Chapter ten

Teardrop

Cassandra rubbed her eyes under her reading glasses, she'd be staring at the test paper for an hour trying to make heads or tails of the questions. She knew he exams were going to be important for this course, her degree was just within her reach, and she wanted to be able to pass first time.

Reaching for a glass of wine on the table beside her, she stopped hearing the sound of vomiting. Cassandra glanced to the time getting up heading to where Kali was on her bedroom floor.

Rushing to her side Cassandra placed the back of her hand to Kali's forehead, she was burning up, her face was sticky from sweat, and ghostly pale. "Baby girl," she whispered seeing she had kneels into the throw up.

"Den niótho tóso kalí mamá (I don't feel so good mommy…)" her voice was tired, and she was looking as if she was going to be sick again.

Cassandra didn't care, she picked her baby up taking her to the bathroom, she placed her in the bathtub taking her clothes off, she ran the water to warm, not too hot, but definitely not cold. She washed her hair, cleaning her taking her phone from her phone to trying a figure what could be wrong.

"Fuck!" She grunted trying to keep calm, but at this point she couldn't keep it together as she wanted to cry. Kali was in the water looking weaker, and her face fell to one side as Cassandra jumped quickly taking her from the water wrapping her in a towel.

She held her close to her chest, taking her phone calling the one number she had close, "Please pick up…" She whispered seeing a clock, and the time was ten passed eleven.

"Hello," Mickey's voice gave her comfort, "Cassie…" He was whispering now.

She held herself, she couldn't be crying now, "I need help," She felt her chest burning, but Kali was feeling like a rag doll in her arms, "Mickey," Her tears burning her cheeks, and she wasn't going to keep it together.

"I'm on my way," Mickey's voice was assertive, "I'll be quick."

"Mickey," Cassandra wanted to speak, "Kali I think she needs a hospital." Her voice broke now as she sobbed into the phone.

There was a paused, "I'll bring the truck, be ready for me." He hung up the phone.

Cassandra knew she had to get it together, she got up lifting Kali, she took herself to the bedroom again, the vomit can be cleaned later as she found something to dress Kali in. She was still awake, but her eyes were unfocused, and Cassandra put her in some clean clothes, and as she glanced down to herself, she knew she'd need to change.

Cassandra found an old shirt and sweatpants, her hair now pulled into a messy bun, she heard her phone buzz seeing Mickey was outside.

Picking up Kali, she now picked up some basics, and headed out into the night. Cassandra wasn't expecting him to jump out of the truck taking Kali from her arms, he touched Cassandra's face seeing how red her eyes were. "Come on." He lightly kissed her cheek heading back to the truck.

Mickey focused on his driving, he knew that Chloe had no idea he'd left, he did leave a note on the bedside table, but as he thought of Hector sleeping soundly, he knew he was going to be fine. "How long has she been like this?"

"At dinner, she refused to eat, I thought it was her being a brat, but then…" Cassandra ran her hands over her face, "I thought my daughter was being a cunt, and I ignored her." She said feeling like the worst mother.

Running her fingers into Kali hair Cassandra couldn't figure out why she would be like this, maybe she wasn't the best, but she never wanted to think she was that bad.

Reaching a hand to touch Kali's arm Mickey could see this wasn't normal, "I'm nearly at the A&E," He had to focus on the road, he couldn't help but know something wasn't good. "You're a good mom," He knew he had to snap her out of the spiral.

Finally looking to Mickey Cassandra shook her head, "I think my mom was right, I am useless." She bit her lip looking out the window trying to avoid seeing her daughter.

Mickey pulled into the parking lot of the hospital, he reach over the seat taking Cassandra's face in his hands, "Listen to me," He said firmly, "You are not useless." He exhaled, "You're doing the right thing." He now let her go getting out of the truck. Mickey walked to the passenger side helping Kali out of Cassandra's arms, he waiting for Cassandra to get out as they headed to the A&E entrance.

"I need a doctor!" Mickey called entering the busy waiting room, it was mostly drunks, and adults, but Mickey didn't care as he was holding the small girl in his arms. "Please!" He added feeling like he was going to get her seen.

Cassandra watched him, she was trying to be calm, but at the same time seeing a nurse coming to them. "Ti tréchei (What's wrong)?" she asked softly taking hold of Cassandra's arm.

"I kóri mou, i kóri mou den eínai kalá (My daughter, my daughter is not well.)" Cassandra started, "Den tróei kai kánei emetó. Échei pyretó (She is not eating, and she is vomiting. She is running a fever…)" She kept speaking, but feeling hopeless, "Parakaló voithíste tin (Please help her.)" her tears falling again.

The nurse went to Mickey holding Kali, at this point the girl was not awake, and the nurse took out a little flashlight, she forced the girl's eye open flashing the light, and then pulled a face. "Prépei na tin paradechtoúme tóra (We need to admit her now!)" She shouted loudly as a doctor rushed over.

Cassandra see everything in a blur, a gurney was brought to them, the doctor taking Kali from Mickey's arms. The Doctor glanced from Mickey, and back to Cassandra, "We will do everything we can for your daughter." His English wasn't perfect, but he was comforting.

She didn't know what to do, they had taken her so quickly they didn't even give her a chance to go with them. Mickey on the other hand had wrapped his arms around her, a nurse was speaking to him, but Cassandra couldn't focus enough to know what was being said between them.

Mickey glanced to his watch, he had Cassandra curled on his lap in the waiting room, it had only been an hour, but it seemed that after filling out paperwork and being told tests were being ran, it was waiting for anything at this point. He just kept brushing his hand over her arm feeling nervous.

"What is taking so long?" Cassandra kept her face on Mickey's chest, he was holding her close, but at the same time she was glad he was with her.

He let out a yawn, "Tests, examination, it's a lot of things." He said feeling he needed to calm the storm. "They'll let us know soon." He wanted to be hopeful, he wanted to believe that something would happen soon.

"Should I go ask?" Cassandra finally moved out of Mickey's arms, "I mean, I should be bugging them." Getting to her feet she walked to the desk, but froze, and then turned back, but finally went to the desk. "Geia, eímai ypomonetikós kai óla, allá prépei na xéro ti symvaínei me tin kóri mou. (Hey, I'm patient and all, but I need to know what is going on with my daughter)."

The receptionist took in Cassandra's face, and then glanced down to her computer quickly typing, and then picked up a phone, it was quiet as she focused on her task.

Mickey stood beside Cassandra, his hand on her shoulder watching the woman behind the desk, she seemed to be calm, but at the same time he knew it was not an easy thing to do. "No news is good news," He whispered to her.

"The doctor is on his way," She finally said after placing the phone down, she knew that it would be easier to talk English as Cassandra looked worn out.

"Thank you," She tapped the desk turning to Mickey, "I hate hospitals," She held onto her arm trying to forget the last time she was in a hospital, and then she shuddered pushing it away again.

The doctor was the same one who admitted Kali, he wasn't showing any emotion as he approached them. He glanced from Cassandra but chose to speak to Mickey. "We've run tests, and your daughter has appendicitis." He inhaled.

"I'm not her father," Mickey pointed to Cassandra, "But her mother is right here. So please talk to her."

The man turned to face Cassandra now, "You're lucky you caught it just in time," He looked serious, "We are prepping her for surgery," He added while judging her face. "It's a simple procedure, and I'll make sure you're updated if you leave a number."

"I'm not going anywhere," Cassandra snapped, "I can't go home and leave her…"

He watched the meltdown, "We are fine to wait here," Mickey cut in, and then turned to Cassandra, "How long is this operation typically?" looking back to the doctor.

"Without complications we are looking at an hour, but I don't like to promise a complicated free surgery, so I would suggest going home," He held a hand up, "Have a shower, a wine, calm down, and come back." He was comforting.

Cassandra felt defeated, "I…" Her eyes going to Mickey.

"I think if I take you home, I can bring you back after you've had a shower and something to eat." He was soothing, and Cassandra couldn't be mad at him now. "I promise." He turned to the Doctor, "I'll give you my number, so if anything happens, call it right away."

"Thank you," He handed Mickey something to write his number on, but at the same time he knew it wasn't the easiest part of his job.

She didn't want to leave the hospital, but then as Mickey got her back to her apartment all Cassandra could do is gather cleaning supplies to head to Kali's room to start. She couldn't get passed the smell, but started to clean the floor, and ignore the pain.

Mickey didn't want to interrupt, but instead went to the bathroom cleaning the rub, he now started to run a bath for Cassandra, he found bath salts and bubbles, he did everything he could think to make it comfortable. He paused seeing her standing in the doorway.

"What are you doing?" She asked seeing the bath, and then Mickey.

Mickey had turned the taps off, "I wanted to help." He spoke slowly watching her walk up to him. He watched her eyes on him feeling nervous now. "I thought it would."

Cassandra cut him off kissing him, her fingertips played into his hair as the kiss deepened, his hands ran down her back holding her close to him. "This is the sweetest thing," She spoke breaking apart from him.

"Just relax, and I'll let you know if anything come up," He pressed his lips to her forehead leaving her in the bathroom, he got to the lounge feeling his phone vibrating as he picked it up.

"Mickey where are you?" Chloe's voice sounded tired, but at the same time Mickey knew she was worried.

He stepped into the kitchen, "Cassie," He started trying to keep his voice down, "Kali was in a bad way, so I helped take her to the hospital."

"Oh God, what's wrong?" Chloe's voice had calmed.

Mickey sighed, "Appendicitis, they had to do an emergency operation, so I'm staying with Cassie until the hospital get back to her."

"Can't someone else be with her?" He could feel the urgency in her tone. "Mickey…"

He closed his eyes, "She needs me," He knew she wasn't going to drop it, "And I am not going to leave her." He wanted to make sure she understood.

"Mickey, can you help me." Cassandra's voice was heard from the bathroom.

He knew she heard, and he closed his eyes for a second, "Look Chloe, you know me, and you know I don't just abandon someone who needs help."

There was a long silence at this point, and while he couldn't think of what else to say the line went dead, and he knew that Chloe's thoughts in that moment, and knew he had fucked up on his part.

Watching as Mickey entered the bathroom, Cassandra was in the bath judging his face. "What's wrong?" She sat up in the water trying to keep calm, "Did the hospital call?"

"No," He sat on the edge of the bathtub watching her, "Chloe called to see what's happening." He lied, but it was becoming so easy at this point. Mickey lent down brushing a kiss to her cheek, "Do you need anything?"

Cassandra gave a soft smile, "I'm better, but still worried." She closed her eyes trying her best to not overthink anything at this point, she didn't know what else she could do right now.

He caressed her cheek, he felt her relaxing to his touch, and he knew that he was going to be stuck in this predicament, "I'll stay with you until you know something." He smiled as he got to his feet giving her some time to relax.