be."

"Does he needs antibiotics," Annie asked.

"Usually I would but I don't have the ability to prescribe here," Teddy said, "I've already called in your antibiotics. We'll pick them up on the way home."

"Could dr Milner do it," Annie asked.

"Then I have to tell Anne what happened," Teddy said.

"For dad he cut his hand on a knife cleaning up after a holiday party," Annie said, "we're just leaving out the fact that my sister was holding the knife at the time."

"How many times have you done that," Teddy said.

"Lots," Annie replied, "so has Chris."

"We'll talk all four of us at home about it," Teddy replied, "let's get this stuff up to the guys."

"Can you take my backpack," Annie asked.

"Your shoulder is sore," Teddy asked.

"Just tender," Annie replied, "it's fine if the only thing touching it is my shirt."

Teddy asked, "are you being brave for us or are you really fine?"

"Mama it's just tender," Annie replied.

"I'll check it when we get home," Teddy replied, "but if it has any sign of infection we're going to the hospital and getting Owen or Mark to look at it."

"Mark," Annie questioned.

"Plastic surgeon," Teddy replied, "would make it a pretty scar. I'm good and neat but Mark is an artist. If it was your face I would have insisted on a plastic surgeon but where yours is should only be seen in a bathing suit or tank top ."

"I thought Owen was the injury guy," Annie said.

"Major injuries like getting hit by a car," Teddy said, "this isn't an Owen level injury. He'd pass it off to an ER doctor. He probably wouldn't even look at it."

They finished packing the things Annie wanted and loaded the back of the car.

Annie and Chris hugged their parents and got into the backseat.

Teddy drove south in silence. No one felt like talking much.

After dinner and tidying up Teddy slipped into her room where Henry was reading.

"Where are the kids," Henry asked.

"Watching a movie," Teddy replied, "they won't miss us. Annie is tired and sore, she'll go to bed soon."

"Chris will look out for her," Henry said.

"Always does," Teddy said, "she wont go back to that house. We brought some of her sentimental stuff here."

"I saw some yearbooks in my bag," Henry said, "I put them on her desk. She was a cute highschooler when I flipped through her grade 12 one she was really involved in the school."

"That's our Annie," Teddy said.

"Chris was pretty involved as well," Henry said.

"Their good kids," Teddy said, "smart, driven."

"They are," Henry agreed.

"I could have one more like that," Teddy said

"Just one," Henry asked.

"To start," Teddy replied.

"Are we trying," asked Henry.

"We could start when Annie goes back to school," Teddy replied.

Henry pulled her in closer, "if you're quiet we could start now."

"Henry," Teddy laughed, "kids in the living room."

"That's why you're going to be quiet," Henry whispered, "and I'm going to lock the door."

"I can be quiet," Teddy giggled.