DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. All rights to the Pitch Perfect creators.

Chapter 4
Needles & Tummy Bears

Chloe opened the clinic doors and went straight to the desk, repositioning Rory on her hip before handing over the health card and note. The two were taken back immediately where Chloe managed to keep Rory in the dark about the blood work requiring a needle. They got the imaging of the lumps with the ultrasounds, Rory laughing most of the time about the gel being goopy and slippery. Afterwards, they were directed for the blood test, a small room with few cabinets and a chair fit for an adult and child.

"Hello, ladies. This is going to be real quick," a male doctor by the name of Dr. Ivan stated as he went to grab the supplies from the cabinet.

"Um excuse me sir, but you're needed in the observation lab," an intern entered, his young jitteriness suggesting he was still getting used to the lab environment.

"Of course, would you mind drawing four caps of blood from that little one while I go to the lab?"

"Sure. I'm Joe. I'm a medical student and am currently earning my PhD at LAU. I have been earning a few hours in the lab," the young man said, the words sounding prepared but well rehearsed.

"I'm Chloe, and this is Rory," the red head was next to introduce herself, shaking the man's hand and encouraging Rory to do the same. The student went to work, setting up Rory's arm and trying to converse with the child the whole time about different things she liked. Then the dreaded needle came into sight, much to Chloe and Joe's disdain and Rory became a rabid animal in the arms of her mother. Two nurses were called in to help hold Rory's legs down so then Joe wouldn't be on the receiving end of a kick.

"I want mommy!" The child screamed, the needle pricking her arm and making her whimper and throw herself further into Chloe's chest.

"She's moving her arm too much. I missed the vein," Joe said with a sigh, pulling out the needle and preparing a new one.

"Joe you need to bandage her arm," one of the nurses said, motioning to the blood that was trickling from the small hole. Chloe was prepared to lose her shit with these people, but Rory needed someone to stay calm and that was going to be her.

"Right," suddenly Joe's confidence died with the rest of him, his hands shaking as he began to wipe the blood away with a cotton ball and then haphazardly pressed a circle band-aid over the spot.

"This ones going to work. Just hold her still," he said, once again finding a vein and piercing the skin of the small child who had began choking on her sobs.

"Shh, baby girl deep breaths," Chloe cooed, relief flooding the room as blood began to fill the caps, albeit a tad slower than intended.

"I wan-ant mo-ommy," Rory begged, tears and snot coating her cheeks as she shook her head.

"Okay. I'm going to call mommy right now and she can talk to you," Chloe pulled her phone free from her purse and instantly pressed Beca's contact, putting the phone on speaker as Joe cursed under his breath, repositioning the needle and making Rory cry out just as Beca picked up her phone.

"Hey, Chlo. Whoa, what's going on?"

"Rory is getting blood drawn and really wants her mommy," Chloe explained, moving the device closer to Rory and telling her that Beca was there.

"Hi, monkey. Don't cry, lovey," Beca said through the phone, catching the attention of her three-year-old.

"I want you," the whimpered voice broke the heart of the brunette, sending her out of her studio in a matter of seconds so she could get home at the same time as Chloe and Rory.

"Hey, shh take deep breaths. You'll be heading home real soon and I will meet you there and I promise to snuggle you while we watch some movies. Do you want to do that?"

"Ye-eah."

"Okay, we'll do just that. Now listen to Mama, I have to drive. I love you."

"Uv you," Rory said as her voice hiccupped. Thankfully Beca had Rory's attention long enough for the needle to come out and a band-aid to be placed.

"Good job. Sorry, that was a little hectic. You're free to leave. If there is anything of concern, Dr. Ivan or your family doctor will give you a call," Joe tossed the needles in the appropriate bin and opened the door for the two to leave. Chloe eased Rory into her embrace and left the lab, managing to get her strapped into her car seat as they headed home. Every two minutes she would cast a glance through the rear-view mirror to see her little girl with her thumb in her mouth and sobs still shaking her body.

~.~.~

At home the family had snuggled on the couch, Rory sitting in her underwear and tucking her thumb in her mouth like always. The clothing argument wasn't one worth having with the three-year-old after Beca assisted to unload her while Chloe got the few groceries from the car. Once in the house Rory was offered to change into her pajamas but she began to cry again and went as far as stripping herself before sitting in a heap and reaching for one of her mom's. The reaction wasn't unusual. It was Rory's way of signifying fear and loss of control, which tend to come after a doctors appointment, especially this long and grueling one.

"How do you feel, little bug?" Chloe asked after the end credits to Cinderella rolled through their TV screen and Beca had gone to pop in a new DVD.

"Tummy bear," Rory responded, patting her hungry stomach and making Beca laugh as she returned to the couch.

"Alright hungry hippo, I'll get started on dinner," Beca brushed her hand over the girl's forehead, sighing when heat was present on her forehead still. After all that crying, it was no surprise she got a fever from it.

Chloe stayed snuggled on the couch while Beca made dinner, substituting the chicken for grilled cheese just in case Rory went as far as losing her load tonight and leaving a mess in her wake. Grilled cheese was easier to stomach and a smaller portion, which would save them all a lot of problems.

Just as the sandwiches were finishing up in the grill the house phone rang. Beca picked up the kitchen's phone and all but fell to the ground when the doctor's voice came on.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Ivan. I'm calling about the results of Rory Beale-Mitchell's blood work."

"Uh – what about it?" Beca asked in a strained voice.

"We saw some things that we would like to re-test for. Is it possible for either you or your wife to bring her in tomorrow around noon?"

"That's doable," she agreed, watching as Chloe entered with furrowed eyebrows.

"Alright, we'll see you then. Have a pleasant evening."

"Yeah, you too."

"What was that about?" Chloe asked, placing Rory in her seat at the table and wrapping a blanket around the girl's shoulder.

"We have to take her back in tomorrow at noon for some more tests. They saw some things that they want to address," Beca replied, her mind moving a mile a second as she tried to think of what they could have found.

"What kind of things?" The red head asked.

"I don't know. Oh god, Chlo. I thought they said it was nothing," the younger woman stressed, running her fingers through her hair.

"Calm down. Rory's here. I'm sure she's fine. The medical student wasn't too amazing at his job. He probably messed up with the blood work and we need to go back in for a re-test. It'll be fine," Chloe promised, holding Beca's upper arms and catching her eyes.

"Okay, okay," Beca sighed. Chloe nodded and released her wife, both their noses suddenly sniffing the air.

"Bec, what's burning?"

"Oh Shi-"

"BECA!" Chloe cut her off as the brunette ran for the grill and threw open the top. The two stared at the black sandwiches until a giggle erupted in the background, the first giggle of the entire evening.

"Mommy, did you burn dinner?"

"I guess I did," Beca said with a chuckle, which trigged Chloe who ran over to her little one and plucked her off the chair, peppering her face with kisses.

"Silly mommy, now what will we eat?!" Rory demanded, nuzzling her nose into Chloe's cheek, expelling more giggles from her system.

"We'll have to eat you I guess," Beca said, running for the two and wrapping her arms around her family. Rory was overjoyed by the embrace and squealed in delight, wrapping her arms around Beca and Chloe's neck.

"Not sad, no more," she whispered between the two.

"That's a good thing. Our little girl should never be sad," Chloe said, landing one more kiss on the child's temple and sighing in contentment.

New chapter. I hope you all enjoy it.

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-Valentina