The light fall of footsteps caused Jordan to turn her head towards the doorway. Her face falling slightly, she smiled as Frankie walked into the room.

"I know I'm not Dr. Romano but I can be good company too," Frankie said as she walked over to Jordan's bedside. Jordan smiled again, but the young nurse noticed the tremble in her lips. "You're not feeling good are you?" she said, and after a pause Jordan shook her head. Frankie sighed and put the chemotherapy down on the table, brushing her hand over Jordan's forehead. "You've been here too long with too little effects - I should talk to Dr. Ross about you having a bone marrow transplant," Frankie said, starting to talk to herself. "Not that it'd be my place to suggest that, but if Dr. Romano or Dr. Ross haven't thought of it themselves well then - I guess little ol' Frankie will have to do it herself," she said. Jordan sighed slightly, closing her eyes briefly to stop the pounding in her head. "Have you eaten recently?" Frankie asked Jordan suddenly, and the girl blinked at her. "Oh now come off it, shake your head yes or no at least," Frankie said, and Jordan nodded slightly. "Have you been able to keep it down?" Frankie asked, and Jordan shook her head. "Well, at least you've been eating," she said as she patted the girl's shoulder.

Jordan picked up the chemotherapy and glass of water and swallowed the tablets on her own. Frankie smiled warmly at the girl, before taking the glass of water from her. "You know you may not talk but you're still a sweet little thing," she said, and Jordan laughed without sound. "You're willing to do the bone marrow transplant?" she asked, and Jordan furrowed her brow. "I'm sure Dr. Romano will help you and talk to you about it," Frankie said hurriedly, and Jordan nodded in agreement. "Alright, I'll see if he can come down then and I'll have Dr. Ross call your parents," she said, and Jordan smiled. Unnaturally tired, she closed her eyes and settled back against the pillow, falling asleep before Frankie had left the room.

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" - and we think a marrow transplant would be the best option," Doug finished with a sigh, looking over at Romano. The surgeon paused for a moment before nodding in agreement.

"Well then, I'll be sure to see if I'm a match," Robert said casually, and Doug glanced up at him curiously.

"You want to see if you could be the donor for the marrow transplant?" he asked in surprise, and Robert nodded his head.

"That would be what I said," he replied, and Doug shrugged.

"Usually it's the family -"

"And you think her family's going to want to be tested?"

"Good point," Doug agreed after a pause. "So do you want to call her parents or should I?" he asked, and Robert glanced at his watch.

"Actually I believe they're due to visit Jordan in a few minutes, why don't we casually drop by and corner them there?" he suggested evenly, and Doug repressed a smirk.

"You act as if you were going in for the kill."

"Oh, I am Dr. Ross - I am," Robert insisted with a half grin. "I've been waiting a long time for the opportunity to get them to do something I know they're not going to want to do. It'll be quite the pleasure," he said, cracking his knuckles. Doug chuckled with a shake of his head, starting towards Jordan's room.

"You take a lot of enjoyment in sparring with those two, don't you?" he asked, and Robert glanced up at him.

"I'd take more enjoyment in spearing those two but I don't suppose my being convicted of manslaughter would aid Jordan any," he sighed as he walked next to Doug, and for a moment the younger doctor glanced down nervously. He paused in his step, and Robert glanced over his shoulder as he walked into the elevator. "It's called sarcasm Dr. Ross, an idea I'm sure you're not too familiar with," he said dryly as Doug hurried into the elevator next to him, "learn to love it."

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"Ah, Dr. Ross," Mr. McCullen greeted Doug outside of Jordan's room, casting a cold glare at Dr. Romano. "She was just answering some of out questions," he said, gesturing to a visibly agitated Kerry.

"You called Dr. Weaver all the way up here just so she could play nurse for you?" Robert inquired in a mocking tone, and Mr. McCullen turned his eyes towards the shorter surgeon again.

"Yes, we found her to be very helpful with our problems during our first visit."

"And this would be what, your second?"

"Dr. Weaver was saying that you doctors wanted to do some sort of transplant?" Mrs. McCullen interrupted, causing Robert to look at her and break the cold stare he was holding with her husband.

"Yes, we think that it would be best for Jordan if she had a bone marrow transplant," Doug said before Robert could open his mouth, and Robert glanced irritably at the younger doctor.

"It sounds expensive," Mr. McCullen said, and Doug sighed.

"Well, it's necessary for Jordan's health; she hasn't been responding to the chemotherapy as well as we would like, and the transplant would help get her closer to remission," he said.

"And who's bone marrow would she receive? I don't know if I could bear to be tested," Mrs. McCullen asked.

"I intend on seeing if I'd be a fitting donor, but you, your husband, and the rest of your family can also be tested to see if you could donate," Robert said shortly, and Mrs. McCullen glanced at him.

"Well, if it's not necessary -"

"The transplant is, but right now your needing to be tested isn't. If we have your permission to undergo the transplant then we'll just need you to sign a couple of forms and we'll contact you if we don't find a fitting donor," Kerry interjected, taking Mrs. McCullen's arm lightly. The older woman turned to leave, but her husband stood glaring stoically at Robert.

"I'm not so sure I want his bone marrow in my daughter," Mr. McCullen said coldly, and Robert took a step closer to the taller man.

"Would you condemn your daughter to death?" he challenged, and Mr. McCullen remained silent for a moment. "Because if I'm a match and she doesn't receive the marrow, she could die."

"I'm well aware of that. But-"

"Oh come now Mr. McCullen," Robert started in an oddly calm voice. "Your hatred of me has placed your daughter in a dangerous situation as it is, being as she refuses to eat for anyone or speak to anyone but me. And it's hard for me to be at her beck and call when I've been clearly told to not go near her."

"Damn right I don't want you near her, she'll grow out of it on her own."

"What, when she's dead? You don't seem to realize how much you're jeopardizing her health -"

"I'm not jeopardizing anything, it's -"

" - and putting her at risk! She's getting weaker -"

" - you doctors with your inability to get a stupid teenage girl to eat!"

" - every day, and every time she goes to sleep she gets closer to not waking up!"

Robert and Mr. McCullen stood inches from each other, faces tinted crimson in anger. Kerry let go of Mrs. McCullen and stepped in between them, putting a hand on Robert's chest and forcibly pushing him away.

"Honestly, you're **both** acting like a pair of immature teenagers!" she shouted irritably, and Robert blinked. "Now if Dr. Romano's bone marrow can save your daughters life then I think it's horribly wrong of you to deny her of that," Kerry said strongly, looking harshly towards Mr. McCullen. "And Robert - go to your office," she said with an agitated sigh.

"Don't tell me what to do Kerry -" Robert started angrily.

"Go!" she interrupted, taking Mr. McCullen by the elbow. "I'll send up the paperwork after they sign it," she tried to regain her composure as she led the parents down the hall.

"He called her stupid," Doug said as they disappeared around the corner.

"Thank you for reminding me," Robert snapped. Turning, he kicked the wall angrily. "God, I bet they didn't even take the time to go in her room," he said, and Doug glanced in through the window. Seeing Jordan watching them cautiously, he looked over at Robert.

"Err - no, but I think she heard everything anyway," he said quietly, scratching his head as Robert looked up sharply. Jordan looked away when their eyes met, and Robert sighed.

"Shit," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Go get that paperwork from Kerry," he told Doug, who paused. "Sometime today Dr. Ross?" Robert continued crossly, and Doug hurried down the hall after Jordan's parents. Robert paused, looking at the ground, before he walked slowly into Jordan's room. "Hey Circus Freak," he said warmly, referring to a previous conversation.

"Hi Pocket Rocket," she greeted him, her voice strained and muffled. Her face was turned away from him as he sat down, but when she turned around he could see the tears in her eyes.

"Pocket Rocket? That sounds a little perverse," he tried to keep the mood light, but a tear spilled onto Jordan's cheek and ruined the effect. "Now what are you crying about?" he asked, taking his handkerchief and dabbing the tear away.

"They're such assholes," Jordan whispered vehemently, and Robert was surprised by the anger in her tone.

"That's an insult to other assholes - like myself," he said, and finally Jordan chuckled slightly.

"I'm glad I'm here and not at home," she continued in a low voice, trying to keep more tears from falling. Robert furrowed his brow and sighed.

"A hospital isn't exactly the most favorable place to be -"

"You're here, aren't you?"

"Well yes, but I work here," he said, and Jordan shrugged. "Still, I guess I see your point. I wouldn't be able to live with them," he said, and she smiled slightly.

"You'd kill them if you had to spend more than a few minutes in a confined area with them," she said, and Robert chuckled.

"You're probably right," he said. "I'm sure I could find a few impromptu operations I'd need to perform."

"That's sadistic."

"I was going for frightening and clever, but I guess sadistic will do."

"So are you seriously going to be tested?" Jordan changed the subject suddenly, and Robert smiled slightly at her.

"I didn't want to give your parents the pleasure of knowing, but I already have been. I made a point of getting myself tested back in February," he explained, "back when we got your test results back."

"And?" she asked, having nearly forgotten her bone marrow tests.

"Anytime you're ready."

"What do you mean?"

"Whenever you're ready, we can do the transplant."

"You mean you're a match?"

"I thought that's what I was trying to say," Robert said with a good- natured smile, and Jordan smiled back in relief. "I haven't told Dr. Ross yet only because I didn't want him to blab the news to your parents - I didn't want them to think I was jumping the gun."

"Do you think this will work?" Jordan asked him, and Robert paused.

"Only time will tell," he said honestly. "I'd love to say that it will work, but there's always the risk of complications," he said, and Jordan nodded. "I'll have Dr. Ross schedule the transplant for tomorrow?" he asked, and she nodded again.

"You'll be there?" she asked worriedly, and he smiled at her.

"I'll make a point of keeping my afternoon open."

"What, no lunch with Dr. Corday?"

"Hardy har har," Robert replied with a roll of his eyes. "Remind me to slip some laxatives in your dinner one of these days."

"Only if you remind me to tell everyone your secret plan to buy yourself a hair piece Baldy," Jordan shot back, and Robert raised an eyebrow.

"Now why would I need to do that, I can just borrow one of yours!" he quipped as he headed for the doorway. As he turned into the hallway, a light object suddenly sailed past his head and bounced off the wall. Picking it up, he glanced at Jordan in surprise.

"Did you just - throw a wig at me?" he asked with barely contained laughter, and she crossed her arms.

"Would you have preferring the IV?" she challenged, and Robert tossed the wig into her lap.

"No thanks, I prefer to keep myself intact and in one piece."

"Doesn't intact and in once piece mean the same thing?"

"You never give up, do you?" Robert said, heading towards the door again. "Tomorrow afternoon," he said, pointing a finger at her.

"It's a date," Jordan replied, pointing back at him with a mocking expression.

"I'll bring the wine and crackers," he joked, and she chuckled.

"Since when do you give alcohol to underage patients?"

"You're saying you'd actually **eat** the wine and crackers?"

"Not the wine, I have a hard time chewing liquids," Jordan winked at him and he shook his head.

"Goodbye Jordan," he said pointedly, and she smirked.

"Bye," she said. As he disappeared from sight, she closed her eyes and leaned against the pillow. Picking up the wig, she slowly ran her fingers over its soft fabric, falling into a deep sleep before she could stop herself.