Allison organised her new office while Everly read and Andy played with magnet tiles on the side of her desk.
"Wow," Melina said walking in, "you get this?"
"I do," Allison smiled, "how are you feeling?"
"Okay," Melina replied, "number two I know what to expect."
"The second is easier," Allison agreed, "so fifth year. I have you off from January to April. Only taking four months?"
"I have to," Melina said, "I lost so much time with my first and I'm a single mom. I have to work."
"Okay," Allison agreed, "you know you can take six paid and another two unpaid."
"I do," Melina agreed, "any word on the new interns and transfers?"
"We have Harriet Kepner-Avery transferring in as a third year from Mass Gen," Allison replied, "and one of the interns Elizabeth Altman-Riggs is my niece."
"Kepner-Avery like the foundation bosses," Melina asked.
"Her parents," Allison confirmed, "and Elizabeth is Grace and Josh's daughter."
"So you know her well,"Melina guessed.
"I do," Allison replied, "then Catrina Hunt-Riggs, one of the ER interns, is my cousin. I can't escape my family."
"You chose it here," Melina replied.
"I didn't," Allison answered, "this was my last choice. I would have gone anywhere else when I finished med school but they wanted me and having a family I wasn't a choice for most programs. I'm Ev and Andy's mom first and a doctor second."
"That's all you know," Melina replied.
"It is," Allison agreed, "but I have to get organised for the big speech and assign groups."
"I already hate you so don't bother sucking up," Melina laughed.
"I have 5 rules memorize them," Allison giggled, "apparently that is older than dirt."
"Will you," Melina asked.
"No," Allison answered.
The next afternoon the interns gathered in the atrium. Annie and Teddy stood on the cat walk looking down at one of the largest intern classes they had ever taken.
Ellie smiled up at her mom, Annie gave a small wave and returned to her whispered conversation with Teddy.
"Mama, when did my baby girl become old enough to be an intern?"
Teddy smiled, "when did you become old enough to run cardio?"
"I've been head of cardio for a few years since Nathan took over the residency program with dad. So Ellie's first surgery, do you want to bring her in on the Altman procedure with the two of us and Allison on Friday, have Ellie work with Allison as the second resident," Annie suggested.
Teddy laughed, "she's not ready for that yet. She can observe but you need a stronger resident to work on your side."
Annie replied, "my side. I thought I got Allison you two argue in the OR. And I control the playlist."
Teddy smiled, " you were way more compliant than your sister. Whose lead surgeon on it?"
Annie smiled, "my name is first on the board."
"Okay you get the music and your sister," Teddy said.
Annie teased, "perk of getting more OR time or your mellowing in old age."
"Alphabetical,"Teddy said, "but I do spend more time at my desk. You still need to give me your next proposal."
"I'm out of ideas," Annie said, "I need inspiration. I'm waiting to find the idea. How do you do it mama?"
Teddy smiled, "I never thought I would be operating in my 70s that I could teach both my girls and my granddaughter. But I've only had one or two children to worry about at a time. You have Ellie, Matt , Henry and Heather."
"Heather worries me most," Annie replied, "she's in grade 12 and has no clue what she wants to do. She wants to dance but didn't get into the strong summer programs. She's directionless. Henry starts grad school for engineering this year and Matt is in med school."
"You have your hands full," Teddy said, "and you've been able to do so much here. I still don't know how you did what you did with 4 children."
"It wasn't easy. Josh is a saint," Annie said, " I took the most time off with Heather. You have no idea how much I appreciated that year with my kids."
"I still don't know how you and Josh did it," Teddy said.
"I had an amazing example," Annie said. "You said you were going to retire in another year, before you go I want you Ellie and I to operate together."
Teddy smiled, "we will. I'm taking Ellie into my pacemaker next week."
Annie sighed, "I wanted her first cardio."
Teddy suggested, "we'll do it together."
Annie agreed, "we can do that."
The interns around Ellie gasped as the department heads were introduced. They wanted to know was Elizabeth Altman-Riggs related to Grace and Teddy Altman? It was well known that Grace and Teddy were a dynamic mother daughter pair that continually broke new ground and pioneered new ways to save lives. They were close to making it so that heart transplants would no longer be necessary."
Owen took the podium and began to go over the rules for interns, "there are five rules of internship that your residents will go over. Basically happy residents, happy attendings. I've seen lots of residents come and go over the years. This is where you begin. We hope to have all of you for the next five years. While the medicine will dominate your life don't let it be the only thing. Remember that you have lives outside this hospital, people who love you and families who stand behind you. I've been honored to do most of this with my wife and to watch my oldest daughter and son in law have brilliant careers as surgeons. Now I get the privilege to teach my youngest daughter and my granddaughter." What happens here is life and death but you have to remember to live big lives beyond medicine. I'm going to turn you over to your chief resident Dr Allison Blouin. Another word of advice: get your Altman's, Hunts and Riggs straight very quickly. We talk and are really one family."
Alison took the podium from her father, "good morning and welcome to Grey Sloan Memorial. I'm going to third what both Hunts have said in getting your Altman's , Hunts and Riggs straight. We will not be making a family tree. A little hint the women do not change their last name when they get married. Same last name is a blood relative most children have hyphenated last names. My final hint I am closer in age to my nieces and nephews than my big sister, her and my mother may sound scary but are really big softees. But on to my prepared speech. One thing I've heard from residents in the years above me who have gone on to spectacular fellowships is that they miss something very special a GSMH that here we are a family. Some of us are literally family and for others it's figurative. Your senior residents and attendings are here to support you and cheer you on. Be there for one another, build each other up. If you need anything please see me."
Allison lead the interns to the locker room and began sending them off in groups to meet their residents.
"You ready," Allison smiled at Ellie.
"I am," Ellie agreed.
"You'll get pulled for the Appy," Allison warned, "I don't know who it's with but be ready."
"Mom warned me," Ellie assured, "I'm ready."
"I'd say 80% it's you," Allison replied, "just for traditions sake."
"I know," Ellie groaned, "I don't want to."
"Too bad thats surgery," Allison quipped, "you chose it."
"Not really," Ellie whispered, "I wanted to be a paediatrician but I matched here."
"You didn't apply," Allison whispered.
"No," Ellie replied, "it was my 5th on my list. Peds and family medicine were my first two."
"What about peds surgery," Allison suggested, "I'll schedule you in it for your first long block.
"I can't have my parents, grandparents and aunt pulling strings," Ellie replied.
"I'm your chief resident not your aunt here," Allison assured, "we've always been more cousins or friends any way. I wasn't thrilled when I started here. I wanted to go away for residency to move to a new city but Ash told me to give it a year."
"So you want me to do the year,"Ellie asked.
"I'm Saying try," Allison replied, "give it a chance and if it doesn't feel right after a few months we can talk. It's day one, give it a try."
"I don't know," Ellie replied, "I don't want to let my parents and your parents down."
"You won't," Allison assured, "just try."
"Ok," Ellie agreed.
"Now go get your paper work done," Allison smiled, "your group is next."