Teddy was beaming as she walked out of Baileys office. She was chief of cardio again. Her first patient of the day was a precious little boy, she knew the resident on the case and had an idea.
Teddy texted her resident, "can you get Leo ready to see me? I'm going to bring Allison up with me. I want to try something."
Annie, "already pre rounded on Leo. He's happy today. Trying to put the three of us in a room?"
Teddy, "I'm your attending and head of cardio just do it sweetheart."
Annie, "head of cardio?"
Teddy, "I accepted this morning. It's going out to all staff today and effective Monday. Just get Leo ready please."
Annie, "congratulations! I have two to finish up with then will get Leo ready. Both are quick. One appy to follow up and a follow up on a bowel obstruction."
Teddy, "see you at 15."
Annie, "I need 20 and to talk to you."
Teddy sighed Allison out of daycare and carried her down the hall. She wondered what Annie wanted to talk to her about.
"Good morning mama and Ali bean," Annie called down the hall.
Teddy set Allison on the floor. Allison ran forward, "nee mama nee."
Annie bent down and scooped Allison up, "hi bean."
Allison gave Annie a sloppy kiss. Annie giggled and kissed the top of her sister's head. Teddy smiled at the cuteness of her girls while it wasn't a normal sister bond Annie and Allison had a connection people in the hallway were staring at them, this wasn't a normal scene in the peds ward. A seemingly healthy toddler running at a doctor. Teddy caught up laughing at her girls.
"You wanted to talk to me Annie," Teddy said.
"I do," Annie replied, "about specialties."
"You've been thinking about it," Teddy asked.
"I have and I need to tell Bailey and Webber what I'm thinking soon," Annie replied, "I'd like your thoughts before I go to them. I have two areas I'm equally happy doing and can't decide."
"Which two," Teddy asked.
Annie replied, "I love peds. Being with the kids, advocating for them and their families. Finding ways to bring a little bit of light and joy into a tough time. I can connect with kids and make them feel safe."
Teddy nodded, "I've noticed that. Kids love you Annie and you make parents feel at ease with you once they get over the fact that you look closer to 18 then 26. You would be good at peds. You brought your anatomy Jane doll to work a few weeks ago to teach a child with. Arizona said she's never seen anything like it. You had that boy understanding what would happen in a way that's never been done before."
"It just made sense," Annie replied, "anatomy Jane was my favorite study tool for gross anatomy. Being able to take the pieces out and show him what each organ was and how it fit like a puzzle he wasn't scared anymore. I was able to take the fear and turn it into curiosity."
"Why do I sense a but coming," Teddy said.
"I still love cardiothroatic and am fascinated by the heart," Annie said, "but they are both such big specialties I have to pick just one."
"I don't think you do," Teddy said, "double certify."
"Two," Annie said, "can I do that as a resident?"
"You would take your boards in both which is a bit of a tougher exam but you're up to the challenge and then do two fellowships," Teddy explained, "I'm double certified in cardio and trauma."
"Did you start with both," Annie asked.
"I did what you did a general surgery residency and then specialized as I got more experience," Teddy explained , "I did my cardio fellowship with mayo and trauma wasn't until I enlisted."
Annie asked, "do I pick one now and add the other later?"
Teddy shook her head, "you take it all now get the experience and build your skills."
"Who in cardio do I ask to mentor me," Annie said, "Nathan is only interested in the kids in our family and Maggie doesn't seem like a combined specialties person. I want you to teach me but is that a good idea?"
"I want to teach you," Teddy said, "why don't you talk to Nathan and see if he will mentor you as well so him and I both do it."
"Do I ask Arizona or Karev for peds," Annie asked.
"Both would be good," Teddy said, "are you sure peds cardio is what you want?"
Annie nodded, "I've thought a lot about it. Mono gave me time to think about it all. I figured out what I was missing most. I missed the kids and making them smile and holding beating hearts in my hand."
Teddy smiled, "then you found where you want to be. Ask the attendings you're interested in working with for a meeting one on one and share what you want to do. Which fellowship would you do first?"
"I think cardio first," Annie said, "there's more cardio positions available and I can always take peds cases while I wait for a peds fellowship."
"So it's four years of fellowships," Teddy said.
"I thought peds was a year," Annie replied.
"Ours here is two," Teddy said, "cardio is two as well. But you're right you can take peds cases as a cardio fellow or attending."
"Who does the peds stuff now," Annie asked.
"Maggie and I share," Teddy replied.
"Maybe I'll talk to her," Annie said, "if she's doing more kids."
"Nathan is the stronger leader," Teddy said, "you're still working on leadership skills. I want you with good leaders if possible. Your weakness is still your leadership skills sweetheart."
"I'm working on it," Annie said, "it's easier with interns or sub Is then my friends."
"There's a rank difference," Teddy agreed, "take charge more. Run a trauma, run the code, have the knowledge and skills, use your voice and do it sweetheart."
"I'll try," Annie said, "I'm on trauma next week with Meghan. I'll ask her if I can try running a couple and see what she says."
"Meghan will let you try," Teddy agreed.
"It's just hard to ask," Annie said.
"Start doing it," Teddy said, "run for the traumas be there first take the gurney as it comes in."
"I'll try," Annie said.
"You're sure you want peds and cardio," Teddy asked, "both are high stress and emotional."
"Like cardio and trauma is any better," Annie retorted.
"I did trauma later," Teddy said, "you don't have to do both now. I was an attending for a couple years before I added trauma. You don't have to do it all now."
"I want it " Annie said, "it's me."
"Then go get our patient and bring him to the playroom," Teddy directed, "Allison and I will meet you there."
"See you in a few minutes," Annie replied.
Annie walked down the hall to get Leo. She thought she knew what Teddy was doing, bringing Allison over to the playroom to see how they reacted to each other.
"Hi leo," Annie called as she walked into the room.
"Hi," Leo greeted.
"Do you want to go play with Dr. Altman," Annie asked.
"Yes," the two year old replied.
"Do you want to walk or am I carrying you," Annie asked as she lowered the side of the crib.
"Walk," Leo said.
"Okay hold my hand buddy," Annie replied.
Annie led Leo down the hall to the play room.
"Hi Leo," Teddy called.
"Hi," Leo echoed.
"Leo what's my name," Annie asked.
"Ace," Leo lisped.
"Who am I," Teddy sked.
"Weddy," Leo lisped.
"Mama," shouted Allison.
"Go play," Annie said letting go of the little boy's hand.
"Allison can you play with Leo," Teddy asked.
When the two toddlers were playing Annie asked, "why are we doing this?"
"Seeing how Leo's cardiac output is," Teddy said, "he's so little I cant do traditional tests so running around with another child we can see how he does. And I want to know if he can get along with Ali."
"They look cute," Annie smiled.
"They do," Teddy agreed, "my three I hope."
"Your going to move forward with that," Annie asked.
"We are," Teddy confirmed.
"You were just waiting to talk to me," Annie asked.
"We were. We've been talking about it since he came in but wanted to see if it was even an option before we talked to you," Teddy confirmed, "you gave us a lot to think about last night."
"Sorry I kind of exploded last night," Annie said, "I'm not angry with you or uncle Owen."
"We know," Teddy said, "but it was good for us to think about. We talked about it and there's something I would like to do to maybe help you feel better about what happened with Leslie and Dan."
Annie asked, "what are you planning?"
"I would like to email Leslie and write to her like she used to write to me," Teddy said, "tell her how well your doing."
"Work only," Annie said, "not my personal life."
"So not about Josh," Teddy said, "why not."
"If they care they'll talk to me," Annie said, "what would you tell them about me?"
"That you've chosen a specialty and are doing well here. I'd like to tell them how happy you are with josh and that you've found someone and get married next summer. I'd want to know that you found someone and were happy and loved,"
"Can I read what you send first," Annie asked, "I always knew she was writing to you but never got a say in what was said to you. It bothered me as I got older that I had no say in what you were told. I need to be part of this."
"You can read the part about you," Teddy agreed, "there's a couple other things I want to say to her about them not replying to you that I'm not sure I want you to read. It's my feelings about it and our observations."
"Was Owen upset with what I said last night," Annie asked.
"He was concerned about you. Neither of us will let you run away from us," Teddy promised, "it's the most open you've ever been about how you felt about it all."
"It wasn't all bad," Annie said, "things changed when I turned 19 and I started seeing that I didn't need to tolerate how Jessica treated me. Before Jessica got sick things were good."
"How old were you when Jessica got sick," Teddy asked.
"I was 15 it was just after I had been to worlds for the first time," Annie said, " sending me to Scotland was expensive so I went with the studio instead of mom or dad going with me. I loved that trip. Mrs Granger took 8 of us."
Teddy smiled, "I remember getting leslies emails when you would go with the studio. There was one summer they sent pictures of all of you."
"I was 18 my last worlds," Annie said, "I won that year. Chris competed and Jessica did the restricted class. It was our last family vacation."
Teddy asked, "you don't have to answer but the first time Jessica really hurt you how old were you?"
Annie pauses, "16 I needed 6 stitches after she pushed me down the ramp to the dock. Auntie Wendy is a trauma nurse and she did them because the nearest doctor was 4 hours away. That's the scar on my left knee."
"Annie can I email Leslie," Teddy asked, "tell her how wonderful you're doing and how happy you are? I'd want to know. I would have wondered if you never emailed me when you were 19."
Annie replied, "bare minimal but she won't reply. She never does. I want to try her school email but that's a long shot."
Teddy nodded, "maybe if I wrote and got Owen to send it from his email. They won't recognize his name."
"You can try but I've given up on them every replying," Annie said, "I only sent two sentences last month. I'm alive. I hope your doing well."
They were interrupted by toddler giggles.
Teddy smiled, the little ones seemed to be getting along.
"When's your next surgery," Teddy asked.
Annie checked her watch, "I have two hours but I'm with Nathan this week technically so if he gets pulled or there's a trauma I go. But I'm assisting with a pacemaker today. I get to do the leads and program it."
Teddy nodded, "good start for cardio. Maybe talk to Nathan about mentoring you today. Explain your goal."
Annie nodded, "I will."
Annie slipped onto the floor and began to stack blocks for the little ones to knock down. Was this the best use of her time, probably not but it was making one tiny patient very happy and her baby sister was laughing which was always good.
Teddy snapped a picture of the three and texted it to Owen.
Teddy," hanging out with our three in the Peds play room."
Owen, "they look happy."
Teddy, "Annie is on board with us bringing Leo home. We've had a good talk this morning. She's picked two specialties."
Owen, "peds and what?"
Teddy, "cardio. We saw peds coming but she was waffling on cardio."
Owen, "what do you think?"
Teddy, "she's excited about it and has a plan. I'm happy. I didn't care what she chose. I just wanted her to choose on her own what makes her happy. I've told her she's not allowed to drop basic trauma."
Owen, "she has to do her trauma skills with me until the end of her fourth year."
Teddy, "they all do."
Owen, "If her leadership skills were stronger she'd be a good trauma surgeon."
Teddy, "we talked about that. She's going to work with Nathan instead of Maggie for that reason."
Owen, "what about you?"
Teddy, "when there's time. I want her to do more without me for now. She easily falls into letting me talk for her. Nathan doesn't let her get away with that. I'll do a lot but she needs more than just me."
Owen, "how is she with Leo?"
Teddy, "she loves that kid. Her and the littles are cute. Come up before she has to go work with Nathan."
Owen, "coming."
Teddy smiled and she was confident they would be bringing Leo home. His complex medical needs made him hard to place but her and Owen knew how to care for him. Their backups were all doctors.
Owen walked into the peds play room.
"Daddy," Allison shouted, running to Owen.
"Hi munchkin," Owen replied, scooping her up.
Owen sat beside Annie and Teddy on the floor.
"Don't you have work to do Annie," Owen asked.
"I'm with Nathan then mama stole me," Annie explained, "my pace maker isn't until noon. I should go soon and prep."
"Solo pace maker," Owen asked.
"No but doing the leads and programming," Annie smiled, "I've chosen specialties but I think I'll let you down with my choice."
Seeing it was just their family in the room Owen asked, "what have you decided on little bear?"
"No little bear at work," Annie said rolling her eyes.
"What have you chosen Annie," Owen asked.
"I'm going to double certify," Annie said, "because I have two I can't decide between and they work well together. But trauma isn't one of them. I know I have to do my trauma training to the end of residency but I'm not a trauma surgeon."
"Peds and what," Owen asked.
"Cardio," Annie said, "I love the kids and working with them but when I was off with mono I missed holding beating hearts in my hand. That's what I missed kids and hearts."
"Then that's what your going to do," Owen said, "we've never had a peds cardio person here. I don't know if there's one in Seattle. If they want you to choose one which will you choose?"
"Probably peds," Annie replied, "I can add a cardio fellowship later. But to work with Robbins and Karev would be a good start."
"Cardio who do you want as your mentor," Owen asked.
"Mama is my first choice but I know she can't be a reference so I thought of asking Nathan," Annie explained, "work with both. And I don't think Maggie likes me very much."
"You could ask either," Teddy said, "I've told you why I think Nathan is the better choice for you. But Maggie has her strengths as well."
"Maggie is more research driven," Annie said, "some of her research is really interesting."
"Spend time with both you need to tell Bailey and Webber your intentions not commit yet," Teddy said, "third year is still a fairly general year but you can spend more time where you plan to specialize."
"I think I should talk to Robbins first," Annie said, "I love peds but I don't know if Karev will be as open to the idea of me."
"He will be," Owen said, "your just more comfortabl with Arizona."
"I'll talk to him later we have a Leo meeting with the social worker at 4," Annie said, "the doctors on his team. Karev asked me to be there."
Teddy added, "Nathan is joining us we're going to talk about the foster situation and I need to step back as his surgeon."
Annie asked, "have you talked to the social worker?"
Teddy said, "we meet her at 2:30 to finalize things. She knows you. You were her first contact, it's just some of our story that we need to explain. Their concerned about your adoption."
"You were a first year med student how could you raise me," Annie asked, "I was loved and cared for and happy. Everything was okay until Jessica got sick and lost it."
"Tell her that she wants to speak with you privately," Teddy said.
Annie's pager buzzed, "it's the pit I've got to go. I'll see you later."
"Go in and take charge of your paitent," Owen called.
"Go be awesome," Teddy called after Annie as she ran down the hall.