Pulling herself up, Maddie studied Zoe for a moment and then held up her hands, requesting to be picked up.
After hesitating, Zoe pulled the girl onto her lap and Maddie immediately nestled her head into Zoe and began sucking her thumb.
Feeling the heat coming from the girl's forehead, Zoe frowned. "Are you sure it's just a cold she has?" She called towards where Joanna had disappeared.
She got no reply and she was unwilling to move now that the little girl in her arms looked so comfortable or shout louder increase she woke the boys.
"Are you not feeling well little'un?" Zoe asked, her worry levels increasing as she looked down at Maddie, whose face was beginning to redden. Her doctors' instinct was telling her that this was not just a cold, but she couldn't do very much without any equipment with her.
"Woah, I wish she'd settle that quickly for me. I think she likes you." Joanna smiled as she entered the living room.
"Are you sure that it's just a cold she has?" Zoe asked, trying to keep her worry to herself.
"Yeah, same as the boys, why?"
"She just seems quite warm."
"...She has been sick a lot longer than they have, but she did seem to be picking up yesterday when Max came over. Truth be told I was going to ask him if you could pop around and take a look at her. I would take her to the doctors, but it takes so long to get any money from social services, and it normally upsets her more than it does anything else. She doesn't take to people easily. In fact, aside from Max you're the only person I've seen her snuggle with recently."
Hearing Max's name, Maddie lifted her head and looked towards the door hopefully. "Mac?"
"No sweetie, he's not here." Maddie's face dropped slightly, she nestled further into Zoe and tried to bury her head. It was then that she noticed that the little girl's breathing wasn't in any sort of regular rhythm.
"Has she had any rashes recently?" Zoe asked, her worry escalating as she looked down at Maddie.
"Yeah, she had one last week but I assumed it was the washing powder I used, it was new, so I changed back and she's been fine since." Joanna explained.
"I don't want you to worry but I think we should take her in to the hospital, just so I can take a look at her with all of my stuff." Zoe explained as she picked up the little girl and stood up.
"What about the boys? I have no one to look after them, David isn't going to be home for at least another hour."
"Well I could take her on my own and you can join me after you've sorted something or you'll have to bring them too."
...
"Are you and Zoe okay?" Robyn asked, as she saw her brother heading outside for a cigarette.
"We're both fit and healthy, thank you."
Robyn followed him towards the door. "That's not what I meant and you know it."
"We're fine."
"Max-" Robyn began, but he walked out the door without letting her finish.
