Disclaimer – See Chapter 1
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Chapter 55
The consultant neurologist returned and reported that Mia had been booked in for both CAT and MRI scans, plus x-rays to ensure that the force of the seizure had not caused damage to the setting bones in her chest and leg. He also informed the two men that, to make sure Mia remained still for the exams, it was standard procedure to administer a light sedative in paediatric patients.
Gibbs looked at Mia, who was still lying on her good side, yet to awaken from the seizure. He had promised her that he would make sure she didn't get any drugs which would make her 'feel funny'. His gut churned as he considered allowing the doctor to give the drug now, whilst she was unconscious and had no way of knowing, but there was no way he would betray her trust.
"Not giving her a sedative." Gibbs stated, not looking away from the child.
"It is in her best interests that she is kept still during the scans." The consultant protested.
"We wait till she wakes, she'll lay still if we explain what's happening."
"Might I have a word with you, Dr Wilks?" Ducky asked, motioning to the door. Gibbs breathed a sigh as the two medics left the room.
"S… Still…" Mia's little voice echoed from the bed.
"Hey there, pumpkin." Gibbs soothed, slipping her hand into his. "How you feeling?"
"Hurts…" She whispered, blinking against the harsh hospital lighting. Everything was different. Gibbs was beside her now, she was flat, on her side.
"Can you tell me what hurts, Mia?" Ducky asked, moving closer into her vision.
"All…"
"Sweetheart, you had a seizure, where your brain was telling all of your muscles to fight really hard. It lasted a little while and made your body hurt. Do you understand?" Gibbs explained.
"D… Did I… hurt… hit… people?" She asked, concerned and confused. She didn't want to be fighting against people.
"Oh honey, no." Gibbs reassured her, heart squeezing at the question. "You didn't do anything wrong, and you didn't hurt anybody. The doctor here wants to do some scans to look at your brain and where your ribs and leg were damaged but you have to be really still so the scan can work. Do you think you could lie really still while they do that?"
"Will… hurt?" She asked, meeting Gibbs' eyes.
"No, it won't hurt. You just need to lie still." He explained.
Ducky re-entered the room quietly, subtly nodding to the Marine as their eyes met.
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Two hours later, the neurological consultant motioned for Ducky to join him in his office, knowing that Gibbs would not leave the child's side and unwilling to distress the little girl with his presence. The scans had been completed, with exceptions being made for Gibbs to be present in the room as they were done.
"My thanks for getting the scans completed so quickly." Ducky commented, taking the seat offered to him as the consultant sat at his desk.
"It was in Mia's best interests to have them done ASAP." The doctor explained. "As for the results, I am afraid there is both good news and bad."
"Ah, do continue."
The consultant stood and flicked the switch on the light board, illuminating Mia's chest and leg x-rays, and the MRI films.
"Fortunately, the x-rays before and after the seizure show no differences in the condition of her injuries." As the consultant paused, Ducky breathed a sigh of relief, being able to dismiss the possibility of further surgery to correct any damage caused by the powerful muscle contractions. "Her MRI scan, however, shows an area of damage which is typical of children with epilepsy."
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Ducky entered Mia's hospital room to be met by the steely gaze of the MCRT Lead Agent. Totally unfazed by the Marine's attempt to search his soul for answers, the Medical Examiner moved round the bed to sit opposite his colleague. He looked Mia over, aware that she was struggling to stay awake.
"Duck?" Gibbs pressed.
"The scans show that you have a condition called 'epilepsy', little one." Ducky said slowly to Mia, ignoring the devastated expression on Gibbs' face. "It means that sometimes you will have seizures like the one you had earlier. But there is medicine you can take that will hopefully stop them from happening."
"B-But I… I try… be good… not… not break rules…" Her voice was desperate. She had tried so hard to do everything they asked, not do anything wrong. What had she missed?
"Oh sweetheart, you have done nothing wrong." Gibbs said quickly, struggling to keep the anger and frustration out of his voice. "Sometimes people are born with problems, or grow up with problems that they didn't have before. It's not because they have done anything wrong, it just happens."
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Mia was silent for the rest of the day, laying for much of the time with her eyes closed, causing Gibbs and Ducky to frown as they realised she was retreating into herself. Tony and Abby were due to visit that evening, having spent the day decorating Gibbs' other spare room into one suitable for a child.
Ducky sat with Mia as Gibbs intercepted the pair as they arrived, holding the two in the corridor as he explained the situation.
"Does she understand what it means?" Tony asked as Abby wiped her tears on a black, lacy tissue.
"Ducky explained it to her." Gibbs replied. "She thought it was because she had done something wrong."
"How has she been since?"
"Hasn't said a word all day. She's shutting herself away." Gibbs reported, sending a sad glance through the window.
"We need to go right back to the beginning." Tony stated, turning to Abby. "Think you could take Ducky and give us 30 mins?"
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"Hey, Princess." Tony said cheerily as he entered, taking the seat on Mia's left, Gibbs sitting in his usual spot on her right, remembering Tony's instructions from before. Mia opened her eyes and tilted her head slightly towards the new voice. "Not having such a good day, huh?"
The little girl said nothing, but her eyes said everything. Tony leaned forwards, putting his elbows on the mattress and his head in one hand.
"You know what?" Tony asked, as Mia merely blinked. "It must be really scary when you find out that your body might start moving by itself any minute and you can't control it."
Mia dropped her head slightly as Tony spoke, eyes fixed on a stray thread at the edge of the blanket. There was silence for a while as the Italian agent worked out exactly what was going on.
"But I reckon that's not what you're worried about." Tony continued, relieved as Mia looked up again. "I bet you're thinking that Gibbs won't want to look after you anymore, now that things have changed."
Gibbs sat forwards, intent on interrupting, but was silenced by a signal from Tony. Usually, he would have continued regardless, but knowing that his second was more experienced in this than he was, he relented and sat back again.
"Too much… half… no, hard… work…" Mia murmured, dropping her gaze back to the blanket. "Better to go… b-back to… before…"
"Well see, there's a couple of problems with making things go back to the way they were." Tony replied. "Problem number one: Abby, Ducky, Gibbs and I don't want you to go back. I like having a little sister. Problem number two: I don't think you really want to go back, and what you want is important too."
At Tony's signalled agreement, Gibbs leant forward, catching Mia's attention.
"It would make me very happy if you came to stay with me and let me look after you. But if you would rather stay with someone else, I will make sure it will be someone kind and caring and somewhere you would be happy." Gibbs said softly.
"B-But… the espi… eps… ellip…"
"Epilepsy." Gibbs said slowly as Mia watched his mouth form the word. "Sweetheart, it wouldn't matter to me if you had every medical condition, four heads, or only ate chocolate-chip pancakes, nothing would make me change my mind."
"Want stay… with you… p-please…"
