Chapter 25

Steve whispered softly so that only Jaime's ear would hear him (not wanting to disturb Becca). ''Is she asleep?''

Jaime had been very nearly asleep herself, dozing beside Becca's hospital bed, but she got up and padded over to her husband's side. ''What do you need?'' she whispered.

''Do you think you could get a cool cloth for my head...please? I feel really awful.''

Jaime had just finishing reading a story to Becca, then wiped her down with a cool compress and held her until she fell asleep. On top of the stress of her child (and her husband) being admitted to the hospital - and before that, trying to take care of them both at home - Jaime was beyond tired. But she was also healthy when the rest of her family was not...and she'd do anything she possibly could to help them. So, fighting back her own exhaustion, she took a fresh, clean cloth from the supply cart left by the nurses, ran cool water over it and returned to Steve's bedside to tenderly swab his forehead, his chest and his left arm before applying anti-itch cream While Becca was obviously far sicker, she still had only a few dozen spots on her face and neck; Steve was absolutely covered with them to where he almost looked sunburned. Jaime did everything she possibly could to make him more comfortable, then watched him for awhile as he slept before her own head drooped down to rest on the side of his mattress as she finally fell into a deep sleep herself, holding her husband's hand.

She slept through the night that way, and when Jaime woke with the first rays of sunlight shining through the cracks of the blinds, she got up to check on Becca...and found her bed empty! Michael had spoken of getting a chest X-ray first thing in the morning, so Jaime knew her daughter was down in Imaging - but she silently grumbled her annoyance that Michael or the techs hadn't bothered to awaken her, to accompany her daughter. Becca was two years old for God's sake; she should've had her mother with her!

When Michael came in - without Becca - Jaime couldn't hide her annoyance. ''You took her down there without even waking me, then the least you could've done is stayed with her so she saw a familiar face! Dammit, Michael, why would you -''

Michael put a steadying hand on her arm. ''Jaime...I was just coming to get her - and you, of course - to go down to X-ray.'' He saw Jaime's face go pale with panic and he did his best to calm her. ''The techs probably just saw the order and came and got her; I'll call down there to be sure.''

While Michael picked up the phone to call Imaging, Jaime was already rousing Steve from his deep slumber. She hadn't been listening to the phone call...until the next thing Michael said sent her sinking to the floor in shock and grief.

''Call Security; we need the entire facility in lock-down until we find her!''

Jess had gotten very, very lucky. After the first two times she managed to slip away from her assigned floor to peek into Becca's room, Jaime had been right beside the little girl's bed. She was about to give up and try again the next night...but when she looked in just once more, Jaime had moved across the room, next to her husband's bed...AND she was sound asleep! Jess knew this was a sign; it was time. She'd moved silently to Becca's bed and began to scoop the child into her arms. Becca had awakened at least partially - but Jess put her finger to her lips and smiled, signifying to Becca that this was a secret to be shared just between her and her favorite nurse. She was still half-asleep when Jess picked her up and carried her over her shoulder, straight out of the room, pulling the IV pole along with her other hand. Jess moved quickly and silently into the stairwell that was just a few feet down the hallway; thy were less likely to be noticed there.

''Mama...?'' Becca murmured from Jess's shoulder.

Jess set her down on her own two feet and held her fingers to her lips again. ''I'm taking you home, Darlin' - and it's a surprise for your Mama so we have to be very quiet. Okay?'' Jess bent down and kissed the little girl's forehead. ''Shhh...'' she reiterated.

''Shhh!'' Becca parroted.

They had reached the second floor landing before Jess had put Becca down. Then she looked through the little glass window. No one was in the hallway; perfect. ''I know you hate this thing,'' Jess whispered, reaching down to remove the IV needle from her arm. She had (stolen) medicines in the car; the last thing they needed was to lug an IV pole out the door and into the parking lot. ''Stay here,'' she told Becca. ''I'll be right back.'' Quickly, she opened the door to the second floor and stuffed the IV pole and bag into the supply closet that was just a few steps down the hallway. She grabbed a surgical cap and a flannel sheet, closed the closet and returned to where Becca was obediently waiting in the stairwell.

Jess knelt down to Becca's eye level and smiled. ''We're gonna play dress-up!'' Jess told her. ''I know you love to do that!'' She placed the cap on Becca's head, taking care to tuck every bit of her hair inside, then she swaddled her in the flannel sheet, picked her up and put the child over her shoulder again. ''Let's do this, Baby,'' she whispered in Becca's ear. ''Time to go home!'' She moved rapidly and surreptitiously down the last flight of stairs, through the back hallway...and out to her car.