Six weeks after her collapse in the OR Teddy returned to work, she had been doing administrative things at home for a couple weeks and rewriting policies and procedures but hadn't set foot in the hospital other than for check ups with Winston.

"Welcome back chief," Mika smiled seeing Teddy.

"It's good to be back," Teddy smiled, "how have things been going Yasuda?"

"Okay," Mika said.

"Surgical, personal, eating," Teddy asked.

"All good," Mika said, "the doubled meal stipend really helps thank you."

"It's only doing the right thing," Teddy replied.

Teddy made it to her office and went over her notes ahead of her meeting with Catherine.

"You're feeling better," Catherine asked letting her self into Teddy's office.

"I am," Teddy replied, "you got my proposals?"

"I did," Catherine replied, "you've been busy."

"It gave me time to think and review what's working and what needs to be improved," Teddy replied.

"Your changes are sweeping," Catherine replied.

"I know," Teddy replied, "but we won't do it all at once. We'll prioritise and make one change at a time."

"Two would be okay," Catherine replied.

"We'll get the feel of the staff," Teddy replied, "I want to start with the patient and staff safety ones. Moral is low still, doctors are still being doxed I need to set up safety protocols and prevent another incident like happened in the clinic."

"Your military back ground," Catherine asked.

"Yes and reading the policies some were from the shooting or earlier," Teddy replied, "they're at least 15 years old we need to update them."

"When the foundation too over," Catherine asked.

"You rebranded," Teddy replied.

"We did and updated some but not all protocols," Catherine agreed.

"We're doing a top to bottom review of all protocols to ensure safety and that we're up to date," Teddy replied, "these are my proposals, I want them looked over by you and Richard, Jackson my department heads."

"Why now," Catherine asked, "why this?"

"Because what we have isn't working for our reality," Teddy replied, "the protocols were written for a pre-covid era. We need to update them. I've seen it as a doctor and now as a patient. We need to update. Some are sweeping changes particularly around staffing others are minor updates."

"The staffing changes," Catherine asked, "your notes marked those as the big budget items."

"Yes," Teddy replied, "beyond resident pay and benefits we need to look at all staffing schedules. Most departments have okay rotation schedules but can we reduce the number of 24 hour calls? We know we're less effective when we're sleep deprived. It would mean an increase in staffing needed but the work life balance and patient care benefits outweigh the cost. Not every department needs 3 people on 24 hour call either. OB, Cardio, Neuro, Trauma, General, Peds, Ortho your front line in major accidents, illness and injuries or births do but ENT, Ophthalmology, Plastics having one or two is sufficient. Looking at our records in the last six months we've only had two incidents where we've needed the second ophthalmologist over night or on a weekend. Having them on a 20 or 30 minute call time is appropriate. Plastics with the new reconstructive team we need our burn specialists and one plastic surgeon for traumas but again we seldom need more than one in the OR over night or on weekends 95% of their work is scheduled."

"You had another big budget proposal," Catherine said.

"We need to provide or subsidised housing for residents and interns," Teddy replied, "Yasuda was living in her van. That's fun for camping but not for living. Grey had let a group move in but we need more. What if we purchased a house by the hospital an rent out rooms to interns and residents. We have a basement suite to rent out and can have two down there."

"Your own home," Catherine asked.

"We have a two bedroom basement suite," Teddy replied, "we need to rent it out so I'm going to post it for the incoming intern class. Two men or two women, a couple. There's two coming that are married and have a baby. It might be a good fit for them. Let them have access to the yard for their little one. We can share the playset and sandbox. Let the kids play together."

"Your own home," Catherine pressed.

"Residents need safe affordable places to live," Teddy replied, "we can charge less than market rent. Or we come up with a rent stipend to help residents. They shouldn't struggle how we did. Residents shouldn't have to choose between a roof over their head or eating. Owen and I are willing to help. Hopefully the residents we rent to don't mind our three kids."

"Three children," Catherine asked, "are you adopting again?"

"No," Teddy replied, "I'm pregnant. Never thought it would happen again at my age, we were happy with our two then we found out and we're really happy."

"Do you know the gender," Catherine asked.

"Not yet," Teddy replied, "I think it's another girl. We'll find out in two weeks and do the amnio then."

"You'll be busy," Catherine smiled, "a woman leading like we do."

"My children will always come first," Teddy replied.

"Jackson still does," Catherine said, "and little Harriett."

"How is she doing," Teddy asked.

"Loving Boston," Catherine said, "I miss it and seeing her everyday. You must miss your parents you're originally from New York."

"My parents passed 20 some odd years ago," Teddy replied, "I wish they could meet Owen and my kids. They died before I enlisted and met Owen."

"Mine never met Jackson," Catherine replied, "I'm sorry. I know how hard it is to want your mom to hold your babies."

"They have Evelyn," Teddy replied, "and Evelyn Hunt is the best grandma."

"They're loved," Catherine said.

"They are very loved," Teddy assured, "and my sister was just here and will come back at Christmas."

"It's important to have family," Catherine said, "I wish I had seen it sooner."

"My kids will be loved and cared for," Teddy replied, "that's all that matters. They will see a mom who is strong and leads and fights for people. I am willing to go down on the issue of supporting our residents. I know it's a cost item but long run it will pay off with staff loyalty and moral being boosted right away. It will attract residents to us."

"I believe you," Catherine said, "I just need to find the money to support this."