The next morning Teddy groaned, "Owen?"
"Right here," Owen promised, squeezing her hand, "I'm here."
"What," Teddy asked.
"Your tooth ache was an abscess that turned into endocarditis," Owen replied, "Yang is here working with Winston. She was here when you collapsed in the OR. Christina did a key hole procedure to clear out the infection in your pericardium. She's done two echos and all valves look okay."
"Baby," Teddy asked.
"As of an hour ago was okay," Owen assured, "heart rate in the 160s. Measuring 8 weeks exactly. Carina has been monitoring."
"Kids," teddy questioned.
"With my mom," Owen promised, "they're well taken care of. Megan is on her way and Caterina."
"Caterina," Teddy asked, "Cat?"
"I called your sister I had to " Owen replied.
"The kids don't know," Teddy started.
"I know they don't know your sister," Owen replied, "I've only met her a couple times. Megan is going to help my mom with the kids. Riggs was with her and coming two."
Christina stood in the door watching her mentor and ex husband. They had always loved each other and were always more than friends but never a couple. She had accepted Teddy as Owens person years before. When she had moved to Switzerland she had reached out to Teddy and as soon as she could Teddy had gone to visit Christina. She had always welcomed Christina when she passed through Germany. Christina was the first to find out about baby Allison on the conference circuit when Teddy wouldn't drink with her. Christina had urged Teddy to go to Seattle and tell Owen in person after she spilled the whole story in a coffee shop in London.
Owen shifted in his chair holding her hand tighter and stroking the back of her hand with his thumb, "you had surgery 18 hours ago and were extubated about 12 hours ago. We let you sleep so you could heal. You'll be here for a few days at least maybe a couple weeks. You're on IV penicillin until the cultures come back because you reacted last time we gave you cefazolin."
"Home," Teddy asked.
"Soon," Owen promised, "lets get you well first. There's still some unknowns. When you're more alert and have fewer lines I'll have mom bring the kids up."
"It hurts," Teddy whined.
"I know it does," Owen replied, "we can get you more pain meds."
"No," Teddy shook her head.
"Teddy," Christina slipped through the door, "Owen."
"Christina," Owen nodded, "I just told Teddy what happened. "
"Teddy I want to take you for another echocardiogram and check but I think you're going to be okay," Christina said, "you might not be chasing your kids for a while but this will be okay."
"The valves," Teddy asked.
"We got in there before damage was done," Christina replied, "there's inflammation but that should go down with time and antibiotics. I'd usually do steroids but your pregnant. If you were further along we could consider it but Owen indicated this is a wanted baby."
"I want the baby," Teddy confirmed.
"Then we will do everything we can to keep your baby where it is," Christina assured, "I had to check with you about baby before I made more decisions."
"I know," Teddy replied, "I'm not just a patient Christina."
"No your my friend and my teacher," Christina replied.
At the nurses station a tall brunette demanded to see Teddy.
"I will check with dr Hunt about visitors," the nurse said.
"I'm her next of kin," the woman replied, "you will let me see Theodora Altman. I'm her next of kin."
"She has designated her husband as her medical proxy," the nurse replied.
"Another sham marriage," the woman replied.
"Page Dr Hunt," the nurse commanded.
Owen saw the page and gave Teddy a soft kiss on the forehead before going to the nurses station to see what was going on.
"Dumb dumb," Megan greeted seeing him approach.
"Megan," Owen replied, "I thought you were helping mom with the kids."
"Mom has your kids and Faroke," Megan replied, "he's good with them as is and comfortable at your house he can baby sit. Nathan is looking for some one, anyone in charge to give him privileges so he can help out."
"Webber will likely step in for Teddy while she recovers," Owen replied, "can you help in trauma? And Nathan will be able to work cardio while you're here."
"Excuse me," the brunette said.
"Caterina," Owen greeted, "it's been to long. We missed you at our wedding."
"It's Theodora her relationships never last I wasn't wasting the trip," Caterina replied.
"How is TEDDY," Megan asked.
"Stable," Owen replied, "Meg if you want to go ahead bed 7. She's sleepy."
"What happened," Caterina replied, "it sounds like malpractice on her dentist's part to me."
"No malpractice," Owen replied, "she hadn't seen a dentist so we can't blame him. It was a toothache that abscessed quickly and caused an infection that spread through her blood stream to her heart. She's had surgery to clean it out. Dr Yang is one of the best cardiothoracic surgeons on the planet. Teddy will need a few days in ICU to monitor her condition then some time on the cardio ward before a few weeks at home. It's complicated by the fact that Teddy is 8 weeks pregnant."
"She's far too old to be pregnant naturally," Caterina replied.
"We're having our third," Owen replied, " Caterina I can't let you see her when you are not calm. Teddy will not be able to rest and recover if you are here picking everything apart and talking to her like I hear you talk to her on the phone. She needs calm, quiet and support."
"Who did you send to see her," Caterina asked.
"My sister Dr Megan Hunt," Owen replied, "Meg and Teddy are close. Meg has had some significant injuries and spent time in the ICU here. She's good support for Teddy and Meg knows our kids."
"What comes next," Caterina asked.
"She rests here for a bit then at home," Owen assured, "she will be okay. We're going to make sure she stays calm and quiet. Our chief medical officer for the Fox Foundation will take over as chief of surgery until Teddy feels up to working. An old army friend of ours is going to cover Teddy's patient load."
"Can I see her," Caterina asked.
"She was resting," Owen replied, "I don't want to wake her up."
"I'm her sister, I have decision making power," Caterina replied.
"No," Owen replied, "we did the paperwork together after our wedding. I have her medical power of attorney and am her husband. It's all documented and on file here."
"What," Caterina asked, "I can get it over ridden."
"Through the courts," Owen replied, "and that would require Teddy to be declared incapacitated and incompetent which she is neither. She is oriented and awake. She had no head trauma. And where were you when she needed you? When she was struggling during COVID and needed some one to check in on her to make sure she was okay? Where were you when Allison was born? When Teddy adopted Leo? Our wedding? When Teddy called you for help last year you didn't even pick up the phone."
"She's never stuck with a relationship, with anything," Caterina replied, "she jumps from guy to guy, job to job. She's just going to pack up and run. Why did you call?"
"Courtesy," Owen replied, "I've called you before when she was struggling and you didn't pick up. I didn't think you would fly out."
"I have a conference in Seattle," Caterina replied, "it's just a quick visit."
"I'll see if she is up to it," Owen replied, "I won't let you bully and belittle my wife."
"Dr Hunt," Christina called while walking into the ICU.
"Dr Yang," Owen replied.
"I need you," Christina said, "about your wife."
"I'll join you," Caterina replied, "I'm her sister and next of kin."
"I have her medical POA," Owen replied.
"With HIPPA I can only speak to her designated medical power of attorney," Christina replied, "the documents specify Owen."
"I'll get an injunction and take this whole place down for malpractice," Caterina replied.
"Caterina we've followed procedure and policy as well as the law," Owen replied, "there was no malpractice because Teddy received immediate and appropriate treatment. She is recovering. It's a long road but she will be okay."
"I want to see my sister and her file," Caterina demanded.
"I can take you to Teddy when you are calm," Owen replied, "her file you need her permission."
"I want to see my sister," Caterina replied.
"Dr Yang," Owen asked deferring to Christina to diffuse the situation.
"I was just going to round on Teddy," Christina replied, "give us 20 minutes?"
"I want to over see," Caterina replied.
"Are you a doctor," Christina asked.
"Her sister and a malpractice attorney," Caterina replied.
"Then you know that according to HIPPA you can not observe," Christina replied, "Teddy Altman's medical records and care are confidential and can not be shared with you without a written request to view her records signed by her or a judge."
"I'll get the injunction to see them," Caterina threatened.
"There won't be a need for that," Owen replied, "once Dr Yang finishes I will personally walk you to see Teddy."
A few minutes later after Christina checked in Owen led Teddy's sister to her room.
"Theodora what did you do now," Caterina asked.
"Ignored a toothache," Teddy groaned.
"You almost died because of negligence," Caterina replied.
"Cat no," Teddy groaned, "I'm too tired for this. Go please."
"I need to," Caterina started.
"She asked you to leave," Owen repeated.
"But," Caterina tried.
"Come back before you fly home," Owen suggested, "Teddy is tired, this is too much."
He could see her blood pressure and heart rate rising on the monitors.
"Give it a couple days," Owen replied, "call or text me for updates."
"Like you've taken care of her before," Caterina tried.
"You weren't there," Owen replied, "you've never met our kids, you don't come when she invites you. Caterina you can't come in now and take over. Your training is law, ours is surgery. Let us do what we do best."
"If anything happens," Caterina started.
"We will deal with it," Owen assured, "but she has the best possible team. Our head of cardio and general will be back tomorrow. We have the chief medical officer for the Fox Foundation and Catherine Fox herself. I know you're busy. I will keep you updated and you can come by before you fly home. Teddy should be more alert then and out of ICU."
"I expect twice daily updates," Caterina replied.
"I will do that," Owen agreed.
He walked her out of the ICU and met Megan outside Teddy's room.
"I was coming to interview but," Megan replied.
"Trauma is my department," Owen replied.
"So yes," Megan questioned.
"Yes," Owen agreed, "just trauma, wait till she's healthy for the rest."
"Are you okay her sister was something else," Megan replied.
"I know the relationship is strained but I had to try," Owen replied, "it's her only relative. Single, no kids. Malpractice attorney. Losing their middle sister the way they did did a number on both."
"Middle sister," Megan asked.
"Teddy is the oldest," Owen replied, "Janna passed when she was in college then Caterina,"
"What happened," Megan asked.
"Janna had downs syndrome," Owen replied, "and associated heart defects. Teddy went into cardio to try to save her sister and fix it and Caterina blamed the doctors and became a mal practice attorney. They both found ways to avenge their sister."
"What do you need," Megan asked.
"To go check on my kids but I can't leave Teddy," Owen replied, "if I leave I don't know what Caterina will do. And she is her sister. Someone who doesn't know Teddy a travelling nurse will let her see Teddy alone and let Caterina make decisions with no understanding."
"She's the chief of surgery and your her husband," Megan assured, "they'll run everything through the two of you."
"I'm leaving an approved visitors list and not putting her sister on it," Owen replied, "you, mom and I only."
"Eeyore," Megan asked.
"I need her to be okay," Owen said, "I need Teddy to be okay. Our kids need her to be okay."
"They do and she will," Megan said, "you take the time off and take care of her. Teddy needs you, your kids need you. Owen you need to take the time with your wife and kids. I will stay as long as you need me."
"But you and Riggs," Owen asked.
"We're dating," Megan said, "we're friends who go one dates. We won't live together. We rushed last time. We need to take it slow. He's looking for a two bedroom place if Teddy hires him so Faroke can come hang out with him and stay if he wants."
"Faroke," Owen asked.
"With Nate," Megan replied, "he's happy. I'll stay with Teddy, you go see your kids."
"What do I tell them," Owen asked.
"That mommy is sick, and needed surgery and in the hospital," Megan said, "be honest with them. That they can come see her when she's feeling a bit better."
Owen nodded before saying goodbye to Teddy and going home to see their kids.