Saturday
"I want to see Annie," Jessica said to the intern working with her.
"Who," Tyson George asked.
"She insists on being dr Altman like her birth mother," Jessica said.
"You mean Grace Altman," Tyson asked.
"I don't know. Short, blonde, pregnant," Jessica said.
"Dr Altman the chiefs daughter," Tyson said, "she's my resident. She's good."
"What is she like," Jessica asked.
"She's an incredible teacher," Tyson said, "she's really nice to the interns and doesn't yell at us like most senior residents. She actually listens to us. She cares. There's eight of us we're not sure if we're in her group or Riggs jr. mini Altman and her husband share interns. They play good cop, bad cop with us, Altman is gentle and looks after us but she'll tell us when we mess up. Riggs is harder on us but they both care. We're going to miss them when they go on leave. He's taking time with her and their baby. The attendings say it's like watching Chief Altman and Dr Hunt work. Mini Altman and Riggs jr just work together no words needed."
"Why does Annie get it all," Jessica asked.
"I don't know Dr. Altman well enough to comment," Tyson commented, "she's a good doctor and a caring resident. Her and Riggs had all eight of us over last night for dinner and games."
Kira asked, "Tyson why are you telling this patient so much about Dr. Atlman and Dr. Riggs."
Amelia heard, "George in the hallway now."
"Yes doctor," Tyson said.
"Did you not read the chart," Amelia said, "this one gets no personal information about Dr. Altman, either of them. That's mini Altman's half sister."
"We all know that," Tyson said, "that's why I was answering her questions. She wants her sister."
"Then you page Dr. Altman and let her know and decide from there," Amelia hissed, "you're off my service. Go see your resident for a new assignment."
"Dr Altman is my resident," Tyson admitted.
"Then see Riggs jr," Amelia snapped.
Annie saw the page from Tyson and his acompining text. She decided to put it off until after her surgery. It was an appy on a 12 year old she didn't have many generals left so this was important to do. Then she had a chest wall reconstruction with Nathan, Link and Jackson. She would see Jessica after her work was done for the day. She knew she would have about 45 minutes between her appy and her part of the chest wall but she wanted that time to eat, use the washroom and see Josh. She wanted Josh with her to see her sister. While she was very very slowly starting to trust her parents she hugged them two days before she wasn't sold on her sister yet.
After the appy Annie met Josh in the OR hallway.
"How was your appy," Josh asked.
"Textbook," Annie replied, "how were your ear tubes?"
"Dull," Josh replied, "what do you have next?"
"Chest wall reconstruction in 45," Annie replied.
"Do you want food," Josh asked.
"Me no, baby yea," Annie laughed, "she wants French fries."
"Why don't we grab the wraps we packed and share fries," Josh suggested, "you think you're craving fries eat maybe ten and decide they're too greasy for your stomach and I finish two sides."
"That works," Annie agreed.
"It's the first time I've seen you today," Josh pointed out, "are you okay?"
"I'll tell you if I'm not," Annie replied.
"How's the monkey," Josh asked.
"Wiggling and determined to break my ribs today," Annie replied, "She's head down now for sure."
"Carina told us that yesterday," Josh said.
"Her movements have changed," Annie said, "there's no more summersaults."
"Those were weird," Josh laughed, "lying in bed or on the couch and your whole belly would move."
"Try having that happen inside you," Annie laughed.
The elevator doors closed behind them and Annie leaned into Josh tilting her chin up for a kiss. He gave her a quick kiss between floors.
"I think she misses you," Annie said, putting Josh's hand against where the baby was kicking.
"I've missed both of you," Josh replied kissing Annie again and rubbing his hand in small circles where their daughter was kicking.
"Can you keep doing that," Annie asked.
"Feels good," Josh asked. He had one hand rubbing her lower back where her back was often sore and tight and the other rubbing her bump.
Annie nodded, "it does."
"You have one more surgery then we can go home," Josh said.
"Jessica wants to talk to me and she's discharged tomorrow so we should try," Annie replied, "it's the first she's asked to see me."
"Do you want me to come," Josh asked.
Annie nodded, "I can't see her alone."
Annie and Josh found spots in the cafeteria with their friends.
"Annie are you okay," Jenna asked.
"Sorry just lost in thought," Annie replied.
"What's going on? Is everything okay with Josh," Cassidy asked.
"We're going to talk to Jessica after and I'm trying to think about what I want to say to her," Annie said.
"Just tell her the truth," Jenna encouraged, "you deserve the chance to tell her and have her listen."
"She might not be capable of that," Annie said.
"You set boundaries with your other parents," Cassidy pointed out.
"And it took weeks for them to respect them," Annie groaned, "mom still thinks she can pet me."
"I haven't even fet baby kicks," Jenna said with jealousy.
"I would but she's sleeping right now," Annie said, "you've come with us to watch Cassidy play with the 3D ultrasound. You'll get lots of cuddles auntie Jenna."
"Watch you poke at your stomach to make her move," Jenna said, "are you going to follow your mother and aunt and use mama or will you use mommy?"
"Mummy," Annie said, "I prefer the more British sounding one, it's what I grew up with."
"You use it with Mrs McKellar," Jenna replied.
"It's still weird to call her mum because yes they raised me but she's not really there for me. Mama is more my mom now," Annie replied, "there's no way I could have the conversation I had about babies last night with mom. But mama will talk to me about almost anything."
"What don't you and your mama talk about," Cassidy asked.
"Certain aspects of my marriage or hers there's some things better left unsaid," Annie replied.
"That's the line with your mother really," Jenna laughed.
"The only thing you don't talk about with mama Altman is your sex life," Cassidy said.
"With mama it's the only thing off limits," Annie said, "mom is limited to work, friends and baby. Don't tell the attendings but I'm ready to be off."
"Time to slow down," Cassidy commented.
"It is," Annie agreed, "I'm going down to 60 hours instead of 80 starting Monday for a couple weeks then 40. No more long surgeries I can do max 3 hours in the OR at once and no more that 8 in a day."
"Will you get your hours," Julia asked.
"I will. I took a lot of extra shifts in the summer when Josh and I decided we wanted a baby and was able to do extra between thanksgiving and Valentine's Day because I was feeling good. So I have the time banked and I only need about 12 more surgeries in the next six weeks," Annie explained.
"Your six weeks from your due date," Julia asked.
"No," Annie said, "seven. But I'm taking the last week off chief's orders. She wants me to have a week to rest and relax."
"She didn't before your sister," Jenna said, "we scrubbed in with her the night before."
"That was her last day on the schedule. She wasn't due for 10 days," Annie said, "Allison was nine days early."
"What do you think early or late," Julia asked.
"On time," Annie replied, "but someone has to have something more interesting to talk about."
"I'm seeing someone," Jenna offered.
"Spill Jenna," Annie demanded, "let me live vicariously through you."
Jenna began to tell the others all about her new boyfriend.
"He sounds nice, bring him to games night on Saturday," Annie said, "I want to meet him."
"I will," Jenna agreed.
The girl's talk stopped when Josh returned. They ate their lunch and chatted about surgeries before Annie had to go up and scrub in.
"Are you ready for this Annie," Nathan asked.
"Be my attending not uncle Nathan," Annie scolded.
"Be careful," Nathan.
"I'm always careful," Annie said, "I know my limits."
"Then lets scrub in," Nathan said, "Avery and Link are almost ready for us."
"Let's go," Annie replied, "give this kid a chance at a normal life."
Annie scrubbed in and walked into the OR, she took her position at the side of the OR table working with Nathan they separated the scar tissue from the heart and rebuilt the pericardium.
"Dr Altman you can scrub out," Jackson said.
"I'm fine to stay," Annie said, "make sure his heart stays stable."
"Annie what are you avoiding," Nathan asked.
"Jessica," Annie admitted, "I was planning to be here for the whole reconstruction."
"Annie I'm going to scrub out," Nathan said, "the heart is stable. Dr Avery will page us if there is a problem. How much OR time have you had today?"
"Seven hours," Annie said, " two pacemakers, an appy and the four now."
"Don't you have a four hour limit," Nathan asked.
"Not until Monday," Annie replied, "I can do three consecutive hours before I need a break and 8 in a day."
"As you're attending I am enforcing it now," Nathan declared, "gentleman?"
"Mini Altman you're done here," Jackson said.
"Go rest," Link echoed.
"Fine," Annie huffed with tears in her eye.
"Annie it's okay," Nathan said, "no one is mad. You didn't mess up. We're just looking out for you and your baby. We don't want you or her hurt because your overdoing it. Josh is really worried about you. Please rest. You've had a lot going on personally. Go home, relax and we'll see you for Sunday dinner tomorrow at Teddy and Owens."
"We will," Annie said, "I should go talk to my sister. Not that I want to."
"Meg is just waiting for traumas to come in," Nathan offered, "if you want her as a buffer. She's the only one of us that hasn't worked with Jessica."
"I want to get this over then we're setting up the nursery tonight," Annie smiled.
"Whoes setting it up," Nathan teased.
"Josh," Annie laughed, "I'm supervising."
"Do you have everything," Nathan asked.
"I need to find a rocking chair and a bookshelf for her," Annie said.
"You'll find something before she comes," Nathan said.
"We will," Annie said, "we have the crib, a dresser and another shelf. We're not doing a changing table to need it only while she's a baby the top of the toy shelf will work. I haven't found a bassinet I like."
"You'll find it Annie," Nathan said. He had heard Meghan and Teddy talking about that.
"Mama still has Allison's. I might put new sheets in it and it will work," Annie said.
Josh found them in the hall, "are you ready to go up to neuro? Meghan agreed to mediate."
"I am," Annie said, "don't let go of my hand and she can't touch me."
"Of course," Josh agreed.
Annie and Josh walked into Jessica's room and found Meghan waiting for them.
"Jessica I'm Dr Meghan Hunt the deputy chief of surgery," Meghan introduced herself.
"Hunt like yelling man," Jessica said.
"Owen is my brother," Meghan confirmed.
"Why are you here," Jessica asked.
"We asked her to be," Josh said, "just another set of ears while you and Annie talk."
"Then why are you here this is family stuff it doesn't involve you," Jessica said.
"Josh is my husband that makes him family," Annie said, "you can get to know your brother in law."
"Was Chris okay with this," Jessica asked.
"He was one of my groomsmen," Josh replied, "Chris stayed with us while he was here."
"Chris can see your house but mom and dad can't," Jessica said.
"Like with you mom and dad are building our trust," Annie said, "we might get there but until then we meet in public places or with other people around."
"Don't mom and dad go to your birth moms for dinner tomorrow," Jessica asked.
"Sunday dinner it's mamas turn to host," Annie said, "it rotates between mama, auntie Meghan, nana and I."
"Your hosting in two weeks then not for a while," Meghan said.
"I can take my next turn," Annie said.
"The day before your due date no sweetheart," Meghan said, "my mom will host and you'll let her spoil both of you."
"Nana does a lot of that," Annie said.
"She enjoys it," Meghan replied.
Annie being tired wanted to get to the bottom of why Jessica wanted her.
"Jessica why did you ask me to come talk," Annie asked, "you haven't wanted to see me the whole time you've been here."
"I'm thinking clearly for the first time ever and I wanted to talk to you," Jessica said, "I knew it was you at the stadium kneeling over me."
"Sorry if I hit you with my belly," Annie said.
"I was surprised to wake up and see your pregnant,"
Jessica said, "that you got everything you wanted and I don't have anything."
"Then start now and make a change," Annie said, "dr Shepherd removed the tumor your injuries have healed you need a few more months of treatment but Jessica you can have a fresh start."
"I want one," Jessica said.
"I'm willing to give you a chance but Jessica I can't just forget what happened," Annie said, "why did you do it?"
"Do what," Jessica said.
"Beat me," Annie said.
"I don't know," Jessica said, "I don't believe it happened because I don't remember doing it."
"I still have scars," Annie said, "but the one from when I was 19 is really ugly right now. It's really stretched out now."
"Annie I don't remember why I did that I lost apples to apples then I woke up at children's hospital," Jessica said.
"Have you told dr Shepherd," Annie asked.
"I did," Jessica said, "why did you leave?"
"How could I turn down a place at Harvard medical school," Annie said, "and I needed to go somewhere I get safe. I needed to get away from you and your threats."
"Why didn't you come home," Jessica asked.
"You told me I wasn't welcome," Annie said, "why did you hate me so much?"
"I was jealous," Jessica said.
"But you were theirs, you threw that in my face every day of our entire childhood," Annie said, "you didn't want me there. I was little orphan Annie you told me every day I wasn't part of the family because mom didn't give birth to me."
"It was the only thing I had that you didn't," Jessica admitted.
Annie began to cry, "it made me feel worthless that I would never belong."
"Then in high school Teddy started to be there all the time why did she come back," Jessica said, "she never wanted you."
Meghan couldn't sit silent, "you have no idea how much Teddy missed Annie. I was her roommate for four years. I always knew when she got new Annie letters and she always showed me the photos. I would hear her praying for Annie at night."
"How did you hear that," Jessica asked.
"Teddy was my roommate in Iraq," Meghan said, "she was my roommate first then a good friend then my big sister and she's married to my brother now so we're family."
"Why do you get a second family," Jessica glared at Annie.
"I always wanted to know more about mama," Annie said, "I was shocked when she wanted to know me and be in my life. Her family embraced me. Uncle Owen first then the rest of the family as I met them."
"You're really married," Jessica asked.
"We are," Josh said, "we've been together 8 years total."
"Why do you get it all," Jessica asked.
Annie thought, "I don't. I lost you, I lost mom and dad all of our cousins, I lost that. I was just starting to get over it and move on when grandmere and papa started visiting me. I'm happy with my life though. I have a family that loves me and accepts me for me. I left to save my own life. Jessica I have worked harder to build my life than you could even begin to imagine."
"But you got brains that the rest of us didn't," Jessica whined.
"No I worked," Annie replied.
"Your real mom is a surgeon, she has to be smart," Jessica snapped.
"Teddy is brilliant," Josh agreed, "so is Annie but that means nothing if you don't work for it."
"Jessica it's not a matter of how smart someone is," Annie said, "I want to try to be civil and maybe friends but it will take a lot for me to move forward."
"Why is it your way," Jessica said.
"Because I am protecting my daughter. It's not about me anymore I have to do what is best for my daughter," Annie stated.
"Your daughter," Jessica said, "you're having a girl? When? Whats her name?"
"Baby girl, name TBA, due May 12," Annie said.
"Are you excited," Jessica asked.
"We are," Annie smiled, "Jess I'm tired, I want to get home and start working on our nursery. Why did you want me to come?"
"I want to say sorry," Jessica said looking at the blanket, "I know what I did to you. I don't know why I did it but I'm sorry I did."
"Thank you," Annie whispered.
"Can you forgive me," Jessica asked.
"I did years ago," Annie said, "but that doesn't mean I'll forget or things will go back to the way things were."
"Will you come home," Jessica asked.
"This is home," Annie said, "with Josh and my baby."
"You won't come back," Jessica said.
"It's not a choice," Annie said.
"It will take a lot for us to feel safe going to visit," Josh said, "we don't know you."
"Will you come for my birthday," Jessica pressed.
"May 30 no way," Annie said, "she'll be two weeks old. We won't have passports for her."
"Leave her with Josh and you come," Jessica pushed.
"It's a firm no," Annie stated, "if you're going to keep pushing this our conversation is over."
Annie stood up.
"Please don't go," Jessica said, "I want to fix this."
"We will in time," Annie said, "but I can't do this now. I need to go home. I've had a long day and I'm only going to say things I'll regret if I stay."
"Please Annie don't walk away like you always do," Jessica said, "you walked away from us."
Annie snapped, "no you told me not to come home, you blocked my phone number and email so I couldn't reach out to mom and dad. You cut me off from everyone. I didn't choose to be cut off. I chose to go after a dream, something I thought was only a wish until I had people in my corner who told me and showed me it was possible."
"Why wasn't UBC good enough," Jessica asked.
"Ivy League," Annie said, "I had to apply to more than just UBC. it would have been stupid to put all my eggs in one basket like the Canadiansystem. Applying in the states gave me a better chance. My top three were Harvard, UBC and Columbia."
"You left us," Jessica repeated.
"I've already told you my side," Annie sighed, "I had three people that cared when I left. Mama, Chris and Uncle Owen."
'You left," Jessica yelled, "you thought you were too good for us."
"We're done here," Annie said.
"Please," Jessica said, "don't leave. You didn't get my surgery for nothing."
"I only did the field triage," Annie said, "Josh, Uncle Owen, Uncle Nathan and Dr. Shepard, they did your surgeries."
"You paid for it," Jessica said.
"I'm not, I'm just a resident," Annie said, "we're just thankful our insurance covers basic care for us and everything related to the baby. Mama used her discretionary fund as chief or the pro bono budget, she didn't tell me. She told me not to worry about it."
"Thank you," Jessica whispered.
"Thank mama," Annie said.
"We should go," Josh said, he could tell Annie was tired, she had already said she was done twice and Jessica kept pushing it.
"Stay please," Jessica said, "we're not done."
"We are for tonight," Josh said, "Annie is tired, she needs to go home and get off her feet."
Jessica yelled, "why is it always what Annie needs."
"Right now I am ending this conversation," Josh said, "we are leaving. We're both tired. We're all going to say things we'll regret."
"We are done Jessica," Meghan reiterated.
"No," Jessica yelled.
"I will come say goodbye before you go on Monday," Annie said, "we are going home. Good night."
Annie turned and walked out of the room and down the neuro corridor.
"You did well," Josh said.
"That was hard," Annie said, "way harder than seeing my parents. I don't know if we can believe her or not."
"Make her prove it," Josh said.
"We're only doing as much as I want to with them," Annie said, "you and Ellie, that's my family. Thats who matters to me. As long as I have the two of you I'm good."
"I know," Josh said, kissing the top of Annie's head as she rested it against his shoulder, "my home is wherever you are. You and Ellie, that's my world."
"Let's go home," Annie said.
"Come on," Josh said, wrapping his arm around her waist as they walked to the truck.
"I love you," Annie smiled up at him.
"I love you too," Josh beamed.