A couple days later Annie approached Teddy.
"Mama do you have a minute," Annie asked.
"Of course," Teddy replied, she knew what had been said the other night was weighing heavily on Annie's mind, "let's sit in my office."
She followed Teddy to her office.
Annie took a deep breath, "I think I'm going to go through with the genetic testing and genome sequencing. If only to help Luke. It looks like he'll be here for a while and may need a few transfusions and possibly a bone marrow transplant. Karev found a weird form of leukemia."
Teddy nodded, "you can't be his doctor."
Annie replied, "I know but I could still help I'm the best chance in this hospital for a match."
Teddy agreed, "you are. But I think you have some reservations."
"I do," Annie replied, "I don't want to open up a can of worms for you. We're just making progress with Leslie and Dan. The wedding is in a few weeks and we're in a good place."
Teddy kept shuffling the papers on her desk, "if your looking for my permission I can't tell you yes or no. You're 27. It's your choice but do it for you and the right reasons. "
Annie fiddled with her lab coat, "I want to know just for curiosity's sake. I want the sequencing for genetic diseases not the paternity test. I believe you. If you say that's my sperm donor that's my sperm donor. "
Teddy rolled her eyes, "as much as I hate him with everything I have I don't like that term it's crass. You have to decide for you."
"I don't want to hurt you or let him hurt you again," Annie said, taking the papers out of Teddy's hand.
"I'm okay," Teddy replied, "I actually feel better then I have in 30 years sweetheart. You need to do what's going to bring you peace with all of this."
"I don't know if I want to know," Annie said, "I want the genetic screening to find out if my Hashimotos or adhd are at all genetic but that's it."
"Annie this won't hurt me. He can't hurt me anymore. You need to do what feels right to you. If you want the information about your medical history you should have it," Teddy assured.
"I just want the medical side. I don't want to see or get to know him," Annie said, "but I don't want to hurt you."
"It won't hurt me," Teddy promised, "it's your health you should have the information."
"Are you sure," Annie asked.
Teddy nodded, "I am. I'm okay. But I need those papers back so I can do them before I meet Dr Wyatt."
Annie asked one more time, "mama are you really okay?"
Teddy nodded, "I'm better than I have been in years. Telling you and Owen that I feel free. I wish I had told someone long ago."
"If you're sure," Annie said.
"Annie don't ask me again," Teddy said with a smile, "do I ever lie to you?"
"Never," Annie replied, "when I asked Bailey about the process she said it would be easier to do it if she had a sample from you as a control."
"I'll go see her and let her draw a blood sample," Teddy replied.
"I need to see her today as well," Annie said, "get this started. Josh doesn't know much but he's going to come hold my hand."
"You still hate needles," Teddy asked.
"Nervous about this," Annie replied, "it feels ominous somehow."
"It will answer a few questions," Teddy replied, "we're going to focus on the science."
"I won't do it if you don't want me to," Annie said.
"I wont decide for you or tell you what to do," Teddy said, "let me know your final choice."
"I meet Bailey in her lab at 1 as long as nothing comes up," Annie replied.
"What are you on this week," Teddy asked.
"Peds and trauma," Annie replied, "why do I keep getting trauma?"
"Meghan keeps requesting you," Teddy replied.
Annie replied, "I don't want to do it for a while."
"Only a few more weeks then you stay in your specialty," Teddy promised.
"You, Nathan, Maggie, Arizona and Alex," Annie said.
Teddy nodded, "more time with you."
"Were a good team. We rocked the other night," Annie said.
"We did," Teddy replied, "I'm turning it into a full study."
"Can I help," Annie asked.
"I think so," Teddy replied, "but I have to open it up to anyone who is interested. I have to be fair."
"I know," Annie said.
"Before you go what does Josh know," Teddy asked.
"He doesn't know the whole story I didn't know what you would want me to share. Just that Steven is the biggest ass hole on the planet and that he doesn't believe I'm his child," Annie said.
"Does he know about the violence," Teddy asked.
"Just that he really hurt you in a lot of ways," Annie replied, "I haven't told Josh about the abuse."
Teddy replied, "thank you. I'm not ready for anyone other than you and Owen to know."
"It's your story to tell," Annie said, "I still haven't told Josh everything that happened with Jessica and I don't know if I ever will."
"One day you'll be ready," Teddy said, "the other night was the push I needed."
"That's why you were so fierce when it came to fighting for me," Annie said.
"Because you were not going to go through what I did," Teddy said, "you were going to learn to fight."
Annie nodded, "when you said I know and that you understood you really did."
Teddy nodded, "I did but it wasn't the time to tell you. I wasn't ready. I didn't date for years after you were born."
"Henry," Annie said.
"There were dates or flings but nothing where I let him get to really know me or into my house until Henry," Teddy said.
"Really," Annie asked.
"I always kept my home as my safe place," Teddy said, "Owen was the first man I trusted after you were born. I dated in residency but always kept it casual. Then I married Henry and used you as a buffer at first."
"You started letting him come home with you when I was there," Annie said.
"I wasn't home alone with him," Teddy said.
"I liked him from the beginning," Annie said, "he was calm and gentle."
"He listened," Teddy said, "and took things at my pace."
"How do you just let people touch you after that," Annie asked.
"It was never touch that bothered me," Teddy said, "that's you. I hate slamming doors and when people slam their hands on the table to make a point."
"I used to be pretty bad about letting doors slam behind me," Annie said, "I'm sorry."
"Always makes me flinch," Teddy admitted, "you couldn't have known so I decided to try to fix that horrible habit. You're just being careless when they slam behind you or excited to get somewhere else. You have your own things that bother you."
"Touching me when I don't expect it," Annie said, "Josh is the one exception. But he always puts his hands in the same spot when he comes up behind me. No one else puts their arms around me and their head on top of mine."
"I've seen Josh do that a lot," Teddy smiled, "it's only me or Josh that would get in your space without warning."
"You never do," Annie replied, "you always tell me or ask first."
"I know I do," Teddy said, "I've only gabbed you without warning to stop you from getting hurt."
"You always say my name though. I know it's you," Annie replied.
Teddy nodded, "I try to give you the heads up because I know it bothers you when people don't."
Annie smiled, "thank you. I'll try not letting doors slam."
"Thanks sweetheart," Teddy replied, "I love our talks but I need to go meet dr Wyatt and Meghan will be looking for you."
Annie nodded, "someone's been texting me. It's probably her."
Teddy laughed, "go. Auntie Meghan doesn't like waiting."
"I know but the words I was with mama and she won't question," Annie smirked.
Teddy agreed, "she wouldn't question you being with me."
Annie left Teddy's office and walked down to the pit to see Meghan.
"Anything good today," Annie asked.
"Incoming 20 minutes out I've been texting you," Meghan said.
"I was with mama," Annie replied.
"I've heard it's been an emotional few days," Meghan replied.
"Just lots going on," Annie said.
"Owen mentioned your bio father was here and a possible half brother," Meghan said.
"I want nothing to do with Steven," Annie replied.
"We know," Meghan said, "Owen talked to Josh, Nate and I. We'll keep him away from you and Teddy."
"Thank you," Annie replied, "what's incoming?"
"Head up to the helicopter pad with me," Meghan said, "12 year old fell off a horse."
"Is Shepard ready," Annie asked.
"She's been alerted," Meghan said, "I want to see you run this from start to finish. Annie you're ready."
"Josh is trauma or Duncan," Annie said.
Meghan replied, "Duncan just got suspended from surgery until his charts are up to date and Josh is already with Owen."
"So I'm your backup plan," Annie said, rolling her eyes and making a face.
"Do not make that face at me again," Meghan laughed, " you look too much like Teddy doing that."
"What face am I making," Annie asked.
"The come on Meghan really face," Meghan replied.
"I wasn't even thinking that," Annie said.
"Your face was," Meghan teased.
"It was not," Annie giggled.
"You ready for Whistler next week," Meghan asked.
"Yes and no," Annie admitted, "I used to love Whistler but going through Cloverdale terrifies me. I haven't been in BC since I was 21."
"You're with me and Teddy," Meghan said, "she's driving she'll know you're anxious."
"To get from the border to Highway one you have to go right through the middle of Cloverdale," Annie said, "my highschool, the dance studio, the rec center where I had my frist job. "
"All good places," Meghan said, "I want to see them and hear about the good times."
The helicopter landed. As soon as the girl was out Annie yelled, "page Shepared and clear CT. she's blown both pupils."
"Breath sounds," Meghan asked.
"Clear and equal, heart is good," Annie replied, "I want a full trauma series and an OR."
"Direct the interns," Meghan said.
Annie began delegating tasks to interns as soon as she had her tests they took the girl up to the OR.
"Tell Bailey i'm going to miss our meeting," Annie told an intern, "then scrub in with me."
She began the work on the girls abominable injuries, "she must have been trampled. Her spleen is crushed. I'm taking it out and the left kidney."
"Something must have really spooked the horse," Meghan said.
"I don't know enough about horses," Annie replied. She retuned to her patient, "I need more hands for these bleeders."
"What do you need me to do," Meghan asked.
"I can't find them all," Annie said, "hang more O negative and help me get them all."
Meghan looked, "Annie the small bowel you missed a perforation."
"Shit," Annie yelled.
"Slow down," Meghan said, "run the bowel resect as needed."
"How did I miss it," Annie asked.
"You were moving too fast," Meghan said, "breath, run the bowel and fix it. I'll get the bleeders."
Annie began to run the bowels, "Dr. Hunt, there's more damage here than I've seen before what do I do?"
"Repair where you can," Meghan said, "remove what you can't"
"I haven't done the repair yet," Annie admitted, "I need you to show me."
"Tie off this bleeder," Meghan said, "then come help me."
Annie helped Meghan repair the damage to the girl's bowels.
Scrubbing out Annie asked, "how did I miss that perforation?"
"You were rushing," Meghan said, "there's something else on your mind and you weren't 100% there. You have to be totally there, no outside thoughts. Do you want to talk about it?"
Annie paused, "it's that patient Nathan and I worked on on Friday."
"He told me about that," Meghan said, "are you okay?"
"I have another meeting with Bailey and it's making me nervous," Annie admitted.
"Do you want me to come," Meghan offered.
"It's just getting some blood taken," Annie replied, "we can't use blood type alone for this."
"Why," Meghan asked.
"I'm O negative ," Annie said.
"That means both parents have to be," Meghan said, "which means Teddy has to be O negative."
"The little boy isn't," Annie said, "his mother would have to be whatever he is."
"But the dad," Meghan said.
"Won't give any info," Annie said, "which is why I have to be tested and compared to the boy."
Meghan asked, "do you have to?"
Annie nodded, "we should. Bailey is going to run it for markers for different genetic issues. We're going to look into my hashimotos to see if there's a genetic component because it's not on mama's side. But I also don't want to know."
"Do you want me to come," Meghan offered again.
"It's just a blood draw but Bailey is doing it herself," Annie said, "I need to go to her lab."
"You're anxious I can walk with you," Meghan offered.
"I just want Josh," Annie said, "but he's still in the OR."
"I'll walk if you want me to and hold your hand," Meghan said.
"Walk if you want but I can see Bailey on my own," Annie said.
"Do you want to page Teddy," Meghan offered she could see Annie was ready to panic.
Annie snapped, "no I need you to stop talking about it. What's going on is between me, mama and uncle Owen that's it. Josh doesn't even know the whole story. It's not mine to tell. Meghan I need you to drop it."
Meghan was taken aback Annie had never snapped at her before. She had seen it when Annie was stressed at Teddy or Josh or rarely Owen but never at her. She realized she had crossed a line but also that her niece was close to a major and very public panic attack.
Meghan put one hand on Annie shoulder, "before we leave this scrub room you need to breath. Your panicking you need to collect yourself."
Annie shrugged away from Meghan, "I can't. I missed the bowel injury because I was distracted. Now I have to go do this that I don't actually want to do and the results scare me. I just want Josh to go with me but he's in the OR with Owen."
"Let's go see how much longer Owen has," Meghan suggested.
Annie nodded and followed Meghan into the scrub room outside Owen's OR.
Meghan covered her mouth with a mask and stepped inside, "Owen how much longer do you have?"
"Couple hours," Owen said.
"Can I tag Josh out," Meghan asked, "Annie needs him."
"I can't move him," Owen said, "he's literally holding this man's aorta together until cardio gets here. Teddy is in a meeting that she can't leave, Pierce is out of town and Nathan is operating. Can you bring Annie in to help? She's done two with Teddy."
"Not a good plan shes panicked," Meghan said, "She can't scrub until she calms down."
"Then get her calm and bring her in here," Owen said.
"Is this about the other night," Josh asked.
"I think so she won't talk about it," Meghan said.
"She won't tell me she said it's between her and Teddy that Teddy won't want it shared," Josh said.
"How do I help her calm down," Meghan said.
"Hug her as tight as you can until she goes limp," Josh said, "she'll fight you at first but it works."
"What," Meghan asked.
Behind her Meghan heard Annie whisper, "I need a hug. Usually I go to mama or Josh but they're both busy."
"What do you need," Meghan asked.
"Hug me as tight as you can and don't let go until I go limp," Annie whispered.
Meghan hugged her whispering, "it's nothing to be embarrassed about Annie. It's me, Owen and Josh. We all love you. You're okay. Whatever happens you can do it."
"I'm good now," Annie said, "what am I doing?"
"We're scrubbing then you're going to start putting an Aorta back together until Teddy gets here," Meghan said, "you don't have much time."
"I'm doing what," Annie said.
"Get in there and fix that aorta you've done it with Teddy, she's been paged now you do it," Meghan said, "you're a good surgeon you can do it."
"I'll try," Annie said. She took a deep breath and cleared her mind pushing away all of the thoughts that were invading her mind. Focus on the patient, one moment at a time, keep this man alive. She scrubbed and dashed into the OR.
"What do we have," Annie asked Josh.
"This aorta is shredding in my hands," Josh said, "do you know what to do?"
"I think so," Annie said, "we need a lot of blood before we start."
"Bring up as much O neg and type specific as you can," Josh demanded.
Annie said, "I need something to graft with. I can't fix this tissue, it's too far gone I need to graft it."
"What would Teddy use," Meghan asked.
"I'm thinking," Annie replied, "I want something natural to avoid synthetics. Saphenous vein?"
"Maybe," Meghan said, "I can harvest it for you."
Teddy scrubbed in, " Annie what's your plan."
"It needs a graft," Annie said, "something natural."
"Umbilical vein or saphenous," Teddy suggested.
"I've never done either on my own," Annie said, "I'll assist."
"Why isn't he on bypass," Teddy asked.
"I just got here," Annie said.
"I'll come up with a plan," Teddy said, "you get the bypass started."
"I'm on it," Annie said, "we have as much blood as they can give us coming up."
"Good," Teddy said.
"Meghan," Owen yelled, "I need your hands."
"Scrubbing in," Meghan yelled.
As things were starting to calm down and the patient stabilized Nathan appeared , "do you need more hands?"
"We could on this repair," Teddy said, "there's a lung that needs a lobe removed."
Meghan looked around, "this is the first time the six of us have operated together. We've been in every possible combination but never together on the same patient."
"This is a first," Teddy agreed, "it feels good to all be together. To work as a family."
"Coolest family ever," Annie said.
"We save lives together," Nathan smiled behind his mask.
"My playlist please," Teddy called.
The music turned on in the previously silent OR. Annie and Teddy both began to hum along.
After the surgery they all scrubbed out.
"How did your meeting with Bailey go," Teddy asked Annie.
"Never made it there," Annie replied, "two trauma surgeries. Bailey will understand I'll do it tomorrow if she's gone home."
"Check her office," Teddy suggested, "do you want me to come?"
"I think Josh and I are okay," Annie said, "maybe when we get the results."
"I'll come for that," Teddy said.
"Today's just a blood draw," Annie said, "if Bailey is gone can someone else do it. I psyched myself up to doing it today. I don't want to put it off."
"Talk to Bailey," Teddy said.
Annie and Josh walked towards Bailey's office and found her doing paperwork.
"Dr. Bailey," Annie said, "I know it's late but is it possible for you to do the blood draw now?"
"Of course mini Altman," Bailey said, "let's go to an exam room."
"Josh is going to come with me," Annie said.
"I thought Rigg Jr. would join us," Bailey agreed.
"Thank you," Annie said. She held Josh's hand tightly while Bailey drew the blood sample.
"Which am I running," Bailey said.
Annie took a deep breath, "run it all. The three that we discussed."
"I'll let you know," Bailey said, "it should take a few days, probably Wednesday."
"Let's go home," Josh said.
"Let's go," Annie said, "I want to say good night to mama first."
They found Teddy and Owen in the hallway outside the locker rooms.
"We're going to change and head home," Owen said.
"So are we," Annie said, "we just need to change."
Sensing that Annie and Teddy needed a minute both Josh and Owen walked into their locker rooms.
"Did you go see Bailey," Teddy asked.
"All dealt with," Annie replied.
"It's closure for us," Teddy said, "we're okay. We're strong."
"I know," Annie said, "I just need to sleep."
"Have you been sleeping," Teddy asked.
"Not really," Annie admitted, "I kinda freaked out on Meghan today because I was scared to see Bailey and over tired."
"Talk to her tomorrow," Teddy said, "I think maybe I need to tell her part of the story I told you the other night and you should tell Josh what you need him to know."
"Meghan knows something is up," Annie said.
"She always does," Teddy agreed, "she's too perceptive for her own good."
"I should change and go home," Annie said
"Go sleep," Teddy said.
"Are you sure you're okay," Annie asked.
"I'm good," Teddy said, "I'm seeing Dr. Wyatt a couple times a week. Finally dealing with it. I told you this morning I feel better now that I finally said it. I pushed you to get help years ago for what happened with Jessica but I never did it myself. It's time I do."
"If you need anything I'm here," Annie said.
"Right now I just need sleep and to play with my babies," Teddy said, "they don't understand why mama has been stressed. I need to go home and play with Ali and Leo, read them a story, tuck them in, then curl up with Owen."
"Okay," Annie said, "we're going home, having dinner and I want a bubble bath and to curl up with my book and Josh."
"See you tomorrow," Teddy said.
"Good night mama," Annie said.
"Good night sweetheart," Teddy smiled.