Agnes 18
Author's Note: Thank you for sticking with this story. Let's hear about Agnes…
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"I would like you and your wife to undergo some genetic testing," the doctor said to Don and Agnes as they sat in the office with Liz on the phone.
"I am not her biological father," Don said as he leaned forward slightly and looked toward Agnes.
"Oh," the doctor said. "You have some of the same features, I assumed…"
"Her father died years ago," Liz said on the phone. "Why genetic testing?"
"We think she may have a mild form of Osteogensis Imperfecta," the doctor said.
Agnes got up off her chair and climbed onto Don's lap and he wrapped an arm around her.
"What does that mean, doctor?" Don asked.
"It means she may suffer from a mild genetic disorder that causes weakened bones," the doctor explained. "But we need more genetic information to determine…"
"How could we not know this until now?" Liz asked.
"In it's mild form it usually just means more easily broken bones," the doctor explained as he pulled up an x-ray. "If she hasn't done anything particularly physical until now then, it's not surprising. Although in the United States this is commonly tested for at birth."
Don cleared his throat, Agnes' birth was anything but common.
"So, what does that mean?" Don asked.
"It means we need to determine if it is genetic," the doctor said. "And, there are high calcium medications that she can be placed on to…"
"I'll get broken more?" Agnes asked and Don pulled her in a little tighter.
"You could," the doctor said with a smile.
Don heard Liz sniffling quietly on the phone.
"But, with the right medication, not as much," he said kindly. "It's mild. Some kids have it very bad. We don't think you do."
Agnes' arms came around Don's neck and he kissed the top of her head.
"Sweetie, you are going to me fine." Don said to her. "Mommy and I will make sure of that."
Agnes nodded against his neck.
"How…how can we be sure with her father…" Liz stumbled over her words.
"If we can at least get your genetic history," the doctor started. "It can, at least, be a start."
"Okay, I can be there tomorrow," Liz said.
"Tomorrow?" Don started, unsure that she was thinking of the proper precautions.
"I've…I've got it figured out," Liz said assuredly.
"What should we do in the meantime? Until you determine…" Don asked.
"Let's keep her away from any activities where she could break anything," the doctor said. "And I want her started on a prescription strength of calcium magnesium."
Don nodded.
"And we'll figure this out," the doctor said with a smile. "It's not severe, we know that. But it's probably not just low calcium."
Don nodded.
"Thank you, doctor," Liz said. "You're sure it's not….anything else?"
Don knew what Liz was asking, without her asking it, and so did the doctor.
"No, we are confident it's not anything like that," the doctor said, knowing she was asking about cancer.
"Good," Liz sighed.
"And this…this possible mild condition is very treatable?" Don asked.
"With proper medication there's no reason why she can't have a very normal life," the doctor smiled. "It would just require enhanced monitoring to make sure that the medication doesn't need to be altered."
Don nodded.
"Any other questions?" the doctor asked.
Don shook his head 'no'.
"Olivia?" Don asked Agnes.
"Will I be sick?" Agnes asked.
"It won't give you a cold or make you sick to your stomach," the doctor said. "You'll just need to be more careful so you don't break anything. But we're going to work really hard to make your bones strong so that doesn't happen, okay?"
Agnes nodded.
"Thank you," Don smiled at him as he stood with Agnes attached to him and shook the man's hand.
"We will figure this out Mr. Calder," the doctor said. "Mrs. Calder."
"Thank you, doctor," Liz said on his phone.
"I will book testing for you Mrs. Calder tomorrow at 2pm?" the doctor asked.
"I will be there," Liz said confidently.
Don sighed, he didn't like her acting in haste and not taking the proper precautions to keep herself and them safe.
"I'll call you back when we get home, okay?" Don asked Liz.
"Yeah, call me as soon as you get home, please," Liz said.
Don disconnected the call and carried Agnes to the car. He hadn't been sure if he should or shouldn't include her on the appointment and had, ultimately, decided that it was better for her to hear what was being said and be able to ask her own questions in hopes it would make her less scared.
Bianca was with him, and she looked worried when she saw him emerge with Agnes attached to him like a barnacle.
"She's okay?" Bianca asked.
"She will be," Don said, not wanting to go into the details in front of Agnes.
Bianca nodded and went with him to the car and drove them home with Don sitting in the backseat holding Agnes' hand.
When they got home, Don made her an apple grilled cheese sandwich, which she loved, and set her up with a Princess movie with Bianca and some popcorn while he called Liz. He texted Liz.
Can I call? Your hate of the Tour de France.
Don grabbed a wool sweater and walked out into the yard so he could talk with her away from little ears. He walked around the yard, kicking at stones, looking at the mountains in the distance and walking over the spongey scrub ground that he had come to accept as his temporary home until he got a text from Liz back.
Yes. Your hate of those Dancing with the Stars shows.
Don placed the video call.
"How is she?" Liz asked him, worried. He could see her bags packed on the bed behind her.
"Scared," Don said honestly. "But doing okay."
He saw Reddington walk into the room behind Liz and come up to her phone.
"I have called some experts around the world who will need her charts and will weigh in on…"
"I'll ask her doctors to share them with me digitally and I can forward them to whoever you think may…" Don started.
"Good Donald," Reddington said. "How are both managing?"
Don sighed. "We're good."
Reddington nodded.
"This is a lot of manage," Reddington said. "Elizabeth and I will be there tomorrow."
"How are you two getting here with out Townsend…"
"I prefer not to discuss that," Reddington said. "Know that we will be there for her appointment tomorrow at 2pm."
Don nodded and watched Reddington pat Liz on the shoulder.
"I will see you tomorrow Donald," Reddington said before Don watched him leave her room.
"Liz, is it safe for you to…?" Don asked.
"It's risky, but we are mitigating a lot of the risk," Liz said. "Trust me."
"I do," Don said. "I just worry that you are making a hasty decision and…"
"I am being safe," Liz reassured him. "What are your feelings about what the doctor said?"
"I think they are doing their best," Don said. "He seems to think it's not severe, so that's good."
"How was she during the appointment?" Liz asked.
"She climbed on my lap," Don said as he wiped at his forehead. "Tucked her head in my neck. Did you hear her questions?"
"Yeah, made me cry," Liz said as she wiped some tears.
Don chuckled and wiped at a stray tear. "I held it together, barely."
Liz smiled at him and cried a little harder.
"Liz…she's going to be fine," Don said. "She…I'm not sure skiing or karate is in her future but…"
"I know," Liz said as she nodded and continued to cry.
Don sighed and they looked at each other, saying nothing for a few minutes.
"Please be safe," Don said as he looked into her eyes.
"I will," she said as she gave him a small smile. "I need to be with my girl."
"I know," Don said.
"And, Ressler, I know she's your girl now too," Liz said as fresh tears started to fall.
Don nodded and let a few tears fall. "Thanks."
"I…I'm so glad she has you," Liz said. "Know that I'm not coming because I think anything you're doing is…"
"I know," Don nodded.
Don sat on a tree stump and sighed.
"Bring warm clothes," he said as he pulled his wool sweater tight.
"I don't have any on me," Liz said. "I'll have to wear yours or buy some."
Don nodded. "I'll find you some things."
"Thanks," Liz said.
Don sighed. "What are we going to do about Tom's DNA?"
"We don't have any," Liz said. "Unless we dig him up?"
"We could," Don said. "If we need to."
"Yeah," Liz nodded.
"Maybe that's something Reddington could do?" Don asked.
"I'll ask him," Liz sighed.
"Too bad we didn't preserve some of his DNA before burial, keep the process simple," Don said.
Liz nodded. "The doctor thought you and Agnes shared features, and I've never really thought about it, but you both have the same face shape, and your noses are identical."
"I've been told I have a baby face, maybe that's it?" Don chuckled.
Liz smiled. "I wish she was yours."
"No, you don't," Don said, honestly. "You loved Tom, and Agnes is a result of that."
Liz swallowed hard.
"But she gets to be mine from now on," Don said with a smile. "So, I'm a lot luckier than Tom in the end."
Liz nodded and smiled. "She's lucky too."
Don nodded and sighed as he looked around at the mountains.
"He's coming too?" Don asked.
"He's worried about her too," Liz said.
Don nodded. "It's going to get busy here with you and Red and Dembe and…anyone else he's bringing?"
"I don't think so," Liz shook her head.
"I'll make up some rooms," Don said.
"Thanks," Liz smiled at him. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Me neither," Don countered.
She smiled again.
"Look, I better get back to her," Don said. "Are you coming to the house first or meeting us at the hospital?"
"I'm not sure, I'll have to keep you updated. "We're leaving soon."
Don nodded. "Stay safe, okay?"
"Always," Liz smiled. "I love you."
"I love you too, Liz," Don said before they disconnected.
Don dropped his head and looked down at the ground for a good ten minutes before he got up from his stump and went inside to his little girl. He needed to be strong for everyone.
To be continued…