More Than A Fight
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone.
Chapter 1
"Melinda honey, come into the kitchen and have something to eat." Piper called out, her head buried in the fridge.
"Mom?" Melinda questioned weakly coming around the corner.
"Are you still not feeling well Mel?" Piper crouched down to her and put a hand to her cheek, instinctively picking up her exhausted tone. "Leo, she's still incredibly hot."
"Do you want some Tylenol sweetheart?" Leo asked, lifting her up onto the kitchen bench.
Melinda nodded, too sick to give her usual protest. "Mom?"
"Yeah." Piper replied, moving to her side and tucking some hair behind her daughter's ear.
"I haven't done my homework for tomorrow." Tears welled in Melinda's eyes and Leo handed her a small amount of liquid to take, which she swallowed diligently.
"That's okay, I don't think you'll be going to school tomorrow. You just concentrate on getting some rest." Melinda nodded and leaned into Piper, resting her head against her heart. "Do you want Daddy to carry you up to bed." Melinda shrugged and Piper kissed her forehead, nodding to Leo to take her.
"Come on, I'll even tuck you in." Leo grinned, lifting Melinda, effortlessly rubbing her back as she wrapped her legs around his waist and buried her head in his shoulder.
Piper stood back and watched, her forehead creased in concern as she waited for Leo to reappear. He finally came around the corner and immediately went to Piper. "She'll be fine." He smiled, pulling her into his arms and kissing the top of her head.
"Leo, what's the rules with you healing Melinda and I now?" She asked, relaxing into his embrace.
"They placed limitations on my powers, remember?" Leo explained, sure he'd already clarified the subject.
"Yeah, but does it mean you can't ever heal non-demonic inflicted injuries, even if you want to?"
"That's pretty much it. They didn't think I should have to sacrifice my position for you or Melinda or even your sisters, so they took away that power or the decision rather."
"I think we should take Melinda to see a doctor tomorrow." Piper stated, sighing deeply.
"She's had a few days off school this year from varying sicknesses. I think taking her for some tests is a good idea."
"Will you be able to come?" Piper looked up to meet Leo's eyes.
"I'll make sure I can come." He answered, tilting his head down to kiss her. "Don't look so worried, I'm sure she's fine."
Piper nodded but her heart raced and her stomach knotted, unable to shake her maternal instincts and the feeling of an impending struggle.
~&~
"Leo, can you go and get Melinda; our appointment's in a half an hour." Piper directed behind her, staring into a mirror and skilfully plaiting her hair.
"Not a problem. Meet you in the car." Leo grinned, kissing her on the cheek before leaving the room. They lived in an apartment a few blocks from the manor where Prue and Phoebe still lived, each with their respective boyfriends. Leo and Piper had lived at the manor until she gave birth and practicality overrode sisterly bonding. She took a deep breath and tied her hair, slipping on some shoes before heading to their car.
"How are you going Mel?" Piper asked, climbing into the passenger's seat and turning around to look at her daughter.
"Okay." Melinda replied, giving a small uncertain smile.
"You'll be fine, the doctor will just check you over and we'll be able to come home." Piper tried to reassure.
"He won't do any tests that hurt me will he?" Melinda asked fearfully, her eyes again brimming with tears.
"No. Of course not baby. He's just going to check you over, you remember doctor James." Melinda nodded, bringing her knees to her chest and staring out the window. Piper turned back around and shared a worried glance with Leo, reaching to hold his hand before turning her own attention to the passing scenery.
~&~
It was 6pm before Piper and Leo finally returned to their apartment, carrying their now exhausted and half-asleep daughter. "I'll put her to bed, how about your make some coffee." Leo whispered, already making his way to Melinda's bedroom.
Piper took a deep breath and with trembling hands put some water on to boil. She was leaning over the bench, her face buried in her arms and crying softly when Leo came into the kitchen. "She's sound asleep." He said casually before noticing Piper's distress. "Hey, come on Piper. Melinda's going to be fine." Piper shook her head but straightened up and walked into Leo's open embrace, her arms gripping his neck as she cried into his shirt. "Shhh. It's okay."
"All those tests. I don't understand." Piper sobbed, her words muffled and barely audible.
"They just have to cover their bases. Rule out all the possibilities. You heard the doctor, it's probably just a virus." Leo answered calmly.
"What if it isn't?"
"Positive thinking Piper. Melinda's a fighter, just like her mom. She'll be fine."
"But…"
"No Piper. Let's just wait to hear the results and not jump to conclusions okay?" Piper nodded, but kept her face buried. "Everything's going to be okay."
~&~
7:00am. You always know that there's something wrong if the phone rings before normal working hours begin. There's that feeling of dread when your hand lingers over the receiver, waiting, praying that it's a wrong number. Your stomach churns and your heart feels like it's trying to leap from your chest. But you answer it…bad news or not, it's your duty of care to respond to the ringing.
"Hello?" Piper's voice was scratchy from having just woken and came out in a rush of air as she remembered to breath.
"Ah hello. May I ask who I am speaking with?" A deep male voice asked tentatively.
"This is Piper Wyatt. May I help you?" Piper asked, swallowing the lump that persisted in her throat.
"Mrs Wyatt. This is Dr Richards, from the San Fransisco Memorial." His voice sounded young and almost fearful. Piper's hand trembled at the mere mention of the hospital they spent so many hours at the day before.
"Yes." She responded quickly.
"We need for you and your husband to bring Melinda down to the hospital immediately. We've detected some abnormalities with the blood tests we performed yesterday."
"What sort of abnormalities? And who are you exactly?" Piper questioned defensively, staring into Leo's eyes as he approached curiously.
"I'm a specialist in the oncology unit." Piper's eyes glazed over and she felt the blood rush from her head, quickly sitting on the nearest chair.
"Oncology?" She gasped and squeezed Leo's hand when he grasped hers in an instantaneous reflex.
"We performed a full blood count in the tests yesterday and the results show a dramatic disproportion between Melinda's white and blood cell count. What proves the most significant to us is the increased amount of white blood cells and their irregular composition." He explained quickly and confidently.
"I don't understand." Piper managed to say, swallowing strongly.
"Your child has leukaemia Mrs Wyatt; it is vital you bring her in immediately for a biopsy so that we can determine which type and instigate the appropriate treatment."
Leukaemia Piper opened her mouth to speak, but couldn't utter a word, her mind suspended in time. Leukaemia
"Mrs Wyatt?"
"Umm. Yes. We'll have her there within the hour." Piper whispered.
"Bring her directly to the Oncology Unit, we have a specialist children's ward that you will be directed to."
"Okay." Piper responded, letting the receiver drop to the floor in conclusion. "The hospital. We have to take her to the hospital."
"Piper? Piper, what is it? What's wrong with Melinda?" Leo blurted out, unable to accept what he already knew.
Piper stared back at him in shock, rising to her feet and running towards Melinda's room. "Melinda. Melinda honey, you need to get up." She started pulling the sheets off her and untangling her legs from them. "Melinda! Wake up!" She raised her voice enough to draw Melinda from her deep and tiresome slumber, fear shotting through her eyes as she saw the tears pouring down her mother's face.
"Mommy?" Melinda glanced to Piper, bursting into tears.
"I'm sorry baby. I'm so sorry. Don't cry, it's okay." Piper pulled Melinda roughly towards her, desperately needing to feel her body close to her. Piper sobbed into her hair, rocking back and forth; their painful cries mixing and appearing to the human ear, as one.
"Melinda. Come here, we have to go back to the hospital." Leo knelt down and tried to extract Melinda from Piper's distraught embrace.
"Noooo!" Melinda's fearful screams pierced the early morning and air and she clung to Piper. Suddenly she wasn't just a little tired and feeling unwell; she knew she must be incredibly ill for her parents to be reacting this way.
"Piper, come on. You need to pull yourself together, this is scaring her." Leo whispered into Piper's ear, pulling them both to their feet.
Piper nodded, kissing Melinda's forehead continuously and wiping at her tears with the back of one hand. "Change out of the pyjamas and go with Daddy to the car Mel." Melinda tightened her grip around Piper's waist and sniffled tearfully. "I'll be right out okay, I just need to change too."
Leo pulled Melinda's arms away and held her back as Piper rushed from the room and across the hall to their bedroom. "It's your choice on what you want to wear angel. Any preferences?" Leo bent down to kiss her cheek and Melinda shrugged.
"My jeans." She whispered in response, her eyes darting to her parent's room, searching for Piper. Leo found jeans and a t-shirt for her and helped her lethargic body into them.
"Piggy-back ride to the car?" He questioned with a small smile, wiping at her tear stained face with his thumbs. Melinda just stared back at him with the identical terrified look that Piper produced. "You're going to be okay Mel. I love you."
"I love you too Daddy." She answered quietly, wrapping her arms around his neck and allowing him to carry her to the car. "Just stay here while I go up and get Mom okay?" Melinda nodded, curling up and leaning heavily against the door.
Taking the steps two at a time, Leo rushed into their apartment. "What the hell is going on Piper?" He refrained from screaming, his voice even and controlled.
Piper watched his expression, meeting his eyes and staring into them, reading his soul. "Melinda has leukaemia. They need to do more tests." Piper replied, trying to mimic his calmness.
Leo just nodded emotionlessly, barely missing a beat. "Let's go, she's waiting in the car." Piper narrowed her eyes and gave him a hurtful glance, before walking ahead of him to the car.
~&~
Arriving at the hospital was a blur to Piper. They walked Melinda in and were rushed into an office and spoke to two men, one of whom she spoke to on the phone. She cradled Melinda close to her, letting all the information wash over her in a haze.
Leo listened intently, asked questions and kept a watchful eye on his wife and daughter. He took their information brochures and booklets, an entire bag full by the end of the hour.
"We just need you to sign these consent forms and we can admit Melinda straight away for a bone marrow biopsy." Leo nodded and Piper jerked her head up.
"A what?" She asked in confusion. There were too many things to remember, a mass of information delivered in such a short time period and under such traumatic circumstances; one couldn't possibly recall the specifics.
"They explained Piper." Leo said gently, reaching out to rest his hand on Piper, but she pulled it away.
"I'm sorry, but I don't remember." She stated with the hint of frustration.
"It's perfectly fine. We understand how stressful this situation is." One of the doctors smiled. "The biopsy will be taken from Melinda's hip bone. She will be under anaesthetic and a thin hollow tube will be fed into her bone and a small sample of marrow taken." He explained slowly, directing his attention to Piper. She nodded, sighing deeply. "This is what enables us to detect which type of leukaemia that Melinda has and consequently the type of treatment and drugs that will be administered. I know that this is a huge shock to you both now, but you need to remember that 70% of children with leukaemia are completely cured. There is no reason for us to believe that Melinda will be any different."
"Okay. Just tell us what to sign." Piper answered, kissing Melinda's cheek and rubbing her back.
"Is it going to hurt?" Melinda spoke up for the first time, her head resting on Piper's shoulder.
"No Melinda." The youngest doctor answered. "You won't feel a thing I promise. You might be a little sore when you wake up, but we'll have a surprise waiting for you." He grinned and Melinda gave an uneven smile back.
~&~
Melinda was led away by the doctor, twisting back with tearful eyes to place a silent plea with her mother and father. Piper looked away, turning her face and resting her forehead against Leo's shoulder. She couldn't bear to see Melinda's confused and desperate eyes, shooting wordless accusations at her. Leo stared at his daughter being almost dragged to a small room; she just looked so frighteningly tiny. She was too young to be about to embark on one of the most frightening fights that humanity faced. Her cheeks were sunken and her usually glowing face was pale; it broke his heart to even look at her. He became aware of Piper, leaning against him, her breathing coming in short, shallow bursts.
"The doctors said it would be at least a half an hour. Let's go outside Piper." He trailed his hand over her back and rested it behind her head, running his fingers through her hair; surprised when she didn't pull away.
"I want to wait here." Piper answered quietly, sighing deeply. "Just in case."
"No, come on Piper. We need to talk." Leo insisted gently, slipping his arm around her waist and leading her towards the exit.
Not having the strength to argue, Piper nodded and leaned heavily against him. "I can't believe this is happening." She whispered finally, staring around the almost deserted garden.
"But it is Piper and we need to deal with it. We have to help Melinda through it, give her the strength to know she can fight."
"I'm trying Leo." Piper stated, staring up at him sadly.
"I know Piper, I'm sorry. I'm just worried about her too."
Piper nodded and looked away, unable to stop the tears that welled in her eyes from falling. "She's just a little girl."
"She'll be okay. She has to be." Leo wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed the back of her head before resting his chin on her shoulder. "I love you Piper."
Piper nodded and hung her head; hot tears flowing quickly down her cheeks, her shoulders shaking slightly. "I love you too." Leo tightened his hold on her and rocked her gently, a single tear escaping his right eye and trailing slowly down his cheek.
"Okay Melinda, can you hop up on that table for me?" Melinda stared back at the doctor, unmoving and petrified of the various objects that he was rearranging on a silver tray. "How about if I lift you up. Would that be okay?"
Melinda nodded and wrapped an arm around his neck when he lifted her up and placed her on the table. "Are my mom and dad waiting outside?" She asked after a minute.
"Yep. We're going to put you to sleep while we do this, so they're going to wait for you to wake up."
"Will it hurt?"
"I promise that you won't feel a thing. It might be a little sore when you wake up; remember what we said?"
"That I'd get a surprise when I wake up." Melinda gave a small smile.
"That's exactly right! Now, lie on your tummy and we'll give you a needle to make you fall asleep. It's only a small needle and it will feel just like an ant bite." Melinda nodded and bit her lip when he pushed the needle in. "Good girl!" He gave Melinda a big grin and watched her eyes close, before turning to the mass of instruments beside him.
~&~
Piper and Leo sat together on the grass, Piper curled up in his arms and resting comfortably against his chest. "We should get back." Piper stated, glancing at her watch.
"We're going to have to explain some things to Melinda." Leo said. "And tell your sisters."
"Yeah, I know. Can't I just linger in denial for a little longer?" Piper gave the smallest of smiles and Leo couldn't help but lean in to kiss her cheek.
"Come on." He stood and reached out his hands to pull Piper to her feet.
"I just hate this place." Piper muttered, keeping one hand in his and gripping it tightly.
"We can do this Piper. For Melinda."
Piper nodded and swallowed the lump in her throat. "For Melinda."
~&~
Leo and Piper were directed to the recovery room, where Melinda lay still unconscious from the anaesthetic. Leo sat in a chair, his hands clasped together while Piper settled herself carefully on the side of Melinda's bed, holding her hand and stroking her forehead.
"Mr and Mrs Wyatt?" A new doctor, dressed typically in a white coat with a stethoscope around his neck, wondered casually in.
"Yes." Leo stood and extended his hand, whilst Piper looked on tiredly, they'd already met more professionals than they cared to.
"We've sent the material from Melinda's biopsy down to be analysed and the results should be back within a couple of hours."
"And the results will tell us what treatment Melinda will require?" Leo questioned.
"To an extent yes. It'll tell us how intense we have to be in our treatment and if Melinda will need radiation therapy as well as chemotherapy."
"Is that likely?" Piper asked quietly, her eyes darting between Melinda and the doctor.
"It's possible. When we were doing Melinda's marrow sample, we found that it was too dense for any withdrawals. This generally means that the bone marrow is crowded with unhealthy white cells and that the leukaemia is quite advanced. As it advances, there's the possibility that it has also infiltrated the central nervous system, most commonly the spinal area."
"How did you get the sample for testing if it was too dense to withdraw?" Leo asked, reaching out to rest his palm on Piper's knee after noticing her definite paling.
"In cases like your daughter's, we take a sample of the hip bone. Just a tiny chip of bone that can than be analysed. It's important not to jump to any conclusions at this stage; we prefer to wait for the results to come through. However, you might like to think about where Melinda will stay during her treatment, read through some material and discuss it. Feel free to ask questions at any time and if you would like to see a social worker, please don't hesitate to ask."
Piper nodded, choosing to not understand and process most of what he said. Leo nodded also and gave a small smile. "Thanks."
"Melinda should be waking in just a few minutes, it's important she stay lying for about an hour, although she will be a little sore so that shouldn't be too much of a problem. Just call the nursing staff if you're concerned about anything." Again, they both nodded, their eye contact returning to Melinda like a magnet. Just staring, waiting for the smallest of movements to prove to them that she was waking from her slumber.
"We have to be strong okay Piper. Remember what we said."
Piper nodded, wiping away the tears that she didn't even know she had shed. They just fell unnoticed, an automated reaction that she lacked any control over. "For Melinda." She whispered, resting her hand on Melinda chest and feeling the rise and fall of her breathing.
After a few minutes of silence, Leo and Piper both jerked to attention when a soft groan escaped Melinda's lips. Her eyelids fluttered and her tiny body squirmed uncomfortably. "Mommy?" Her voice was scratchy and quiet, desperately seeking some parental comfort.
"Daddy and I am right here angel." Piper forced a smile and leaned over to kiss her forehead.
"My leg hurts." Melinda whispered, her lower lip trembling.
"I know it does Mel. Just be a big girl." Leo stood and leaned over the bed to place a kiss on her cheek.
Piper shot a glare in his direction, detesting her husband's sudden insistence on strength. "We know it hurts and it's okay to cry Melinda. We're right here."
"Where's my surprise?" Melinda questioned tearfully, slipping her hand into Piper's and hugging it to her chest. "The doctor said I would get a surprise when I woke up." She explained to Piper and Leo's confused appearance.
"I'm not sure." Piper shrugged.
"I remember them saying you would get a surprise Mel. I'll go and ask the nurses okay?"
Melinda gave shaky smile and nodded, watching her father leave before looking up at Piper. "You've been crying Mom." She said quietly, reaching up with her spare hand to touch Piper's blotchy cheeks. "Are you scared?"
Piper took a deep breath, Leo's words still fresh in her mind. "Yes Melinda. I'm scared." She finally stated.
"I'm scared too." Melinda whispered, her voice barely audible. Piper leaned down to pull her upper body into her, showering her forehead with tiny kisses.
"I found your surprise sweetheart." Leo stated, coming through the door, hiding something behind his back.
"What is it?" Melinda asked, a tiny smile breaking her tearstained face.
Leo brought his hands in front of him to produce a teddy bear. "It's just for you." Leo smiled, offering the unique bear to Melinda.
"It doesn't have any hair!" Melinda exclaimed, running her hand over its bald head. "I'm not going to have any hair soon either, am I?"
"No. But it'll grow back. You're just going to look like Mr Ted here for a little while." Leo smiled and Melinda's eyes showed a hint of their usual life, as she looked the bear over.
"Can I name him?"
"Of course." Piper answered.
"I'll have to think of a good name." Melinda replied, deep in thought.
"Okay. You don't have to name him straight away." Melinda nodded and hugged the bear to her.
~&~
Just two hours later, Leo and Piper were asked to accompany a doctor to his office, a handful of test results slipped under his arm. Leo leaned over Melinda and brushed a kiss on her cheek, stepping back to allow Piper to hug her tightly and linger a kiss on her forehead. "We'll be back soon okay. I love you." She whispered to Melinda's ear.
"Love you too Mommy." Melinda replied quietly, sensing the tension and pulling her bear to her chest. "I'm calling him Angel." She added after a second and Piper forced a smile.
"That's beautiful Mel."
"Its cause Daddy's an angel and he always says that you are a gift from heaven. This way I can always have you with me." She explained shyly, her face blushing slightly in embarrassment.
"It's perfect." Piper nodded and kissed her forehead again before following the doctor and Leo out of the room.
They filed silently into the small office they were in that morning and the same feeling of dread overcame them both. Piper folded her trembling hands in her lap and Leo distractively tried to get comfortable, to no avail. "These are the test results." The doctor began, his deep rough voice jerking them to attention.
"I'm sorry. You are?" Piper questioned, already frustrated with the many doctors they were seeing.
"I'm a specialist in child oncology and more specifically the type of leukaemia Melinda has." He explained, not offering his hand or his name. "I will be directing the treatment that your daughter receives."
"Okay." Piper nodded and passed a side-ways glance to Leo. He was noticeably pale, but his hardened expression was only something that Piper could detect. They hadn't been married for 8 years without learning to read each other's emotions without a single word.
"As you already know, Melinda's marrow was too thick to be able to take a sample. Basically, this means that she had an incredible amount of unhealthy white blood cells - commonly known as blasts, in her bone marrow. When we took a small biopsy of her bone, we were able to run some tests and discover which type of leukaemia she has. Now, Melinda has the rarer of the two most common childhood leukaemia's and will require intense treatment. It's known as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia or ALL." The doctor paused for a moment and glanced from Leo to Piper. Leo took a deep breath and nodded for him to continue whilst Piper swallowed and also indicated for him to continue. "ALL occurs when there is a rapid proliferation of immature lymphocytes and in Melinda's case, it will require chemotherapy for treatment, both through the spine and intravenously. At this time, we do not think that radiation will be necessary, however we will review this on a weekly basis. Do you have any questions?" He stared expectantly at Leo, being told by his colleague that he was handling the situation far better than his wife.
"Ah…When will the chemotherapy begin?" Leo questioned.
"We will take Melinda in tomorrow to have a catheter placed in her chest and then chemotherapy will be administered via this."
"We were told that we would have to discuss Melinda's living arrangements. Is she able to stay with us at home?" Piper asked, not being able to bear the thought of Melinda having to stay in hospital for months.
"We would prefer that your daughter stay in hospital for the first few weeks at least. Any infection that she received at this time could have fatal consequences." Piper nodded dumbly. "Also, we will be taking Melinda in for an echocardiogram this afternoon. I understand that your family's files are all located at this hospital and we would like permission to look at some family history."
"That's fine." Leo nodded without hesitation and Piper agreed.
"If there is anything else, don't hesitate to ask the nursing staff." He glanced at his watch and stood, leaving Leo and Piper to follow without question. "I am sure we will be speaking again shortly."
Leo took Piper's hand as she shot the doctor a disgusted glance and led her out of the room. "Come on. He's not worth arguing with, we have the leaflets and books to read."
"Fine." Piper muttered, gripping his hand and following. "Do you have to be so in control?" She finally questioned, desperately trying to reciprocate his stability.
"I'm just trying to do what I have to do." Leo shrugged. "For Melinda remember."
"Well we're not with Melinda right now Leo, you could always show just a little emotion! I know you're hurting, why do you have to be so strong?" Piper raised her voice slightly.
"Melinda has her heart test soon, why don't I stay with her while you go tell your sisters what's happening."
"I want you to come with me."
"No Piper. Not this time." Leo let go of her hand and brought it to her cheek, kissing her gently. "Everything I do, I do for you and Melinda, Piper. I love you." Piper nodded and gripped her handbag, walking out of the hospital without turning back.
~&~
Piper drove directly to the manor, glancing in the rear-view mirror and screwing her nose up at her reflection. Her hair was messy and eyes still slightly red from crying; she was pale from not having eaten anything since the night before and the sick feeling of dread that settled in her gut seemed immovable. She walked to the door and opened it without hesitation, why they still refused to lock it, Piper would never understand. "Prue? Phoebe?"
She heard two sets of footsteps immediately on the stairs and Phoebe's voice. "Piper!"
Piper leant against the wall in the hall, her heart suddenly beating faster and tears beginning forming quickly and trickling down her cheeks. She brought her trembling hands to her face and slipped down to the floor tucking her knees tightly to her chest. Walking into the home she'd grown up in and having both of her sisters there gave her the slightest nudge needed to break down the façade she'd been holding up for Leo.
"Piper. What is it?" Prue gasped, rushing forward and kneeling on the floor beside her; gently touching her forearms.
"Have you and Leo had a fight?" Phoebe asked softly, crouching down on the other side of her. Piper shook her head, muttering something unintelligible to which Prue and Phoebe shared a concerned look.
"Piper talk to us." Prue wrapped an arm around her shoulder and whispered in to her ear, only encouraging Piper to cry harder and lean into her.
"Melinda's sick. Really sick." Piper muttered after a minute, taking some deep controlling breaths.
"Sick? How?" Phoebe asked, settling down cross-legged.
"Leukaemia." Piper whispered, drawing back from Prue and resting her head against the wall, staring towards the ceiling.
"Oh god." Phoebe gasped and Prue glared at her.
"Nothing is making sense. They keep bombarding us with information and we keep nodding like we understand, but it's just…I don't know…a blur."
"She'll be okay Piper. Kids survive leukaemia all the time." Prue consolidated and Piper resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Why was everyone focused on making her feel better; forcing her into being so resilient, this was her daughter. Didn't she have a right to be scared?
Instead she nodded, keeping her eyes fixed on the light fixtures and letting her breathing even out. "I guess so."
"So, what happens next Piper?" Phoebe asked gently.
"She will stay at the hospital for a few weeks and then she can be treated as an out-patient. Umm…Chemo starts tomorrow I think."
"Anytime you need us, we're here okay? All you have to do is call." Prue reached up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind Piper's ear.
"Melinda means everything to us too. And we're always here for you." Phoebe agreed.
"I know. And thank you." Piper sighed and gave her sisters a lop-sided smile.
~&~
"Daddy!" Melinda exclaimed, her eyes lighting up when she saw Leo walk into her room.
"Hey Mel." He grinned, sitting up on her bed and letting her crawl into his lap.
"Where's Mom?" She glanced up at Leo, her big brown eyes innocent and fearful.
"She's gone to visit Aunt Prue and Aunt Phoebe."
"To tell them that I'm sick?"
"Yeah."
"Am I going to die?" She asked softly, curling up and shrinking into Leo's chest.
"No Melinda. Don't ever think that okay. They're going to give you medicine to make you better."
"But the medicine makes me sick first right? That's what the nurse said before."
"Yes, it will baby. But we'll be here okay? You don't have to be scared."
"Okay. When will Mom be back?"
"You have to go down for a test and then she will be waiting for you when you get back." Leo explained and Melinda's face fell.
"Is it going to hurt like last time? My hip still hurts."
"No baby. This one won't hurt."
"I want Mommy to come with me." Melinda's lower lip trembled and she buried her face in Leo's shirt.
"You'll be fine Mel. Just be brave." Melinda nodded tearfully and closed her eyes, drifting into a restless sleep.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone.
Chapter 1
"Melinda honey, come into the kitchen and have something to eat." Piper called out, her head buried in the fridge.
"Mom?" Melinda questioned weakly coming around the corner.
"Are you still not feeling well Mel?" Piper crouched down to her and put a hand to her cheek, instinctively picking up her exhausted tone. "Leo, she's still incredibly hot."
"Do you want some Tylenol sweetheart?" Leo asked, lifting her up onto the kitchen bench.
Melinda nodded, too sick to give her usual protest. "Mom?"
"Yeah." Piper replied, moving to her side and tucking some hair behind her daughter's ear.
"I haven't done my homework for tomorrow." Tears welled in Melinda's eyes and Leo handed her a small amount of liquid to take, which she swallowed diligently.
"That's okay, I don't think you'll be going to school tomorrow. You just concentrate on getting some rest." Melinda nodded and leaned into Piper, resting her head against her heart. "Do you want Daddy to carry you up to bed." Melinda shrugged and Piper kissed her forehead, nodding to Leo to take her.
"Come on, I'll even tuck you in." Leo grinned, lifting Melinda, effortlessly rubbing her back as she wrapped her legs around his waist and buried her head in his shoulder.
Piper stood back and watched, her forehead creased in concern as she waited for Leo to reappear. He finally came around the corner and immediately went to Piper. "She'll be fine." He smiled, pulling her into his arms and kissing the top of her head.
"Leo, what's the rules with you healing Melinda and I now?" She asked, relaxing into his embrace.
"They placed limitations on my powers, remember?" Leo explained, sure he'd already clarified the subject.
"Yeah, but does it mean you can't ever heal non-demonic inflicted injuries, even if you want to?"
"That's pretty much it. They didn't think I should have to sacrifice my position for you or Melinda or even your sisters, so they took away that power or the decision rather."
"I think we should take Melinda to see a doctor tomorrow." Piper stated, sighing deeply.
"She's had a few days off school this year from varying sicknesses. I think taking her for some tests is a good idea."
"Will you be able to come?" Piper looked up to meet Leo's eyes.
"I'll make sure I can come." He answered, tilting his head down to kiss her. "Don't look so worried, I'm sure she's fine."
Piper nodded but her heart raced and her stomach knotted, unable to shake her maternal instincts and the feeling of an impending struggle.
~&~
"Leo, can you go and get Melinda; our appointment's in a half an hour." Piper directed behind her, staring into a mirror and skilfully plaiting her hair.
"Not a problem. Meet you in the car." Leo grinned, kissing her on the cheek before leaving the room. They lived in an apartment a few blocks from the manor where Prue and Phoebe still lived, each with their respective boyfriends. Leo and Piper had lived at the manor until she gave birth and practicality overrode sisterly bonding. She took a deep breath and tied her hair, slipping on some shoes before heading to their car.
"How are you going Mel?" Piper asked, climbing into the passenger's seat and turning around to look at her daughter.
"Okay." Melinda replied, giving a small uncertain smile.
"You'll be fine, the doctor will just check you over and we'll be able to come home." Piper tried to reassure.
"He won't do any tests that hurt me will he?" Melinda asked fearfully, her eyes again brimming with tears.
"No. Of course not baby. He's just going to check you over, you remember doctor James." Melinda nodded, bringing her knees to her chest and staring out the window. Piper turned back around and shared a worried glance with Leo, reaching to hold his hand before turning her own attention to the passing scenery.
~&~
It was 6pm before Piper and Leo finally returned to their apartment, carrying their now exhausted and half-asleep daughter. "I'll put her to bed, how about your make some coffee." Leo whispered, already making his way to Melinda's bedroom.
Piper took a deep breath and with trembling hands put some water on to boil. She was leaning over the bench, her face buried in her arms and crying softly when Leo came into the kitchen. "She's sound asleep." He said casually before noticing Piper's distress. "Hey, come on Piper. Melinda's going to be fine." Piper shook her head but straightened up and walked into Leo's open embrace, her arms gripping his neck as she cried into his shirt. "Shhh. It's okay."
"All those tests. I don't understand." Piper sobbed, her words muffled and barely audible.
"They just have to cover their bases. Rule out all the possibilities. You heard the doctor, it's probably just a virus." Leo answered calmly.
"What if it isn't?"
"Positive thinking Piper. Melinda's a fighter, just like her mom. She'll be fine."
"But…"
"No Piper. Let's just wait to hear the results and not jump to conclusions okay?" Piper nodded, but kept her face buried. "Everything's going to be okay."
~&~
7:00am. You always know that there's something wrong if the phone rings before normal working hours begin. There's that feeling of dread when your hand lingers over the receiver, waiting, praying that it's a wrong number. Your stomach churns and your heart feels like it's trying to leap from your chest. But you answer it…bad news or not, it's your duty of care to respond to the ringing.
"Hello?" Piper's voice was scratchy from having just woken and came out in a rush of air as she remembered to breath.
"Ah hello. May I ask who I am speaking with?" A deep male voice asked tentatively.
"This is Piper Wyatt. May I help you?" Piper asked, swallowing the lump that persisted in her throat.
"Mrs Wyatt. This is Dr Richards, from the San Fransisco Memorial." His voice sounded young and almost fearful. Piper's hand trembled at the mere mention of the hospital they spent so many hours at the day before.
"Yes." She responded quickly.
"We need for you and your husband to bring Melinda down to the hospital immediately. We've detected some abnormalities with the blood tests we performed yesterday."
"What sort of abnormalities? And who are you exactly?" Piper questioned defensively, staring into Leo's eyes as he approached curiously.
"I'm a specialist in the oncology unit." Piper's eyes glazed over and she felt the blood rush from her head, quickly sitting on the nearest chair.
"Oncology?" She gasped and squeezed Leo's hand when he grasped hers in an instantaneous reflex.
"We performed a full blood count in the tests yesterday and the results show a dramatic disproportion between Melinda's white and blood cell count. What proves the most significant to us is the increased amount of white blood cells and their irregular composition." He explained quickly and confidently.
"I don't understand." Piper managed to say, swallowing strongly.
"Your child has leukaemia Mrs Wyatt; it is vital you bring her in immediately for a biopsy so that we can determine which type and instigate the appropriate treatment."
Leukaemia Piper opened her mouth to speak, but couldn't utter a word, her mind suspended in time. Leukaemia
"Mrs Wyatt?"
"Umm. Yes. We'll have her there within the hour." Piper whispered.
"Bring her directly to the Oncology Unit, we have a specialist children's ward that you will be directed to."
"Okay." Piper responded, letting the receiver drop to the floor in conclusion. "The hospital. We have to take her to the hospital."
"Piper? Piper, what is it? What's wrong with Melinda?" Leo blurted out, unable to accept what he already knew.
Piper stared back at him in shock, rising to her feet and running towards Melinda's room. "Melinda. Melinda honey, you need to get up." She started pulling the sheets off her and untangling her legs from them. "Melinda! Wake up!" She raised her voice enough to draw Melinda from her deep and tiresome slumber, fear shotting through her eyes as she saw the tears pouring down her mother's face.
"Mommy?" Melinda glanced to Piper, bursting into tears.
"I'm sorry baby. I'm so sorry. Don't cry, it's okay." Piper pulled Melinda roughly towards her, desperately needing to feel her body close to her. Piper sobbed into her hair, rocking back and forth; their painful cries mixing and appearing to the human ear, as one.
"Melinda. Come here, we have to go back to the hospital." Leo knelt down and tried to extract Melinda from Piper's distraught embrace.
"Noooo!" Melinda's fearful screams pierced the early morning and air and she clung to Piper. Suddenly she wasn't just a little tired and feeling unwell; she knew she must be incredibly ill for her parents to be reacting this way.
"Piper, come on. You need to pull yourself together, this is scaring her." Leo whispered into Piper's ear, pulling them both to their feet.
Piper nodded, kissing Melinda's forehead continuously and wiping at her tears with the back of one hand. "Change out of the pyjamas and go with Daddy to the car Mel." Melinda tightened her grip around Piper's waist and sniffled tearfully. "I'll be right out okay, I just need to change too."
Leo pulled Melinda's arms away and held her back as Piper rushed from the room and across the hall to their bedroom. "It's your choice on what you want to wear angel. Any preferences?" Leo bent down to kiss her cheek and Melinda shrugged.
"My jeans." She whispered in response, her eyes darting to her parent's room, searching for Piper. Leo found jeans and a t-shirt for her and helped her lethargic body into them.
"Piggy-back ride to the car?" He questioned with a small smile, wiping at her tear stained face with his thumbs. Melinda just stared back at him with the identical terrified look that Piper produced. "You're going to be okay Mel. I love you."
"I love you too Daddy." She answered quietly, wrapping her arms around his neck and allowing him to carry her to the car. "Just stay here while I go up and get Mom okay?" Melinda nodded, curling up and leaning heavily against the door.
Taking the steps two at a time, Leo rushed into their apartment. "What the hell is going on Piper?" He refrained from screaming, his voice even and controlled.
Piper watched his expression, meeting his eyes and staring into them, reading his soul. "Melinda has leukaemia. They need to do more tests." Piper replied, trying to mimic his calmness.
Leo just nodded emotionlessly, barely missing a beat. "Let's go, she's waiting in the car." Piper narrowed her eyes and gave him a hurtful glance, before walking ahead of him to the car.
~&~
Arriving at the hospital was a blur to Piper. They walked Melinda in and were rushed into an office and spoke to two men, one of whom she spoke to on the phone. She cradled Melinda close to her, letting all the information wash over her in a haze.
Leo listened intently, asked questions and kept a watchful eye on his wife and daughter. He took their information brochures and booklets, an entire bag full by the end of the hour.
"We just need you to sign these consent forms and we can admit Melinda straight away for a bone marrow biopsy." Leo nodded and Piper jerked her head up.
"A what?" She asked in confusion. There were too many things to remember, a mass of information delivered in such a short time period and under such traumatic circumstances; one couldn't possibly recall the specifics.
"They explained Piper." Leo said gently, reaching out to rest his hand on Piper, but she pulled it away.
"I'm sorry, but I don't remember." She stated with the hint of frustration.
"It's perfectly fine. We understand how stressful this situation is." One of the doctors smiled. "The biopsy will be taken from Melinda's hip bone. She will be under anaesthetic and a thin hollow tube will be fed into her bone and a small sample of marrow taken." He explained slowly, directing his attention to Piper. She nodded, sighing deeply. "This is what enables us to detect which type of leukaemia that Melinda has and consequently the type of treatment and drugs that will be administered. I know that this is a huge shock to you both now, but you need to remember that 70% of children with leukaemia are completely cured. There is no reason for us to believe that Melinda will be any different."
"Okay. Just tell us what to sign." Piper answered, kissing Melinda's cheek and rubbing her back.
"Is it going to hurt?" Melinda spoke up for the first time, her head resting on Piper's shoulder.
"No Melinda." The youngest doctor answered. "You won't feel a thing I promise. You might be a little sore when you wake up, but we'll have a surprise waiting for you." He grinned and Melinda gave an uneven smile back.
~&~
Melinda was led away by the doctor, twisting back with tearful eyes to place a silent plea with her mother and father. Piper looked away, turning her face and resting her forehead against Leo's shoulder. She couldn't bear to see Melinda's confused and desperate eyes, shooting wordless accusations at her. Leo stared at his daughter being almost dragged to a small room; she just looked so frighteningly tiny. She was too young to be about to embark on one of the most frightening fights that humanity faced. Her cheeks were sunken and her usually glowing face was pale; it broke his heart to even look at her. He became aware of Piper, leaning against him, her breathing coming in short, shallow bursts.
"The doctors said it would be at least a half an hour. Let's go outside Piper." He trailed his hand over her back and rested it behind her head, running his fingers through her hair; surprised when she didn't pull away.
"I want to wait here." Piper answered quietly, sighing deeply. "Just in case."
"No, come on Piper. We need to talk." Leo insisted gently, slipping his arm around her waist and leading her towards the exit.
Not having the strength to argue, Piper nodded and leaned heavily against him. "I can't believe this is happening." She whispered finally, staring around the almost deserted garden.
"But it is Piper and we need to deal with it. We have to help Melinda through it, give her the strength to know she can fight."
"I'm trying Leo." Piper stated, staring up at him sadly.
"I know Piper, I'm sorry. I'm just worried about her too."
Piper nodded and looked away, unable to stop the tears that welled in her eyes from falling. "She's just a little girl."
"She'll be okay. She has to be." Leo wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed the back of her head before resting his chin on her shoulder. "I love you Piper."
Piper nodded and hung her head; hot tears flowing quickly down her cheeks, her shoulders shaking slightly. "I love you too." Leo tightened his hold on her and rocked her gently, a single tear escaping his right eye and trailing slowly down his cheek.
"Okay Melinda, can you hop up on that table for me?" Melinda stared back at the doctor, unmoving and petrified of the various objects that he was rearranging on a silver tray. "How about if I lift you up. Would that be okay?"
Melinda nodded and wrapped an arm around his neck when he lifted her up and placed her on the table. "Are my mom and dad waiting outside?" She asked after a minute.
"Yep. We're going to put you to sleep while we do this, so they're going to wait for you to wake up."
"Will it hurt?"
"I promise that you won't feel a thing. It might be a little sore when you wake up; remember what we said?"
"That I'd get a surprise when I wake up." Melinda gave a small smile.
"That's exactly right! Now, lie on your tummy and we'll give you a needle to make you fall asleep. It's only a small needle and it will feel just like an ant bite." Melinda nodded and bit her lip when he pushed the needle in. "Good girl!" He gave Melinda a big grin and watched her eyes close, before turning to the mass of instruments beside him.
~&~
Piper and Leo sat together on the grass, Piper curled up in his arms and resting comfortably against his chest. "We should get back." Piper stated, glancing at her watch.
"We're going to have to explain some things to Melinda." Leo said. "And tell your sisters."
"Yeah, I know. Can't I just linger in denial for a little longer?" Piper gave the smallest of smiles and Leo couldn't help but lean in to kiss her cheek.
"Come on." He stood and reached out his hands to pull Piper to her feet.
"I just hate this place." Piper muttered, keeping one hand in his and gripping it tightly.
"We can do this Piper. For Melinda."
Piper nodded and swallowed the lump in her throat. "For Melinda."
~&~
Leo and Piper were directed to the recovery room, where Melinda lay still unconscious from the anaesthetic. Leo sat in a chair, his hands clasped together while Piper settled herself carefully on the side of Melinda's bed, holding her hand and stroking her forehead.
"Mr and Mrs Wyatt?" A new doctor, dressed typically in a white coat with a stethoscope around his neck, wondered casually in.
"Yes." Leo stood and extended his hand, whilst Piper looked on tiredly, they'd already met more professionals than they cared to.
"We've sent the material from Melinda's biopsy down to be analysed and the results should be back within a couple of hours."
"And the results will tell us what treatment Melinda will require?" Leo questioned.
"To an extent yes. It'll tell us how intense we have to be in our treatment and if Melinda will need radiation therapy as well as chemotherapy."
"Is that likely?" Piper asked quietly, her eyes darting between Melinda and the doctor.
"It's possible. When we were doing Melinda's marrow sample, we found that it was too dense for any withdrawals. This generally means that the bone marrow is crowded with unhealthy white cells and that the leukaemia is quite advanced. As it advances, there's the possibility that it has also infiltrated the central nervous system, most commonly the spinal area."
"How did you get the sample for testing if it was too dense to withdraw?" Leo asked, reaching out to rest his palm on Piper's knee after noticing her definite paling.
"In cases like your daughter's, we take a sample of the hip bone. Just a tiny chip of bone that can than be analysed. It's important not to jump to any conclusions at this stage; we prefer to wait for the results to come through. However, you might like to think about where Melinda will stay during her treatment, read through some material and discuss it. Feel free to ask questions at any time and if you would like to see a social worker, please don't hesitate to ask."
Piper nodded, choosing to not understand and process most of what he said. Leo nodded also and gave a small smile. "Thanks."
"Melinda should be waking in just a few minutes, it's important she stay lying for about an hour, although she will be a little sore so that shouldn't be too much of a problem. Just call the nursing staff if you're concerned about anything." Again, they both nodded, their eye contact returning to Melinda like a magnet. Just staring, waiting for the smallest of movements to prove to them that she was waking from her slumber.
"We have to be strong okay Piper. Remember what we said."
Piper nodded, wiping away the tears that she didn't even know she had shed. They just fell unnoticed, an automated reaction that she lacked any control over. "For Melinda." She whispered, resting her hand on Melinda chest and feeling the rise and fall of her breathing.
After a few minutes of silence, Leo and Piper both jerked to attention when a soft groan escaped Melinda's lips. Her eyelids fluttered and her tiny body squirmed uncomfortably. "Mommy?" Her voice was scratchy and quiet, desperately seeking some parental comfort.
"Daddy and I am right here angel." Piper forced a smile and leaned over to kiss her forehead.
"My leg hurts." Melinda whispered, her lower lip trembling.
"I know it does Mel. Just be a big girl." Leo stood and leaned over the bed to place a kiss on her cheek.
Piper shot a glare in his direction, detesting her husband's sudden insistence on strength. "We know it hurts and it's okay to cry Melinda. We're right here."
"Where's my surprise?" Melinda questioned tearfully, slipping her hand into Piper's and hugging it to her chest. "The doctor said I would get a surprise when I woke up." She explained to Piper and Leo's confused appearance.
"I'm not sure." Piper shrugged.
"I remember them saying you would get a surprise Mel. I'll go and ask the nurses okay?"
Melinda gave shaky smile and nodded, watching her father leave before looking up at Piper. "You've been crying Mom." She said quietly, reaching up with her spare hand to touch Piper's blotchy cheeks. "Are you scared?"
Piper took a deep breath, Leo's words still fresh in her mind. "Yes Melinda. I'm scared." She finally stated.
"I'm scared too." Melinda whispered, her voice barely audible. Piper leaned down to pull her upper body into her, showering her forehead with tiny kisses.
"I found your surprise sweetheart." Leo stated, coming through the door, hiding something behind his back.
"What is it?" Melinda asked, a tiny smile breaking her tearstained face.
Leo brought his hands in front of him to produce a teddy bear. "It's just for you." Leo smiled, offering the unique bear to Melinda.
"It doesn't have any hair!" Melinda exclaimed, running her hand over its bald head. "I'm not going to have any hair soon either, am I?"
"No. But it'll grow back. You're just going to look like Mr Ted here for a little while." Leo smiled and Melinda's eyes showed a hint of their usual life, as she looked the bear over.
"Can I name him?"
"Of course." Piper answered.
"I'll have to think of a good name." Melinda replied, deep in thought.
"Okay. You don't have to name him straight away." Melinda nodded and hugged the bear to her.
~&~
Just two hours later, Leo and Piper were asked to accompany a doctor to his office, a handful of test results slipped under his arm. Leo leaned over Melinda and brushed a kiss on her cheek, stepping back to allow Piper to hug her tightly and linger a kiss on her forehead. "We'll be back soon okay. I love you." She whispered to Melinda's ear.
"Love you too Mommy." Melinda replied quietly, sensing the tension and pulling her bear to her chest. "I'm calling him Angel." She added after a second and Piper forced a smile.
"That's beautiful Mel."
"Its cause Daddy's an angel and he always says that you are a gift from heaven. This way I can always have you with me." She explained shyly, her face blushing slightly in embarrassment.
"It's perfect." Piper nodded and kissed her forehead again before following the doctor and Leo out of the room.
They filed silently into the small office they were in that morning and the same feeling of dread overcame them both. Piper folded her trembling hands in her lap and Leo distractively tried to get comfortable, to no avail. "These are the test results." The doctor began, his deep rough voice jerking them to attention.
"I'm sorry. You are?" Piper questioned, already frustrated with the many doctors they were seeing.
"I'm a specialist in child oncology and more specifically the type of leukaemia Melinda has." He explained, not offering his hand or his name. "I will be directing the treatment that your daughter receives."
"Okay." Piper nodded and passed a side-ways glance to Leo. He was noticeably pale, but his hardened expression was only something that Piper could detect. They hadn't been married for 8 years without learning to read each other's emotions without a single word.
"As you already know, Melinda's marrow was too thick to be able to take a sample. Basically, this means that she had an incredible amount of unhealthy white blood cells - commonly known as blasts, in her bone marrow. When we took a small biopsy of her bone, we were able to run some tests and discover which type of leukaemia she has. Now, Melinda has the rarer of the two most common childhood leukaemia's and will require intense treatment. It's known as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia or ALL." The doctor paused for a moment and glanced from Leo to Piper. Leo took a deep breath and nodded for him to continue whilst Piper swallowed and also indicated for him to continue. "ALL occurs when there is a rapid proliferation of immature lymphocytes and in Melinda's case, it will require chemotherapy for treatment, both through the spine and intravenously. At this time, we do not think that radiation will be necessary, however we will review this on a weekly basis. Do you have any questions?" He stared expectantly at Leo, being told by his colleague that he was handling the situation far better than his wife.
"Ah…When will the chemotherapy begin?" Leo questioned.
"We will take Melinda in tomorrow to have a catheter placed in her chest and then chemotherapy will be administered via this."
"We were told that we would have to discuss Melinda's living arrangements. Is she able to stay with us at home?" Piper asked, not being able to bear the thought of Melinda having to stay in hospital for months.
"We would prefer that your daughter stay in hospital for the first few weeks at least. Any infection that she received at this time could have fatal consequences." Piper nodded dumbly. "Also, we will be taking Melinda in for an echocardiogram this afternoon. I understand that your family's files are all located at this hospital and we would like permission to look at some family history."
"That's fine." Leo nodded without hesitation and Piper agreed.
"If there is anything else, don't hesitate to ask the nursing staff." He glanced at his watch and stood, leaving Leo and Piper to follow without question. "I am sure we will be speaking again shortly."
Leo took Piper's hand as she shot the doctor a disgusted glance and led her out of the room. "Come on. He's not worth arguing with, we have the leaflets and books to read."
"Fine." Piper muttered, gripping his hand and following. "Do you have to be so in control?" She finally questioned, desperately trying to reciprocate his stability.
"I'm just trying to do what I have to do." Leo shrugged. "For Melinda remember."
"Well we're not with Melinda right now Leo, you could always show just a little emotion! I know you're hurting, why do you have to be so strong?" Piper raised her voice slightly.
"Melinda has her heart test soon, why don't I stay with her while you go tell your sisters what's happening."
"I want you to come with me."
"No Piper. Not this time." Leo let go of her hand and brought it to her cheek, kissing her gently. "Everything I do, I do for you and Melinda, Piper. I love you." Piper nodded and gripped her handbag, walking out of the hospital without turning back.
~&~
Piper drove directly to the manor, glancing in the rear-view mirror and screwing her nose up at her reflection. Her hair was messy and eyes still slightly red from crying; she was pale from not having eaten anything since the night before and the sick feeling of dread that settled in her gut seemed immovable. She walked to the door and opened it without hesitation, why they still refused to lock it, Piper would never understand. "Prue? Phoebe?"
She heard two sets of footsteps immediately on the stairs and Phoebe's voice. "Piper!"
Piper leant against the wall in the hall, her heart suddenly beating faster and tears beginning forming quickly and trickling down her cheeks. She brought her trembling hands to her face and slipped down to the floor tucking her knees tightly to her chest. Walking into the home she'd grown up in and having both of her sisters there gave her the slightest nudge needed to break down the façade she'd been holding up for Leo.
"Piper. What is it?" Prue gasped, rushing forward and kneeling on the floor beside her; gently touching her forearms.
"Have you and Leo had a fight?" Phoebe asked softly, crouching down on the other side of her. Piper shook her head, muttering something unintelligible to which Prue and Phoebe shared a concerned look.
"Piper talk to us." Prue wrapped an arm around her shoulder and whispered in to her ear, only encouraging Piper to cry harder and lean into her.
"Melinda's sick. Really sick." Piper muttered after a minute, taking some deep controlling breaths.
"Sick? How?" Phoebe asked, settling down cross-legged.
"Leukaemia." Piper whispered, drawing back from Prue and resting her head against the wall, staring towards the ceiling.
"Oh god." Phoebe gasped and Prue glared at her.
"Nothing is making sense. They keep bombarding us with information and we keep nodding like we understand, but it's just…I don't know…a blur."
"She'll be okay Piper. Kids survive leukaemia all the time." Prue consolidated and Piper resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Why was everyone focused on making her feel better; forcing her into being so resilient, this was her daughter. Didn't she have a right to be scared?
Instead she nodded, keeping her eyes fixed on the light fixtures and letting her breathing even out. "I guess so."
"So, what happens next Piper?" Phoebe asked gently.
"She will stay at the hospital for a few weeks and then she can be treated as an out-patient. Umm…Chemo starts tomorrow I think."
"Anytime you need us, we're here okay? All you have to do is call." Prue reached up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind Piper's ear.
"Melinda means everything to us too. And we're always here for you." Phoebe agreed.
"I know. And thank you." Piper sighed and gave her sisters a lop-sided smile.
~&~
"Daddy!" Melinda exclaimed, her eyes lighting up when she saw Leo walk into her room.
"Hey Mel." He grinned, sitting up on her bed and letting her crawl into his lap.
"Where's Mom?" She glanced up at Leo, her big brown eyes innocent and fearful.
"She's gone to visit Aunt Prue and Aunt Phoebe."
"To tell them that I'm sick?"
"Yeah."
"Am I going to die?" She asked softly, curling up and shrinking into Leo's chest.
"No Melinda. Don't ever think that okay. They're going to give you medicine to make you better."
"But the medicine makes me sick first right? That's what the nurse said before."
"Yes, it will baby. But we'll be here okay? You don't have to be scared."
"Okay. When will Mom be back?"
"You have to go down for a test and then she will be waiting for you when you get back." Leo explained and Melinda's face fell.
"Is it going to hurt like last time? My hip still hurts."
"No baby. This one won't hurt."
"I want Mommy to come with me." Melinda's lower lip trembled and she buried her face in Leo's shirt.
"You'll be fine Mel. Just be brave." Melinda nodded tearfully and closed her eyes, drifting into a restless sleep.