Dan walked into the conference center slightly nervous, his divorce was final and with some encouragement from the pastor at his church he was attending a conference for divorced guys. He wasn't sure what to expect but it was near mount baker but it included snowmobiling and skiing on the activities list. Dan walked into the main room and helped himself to a cup of coffee.

"Mr McKellar," a man greeted him.

"Dan," Dan replied, "I've met you somewhere."

"I'm Jackson," Jackson replied, "I'm a surgeon at Grey Sloan."

"Do you know Grace Altman," Dan asked.

"I do," Jackson replied, "peds cardio fellow."

"My oldest daughter," Dan said, "she uses her birth mother's last name professionally."

"I know," Jackson replied, "I've known her since she was 19 and started coming to scrub in with Teddy. Their family still calls her Annie."

"I've heard that," Dan said, "her other family still uses Annie."

"Other family," Jackson asked. He thought the term other seemed odd knowing how welcoming the family was.

"Teddy and Owen's family," Dan clarified.

"It's always looked like two sides of one family to me," Jackson replied, "from the time she started coming down to observe. It was great teaching her when she first started visiting, Lexie and I could get her to do anything for peanut butter cups. It was a surprise when everyone found out Teddy had a daughter, Grace's first visit."

"When we started losing her," Dan said.

"What do you mean," Jackson asked, he had heard the whole story a few years before and watched how they had tortured Annie the previous spring. But he was curious about this man's side.

"Annie started to pull away from my ex and I when she first met Teddy," Dan said, "at first we thought it was a short term thing. She'd spend some time with Teddy, get some questions answered then Teddy would be back to letters and emails. But Annie stopped wanting us around and clung to Teddy."

"I know that's not what happened," Jackson said, "those two are tight and have been for years. Owen is a good friend of mine."

"I know," Dan agreed, "it's not what I expected. I don't know the whole story. I think they're pretty open with each other."

"It's an interesting situation when you work with your mother and stepfather," Jackson said, "my mom is also a surgeon at Grey Sloan and runs the foundation and my stepfather is the head of the residency program. You have to be close and work well professionally and keep boundaries on being family. It's a lot of very open communication and the Altman Hunt Riggs clan do it very well."

"I'm trying to understand what Teddy has that my ex and I don't," Dan said.

"I know for a long time it was just Teddy and Grace, they talked more than most families do. Grace dreams big and has huge goals, Teddy knew how to help her," Jackson replied, "when did they start getting close?"

"The summer Annie was 19," Dan said, "our younger daughter Jessica had a brain tumour that we didn't know about at the time and Jess was violent with Annie. It's actually the fall out from Jessica's tumour that was a factor in ending my marriage after 35 years."

"I remember that," Jackson said, "I treated Grace that summer. Teddy hand picked the residents that got to be involved. I was surprised when I was included with my ex April."

"Annie liked April," Dan said.

"They still talk," Jackson said, "April and I work together at the hospital and co parent."

"How old are your kids," Dan asked.

"Harriet is almost seven," Jackson replied, "do you have other kids than Grace and Jessica?"

"Chris is 29," Dan said, "Annie lives in Seattle and Chris is moving there in March."

"What does Chris do," Jackson asked.

"Airforce, medevac and search and rescue helicopter pilot," Dan said, "but he's doing some transport for an exploration company for a while. To get his residency in the states."

"Sargent McKellar," Jackson realized, "we worked with him in Haiti. Grace, Josh and Chris had a lot of fun together."

"I had no clue both were down there until months after," Dan said, "why did your hospital send Annie?"

"Teddy and Owen ran our team in military mode," Jackson replied, "Grace was always with someone she knew. They were the most cautious with her placements because of Teddy's military history, she was in charge and knew what to expect so she made sure to put our residents where they could be successful and show off how strong our program is."

"What do Teddy and Owen do that keeps Annie so close to them," Dan asked.

"They talk," Jackson replied, "I've worked with them everyday for years. Teddy and Owen taught me as a resident. They teach and encourage. They listen to their kids, they always have time for them. Their family makes a point of spending time as a family every week. They go to the cabin, run, go for coffee."

"Annie used to say that Teddy always called or texted back," Dan said, "we couldn't not with Jessica and my ex as controlling as they are. I didn't see Annie for who she is until this past year. I listened to Leslie and Jessica and let her go instead of fighting for her."

"It's not something that's talked about," Jackson said, "people at the hospital like Grace. She's hard working, kind, gentle with her peds kids. She's taken a step back from her extra projects to focus on Ellie."

"She loves that little girl," Dan said, "I'll go see them before I go home."

"They're a cute family," Jackson agreed.

"How do you and April make it work," Dan asked.

"We talk," Jackson said, "she's still my friend, we just don't work as a couple. We focus on what is best for Harriett."

"Tell me about Harriett," Dan said.

"She's almost seven, loves horses and gymnastics and she's taking piano and voice lessons," Jackson said, "she's beyond curious about everything and asks really good questions. She doesn't like the hospital or medical talk. She calls it gross."

"I get lost in all the medical talk," Dan replied, "it would be a lot for a seven year old to take in."

"Grace and Josh," Jackson said, "they would talk about work."

"Then Chris is dating Jenna, she's a neurosurgeon," Dan replied.

"Silverstone," Jackson said, "her and Grace are the next Grey and Yang."

"Three surgeons' conversation turns medical pretty quick and Chris is fairly knowledgeable," Dan said, "I like spending time with the four of them. Really getting to know my older kids and my son and daughter in law."

"They would," Jackson said, "my mom and step father are both surgeons so the three of us together it turns to work talk."

Nathan paced their bedroom while Meghan tried to get him to calm down.

"How can I calm down," Nathan asked

"You don't know what it is," Meghan soothed.

"My brother is in critical condition," Nathan ranted, "I have to tell Josh."

"Let's go over there," Meghan suggested, "tell them at home."

"He's working," Nathan replied, "they both are Teddy has Ellie."

"We need to go get Ellie from Teddy and drop Catrina off," Meghan said, "someone needs to trade them out."

"I need to go to Portland," Nathan said.

"I'm calling Kepner," Meghan said, "she can pick up the trauma time."

"Get one of the fellows," Nathan said, "fellow for fellow. Colton owes Annie some time when she picked up his service when he was sick."

"What do we tell Josh," Meghan asked.

"Ian is in critical condition after being hit by a drunk driver," Nathan said.

"I'll get the diaper bag and call Teddy to bring Ellie to the hospital," Meghan said, "you get Catrina."

Meghan drove Nathan to the hospital in tense silence. The relationship with Ian had always been strained and difficult but this was still his younger brother. Nathan had been angry about many of Ian's life choices over the years especially when it came to how he had treated Josh. But that's what happened when you had your child three weeks after you finished high school.

Josh walked into Nathan's office.

"You paged," Josh asked.

"Have a seat," Nathan directed.

"What's wrong," Josh asked, seeing his face.

"We'll wait for Annie," Meghan said, "she's just meeting Teddy in the lobby to grab Ellie."

"What's wrong," Josh said, "you wouldn't have Teddy bring Ellie if it wasn't something bad."

Meghan put her hand on his shoulder, "just wait Josh we will tell you everything once annie is here."

Annie slipped into the office and set Ellie in Josh's lap.

"Annie have a seat," Nathan said as Meghan closed the door.

"What's going on," Josh panicked.

"It's about Ian," Nathan said.

"He's been hit by a drunk driver and is in critical condition," Meghan said, knowing Nathan was too emotional.

"What do you know," Annie asked.

"There was a head injury and the neurosurgeon was going to try to stop the hemorrhage," Meghan answered, "when we spoke to them his prognosis wasn't good."

"I need to go," Josh said looking green.

Annie wrapped her arms around him and whispered, "it's okay. I'm right here. We'll take an emergency leave and go down. We can leave as soon as we are packed. It's okay love I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere."

"Don't leave," Josh begged.

"We're not going anywhere," Annie promised, "do you want to call the doctors?"

"Can you," Josh asked.

"You have to call but put it on speaker phone," Annie suggested.

"I'd like to hear the update," Nathan agreed.

"We'll all listen," Meghan promised.

"I'll call," Nathan said.

Nathan phoned the hospital back and spoke to the person on the other end.

"Hello Dr RIggs," the voice on the other end answered, "this is Dr Stephanie Edwards."

"Dr. Edwards," Nathan said, "I have you on speaker phone for an update on my brother. I have two old interns of yours. Dr. Josh Riggs and Dr. Grace Altman as well as my wife Dr. Meghan Hunt."

"Why is Grace Altman there," Stephanie asked.

"Josh and Grace have been married two and a half years," Nathan replied, "Josh wants her here. What are we looking at with Ian?"

"I was able to decompress his skull and stop the bleeding," Stephanie said, "the trauma surgeon is still working. I've had to leave pieces out of his skull to keep the pressure down. If we can keep is intracranial pressure down he may wake up. The damage is significant."

"We're coming down," Josh said, "we're in Seattle it could be five or six hours for us to get there."

"What do you want us to do," Stephanie asked.

"Keep him alive," Josh said.

"All life saving measures until we arrive and assess for ourselves," Nathan said.

"All life saving measures," Josh agreed.

Annie tightened her grip on his hand letting Josh know she was there. Silently reassuring him the way he had held her together so many times.

They finished the call and left Nathan's office. In the locker room Josh began to sob, Annie put Ellie in the stroller and held Josh as tight as she could rubbing his back.

"You're okay," Annie whispered soothingly, "you're all right, I'm right here. Just match my breathing. I love you and I'm here."

Josh let his head fall on her shoulder, his tears soaking her scrub top. Annie gently kissed the top of his head.

"Dada," Ellie asked.

"I'm right here baby bug," Josh said.

"Dada," Ellie said again.

"You change I'll hold Ellie," Josh sniffed, lifting Ellie out of the stroller and holding her tight.

Annie changed quickly, throwing her scrubs in the laundry bin and putting on the skirt and top she had come to work in.

"Here," Annie said, handing Josh his clothes and lifting Ellie from his arms.

"I'll drive," Annie said as they walked out of the room.

"You'll need a week or so," Teddy asked as they passed her.

"At least," Annie replied, "let us get down there and see."

"Take care," Teddy said, "we're here if you need us."

"The cat," Annie said.

"I will," Teddy replied.

"Josh call if you need anything," Owen said.

"We will," Josh replied.

They buckled Ellie into her car seat and Annie drove home in silence knowing Josh needed to be alone with his thoughts.

"Let's just grab casual stuff," Annie said, "we don't need dress clothes."

"What if," Josh asked.

"We're not going to think like that," Annie replied, "we're going to go down and get this all worked out."

"You heard Edwards, he might not wake up," Josh said.

"We'll go and see," Annie soothed, "we have to think positive. We'll go and see him."

"What if," Josh asked.

Annie hugged him ,"stop. We're going to be positive. We know he's alive. The trauma surgeon will do exactly what you or dad or Meg would. There's still hope."

"How can you be sure," Josh asked.

"It's like with Jessica's we have to think positive," Annie replied, "it's the three of us, and Meg and Nathan's family."

"Ellie," Josh said.

"Will be fine," Annie promised, "she's done Portland before. Your dad would want her to come."

"Dan was coming," Josh said.

"He'll understand," Annie said, "we have to go to your dad. Go grab a shower and I'll pack Ellie and I."

"Annie," Josh whispered.

"I know," Annie said, "go shower you'll feel better. I'll be in our room."

"I can't," Josh whispered.

"I know," Annie soothed, "I'm right here. We'll do this together."

Josh stood up from their bed and walked into the bathroom. Annie quickly texte Dan.

Annie, "we have to go to Portland for an emergency. Enjoy your conference. We could be gone a couple weeks. I'll text you when we know more."

Dan, "what happened?"

Annie, "Josh's dad is in critical condition. Still in surgery we're going to see what we can do."

Dan, "let me know if I can do anything."

Annie, "I will. We don't know much yet. We need to see the surgeons and find out. Just pray."

Dan, "I will. I hope it goes well."

Annie threw a week of casual clothes in a bag and packed some clothes for Ellie. She would have to pick up diapers down there she knew she didn't have enough for more than a couple days but they could deal with that later. Annie took Josh's keys from the counter and loaded what she could into the truck.

Josh came out of the bathroom, "what do we need to do?"

"Just your clothes and our toiletries," Annie said, "most of what we need is in the truck."

"Thanks babe," Josh said, giving Annie a hug.

"We'll do this together," Annie promised.

Josh silently packed and carried his bag to the truck.

"I'll drive," Annie offered.

"You sure," Josh asked.

"You're in no shape to drive," Annie said, "I already have the keys, let's go."

"Where are we staying," Josh asked.

"Haven't got there yet I'm sorry," Annie apologized.

"I'll do it from my phone," Josh said.

"We should go," Annie said, buckling Ellie into her car seat and getting into the driver's seat.