This connects with my other story long way to heaven. But you don't have to read the other fanfiction, to understand. Probably I'm only able to update slowly.
I hope you enjoy it!
Note: Amy Rhodes is Connors daughter. After her mom (Connors girlfriend) died, he took her in to live together.
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" Mrs. Goodwin? I have to bring my daughter to work today. I can't leave Amy alone. Her pneumonia got pretty bad and I wouldn't have a good feeling if she stays at home without someone looking out for her."
"So we take her in as our patient?", the chief administrator asked on the phone. Connor confirmed quickly.
"Eventually. Yeah."
"Alright, Dr. Rhodes. I got it. Take good care of your girl and see you later in the afternoon."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Connor put the phone on it's place, then walked back to the couch where his daughter was lying, still in fever. He touched her head, took the thermometer out of her mouth.
Her eyes were surrounded by deep holes and her cough sounded even more raspy than the day before.
"103, 8. That's a new record."
He put the thermometer on the table and sat down on the mattress next to her.
"How are you feeling?"
Amy shrugged her shoulders.
Her answer seemed clear, when the first tears escaped from her eyes.
"Hey, don't cry. It's gonna be okay", Rhodes placed a kiss on her feverish head, stroking circles on her back. Obviously crying made it even more worse, because she started to cough several times, desperately breathing for air until she felt better. Connor patted on her shoulder, even more worried by the sound of her lungs.
"But I don't want to go back tot he hospital again. I hate Chicago Med."
"Listen, it's only for tonight, okay? I'm with you and if your feeling better tomorrow you're coming home with me, alright?"
She nodded sniffling.
"Brave girl."
Rhodes grabbed the stethoscope from the table.
"Alright, let me listen to your lungs again. Take a deep breath."
He sighed by the horrible noises. It sounded like the records, they used to show medical students at college, to demonstrate how a bad pneumonia sounded.
"The pain killers are working?"
"Yeah, but I think I feel…"
She couldn't end the sentence, jumped up from the couch but didn't came far, because the dizziness destroyed her plans, to go to the bathroom. As a result she threw up on one of the blankets.
Still worried, Connor kneeled down next to her and held her head, as she was throwing up.
Powerless Amy searched for a place to sit down and finally let herself fall against to the wall.
"I'm sorry", she sobbed, getting concerned views from her fathers side.
"I know. Come, on let's get you back to the couch again", he helped her to make a few steps, until she crawled back.
The fever made her shivering and her whole body felt numb.
"Trust me, there are better days ahead", he put the blanket over her and sat down, gently stroking her cheeks.
A gesture that finally lead her to close her eyes, because she already felt extremely tired.
The last thing she noticed was her father putting the badly smelling stuff away. Then she blacked out..
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"Excuse me, Sara. But, can my Dad put the tube in? Don't get me wrong. I totally like you, but…I'm afraid of needles."
Reese smiled weakly, putting the injection aside.
"Feeling lonely, huh?"
Amy nodded.
"You don't like hospitals, do you?"
"How do you know?"
She smiled.
"It's the way you look at me. Always fearful for the next step to come."
"I thought I would be a better actress."
"Okay, let's see what I can do for you. But there is no guarantee. If he's in the operating room, it won't work."
With Amy being lucky, Rhodes just finished the paperwork. He wasn't that busy, so it was possible for him to take a closer look at his special patient.
The teenager smiled weakly when her father walked in, greeted by waving weakly.
"Your room service is coming. What do you need, young lady?"
"Putting a needle into my arm. Can you…?"
"Same problem as usual?"
Amy grimaced, anxious staring at her veins.
Connor searched for the equipment in the drawer, then glanced at this daughter.
"What is scaring you the most?"
"I just hate it. This cold feeling, when the liquid drops in. The pain. Is it really necessary?"
"Definitely. Your test results are pretty bad. If you want to come home with me as soon as possible, we have to do everything we can, to get it out of your system."
"What about the antibiotics? You promised they would work."
"Working and healing are two different subjects. If we are lucky here, you might be back in school in about three weeks, probably with some chest pain and aftermath effects."
Amys eyes widened in shock.
"3 weeks? Are you kidding me? Dad, I'm a potential candidate for becoming the head girl of our school. This contest is in about 4 days."
„If you're dying on a shock, caused by pneumonia you will never see your class mates again. Not to forget about the intubation. If it got more worse we have to put you asleep to keep you alive."
She fought tears, crossed her arms.
"Amy, it's serious. Your markers are nearly double the average. And I'm not talking to you as a dad. I'm talking to you as your doctor."
He concentrated on her veins, searched for the needle to stick in.
"Relax, okay?"
She closed her eyes, until the sharp pain set in.
"Ouch. That hurts."
"Alright. You're done", he soothed her, putting her on the IV.
She gave him the typical look of being totally overwhelmed, with her world falling apart.
As her dad he couldn't help but feel miserable for disturbing another dream. He knew the last two years seemed the hardest time of her previous life.
"See, I know what that means to you. But I'm not keeping you here, because I hate you or I want to hurt you. I care, because I love you and I want you to be safe and healthy and to live your life and go to college."
Amy bursted into tears, covered her face with her hands and sobbed violently.
Connor moaned, but came closer to put his arms around her.
He didn't say anthing. He was just there to hold her.
"Can you leave me alone?"
"Sure?"
"I need some time", she sobbed, so he helped her lying down, leaving her with mixed feelings. On his way back to his office, he nearly collided with Manning.
"You always make your daughter cry, don't you?"
"Long story. You have a couple of minutes?"
"Sure."
"Hiding spot", they both said at the same time, laughing.