It had simply started out as a simple stomach pain. Elly didn't think much of it. At best, she thought she had just eaten something that didn't quite agree with her. But what she hadn't expected was to wind up passing out at school from extreme pain.
Where she was right now, she had no idea.
She slowly opened her eyes, finding herself in a hospital room, seeing she was in a child's hospital gown and was hooked up to an IV. She felt light headed too.
"Where…?"
The door opened as Erhuard peered his head in. "You're awake… How do you feel…?"
"Light headed… What's going on…? I was just at school wasn't I?"
He came over to her bedside, checking her vitals as he answered her.
"You're at Resurgam, pediatric ward to be specific… You collapsed at school about three hours ago… We're still doing tests to see what happened…"
"I just remember being in a lot of pain before blacking out… especially in my stomach…"
Concern appeared in the surgeon's eyes. "Can you show me where?"
Elly nodded, pointing to the lower part of her abdomen on her right side.
Erhuard gently pressed on the area, as Elly hissed a bit. "Right here?"
"Yeah…. Ow…"
"Sorry…" He moved his hand away, placing it on her forehead. "And you're burning up…" Not good signs at all…
"I just thought I at something that didn't agree with me… Then this happened…"
Erhuard gave her a sympathetic look, brushing some of her hair out of her face. "We'll get you well… I need to talk to your father real fast… Stay put alright?"
"Okay… I wanna see him…"
"You will soon."
He headed out, going straight to Gabe's office knocking on the door.
The door opened instantly, Gabe on the other side, a bit of a stressed out look in his expression.
"There you are. Is Elly…?"
"She's conscious… But I suspect I know what's making her sick." Erhuard sighed crossing his arms. "She's showing the signs for appendicitis…"
"You're KIDDING ME!"
"I wish I wasn't but she's showing the signs. Abdominal pain on the lower right side, she's running a fever…"
Gabe sighed in worry. "This is her first real time being very sick… And this has to happen…?" What'll happen if we open her up to take it OUT? They record EVERYTHING in there since it's a teaching hospital!
"Dr. Cunningham?" Erhaurd snapped him out of his thought train. "It's your call about what we do, but… you know that it would be best to operate."
Gabe nodded, worry in his eyes. "I know… That's what I'm afraid of… You know what'll happen… You've SEEN Data child blood before…"
"I have… Is there any way to get her to Esanii or would it be too risky?"
He hummed in thought. "... Lemme call Joseph. She stable enough to last ten minutes?"
"She should be. I'm still waiting to hear back from Emma and Darnell."
"Let me make that call real fast." He turned back towards RONI. "RONI contact, Joseph Frost, and tell him to pick up his darn line!"
"Yes, Doctor."
It was about a minute before a call came through.
"This is Joseph Frost. What's going on over there Gabe? RONI was rather frantic when she called."
Gabe went over. "Elly's sick. We suspect it's appendicitis… But the issue is… If we operate on her everyone's going to see what she's really made of. On top of that… Will our medication even WORK?"
"Great Phoenixes… Hm…" Joseph pondered over it for a moment. "That's a hard one… Data Children have never done surgery so it is something beyond them and their tech. But… and this all in guessing, considering Elly does have human components, medicine should work on her. I've recalled you giving her aspirin in regards to headaches and it worked."
Gabe nodded. "Right… Anesthesia was what I was worried about mainly… So we can do it just… Ugh… We record every freaking op because one: It's to teach others and two: Esha's TERRIFIED of us getting sued - Even though the money could've gone to fixing things…. The point is… We'll have to figure out how to keep it secret…"
"Well, if it's recording you're worrying about you have friends on this side that could easily… cause a glitch."
Gabe slowly grinned. "Joseph… I love the way your mind works… Jam the camera's for the next four hours and I swear I will have Lisa make you a chocolate cake."
"It's a deal. As for the matter of keeping her blood a secret, I'll leave that to you guys. I know you doctors have a way of keeping things clean."
"Naturally… Thanks… Seriously."
"Anytime."
Gabe nodded. "We'll let you know when the operation's over." He turned to Erhuard. "Get OR two ready."
"I'm on it. And for heaven's sake see your kid."
"I was just heading there!" Gabe called as he passed him, heading straight for Elly's room.
Elly was staring out the window, a sad look in her dual colored eyes.
There was a knock at her door.
"Elly-girl? It's Dad… Can I come in?"
Her eyes lit up at this, looking towards the door.
"Yes."
Gabe opened it, heading straight to her bedside, a look of warmth mixed with concern in his brown eyes. "How you holding up?"
"I'm holding up okay… just light headed…"
"That's expected." He carefully brought her into his arms. "We know what's wrong though."
Elly cuddled into him.
"What's up…?"
Gabe stroked her back. "You have an illness called appendicitis… It's where a tiny organ in your body called the appendix becomes infected and inflamed causing the pain and fever… It usually can be treated with meds but… It usually is better to just remove it outright…"
Elly's eyes got a bit wide, fear coming in.
"Oh… I-I see…" She instinctively brought her hand over stomach.
Gabe frowned, holding her closer. "Hey, hey… It's gonna be okay… It's a scary idea but… It's not gonna hurt. I promise."
Elly rested her head over his heart.
"But… what are the others going to think when they see me?"
He stroked her hair.
"Only the people we really trust are going to be in that room. So they're not gonna think "anything" except: "I must feed this child sugar free candy when she's awake."."
Elly giggled a little, huddling closer.
"Okay… You'll be there… right?"
"Of course. I was there when Joshua had to get his surgery… I'll be here for you too. And Erhuard's going to be the one operating."
"Yay. I like him."
He chuckled kissing her head. "Atta girl… I promise… You'll be feeling better in no time."
"Okay… I love you Papa."
"I love you too Elly-girl… So, SO much…" He held her close. "... You know I wouldn't put you through this if I didn't think it was the only way…"
"I know you wouldn't. You're smart."
"I like to think so." Gabe hummed softly, rocking her a bit.
Elly closed her eyes, feeling exhaustion creep on her again.
"You are…"
Gabe stroked her back. "How about you get some more sleep? You need to be strong.."
"Okay."
Gabe nodded continuing what he was doing until he felt her slump a bit in his arms… Fast asleep. He tucked her back in sighing a bit.
Now… To take care of this…
oooooo
A few hours passed, the operation going off without a hitch.. Erhuard being as fast as he always was. Gabe was just relieved it was over when he was able to bring Elly back to her room to rest.
"You did great sweetie…" He kissed her head, sitting in the chair near her bed getting out his phone and leaving a voice mail for Lisa, letting her know it was over. Hate that this fell on a day she had to work…
Elly was quiet, resting peacefully. There was a knock at the door as Joshua came in.
"Hey, Dad."
Gabe smiled a bit. "Hey Kiddo… Good to see you."
"Good to see you too." Joshua smiled a bit, going over to them, looking at Elly. "Everything went alright?"
"Textbook. Erhuard did his best work as usual." Gabe replied, sighing in relief. "She did great… Held up strong and we got it in time. She'll be just fine."
"Thank goodness." Joshua stroked her hair. "Can't imagine what she might've been feeling."
"She was scared… Don't blame her for that one. But like you she wasn't gonna argue with me over it…"
"She trusts you." Joshua smiled. "Just like I trusted you and still do."
Gabe smiled ruffling his hair. "Thanks, Kiddo.."
Joshua chuckled. "Anytime."
"Mmm…"
"Elly…?" They looked to her, seeing she was stirring a bit. Gabe took one of her hands in his.
"Can you hear me?"
Elly took a moment before her eyes opened, looking at Gabe drowsily.
"Papa…?"
"Hey Little Spark.." Gabe smiled softly. "Welcome back.."
"Nice to be back… Still tired…"
"That's expected, you still have some medicine in your system… Feel a little better at least?"
"Yeah. I don't feel pain in my stomach anymore."
Gabe stroked her hair. "Good. Operation went great, you did so well… And you got a visitor too…"
Joshua leaned over.
"Hey, Kiddo."
Elly smiled, giggling a bit.
"Hey, Big Bro."
Joshua chuckled, kissing her head. "Glad to see you're doing better. I was worried."
"Sorry for worrying ya." She kissed his chin.
"Don't be." He sat on the edge of her bed. "Just glad you're gonna be alright. I know how it is."
"Okay… is Mama gonna be here?"
"Soon as work is out… Though knowing her… She'll be here really soon."
"Yep. I wanna see her so she knows I'm okay."
Gabe nodded.
"Though given the troll she hangs around… It'll be any second now-"
"You rang?"
Lisa was standing at the door… Dreamster standing the ceiling.
"Mama! Dreamster!" Elly giggled.
"Called it." Gabe laughed.
Lisa giggled, giving Gabe a quick kiss on the cheek before going to Elly, hugging her gently.
"Oh my baby girl."
"Mama…"
Dreamster shapeshifted into a kitten, cuddling up to her side.
"And don't forget Auntie Dream, nya."
"Never." Elly held her close. "Hehe… Fuzzy."
Lisa smiled softly. "Very fuzzy."
Dreamster nuzzled her. "Nya!"
Elly sighed happily.
"Now we have everyone."
"That's right." Gabe brought his arms around Lisa, Joshua joining in, all bringing themselves around Elly. "We're here for you baby girl."
She sighed happily, curling up a bit with them. "You guys are the best… I love you.."
"We love you too." Gabe, kissed her head. "So, so much…"
Lisa, nuzzled her. "So glad you're gonna be fine… We got you."
Elly nodded, closing her eyes. "I know you do."
I got the best family ever…
