G.I. Jane

Theodora Altman Indie RP. Semi-selective. 25+ and will not write with those under 18. Follow comes from greysaholic. Penned by Ry

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

Everything had been moving too fast, so much work, so many attempts to come up with plans and then it froze. It was over before anyone had the chance to think it was a success. While working on Susan , Addison had pulled Webber into being a co-chief so she had time to devote to her mother's lover turned wife. And then it was done. Susan died and her mother insisted that she leave her alone. Addison knew that something was wrong, but she and Bizzy didn't do feelings and emotions. It wasn't her place to ask or pry or try to intervene. Until she decided that they did. One of them had to start, but she was too late. Walking back into the hotel room and seeing her mother laying there, already stiff. Too late, nothing she could do. Addison read and reread the note before she wiped her tears, called the people that needed to be called and then informed Captain. He was angry, as expected and demanded to know what happened. The truth would have to die with her. "It was a heart attack, it was too late to do anything," slipped out of her lips before she could even stop it. And that was the lie that Addison would be telling everyone. She pushed everything back and prepared herself. She noticed the shift in herself, but at the moment, she couldn't be bothered. She had a funeral to prepare for. Addison was on the tarmac watching them load the casket into the jet that Captain had sent. Sunglasses on and pulling on her gloves, she was surprised to see Teddy with her suitcase. "I didn't say you're clear to fly. It's a long fight to Connecticut," Addison told her, it was dry and straight to the point. Absolutely not the way she normally talked to her wife; almost as if Bizzy's spirit had taken up residence in her soul. There was a part of her that knew she wouldn't be winning that argument though. "Give your bags to baggage handler," Addison said and headed to the ladder of the jet. She did wait for Teddy to join her and let her go up first. Once they were seated, Addison pulled out the blood pressure cuff, "I want to know where you're at before we take off." She was gentle but clinical and once she had the numbers, she put it away and settled in. The flight attendant brought her a drink and offered Teddy a selection of non-alcoholic drinks. Addison sipped her drink and stared out the window as the jet took off.

Chills. That's what happened when Addison had that tone of voice. It was so cold and different from the Addison that she had known and loved. She thought she'd be used to it at this point, but it seemed to get worse and worse since Bizzy's arrival and then her passing.

She nodded and handed her bags off. Teddy boarded the plane and got settled in her seat. She gave Addison a small nod before she took her blood pressure. It was so clinical. Like she was a patient. She didn't say anything in response though, it didn't seem like it would make a difference. At times over the weeks leading up, it seemed as though it made it worse. Neither of them needed worse.

She buckled up and rest her hand on her small, protruding bump and rubbed it gently. She ordered a ginger ale and a water. Teddy stole a quick glance at her wife before looking out her own window and sighing. They were in for a long couple of days. The blonde didn't know what to do...but it wasn't like Addie was letting her do anything, or anyone for that matter. She was handling it all. But still, Teddy would be damned if she didn't at least stand by her side. She took out her book, What to Expect When You're Expecting, and sighed once more before trying to turn her attention to her reading.

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

Teddy wished she could read her wife’s mind. She could see the gears turning in her mind and they weren’t slowing down. Teddy inhaled sharply at the cold air. She carefully walked to the car and got in, sighing as she watched Addie from the window. When her wife got in, she wanted to laugh at the question but refrained. Her wife was turning more and more into a statue. Her mother in law was dead. She was about to meet her in laws in the worst possible way. And between the blood pressure concerns and off and on nausea, the answer to the question was obvious. “I’m fine. Probably just reacting to the cold.” She feigned a small smile. It felt nice to see a little bit more bedside manner at least.

She noticed the changes as they got closer. And as they arrived at the estate, Teddy was sure she was no longer with her wife. Her hand rested on her small baby bump as they pulled up to the house. It was like nothing she’d ever seen before. “Wow.” She whispered. Once again, she carefully made her way to the next destination. Teddy stayed quiet. She was taking in everything. The captain, Archer, the home as a whole. “Teddy Altman.” Was all she was able to get out before Addie quipped with her own remark.

Stepping into Addie’s childhood room explained a lot. It wasn’t childlike, aside from some sailboats set off to the side on floating shelves. She was getting a better understanding of who her wife was turning into and why. There was no sign that a child ever lived in this room, and somehow, the blonde knew it hadn’t been changed at all since Addie left. It broke her heart. Her eyes became misty for a moment, damn hormones. She blinked them away and sat on the bed, “hey…how are you doing?” She asked, hoping like hell she could get a sign of life from the Addie she married.

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

Teddy was actually getting some much needed rest. Her recent trip home was short and busy. Going home always overwhelmed her, which was why she never stayed for more than a few days. The blonde could keep her schedule at school booked completely full and get through it fine. The minute she got home though? She was all over the place. Her mother always seemed to have that effect on her. Her dad's health didn't help the situation either. Luckily, phone calls to Addie helped her get through this time.

Returning to the comfort of her apartment was very much welcomed. She couldn't remember the last time she got so much sleep. It was probably the last time she returned from a trip home. The blonde had recently woken up and was sipping on a mug of coffee when she heard the door. Eyebrows furrowed, she wasn't expecting anyone. She opened the door and smiled softly, "Addie, hey...what-" She stopped when she heard the question. "Ummm....yes? That seems like an odd question to come ask me in the morning." She yawned. "Come in, it's cold out here." She welcomed the redhead in and closed the door. "What's up with the passport?"

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

Teddy was certainly not awake enough to be able to process the rambling coming from her best friend. She yawned and let her go on and on as Teddy made the red head a cup coffee, despite being unsure if she needed caffeine given her current state.

The blonde was going to answer, but got cut off each time. A ski trip sounded fun…expensive but fun. Time with Addie? Teddy was always on board with that. Captain? Eh, not ideal. But she knew Addie enough to know they wouldn’t be spending much time with her parents, if at all. She slid the mug over to Addie and went back to her cozy spot on the couch. “Take a breath.” Teddy chuckled. “When and how much? If I can, I’ll go.” She said simply with a shrug. “Thanksgiving? It was…it was home and how it always goes. So a trip sounds great for the next break.” Besides, they both knew the instant push Liz and Theo would offer as soon as they found out it was an option. It would be easier if Teddy went ahead and agreed.

[sxtanshepherd]

Estate Escape

She had gone home to the estate for Thanksgiving and was quickly reminded by Bizzy that it was a year of winter break travel. Every other year it was either winter or summer, though with her summer courses, she usually got out of that one. Winter breaks were near impossible with them being built into the college courses. The dinner was filled with planning that Archer somehow got out of. Addison never quite understood how he always managed to avoid the family trips these days. They were going to the Alps to ski, one that they went to often when she was younger. It was familiar enough.

The first thing Addison did when Captain dragged her to his university over that week was to go see Teddy. She couldn't do it anymore, she couldn't be alone on a trip with her parents. She made her way through the campus knowing that Teddy was already back from visiting her parents, she had told her when she was coming back before they both started the week off.

Addison forced herself to knock twice, slowly, like a normal person despite her urge to rapidly knock until the door opened. Her hands stuffed in her pockets until Teddy came to the door. When she saw the blonde for the first time in weeks, she flushed and ducked her head, "Hi, I just had a quick question. Do you have a passport by any chance?" She really hoped that she did.

@teddyaltman-cardiogoddess

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

Teddy was actually getting some much needed rest. Her recent trip home was short and busy. Going home always overwhelmed her, which was why she never stayed for more than a few days. The blonde could keep her schedule at school booked completely full and get through it fine. The minute she got home though? She was all over the place. Her mother always seemed to have that effect on her. Her dad's health didn't help the situation either. Luckily, phone calls to Addie helped her get through this time.

Returning to the comfort of her apartment was very much welcomed. She couldn't remember the last time she got so much sleep. It was probably the last time she returned from a trip home. The blonde had recently woken up and was sipping on a mug of coffee when she heard the door. Eyebrows furrowed, she wasn't expecting anyone. She opened the door and smiled softly, "Addie, hey...what-" She stopped when she heard the question. "Ummm....yes? That seems like an odd question to come ask me in the morning." She yawned. "Come in, it's cold out here." She welcomed the redhead in and closed the door. "What's up with the passport?"

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

@sxtanshepherd

The weeks the followed Bizzy’s arrival were…a lot. Addie did everything. Teddy watched her do everything she could night after night, day after day. And just when they thought it worked…they were sadly mistaken. Susan died just after the wedding Addison planned. Teddy felt guilty for the jealousy. But she longed for the attention that bizzy was getting. Every so often she could get her Addison back briefly, like when she popped. But it didn’t last very long. Then, Bizzy and Addie had an actual nice conversation…just for her wife to find her mother dead in her hotel room. She said it was a heart attack…Teddy knew better. If she had thought Addie was a wasp before? Boy did she have another thing coming.

“I’m going to the estate for the funeral. I’ll be back in a few days.” The hollow, shell of a voice still rung in her head. Addie was gathering up the last one her things when Teddy came out with her own suitcase. “Ready?” She knew it was challenging her wife. She saw the slight twitch in her features. “Doc said Im clear to fly, I just have to wear compression socks and check my blood pressure every hour during the flight and four hours after landing.” She added, knowing it would be the first thing discussed. “Addison, I’m coming with you. Your mother died, I’m coming to support you because I love you. So either I fly with you in the jet, or I buy a ticket on a random plane and meet you out there in a few hours.” She knew she was playing unfair. But honestly? Screw being fair. Nothing about any of this situation had been fair for weeks. She gave a smile to her waspy versioned wife, “which will it be, my love?” She asked softly.

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

Everything had been moving too fast, so much work, so many attempts to come up with plans and then it froze. It was over before anyone had the chance to think it was a success. While working on Susan , Addison had pulled Webber into being a co-chief so she had time to devote to her mother's lover turned wife. And then it was done. Susan died and her mother insisted that she leave her alone. Addison knew that something was wrong, but she and Bizzy didn't do feelings and emotions. It wasn't her place to ask or pry or try to intervene. Until she decided that they did. One of them had to start, but she was too late. Walking back into the hotel room and seeing her mother laying there, already stiff. Too late, nothing she could do. Addison read and reread the note before she wiped her tears, called the people that needed to be called and then informed Captain. He was angry, as expected and demanded to know what happened. The truth would have to die with her. "It was a heart attack, it was too late to do anything," slipped out of her lips before she could even stop it. And that was the lie that Addison would be telling everyone. She pushed everything back and prepared herself. She noticed the shift in herself, but at the moment, she couldn't be bothered. She had a funeral to prepare for. Addison was on the tarmac watching them load the casket into the jet that Captain had sent. Sunglasses on and pulling on her gloves, she was surprised to see Teddy with her suitcase. "I didn't say you're clear to fly. It's a long fight to Connecticut," Addison told her, it was dry and straight to the point. Absolutely not the way she normally talked to her wife; almost as if Bizzy's spirit had taken up residence in her soul. There was a part of her that knew she wouldn't be winning that argument though. "Give your bags to baggage handler," Addison said and headed to the ladder of the jet. She did wait for Teddy to join her and let her go up first. Once they were seated, Addison pulled out the blood pressure cuff, "I want to know where you're at before we take off." She was gentle but clinical and once she had the numbers, she put it away and settled in. The flight attendant brought her a drink and offered Teddy a selection of non-alcoholic drinks. Addison sipped her drink and stared out the window as the jet took off.

Chills. That's what happened when Addison had that tone of voice. It was so cold and different from the Addison that she had known and loved. She thought she'd be used to it at this point, but it seemed to get worse and worse since Bizzy's arrival and then her passing.

She nodded and handed her bags off. Teddy boarded the plane and got settled in her seat. She gave Addison a small nod before she took her blood pressure. It was so clinical. Like she was a patient. She didn't say anything in response though, it didn't seem like it would make a difference. At times over the weeks leading up, it seemed as though it made it worse. Neither of them needed worse.

She buckled up and rest her hand on her small, protruding bump and rubbed it gently. She ordered a ginger ale and a water. Teddy stole a quick glance at her wife before looking out her own window and sighing. They were in for a long couple of days. The blonde didn't know what to do...but it wasn't like Addie was letting her do anything, or anyone for that matter. She was handling it all. But still, Teddy would be damned if she didn't at least stand by her side. She took out her book, What to Expect When You're Expecting, and sighed once more before trying to turn her attention to her reading.

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

@sxtanshepherd

The weeks the followed Bizzy’s arrival were…a lot. Addie did everything. Teddy watched her do everything she could night after night, day after day. And just when they thought it worked…they were sadly mistaken. Susan died just after the wedding Addison planned. Teddy felt guilty for the jealousy. But she longed for the attention that bizzy was getting. Every so often she could get her Addison back briefly, like when she popped. But it didn’t last very long. Then, Bizzy and Addie had an actual nice conversation…just for her wife to find her mother dead in her hotel room. She said it was a heart attack…Teddy knew better. If she had thought Addie was a wasp before? Boy did she have another thing coming.

“I’m going to the estate for the funeral. I’ll be back in a few days.” The hollow, shell of a voice still rung in her head. Addie was gathering up the last one her things when Teddy came out with her own suitcase. “Ready?” She knew it was challenging her wife. She saw the slight twitch in her features. “Doc said Im clear to fly, I just have to wear compression socks and check my blood pressure every hour during the flight and four hours after landing.” She added, knowing it would be the first thing discussed. “Addison, I’m coming with you. Your mother died, I’m coming to support you because I love you. So either I fly with you in the jet, or I buy a ticket on a random plane and meet you out there in a few hours.” She knew she was playing unfair. But honestly? Screw being fair. Nothing about any of this situation had been fair for weeks. She gave a smile to her waspy versioned wife, “which will it be, my love?” She asked softly.

[sxtanshepherd]

@teddyaltman-cardiogoddess

Addison had worked tirelessly to show Teddy that she meant it when she said she would do better. And she did. She stepped up to the board and made it known that she wouldn’t be pushed around like she didn’t have a right to be the Chief. She showed Teddy that she would be there by coming home every night that she wasn’t on-call, she kept an eye on Teddy’s blood pressure and made sure she and the baby were taken care of. It was worth it, so, so worth it. 

Things were turning around and they were going great. Addison and Teddy had had a nice night, they’d gone out for a date night and then home. She was sleeping when her phone rang through her bedroom. She groaned in her sleep fumbling for the phone to try to keep it from waking up Teddy. Looking at the caller ID, she sighed. “Bizzy, it’s three hours earlier here.” “Addison, I’m getting on the plane, I’ll be there around 7am, your time, meet me at the tarmac.” “What?” Addison didn’t get an answer or an explanation, Bizzy just hung up the phone. 

Addison got up barely two hours later. “I don’t know what’s going on, she didn’t say anything except to meet her there. I’m sorry,” she told Teddy, “I have to go find out what’s going on. Bizzy doesn’t just get on the jet and fly to Seattle. She hates anything west of New York.” She had already pushed back any surgeries and meetings at the hospital for the day, unsure of what she was walking into. 

When she got to the tarmac, she stood there watching the jet pull in and Bizzy stepping off the plane. “Hello, Addison,” Bizzy said walking up to her. Addison was apprehensive at best, unsure of what she was going to find. “Bizzy. What’s going on?” “I need your help.” Addison’s world faded to just that moment, she had never heard those words from her. Bizzy didn’t ask for help, she didn’t say that she needed things; she threw money at people and expected them to read her mind. She watched as Susan was unloaded from the jet on a stretcher and jumped into action, getting an ambulance to transport her to the hospital. 

The rest of the day was a whirlwind of stabilizing, test running, and trying to plan a course of treatment. There was no time for anything, not even to eat. She called Teddy to fill her in on the situation so that she knew what was going on, but she didn’t get home until after midnight. Addison had crashed for just a few short hours after convincing Bizzy to go to the hotel and let Susan rest, with the promise that they would be back before the interns were there to round. Bizzy wanted to hear everything from everyone’s perspectives and explanations of what was happening. After barely a catnap, she was up and getting dressed to get back to the hospital. 

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

Addison let Teddy try to explain how she felt the interaction with Bizzy went; even if she was pretty sure that wasn’t how her mother felt that it did. She knew exactly what Bizzy thought just from the look on her face afterwards. Rolling her eyes like a teenager, it wasn’t like that, it was nothing like that; surely Teddy had to realize that. Bizzy had slapped her, it was absolutely not like that. She wasn’t being attacked, she wasn’t being stalked, she didn’t have a delusional person thinking that they had any right to her. It was her mother’s reaction to receiving terrible news.

“You’re right, I’m mad,” she told her, trying to contain her tone. Addison was at least still connected to her wife enough to know that she wasn’t going to have a screaming match over this. It wasn’t worth it, it was just a slap. “Because it’s not worth fighting with Bizzy over, Teddy. I know that you don’t understand it and that’s fine, but you don’t get to just walk up to her and tell her what she can and can’t do. She’s Bizzy Forbes. She lets her anger out and then you just walk away, it’s not a big deal.” The last thing that she needed on top of saving Susan was trying to fix the damage Teddy did to whatever relationship she would have with Bizzy after this. Their relationship had gotten better since LA, but she was pretty sure that it was going to be even worse than it was before Bizzy’s showed up at her beach house.

She didn’t need all of this extra stress and worry. Addison was already running on fumes and now she had her added anger. It was hard for her to hold it all. She listened to Teddy talk and sighed, she didn’t need her freaking out all over again and making it a bigger deal than it was. They didn’t work like that, Teddy was right about that though and Addison wanted to hear her thoughts on her plan. She needed someone to tell her whether she was crossing a line. If it were anyone but Susan, she wouldn’t even consider this. “Deal,” she said quietly, letting her get closer and start checking out the bruise that was starting. “So, we’re going to go in and first take a look at the margins and see if the scans are picking everything up or if it’s maybe operable. Then, after we know what we’re looking at, we’re going to go in and he’s going to inject chemo as I cut to kill anything that might get missed. I don’t know if it’s going to work or if it even should.”

Teddy was having a hard time recognizing the woman in front of her. How was she supposed to believe that this was the same woman that fought day and night to nail down the man who felt that he had rights to Teddy. This wasn’t the same person. “She may be Bizzy Forbes, but I am Theodora Grace Montgomery-Altman. Addison, I will not stand for someone hurting you in any capacity. That’s not who you married.” She reminded her, despite thinking to herself that this wasn’t necessarily who she married, either.  There was a truce. She sat beside Addison and gently caressed her cheek when she was granted permission. She could see the bruise and it broke her heart to think that anyone felt it was okay to treat her Addison that way. Nothing was broken, but the bruise was evident. It made her want to cry, but she clenched her teeth and swallowed the lump in her throat. She nodded along, listening to Addie’s plan. Her thumb gently rubbed over the bruise, knowing it would be too soft to kiss it. Green eyes widened at the plan. It was a shot in the dark, that was for sure. “Wow...that’s...um...that’s a plan.” She stammered. “Has anything like that ever been done? Do you think it will work?” She asked, clearly at a loss. “I mean it’s crazy. It’s genius, but it’s crazy...but if there’s anyone who might be abele to pull it off? It would be you.” She gave a small genuine smile. There was a moment before Teddy decided to word vomit. “Addie, I’m not trying to make things worse. I’m sorry if I’m adding more stress....for the sake of our marriage, maybe we can blame it on the baby?” She shrugged with a light chuckle, hoping to lighten the mood if even just a tiny bit. 

[sxtanshepherd]

The Voicemails Saga

After the night with Teddy pulling her out of the cocktail hour, Addison started realizing how much she liked talking to her. She liked being around her and having someone that wanted to hear about her day. College friends hadn’t come easy to her; partially because she was too busy, the other part was because she wasn’t a good collaborator. Addison needed control over her group projects, her homework, her labs; she didn’t always like her classmate’s techniques even if they weren’t wrong. 

Addison walked into her apartment after a lab and felt exhausted. She poured herself a glass of wine and sat on the couch for a moment to breathe. The frustration from the day was overwhelming and she didn’t have anyone to tell that to. Addison didn’t usually tell people about it, just drank a glass of wine and started her homework. Today felt different though and she eyed her phone in the cradle. She deliberated for a few minutes before getting up and grabbing the phone. Her fingers shook lightly as she dialed the numbers. The phone rang..and rang…ang rang, until the voicemail kicked on. Addison almost hung up, almost. 

“Hey, it’s Addison. Sorry, I hope I’m not bothering you or anything. You’re probably out playing soccer or teaching a class. Uhm, anyway. I just got home from lab and I was so annoyed I just felt like I needed to talk to someone who knows what that’s like. I hope you’re having a good night, I have to prepare for lecture tomorrow. Bye.”

Addison hung up the phone and stared at it wondering if she’d just done the dumbest thing she could. Regardless, she had hung up and it was too late to delete the voicemail. It was done and it would just have to be how it was. 

@teddyaltman-cardiogoddess

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

It had been a week and a half…maybe two. The days flew by for the busy blonde. But she knew it had been over a week since her night with Addison. She couldn’t help but wonder if they were going to go months without speaking once again. Either way, she decided not to wallow in it this time.

She had just gotten in from coaching soccer practice. She grabbed some water from the fridge and noticed a blinking red light on her answering machine from across the room. Something in her knew it was Addison. It had to be. Well, technically it could easily be her mother with an update and a million questions. Or her dad telling her to not freak out at her mother’s latest voicemail. But something in her gut told her exactly who it was.

She wandered to the other side of her apartment and pressed play. She collapsed on to the couch and laid her head back. She hated hearing that Addison was having a rough day, but she’d be lying if she said it didn’t make her smile that the younger woman called to tell her about it. She checked the time and realized she’s just missed her and Addie would be off studying somewhere. But she decided to call anyways, picking up the phone base and walking around in circles.

“Red, hey. It’s Teddy. You’re never bothering me. I just got in from coaching soccer practice, so you know me well. I absolutely know what that’s like. Let me guess, seemed like the people around you didn’t know their asses from their elbows? Get used to it. They’ll get weeded out or go derm though. My day was…fine. Nothing special. The captain has me up to my ears in grading so that’s what’s in store for me tonight. Don’t stay up too late. Or if you do, give me a call. I’ll probably be up. Thanks for calling me. Call anytime. Talk to you soon.”

She hung up and flopped back on the couch again. Putting the phone back down, she smirked slowly. “She actually used the number.” She said out loud to herself, hopeful for what that meant.

[sxtanshepherd]

@teddyaltman-cardiogoddess

Addison had worked tirelessly to show Teddy that she meant it when she said she would do better. And she did. She stepped up to the board and made it known that she wouldn’t be pushed around like she didn’t have a right to be the Chief. She showed Teddy that she would be there by coming home every night that she wasn’t on-call, she kept an eye on Teddy’s blood pressure and made sure she and the baby were taken care of. It was worth it, so, so worth it. 

Things were turning around and they were going great. Addison and Teddy had had a nice night, they’d gone out for a date night and then home. She was sleeping when her phone rang through her bedroom. She groaned in her sleep fumbling for the phone to try to keep it from waking up Teddy. Looking at the caller ID, she sighed. “Bizzy, it’s three hours earlier here.” “Addison, I’m getting on the plane, I’ll be there around 7am, your time, meet me at the tarmac.” “What?” Addison didn’t get an answer or an explanation, Bizzy just hung up the phone. 

Addison got up barely two hours later. “I don’t know what’s going on, she didn’t say anything except to meet her there. I’m sorry,” she told Teddy, “I have to go find out what’s going on. Bizzy doesn’t just get on the jet and fly to Seattle. She hates anything west of New York.” She had already pushed back any surgeries and meetings at the hospital for the day, unsure of what she was walking into. 

When she got to the tarmac, she stood there watching the jet pull in and Bizzy stepping off the plane. “Hello, Addison,” Bizzy said walking up to her. Addison was apprehensive at best, unsure of what she was going to find. “Bizzy. What’s going on?” “I need your help.” Addison’s world faded to just that moment, she had never heard those words from her. Bizzy didn’t ask for help, she didn’t say that she needed things; she threw money at people and expected them to read her mind. She watched as Susan was unloaded from the jet on a stretcher and jumped into action, getting an ambulance to transport her to the hospital. 

The rest of the day was a whirlwind of stabilizing, test running, and trying to plan a course of treatment. There was no time for anything, not even to eat. She called Teddy to fill her in on the situation so that she knew what was going on, but she didn’t get home until after midnight. Addison had crashed for just a few short hours after convincing Bizzy to go to the hotel and let Susan rest, with the promise that they would be back before the interns were there to round. Bizzy wanted to hear everything from everyone’s perspectives and explanations of what was happening. After barely a catnap, she was up and getting dressed to get back to the hospital. 

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

She had walked away. The weight of Teddy’s hand in her own was overwhelming, but Addison let her keep pulling her. Away. Part of her wanted to stop, and go back to Bizzy; the stunned then furious look on her face burned into her brain. Who did Addison think she was to let her wife talk to Bizzy like that? Words remained frozen in her throat as they moved through the halls. She didn’t know where they were going. The comforted side of her trusted Teddy to take them somewhere. The angry side screamed for her to run back to the breezeway.

Addison barely registered anything until she found herself in her office, not the chief’s. Hers. She started to slowly defrost as she sat down on the couch. Teddy’s question made her glance towards the door. Running or leaving wasn’t a choice. “I already did, it’s fine,” she told Teddy. Derek had also checked it though, he seemed less calm about this one from others. Addison had to admit, at least to herself, it was probably one of the worst. However, she understood it, it was nothing. What had she really thought would happen when telling Bizzy that her lover was going to die? When she said there was no treatment? Of course Bizzy lashed out. She expected nothing less.

Anger was starting to become more consuming as she sat there. Addison glanced at Teddy. “What did you say to her?” she started, “No, really. Because I didn’t hear it all. No one yells at Bizzy, no one even talks back to her and don’t give me the crap about how she slapped me because I’m fine.” She had to be. There was no other way. “I told her that the only person she’s ever truly loved was going to die. Bizzy brought her here, to me. If she were in her right mind, she would’ve just summoned me to the estate. She doesn’t fly west of New York if she can help it, but she came here. And you yelled at her! You’ve never even met her before, Teddy. What were you thinking?” Regardless of her anger, she stayed. Despite Bizzy obviously expecting her to snap to her heels, she didn’t move.

It was all becoming a blur; between the stress, the lack of sleep, and the look on Bizzy’s face. Addison tried to force herself to breathe. It was so normal but she couldn’t wrap her head around it. She needed to calm down. She had to. She had to make herself okay. Because she was. She was fine. Addison Adrienne Forbes-Montgomery did not flinch or get worked up over something like this.

It took her no more than a minute for her to lock it down. She forced one long breath and raked a hand through her hair until she hit her ponytail. “It’s nothing, I’m fine. And I’ve spent the majority of the day with oncology just throwing every ridiculous idea out there. I might have come up with something but if it were anyone else, I would never suggest it. I still don’t know if I do.” She was back to the original reason she had tried to find Teddy, because she knew. It didn’t matter if she didn’t recommend it; Bizzy wanted a cure, Susan wanted Bizzy. Bizzy always got what she wanted. And Addison needed someone to pull her back.

Teddy could see the range of emotions changing in her wife. From what she knew, and how she understood it, Addie wasn’t going to be mad at Bizzy. So, that left her. Addie was going to be mad at her because it was safe. But that didn’t mean it felt very good. “I didn’t yell at her.” She said simply and calmly. “But I made my feelings known, respectfully...for the most part. And I made it very clear that she is not to lay a hand on you again.” She kept a distance between them, not wanting to do too much and be left standing alone in Addison’s office. She took a breath, she could hear her wife seething with anger. “Look, I know you’re mad at me. That’s fine. Be pissed at me. I can handle it. But I’m not sorry for confronting her. You might be okay with her slapping you, but you’re my wife and I will never be okay with someone laying their hands on you.” She softened for a moment, “You can relate to that...” She wasn’t sure if it was fair to use in the moment, but she wasn’t wrong.

She could see Addison starting to shut down on her. The wasp mentality was taking back over. Teddy couldn’t do anything to stop it. She knew that. It was an invitation. She recognized one when she saw it. “You’ve worked your ass off.” she validated, taking a step closer to test the waters. When Addie didn’t react poorly, she sat down beside her. “Can you tell me about you plan while I look at your cheek?” It was a trade off, a transaction. “I want to hear your plan, but you know I won’t be able to focus until I can confirm that you’re okay. Not just hear it from you. We don’t work that way.” Green eyes looked to her wife’s and silently begged her to agree. “I’m just going to stress and worry until I can confirm it myself. You know me.” She kept her voice soft. She wanted to replace the hurt, hatred, and disappointment with love. “Deal?” Teddy asked with a tilt of her head.

[sxtanshepherd]

@teddyaltman-cardiogoddess

Addison had worked tirelessly to show Teddy that she meant it when she said she would do better. And she did. She stepped up to the board and made it known that she wouldn’t be pushed around like she didn’t have a right to be the Chief. She showed Teddy that she would be there by coming home every night that she wasn’t on-call, she kept an eye on Teddy’s blood pressure and made sure she and the baby were taken care of. It was worth it, so, so worth it. 

Things were turning around and they were going great. Addison and Teddy had had a nice night, they’d gone out for a date night and then home. She was sleeping when her phone rang through her bedroom. She groaned in her sleep fumbling for the phone to try to keep it from waking up Teddy. Looking at the caller ID, she sighed. “Bizzy, it’s three hours earlier here.” “Addison, I’m getting on the plane, I’ll be there around 7am, your time, meet me at the tarmac.” “What?” Addison didn’t get an answer or an explanation, Bizzy just hung up the phone. 

Addison got up barely two hours later. “I don’t know what’s going on, she didn’t say anything except to meet her there. I’m sorry,” she told Teddy, “I have to go find out what’s going on. Bizzy doesn’t just get on the jet and fly to Seattle. She hates anything west of New York.” She had already pushed back any surgeries and meetings at the hospital for the day, unsure of what she was walking into. 

When she got to the tarmac, she stood there watching the jet pull in and Bizzy stepping off the plane. “Hello, Addison,” Bizzy said walking up to her. Addison was apprehensive at best, unsure of what she was going to find. “Bizzy. What’s going on?” “I need your help.” Addison’s world faded to just that moment, she had never heard those words from her. Bizzy didn’t ask for help, she didn’t say that she needed things; she threw money at people and expected them to read her mind. She watched as Susan was unloaded from the jet on a stretcher and jumped into action, getting an ambulance to transport her to the hospital. 

The rest of the day was a whirlwind of stabilizing, test running, and trying to plan a course of treatment. There was no time for anything, not even to eat. She called Teddy to fill her in on the situation so that she knew what was going on, but she didn’t get home until after midnight. Addison had crashed for just a few short hours after convincing Bizzy to go to the hotel and let Susan rest, with the promise that they would be back before the interns were there to round. Bizzy wanted to hear everything from everyone’s perspectives and explanations of what was happening. After barely a catnap, she was up and getting dressed to get back to the hospital. 

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

Addison had spent a grueling afternoon with Dr. Rodriguez trying to come up with something, anything that she could take to Bizzy. She couldn’t go to her empty handed again. No matter how it went, she had to do something. She pushed the old piano and dance recitals out of her mind, even if it felt exactly like what it used to. They eventually had a hodgepodged, patchwork plan. It wasn’t a plan that she would have advised to anyone, but Bizzy wasn’t anyone and she wanted Susan fixed. Usually, Addison had a stronger backbone when it came to best practices. There was no way she would win this fight with Bizzy. She’d already lost. So, she was on her way to talk to her wife. Maybe Teddy could either talk her into it, or out of it. Either way, she needed to see her.

It was hard to walk through the halls. Addison knew enough people had heard the slap. The way Derek had come to find her immediately was all she needed to know. She stopped into the bathroom to assess the damage now that it had been a few hours old; the bruise was already showing and she took a moment. The last thing she needed was for the halls of that hospital to see her crumble again. They’d all witnessed the downfall of Addison Adrienne Forbes-Montgomery-Shepherd. They didn’t need to see what happened behind closed doors of the Forbes-Montgomery Estate. But everyone already had. Addison had seen enough abuse cases, her coworkers had seen enough to know that this was probably normal for her. She hated that they would know now.

But they did. It was over now and she needed to find Teddy. Addison forced a deep breath and pushed her shoulders back. She ignored her coworkers as she looked for her wife. Eventually, she exited one of the wings to the breezeway and saw her. Talking, or lecturing Bizzy. She hadn’t heard everything, but from the way Teddy was standing she knew she was pissed. At some point during whatever she was saying, Bizzy’s stone face and sharp eyes caught hers. Addison felt her head swim, not really hearing much. Her wife yelled at Bizzy. No one yelled at Bizzy. Captain could barely manage to raise his voice to her. His way of fixing what Bizzy did was to put Addison on the sailboat for a few days until she calmed down enough. The flashbacks of the time Bizzy had been wearing a new ring made her flinch.

Even though Addison felt the panic rising, some part of her could recognize what was happening, it took a second, but she did. Her wife was fighting with her mother. For her. And slowly there was a faint look of surprise on Bizzy’s face. She couldn’t quite believe until she snapped into her body, hearing Teddy say, “Mother to mother.” Addison couldn’t hear the last bit. She watched Teddy turn around and walk towards her. Too shocked and stunned to do anything, she stood there until she kissed her cheek. Almost like the physical touch sparked life back into her.

As Teddy continued to walk away, her feet felt stuck. Addison looked over her shoulder before turning back to Bizzy, who stood there expectantly. She was waiting for her to rush over and apologize for Teddy. Her wife who was carrying their child, the woman that just went toe to toe with her mother. Addison had gone looking for Teddy to ask her if she was pushing too far, and now, she didn’t know what to do. Bizzy still looked like she was waiting for her to follow the script she always had. If she was going to be the wife Teddy deserved, the mother their baby deserved, she couldn’t do that. Addison turned on her heel and walked after Teddy.

It didn’t take her long to catch up to her and gently slipped her hand into hers and squeezed. There were no words. There was nothing that she could say. Addison was absorbed by her feelings. A part of her was enraged that she had talked to Bizzy in general, even further like that. But there was something else that she’d never felt when it came to Bizzy facing people she loved. No one ever stood up to her, but Teddy had, and she almost felt safe. It wasn’t something that she was used to when it came to her parents. Addison didn’t say anything as they walked the halls, letting Teddy pull her through.

Adrenaline coursed through her body. Adrenaline and…was that nausea? She wasn’t sure if it was anxiety, baby, or both, but she figured it out when she felt her favorite hand slip into her own and the feeling in her gut disappeared. It wasn’t that she regretted her actions. She would always be the first person to defend the love of her life. But she knew there was a chance that she had pissed Addison off. That she could have made it worse for her. However, the reassurance she felt when that hand slipped perfectly into her own? It was everything.

Emotions and hormones were trying to get the best of her, but she took a slow breath and kept them at bay for the time being. Instead, she just squeezed the soft hand linked with her own. After everything she was told about Addison’s relationship with her mother. After the lonely nights and abrupt wake up times, she was starting to believe it. But there she was. Her wife. Her Addison. Walking hand in hand with her after witnessing exactly what she hoped she wouldn’t find. “You came back to me.” She whispered ever so quietly with an exhale. The blonde didn’t even realize she had said it out loud. 

Teddy led them to Addison’s office. It was three floors up, and the rest of the walk was silent, but it would be more comfortable than anywhere else. Chiefs office had too many windows. Teddy’s office was further. Other rooms were uncomfortable or lacked privacy. Besides, she wanted her wife to be comfortable. Where else would be better than her original office? If they couldn’t go be sucked into the vortex that was their luxurious couch, then she’d take Addie to the place she could be most comfortable in the hospital.

She gently closed the door behind them and locked it. She closed her eyes and took a calming breath before turning to her wife. Seeing the bruise forming shattered her every being. “Can I take a look?” She asked softly. The would talk. She knew that had to talk. But Teddy wouldn’t be able to focus until she made sure her wife was okay, emotionally and physically. Her Addison. 

[sxtanshepherd]

@teddyaltman-cardiogoddess

Addison had worked tirelessly to show Teddy that she meant it when she said she would do better. And she did. She stepped up to the board and made it known that she wouldn’t be pushed around like she didn’t have a right to be the Chief. She showed Teddy that she would be there by coming home every night that she wasn’t on-call, she kept an eye on Teddy’s blood pressure and made sure she and the baby were taken care of. It was worth it, so, so worth it. 

Things were turning around and they were going great. Addison and Teddy had had a nice night, they’d gone out for a date night and then home. She was sleeping when her phone rang through her bedroom. She groaned in her sleep fumbling for the phone to try to keep it from waking up Teddy. Looking at the caller ID, she sighed. “Bizzy, it’s three hours earlier here.” “Addison, I’m getting on the plane, I’ll be there around 7am, your time, meet me at the tarmac.” “What?” Addison didn’t get an answer or an explanation, Bizzy just hung up the phone. 

Addison got up barely two hours later. “I don’t know what’s going on, she didn’t say anything except to meet her there. I’m sorry,” she told Teddy, “I have to go find out what’s going on. Bizzy doesn’t just get on the jet and fly to Seattle. She hates anything west of New York.” She had already pushed back any surgeries and meetings at the hospital for the day, unsure of what she was walking into. 

When she got to the tarmac, she stood there watching the jet pull in and Bizzy stepping off the plane. “Hello, Addison,” Bizzy said walking up to her. Addison was apprehensive at best, unsure of what she was going to find. “Bizzy. What’s going on?” “I need your help.” Addison’s world faded to just that moment, she had never heard those words from her. Bizzy didn’t ask for help, she didn’t say that she needed things; she threw money at people and expected them to read her mind. She watched as Susan was unloaded from the jet on a stretcher and jumped into action, getting an ambulance to transport her to the hospital. 

The rest of the day was a whirlwind of stabilizing, test running, and trying to plan a course of treatment. There was no time for anything, not even to eat. She called Teddy to fill her in on the situation so that she knew what was going on, but she didn’t get home until after midnight. Addison had crashed for just a few short hours after convincing Bizzy to go to the hotel and let Susan rest, with the promise that they would be back before the interns were there to round. Bizzy wanted to hear everything from everyone’s perspectives and explanations of what was happening. After barely a catnap, she was up and getting dressed to get back to the hospital. 

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

Addison was running rampant. She was checking lab after lab, result after result and none of it got better throughout the day. Sometime around noon, she caved to the fact that there was nothing she could do. There was no treatment, it was too advanced. At one point, Callie had brought her coffee and watched her frantically flipping through medical journals. “Addie, it’s okay. This isn’t your fault,” she said, taking the journal from her. Addison had fought her for a moment before letting her take it. She already knew how it would be.

After wiping her face, she took a breath and stood up. Callie walked with her until she froze outside of Susan’s room. Addison couldn’t pull her eyes away from Bizzy being with Susan. “She’s holding Susan’s hand. Bizzy never held the Captain’s hand, she never held my hand.” She ignored the look on Callie’s face. “Do I really have to go in there?” “Well, you can hide, but I’m guessing she’d find you as quickly as a latina mom would.” “Probably faster,” Addison commented as she started to pace, “They look so happy, and I have to go in there and deliver bad news. I mean really bad news, get your affairs in order, kind of bad news.” Callie’s pager went off. “Crap that’s my hip replacement,” she pulled Addison into a hug, “It’s going to suck, but you have to do it.”

Her feet felt like lead as she walked into the room. Bizzy looked happier than she’d ever seen her. She couldn’t believe she had to do this. There was no professional boundary that she could hide behind, no way to mask the news she had to give. Susan watched her, “You should never play poker, Addison.” Addison frowned, “I’m sorry, Susan.” “What do you mean, you’re sorry?” Bizzy demanded. Addison forced herself to keep going, “If we had caught this earlier, then we might have other options, but the cancer’s spread and there’s nothing I can do.” She hated this part of the job more than anything. “So, I’m gonna die.” “We can make you comfortable but-” Addison hesitated, “Yes.” “No.” “I know that this is hard-” “What it is, is unacceptable!” Bizzy yelled. “Bizzy-” “The cancer is too advanced,” Addison pushed to explain, “At best, I could give Susan a couple of months, but she’d be miserable-” The slap rang through the room before Addison even felt it. “You will save her life! Do you hear me? You will save her life!”

It had been a long time since she’d backed down the way she did. Addison was still holding her face when she stepped into the hall. She knew everyone would know within in the hour and rushed to the Attending’s Lounge, away from prying eyes. Derek found her first. “I thought I heard Bizzy yelling,” he said sitting down in front of her, “And she packs a punch as usual.” Addison scoffed. It wasn’t the first time, it wouldn’t be the last, and Derek had seen it first hand. He looked over her cheek, “This might actually be worse than the peonies incident.” “Well, the peonies were just her only daughter’s bridal bouquet. This is the woman she loves.” Derek watched her and Addison could feel the sympathy pouring from him. “The cancer is everywhere.” “You did what you could. At the rate you’re going, Susan will outlive you. You’re not God, Addison.” Running her hand down her still burning cheek, her pager beeped. “That’s my consult.” “Addie-” “I have to go.”

“Dr. Rodriguez, thank you for coming,” she said walking into the room. After explaining the situation and going over the scans, they spent a long time trying to find any option. Bizzy didn’t take no for an answer and the mark on her face proved it. After they had a plan, Addison went to find Teddy. She needed to see her, talk to her, and needed to sound board with her. She knew Teddy would’ve heard about her mother slapping her though and knew Teddy would absolutely be pissed.

By the time the cardio surgeon arrived for work, there were obvious signs that something had occurred. No one said anything, they didn’t have to. Grey Sloan had as good of a poker face as her wife. One could always tell when there was gossip going around...well before anything was spoken. She didn’t have time to figure it out though. Her day starting out strong with an unexpected emergency surgery, led her to an OR room almost as soon as she arrived. 

It wasn’t uncommon for observers to make their way to the gallery during her surgeries. However, the in and out felt all too familiar. It was going back to being checked on after her attack. Like people were waiting for her to panic or learn about something new. It sent chills down her spine. As she finished closing she looked around the room. Despite her surgical mask, there was no questioning the seriousness of her expression. “Alright, who’s going to tell me whatever it is that everyone is waiting for me to find out?” She asked, her sculpted eyebrow raised. There was an awkward silence along with stolen glances before a surgical nurse finally spoke up, quietly stating, “Um...well, Dr. Montgomery was slapped this morning.” Teddy held her hand up, stopping any words that were going to follow. She didn’t want to hear more. She didn’t need to hear more. She knew exactly who did it and in that moment, Teddy saw red. So, off to the scrub room she went...silently. Leaving silent and concerned staff standing awkwardly in the OR as they waited for her to finish.  She was a pregnant woman on a mission. There was nothing that could stop her. Well, apparently except for Derek Shepherd, himself. “Not now Derek. I’m busy.” She stated sharply, not wanting to get distracted. “Oh I know you are. But we need to talk before you react.” he gently guided her arm and led her to the nearest empty supply closet. “Derek, what the hell?! Before I react?! She slapped her! She slapped my wife and yet she’s still bending over backwards for this woman! Someone needs to stand up to her because clearly Addie won’t!” The blonde was livid and she wasn’t afraid of showing that. If she was ever worried about not being a good mother, she definitely had the mama bear thing down. “Addison is different right now.” Derek began, but before Teddy could object, he quickly continued, “She’s not your Addie, she’s bizzy’s puppet. I’ve seen it before, you can’t just go in their guns blazing because Addison will turn on you. She doesn’t mean to, but it’s just what she does...she has to please Bizzy. It’s complex. It’s from childhood. It’s trauma, Teddy. This isn’t the Addie you know. This is 5 year old Addison, doing anything for her mother’s approval. It’s fucked up, but you need to understand that.” His tone was soft but serious. “So, that means you can’t just run up on them and go off, then expect it all to be fine. You either stay out of it and let wasps be wasps or you try to become a wasp.” While Teddy appreciated the Montgomery history lesson, that wasn’t going to work for her. Teddy shook her head, this wasn’t even hormones at this point....or well, at least not fully. “No. No, Derek. She slapped my wife. She laid hands on the woman I love. I cannot stand by or play their games.” With that, she flung the door open, “I’m not a wasp Derek. I’m a can of Raid!” She called back to him as she marched forward, too focused on her destination to think about how ridiculous she just sounded. “Shit...” The dark haired man sighed before following her.  Teddy marched until she saw the woman who was supposed to be Addison’s mother. Teddy’s nostrils flared as she stopped. She could see Bizzy, but she could not be seen. She knew that she needed to calm down first. They wouldn’t get anywhere if she couldn’t calm herself down and handle herself in some sort of civilized manner. Squishing a wasp would be yelling and hitting back. Raid was a slow and painful death. Raid was like inserting a knife and twisting it. That didn’t happen by kicking and screaming. She heard Derek let out a puny, “Teddy...” But she was already approaching the elder woman at the breezeway, overlooking the view. 

Teddy stood tall and confident, very professional. “You are asking her to do the impossible.” She started calmly before being interrupted. “Excuse me, who are-” Teddy didn’t give her a chance to finish before calmly continuing. “You know that, I know that, and it’s not fair. It’s not fair to her. I’m not even supposed to be talking to you right now. In fact, she begged me not to before you even arrived. But I’ll be damned if I sit back and watch you torture her like this. Lay your hands on her.” She emphasized. “That’s why I’m standing here, probably ruining any chance of you ever liking me, but I could care less at this point. It’s because of her. Because I love her more than anything, And you? You’re killing her! You’re pushing her to do what we all know she can’t, because no one can! And that sucks and I’m sorry because that is an awful feeling.” She knew similar feelings from losing her parents. “Addison is brilliant. I know you’re aware of that, or else you wouldn’t have brought Susan here to her. But she is bending over backwards for your approval right now and she’s being set up to fail. She is an amazing woman, Doctor, and she’s going to be an incredible mother in a few months. a loving and affectionate mother, better than i could even dream of being.” Internally, Teddy was panicked. She definitely wasn’t supposed to say that. But she couldn’t show that to this woman. Army surgeon face. “And you know what? I’m not supposed to say anything About that, but I’m already in this deep so screw it.” Teddy’s voice and green eyes softened slightly, “I know you love Susan and would do anything to help her. But I love your daughter and I’ll do anything to protect and help her. So please, mother to mother, I am begging you, show her some mercy here...because only you can give it to her.” It was in that moment, she noticed Addison in her peripheral. She knew she had to end the conversation. With her voice low, almost non existent, she continued, “Lastly, If I find out that you ever lay your hands on my wife again, we will be having more than words. I know that I have made myself clear.” With that, she turned on her heels and walked towards her wife. She swallowed hard, unsure of what her reaction would be. “I know I wasn’t supposed to talk to her and I’m sorry. But someone needed to.” She stated simply and calmly. Then, in true Teddy Fashion, she quickly but quietly blurted to Addie, “Also, I’m sorry I told her about the baby. It just kind of came out. I love you.” With a quick and gentle kiss to the cheek, she walked off. Giving her wife space. Derek watched, his mouth dropped in shock at what he had just witnessed. No one did that to Bizzy, ever.  

[sxtanshepherd]

Second Chances and New Impressions

@teddyaltman-cardiogoddess

About once a month, Addison would receive a summons from Bizzy and Captain to come home for a weekend. Last time, the time she ran out of Captain's TA's apartment had been a benefit for Bizzy, Captain had just pulled her to the University under the pretense of old memories. This time the summons had come from Captain: a university event for his department, he wanted the poster child of what his teaching could create. Addison was top in her class and likely to graduate early. She was the perfect child who had a plan since she was six and was following it. So, Friday night after all of her classes were done, she got into her car and drove to the estate, driving slowly to intentionally miss dinner. Just because she had to be there didn't mean she was interested in a dinner interrogation from Bizzy.

Saturday evening, Addison found herself at a cocktail hour, surrounded by professors, medical students, and undergrads that were trying to network themselves. Something she hadn't considered when she responded to the summons was that Captain's TA's were there, talking with other professors trying to get more research hours, more experience to take with them post graduation, more chances to get published and get their names out into the medical community. And on top of all of that, Addison was seeing a few people that were at the party Teddy had taken her to. A new kind of anxiety hit her. She hadn't known what to do that morning so she'd done the only thing she could when the realization hit her: get back to the plan that she'd always followed.

Now, stuck in a room that she couldn't run out of because it was only a matter of time before Captain put her in front of some board member. He found her on the fringes, avoiding interacting with people. Taking her arm and pulling her over to some department head. "She's top in her class at Yale, following after myself of course. She's been sitting in on my lectures since she was six years old." "Sounds like you've had an edge over your fellow classmates for quite a while," he told her with a smirk. Addison nodded lightly, "You could say that." Not that it had really ever been a choice, but she did miss the days that she liked spending time there. Though, the last time she'd been there had been nice. Seeing a streak of blonde hair, she quickly excused herself and made her way over to the bar and ordered a drink, she usually didn't drink at these, but she needed to take the edge off. She wanted to talk to Teddy but she didn't know if she wanted to talk to her, not after she ran out like that.

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

Addison took the joke for what it was, she knew that most people that saw her schedule gawked at it. It was insane but that fast track was what Bizzy and Captain wanted for her. The sooner she was out of pre-med, the sooner she would be in medical school and then internship and residency and so forth. “It sounds nice, and with a team, it’s like...built in friends, I guess?” Addison had classmates that she had to collaborate with for projects and things, but she didn’t really have time to spend on friends, unless it was to come home for one of Bizzy’s brunches or parties. “Yeah, this- this is really nice.” It was like somehow there was less weight when she was around Teddy.

“Well, we’ve already gone over leaving voicemails, I think I can handle returning a phone call every now and then,” Addison teased lightly before turning back to her food. She finished her burger and poked at her fries before glancing up at Teddy. The thought of going home, even later than expected, and still having to lie to Bizzy about why she was home without Captain was too much. Addison didn’t want to ask Teddy to put her up again though. “Not quite sure what I’m going to do, but definitely wanting to stay away for a bit. Maybe until after I know Bizzy should be in bed. She never waits up for anyone.”

“Yeah I guess so.” Teddy agreed with a small shrug. “It mainly just makes it easier to make friends or to escape everything for a little bit.” She was definitely needing escapes these days between her busy schedule, worrying about her dad, and how often she had been preoccupied with thoughts about Addie. The escape of soccer was more than welcomed. She could go to the field and run, kick the ball around, and only focus on that, and that alone.  “Can you blame me for making sure?” She teased back, winking at the red head. Teddy continued her meal, clearly enjoying the ketchup more than anything else. She watched the younger woman squirm as she tried to come up with an answer. She hated how manufactured everything seemed like it had to be. She could tell that Addison didn’t want to go back, not that she would say it though. “Well, my place is always open.” She offered. “No pressure or anything!” She added quickly, not wanting her to think it had to be like the time before. She just wanted the woman to know that she had a neutral space she could go to and get away for a bit. 

[sxtanshepherd]

@teddyaltman-cardiogoddess

Addison had worked tirelessly to show Teddy that she meant it when she said she would do better. And she did. She stepped up to the board and made it known that she wouldn’t be pushed around like she didn’t have a right to be the Chief. She showed Teddy that she would be there by coming home every night that she wasn’t on-call, she kept an eye on Teddy’s blood pressure and made sure she and the baby were taken care of. It was worth it, so, so worth it. 

Things were turning around and they were going great. Addison and Teddy had had a nice night, they’d gone out for a date night and then home. She was sleeping when her phone rang through her bedroom. She groaned in her sleep fumbling for the phone to try to keep it from waking up Teddy. Looking at the caller ID, she sighed. “Bizzy, it’s three hours earlier here.” “Addison, I’m getting on the plane, I’ll be there around 7am, your time, meet me at the tarmac.” “What?” Addison didn’t get an answer or an explanation, Bizzy just hung up the phone. 

Addison got up barely two hours later. “I don’t know what’s going on, she didn’t say anything except to meet her there. I’m sorry,” she told Teddy, “I have to go find out what’s going on. Bizzy doesn’t just get on the jet and fly to Seattle. She hates anything west of New York.” She had already pushed back any surgeries and meetings at the hospital for the day, unsure of what she was walking into. 

When she got to the tarmac, she stood there watching the jet pull in and Bizzy stepping off the plane. “Hello, Addison,” Bizzy said walking up to her. Addison was apprehensive at best, unsure of what she was going to find. “Bizzy. What’s going on?” “I need your help.” Addison’s world faded to just that moment, she had never heard those words from her. Bizzy didn’t ask for help, she didn’t say that she needed things; she threw money at people and expected them to read her mind. She watched as Susan was unloaded from the jet on a stretcher and jumped into action, getting an ambulance to transport her to the hospital. 

The rest of the day was a whirlwind of stabilizing, test running, and trying to plan a course of treatment. There was no time for anything, not even to eat. She called Teddy to fill her in on the situation so that she knew what was going on, but she didn’t get home until after midnight. Addison had crashed for just a few short hours after convincing Bizzy to go to the hotel and let Susan rest, with the promise that they would be back before the interns were there to round. Bizzy wanted to hear everything from everyone’s perspectives and explanations of what was happening. After barely a catnap, she was up and getting dressed to get back to the hospital. 

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

Addison heard it as soon as she said it and knew exactly what Teddy was thinking the moment that she said she’d canceled her meeting. She walked over to the bed and sat down on the side. “Susan has stage IV ovarian cancer and Bizzy came to me, me. Bizzy Forbes-Montgomery never asks for anything but she asked me; and she’s my mother.” Her cold, absent, withholding mother, but her mother nonetheless and she had never been good at letting things lie when it came to either of her parents.

She didn’t know how to leave knowing that Teddy was upset with her, but Bizzy waiting in their home for her. Addison forced herself to breathe. Torn between her wife and her mother was a very bad situation that led with no one winning anything. She reminded herself that Teddy hadn’t witnessed the downfall of Bizzy and the truth about Captain, she hadn’t moved back to Seattle in time for that, leaving Naomi to try to get her through that. “I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to wake you,” Addison said quietly, “I love you, Teddy.” She didn’t have the time that she wanted to spend, to lay back down and hold her wife and show her that she meant what she said. “I have to get Bizzy back to the hospital before she decides that killing me and finding a new daughter to save her girlfriend is a better idea.” She tried for humor even though she knew it wouldn’t work.

Addison reached out and squeezed her hand gently before standing up and smoothing her outfit and heading out the door. Bizzy met her in the living room with comments that she worried that Susan wouldn’t even be alive by the time they got there with how slow she was. “I have the residents sending me her vitals every half hour, Bizzy, she’s stable,” Addison told her as she grabbed her bag and opened the front door of the apartment. She drove them to the hospital and Addison began a long day of checking labs and running tests, none of which gave her any bit of hope.

Teddy wanted to be understanding; and to some degree, and to some degree she was. But it was hard to do so completely when she was dropping everything for this but not when Teddy was needing her. Bizzy was getting what Teddy desperately had begged for. "Okay...it's fine. I get it." She tried to brush off, although she knew her tone was saying anything but. 

 The blonde sighed and slumped her shoulders, "I love you too." At least she didn't forget to say it, the blonde thought to herself. Teddy gave a half-assed chuckle, "Do you want me to come offer coffee or come with you to the hospital?" She asked, already knowing the answer. She had yet to meet Bizzy. Teddy knew why, but it still all just felt so....odd.  "I'll see you later...hopefully." 

 Teddy laid back down and grabbed Addison's pillow, placing it over her face as she groaned. One step forward and three steps back. She wanted to be supportive, but she wasn't fully sure how she could be. Bizzy popped up out of no where and got Addison's full attention. Sure, things had been better since their conversation, but she couldn't help but notice how Bizzy was getting what she had longed for when she was the one in the hospital. The expectant mother closed her eyes for a moment, but she was up. There was no way she'd be able to fall back asleep with all the emotions coursing through her.

[sxtanshepherd]

@teddyaltman-cardiogoddess

Addison had worked tirelessly to show Teddy that she meant it when she said she would do better. And she did. She stepped up to the board and made it known that she wouldn’t be pushed around like she didn’t have a right to be the Chief. She showed Teddy that she would be there by coming home every night that she wasn’t on-call, she kept an eye on Teddy’s blood pressure and made sure she and the baby were taken care of. It was worth it, so, so worth it. 

Things were turning around and they were going great. Addison and Teddy had had a nice night, they’d gone out for a date night and then home. She was sleeping when her phone rang through her bedroom. She groaned in her sleep fumbling for the phone to try to keep it from waking up Teddy. Looking at the caller ID, she sighed. “Bizzy, it’s three hours earlier here.” “Addison, I’m getting on the plane, I’ll be there around 7am, your time, meet me at the tarmac.” “What?” Addison didn’t get an answer or an explanation, Bizzy just hung up the phone. 

Addison got up barely two hours later. “I don’t know what’s going on, she didn’t say anything except to meet her there. I’m sorry,” she told Teddy, “I have to go find out what’s going on. Bizzy doesn’t just get on the jet and fly to Seattle. She hates anything west of New York.” She had already pushed back any surgeries and meetings at the hospital for the day, unsure of what she was walking into. 

When she got to the tarmac, she stood there watching the jet pull in and Bizzy stepping off the plane. “Hello, Addison,” Bizzy said walking up to her. Addison was apprehensive at best, unsure of what she was going to find. “Bizzy. What’s going on?” “I need your help.” Addison’s world faded to just that moment, she had never heard those words from her. Bizzy didn’t ask for help, she didn’t say that she needed things; she threw money at people and expected them to read her mind. She watched as Susan was unloaded from the jet on a stretcher and jumped into action, getting an ambulance to transport her to the hospital. 

The rest of the day was a whirlwind of stabilizing, test running, and trying to plan a course of treatment. There was no time for anything, not even to eat. She called Teddy to fill her in on the situation so that she knew what was going on, but she didn’t get home until after midnight. Addison had crashed for just a few short hours after convincing Bizzy to go to the hotel and let Susan rest, with the promise that they would be back before the interns were there to round. Bizzy wanted to hear everything from everyone’s perspectives and explanations of what was happening. After barely a catnap, she was up and getting dressed to get back to the hospital. 

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

Addison didn’t know what was going on, just that Bizzy had taken a plane and moved her…girlfriend to Seattle so that she could perform some impossible miracle cure. She didn’t know what she was going to do. She had spent the majority of the day just getting Susan stable and comfortable, then the rest of it was spent researching anything she could. The more time she spent, the deeper the awful feeling in her gut deepened. Addison couldn’t be the one to do that to Bizzy, so she pushed through.

The most Bizzy could stand to be away from Susan was a few hours, so when Bizzy called Addison at 4am, there wasn’t a choice. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you up. Bizzy’s waiting in the living room for me. She wants to get back before Susan wakes up.” She haphazardly threw a shirt on hoping that it went with whatever black, gray, blue skirt she might’ve pulled on in the dim light. Addison really had wished that Teddy hadn’t woken up, she needed the rest the further along she got. “I canceled the meeting for today. I’m running tests on Susan, and Bizzy wants me to be there.” That had never been the case once in her life. Addison felt how much she didn’t like children; she’d been told how much Bizzy hated her life the first time she learned about Susan.

Addison glanced at Teddy’s hand and frowned. The option to climb back in bed was enticing. A moment to shut everything out but them; but Bizzy was pacing her living room, probably saving a lifetime’s worth of criticism of her home for a rainy day. “Bizzy’s waiting,” she told her softly before turning back to find a shoe that would be comfortable, not too much, but also enough so she wouldn’t receive backlash about not looking professional enough. If it were anyone other than Bizzy, slacks, a shirt, and her white coat would be more than enough. This was a carefully curated look, that couldn’t look like one.

Teddy rubbed her eyes, “Bizzy is here? In our living room?” Mix pregnancy brain, with a 4am wake up time, and the confusion that was Bizzy being around…well, she was taking a bit longer to process things. The next sentence she heard though processed immediately. Addison cancelled her day. She cancelled the meetings. Teddy sat up quickly, instantly regretting that decision as she took slow breaths to try and settle her stomach. “Oh…” was all she could manage to get out. She hoped the low light hid her clenched jaw.

She wondered just how many times it would feel like getting slapped. Addison cancelled her day. She was spending quite a bit of time picking out her outfit. She refused Teddy’s hand entirely. “Right…” she let out a puff of air. “Shall I go offer her coffee or something?” She was trying to hide her annoyance but it felt impossible. It’s not that this wasn’t important. She knew it was. It was just bringing back the feeling of being unimportant. How Addie didn’t cancel her meetings when she was cooped up in a hospital bed for low BP, or home for days on end with all day sickness. “You can turn more lights off if you’re struggling to see your closet. Believe me, I’m awake.”

[sxtanshepherd]

It Can Crash In An Instant

@teddyaltman-cardiogoddess

Addison had worked tirelessly to show Teddy that she meant it when she said she would do better. And she did. She stepped up to the board and made it known that she wouldn’t be pushed around like she didn’t have a right to be the Chief. She showed Teddy that she would be there by coming home every night that she wasn’t on-call, she kept an eye on Teddy’s blood pressure and made sure she and the baby were taken care of. It was worth it, so, so worth it. 

Things were turning around and they were going great. Addison and Teddy had had a nice night, they’d gone out for a date night and then home. She was sleeping when her phone rang through her bedroom. She groaned in her sleep fumbling for the phone to try to keep it from waking up Teddy. Looking at the caller ID, she sighed. “Bizzy, it’s three hours earlier here.” “Addison, I’m getting on the plane, I’ll be there around 7am, your time, meet me at the tarmac.” “What?” Addison didn’t get an answer or an explanation, Bizzy just hung up the phone. 

Addison got up barely two hours later. “I don’t know what’s going on, she didn’t say anything except to meet her there. I’m sorry,” she told Teddy, “I have to go find out what’s going on. Bizzy doesn’t just get on the jet and fly to Seattle. She hates anything west of New York.” She had already pushed back any surgeries and meetings at the hospital for the day, unsure of what she was walking into. 

When she got to the tarmac, she stood there watching the jet pull in and Bizzy stepping off the plane. “Hello, Addison,” Bizzy said walking up to her. Addison was apprehensive at best, unsure of what she was going to find. “Bizzy. What’s going on?” “I need your help.” Addison’s world faded to just that moment, she had never heard those words from her. Bizzy didn’t ask for help, she didn’t say that she needed things; she threw money at people and expected them to read her mind. She watched as Susan was unloaded from the jet on a stretcher and jumped into action, getting an ambulance to transport her to the hospital. 

The rest of the day was a whirlwind of stabilizing, test running, and trying to plan a course of treatment. There was no time for anything, not even to eat. She called Teddy to fill her in on the situation so that she knew what was going on, but she didn’t get home until after midnight. Addison had crashed for just a few short hours after convincing Bizzy to go to the hotel and let Susan rest, with the promise that they would be back before the interns were there to round. Bizzy wanted to hear everything from everyone’s perspectives and explanations of what was happening. After barely a catnap, she was up and getting dressed to get back to the hospital. 

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

Things had been good. No, things had been great since their emotional conversation the night after her blood pressure dropped the last time. Addison was coming home. She was more communicative. Teddy was being more understanding. They were actually getting to enjoy the pregnancy. It was exactly how they had imagined it. Addie being chief, but still being able to be home. Things were good. They were happy. They hadn’t been on a proper date night in what felt like ages. They both got dressed up and had a much needed night out. They went to a fancy restaurant, where Teddy freaked their waiter out with whatever weird craving she was having and they laughed about it. Unfortunately, Teddy caught a whiff of someones dish on the way out that landed her in the bathroom puking for a minute while the valet got their car. Which meant the rest of the night didn’t go the way she wanted. She no longer felt sexy. She just wanted to be comforted and cuddle with Addie. Soon, they were curled up together sleeping, their night far from ruined. 

Teddy groaned when she felt Addison move and heard her shuffling around. “What are you doing? We still have a few more hours.” She rolled over, causing her to take a sharp inhale as she fought with the nausea. “Bizzy called? Bizzy? Like as in your mother?” She sat up, taking  a sip of water, hoping it would allow her to not run towards the bathroom. “What did she want? She just expects you to just show up unannounced like that?” She was trying to read her wife, but her expression was unrecognizable. “Okay...no need to apologize.” Teddy offered to go with her, but Addison was practically out of the door before the blonde had a chance to make it out of bed. 

Teddy didn’t see Addie the rest of the day. That wasn’t odd considering Teddy’s full schedule, and Addie...well, Addie focusing on Bizzy. The few moments she had to herself, she really tried not to get into her head about the whole thing. She just...she had never seen Addison like this. Teddy got home and got an update from her wife. As the time ticked by, she couldn’t stay up any longer. She sent a text of well wishes to her wife before heading to bed. She woke up briefly when Addie joined her, but was up quickly when the red head was back to getting ready. “Hey...” Her voice was raspy and groggy. “Babe, come back to bed. You barely got any sleep. You have that one meeting I can’t think of today...” She said with a yawn as she stretched. “You need rest.” She reached her arm out to her wife, hoping she would take it.

[sxtanshepherd]

Second Chances and New Impressions

@teddyaltman-cardiogoddess

About once a month, Addison would receive a summons from Bizzy and Captain to come home for a weekend. Last time, the time she ran out of Captain's TA's apartment had been a benefit for Bizzy, Captain had just pulled her to the University under the pretense of old memories. This time the summons had come from Captain: a university event for his department, he wanted the poster child of what his teaching could create. Addison was top in her class and likely to graduate early. She was the perfect child who had a plan since she was six and was following it. So, Friday night after all of her classes were done, she got into her car and drove to the estate, driving slowly to intentionally miss dinner. Just because she had to be there didn't mean she was interested in a dinner interrogation from Bizzy.

Saturday evening, Addison found herself at a cocktail hour, surrounded by professors, medical students, and undergrads that were trying to network themselves. Something she hadn't considered when she responded to the summons was that Captain's TA's were there, talking with other professors trying to get more research hours, more experience to take with them post graduation, more chances to get published and get their names out into the medical community. And on top of all of that, Addison was seeing a few people that were at the party Teddy had taken her to. A new kind of anxiety hit her. She hadn't known what to do that morning so she'd done the only thing she could when the realization hit her: get back to the plan that she'd always followed.

Now, stuck in a room that she couldn't run out of because it was only a matter of time before Captain put her in front of some board member. He found her on the fringes, avoiding interacting with people. Taking her arm and pulling her over to some department head. "She's top in her class at Yale, following after myself of course. She's been sitting in on my lectures since she was six years old." "Sounds like you've had an edge over your fellow classmates for quite a while," he told her with a smirk. Addison nodded lightly, "You could say that." Not that it had really ever been a choice, but she did miss the days that she liked spending time there. Though, the last time she'd been there had been nice. Seeing a streak of blonde hair, she quickly excused herself and made her way over to the bar and ordered a drink, she usually didn't drink at these, but she needed to take the edge off. She wanted to talk to Teddy but she didn't know if she wanted to talk to her, not after she ran out like that.

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

Addison laughed lightly at Teddy’s sarcastic comment. She knew that there were people who actually enjoyed her parents parties and all of the not-talking talking. She couldn’t stand it though. She hated doing mental gymnastics just to have a conversation. “Yeah, they’re definitely something.” She wondered what Teddy would think if she saw a full Forbes-Montgomery party planned by Bizzy. Would the ridiculous amount of staff alone scare her off? There was a line for people who weren’t raised in it; she thought for the briefest second what it might be like to see where Teddy drew her line.

“Wow, you’ve got almost as full of a schedule as me,” she told her with a smirk. She wondered how nice it would be to fill time slots up with games like soccer. Addison knew that it was work and probably exhausting, but it still sounded nice to have scheduled time to not be studying. A forced break from the books. “That sounds...relaxing. Having something to do when everything is too much.” Addison didn’t have that. When it all became too much, she shoved that feeling down and kept going. She frowned at Teddy when she wiped her face off. “I wouldn’t have let you leave like that,” she said simply, “It’s just a little ketchup, no big deal.”

“I’m not sure that I even want to know what your schedule looks like.” she shuddered at the thought. If she thought her own schedule was tough, she was sure that it was nothing compared to the woman in front of her. “What soccer? I mean...yeah I guess so. I’ve never really thought of it that way.” she admitted. “I’ve played for as long as I can remember. So maybe not so much the actual games, but the quick pick up games, or just going out on a field and dribbling or running drills...yeah. That’s relaxing.” she smiled softly thinking about her favorite pastime. “That and of course getting burgers with you.” She added for good measure.  “Hey, I’m just teasing you.” She winked at the red head. “I’ve got to worry about you returning my phone calls first.” She teased again, unable to help herself. “Alright, alright. I’ll give you a break.” she sipped her drink and ate another fry. “So, back home after this, or wanting to stay away from there for a bit?” she asked, feeling like she could read the woman well enough to know she didn't want to go back. 

[sxtanshepherd]

Overwhelming Oversights

@teddyaltman-cardiogoddess

As it turned out, being chief took more time than Addison had ever anticipated. It didn't matter that she'd told the board they'd have to respect her life as a world class surgeon on top of chief duties, plus a pregnant wife. Even when she scheduled construction, painting, upgrades to ORs, even when everyone knew what they were doing and when, something always ended up pulling her away from patients, from surgery, from Teddy. The days she got excited at hearing her pager were long gone and they never called her at appropriate times. Addison was exhausted.

She missed the nights at home with Teddy, but every time she felt like she was losing it, the board would mention cutting their injured doctors from the staff. Addison couldn't let that happen. She spent days in her office reading emails, overseeing the changes in the hospital, and constantly checking and rechecking the surgical schedules. She'd scheduled OR upgrades in a staggered way so they always had at least six up and running, but delays were messing with the schedule.

This went on for weeks on end and Addison couldn't remember the last time she had operated. She occasionally was able to consult, but getting into the OR was nearly impossible. Every time she got halfway scrubbed in, something pulled her away. Leaving the hospital was becoming even more difficult. There was always more work and more paperwork to get done and every night that she went home, she worked from home so more wouldn't pile up.

Time she spent with Teddy got less and less. Addison felt guilty for it. but she tended to push it to the back of her mind. There weren't enough hours in the day. She always made sure the interns kept an eye on her though, made sure she ate or that something was available for her to eat. Somewhere in her thoughts, she wanted to be with Teddy, but she had to keep the hospital running, and couldn't risk their coworkers, all of the residents in their program. Addison couldn't fail them all.

After a long day of board meetings and dealing with deadlines, Addison walked into the apartment. "Hey, honey, I hope takeout from wherever you want sounds okay, I really don't feel like cooking or waiting for food to cook," she said. She’d dropped her stuff at the door, tempted to give herself one night of not working from home.

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

Addison watched Teddy carefully, listening to everything she was telling her. She was right, she needed to stop talking and actually do what she was saying she would. She had to do it for their family, her wife was having a difficult pregnancy and she needed to be there for her. Addison squeezed her hand gently, letting her know that she was hearing her. Her heart stung at seeing Teddy crying and knowing that she was the reason. It had to stop there, she was going to get everything straightened out because her family was her priority and she needed her wife to see that. “I hear you,” she said quietly. She didn’t say much of anything else, knowing that there wasn’t much she could say about it, words weren’t going to fix or help it.

She stayed sitting on the floor with her for a little while longer, not wanting to move away from Teddy at the moment. Everything was still fresh and raw, she was worried that she would think she was leaving her if she got up. So, she stayed. “Are you feeling hungry at all?” She wasn’t feeling hungry, too wrapped up in her worry and overwhelmed by emotions; but she needed to do something to take care of Teddy some way. It was late, too late for her to put momentum behind her words, too late to tell the board to stop negatively impacting her patients and her family, that was a tomorrow problem. Tonight, she needed to be with her family and be present. “Cheeseburger, extra ketchup and I can make you a mocktail?” She wasn’t sure if they were at the point where she could start making jokes yet, but she was going to try at least. It wasn’t going to work if she sat there wallowing in her anxiety. “Plus, kids baking championship?”

Teddy wasn’t sure what kind of reaction or response she was wanting from Addison. Honestly, any response probably would’ve irritated her for some reason. “I’m serious Addison. I will not keep doing this. So either you make changes about your job, or I do.” She stated, leaving no room for argument. “I’ not even trying to be unrealistic. I get you’ll have longer days and a busier schedule. I’m just asking for you to be here at least most nights. To be there for emergencies, o-or when I’m sick...well at least some because I know that’s all the time for the most part.” She sighed and laid her head back. “I just want a night and a morning where I know you’ll be here. I just want to know that if my bp drops you’ll be there to remind me that we’re okay and take us home. Because...” She looked up at the ceiling to try and manage her feelings as her voice became shaky and thick with emotions. “Because being terrified that I lost the....it-” She corrected herself, unable to say it fully. “And having to be terrified of that by myself is...it sucks. I miss my wife and I need her at least a little bit. I need more than a roommate.” She finally managed to get out, wiping her tears that strayed.  They sat in silence. It wasn’t a comfortable silence, at least not to the cardio surgeon. She felt tension and awkwardness. She hoped she wasn’t being irrational. She didn’t feel like she was. She wasn’t telling Addison to quit or to spend every second with her. She was just asking for more than what she was currently getting. The question brought her out of her thoughts, “Um...I can try. I’m not feeling very hungry but it’s worth a shot. But yeah, kid’s baking championship sounds nice. I haven’t been watching.” she shrugged, her voice hoarse and tired. “Can you make something with gingerale please? I’m hoping it will help settle my stomach.” She grabbed the remote and worked on getting the tv ready for them. “Thank you.” She stated simply. It was far from simple though. It wasn’t just for the food and drink suggestion, it was a thank you for not arguing, not saying she was wrong for wanting more of her, not making excuses, and for staying. 

[sxtanshepherd]

Second Chances and New Impressions

@teddyaltman-cardiogoddess

About once a month, Addison would receive a summons from Bizzy and Captain to come home for a weekend. Last time, the time she ran out of Captain's TA's apartment had been a benefit for Bizzy, Captain had just pulled her to the University under the pretense of old memories. This time the summons had come from Captain: a university event for his department, he wanted the poster child of what his teaching could create. Addison was top in her class and likely to graduate early. She was the perfect child who had a plan since she was six and was following it. So, Friday night after all of her classes were done, she got into her car and drove to the estate, driving slowly to intentionally miss dinner. Just because she had to be there didn't mean she was interested in a dinner interrogation from Bizzy.

Saturday evening, Addison found herself at a cocktail hour, surrounded by professors, medical students, and undergrads that were trying to network themselves. Something she hadn't considered when she responded to the summons was that Captain's TA's were there, talking with other professors trying to get more research hours, more experience to take with them post graduation, more chances to get published and get their names out into the medical community. And on top of all of that, Addison was seeing a few people that were at the party Teddy had taken her to. A new kind of anxiety hit her. She hadn't known what to do that morning so she'd done the only thing she could when the realization hit her: get back to the plan that she'd always followed.

Now, stuck in a room that she couldn't run out of because it was only a matter of time before Captain put her in front of some board member. He found her on the fringes, avoiding interacting with people. Taking her arm and pulling her over to some department head. "She's top in her class at Yale, following after myself of course. She's been sitting in on my lectures since she was six years old." "Sounds like you've had an edge over your fellow classmates for quite a while," he told her with a smirk. Addison nodded lightly, "You could say that." Not that it had really ever been a choice, but she did miss the days that she liked spending time there. Though, the last time she'd been there had been nice. Seeing a streak of blonde hair, she quickly excused herself and made her way over to the bar and ordered a drink, she usually didn't drink at these, but she needed to take the edge off. She wanted to talk to Teddy but she didn't know if she wanted to talk to her, not after she ran out like that.

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

Addison didn’t know. She truly didn’t know what she was doing. If she were alone, she probably would have gone home and started studying for the night. Teddy was there though. All of it was completely different, including the first time she was with Teddy. Turning her attention back to her food, she poked at her fries. The food was really good. Addison couldn’t help but smile as ketchup smeared across the blonde’s cheek. “Yeah, I know a thing or two about events that no one wants to be at, regular occurrence for a Forbes-Montgomery.” She shook her head, she needed to stop talking about the estate, she was breaking all of the rules.

“So, what else is there to do around here? What are you doing when you have free time?” Addison wanted to know everything about Teddy.

She had to admit, it was nice to see the younger woman let loose a little bit. Though she hadn’t been around Addison much, she had already seen quite a few times when the undergraduate was tense and...uptight. So, it was nice to see her be able to allow herself to let that mask fall at least a little bit. “You mean your dad’s fancy parties aren’t all their cracked up to be? Who woulda thought?” she asked sarcastically with an eye roll, showing that she knew at least a little bit about them.  Teddy nearly choked on her drink, coughing as she heard Addison’s question. She composed herself and sipped her water with more skill that time around. “Free time? I don’t know what that is.”She laughed. “Free time...let’s see. When I do have some I’m either sleeping or going out. I help coach the undergrad women’s soccer team. I also play for an intramural soccer team. So there’s not much time. But I guess you could count soccer. If things feel too much, I’ll go to the field and play by myself.” She shrugged, catching a glimpse of herself in the window and groaning as she realized there was ketchup on her face and wiped it quickly. She mentally scolded herself for being so messy. “Addie, I’m not sure about this friendship thing if you’re not going to tell me when I have ketchup on my face. Because I’ll tell ya, it happens often.”