Chapter 8

Half way into the second HSM movie, both Brooke and Nolan had finally fallen asleep. They had missed some key parts in the movies when Nolan ran to the toilet to be sick three times, but Brooke was too preoccupied with taking care of the child to enjoy them anyways.

When Brooke awoke, she was sitting up on the couch with the tiny girl sprawled across her body. Nolan's head was resting on her shoulder, bum was in her lap, and arms were wrapped around her arm. Brooke snaked her left arm free and felt the girl's forehead. She was no expert on child illness, but she knew what a fever felt like on her hand. Brooke sighed. 'Why can't it just be a 24 hour bug?' she thought.

Brooke picked up Nolan, placed her down on the couch, and stood up. She walked to the refrigerator and extracted her cell phone. She thumbed through the emergency numbers on a list and called the one most appropriate: Memorial Pediatric Care Center.

"MCC Pediatrics how may I help you?"

"Yes hi I need to make an appointment for my daughter, Nolan Baker.

"Wellness or sick visit?"

"Sick. She has a high fever and has been sick all night."

"I have a 9:30, 10, and 11 A.M time available. Do any of those work for you?"

Brooke looked at the clock on the oven. 8:54. How long would it take to get Nolan ready? For her to get ready?...she picked a safe time.

"Eleven would be best thank you."

"Okay Mrs. Baker. See you and Nolan then." The woman sounded so cheery. Didn't she know her child was sick? Rude.

Brooke walked to the couch and watched Nolan's chest rise and fall. She would wait to wake her up until the last second. That was best, right?

After Brooke emerged from her lightening-speed shower, she checked on Nolan. Still fast asleep. Check.

After dressing and makeup application? Check.

After hair drying? Oh no. No check...

Brooke could here the revolving sound initiating from the back of Nolan's throat. She ran out of her master bathroom and toward Nolan's. Nolan was head first in the toilet, but Brooke could see from the sickness trail that she had not made it in time initially. Brooke reached out and grabbed Nolan soft bed-head curls and rubbed her back.

"Where were you? ....I called you." Nolan sobbed.

"I'm sorry. Mommy couldn't hear you. I'm so so sorry!"

"Daddy doesn't leave me when I'm sick!"

When Nolan was done, Brooke wiped her face with a tissue and carried her back to the couch.

"Let me go get you some new pajamas. I made you a doctor's appointment for a little under an hour from now.

"NOOO!" Nolan flipped out and jumped up off the couch. Brooke could see that Nolan's head was spinning and caught her before she fell to the ground.

"Baby you're sick. You need to be checked out by a doctor. I know its scary but I will be right there with you every step of the way."

..

It took great convincing, but they had made it on time. Brooke carried a sleepy Nolan through the doors of the doctor's office and up the desk.

"Name?" "Nolan Baker." "Please sign in. A nurse will call your name shortly." "Thank you."

Brooke sat down and kept Nolan on her lap. She did not want Nolan touching the dirty chairs that were infected by germy kids. A secondary infection was all she needed. Soon enough Nolan was called and she and Brooke were led into a room filled with animals printed on the walls. Nolan refused to sit on the exam table, but wanted Brooke to hold her. Only then did she cooperate. The nurse took Nolan's temperature, blood pressure, and asked Brooke about her symptoms before leaving the two girls alone.

A few silent minutes later, a knock on the door signaled Dr. Carver's arrival. Brooke did not know her, but she seemed nice enough. She started with a few jokes to lighten Nolan up but the child wanted no part in it. The doctor listened to her heart and lungs, looked in her ears, nose, and down her throat before the inevitable.

"Nolan. I need you to move to the table honey. Your mom can hold your hand the whole time I promise." Dr. Carver's voice was so gentle. Somehow that voice did the trick. Brooke placed Nolan on the exam table and took Nolan's tiny hand in hers. "I need you to lie back on the table Nolan so I can feel your tummy." Nolan whimpered as Dr. Carver removed her shirt and reluctantly did as she was told. Brooke noticed a visibly purple bruise on Nolan's lower stomach, almost hidden by her pajama bottoms. ...How had she not seen this? Why didn't Nolan mention it? Had she mentioned it?... Nolan squealed when the doctor lifted her pants a little and touched it gently. "Do you know where this came from sweetie?" Nolan shook her head.

Dr. Carver turned to Brooke. "I am going to have a nurse come in and get a blood sample. There is nothing to worry about…I just want to be thorough." Brooke was stunned and confused. Why was it necessary for a blood test if she just had the flu or something? "Mommy I need to go to the bathroom."

With Nolan safely inside the bathroom, Brooke flagged down Dr. Carver.

"What are you testing for? How sick is she?"

"We won't know until the test comes back. It could be just a regular bruise, but since she doesn't know where or how she got it, the bruise is also added to the list of symptoms."

Brooke swallowed. She had seen this on TV. Mysterious bruises usually meant one thing: cancer. "Please don't tell me you are considering cancer?"

"We can't rule anything out yet Brooke. That's what this test is for, among many other things."

A few minutes later, Nolan was laid back on the exam table by the nurse and blood was drawn. Nolan used her free hand to squeeze Brooke tightly while she cried silently. Brooke didn't know whether it was painful or if she was just scared. Both she assumed were true. Nolan was so brave that the nurse gave her stickers and a cool bright pink pencil.

A million thoughts ran through Brooke's mind. She was so overwhelmed, she just wanted Julian. She needed him. He would know what to do.

The nurse told Brooke that the hospital would call with the results within the next two to six hours. Brooke assumed no news would be good news and hoped it was all a huge wasted precaution.

After they got to Brooke's car, Brooke looked at her phone: 5 missed calls: Julian. Brooke did not want to cry on the phone to Brooke with Nolan in earshot. Brooke would not scare her unnecessarily.

When they got home, Nolan was asleep and Julian's car was in the driveway. He came out of the front door and carried Nolan from the car to her bed. Julian listened intently while Brooke tearfully explained what the doctor said and what her fears were. They cried together in fear until the call.

Julian rushed to the phone and answered eagerly. "Hello…yes, I am her father. Mmhmm. Yes. Okay…………..umm okay…..goodbye." Brooke could not read his expression. She willed him to speak fast.

"The tests came back okay. Everything seemed normal of a child with mild flu-like symptoms. They called in a prescription at the pharmacy and said she should be better within the week."

Julian smiled. Brooke smiled. "Nothing about cancer?…" "That was not even mentioned."

Brooke jumped into Julian's arms. She was so happy Nolan was okay! Her family was safe and fully intact. For a split second, she felt invincible. Like they had beaten the odds. Her child was safe. Her family was thriving…

….for now.

Jumping ahead. The plot thickens! lol
Sadness ahead and then some drastic changes.

Please Review.
I really don't like silent readers.
Please tell me what you think! :]

~Haley 3