Disclaimer: I still don't own Animal Kingdom.

A/N: Be warned the last part of this chapter is triggery and implies sexual abuse, so if this bothers you please skip the last section.

Family Ties-Chapter 11

"Brother?!" Baz says.

"Your daughter's brother," Dr. Malone says again. "Was I mistaken?"

Baz gives J a glare, but it softens a bit when he notices how Lena is clinging to J like an octopus. "No, you're right. Sorry, go ahead."

Dr. Malone looks between J and Baz. Tricky family situations and frazzled fathers must not be anything new to the ER doctor because he quickly regroups and gets back to the matter at hand. "As I was saying, your daughter's brother brought Lena in. He became concern when Lena started running a fever. He was concerned that with Lena's recent aplastic anemia diagnosis that there could be something more going on than just a sore throat."

Baz nods his head. "Okay, so what now?"

"I was able to get in touch with your daughter's pediatrician. Dr. Samuels informed me that Lena has been doing pretty well all things considering. There's no reason to think that this is nothing more than a case of strep throat. But, having said that we do have to be cautious, so I had a nurse draw some blood to run a complete blood panel," Dr. Malone said. "I also took a throat culture. I'm going to have it sent down to the lab. To be on the safe side, I'm going to send Nurse Sophie back in to set up Lena with an IV to give her some fluids to keep her hydrated."

J can't help but wince when Lena squeezes his neck extra tight when Dr. Malone mentions the IV.

"Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to check on those labs. Nurse Sophie will be back in to set up that IV," Dr. Malone says as quickly exits the cubicle.

With the doctor out of ear range, Baz hisses. "Brother?!"

"I'm sorry," J explains. "I couldn't get ahold of you or Smurf and I didn't think they will let her be seen if I said I was her cousin. I figured if I said that I'm her brother that it will have more pull."

Baz runs a hand over his chin. "I guess you're right. It just threw me off. I was going a bit crazy since you called me. I got your message and when I tried calling you back, you didn't pick up. I didn't really know what was going on and the doctor kinda blind sighted me. I didn't expect him to say that."

Didn't expect? More like he didn't want to hear the doctor say that.

"Yeah, sorry about that. I turned it off once the nurse called us back here." J goes to unwrap Lena's skinny arms from his neck. "You want to take her?"

Baz looks at how comfortable Lena is in J's lap. His daughter's body is relaxed and is nearly asleep. "Nah, she's about to fall asleep. You keep her. Let her rest. I'll just sit in the chair."

J nods his head as Baz goes to sit down. The two of them are silent as the only sound in the tiny cubicle is Lena's even breathing as she sleeps. Lena is clearly exhausted as she doesn't even stir when Sophie comes back in to start the IV. She does stir a bit when she feels the pinch of the IV needle, but she quickly falls back asleep. On her way out, Sophie promises that Dr. Malone is finishing up with a patient but will be in momentarily.

Baz is busy looking at something on his phone. With Lena in his lap there's not much J can do but read all the posters that are on the wall. J is reading the poster about the dangers of not getting this year's flu vaccine for the eighth time when Dr. Malone returns.

"Hey, doc." Baz says.

"I'm sorry about that wait gentlemen."

"No problem, so what's going on?" Baz asks.

"Lena does have step throat. Her blood counts are all in the acceptable levels. I went over them with Dr. Samuels. After discussing Lena's condition with your daughter's pediatrician, we have decided to give Lena a transfusion."

"What?" Baz asks.

"But, I thought you said her levels were in the acceptable levels" J asks, squeezing Lena a little closer to him.

"They are. We just want to give her system a little boost," Dr. Malone explains. "We're also going to be giving her a round of IV anti-biotics. Look at this as a bit of a proactive approach. We're trying to give her system a little help in fighting this infection before it grows into something bigger."

"Is she going to have to spend the night?" Baz asks.

Dr. Malone nods his head. "I want to at least keep her for the night. See how she's feeling after the IV and some fluids."

"Okay, do what you think is best." Baz agrees.

Dr. Malone gives them a small smile. "I'll get the paperwork started to get her admitted into the pediatric wing." Before he's about to leave, the physician turns around. "Lena is going to be fine. We got this early and she's a fighter."

"Thanks, Doc." Baz replies.

With the physician gone, Baz turns his attention back to J and his daughter. "Since she's staying for the night, why don't you go home. I'll be here."

J looks at Baz. "You sure? I can…"

"You're not being punished, J." Baz says. "You've been with her all night. I can see that you're exhausted. Go home and get some rest. You're going to need it. When she gets out of her and is feeling better, she's going to be having you watch every animated movie ever made."

"Okay," J says quietly.

Baz gets up from his chair and squeezes the teenager's shoulder. "You did good tonight, J. Thank you."

J nods his head and looks down at Lena, who is still sleeping soundly in his lap. "She's family."

XXXXX

J takes the key out of the ignition. What a day. He spent a good amount of the day sleeping but spending several hours at the hospital is exhausting. He left the house a little under six hours ago and he's just returning home now. He would have been home earlier, but he wanted to wait until Lena as settled in the pedes ward before he left.

He tiredly gets out of the car and starts to make his way towards the door. If he wasn't so tired maybe he would have seen the person standing against the garage.

J stops in his tracks. Maybe he's so tired that he Is sleeping. There's no way that it's him.

"J? We need to talk," the voice says again as a hand reaches out to grab his arm.

J spins around. Sure enough. It's him. "Damien? What are you doing here?" He looks around to see if any of his uncles are around. If anyone is around. No one is. The house is eerily dark except for the lone light by the door that he turned on as he ran out with Lena hours earlier.

"We need to talk," Damien says again, lighting up a cigarette.

"What do you have to talk to me about in the middle of the night?"

Damien leans in close. Too close. "I think you have an idea."

"I didn't say anything," J says defensively.

Damien lets out a puff of smoke. "I know you didn't. I'm here to make sure you don't."

"Why shouldn't I tell Baz know who you are. The type of person he is working with," J says as he looks Damien in the eye. His uncles rob people and have never worked an honest day's work ever. But, they would never do what Damien did.

Damien smirks. "Cuz' you know he won't believe you. I hear the way Baz and your uncles talk about you. They don't want you here. They sure as hell don't want to cut you in on their jobs."

"If you're so sure about that then why are you here?"

Damien takes a puff of his cigarette. "I didn't come here just for reassurance. I also came here to pick up where we left off."

J feels his blood run cold. "Get out. Now."

Damien grabs J by the arm. "Don't be like that, J. I'm all lined up to do a big job with your uncles. Good pay off. If you tell me to leave now, I'm gone for good. And I may just have to go to the cops. Tell them what I know. I know Baz needs the cash. I heard that his kid is sick. It would be too bad that he lost all that cash because you can't do one little thing for me. Or better yet the kid's only parent ends up in jail all because of you. Think about it, J."

J knows that Damien is a master manipulator. He's been manipulated by him countless times when he was a kid. And he knows that Damien is manipulating him now. But, he can't risk Lena's health. Tonight's hospital bill alone is going to be small fortune. Who knows how expensive her future medical expenses are going to get. Baz is going to need to do all the jobs he can. J knows what Damien wants. He can do it this once.

"Fine, just this once." J says. "But, that's it."

Damien laughs. "You got it. This once."

J begins walking towards the garage. "Let's get this over with."

"We're not going in the house?" Damien asks.

J shakes his head as opens the door to the garage. "Nope. This is fine."

"Fine with me," Damien says as he closes the door behind them.

I'm no doctor, but I did do some research on aplastic anemia. Things are going to get dark for J over the next couple of chapters, so be warned.