Two weeks after the fishing trip Katie was coming down to spend the week with Annie and Josh.
Annie was on the front lawn playing ball with Ellie when Katie pulled in.
"Annie, Ellie," Katie greeted, getting out of the car.
"Katie," Annie greeted with a hug.
"Tee," Ellie tried.
"Yes Ellie, I'm Katie," Katie smiled, "do I get a hug?"
"No," Ellie said, turning her face into Annie's shoulder.
"She's shy at first and it's almost naptime," Annie said.
"I get it," Katie said, "kids should choose if they want to be touched."
"We try," Annie said, "the exception is diaper changes and bath time."
"That's fair," Katie replied.
"Let's head inside," Annie smiled, "I'll get this one down for her nap then we can relax."
"Do you need help," Katie asked as they walked into the house.
"No," Annie said, "you get settled. You're on the sofa bed in the office. Get comfortable and I'll be back in a bit."
"What's the nap routine," Katie asked.
"Milk and cuddle, one of grandmere's songs, in the crib, lights out and music on," Annie said, "she'll sleep 2.5 to 3 hours."
"Do you want me to grab her sippy cup," Katie offered.
"Not for this," Annie said, "this is a mom job."
"Be a doctor Annie," Katie groaned.
"Ellie still nurses before naps and bedtime and when she wakes up in the morning," Annie said.
"She's how old," Katie asked.
"Almost 15 months," Annie said, "she's not ready to stop and it's not a big deal for me. And she only gets it if I'm there not in her cup."
"I'll give you your space," Katie said.
"Our chair is in the living room," Annie said, "I love the chair Dan made."
"Your rocker," Katie asked.
"Yes," Annie smiled, "do your thing, help yourself to anything it's your home for the week."
"Thanks Annie," Katie said, walking into the office to get organized. Katie had only been 12 when Annie left ten years earlier she didn't have the same memories of Annie her older brothers did. But she had quickly decided she loved Annie. Katie remembered Annie as shy and gentle with a warm laugh. Getting to know Annie now Katie realized the woman was kind, loving and brilliant with a hidden strength. She had seen all sides of the most mysterious of her older cousins fishing. Katie had watched Annie closely at the fishing camp and had seen what might be possible for her own life.
After putting Ellie down for her nap Annie asked, "Katie do you want tea?"
"That sounds good," Katie replied, "need help?"
"Just come pick one," Annie replied.
When they were sitting on the back porch with their tea Katie asked, "what's the plan for the week?"
"Your starting third year," Annie confirmed.
"Yes," Katie said.
"So we have some third years with us this week," Annie replied, "you're going to go with them on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday with my resident Kira Eaket, I had her as an intern before Ellie was born, she's starting her third year, she's good. Thursday you're with me and Friday I have you with Dr. Grey."
"What," Katie shouted, "Mereidth Grey?"
"I asked, she said yes," Annie replied.
"Just like that," Katie asked.
"I played the chief's daughter card," Annie replied, "It's not a favour I call in often and never with Grey."
"I want to know more about her abdominal wall transplant," Katie said, "we learned about that last year."
"Sunday dinner is here tonight," Annie said, "you'll get to meet the first patient."
"The first patient, you know them," Katie said.
"Auntie Meghan," Annie replied, "you met her at Jenna's babyshower. Tall woman, red hair."
"How is she related to you," Katie asked.
"Family tree time," Annie said, "mama is married to dad or Uncle Owen. You know them as Teddy and Owen. Owen has a sister named Meghan who I call Auntie Meghan or Meg. Meg is married to Nathan Riggs. Uncle Nanthan is Josh's uncle on his dad's side. Josh and I didn't know our families were connected until our third year of medical school when mama, dad and uncle Nathan went to that conference."
"Interesting," Katie said.
"It works," Annie replied, "mama and uncle Nathan were shocked at first that Josh and I were super close, we were about your age. Mama, Dad, Auntie Meghan and Uncle Nathan all served together in Iraq."
"Is Sunday dinner formal," Katie asked.
"No," Annie smiled, "just BBQ Burgers and salads tonight. Nothing fancy. I need to do desert yet. Just apple crisp and ice cream. When it's just family time we keep it simple. Lots of kids tonight. Allison, Leo, Ellie, Faroke and Catrina.
"Who's kids are the other two," Katie asked.
"Meghan and Nathan's," Annie said, "Faroke is 16 and Catrina is 11 months."
"That's an age gap," Katie commented.
"25 between me and Allison," Annie pointed out, "that was fun when she told me that. She had lectured me like two weeks before about being safe then told me she was having her best friend's baby. Mama and dad got married when Allison was about 7 months. The family here doesn't do anything normally."
"I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of your family," Katie said.
"A couple hours," Annie smiled, "and you can ask Meghan about her transplant, she's pretty proud of it. I was one of the interns on her case. It was before mama and dad were together so I could be."
"You were an intern on that," Katie said, "if I wanted surgery could I do my residency here?"
"I don't know, I never looked into it," Annie replied, "my license isn't valid in Canada."
"I told a couple school friends what I was doing this week," Katie said.
"What did they say," Annie asked.
"They were jealous," Katie said, "they wanted to know why I didn't say anything about being related to Grace Altman before."
"What did you say," Annie asked.
"I don't see you often and when I see you we don't usually talk about medicine. But I did tell them about the explosion and working with you and your mama," Katie said, "but I want to share the story when I take my trauma class in a couple weeks."
"In trauma class you worked with Owen Hunt," Annie said, "that's the name you want there. Mama in cardio, dad in trauma."
Katie had been texting someone.
"Who are you texting," Annie asked.
"Duncan from school," Katie said, "I like him."
"Go for it, ask him to hang out," Annie said, "does he know where you are?"
"He does," Katie said, "that I'm having tea with you."
"Good," Annie said, "I should start the apple crisp and salads so I don't have a mess when people are here."
"I'll help," Katie offered.
"Kitchen dance party," Annie suggested.
They worked together to prepare the salads and dessert.
Meghan and Nathan let themselves in. Meghan set Catrina on the floor and she toddled towards the living room.
"She's walking," Annie squealed.
"Yesterday," Meghan replied, "she's three weeks from her birthday."
"Week youngerthan Ellie was," Annie said, "look at them."
The two babies were trying to hug each other.
"That is cute," Meghan said, "besties?"
"I hope so," Annie replied, "only four months apart."
"They are really cute," Katie said.
"Is Catrina almost as tall as Ellie," Annie asked.
"Close," Meghan said, "they weigh about the same."
"No way," Annie said, "Ellie is 15 months."
"Pick Catrina up," Meghan said.
"She's the only kid that doesn't like me," Annie groaned.
"Ellie isn't my biggest fan," Meghan said, "they both just want mama."
"And we've spent the year focused on our own," Annie said.
"We have," Meghan agreed.
"It's so cute to watch them play together," Annie said, "they could be quite the team."
"You had cousins like that," Meghan commented.
"I do," Annie said, "I think you've met briefly but never talked though. This is my cousin Katie. She's starting her third year of medical school at UBC. Katie this is Meghan Hunt."
"It's nice to meet you again," Katie said offering Meghan her hand.
"Family hugs," Meghan said, pulling Katie into a hug, "have you started to think of a specialty?"
"Sort of," Katie replied, "I thought I wanted to be a pediatrician but then I was at the explosion helping out. Annie taught me to put in chest tubes and intubate up there."
"Surgery maybe," Meghan asked.
"I don't know," Katie said, "I talked a lot with Annie, Josh, Jenna, Teddy and Owen up fishing. I'm excited for this week. Annie has me working with Dr. Grey on Friday."
"What made you want to meet Grey," Meghan asked.
"Our surgery class learned about her abdominal wall transplant," Katie said.
"That was me," Meghan said, "six years ago."
"We were interns," Annie said.
"My day intern, I think I scared you," Meghan laughed.
"My parents," Annie said, "it was my first big job as a doctor. I couldn't let dad down, I had to do it for him."
Meghan offered, "Katie do you want to see the scar?"
"I can," Katie said.
"Why not," Meghan said, "do you want my side of the story?"
"Please," Katie said.
"Annie do you need help," Meghan asked.
"We're good," Annie said, "you have a seat."
Chris and Jenna came in.
"Katie cat," Chris greeted, "scrubbing in this week?"
"Annie, Teddy, and Dr. Grey," Katie smiled.
"Me," Meghan said.
"See what I have come up," Josh said, "I'm taking the kids outside."
"What can I do," Teddy asked.
"We just need to BBQ the burgers," Annie said, "no rush."
They spent the night chatting and hanging out.
Monday morning Annie and Josh got ready for work at Ellie ready for daycare.
"How does our day work," Katie asked as they got in the car.
"Josh is on call for trauma so he doesn't have a set schedule," Annie said, "I have a follow up on a transplant patient first, two HLH babies to check in on, one valve replacement and what popped up over the weekend," Annie replied, "I need to check in with the nicu right away."
"Busy day," Katie said, "what time are you done?"
"Five thirty ish," Annie replied.
"You work 7 to 5:30," Katie said.
"It's a normal day for us," Annie replied, "Josh often does 36 hour shifts."
"Why," Katie asked.
"Because we have to have a trauma surgeon ready 24/7 were a level 1 trauma center," Annie explained, "we have three attendings, dad, auntie Meghan and April Kepner, we should have one more. But we have 8 trauma fellows."
"Will you and Josh be able to stay," Katie asked.
"Me more than him," Annie replied, "we don't have a peds cardio attending because it's a niche specialty they want to keep me. Josh hopefully in the trauma attending spot if it's offered, but they can't offer it until April or May when he's closer to finished his fellowship. If not there's two other hospitals that need trauma surgeons in seattle. We'll stay here."
"What do you want to do," Katie said.
"I want to be with Ellie and Josh, maybe have another one day, work on my peds kids," Annie said.
"I could do peds surgery and have it all," Katie asked.
"It's not easy," Annie said, "but you can do it. We'll help and support you, your parents will, grandmere and papa, Chris and Jenna. You have people in your corner."
"You didn't," Katie said.
"I did," Annie said, "Josh and I did it all together. Mama, Dad, Auntie Meghan, Uncle Nathan, Nana. I may have been pushed out by Jessica but I was never alone. Katie I had a family that chose me. You met them last night. Meg called you family, you're one of us now. She wants to show you something on her veterans project today."
"What," Katie asked.
"She restores function to vets," Annie said, "I've scrubbed in with her before. She's fun to work with. She has a great sense of humor."
"Scrubbing in with you what do I expect," Katie asked.
"It's a valve replacement, it's a couple hours," Annie replied, "we'll put music on and get to work."
Annie pulled into her parking space and scooped Ellie out of her carseat.
"Good morning Alex," Annie called.
"Mini Altman," Alex said, "you brought a shadow."
"This is my cousin Katie McKellar," Annie explained, "she's a third year med student. Katie, this is Alex Karev, our head of pediatric surgery. Katie wants to be Dr. Grey when she grows up."
"Your cousin," Alex said.
"My cousin," Annie replied, "she was 12 when I went to med school. You don't get to freak out with Grey and Yang about this."
"What have I freaked out with Grey and Yang over," Alex asked.
"My first visit at 19," Annie replied, " I believe the line was what the fuck since when did Altman have a kid."
"None of us had any idea you existed," Alex said.
"Yang did," Annie replied.
"She had met you months before," Alex said.
"Mama didn't want the whole hospital knowing until she knew what was going on and how much I wanted to be around," Annie said, "dad knew."
"Its still odd to hear you calling Hunt dad," Alex said.
"It works for our family," Annie said.
"Hows Ellie," Alex asked.
"Good," Annie replied, "happy most days. Hitting all her milestones. Healthy."
"Good," Alex smiled, "she's cute Grace."
"Thank you," Annie smiled.
"How old is she now," Alex asked.
"15 months," Annie replied, "I'm going to get her up to daycare and get ready for the day. I'll meet you in the NICU?"
"Sounds good," Alex said.
In the afternoon cardio department meeting Katie was star struck.
"Annie," Katie whispered, "is that Dr. Pierce with Dr. Yang?"
"It is," Annie smiled, "so you like cardio?"
"Maybe," Katie said.
"Come sit," Annie said, "watch the meeting this one will be intense, new residents and fellows to place. "
"Thing one you brought a med student," Christina commented.
"Dr Yang this is my cousin Katilyn McKellar," Annie introduced, "Katie this is Dr. Christina Yang."
"Its a pleasure to meet you," Katie smiled shaking Christina's hand.
"A McKellar so thing three," Chrisitina teased.
"Three," Annie asked.
"Your one, your brother is two, Ellie is 1.1," Christina said, "your cousin can be three."
"Your in Katie," Annie said, "once you get a nickname from Christina thats it."
"Grace who did you bring," Maggie asked.
"Dr. Margaret Pierce this is my cousin Kaitlyn McKellar," Annie introduced, "Katie this is Dr. Maggie Pierce. Katie is a third year med student at UBC and spending the week with me."
"I'm really excited to be here," Katie said.
"I'm happy to have you here," Annie said.
"It's a special gift your cousin can give you to scrub in here," Maggie commented.
"Mama used to bring me into the OR as a premed student," Annie told Maggie, "I worked with her, Yang, Kepner, Dad, Avery, Karev, Grey and Webber. That time here and scrubbing in with them shaped what I wanted and my goals. I'm in a spot now that I can bring Katie with me and I'm happy to have my little cousin."
"This is amazing," Katie breathed.
"You keep playing with your phone," Annie said.
"Telling a couple friends where I am," Katie blushed.
"Katie should we take a picture of you with everyone," Teddy offered, "you can put it on instagram."
"Really," Katie asked.
"Come on," Teddy replied, "Eaket you can take it. Attendings and Fellows please."
They quickly took the picture and got down to the business of the meeting.
Annie got paged to the pit following the meeting for difficulty breathing in a 3 year old.
"Katie go with mama," Annie directed.
"Annie what do you have," penetrating chest wound, probably surgical but you have a pacemaker."
"More controlled," Teddy agreed, "come on Katie. Have you been taught to scrub yet?"
"Not yet," Katie said.
"Come on," Teddy said, "I taught Annie to scrub."
Annie ran into the pit to join Meghan.
"Difficulty breathing following a trip in the dryer," Meghan said.
"The dryer," Annie asked, "why was he in the dryer?"
"The babysitter brought him in," Meghan replied.
"Name," Annie asked.
"Theo," Meghan replied.
Annie entered the trauma room, "hi Theo I'm Dr. Altman. I'm going to take a listen to your chest and figure out what's going on with your lungs and heart. Dr, Hunt is going to keep working on your tummy."
Annie did her exam telling the interns what she was observing and calling out orders to take him for a CT.
"Theo, Theo," a woman bellowed in the waiting room.
Annie and Meghan stepped into the hallway.
"Mrs. Callahan," Annie asked.
"Yes," Mrs. Callahan replied.
"I'm Dr. Altman, this is Dr. Hunt, we're surgeons working on Theo's case," Annie introduced.
"Do you have children," the mother asked.
"We do," Meghan said.
"How old," the mother asked.
"Sixteen and almost one," Meghan replied.
"Fifteen months," Annie replied.
"Can you help Theo," the mom asked.
"We're just waiting for test results then will take him to the OR," Annie replied.
"He needs surgery," the mom panicked.
"He does," Meghan said, "nothing to worry about. Dr. Altman and I have done this type of repair before."
"We will treat Theo like he's our own," Annie promised.
"What's wrong with him," the mom asked.
"Some internal injuries and bleeding from his trip in the dryer," Meghan said, " crush injuries to his abdomen and chest. I'll work on the injuries in his abdomen and Dr. Altman will deal with his chest injuries."
"Have you worked together before," the mom asked.
"For a few years," Meghan replied, "we know each other well. I've trained her from an intern."
"She's my aunt," Annie replied, "we work really well together."
"We're going to get Theo into the OR," Meghan said, "we will send updates as soon as we can."
Annie and Meghan took the little boy upto the OR and began to operate. Katie sat in the gallery with Josh while he explained what was happening in the OR.
"So bringing a McKellar to the hospital, "Meghan said as they worked.
"Crazy," Annie agreed, "maybe it's time."
"Are you okay," Meghan asked.
"I never wanted them out of my life," Annie said, "I wanted both. I should have had you, mama, dad, uncle Nathan, and Nana and them. I needed both."
"I know you did," Meghan agreed, "Teddy always wanted you. My mom says she was a different person once you were around. That she laughed and smiled and thats when she showed her gentle side. Teddy said the fishing trip went really well."
"It did," Annie smiled, "way better than I thought."
"What did they say," Meghan asked.
"Some acted like I never left, others tried to make me tell the whole story," Annie said, "I tell what I'm comfortable with. They all loved Ellie."
"Of course they would love Ellie," Meghan smiled, "are you okay having them all back?"
"I'm still keeping my boundaries," Annie said.
"You should," Meghan replied.
"I'm not sure how this will play out," Annie admitted, "it's a lot to take in. I don't know how to balance it all."
"You'll figure it out," Meghan assured.
"I like them and seeing them," Annie said, "but I'm happier with our family here. I can be the real me with you."
"We see all sides of you," Meghan agreed.
"I don't have to hide when I'm overwhelmed with you," Annie said.
"You can," Meghan agreed, "we understand what you've been through. Your whole story."
"Are we going to dance this year," Annie asked.
"Are you feeling ready to go back," Meghan asked.
"I want to," Annie said, "I miss it. Just that rec class we were doing before Ellie."
"I stopped because I felt silly with out you," Meghan said, "let me talk to Nathan to check the schedule."
"I've mentioned it to Josh, he's really supportive," Annie said.
"What did he say," Meghan asked.
"He pulled up the website and started doing my online form," Annie said, " he wants me to do it."
"Did he say why," Meghan asked.
"He wants me to dance because I'm not good at doing the things that just make me happy. I walk with Ellie, we do mommy and me yoga and a mom and tot fitness class," Annie said, "I run or go to the gym with Josh."
"You need something for your self," Meghan agreed.
"I do things," Annie said, "I see Barbara and Dr. Graff."
"Those are health things just for fun," Meghan pushed.
"Not much," Annie said, "the odd night with Jenna, Cassidy and Steph."
"Take the class," Meghan replied, "I'm in."
"What do you do for yourself," Annie asked.
"I run. How do we have time with babies," Meghan asked.
"Exactly," Annie replied, "the last two years have been focused on Ellie in some form."
"You would have," Meghan said, "she's 15 months so your last two years."
"I know," Annie said, "maybe it's time I take the one hour class a week for me."
"Let's do it," Meghan said, "new dance shoes?"
"Mine should be okay," Annie said, "practice clothes yes."
"Go get it," Meghan said.
"Ordering Lululemon then," Annie smiled, "but why is it so hard to let myself take the time to do a dance class or a yoga class on my own?"
"Because you're a mom," Meghan said, "I struggle with it two. Teddy doesn't unless Owen makes her. Our kids will always come first but that doesn't mean we can't do what we love."
"It's hard," Annie said, "I feel guilty leaving her and not spending time with Ellie and Josh."
"Josh wants you to be happy," Meghan assured, "Ellie needs you to be confident and happy."
"I don't want her to feel abandoned," Annie replied.
"A dance class for an hour or so a week isn't abandoning her," Meghan promised, "I know why you worry but you're not Leslie."
"I'm torn," Annie said, "I want to and I miss dancing even though I know I've lost a lot of flexibility, bounce and muscle tone."
"What's the but," Meghan pressed.
"I should be with Ellie," Annie replied, "she's still so little. It's selfish."
"It's not," Meghan declared, "Nate and I go away for the weekend and my mom watches the kids, you take Allison and Leo for weekends so your parents get time to be a couple. You want an hour to dance. Faroke babysits so Nate and I can play soccer. Annie you can have that time to dance for an hour a week, we would take Ellie for a night if you wanted to just be a couple."
"I think I'll dance," Annie said, "but we're not ready to leave her overnight."
"Last time you had a night without Ellie," Meghan asked.
"Our anniversary," Annie said, "mama and dad took her for the night."
"Okay," Meghan replied, "you and Josh still need time as a couple."
"We do," Annie agreed, "Katie offered to watch Ellie one night this week so Josh and I could do dinner. I should take her up on it."
"Do it," Meghan said.
"I'll see how Ellie does with Katie," Annie agreed.
"She'll be fine," Meghan assured, "she does well at daycare."
"She's good with familiar people," Annie said, "but Katie just wants to be here with her idols."
"I'm ready to close," Meghan said, "how long do you have?"
"Ten minutes," Annie replied.
"I can help," Meghan said.
"It's two more sets of sutures and to check my grafts," Annie replied.
"Your good then," Meghan asked.
"I'm good," Annie agreed.
They finished the surgery together and sent the little boy up to peds to recover.
"Mrs. Callahan," Annie said walking into the surgical waiting room.
"How is he," the mom asked.
"He's in post op," Meghan replied, "he's stable and will make a full recovery."
They explained the surgery to the mom and walked towards the attendings lounge.
"Anything for the rest of your day," Meghan asked.
"Research," Annie replied, "unless something comes up."
"I'm going back down to the pit," Meghan said.
"Have fun," Annie smiled.
Katie found Annie.
"What did you think Katie," Annie asked.
"That was amazing," Katie gushed, "you were so calm."
"Not my first set of crush injuries and not the first time I've worked with auntie Meg," Annie shrugged.
"Were you chatting," Katie asked, "we couldn't hear you."
"We were," Annie replied, "we often chat over the table. Just friendly chatting, nothing serious. We're going to dance again in the fall."
"You still dance," Katie asked.
"One adult class a week," Annie said, "just for fun."
Annie's pager went showing a 911.
"It's mama in the pit," Annie said, "run with me."
They ran to the pit and found Teddy working on a 14 year old.
"This looks like an Altman," Teddy said.
"I'm scrubbing in," Annie replied, "he's 14 thats a peds cardio patient."
"He is," Teddy replied.
"What happened," Annie asked.
"Transfer from Pac North," Teddy said, "they can't fix it."
"Lets scrub," Annie replied, "Eaket tell my husband he needs to pick up Ellie from daycare."
"What am I doing," Katie asked.
"Do you want to see an Altman with the Altman's," Teddy asked.
"Yes," Katie squealed.
"Let's go," Annie said.
"Music," Teddy asked.
"Our usual playlist," Annie replied, "I'm in a singing mood."
"We'll do that," Teddy replied.
"Katie when you come into the OR you're on mama's side," Annie replied, "Eaket will be with me."
"Katie," Teddy directed, "I'm going to do what I used to do with Annie. One step behind me and two to my left so I have full range of movement."
"Eaket," Annie directed, "page Posen she can scrub in with us."
They scrubbed in for the long procedure.
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