Anna rolled over onto her side and held the oxygen mask to her thin and tired face. She had been doing radiation therapy for four weeks and it had really taken its toll on the fragile nine year old. With only a week til her tenth birthday, she was pushing through the pain to see what could be her last birthday.

The radiation had caused problems with Anna's throat which meant she had a feeding tube down her nose. This had to be her last straw before she gave up on radiation all together. The next step was intubation if her breathing got any worse but Anna wouldn't allow it. She wanted to be able to speak and tell her family how much she loved them if there wasn't much time left.

The only good thing Anna found from this radiation was that she hadn't lost her hair yet. She knew it would only be a matter of time but for now she was enjoying that her Mom could still braid her hair when she was feeling down. Anna loved when her Mom played with her hair, it had a soothing affect.

"I can't watch her like this" Addison sobbed softly as she rested her head on Alex's chest gently. They had both taken the last two weeks off work to be with Anna full time as her condition slowly worsened. She didn't deserve to be alone but sometimes it's all she wanted. Standing outside her room, they just watched as their little girl rested.

"I know it's hard but this might be the one thing that saves her" he shrugged, trying to be as optimistic as possible.

"Might? Alex, we're doctors and good ones at that. We should know how to save our daughter"

"This is out of our specialties. We could try to understand every aspect to Anna's condition but we both know there are more knowledgeable and experienced people in this field. They are doing their best to help her"

"I just feel so helpless. I have always been able to help Anna when she was sick..."

"I know. I can't help but feel like I'm letting her down but we have to let the oncologists help her. They know what they're doing"

"I hope you're right" she sighed and felt Alex's arm rest over her shoulders as they watched Anna.

"Seeing you two like that would make Anna feel a lot better" Mark chuckled as he walked up to where Alex and Addison were standing. He was carrying a bouquet of orange tulips and a teddy bear in the hope it would cheer Anna up for a minute at least. Tulips were her favourite and she had one of the best teddy bear collections Mark had ever seen.

"What are you doing here?" Alex growled. He and Addison were still a little sour after Anna walked in one him kissing Lexie two months ago. While Mark had explained everything and made up with Anna, Mark hadn't quite gotten back on Addison and Alex's good sides.

"I just want to see Anna, try and make her smile"

Addison looked up at Alex as if to say 'just let him'. There hadn't been much that could cheer Anna up so they had to try. Mark smiled back at the pair before walking into Anna's room and shutting the door behind him. As much as seeing her parents cuddled up together would make Anna happy, seeing them scorn at him wouldn't have such a positive effect.

"Hey munchkin" Mark smiled softly as he made his way over to the side of the bed Anna had turned to "I thought your favourite tulips would brighten up your room a little"

Anna smiled weakly and nodded silently in thanks as Mark put the flowers in the vase by her bed. She didn't move from the position she was in and continued to hold the oxygen to her nose and mouth. Sighing softly, Mark sat up on the end of Anna's bed and started massaging her feet. Anna liked nothing more than having her feet rubbed. Looking up from her pillow, she giggled softly as Mark hit a ticklish spot.

"There she is" Mark chuckled as Anna rolled onto her back and sat up a little "I also thought you'd need another teddy to add to the collection" he smiled and handed her the teddy bear. Anna took it with a smile and cuddled it to her chest as Mark resumed rubbing her feet. "How are you feeling munchkin?"

Anna shrugged silently and put the oxygen back up to her nose and mouth. She wasn't in the mood to really talk but she'd been like that all week. Mark had seen the most reaction in the nine year old for a few days. Moving up to the head of the bed beside Anna, Mark pulled Anna into a gentle hug. The pair sat like that for half an hour before Anna looked up at Mark and asked if he wanted to play a card game.

"Poker with Oreo's just like we used to?"

"Uh-huh" she smiled

"I will go order your Dad to get us some cookies then" Mark chuckled and kissed Anna's forehead before getting up off the bed and heading to the door. Poking his head out, he was met with anxious looks from Addison and Alex. They had watched Mark and Anna together and thought something was wrong "Anna would like some Oreo's"

"She can't eat anything. The radiation has caused ulcers in her throat" Alex informed Mark like he hadn't seen the feeding tube in Anna's nose.

"We just want to use them as chips in our poker game. Even when we played back in LA, Anna never ate the cookies. We have a deal, whoever loses has to eat every last Oreo. I used to let her win but now it's all pure talent in that kid"

"You taught my daughter to play poker?"

"Is your daughter sitting up and smiling for the first time this week?" Mark smirked leaving Alex a little dumfounded "Anna would like some Oreo's"

"Come on" Addison smiled weakly and started pushing Alex away from Mark. The last thing she wanted Anna to see was those two fighting "I'll come with you" Alex nodded and gave in as he walked down the corridor with Addison. Looking back, he noticed mark had gone back into Anna's room. Alex and Addison walked down to the hospital gift shop in silence and picked up a few packets of Oreo's as per requested. As they were walking back, Addison couldn't take it anymore "Talk to me Alex" she sighed.

"He's her Dad again" Alex sighed and stopped. Leaning against the wall, he pushed his hands into his pockets "He taught her to play poker"

"That doesn't make Mark Anna's Dad. Are... are you jealous?" Addison asked as she rested her hands on Alex's arms.

"He got her to smile for the first time in a long time. I have been in there every day and she hasn't moved a muscle. What can Mark do that I can't?"

"Mark was only around fulltime when Anna was a baby, he's always been that little dose of fun every once in a while. Maybe Mark was just what she needs to pull her out of this funk" she shrugged "Anna was so good through surgery and chemo but radiation was what brought her down. Maybe something like this will reignite that determination Anna's always had with her cancer"

"But Mark?"

"Yes, he is not ideal but after you, he's Anna's best friend"

Thoughts?