Annie and Teddy were walking towards the board room.
"I thought I'd join you," Owen said.
"Thank you," Teddy smiled, grabbing his hand.
"I called Dan," Owen said, "I'll fill you two in later. But he wasn't helpful."
"Uncle Owen just leave them, they don't care. I've come to terms with it stop fighting it. I don't have the energy to do it anymore," Annie said, "I'm moving forward with my family. Josh, you guys, the littles, Meghan, Nathan, Faroke, Nana and Chris."
"Are you ready," Teddy asked.
"Telling the people who control my entire professional future the worst parts of my history," Annie said, "sure."
"Josh is coming, we're here," Teddy said, "Meghan is there from Trauma and Nathan for cardio. Look at them or look at us."
Annie walked into the board room behind Teddy and Owen.
"Dr. Altman," Catherine greeted, "we've had some concerning allegations about your character brought to the board. We would like to hear your version of events."
"Thank you Dr. Fox," Annie replied, "I'm sorry to be such a bother and destroy every one's plans for the evening."
"Don't worry Dr. Altman," Jackson smiled, "it's part of our role on the board."
"We have the whole board, a representative from HR and from legal here," Catherine said.
"Thank you," Teddy replied, "for taking this seriously."
"Dr Altman, Dr Cosco has suggested that you are not the person you say you are that your name is really Annabeth McKellar," Catherine began.
"That was the name I was given as in infant when I was adopted by Dan and Leslie McKellar," Annie replied, "I made the decision to legally change my name in both Canada and the States when I was 21, the process was completed just before my 22nd birthday. I believe Dr. Josh Riggs brought the documentation from home."
"I have it," Josh replied placing the folder on the table.
"May I look Dr. Altman," the lawyer asked.
"Please do," Annie replied.
The lawyer flipped through the papers, "it all looks to be in order both Canadian and American documentation. What's not here to prove you are who you say you are?"
"I don't have a copy of the adoption papers from 1990," Annie replied.
"I do," Teddy added, "I can bring them by the end of the week."
"Please do," the lawyer replied, "but legally it is Dr. Grace Altman. There is no legal issue there."
"The name change was done legally," Annie replied, "my undergraduate diploma and high school are still McKellar because I never took the time to change the records."
"That's understandable Dr. Altman," the lawyer said, taking charge of the meeting, "would you like to explain the reason for the change?"
"This part is hard for me," Annie whispered.
"Take your time dear," Catherine said.
"Tell the board what you told me in my office," Richard prompted.
Sitting beside her Josh took Annie's hand under the table and squeezed it, "I'm not going anywhere."
Meghan was sitting across from Annie and gave her a gentle smile and nodded.
"Tell me," Meghan mouthed.
"It's not a secret that I was adopted at birth by Dan and Leslie," Annie started, "mama was in her first year of medical school and having been through that I would have made the same decision. My first 10 or 12 years with the McKellars were good. We were a typical family with three kids, I was the oldest so there were really high expectations of me. But I never really fit in with my siblings who were both my parents biological children. It wasn't just appearance or the fact the by the time I was 13 both were taller than me, for years I assumed mama must be short as well. When I was about 12 Jessica, my younger sister, began to get violent with me. Little things at first shoving me down the stairs, but it progressed to several set of sutures that can all be found in my medical records. There was also verbal and psychological abuse. When I was 19 my sister became angry during a family game night and beat me with a pool cue."
Annie stopped talking, she couldn't go on.
Teddy picked up the story, "that night I received a call from a trauma surgeon at Surrey Memorial Hospital that my daughter had been admitted and required urgent surgery to save her life. The beating had shredded her spleen which was repaired surgically, she lost 40 percent of her liver as well. During her surgery she received 6 units of blood and 3 units of packed cells. It will all be in her medical history. She chose to recover here in Seattle and had her follow up treatment with Richard Webber."
"That was two years before the name change," the lawyer said, "what happened in the two years between?"
"The Christmas I was 21 Jessica stabbed me in the back with a steak knife," Annie replied, "mama provided immediate medical treatment."
"She had 35 sutures on her left shoulder and upper back," Teddy replied, "follow up care was provided by Chrsitina Yang. Annie was given the choice of Owen Hunt or Christina Yang providing the follow up care to make sure the injury was clean and remove the stitches."
"I'll get Christina on the phone," Meredith said.
"That won't be necessary Dr. Grey," The Lawyer said.
"I can confirm that this happened," Owen replied, "and the nightmares that followed. Annie and Teddy we're at the cabin with at the time my family for a few days of skiing following the stabbing."
"The charges against Dr. Altman, are that she is not who she says she is and is dishonest about her past," Catherine said, "from a legal perspective she is Grace Altman."
"The documentation is in order," the Lawyer agreed, "I would like to keep copies for our files."
"Yes," Annie replied, "I would like my originals back."
"I have an orginal of the adoption papers as well," Teddy replied, "and her original birth certificate I had to complete."
"That would be helpful," the lawyer replied, "but there are other charges that we can not disprove with the legal documents."
"What are they," Annie asked.
"Dishonest, lack of sufficient character, abuse of power, sexual harassment," the lawyer listed.
"What," Owen shouted, "do you know Dr. Altman at all."
"Dr Cosco is claiming sexual harassment because Dr. Altman made him uncomfortable by flirting with another resident Dr. Joshua Riggs in his presence and kissing the same doctor," the lawyer stated.
"Dr. Josh Riggs and I are married," Annie replied.
"So he's uncomfortable because she flirted with her husband," Catherine clarified.
"If we punished every couple that works here for flirting or a quick kiss we would lose half our surgeons," Bailey added.
"My interns are aware that I am married and my husband is another resident," Annie said.
"Dr Riggs at any time has Dr. Altman's affection at work made you uncomfortable," the lawyer asked.
"No," Josh stated, "we have a very healthy relationship and have been together since medical school."
"I see," the lawyer said, "that's between the two of you personally."
"What about abuse of power," Teddy asked.
"Dr. Cosco claimed that Dr. Altman demanded that he arrive at work ahead of scheduled rounds at 7am and that he complete charting and other duties that should rightfully be hers. He also stated that she asked him to work in the free clinic and emergency room when she was away from the hospital or in surgery," the lawyer replied.
"Interns and residents all work in the clinic as part of our outreach to our community, it's how we give back to the community that supports us," Bailey explained, "if Dr. Cosco was sent to the clinic because Dr. Altman was also working there that day or was on an organ recovery in which she was unable to have her interns travel with her."
"Residents and interns are expected to pre round ahead of the attendings so they have all of the information prepared," Richard said, "it's standard training protocol."
"What about the emergency room," the lawyer asked.
"All residents are trained for trauma," Owen said, "they all have scheduled time in the pit with myself, Dr. Meghan Hut or Dr. Kepner. They all do it a few times a month. Dr. Altman is often called to the emergency room for peds traumas or chest injuries because that's her focus area and she's the best we have at getting children calm in a trauma. So yes her interns would be expected to come with her and assist as directed by attendings and senior residents if she did not have them assigned to another task."
Ameila spoke up, "Dr. Altman started here as a sub intern. We all know her and we've all taught her. These accusations against her are completely opposite to what we know of her."
"What about the statements that you ran away from your family," Maggie asked.
Richard spoke, "Dr. Altman and I spoke earlier today and she has told us of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her sister leading to her name change and moving away from the family home. Dr. Altman was a victim of domestic abuse and while it wasn't her parent or a romantic partner her strength in leaving should be protected. This hospital is a safe place for victims of abuse to tell their story and find healing. That includes our staff as the residency director I stand with Dr. Altman."
"Where is Dr Cosco getting this information," Jackson asked, thoroughly confused.
"His girlfriend Jessica McKellar," Bailey confirmed.
"So my abuser," Annie replied, "I hope that in the last few years my character speaks for itself through my actions."
"It does," Bailey replied.
"The information you and your mother have shared, brings new light to these allegations," the lawyer said.
"I would prefer my history not become hospital gossip and a scandal," Annie said, "can we try to resolve this as peacefully and privately as possible."
The woman from HR spoke, "this is workplace harassment Dr. Altman we can look at it from that angle."
"I'm going to terminate Dr. Cosco," Bailey declared, "he is fired. Not only has he tried to slander a senior resident and the deputy chief of surgery by going after their family he showed up to work today under the influence of alcohol and marijuana."
"We can't have doctors like that at our hospital," Catherine agreed, "he is not welcome to work in any Fox foundation hospital."
"He has threatened to bring charges against the hospital if he is terminated," the lawyer said.
"We can fight it," Teddy declared, "slandering myself and Dr. Altman, he has three disciplinary actions on his file since July prior to this incident. He has had enough chances. He is the one who is not fit to be in this program."
"Are you prepared as the leaders of this hospital to fight it," the lawyer asked.
"Yes," Bailey, Teddy and Meghan all said together.
"Do we have the support of the board," Bailey asked.
"As chairman you have mine," Jackson said, "Grace is right we stand behind victims of abuse and protect them."
"Yes," Mereidth replied, "as majority shareholder I agree. We will stand with our own."
"Yes," Alex replied, " how could we stand behind support and believe Jo then not show Grace the same."
"So it seems we have a decision," Catherine replied, "Dr Altman you are free to go. Go home, relax and enjoy the night with your husband. If I could get legal and HR to come with me as well as Dr. Bailey and Dr. Webber we will do the termination paperwork for Dr. Cosco.
Annie followed the attendings out of the board room turning the corner towards the stairs and the residents locker room she collapsed against Josh.
"I can't do that again," Annie sobbed.
"You wont have to," Josh promised, "everyone in there supported you. No one questioned you. They all know you."
"What if she comes," Annie asked.
"Then we deal with it," Josh replied, "that was funny sexual harassment because we kiss."
"It's not proper I guess. I'm betting she doesn't know we're married," Annie replied, "that was pretty far fetched."
"It was grasping," Josh agreed.
"I won't see any of them," Annie replied, "they still haven't apologized or explained about the wedding."
"Why do you care so much Annie," Josh asked.
"Because they were my parents they chose me," Annie cried, "then Jessica went crazy and they stopped loving me. I don't understand why they can't love me. They must have once."
Josh hugged her, "I know Annie. I've just spent years watching them hurt you. It's time for it to stop. We can stop it."
"If Jessica comes here I go straight home," Annie cried.
"No we have her removed from the hospital don't let her chase you out of here," Josh said, "you belong here. Right here with me. Whatever happens we will do it together. But you heard Dr. Fox, lets get changed, pick up something for dinner and go home."
"Indian," Annie asked.
"Butter chicken and that spinach stuff," Josh replied, "sure."
As they walked out they ran into Teddy and Owen.
"We're going home," Annie said, "I need time to process. But we'll see you tomorrow for Leo's surgery at 7?"
"He checks in at 7," Teddy replied, "this is the easy one. Just the final valve and pacemaker. Totally routine and it's Maggie."
"Give him a hug for us and we'll see you at seven," Annie replied.
"Go home and relax," Teddy replied.
"We will," Josh said.
"Uncle Owen make sure she sleeps please," Annie asked, "stressed and tired mama is hard for everyone."
"I'm better with no sleep then you," Teddy retorted.
"Hardly," Annie replied.