Hello! And thanks to Rangerbaldwin for reviewing.

Some of you might have seen the new notes I put up with the first chapter a couple of days after I put the chapter up. But I'll be deleting those, because I thought that maybe they sounded a bit rude. When I wrote it I had once again been reminded that my English isn't as good as I'd like to believe it is. I was hurt and annoyed (fanfiction is pretty much everything my life revolves around so…) and it was in the middle of the night so very tired. Upon that I had also misunderstood parts of the review I'd gotten. And when I realized this I felt really bad. But then… (I'm sorry about all these long Author's notes).

Well, as I've already said English isn't my first language. And I'd like for people to point out my mistakes. For one thing- I did not know there was a difference between the word "Headmaster" and the word "Principal." They've been changed now and I'm going to make sure I stick to the correct one. Another mistake I am actually very aware of is "Mum" instead of "mom" and that is because when I was new here I was confused and trying to use the right one and then I ended up using one about every other time and the other the rest. Do you get what I mean? Anyway, I stick to "mum". And I hope all people can be happy with that.

Do you think that the difference in between British and American English is obvious and I'm stupid? Well to me the difference in between Swedish and Norwegian is obvious. While for a person who doesn't understand neither it might not be. Do you get my point?

I'm also aware that Grace and Nick's ages might be a bit wrong. But if so, look at it as if a teeny tiny bit AU.

Anyway. Those are the A/N's for this time. And I'd still like for people to point out my mistakes please.

Those one or two hours I was going to be at the clinic ended up being five. I just wanted all of that paper work done so I could really have a weekend off for once. And finally, late in the afternoon I could drive home to Grey House.

When I stepped over the threshold drawing for a deep breath, it felt like the world being lift off my shoulders. Unknown to me was the fact that things were only minutes, if not only seconds from changing.

"Something smells good." I made my way into the kitchen where Cassie stood by the stove sorting out dinner. But she didn't answer me. "Hello? Earth to Cassie." I teased her and smirked, she turned and looked at me but still didn't say anything. "What's up?" I suddenly remembered what she had said about the feeling she'd had but didn't have the time to ask anything more before she interrupted.

"Sorry. I'm just a bit…" It seemed unlike Cassie when she couldn't find the words to finish the sentence. "Grace came home about an hour ago. She said she wasn't feeling well and went to bed." She laid a hand towards the side of her stomach- right underneath her lowest rib but right then I barely noticed it. "Can you go check on her? I just have a feeling and I can't figure out what it is about"

I had learnt by now that Cassie's feelings should be taken seriously. But still, she was a mother. And from what I knew about those they didn't always need a reason to worry as much as they sometimes did. Or even at all. There would be no reason for me, nor Grace nor anybody else to worry too much before we even knew a smidge of what was actually going on.

I patted Cassie's shoulder on my way through the kitchen and then made my way up the stairs and to Grace's bedroom door.

"Grace?" I knocked on the door but couldn't hear any reply at first. "Are you awake? Can I come in?"

I waited for another second, with still no answer I carefully pushed the door handle down as quietly as I could and barely opened the door just a little. Then leaned ed in just enough to see if Grace was asleep. If she was I'd do this later but she seemed to be just waking up, rubbing her eyes and sitting up.

"Can I come in?"

"Yeah… Sorry I didn't answer."

"No worries. Your mother said you weren't feeling well. And she asked me to check on you." I stepped into the room and closed the door after me. "How are you feeling?" Without any further ado I pushed her fringe away and felt her forehead with my palm. "…You don't feel warm. I don't think you have a temperature. Are you in pain?"

"No." Grace shook her head. "It's just my stomach. It doesn't hurt. It just feels very strange and I feel a bit nauseas."

"Should I get you a bucket?" She shook her head again. "Well, this couldn't hurt. Or well, it could. But you must understand I'd have to make an examination at this. As for any other patient. Lay down, roll onto your back and pull your shirt up." Grace didn't protest and did as I told her right away and didn't make a sound when I started feeling and pressing different points of her stomach. My hands working more on muscle memory than that I was actually concentrating. Myself, I was more concentrated on Grace herself because I had a feeling even if it did hurt she might not tell me. But then, feelings were about Cassie's thing and not mine. I just knew what Grace was like.

"I will tell you if it hurts. I promise."

And then there was that thing with Cassie and Grace always somehow knowing what I was thinking.

I ignored it for the moment and just continued with what I was doing. But still Grace wasn't making a sound at all and I could only hope she was keeping her promise.

"Have you heard about any of your friends getting food poisoning from something you've been eating at a restaurant?" Grace shook her head once more when I started asking questions. "Or any of your not- so- much- friends?" She just rolled her eyes at me but couldn't hide a small smile forming on her lips. "Have you been having any constipation or diarrhea?"

"Sam!"

"Yeah, yeah. Sorry but I have to ask." Still no reaction about anything and I was starting to wonder if this would come to a result when suddenly the picture of Cassie only a few minutes ago passed by for my inner vision and how she'd put her hand to her side. Was it possible?

No… She was just… It was just body language and… no…

Barely knowing about what I was doing I moved my hands further up along Grace's stomach. She seemed a bit embarrassed after what I had just asked and everything. I just wanted to get this done as soon as possible. Even though more for Grace's sake than my own…

"OW."

At last, when I pressed the upper, right part of her stomach Grace flinched and hissed. Right away I stood up straight and lifted my hands. I didn't need more than that at this moment.

"There are a whole lot of muscles and tendons right there. If you've been cheering with holding your arms over your head or something like that, you might have strained something." I rubbed my neck- not sure whether I should continue this or not. "I don't think it has something to do with how you're feeling. If you're asking me- which your mother is. I think you're just exhausted after a whole lot of years in school. And now you've got the summer off before college. And then you've just relaxed and then you're feeling like… this. I'm saying we should leave this now hold on for a few days. If you're still feeling like this then I'll run some tests. If you're better we can move on with our lives. Okay? Does that sound like a good deal?"

"It does."

I smiled at her and meant to turn around and leave to share with Cassie what was going on. Cassie was still Grace's guardian- but I still wanted for Grace to give her "okay" and if she'd like to come with me and talk herself.

But then something changed. And that was at the moment I and Grace looked each other in the eyes.

"Hold on a second. Just lie absolutely still Grace." I took a few steps back, turned the lamp in the ceiling off and then the smaller one by her bed on so I could see her eyes clearer. Also the color of them. "Your eyes…" I didn't finish the sentence while I carefully laid a thumb towards her eyelid and pulled it up so I could see her Sclera's better.

"What does my eyes have to do with anything?"

"The sclera's are looking slightly yellow."

Before having turned the ceiling lamp off I thought what I had seen was just a reflection. But as it was turned off and the bed lamp turned away the yellow tone was undeniably still there. I could feel something clench in my stomach when I just had to admit it really was.

"What does that mean?"

"Has it happened some time lately that you've eaten something somebody else has made or someone else have been setting the table?"

"Yeah. A lot of times. What about it?"

"I think… Have you ever heard about hepatitis?" I was trying to work out how exactly to explain- this wasn't my expertise. "Well… I think that we should go to the hospital. You and I, now. Just to get some blood tests that will show us if you've got it. And if so we'll just have to make sure it doesn't spread. For a young person with a good immune system like yours it shouldn't be any worse than a normal flu. But for small children, old or sick people. It could get much worse so we just need to know." Grace nodded and reached for her long- sleeved shirt that laid on a chair next to the bed. "Should I go and tell your mum or do you want to come with me?"

"I'm coming." Grace got up, stumbled a bit. I held out my arm and Grace took it and supported on me. "I'm okay, just a little dizzy." I didn't let go, if Grace wanted and needed to hold on she could. "So you… You wouldn't think it's anything worse than that would you?"

"Anything else that could cause this is very rare among anybody else than newborn babies or old people. So no. I wouldn't think there's anything worse." When I looked to my side and down to her she didn't look so reassured. "There's no reason to believe it's something else. And if it is, we'll worry about that when we get there. Okay?"

"Okay."

"And now. Don't forget. I have contacts. I can make sure we get help at the moment we arrive at the hospital and then we can probably leave before we get the answers and only wait for them wherever we are. We could go home because they probably won't come until Monday or so. And sitting in a hospital waiting for time to pass by is terribly boring…"

Then at last, a small smile formed on Grace's lips and I felt her relax slightly.

"Cassie?" She was still in the kitchen cooking and Candelaria Clover had joined her, currently sitting on the kitchen counter watching over what Cassie was doing. "I'm going to take Grace to the doctor's." I had expected Cassie to look surprised. She looked more like she had already known which I should have understood. "Her eyes are a bit yellow. I think she might have hepatitis. And if so I have an obligation to report it to make sure it doesn't spread. But I'm sure she's going to be fine." Cassie's worried expression didn't fade. But she did let Candelaria stir in the casserole and then reached into a cupboard for a bag of candies.

"Here." Cassie reached them to Grace while I tried to understand what on earth they were. This didn't seem like the time for sweets. "It's pieces of dried ginger. They'll help against the nausea."

"Thanks mum." I took up my phone from my pocket and searched up the number to reception of the ER in my contacts. "If Sam's doing what I think he's doing I don't think this would take a very long time."

I could see Grace was obviously very tired and not feeling well. Cassie was very worried and with the feeling that something was wrong. But they were obviously both trying to fight against it, smiled at each other and then shared a hug. While I spoke to the receptionist on the phone I knew these were my family whether it was yet on paper or not. And I was set to care for and protect them.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Cassie asked once I hung up. "I can come with you. George and Candelaria can take care of the dinner."

"Mum." Grace shook her hand. "Seriously. I'm seventeen. I don't need you to hold my hand during a blood test." To finish that subject Grace stuck her hand down the plastic bag Cassie had given her, pulled up a piece of ginger and put it in her mouth. "These are enough of you for the moment. They're really good."

I had let go for a bit while we were still, now laid my arm back around Grace's shoulders and she laid hers around mine for support when we made our way outside to my car and left Grey House for the moment being.

Grace was very quiet when I drove us towards the hospital. When I pulled over in my usual parking space behind the large building I would have thought she'd fallen asleep if she hadn't reached to unbuckle her belt before I'd turned the motor off.

"This way." I showed her through the back door. "I was talking to some of my friends and one of them was going to be ready for us at the moment we arrived." I held out my arm again when Grace swayed and she took it sternly, once again supported towards me when we made our way through the staff entrance, the hallways in the cellar and then into the emergency room. "And here we are…" I could spot one of the receptionist's I'd been talking on the phone to earlier and she pointed to one of the examine rooms. "THANK YOU… And… Grace. This is Mandy. Mandy this is Grace. And you've already got the info you needed right?"

"Yes." Mandy nodded where she sat by the computer. "Just wait here for a minute. I need to go and get some test tubes of the right kinds. You can just roll your sleeves up and then wait…" Grace once again did as she was told right away. "And here we go. Are you afraid of needles?"

"No."

"That's good." I stroke her shoulder for even though she wasn't afraid a blood test wasn't exactly comfortable. "I'm not either… well… that's as long as I'm not the one who needs it. If someone needs something of my blood..." I just grimaced and didn't finish the sentence.

"I never knew that." Grace laughed tiredly. "You spend your days giving people shots and drawing blood like this and yet you're the one who can't stand it?" I only smiled and shook my head slightly. "And you were teasing Nick about it?" She flinched and hissed slightly when Mandy had poked a needle through her skin without giving a warning, I stroke her shoulder again. "…I'm okay. I just wasn't ready. Sorry Nurse Mandy you did nothing wrong. I just whoa…" Suddenly she blinked and swayed a bit where she sat. "Sorry. I'm just a bit dizzy."

"Maybe you should lie down."

"No. I'm okay. It's gone now."

"And this is finished." With a number of test tubes filled up Mandy pulled off the tourniquet from Grace's arm and pulled out the needle. "I'll look the results over today if I get the time. You should get them tonight or by Monday. During the weekend it will be wise if you follow the hygiene rules that comes with having hepatitis A as that's what we're suspecting. Make sure to wash your hands properly after going to the bathroom and before cooking. It's even better if you don't cook at all for anybody else- not even make a sandwich or set the table. Just common sense really. It can't spread through the air like a regular flu… And if there's anything more then you've got Dr. Radford there. And he'll be ready to answer any questions. So… You're fine to leave."

Grace swayed again when she stood up but walked on her own two feet without leaning on me back through the hallway and to my car. And once there, she had been so silent yet awake when she drove here. I didn't notice when she just kind of slipped away until I pulled over in front of Grey House and turned to her.

"Is there anything I can… oh."

For a moment I wondered about what would be the best thing to do. I turned to look behind me and down the driveway again. Then turned towards Grace who was slumped in her seat and with her cheek and forehead leaned against the cool window. For a moment I just sat there and watched how peaceful she looked sleeping before I had to make a decision.

It had seemed so obvious I would have to get her inside… maybe I could carry her- she could impossibly be too heavy.

And then something told me what the right thing to do was. I put the backing gear in and hit the gas pedal again to back out of the driveway and back down the street. Grace still didn't move an inch.

There weren't many minutes after I'd driven away from Grey House until my phone that laid in between my seat and the shotgun seat lit up and started buzzing and ringing.

"I just saw you pull over into the driveway" Cassie sounded worried when I heard her on the other end of the line. "And then you waited. And then you disappeared again. Is everything alright? What are you doing?"

"I am currently driving… I might actually be doing that for a while from now on. Grace is fine. She just fell asleep when we were going back. And she just looked so peaceful I didn't have the heart to wake her up even for a second to go inside. And then I remembered what Nick was like when he was little. Until he was five or so I and Linda would spend every single night on the roads."

"Aw."

It did sound in her voice as if like Cassie had actually never loved me as much as in that very moment.

"Oh my. I'd almost forgotten by now... Jake used to drive around and around for hours when she was little. Most of the time she was a pretty calm baby. But some nights she just wouldn't sleep and then getting her warm and comfortable in the car seat and driving was the only thing that calmed her down…" Cassie gave a short laugh. "This is really kind of you Sam. I'm sure Grace appreciates it… or at least she will. When she wakes up."

"I don't mind." I stopped for a red light. "But I don't want to wake her up from talking and I'm not too fond of talking on the phone while driving. So I'll hang up now and then we'll be back some time before bedtime. Okay?"

"Okay… But… I still have a feeling something is ought to go wrong. Will you turn your phone off while driving please? Just so one risk is gone and away?"

"I can do that honey." I hit the gas pedal again when the traffic light turned to green. "See you later."

"Drive safely."

I turned into the side for a second to do as I was told and turn my phone off. Grace stirred a bit and moaned when I hit the curb, but didn't wake up. And if it hadn't been for her eyes being yellow. At that moment I would have been surer than ever that she was actually "only" exhausted.

The clock was ticking closer and closer to the moment I knew Cassie would at least want to go to bed. (Although I knew very well she wouldn't before we were back) Then at last, ten minutes before that Grace moaned, stirred and sat up straight.

"Where are we?" She mumbled drowsily. "What's going on? This isn't anywhere in between Grey House and the hospital is it?"

"No it's not…" I chose a bit back and forth if I should even tell her at the moment. "You fell asleep when we were driving home. And I didn't have the heart to wake you up to get inside so I've actually been driving around for almost four hours. But don't worry. I've been driving around and around so it won't take us long to get back. Just try not to fall asleep again."

"You didn't have to do that. I'm sorry. Have you talked to mum? She must be worried now."

"I've talked with her. I just promised her we'd be home before her bedtime. Don't worry. You have nothing to be sorry for. I could use that practicing of driving… Are you feeling any better now than you did before?"

"Yes. A little." She stretched as much as she could sitting with the belt and then rubbed her eyes. "I'll try and stay awake now. But if I don't, then just wake me up when we get back. I never wanted you to have to drive around half the night for my sake."

"Don't worry about it." It wasn't more than a few minutes before I could turn in on the right street and over to the right house. "I would do it all again. Do you need help getting out?" She shook her head.

I hadn't expected that despite the late night Cassie would have gone to sleep before we got back. And I was right, she knew we were coming in and was in the hallway when Grace stepped inside first and I right behind her. And then started with hugging her daughter tight while I turned my phone back on. Then couldn't help but frown when I saw the number that had tried to call me but ended up sending me a voice message.

"Hey. Dr. Radford? This is Mandy." I quickly showed Grace and Cassie to come closer and turned the speaker on, on my phone. "I had a break and had the time to look over Grace's blood tests."

But why call so soon?

"It doesn't look as if she has hepatitis. But there is something wrong. I still think there might be something wrong with her liver or her kidneys. I sent it to the lab. They'll check more closely and I'll make sure they call you whenever they know more. I hope you have a good weekend."

My phone clicked and beeped with the end of the message. I turned it off, and could see moving in the corner of my eye while I looked to the floor trying to go through what I had just heard and how this could be explained except for hepatitis while I pushed my phone down my pocket.

I was used to Grace and Cassie to both always being calm and steady. Cassie was still but I could see the worry shining from her eyes and Grace had started trembling. All of her was shivering from head to toe.

"I…" I tried to say anything that would calm them down. "I don't…" My mouth had gone dry and I couldn't even think of the right word.

"I'm ill." Grace stated and interrupted whatever I could have said. It wasn't a question. "I'm ill. Like really ill. I'm not just exhausted I'm not just over- stressed. I'm ill… really ill."

What was I supposed to say? Grace had some medical knowledge including everything she'd been told tonight.

But I was supposed to be the expert in this. So what was I supposed to say?

"I don't know."

I'm thinking Principal Whitlock who was in the first chapter looks like Peter Graham- Gaudreau. And Nurse Mandy like Hallee Hirsh.

I know the line "It did sound in her voice as if like Cassie had actually never loved me as much as in that very moment." Is a bit weird. But there will be something later into the story referring to it.

Random fact

Okay. So here's the thing- I'm making as much thinking and reading and now I can't find the right word… about all the medical parts in this story. But some parts are and will be written a certain way to suit a storyline. Or they'll just be wrong, happening in some way they wouldn't. But this is the world of fanfiction and thinking about all wrong that goes on here ("Cough" Mpreg for example "cough) I hope you can live with a fault, or a hundred in this story.

People who review gets a shoutout.