"Sully, I'm cold."
"I know, Cassie. Sam's getting some extra blankets, okay?" I say, patting her hand.
"Sully, did you check the thermostat?" asks Nate from across the pond. I'm gonna have one hell of a phone bill this month. This international call has lasted at least two and a half hours already.
"Yes, Nate. It's set to 70°."
"Well, turn it up."
"Okay, fine, I will." I stay silent for about ten seconds, sitting completely still, then say, "All done."
Cassie covers her mouth and silently giggles as Sam re-enters the room. "Here, sweetheart. One heated blanket, per your request."
"Thank you, Sam," she says.
"The nurse will be here soon. You're almost done."
"Good, because I'm hungry."
The doctors have been keeping her from eating so the surgery goes smoother. "Don't worry, we'll take you for a big meal after you're done," I promise, helping Sam tuck the blanket around her.
The nurse wheels a cart in a few minutes later. "Hello, Cassie. How are you feeling?"
"My tummy still hurts," she groans.
"We'll put a stop to it soon enough. We just need to put you to sleep first." She pulls a bag of fluids, tubing, and a plastic packet out of the cart. "Can you show me your left arm, please."
"Why?"
"I have to insert your IV so you can sleep during the operation." Cassie looks suspicious, but she holds out her arm all the same. Knowing what's coming next, Sam and I brace ourselves. The nurse removes a needle from the plastic packaging, and Cassie takes a huge breath.
"You said there was no needles!" she exclaims, yanking her arm back.
"I know what we said," I say, attempting diplomacy. "But this is a small one, and it'll put you to sleep. It's important, Cass."
"No!"
"Please, Cassie. It's for your own good," Sam adds.
"I said no!"
"She's just like her father," Elena sighs. "Stubborn as a mule."
"Me? What about you?" he asks, sounding rather offended.
"Not helping," Sam groans, rolling his eyes.
I tilt Cassie's chin up so she's looking at me, not her arms crossed over her chest. "Sweetheart, listen to me for just a second," I say quietly. "The needle is going to hurt. There's no way around that. But it's just a pin prick. I'll bet your stomach hurts more than a pin prick."
"Well... I guess..."
"So you're stronger than that little needle, right? Let me see those muscles." I poke her arm playfully.
My speech does the trick, and she hesitantly lifts her arms up to flex. I smile even wider and ooh and ah over her for a few seconds to get her to smile. "Be brave, girly," I say, messing with her hair. "Go ahead and give your arm to the nice nurse."
Cassie turns a little paler, but she dutifully holds out her arm. Sam takes her right hand in his own for moral support. She flinches when the needle pierces her skin, but she accepts it with grace. The nurse quickly tapes the needle to Cassie's skin and starts the IV drip. "Thank you for cooperating, Miss Drake."
"It's Cassie," she corrects, curiously following the IV line up to the bag hanging by her side. It seems like she's already forgotten about how scared she was. I can practically see the dozens of questions forming in her little mind. It's uncanny how much she looks like Nate.
"Oh, my mistake," the nurse chuckles, wheeling her cart out. "The anesthesiologist will be in shortly."
"We are so proud of, sweetie," Elena says. "I would say I wish we were there, but it seems like you can handle it all by yourself."
"You're so brave," Nate praises. "She must have gotten that from the both of us."
"Aw, you're so sweet."
"No, you're so sweet."
"No, you are-"
"Okay, get a room you two!" Sam groans, hand hovering above the phone. "I swear I will hang up if you don't shut up."
"What are you, 10?" Nate shoots back.
"What are you, 5?" Sam says.
"I'm 7," Cassie adds, probably unsure why she is no longer the center of attention. She's too used to it. Although, it is our fault. We spoil her to no end.
"Ugh, it's been over an hour already," Nate groans. "What if something went wrong?"
"It's been literally 62 minutes," I sigh. "Dr. Roe said it would take between an hour and an hour and a half. Give them time."
"But what if-?"
"Kid, she's fine."
"How much would you bet on that?"
"Nate, quit it," Elena snips. "You're making me more nervous than I already was."
"Yeah, and isn't that kind of morbid?" Sam asks.
Usually I would put a stop to the brotherly bickering, but I leave them be today. It'll keep their mind off Cassie. I lean my head back against the waiting room's wall, shifting slightly in my seat. Sam and I aren't the only occupants in the room. There are other men and women waiting for their own young family members to re-emerge from the OR.
I sigh and gaze up at the ceiling, decorated with dancing animals and smiling suns. What changed, I think to myself. Sure, I took in Nate at the ripe age of 15. But this is a whole different animal. The scrawny teenager I met in Columbia is now married and has a semi stable job. On top of that, he has a daughter. A child! And the boy who would run off scared if you looked at him too closely asked me to be a part of his kid's life. What changed...
"Family of Cassandra Drake?" asks a nurse.
As Sam and I are lead down another hallway, I smile. I like the idea of answering to "family of Cassandra Drake".