"Altman with me now," Owen called across the ER.
"Yes sir," Annie replied, running across the room.
"You're coming with me on a field experience," Owen said.
"Just me, not a senior resident," Annie asked, "I've been an intern a month?"
"You can do this," Owen said, "10 minutes fresh scrubs and a hospital jacket."
"What am I doing," Annie asked.
"You're going to be riding in the ambulance with a VIP patient," Owen said, "the rig will be behind us on the way out. You're going to ride out with me. I will explain everything in the truck."
"You're not in the ambulance, why?" Annie asked.
"Because I need to pick up some one for the VIP on my way back," Owen said, "you're the only person I can ask to do this."
"What has Bailey said," Annie asked.
"She knows who the patient is and understands my request for you to be the intern on the case," Owen said, "you may not tell your mother until I tell you to or she calls you about it. Now go get ready. Your also the only intern I know well enough to do this or to drive out with me."
"Does mama know this person," Annie asked.
"She did," Owen replied.
Annie dashed back to the locker room and grabbed clean scrubs and picked up a clean hospital jacket off the rack. She made a face the smallest they had was a medium, it would be big. Annie needed an extra small one. She wanted to know why scrubs and hospital jackets only came in men's sizes.
Annie bounded back into the ER, "Dr Hunt what's our adventure?"
"In the truck Dr. Altman," Owen said.
"Yes sir," Annie replied, "why aren't I going in the ambulance?"
"I need to brief you personally on this, we will meet the patient, then you will go with her from the base to the hospital, I will drive back and pick up my mom who will then meet you and our patient at the hospital," Owen said.
"Can I have a name," Annie asked, "I need to use her name with her."
"Dr. Meghan Hunt," Owen replied, "I know you're an intern but she loved Teddy and knew about you. Today we need family to do this."
"Your sister," Annie asked, "but I thought."
"So did we," Owen said, "it's a miracle."
"You want me to be her personal intern," Annie asked, "why me?"
"I want my family to do this," Owen said.
"What about Riggs," Annie asked.
"Not a good choice," Owen said, "too emotional and unpredictable. I want you to do this. Meghan is my sister and you're my niece you should do this."
"What am I doing medically," Annie asked.
"Monitoring vitals, administering fluids, keeping her stable," Owen replied, "be nice it's not a hardship mission for you."
"I'm always nice," Annie replied.
"You are usually," Owen said, "just some attitude with Teddy."
"That's because she's my mother," Annie replied, "if I can't have an attitude with her, who can I have it with?"
"Only because she's your mother," Owen said, " Annie if I ever see that in my OR I will kick your ass."
"I know you will," Annie replied, "I wouldn't dare try having an attitude with you."
"Music," asked Owen.
"Do you have better taste in music than mama," Annie asked.
"I can promise no Duran Duran," Owen said, "your mother listens to that way too loud."
"I turn it off on her," Annie replied, "but she hates my Taylor Swift."
"Pick your play list," Owen said.
Annie selected a playlist on her phone and plugged it in.
"Why can't I tell mama," Annie asked.
"Because I need to be the one to make this call," Owen said, "she has to hear it from me."
"Okay," Annie replied, "do it fast we have a skype breakfast / dinner tomorrow morning."
"You still do your meal dates," Owen asked.
"Once a week," Annie replied.
Owen drove to the base and gave his military credentials and introduced Annie as his surgical intern and Teddy's daughter.
Annie stood back near the ambulance while the helicopter touched down.
Owen greeted Meghan as she came off the helicopter with a big hug.
"Are you riding back to Seattle with me," Meghan asked.
"I'm not," Owen said, "I'm going to go get mom. I do have a personal intern for you. I think you'll like her."
"You brought me an intern," Meghan asked, "not a resident. They've been a doctor for what 5 minutes."
"Four weeks. The best intern I've ever seen," Owen replied, "you'll like her. She's good. So far aiming for trauma or cardiothoracic."
"You know this intern well," Meghan said, "teachers pet?"
"Basically family," Owen said.
"What," Meghan asked.
"She's as close to family as it gets," Owen said.
"Are you with her mother," Meghan asked.
"You would like that," Owen said.
"What's going on Owen," Meghan asked.
"Altman let's go," Owen called.
Annie started to move towards them.
"Altman," Meghan asked, "like Teddy? You brought me a relative of Teddy's?"
"Just wait," Owen said.
Annie came to stand with them.
"Dr. Meghan Hunt," Owen introduced, " this is Dr. Grace Altman."
"It's nice to meet you," Annie said.
"You look just like someone we used to know," Meghan said, "and you have the same last name."
"Meghan this is Teddy's daughter," Owen said.
"OMG Teddy's daughter," Meghan said, "but she didn't keep her baby. She called the girl Annie or Little Bear."
"That is a long story for another day," Owen said, "but yes. Teddy, mom and I still call her Annie."
"I've heard a lot of great things about you Dr. Hunt," Annie said, "It's great to finally meet you."
"You look a lot like her," Meghan said, "I get to hug Teddy's daughter now that I've finally seen her.
"I hear that a lot," Annie replied. She gave Meghan an awkward hug.
"Wait Until you see them side by side. Annie is just shorter. But We need to get going," Owen said, "Annie, are you prepared."
"I'm ready Uncle Owen," Annie replied.
"Uncle," Meghan asked.
"Teddy's idea a few years ago," Owen said, " Annie's been around for 6 years now."
"So Teddy is going to meet us at the hospital," Meghan asked.
"Mama is in Germany," Annie replied, "she's with MEDCOM."
"Mama," Meghan questioned.
"Annie's name for Teddy," Owen said.
"Does she know," Meghan asked.
"I haven't called yet and some one isn't going to tell her mama," Owen said.
"If she calls while we're in the ambulance you're asking me to lie to her," Annie said.
"You're with a patient," Owen said, "she won't ask. And you can ignore your phone. I'm sure she's ignored your call or text when she's working before."
Meghan laughed, "you answer your phone and let me talk to Teddy."
"If she's in the OR who ever has her phone answers and tells me she's in surgery," Annie replied.
Owen gave Annie his serious glare, "Altman get Meghan back to Seattle and up to the surgical floor. Page Bailey and Webber when you get there."
"Yes sir," Annie replied.
Annie followed the paramedics to the ambulance and coordinated the transfer.
"So what is your name exactly," Meghan asked.
"Dr. Grace Annabeth Altman," Annie replied.
"Teddy used to call you Annie," Meghan said, "we'd sit up at night in our tent and she would talk about you. She really loved and missed you."
"The parents who adopted me called me Annie," Annie replied, "but I haven't seen them since my first year of med school. It's fine, it's just me and mama on different continents. I was Annabeth Grace McKellar."
"So what do they call you," Meghan asked, "my brother and your mom."
"Uncle Owen, Mama, Evelyn and my boyfriend still call me Annie," Annie replied, "to everyone else I'm Grace or at the hospital Altman or mini Altman. Mama worked there for a few years my last two years of pre med and my first year of med school."
"Where did you go to school," Meghan asked.
"UBC for pre med and Harvard for Med School," Annie replied.
"Then why Seattle," Meghan asked.
"It's home," Annie replied, "Josh and I live at mama's house and take care of the house for her. Plus I'm deciding between cardio and trauma and there's excellent programs for both here. How well did you know mama?"
"Very well," Meghan said, "I thought of her as my big sister. She was there for me for years. I could tell her anything and she didn't judge."
"She doesn't judge but she will tell me what she thinks," Annie said.
"She had this line," Meghan said, "I may not agree with you."
"But I'm always on your side," Annie finished.
"She used to say that about my fiance and Owen's Beth," Meghan said.
"I've never met Beth," Annie replied, "she was gone by the time I met Teddy."
"Good," Meghan said, "I never liked her."
"Are you alright," Annie asked, "do you need anything? Pain meds?"
"Trying to shut me up mini Teddy," asked Meghan.
"Doing my job," Annie replied, "I don't want to mess up and get the 'I'm disappointed in you face' again."
"I know that face," Meghan said.
"Mess up your first appy and you get it and he calls mama," Annie replied, "it was my very first day I shouldn't have held a scalpel. It's some sort of cruel initiation for interns."
"He told Teddy," Meghan asked.
"He did," Annie replied, "I just wanted to call her and cry but she had been given a play by play while I was in the OR."
"Did you at least get to cry to her," Meghan asked.
"It was a one time Only deal after that no tears over making a mistake in the OR," Annie said, "learn from it. We talked through my mistake and she told me about one where she was the attending and hadn't done one in like 15 years and forgot what she was doing."
When they reached the hospital Annie paged Bailey and Webber who took over Meghan's care.
Annie texted Owen that they had arrived and was told to go to the pit and do whatever Kepner told her.
In Germany Teddy's phone rang, "she's home Teddy they found her."
"Who did they find," Teddy asked.
"Meghan," Owen said, "she's home. She's here."
"Are you with her," Teddy asked.
"I'm just picking up mom," Owen said, "I sent my favourite intern in the ambulance with Meghan."
"You sent my daughter with Meghan," Teddy asked.
"She can handle it," Owen said, "Annie is good. And she'll take care of Meghan for us."
"My Annie," Teddy asked.
"Yes," Owen said, "Meghan seemed to love her instantly."
"She is my girl after all," Teddy said, "what's not to love about her."
"True," Owen said, "she's being shy again though. I may need to kick her but."
"No you bring her into the OR and let her try," Teddy said, "build her confidence. That first Appy with Grey was rough for her; she shouldn't have been your example intern. You, Bailey, Kepner, Avery, Nathan, Pierce, Webber. Build Annie up. But how's Megan?"
"Thin, weak, injured," Owen said, "but smiling and joking. She hugged Annie."
"Annie tolerated it because you were watching," Teddy asked.
"Probably," Owen replied.
Teddy was tapping at her computer keyboard, booking a flight to Seattle and telling her commanding officers that she needed to go home ASAP for a family emergency. She knew that they would assume something had happened with Annie. She realized that she could now stay at the cottage, she would work things out with Annie and Josh for sleeping arrangements. As far Teddy knew the two still had their own rooms.
The next day Teddy approached the hospital and spotted Owen in line at the coffee cart outfront.
"Coffee after five you'll never sleep tonight," Teddy said.
"Teddy, you're here," Owen said. He threw his arms around Teddy lifting her off the ground and spinning her around.
"Meghan came home, I had to come see everyone. Check that you're okay that Evelyn is " Teddy said, "make sure she hasn't tortured Annie."
"She likes her personal intern," Owen said, "but we have a turtle in that room."
"She's in her shell again," Teddy asked.
"Just with Meghan," Owen said.
"Let's go see them," Teddy said.
When Teddy and Owen reached Meghan's room Annie was helping Meredith with some tests and had her back to the door. Meghan saw Teddy over Annie's shoulder. Teddy motioned not to say anything. Pointing at Annie then putting her finger to her lips.
"Dr. Altman," Owen said when the procedure was finished.
"Dr. Hunt," Annie said standing up.
"I need you to come with me. I have some charts from yesterday you need to finish," Owen said.
Meghan smirked at the distraction tactic.
"Yes sir," Annie replied. She turned around and saw Teddy.
"Mama," Annie shouted, rushing forward almost jumping on Teddy.
Teddy wrapped her in a big hug, "it's good to see you sweetheart."
"You're here, you're in Seattle," Annie said, "you said you couldn't come until my birthday."
"I am," Teddy said, "I have two very important people to see. Plans change."
"Teddy," Meghan said, "you came."
"Of course I came," Teddy said.
"Where are you staying," asked Evelyn.
"I already dropped my stuff at my house," Teddy said, "it's in your room sweetheart, we can share while I'm here."
"Okay," Annie replied.
"We need to talk about Josh's stuff everywhere," Teddy said.
"Not here," Annie said.
"Whos Josh," Meghan asked.
"Annie is dating Josh Riggs," Teddy said, "they met in medical school."
"Little Joshie," Meghan asked, "Nathan's nephew."
"Yes," Teddy replied, "he's also an intern here."
Annie's pager beeped.
"I have to go," Annie said, "it's the pit. Probably more stitches."
"Go be awesome," Teddy said.
"I will," Annie replied.
When Annie left Meghan said, "Teddy come sit with me."
"Are you sure," Teddy asked, walking forward.
"Sit," Meghan commanded.
Teddy slipped off her shoes and sat cross legged at the foot of the bed, "how did you, when did you?"
Meghan told Teddy the shortened story of her last 10 years.
"Meghan, i'm so sorry," Teddy said.
"Don't be," Meghan said, "without them I would never have found my son."
"Your son," Teddy asked.
"He's a 10 year old syrian refugee," Meghan said, "I took him in after his parents were killed when he was 4. He's my everythign, my reason to live. I have to get him back."
Teddy took her hand, "where is he?"
"Baghdad with US military ," Meghan replied.
"I'll help get him home," Teddy replied, "I know how hard it is to be separated from your child."
"I'm impressed with yours," Meghan said, "she's mini you though. Looks, cardio, she's a bit shy though she needs some confidence. And the whole multiple name thing is confusing me."
"What does she have you calling her," Teddy asked.
"I've heard people call her Grace, my mom and Owen use Annie like you do," Meghan replied, "I haven't figured out what to use so I've been doing what most people do and calling her Dr. Altman."
"Try Annie," Teddy suggested, "she'll make a really disgusted face for a millisecond if she doesn't like it. Then she'll glare at you for a few minutes. She will never say anything verbally to you. She's heard stories and knows how much Owen and I love you."
"Are you sure," Meghan asked, "she seems really shy."
"She is at first," Teddy said, "let her warm up. Now that I'm here she'll be more open."
"That was some greeting," Meghan said.
"I haven't seen her since her graduation," Teddy said, "we facetime but it's not the same. Don't try to hug her. Unless you're me she hates hugs."
"Not a hugger," Meghan asked.
"Doesn't like being touched," Teddy said.
"Your kid hates being touched," Meghan asked, "you're the queen of huggers."
"Annie has her own story and reasons why she hates being touched," Teddy said, "it's a trust thing. We work on a let her come to you first policy for hugs. "
"What does your husband say about her," Meghan asked.
Evelyn reached for Teddy's hand.
"Henry passed three almost four years ago," Evelyn said.
"Teddy I didn't know. I'm so sorry," Meghan replied.
"It was hard to lose him. I was in a really dark place for a while. Henry loved me for who I was. He adored Annie and she loved him," Teddy said, "don't worry about Nathan and your son. When they love you they usually love your child. I was skeptical but it worked."
"How old was Annie," Meghan asked.
"She was 19 when I finally met her. I met her in October and Henry in May," Teddy said, "it was a difficult summer."
"The summer Annie was in the hospital," Owen said as he came back in.
"Not now," Teddy said, "that's for Annie to tell if she wants."
"What happened," Meghan asked
"Major trauma," Teddy replied, "surgical unfortunately. But it's what got her interested in being a trauma surgeon. She's debating cardio or trauma."
"You want her to do cardio," Owen said.
"I'd love it and to have her scrub in with me again," Teddy said , "but it's not possible with me being so far away."
"I'm sure if you ask Bailey and Webber will give you privileges," Owen said, "and your pick of interns."
"Then Annie will have to come off your service," Teddy said, "I'm not here long enough to wait for an intern to get to know me. There should be a fourth or fifth year resident around that knew me as well."
"Of course," Owen said, "Arizona heard you're here and is looking for you."
"I'll say hi then I'm going to head home," Teddy said, "Meghan looks like she wants some time with Nathan."
Owen walked out of the room with her, "Teddy can we talk?"
"We are talking Owen," Teddy said.
"About that weekend," Owen asked, "about us."
"We can," Teddy said, "tomorrow. Right now I need a shower, food and to figure out what is going on in my house."
"Please Teddy," Owen said, "I want to talk to you about this."
"Tomorrow Owen,," Teddy promised, "I need to talk to you about this two."
"I'll pick you up in the morning and we'll go to that park," Owen said.
"I want to see what's changed on the beach path," Teddy said, "let's walk there."
"Does 8 work," Owen asked.
"How about 9," Teddy suggested.
"It's a date," Owen said.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Teddy said.