"Teddy don't freak out," Meghan said as she walked into the attendings lounge.
"What happened," Teddy asked, "is Allison okay? Owen? Annie?"
"Annie collapsed as she came out of the OR with Nate," Meghan said.
"Where is she," Teddy asked.
"Nate and Grey are taking her down to the pit," Meghan said.
"Is she hurt," Teddy asked.
"I don't know," Meghan replied, "I was sent to get you."
"Who was with her," Teddy asked.
"Nathan and Meredith," Meghan said.
"I'm going down there," Teddy said.
"Not until you're calm," Meghan said.
"What do you know," Teddy asked again.
"Nothing I was told to get you and a list of any medications," Meghan said.
Teddy ran towards the pit.
Owen caught her as she ran in, "slow down."
"Annie collapsed," Teddy panicked.
"You need to slow down," Owen said, "Kepner has her. I would do it but she's my daughter. I had to pass her off to Kepner."
"What's wrong," Teddy asked.
April came out of the room, "Teddy can you answer some questions for me?"
"I can," Teddy said.
"Annie is unconscious," April explained, "I need some medical history from you."
"Of course," Teddy said.
"Come in," April said.
Teddy reached her hand back to Owen.
"Dr. Altman," April prompted, "you're the only family she has."
"Go Teddy," Owen said, "I'll wait here."
April asked, "is she on any medications?"
"She has Hashimoto's disease and takes synthroid. I think 75 micrograms,"Teddy replied.
"Any oral contraceptives," April questioned.
"As far as she's told me she has an IUD," Teddy said, "I don't know what type?"
April looked serious, "Teddy is there any chance she could be pregnant?"
Teddy pauses, "I highly doubt it. She would have told me. Can I see her?"
"She's severely dehydrated," April said, "it was hard to get an IV in."
Teddy asked, "what else should I know?"
"We're waiting for labs to come back," April replied.
"What do you know," Teddy asked.
"Her physical exam appeared normal," April said, "I need your permission to order a CT."
"Do it all," Teddy replied, "shot gun her if you have to."
Teddy sat on the edge of the bed and brushed Annie's hair back from her face, "hey sweetheart it's going to be okay I'm here."
"Mama," Annie whispered, "what happened?"
"You fainted after your surgery coming out of the OR," Teddy, "we need to figure out why. Is there anything you want to tell me?"
Annie shook her head, "I'm really tired and dizzy."
"We're going to figure out why," Teddy said, "have you been taking your thyroid medication?"
"Always," Annie said, "not always on time. I've had a few late doses in the last week because I was in the OR at 6:30 am because I was on call overnight."
"I'm going to get Kepner to run a thyroid panel," Teddy said. She texted April and told her to add a thyroid panel to the labs.
"I know what you're thinking," Annie said, "I'm not pregnant. I had my period two weeks ago and we haven't been home at the same time since we got engaged."
"That was almost a month ago," Teddy said, "you two have been on opposite schedules that long?"
"I've been on Karev's service and with Leo for the whole time. No one will take Leo duty over night so I can go home. I've been here most nights even if I'm off," Annie confessed, "he does okay with Josh so if I go home Josh stays. We're short residents and interns half the interns are suspended."
"Have you been with Leo every night," Teddy asked.
"Josh takes one or two a week " Annie said, "so I can go home do laundry and sleep but I haven't been home in 6 days."
"I know why you collapsed," Teddy said, "you're exhausted. You haven't had a proper sleep in 6 or 7 days. Annie this isn't okay."
Annie nodded, "and there's no time to eat. Josh brings me food from home but I can't live on hospital food."
Teddy sighed, "Annie no sleep and not eating no wonder you collapsed and are dehydrated."
"Give me Iv fluids then can I go home," Annie asked.
Teddy replied, "soon little bear. I'd like to keep you here because I'm on overnight."
"Where's Josh," Annie asked.
"OR 7," Teddy replied, "Owen is going to tell him as soon as he's done."
"How long was I out," Annie asked.
"20 minutes," Teddy replied, "Nathan caught you as you went down. I didn't realize it was always you with Leo."
Teddy texted Owen.
Teddy, "I know what happened with Annie."
Owen, "What? Is she okay?"
Teddy, "she's awake and talking. Exhausted, dehydrated and hasn't been eating well. She's been staying here with Leo."
Owen, "What are they doing for her?"
Teddy, "Iv fluids and rest it's all we can do."
April came back, "Grace your tests are clear except for an electrolyte imbalance. We're going to correct that and then send you home for a few days. I'll have to clear you for surgery before you can return to working with paitents."
"I have patients " Annie said, "just give me the Iv and let me get back to work."
Teddy put her hand on Annie's shoulder, "your not going anywhere. You need to rehydrate and rest. How could you let it get this bad? You've known something wasn't right for a while."
Annie nodded, "I can't admit I need the days off. It's weak."
"But making yourself sick doesn't help anyone," Teddy said.
Annie whined, "I want Josh."
"I know sweetheart as soon as he's out of the OR he'll be here," Teddy soothed.
Annie asked, "can you page him?"
Teddy nodded, "I can but I don't know if he can come now. You want your fiancé not your mama."
Annie nodded, "I just want him to hug me."
Teddy smiled, "I know. When I'm sick or overwhelmed I just want Owen."
"Please page him," Annie whined.
Teddy nodded, "I will. You need to relax Annie. Lay back and close your eyes Josh will be here soon."
Teddy stepped out and called up to the OR demanding to speak to Josh.
"Hello," Josh said.
"Josh it's Teddy. Annie collapsed when she came out of surgery. She's exhausted and dehydrated she only wants you," Teddy explained.
"Is she okay," Josh asked, Teddy could hear the panic in his voice.
"She's extremely dehydrated and exhausted. She only wants you and to go home," Teddy replied, "I need to talk to you before you see her."
"We're just closing then I'll take her home," Josh said, "I'm over 100 for this week already."
"Tell your attending that you're leaving and come down," Teddy commanded.
Josh turned to Richard.
"Dr Webber," Josh said, "Grace Altman collapsed and is in the pit being treated."
"Go to your fiancé," Richard said, "scrub out and go to her."
"Thank you Dr Webber," Josh said. He scrubbed out as fast as he could and ran to the pit.
Owen stopped him in the hall, "Teddy needs to talk to you and she's angry."
"Why is she angry," Josh asked.
Owen snapped, "you knew Annie had only been home three nights in the last few weeks that she's been working around the clock for three weeks. Annie will need to be here overnight to rebalance electrolytes and get hydrated. She's a mess."
"She won't go home," Josh said, "Karev said that Leo needs a resident or intern at all times. She won't leave her patients."
"You can make her go home or rest," Owen said.
"Do you know how stubborn she is when she thinks she's doing the right thing," Josh said, "Karev won't accept that kid not being watched overnight every day."
"I'll talk to Alex," Owen said, "you go see Annie. But Teddy is pissed."
Josh knocked on the door before entering. Teddy met him in the hall closing the door behind her.
Teddy hissed, "you knew what she was doing and you didn't stop her."
Josh shook his head, "I tried. People aren't picking up slack. I take a extra nights so she can go home or I stay here with her."
"You need to force her Josh," Teddy growled, "her electrolytes are a mess, her blood pressure is incredibly low and she's so dehydrated Kepner considered a large bore Iv to hydrate Annie. All Annie wants is you."
Josh replied, "I tried. I really have. I've been bringing her food and clothes. Trying to get her to go home or at least nap. I've stayed most nights with her. She'll nap on my shoulder if I sit with her. I've been trying to get her to go home and rest if she didn't go home tonight I told her I was telling you."
Teddy asked, "do you think if you sat with her you could get her to rest?"
Josh nodded, "I can try. She really only sleeps soundly if I'm home."
Teddy nodded, "go do whatever you need to. She needs to rest and eat. What will she need?"
Josh asked, "can someone get some apple juice? It's the one thing she'll touch when she feels like crap. I'll find out if she wants to eat and text you."
Teddy replied, "I know plain unsweetened. Always apple juice when she's sick. Let me know if she wants to eat."
"I'm going to go see her," Josh said, slipping into the room.
Teddy strode down the hall. Owen caught up to her and grabbed her arm.
"What's going on," Owen asked.
"Extreme exhaustion caused by both of them working almost 24/7 for the last month. Doing their regular shifts and covering little Leo at night," Teddy explained, "he said he's staying with her."
"What are you going to do," Owen asked.
"Get her apple juice and some gatorade for Josh," Teddy said, "then go give Bailey, Richard and Karev a piece of my mind."
Owen asked, "should I check on them?"
Teddy shook her head, "he was going to sit with her and try to get her to sleep. I'm sure he'll nap with her if he's been up as long as she has. They've each been going home once a week to get clean clothes and food. I think they'll need some time off."
Owen asked, "what's the next step?"
"She'll have to be cleared for surgery," Teddy said, "Kepner wants to get her electrolytes balanced then will send Annie home. First we need both of them to eat real food."
Owen asked, "what do you want to do?"
Teddy replied, "I'm on tonight so I'll keep an eye on her. Josh will take her home but I'm going to make sure they're okay. Maybe call your mom to see if she'll make them a couple things to eat."
Owen replied, "I'll call her and tell her what's happened. You go get them their juice."
Teddy nodded, "one thing first."
Owen put his arms around her, "you need a hug."
Teddy nodded.
"It'll be okay," Owen said, "their fine. It's nothing major. She'll be fine with rest."
Teddy agreed, "she will be. I think they need a few days at home together. They haven't been home at the same time since they got engaged."
Owen said, "go get their juice. I'll do battle with Bailey."
"I'll go," Teddy said, "mother to mother."
"Go," Owen replied. He hugged Teddy again and kissed the top of her head.
In Annie's room Josh sat down on the edge of her bed, "Annie what happened?"
"I wasn't eating and drinking enough and I collapsed," Annie admitted.
"You've been trying to be superwoman," Josh agreed.
"Can you cuddle with me until I fall asleep," Annie asked.
"I can," Josh replied. He slipped off his shoes and laid down beside her. With one hand he took the elastics off the ends of her French braids and began to unbraid her hair. Josh knew that playing with her hair would help her relax.
"I told mama," Annie whispered, "about us staying with Leo because people won't do their part."
"That's good," Josh said, "she was pretty pissed at us."
"We're over hours again," Annie said.
"You've been home three nights since we got engaged," Josh pointed out.
"And you've been home four. I was going to go home tonight," Annie replied.
"I think you'll go home tomorrow," Josh said, "they want to keep you tonight and rebalance your electrolytes."
"Can you get someone to bring apple juice," Annie asked.
"Teddy is," Josh replied, "I knew you would want it so already asked."
Annie nodded, "I'm thirsty and tired."
Josh pulled her in closer, "juice, rest then when you wake up you need to eat. What do you want?"
Annie thought, "tomato soup and grilled cheese."
"When we get home," Josh promised, "What about now?"
"Food," Annie replied, "it's quesadilla day in the cafeteria."
"Chicken with all the veggies and avocado," Josh asked.
Annie nodded. Josh had been playing with her hair and she was almost asleep. This was what she needed to sleep and feel safe sleeping, knowing Josh was there. Not half asleep waiting for a monitor to beep or the interrupted sleep of an on call room.
Teddy opened the door softly and saw Josh stretched out beside Annie holding her close and playing with her hair. Teddy smiled and set the juice on the table. Josh motioned that Annie had fallen asleep. Teddy felt a sense of relief that Josh had gotten Annie to relax and made her feel safe enough to give in to her exhaustion.
Owen met Teddy back in the hallway.
"Annie's asleep," Teddy said, "I'm going to go see Miranda."
"Not Richard," Owen asked.
"This is beyond the residency coordinator. This is a chief of surgery issue. At least when I was running hospitals I'd have wanted it brought straight to me," Teddy said.
"Do they need anything," Owen asked.
"They have drinks, she's asleep and he was almost asleep," Teddy replied, "I'll take Allison for a visit later."
"I'll pop in in a bit," Owen said, "let them rest for a bit."
"I'm going to see Bailey," Teddy replied.
Teddy knocked on Bailey's office door. She knew that she had to have the discussion with Miranda herself.
"Dr Altman come in. I've been waiting for you to come up," Bailey greeted.
"Hi Miranda," Teddy greeted.
"How's Grace doing," Bailey asked.
"Dehydrated, exhausted and major electrolyte imbalance but with a few days rest she'll be fine," Teddy said, "that's why I'm here. The imbalance in the resident work loads."
Bailey nodded, "your daughter always seems to be at the center of this issue."
"She's been home three nights in the last three weeks," Teddy said , "her fiancé has done the same."
"Fiancé," Bailey asked, "mini Altman and Riggs jr are engaged. I heard rumors this week but haven't had a chance to confirm with your family before I congratulated them."
"They are. The weekend of the mass OD," Teddy replied.
"That's where they were," Bailey said, "home being love birds."
"Whitbey island out of cell range," Teddy said, "they were off and didn't take pagers. I told them to leave them at home. They needed a weekend to be a normal couple."
"You need to do that sometimes," Bailey said, "they must be happy about it."
"They are," Teddy said, "the family is excited. But they haven't been able to enjoy it or being together. They're here all but one night a week each. And they go home on different nights."
"Why are they doing that," Bailey asked.
"Staying with Leo," Teddy said.
"The abandoned baby with heart issues you and Karev are working on," Bailey asked, "why?"
"That's what I can't answer," Teddy said.
"What do you want me to do," Bailey asked.
"Pull their call schedules and hours worked," Teddy demanded.
Bailey looked, "Karev approved the over time. Which patient?"
"Little leo," Teddy said, "both."
"I'm pulling his chart," Bailey replied.
"It's G Altman," Bailey gasped, "or J Riggs. Everything overnight is mini Altman or Riggs jr. "
"I know," Teddy said, "I'm the cardio surgeon I knew Annie did a lot of his care but not as much as she was. I don't understand why she doesn't know what Owen and I looking into doing a foster to adopt with Leo."
"There's huge discrepancies in the second year hours," Bailey looked, "Altman, Riggs, Jones, Silverstone, Liard, Lee and Young are way over and the others are under 80. It's always that group but their interns are all at 80."
"This group of interns doesn't do over time unless they're in the OR," Teddy said, "I've seen them say no to attendings."
"We need to enforce the 80 hour week with that group of second years," Bailey said, "we'll lose teaching hospital status if another accident happens with them. Grace is the second. Young went down last night."
"My daughter is reviving treatment now," Teddy said, "she has an IV and Kepner is going to keep her overnight. Josh will stay with her."
"Once she's discharged she needs to go home for 72 hours before she can work," Bailey declared, "Riggs Jr will go with her."
"I think 4 days home would be better for that whole group," Teddy suggested.
"You're taking my best Jr residents out," Bailey said.
"You said it yourself you can afford another accident with them," Teddy said.
"Are you here as a concerned attending or mother," Bailey snapped.
"Attending, mother and someone who has run hospitals on a large scale," Teddy said, "this is an administration problem not a resident problem."
"Speak to Wilson she's chief resident," Bailey replied.
"Enforcing policy for paitent and staff safety is your job," Teddy snapped, "if your not up to it find someone who is. This job isn't about being liked or pleasing the board."
"The board will agree with me," Bailey retorted.
Teddy asked, "ask yourself as a mother what if this was Tuck?"
"I'd fight for him. But he's still just a kid Teddy," Bailey defended, "Grace is what 26 or 27 now, she's a resident."
"And she doesn't say no to authority figures. She was taught from a little girl that her job is to shut up and do as she's told. She didn't start learning to use and trust her voice until she started staying with me," Teddy explained.
"Military parents on all sides," Bailey asked.
"No. I'm actually the most liberal of her parents. Conservative Christians," Teddy said, "girls were to be passive and subservient. Leadership wasn't valued. I've had 5 years of her being just around me; they had 19. Just because she's a resident doesn't mean she's finished maturing."
"It doesn't," Bailey agreed, "is she okay? Who's with her?"
"She only wanted josh today which was hard for me," Teddy admitted.
Baileys phone went off and she grabbed it.
"Jones and Liard are both down," Bailey yelled.
"Cassidy and Duncan," Teddy echoed, "we need to get them all rested and treated to find out why this is happening. Four isn't just over worked."
Annie texted Teddy.
Annie, "Kepner came back with my results. I have mono."
Teddy, "how?"
Annie, "I don't know but Julia collapsed yesterday with the same symptoms. Josh is tired as well."
Teddy, "have him get tested. The two of you would make sense. If one of you has it the other would."
Teddy turned to Bailey, "mono. Check all the residents who went down. Kepner just gave Annie the diagnosis."
Bailey looked shocked, "how do second year residents have a mono outbreak?"
Teddy replied, "I know there's a lot of food sharing with that group. That's how they survive doing a week straight one of them goes home and brings food for all of them. Cassidy and Duncan have something going on, I think there's something with Julia and Jeremy. Check Grace's whole group of friends."
Bailey replied, "I'll order the tests but they all have to be clear to operate again."
Teddy nodded, "of course."
Once April left, Annie whined, "how did I get mono? That's for kids. Who have you been kissing?"
Josh grumbled, "your the one with mono. Who have you kissed?"
Annie replied, "only you."
"Julia, Duncan, and Cassidy are all down," Josh said, "you share food with Julia and Cassidy all the time."
Annie replied, "the ice cream. We shared a carton of ice cream with Jenna and she's been home with a bug for a few days."
"All of you eating from one carton," Josh asked.
"Always. We sat in the peds supply closet with ice cream and plastic spoons " Annie replied.
"Why," asked Josh.
"Closest thing we get to girls' night. We were talking about the weekend you and I went away. They wanted all the details," Annie admitted.
"Now we have to trace it back to who's been sleeping with who," josh replied.
"We're innocent victims of our friends lack of commitment," Annie said, "I would have gotten it from our ice cream night and passed it to you. Cassidy stayed over with Duncan. Julia and Jeremy won't say what they are but I've seen them making out."
"Jenna," Josh said.
"She's seeing someone," Annie replied.
Josh nodded, "are you feeling any better?"
"Less dizzy. I just want to go home and curl up in bed with you and Milo," Annie whined.
"I'll see if we can get you discharged," Josh replied, "take you home to rest."
Annie nodded, "page Kepner?"
April came back in.
"Dr Kepner since this is just mono I'm taking up a bed for no reason can you discharge me and I will go home put on my pajamas and go straight to bed," Annie asked.
"When your electrolytes are balanced I will," April replied, "you need at least two more banana bags."
"Can we do 2 Iv lines so I can go home faster," Annie begged.
"No Grace," April said, "it's 8pm now we will discharge you in the morning."
Annie asked, "can I at least have real food? Not paitent slop?"
Owen appeared behind April, "I can do that. It's quesadilla day. What do you two want?"
"Chicken, all the veggies and avocado," Annie replied.
"Steak, peppers, onions and avocado," Josh replied.
"I'll do that," Owen said, "or send an intern."
"Dr Hunt we have an outbreak of mono these two are quarantined," April replied.
"I had it in college," Owen replied, "I'll be fine to come in and out."
"Mama said she's had it," Annie replied.
"Instead of them taking up a bed," Owen directed, "send all affected residents home."
"Can you get me discharged uncle Owen," Annie begged.
"Let's recheck your electrolytes," Owen said, "I don't know how low they were when you were admitted."
"Too low," Annie admitted.
"The accept the treatment and I'll go get you food," Owen replied.
"Thank you," Annie and Josh said together.
Teddy walked into the room as Owen left, "how your both of you feeling?"
"Tired and dizzy," Annie admitted, "I just want to go home."
"Josh," Teddy asked.
"Tired," Josh admitted, "but I think I'm better off then Annie."
"You're not the only ones," Teddy explained, "we're testing all of the jr residents and inters your group has had contact with."
"Jenna is home sick," Annie said.
"We'll get everyone tested and you discharged," Teddy said, "I called Evelyn and she's going to drop off some chicken soup tomorrow."
"Thank you mama," Annie replied.
"Do you need anything," Teddy asked.
"More juice and a hug," Annie said.
Teddy gave Annie a hug, "I'm going to go check on and say good night to Allison before Owen takes her home. I'll be back in a while."
"Bye mama," Annie replied, "give Ali bean a hug for me."
"I will. Get some rest," Teddy said as she left the room and closed the door.