The next morning Teddy sat down at her computer and began typing.
"What are you writing Teds," Owen asked.
"A letter," Teddy replied.
"It's a bit aggressive," Owen pointed out, "who are you writing to?"
"Leslie and Dan," Teddy replied, "after what we heard last night I have a few things to say."
"Not tonight. You're still angry," Owen said.
"Of course I'm angry," Teddy shouted, "I gave them my baby to love and protect and she always felt second best."
"They did what they thought was best," Owen reassured, "have you talked to Annie about writing to them?"
"I will," Teddy said, "I just don't get it. The first few times I went up to see them and talked to Leslie they knew Annie, they clearly loved her that I didn't doubt. Then it changed after the incident, I don't understand how they could see Annie so sick and so hurt and not want to be there."
"We were with Annie," Owen said.
"But they weren't," Teddy said, "that's when her attitude changed and she stopped talking to Leslie."
"We warned them," Owen said," but she made choices as well."
"She did," Teddy agreed, "I told her when she changed her name that it would hurt them."
"She was afraid," Owen said, "she did it after the stabbing."
"That's when they stopped trying with her," Teddy said.
"There was a change in Annie that trip," Owen agreed, "between thanksgiving and new years I noticed a change in her."
"I thought she was getting more independent she was so much more confident at Thanksgiving that year," Teddy said, "she was maturing and dealing with challenges on her own. She didn't let Jessica bother her at Thanksgiving."
"She was more confident that week," Owen agreed, "she asked me to scrub in she didn't wait for me to invite. She was loving Boston and her new friends."
"She spent so much time texting with Josh that trip," Teddy laughed, "I was worried about it being Josh Riggs."
"When you said Riggs I worried," Owen agreed.
"You didn't see him grab her hand during your lecture," Teddy said, "but I think your right the stabbing was the turning point. You weren't there that night Owen it was horrible."
"You've never talked about it," Owen said.
"Hardest set of stitches I've ever done," Teddy said, "next time one of our kids needs them you can do it."
"Tell me about it," Owen said.
"The day had gone well. They call the day after Christmas Boxing Day and they had a big party with the McKellar family Dans side. They always did a huge baron of beef as a break from the turkey and played a lot of games and that's when the cousins exchanged presents. They each drew two names so only shopped for two of the others instead of all 25."
"25 cousins," Owen said, "no wonder she get she was part of the pack. That family was close she was always lumped in and didn't get a chance to shine on her own."
"The aunts and uncles saw her and knew her," Teddy said, "they probably miss Annie.""
"When i came for her graduation they really liked her," Owen said, "I wonder if she has any contact?"
"Not that she ever tells me. She really misses Leslie's parents but doesn't feel like she can call," Teddy said, "she was close to her grandma. She used to call and talk to them but hasn't seen them in years."
"Why doesn't she call," Owen asked.
"The day we ran into Jessica," Teddy shook her head, "Annie was told to stop calling and emailing that the family didn't want her anymore."
"She believed it," Owen asked.
"You weren't there," Teddy ranted, "you didn't see it. Jessica was screaming at Annie in public and Annie was turtling. I'm still shocked Meghan didn't hit Jessica that day."
"Meghan told me about that day," Owen said, "she had never seen anything like it."
"Jessica is mentally ill," Teddy said, "I think she's very persuasive and manipulative and has said or done things to make it difficult for Annie to return or reach out. She was always so jealous."
"What do you think she did," Owen asked.
"She used to lie about Annie and gossip," Teddy said, "and little things like shoving her out of the circle for conversations making rude comments that built up over time. I wouldn't put it past her to block Annie's emails. It still doesn't make sense that Leslie and Dan never email Annie back. Annie emails every month always and never hears back."
"She still does," Owen asked, sounding shocked.
"Every month," Teddy nodded, "she doesn't say much anymore because they don't reply but she won't give up even if they don't fight for her. I know she hasn't called in almost a year."
"What if she tried their work emails," Owen suggested.
"I don't know if she has them," Teddy replied, "but it could be a suggestion. I wanted to know her and be part of her life as much as she would let me but I never wanted her to lose them."
"I know," Owen said wrapping his arms around Teddy.
"I want to email them just once and ask them to reply to Annie," Teddy said, "hearing that last night I didn't know how much it upset her."
"Josh thought it could be a rough night," Owen said.
"He knows her and her nightmares," Teddy said, "they both have them when they're triggered. They know how to calm each other."
"Is that why they try to stick close together on night shifts," Owen asked.
"They always go to the same on call room," Teddy said, "but I don't know if it's not just to be near each other. She says she sleeps better when he's home. He makes her feel safe."
"The moment she got upset he held her close," Owen pointed out.
"Once she passes a certain point she needs to be held to calm her down," Teddy said, "we've seen it. She's really working though that."
"I know she is," Owen said.
"Why has our family had so much trauma," Teddy asked.
"You, Meg, Nathan and I served in Iraq ," Owen said, "what we saw over there I still can't talk about with anyone other than you. Josh had Ian and Gloria. I really think Jessica is the root of Annie's trauma."
"It started with her sister," Teddy said, "but they helped by not reaching out to Annie. They let her run and didn't try to hold onto her."
"You both run and hide," Owen said, "it's hard to hold on to you when you run. I almost lost you when you went to Germany. I had to work to hold onto you and make you feel safe and trust me again."
"You never let go of me," Teddy agreed.
"We won't let go of Annie," Owen promised.
"We won't let go of any of ours," Teddy states, "their ours and we have to hold on tight."
"We will," Owen agreed, "I'm not letting any of you go."
Teddy curled against Owen on the couch, "thank you for always holding on to me."
"I love you Teddy," Owen whispered into her hair, "always."
Teddy gave him a quick kiss, "I love you more."
"In a few weeks we'll have there kids," Owen smiled.
"Three of our own," Teddy said.
"Two girls and a boy," Owen added, "what I always pictured. Two girls with your eyes."
"Two with your hair," Teddy agreed, "and a little boy to play soccer with."
"This is what I always wanted," Owen said, "the two of us a home and three kids."
"This feels right," Teddy agreed, "maybe not how we pictured originally but I wouldn't want it any other way."
"The guys would really say you went soft now," Owen teased.
"We went soft," Teddy argued.
"Not soft," Owen said, "I am still the trauma god and your still the cardio goddess."
"Maggie wants to step back and focus on her research," Teddy said, "she wants me to be head of cardio again."
"What do you think," Owen said, "you've done it before."
"I miss being the leader," Teddy said, "there's some changes I would like to make in cardio around teaching and patient care."
"You were amazing when you did it before," Owen said, "you're a leader, why don't you take it."
"We have an 18 month old and soon will have another one under three," Teddy said, "what about the kids."
"You choose your hours," Owen said, "you can be home with the kids at night or on weekends. Teddy you can be mama and still do what you love."
"I want to take it," Teddy said, "but it means I have to teach Annie."
"You can lead, teach Annie and be loving fun mama to the little two," Owen said, "Teddy you can have it all."
"I want it all," Teddy said, "but I can't do it on my own. Owen I did too much on my own."
"I'm here Teddy always," Owen promised, "if this is what you want you need to do it. We can make this work together with our family."
"I've been thinking about it for a couple days," Teddy said, "if you're okay with it I'm going to accept."
"I want you to if it makes you happy," Owen said.
"I've missed leading," Teddy admitted, "I like being in charge."
"Then take it," Owen encouraged, "go in today and tell Bailey you're going to accept."
"If you're sure," Teddy said.
"I am," Owen promised, "this is part of that big life I pictured for us and our kids. You being happy is part of that."
"I'll tell her," Teddy agreed, "thank you."