Annie's phone rang in the middle of the night.
"Dr Altman," Annie yawned, seeing the hospital number.
"Dr Altman we have a heart for Jonah," Eaket shouted on the other end.
Annie got out of bed and grabbed the first pair of leggings and hoodie she found.
"Where are you going," Josh mumbled.
"Organs for Jonah," Annie replied, "I have a transplant to do."
"I've got Ellie," Josh said, "go be awesome."
"I will," Annie said walking out of the bedroom. She shoved her feet into her shoes and grabbed her work bag. In the car she called Teddy.
"Annie what's wrong," Teddy panicked. It was two am and Annie had woken her up.
"Organs for Jonah," Annie said, "my first totally solo transplant."
"You want me in the galley," Teddy said.
"I have to get to the hospital and get on the helicopter to the airport then fly to San Francisco first. Just letting you know Chief."
"Where's Ellie," Teddy asked.
"Sleeping. Josh is home," Annie replied.
Teddy asked, "how are you going to do the transport?"
"Heart in a box," Annie said, "I've done it with you twice. It never knows it left the body it's the best way to do it."
"It is," Teddy agreed.
"Get residents not interns to prep Jonah," Teddy said.
"Already have Eaket on it," Annie replied.
"I'll be in the gallery for the surgery. Go be awesome sweetheart," Teddy yawned.
"I will," Annie replied.
Annie got to the hospital and changed to scrubs shoving her lucky sea otter cap in her pocket.
"I'm harvesting some nerves from this on I'll come with you,"Jenna said.
"I need the box," Annie said, "I'm goin go to transport the heart still beating."
"Your mamas heart box," Jenna replied.
"It gets the best outcome," Annie replied.
Annie popped into jonah's room, "happy heart day Jonah."
"Dr Grace they really have a heart for me," Jonah asked.
"They do," Annie beamed.
"Where is it," Mrs Johnson asked.
"I'm going to get it in San Francisco," Annie replied.
"That far," Jonah said.
"A couple hours each way," Annie said, "you have about six hours before your in the OR. Dr Eaket will get you ready."
"How long is the surgery," Mrs Johnson asked.
"Six to eight hours once I get in there," Annie replied, "Jonah has this. Once we put the heart in you'll see the change right away."
"Before I go home can I see your baby," Jonah asked.
"Let's get you healthy first," Annie said, "Ellie is asleep at home. Do you have any questions for me?"
"Will it hurt," Jonah asked.
"It might be uncomfortable," Annie said, "I have to open up your ribs again. You're going to feel so much better with your new heart. Your fingers and toes will be warm and pink. You'll be able to run, go skating and ride your bike. In a couple weeks you can leave the hospital."
"Then I won't see you," Jonah said.
"You will," Annie reassured, "once a week for a while, then once a month and then every couple months. You'll see me until your 18. Then I'll help you find another heart specialist."
"Really," Jonah asked.
"Really," Annie replied, "I'm going to go get your heart and I will see you in the OR. You've got this bud."
Annie walked out of the room and towards the helipad.
On the plane Jenna asked.
"Annie I know Chris will be there but can you come when my baby comes," Jenna asked.
"I will be there if you want me," Annie said.
"Who was with you," Jenna asked.
"Josh," Annie said, "it was just Josh and I for 75% of it. Mama came and went as I wanted or needed her."
"Will you come I want someone who's done this before," Jenna said.
"I will if you want me," Annie said, "and I won't be offended if you change your mind on the day of. C is talking to Josh. "
"Chris and Josh," Jenna said.
"None of Cs friends have kids," Annie said.
"My mom lost it," Jenna said, "why can yours just hug me and answer questions when mine got mad."
"What was she mad about," Annie asked.
"Not married, he's whatever type of Christian you two are," Jenna said.
"Mennonite brethren," Annie said, "in name. I haven't lived that way since the first year of medical school. Chris hasn't either. It was Leslie's side that made it a big deal."
"Leslie," Jenna said.
"She already has her disappointing heart surgeon daughter, the brain surgeon daughter in law will be okay," Annie said, "you're not her kid she won't think she has the right to manipulate you and C is the golden boy."
"Why does your dad want to know my favorite wood," Jenna asked.
"Dan probably wants to build something for you," Annie said, "he built my rocking chair in cherry because cherry wood has been my favorite since I was a kid. He's built every one in the family a rocking chair for the first baby. All slightly different."
"He built yours like actually built it; it wasn't a kit he put together," Jenna said.
"No he was a woodwork and joinery teacher before he was a principal. He designs each one and builds it from the raw lumber. I helped sand and stain a few before I left. Chris and I would hang out in the garage with Dan and he'd play all sorts of older music and folk music that he'd teach us about and we'd talk about world events and politics letting us really think and learn to debate while sanding."
"Dan was trying to get Chris to bring me and the baby to the finishing camp with just him and his parents in August," Jenna said.
"One BC thing I miss," Annie said.
"Come it looks huge then I have a friend," Jenna said.
"Ellie will be waking by August. I'm not taking her up there. It's just not safe unless they've really beefed up the railings Ellie would be able to slip under," Annie said, "I'd wait until she was three or four."
"How do you know that," Jenna asked.
"Because I tried to slide under one at 18," Annie admitted, "you won't want to do that drive with a six week old. The cabin was a lot of work with Ellie at 8 weeks. And we had mama, dad, Meg, Nathan and Nana to help."
They chatted for a while longer about hospital gossip and how much Jenna was hating being in the center of it. Half the staff didn't even know she was seeing someone.
At the hospital in San Francisco they joined the crush of surgeons outside of the OR.
"Grace Altman," a man asked, "from Harvard? Class of 2015?"
Annie turned, "William Lui?"
"Grace how are you," William asked, "what are you doing here?"
"Picking up a heart for my patient," Annie smiled, "you?"
"Kidney," William replied, "what are you doing these days? Do you still talk to Riggs?"
"Josh and I have been married two years, our daughter is seven months," Annie smiled.
"You and Riggs got married and had a baby," William asked.
"Yes, Ellie is the best thing we've ever done," Annie beamed.
"What is Riggs doing now," William asked.
"Trauma surgery," Annie replied, "We're still at Grey Sloan in Seattle, we did our residency there and have been able to stay for our fellowships. Where are you?"
"General fellowship at Portland General," William replied, "what's your fellowship in?"
"Pediatric Cardiothoracic surgery," Annie said, "this heart will go to a ten year old boy I've been treating for a while."
"Cardio," William said, "didn't your mother give a few cardio lectures and labs one year?"
"Mama did," Annie smiled, "she surprised me with that. I didn't know she was going to be there until she was at the podium. I spent the day bugging her about being in uniform."
"She's military, isn't she," William said.
"She was until we graduated," Annie said, "then her and my step father got married and had my little sister. She moved to Seattle for my step dad."
"I still can't believe you and Riggs have a kid," William said.
"They do," Jenna said, "I've been at Grey Sloan with them since intern year. Ellie is adorable."
"Do you have kids Will," Annie asked.
"No," William said, "that would require time to date. I don't think I've met your resident."
"William Lui, this is Jenna Silverstone, she's a neuro fellow at our hospital," Annie introduced, "and my sister inlaw. She's harvesting some nerves for a graft."
"Riggs has a sister," William asked.
"No," Annie said, "my brother and Jenna have been together a while."
"You have a brother," William said.
"Half," Annie replied, "same dad. But Chris and I grew up together."
"Your mother was in the army," William said.
"She had me her first year of medical school," Annie replied, "I couldn't imagine doing it. I had Ellie as a fifth year resident and delayed the start of my fellowship a few months. But in med school would have been tough."
"Grey Sloan," the doctor in charge called.
"That's us," Annie replied.
Annie quickly harvested the heart and connected it to the machine for heart in a box the way Teddy had taught her. They ran for the ambulance that was transporting them to the airport and began the reverse journey. Waiting on the tarmac to be cleared for take off Annie texted Josh.
Annie, "bring Ellie to the hospital. Don't give her a bottle."
Josh, "she's not up yet she'll be hungry."
Annie, "her oatmeal. I used heart in a box so I can have time to feed her before I do the transplant."
Josh, "I'll try."
Annie, "I need you to bring her, there's only two bottles in the fridge you'll need them during surgery. She's been really hungry this week."
Josh, "I'll bring her to you. Will you really have time?"
Annie, "it's heart in a box it buys us time. We can wait for her to eat. They won't start prep until I'm in Seattle."
Josh, "ETA?"
Annie, "2 hours."
Josh, "I won't get her to wait that long."
Annie, "oatmeal, banana, if you have to you still need to bring the other work bag to me. I didn't remember to grab it."
Josh, "where is it?"
Annie, "kitchen. The parts are all in the drying rack."
Josh, "I'll bring you it and Ellie."
Annie, "thanks. Were on the runway in a second I have to turn my phone off."
Jenna asked, "are you okay?"
"I didn't feed Ellie before I left because she was sound asleep but it's almost 6 and she's up for her breakfast at 6:30," Annie said.
"Josh can give her breakfast," Jenna said.
"There's only two bottles left for her so I need him to bring me her and buy some time with her oatmeal," Annie said.
"Christmas eve what can I bring," Jenna asked.
"You," Annie replied, "I know you don't normally celebrate Christmas. How are you and C going to do that?"
"I'm only Jewish around my mother," Jenna replied.
"You have your traditions," Annie said, "you baby should know both."
"Or we don't teach either religion and let them figure it out," Jenna said.
"That's between you and Chris," Annie replied, "I was more thinking why couldn't you have Hanukkah and Christmas. More to celebrate."
After chatting a bit longer Annie curled up in her seat for a quick cat nap before they landed. Being pulled out of bed at two in the morning after being up late with a fussy baby she was tired. Ellie was fighting a cold and very clingy with Annie.
They made it to the hospital and Annie gave the direction to prep Jonah. Josh met her with Ellie.
"Did you miss me this morning baby bug," Annie asked.
"Ma," Ellie babbled.
"Mommy that's right," Annie smiled.
"Ma," Ellie said.
"Yes mommy," Annie said, kissing Ellie's head.
"I brought you this," Josh said, passing her the bag, "Ellie wanted a bottle."
"Great," Annie said, "thanks for bringing it. The three of us find somewhere quiet."
"How much time do you have," Josh asked.
"20 minutes," Annie guessed.
Annie changed to clean scrubs and ran to scrub.
"Do you need an assist," Teddy asked in the scrub room.
"As an assistant," Annie asked, " not the attending?"
"Jonah is your patient," Teddy said, "you've taken him from start to finish. It's your surgery."
"My first solo transplant," Annie said.
"Its up to you but we used to plan on doing your first transplant together," Teddy said.
"You're my assist," Annie asked, "its still my OR?"
"And your playlist," Teddy agreed, "you're the attending. Your ready for this, you've earned this sweetheart."
"Scrub," Annie said, "but if you start taking over I'm kicking you out."
"Fine," Teddy agreed.
They scrubbed together and entered the OR.
On the table they were still getting Jonah prepared and put under he was anxious.
"Jonah it's just me," Annie said, "you're okay. Deep breath."
"I'm scared," Jonah said.
"I know," Annie replied, "look at me. Look in my eyes. I'm going to be here for every minute of this. I have you. Your heart is ready for you. When you wake up you're going to feel so much better. No more LVAD we don't have to plug you in anymore."
"Really," Jonah asked.
"Yes," Annie promised, "I've seen your new heart and held it. It's strong and healthy, Jonah it's a perfect heart."
"Count back from ten," the anesthesiologist directed.
Jonah started to count and was out by the time he got to seven.
Once he was draped Annie stepped to her position at the side of the table and held out her hand, "10 blade."
Annie cut into Jonah's chest and began to crack his sternum.
In the gallery Josh held Ellie up to the window.
"Look at mommy," Josh said, "she's saving that boy's life. Mommy is going to give him a new heart. See grandma is making sure the heart is okay."
"Dr Riggs," an intern greeted, "who is this?"
"This is my daughter Ellie," Josh said, "we're just watching mommy do a heart transplant."
"Your dating doctor Altman," the intern asked.
"We've been married two years," Josh said.
"Is it bring your baby to work day," Nathan teased walking in with Catrina.
"Annie's doing a transplant," Josh said.
"Meg got called in overnight," Nathan said, "a young woman the injuries are from domestic violence so they brought Meghan in to do it."
"I hope everything is okay," Josh said.
"Nothing Meg can't fix," Nathan said, "but miss Catrina missed her mama so we came to say hi."
"Ellie and Annie don't do the separation thing well," Josh said.
"Neither do Meg and Catrina," Nathan agreed.
"I like showing Ellie how brilliant her mommy is," Josh said, "I love when Annie brings Ellie into the gallery to watch."
"She does that a lot," Nathan said, "I've also seen her do skills labs about communicating with kids Ellie in her arms or in the carrier."
"She does that," Josh said, "it helps the interns learn it."
"Does it," Nathan asked.
"They see the baby and they slow down and talk to her," Josh said, "plus it makes Annie feel better."
"Annie loves that little girl," Nathan observed.
"You have no idea," Josh agreed, "my girls. Christmas in two days."
"First Christmases for the babies," Nathan said.
"Annie went all out," Josh said.
"So did Meghan," Nathan replied, "more than normal."
"Matching pajamas again," Josh groaned.
"Four pairs," Nathan moaned, "onseies. She bought adult sized onsies."
"Annie didn't go that far," Josh replied, "this is a good Christmas for this family."
"The transplant," Nathan agreed.
Seeing Annie step back to prepare the heart Josh knew she had a moment and pressed the intercom, "Dr. Altman you have a visitor in the gallery."
"Hi Ellie bug are you being good up there baby girl," Annie called.
"She likes the gallery," Josh said.
"She does," Annie said, "she likes sitting with me when you work."
"Start her young," Teddy teased.
"It's in her DNA," Annie replied, "my first cardio solo you and dad sat there with Ali and Leo."
"We did," Teddy agreed.
"I'm ready for the heart," Annie said, "can you do the disconnection so I don't have to change my gloves?"
"I'm on it," Teddy said.
"Thanks for monitoring the heart," Annie said.
"I'm happy you let me help," Teddy replied.
Teddy passed Annie the heart and Annie connected it quickly sewing the grafts. When she saw it was all ready she called, "lets take him off bypass and test the grafts."
Her grafts held.
"Let's close him up," Annie beamed. She quickly secured the ribs and closed the incisions.
"Okay take him up to ICU," Annie called, "I'll update the family then check on him."
Annie scrubbed out and leaned against the scrub sink for a moment.
"Tired," Tessy asked.
"Two AM call for organs when Ellie didn't go down until 11:30, she has a cold," Annie replied.
"Do you want me to see Jonah's family and you take her home," Teddy offered.
"No," Annie replied, "I have to do this. He's my patient mama. I've done it all they know me."
"They do," Teddy agreed, "update them then get someone else to monitor."
"We'll stay until he wakes up," Annie said, "I'll see his parents, feed Ellie and then check on him."
"Are you okay," Teddy asked.
"I'm good," Annie replied, "we gave a mom back her little boy today."
"We did," Teddy agreed.
Annie walked out of the scrub room to the waiting area.
"Dr. Grace," Mrs. Johnson called, "how is he?"
"He's in post op now," Annie replied, "he came through like a champ. Everything looks good."
"When can we see him," Mr. Johnson asked.
"I will come get you as soon as he is moved to ICU," Annie smiled.
Josh walked through the waiting area with Ellie.
"Ma," Ellie babbled.
"That's mommy she's just seeing another mom and dad," Josh told the baby.
Annie gave a small wave to her baby.
"As I was saying I'll monitor Jonah until he is awake," Annie said, "he was doing well. His vitals looked good when I came out."
"Thank you Dr. Grace," Mrs. Johnson said, hugging Annie, "you gave us back our baby boy."
"Just doing my job," Annie replied.
Teddy joined them, "Dr. Teddy Altman, chief of surgery. I was in the OR with Dr. Grace Altman and Jonah he came through with flying colours. You have a very strong boy."
"Thank you," Mr. Johnson said, "but should we be worried that the chief of surgery came by?"
"Not at all," Teddy replied, "you need two cardiothoratic surgeons for a transplant. It was my weekend on call so I scrubbed in."
"Are you sure things are okay," Mrs. Johnson asked.
"He is," Teddy replied, "he will make a full recovery. I won't be back until after the holidays."
"Merry Christmas Dr. Altman," Mrs. Johnson said.
"Merry Christmas," Teddy replied.
"I'm going to go check on a couple things and then once Jonah is set up in ICU I will come get you," Annie replied.
"Thank you," Mr. Johnson replied.
Annie walked away from them to where Josh and Ellie were waiting.
"What did you think Ellie," Annie asked, kissing the baby's head.
"She thinks mommy is a cardio goddess," Josh said, putting his free arm around Annie's waist.
"So snack time for Ellie, I'll check on Jonah, take his parents up to him and then I'll be home," Annie said.
"I'm off," Josh said, "dinner thoughts?"
"Food," Annie said, "I haven't eaten yet."
"Nothing," Josh asked.
"No time," Annie replied, "I'm starving. And I really need water."
"Take Ellie, I'll get you a snack and water," Josh said.
"Come here Ellie," Annie said, settling her baby on her hip.
Ellie pulled at Annie's shirt.
"Let's go to our spot baby," Annie said.