Annie walked into the hospital Monday morning, she had dressed professionally in black dress pants and a purple blouse with a grey jacket. She found the other interns in the foyer and joined the group.

"Good morning," Richard greeted, "welcome to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. This is your starting line. Take a look at the people standing next to you. 8 of you will switch to easier specialties, 5 of you will drop out and 2 of you will be asked to leave. This is your competition, this is your playing field, it's up to you how you play the game."

"A bit intense," Josh whispered.

Richard continued," on the catwalk behind me are your attendings. They will be your teachers during your time here. This year each of you will be assigned to a senior resident. They will find you after our tour."

Annie looked up at the cat walk and saw Owen smiling at her. He gave her a wave and a thumbs up. Arizona nodded and smiled at Annie.

They followed Richard through the hospital and finally found the intern's locker room. Annie found her assigned locker and put her bag inside. She found a set of scrubs on the shelf and found a corner to get changed. Josh noticed people staring at the long scar on her back. He knew the story of that scar and knew that it was less noticeable than the one on her stomach.

"Altman, Riggs, Sliverstone, James," Jo Wilson called out.

Annie ran forward.

"I'm Dr. Wilson," Jo greeted, "I have 6 rules follow them. 1 don't question me, 2 you do as I say when I say it, 3 when you're paged you come running, 4 don't let the patient die whatever you do, 5 if you wake me up the patient better not be dead when I get there, 6 when I move you move."

"So you are a perfect goddess," Jenna asked sarcastically.

Jo replied, "exactly. This week we're on Dr. Hunt's service. He's the chief of Trauma. He's very by the book. Do exactly as he says. Ex military doesn't take back talk or being questioned. Before we go down I need to know who is who."

Annie introduced her self, "I'm Grace Altman."

"Josh Riggs," Josh said.

"Jenna Silverstone," Jenna introduced herself.

"Duncan Jones," the last man introduced himself. He appeared to be older than the rest of the group. Maybe his mid thirties compared to the rest of the group being in their mid twenties.

"Atlman," Duncan questioned, "do you know a Major Altman? I think her first name started with a T."

"My mother, Teddy," Annie replied, "do you know her?"

"She saved my life," Duncan said, "it's what made me pursue medicine. A total career change. I worked with her in Iraq. I was doing IT and technical support."

"I'll tell her you said hello," Annie replied.

"I didn't know she had children," Duncan said.

"I'm her only child," Annie said, "she worked closely with Dr. Hunt the head of trauma here when she was in Iraq."

"Major Owen Hunt," asked Duncan, "you know him as well."

"Through my mother," Annie said, "and I did my sub internship here."

Josh smirked, he knew the full story and how close Annie's mama was with Owen, that Owen considered Annie his niece. He also knew they had agreed to play down the family connection at the hospital.

They followed Jo into the pit where she introduced her interns to Owen.

"Alman," Owen directed, "your on sutures as they come in."

"Yes sir," Annie replied.

"Riggs, code team," Owen said.

"On it Dr. Hunt," Josh replied

"Jones, respiratory," Owen directed.

"Yes sir," Duncan said.

"Silverstone," Owen called, "floating where we need you."

"Yes doctor," Jenna replied.

In a few minutes Annie was called to do her first set of stitches, a little trial by fire for her first day. She called for help for a 5 year old with a dog bite, the bite was deep and more complex then she had done before.

"Page plastics," Annie called.

"Dr. Altman, what do you have," Owen asked.

"5 year old boy, severe lacerations and possible crush injury following a bite from a german shepard," Annie replied.

"What's your next step," Owen asked.

"Xray to check for broken bones," Annie said, "do I get the portable x ray or take him to the machine?"

"Xray, then CT if it's unclear. Take him to radiology," Owen said.

Annie told the family what was happening and moved the boy to xray. It came back clear and she brought the boy back to the ER for stitches.

"Can you suture this Altman," Owen asked.

"Some, not all," Annie admitted, "can you show me how to do the jagged ones?"

Owen nodded, "come watch this one."

"Thank you," Annie replied.

Owen did the first few wounds then motioned for Annie to take over with the simpler ones.

The day went on with Annie doing simple sutures and getting more confident cleaning and sewing simple wounds.

Around 11 pm Meredith came into the pit, "I need Dr. Altman now."

Owen asked, "what for, she's on my service today."

"Emergent appy," Meredith said.

"Dr. Grey may I speak with you, in private," Owen said.

"Dr Hunt is there a problem," asked Meredith.

"In private Dr. Grey," Owen commanded.

She followed him into a trauma room where he closed the door.

"You are not taking Grace Altman into that appy," Owen said, "there's no way that's a good idea. She's a first day intern."

"Owen it's the intern appy," Meredith said, "we do this every year."

"Not her," Owen said, "don't make her your example."

"She's the one with the most promise," Meredith said.

"I don't care," Owen said, "pick another intern to humiliate."

"She's doing it Owen," Meredith said, "there's no other choice. I wanted Josh Riggs but Nathan already vetoed that."

"Teddy fought for us to cancel this tradition of humiliating an intern. You can not put her daughter in there," Owen said.

"Don't play the Teddy card," Meredith said, "if her daughter is half as strong as she is she can do this."

"Meredith this isn't a good idea," Owen said.

"She's doing it," Meredith said, "Bailey agreed. You can take it up with her."

Meredith walked out of the room.

"Altman your with me now, go get prepped for an emergent appy," Meredith directed.

"Yes Dr. Grey," Annie replied.

Josh walked beside Annie to get the patient, "you got the intern appy?"

"I'm scared," Annie said, "I've never done this before."

"You've seen them," Josh said, "break a leg."

Annie trotted after Meredith to help prep the patient.

Owen texted Teddy, they still hadn't really talked since he went to Germany but she needed to know that Annie was going into the OR.

Owen, "I know you're still mad and you're going to be pissed but Annie got chosen to do the intern Appy. On her way to scrub in with Grey now."

Teddy, "no, get her out of there you can overrule Grey."

Owen, "already tried."

Teddy , "be in that gallery and help out if anything goes wrong."

Owen, " I will."

Teddy, "tell her to call me after. I want a play by play."

Owen, "I will."

Teddy, "pinkies, it's a good luck thing she used to do before dance competitions. You have to link one pinky with her and tell her to be awesome."

Owen, "I'll try to grab her before she scrubs in."

Teddy, "I want a picture if you can."

Owen, "I will."

Teddy, "I feel bad I'm missing my girl's first surgery. She's alone, she'll be anxious."

Owen, "she can do this. I'll be in the gallery, she's not alone."

Teddy put her phone down and shook her head, she needed to figure out what was going on. She needed to actually talk to Owen and tell him what she suspected. But he was talking to her again, even if it was only about Annie. Teddy was also pissed that they would pull Annie into that surgery, to make an example of her. To show the whole surgical staff that interns know nothing how unprepared and intern really is.

Owen jogged to the scrub room.

"Dr. Altman, a word," Owen said.

Annie stepped into the hall, "yes Dr. Hunt."

Owen smiled, "good luck in there Annie. I'll be in the gallery. Your mama sends this." Owen extended one pinkie to Annie.

"Thank you Uncle Owen," Annie replied, shaking his pinkie, "I can do this."

"You can," Owen said, "go be awesome."

"I will," Annie smiled. She walked into the scrub room and began to scrub.

"Okay Dr. Altman," Meredith said, "it's time to open her up. 10 Blade please."

Annie watched as Meredith opened the patient.

"Altman your up," Meredith said, "you need to remove the appendix."

Annie began to orally run through the steps for Meredith.

"Do it," Meredith commanded.

Nervously Annie asked for the instrument she needed and began the procedure. As she was about to finish her sutures slipped and she lost her purse strings.

Owen had been sending a play by play to Teddy.

"Who are you texting Owen," asked Arizona.

"Teddy," Owen said, "she wanted to know how Grace was doing. She hated this though."

"She was really against throwing one intern off the deep end," Arizona said.

Owen, "I know. She's not totally happy Grace is in there. She started really strong but that slip."

In the OR Annie panicked.

"Pick up your purse strings, get in there and grab them," Meredith directed.

Annie tried to do as she was directed, "Dr. Grey I've lost them."

Meredith stepped in and took over.

Josh was sitting beside Owen in the gallery, "she was so close."

"She was," Owen said, "meet her after the surgery. Do you know where her phone is?"

"Her lab coat I think," Josh said, "in the locker room."

"When she scrubs out go get it," Owen said, "there's a deserted stairwell with good reception at the end of the west hallway."

"She'll call Teddy," Josh said, "she's not going to be happy."

"I know," Owen said, "it's designed for her to fail. Teddy will know what to do."

"I have an idea," Josh said, "I need to find tea and chocolate."

Owen, "dropped her purse strings can't find them. Grey took over."

Teddy, "fuck. I told you to get her out of there."

Owen, "I tried. She looks like she might cry."

Teddy, "once she scrubs out, send her somewhere quiet and have her call me."

Owen, "Josh will be with her."

Teddy, "good. If you can tell her no tears in OR. Annie is still a crier when she's overwhelmed."

Owen, "I've already told Josh where they can hide. She started strong and her first part of her shift was good. Her sutures were pretty good. Got stuck on a complex dog bite but first day I expected that."

Teddy, "what's happening in the OR?"

Owen, "Grey has Annie closing."

Teddy, "that's it finish strong."

In the gallery several of the interns were heckling and making fun of Annie. It was taking everything Josh had not to punch the guy leading the charge. He didn't know his name but the comments he was making about Annie angered Josh.

Duncan stood up and said, "that could have been any of us. Altman is the first of us to do a surgery. She's braver than any of you. So she made a mistake which one of you hasn't made a mistake today? Show some respect."

Josh whispered, "thanks mate."

Duncan replied, "Grace seems cool she doesn't deserve that."

Josh replied, "we went to med school together. She's amazing."

Duncan asked, "is she single?"

"Nope," Josh said, "we've been together for a while."

Duncan replied, "lucky man. She's beautiful. How long?"

Josh said, "she's been my best friend for years but only a couple months as an actual couple. We're both living in the same house though. Her mother still had her house in Seattle so we're renting it from Teddy."

Annie scrubbed out of the surgery and saw Owen waiting outside the scrub room.

"Dr Altman a word," Owen said.

"Of course doctor," Annie replied.

"They set you up there. That was designed for you to fail. You lasted longer than most interns. Go get your phone and go to the west stairwell," Owen said.

Owen saw the face Annie was making and the way she brought one hand up to try to hide her face. The face and the gesture were so Teddy Owen fought to hide the smile.

"The west stairwell," Annie asked, "with my phone?"

Owen replied, "go call Teddy she's waiting to hear from you."

"I will," Annie said, "she's going to be disappointed in me."

Owen shook his head, "she won't be, go call her."

Annie grabbed her phone and lab coat before going to the west stairwell.

Teddy answered on the first ring.

"Mama I failed," Annie said.

Teddy replied, "tell me what happened sweetheart."

Annie cried walking Teddy through the surgery.

Teddy said, "no more tears. We don't cry over mistakes in surgery at the hospital. Wait until you get home. Learn from this figure out what you'll do differently next time. Losing a patient you can cry but yours will be just fine. You dropped a couple sutures. That was designed for you to fail."

Annie kept crying, "I could see people in the gallery laughing and uncle Owen looked angry."

Teddy sighed, "he's not angry at you. He feels the same way I do about the intern appy. There's better ways to teach. Whoes service are you one?"

"Owens," Annie replied.

Teddy replied, "your hitting the ground running then straight into trauma."

Annie, "I've done a lot of sewing so far. But why did I lose my purse strings?"

Teddy said, "your tension was probably too low if you lost them. Did you lose them or snap them?"

Annie said, "I lost them."

"Pull a tiny bit tighter next time," Teddy said, "it's the first surgery it will get better. You were the first in your class to operate. That's a big step. You looked good. Owen and Arizona both sent me pictures of you in there."

Annie asked, "did they tell you how much I suck?"

Teddy soothed, "they said you started and ended really strong but what you told me you lost your purse strings. Who was the attending?"

"Dr Grey," Annie replied.

Teddy sighed, "she's not going to make it easy on you. She was judged on her mom's talent for years and her name. Plus she was never my biggest fan. Have I ever told you about the appy I did with Christina where we both forgot the steps and the nurse had to tell us how to finish?"

Annie asked, "what happened?"

Teddy told Annie the story of the surgery where the nurse had to tell her and Christina how to finish. When Teddy has been forcing Christina to go back to basics in her fifth year.

Annie heard footsteps on the stairs, "mama some ones coming."

"Tell your mama I say hi," Josh called.

Annie said, "it's just Josh."

Teddy laughed, "other than the surgery how was your first day?"

Annie replied, "long it's like 2 am and we haven't stopped moving yet."

Teddy asked, "are you eating? Staying hydrated?"

Annie sighed, "that hasn't been an issue since I moved to Boston. Not enough but that's a time issue."

Teddy said, "I have a meeting so I need to go. I'm proud of you sweetheart. Put your shell away, find something to eat and a spot for a quick nap if you can. Bye love you."

Annie said, "I will. Love you."

Josh put the cup of tea on the step beside Annie, "earl grey with milk and sugar just how you like it."

Annie smiled, "thank you. That sucked in there."

Josh agreed, "it did but you did it. So you dropped your sutures. The rest of us haven't held a scalpe yet."

Annie replied, "I'm staring to get tired and we're not half way though yet."

Josh said, "there's some old gurneys in the basement. Jenna and Duncan went down there until were paged. Want to join them?"

Annie replied, "why not. I want to go to my locker first though. I have some almonds and I want my apple."

Josh said, "we'll go but one thing before we see people."

Josh gave her a kiss and whispered, "I love you."

Annie said, "I love you more."

They left the stairwell and stopped in the locker room to grab snacks and made their way to the hidden gurneys in the basement. Jenna was sitting in a wheelchair almost asleep, Duncan was stretched out on a gurney. Annie and Josh joined them participating in a friendly getting to know you conversation.

Duncan asked, "where are you guys from?"

"Cloverdale BC," Annie replied, "Josh is from Portland. You?"

"Kansas City," Duncan said.

"San Francisco," Jenna said.

"Has anyone thought of a specialty," asked Jenna.

"Cardio," Annie said.

"Trauma," Josh added.

"Cardio or Ortho," said Duncan.

"Neuro," Jenna replied.

"I look like we're going to be a team for this year," Annie said, "Dr. Wilson seemed nice enough."

Jenna laughed, "she wants to be worshiped."

"Can you believe they put us right into the emergency room on the first day," Duncan said.

"We have to do it sometime," Josh said, "I'd rather the pit than peds."

"Kids are cute," Jenna said.

"I don't mind kids," Annie said, "I'm not sold on teenagers. They always think I'm one of them."

Jenna noticed Annie and Josh holding hands and that they were helping themselves to each other's food.

"How long have you been together," Jenna asked.

"A couple months," Annie said, "be he was my best friend through med school. Why?"

"You act like a total couple," Jenna said.

"We know each really other well," Josh replied, "and we sort of live together so food is just food."

"Sort of live together," Duncan asked.

"We're renting my mama's house from her while she's in Germany with the army," Annie said.

"So you grew up with your dad's side of the family then," Duncan asked, "I knew your mother almost 10 years ago overseas."

"I've never met my biological father," Annie said, "I was actually adopted as a new born then met my birth mother who I call mama when I was 19. You know my birth mother. But I'm a lot closer to her than the family that adopted me. It's a long story."

Josh asked, "what about your family?"

Jenna replied, "my dad is a lawyer and my mom was a stay at home mom. Not sure what she does all day now. How do you sort of live together?"

Annie explained, "we're dating but living as roommates. We've only been dating a couple months."

Duncan laughed, "that's not going to last."

Annie and Josh shrugged.

"Do you think it will calm down now for a bit," Jenna asked.

"I hope so," Annie said, "I want a nap. 48 hours is a long time."

"You've never stayed up and alert for 48 hours before," Duncan asked.

Josh replied, "haven't needed to before."

Jenna looked shocked, "no all nighters in med school?"

Annie replied, "I try to avoid them where I can. This is new for me. But we can nap if we can find anywhere. I was told senior residents, fellows and attendings get the on call rooms."

Jenna said, "I could fall asleep here."

Annie nodded, "you almost were when we came down."

Before they could say anymore all four pagers went off and they dashed into the emergency room.