Disclaimer: SO not mine. Please don't sue.

Author: Catgurl83

Title: Shocking News

Feedback: Helps me think.

Summary: Reactions to Charlie.

Rating: G

Author's notes: Not a doctor. Read chapter two A\N. Thanks to everyone who has been reviewing. It has really been helpful. Thanks to Kimberly for beta reading this story for me!

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Sarah picked Charlie up and smiled at her. "Are you ready to go see Grandma and Grandpa?" She asked the question softly, but in a grown up voice. She really did not understand the people that purposefully mangled words when speaking to very young children. Didn't they realize that they were shaping the child's speaking skills?

Charlie grinned and a bubble formed over her mouth.

Sarah laughed as she lifted the baby and tickled her stomach.

The baby chortled as Sarah carried her over to the bed and laid her down. She spoke softly to the baby as she changed her diaper and dressed her in a floral printed yellow outfit with ruffles. She put lacy yellow socks and tiny white dress shoes on the baby's feet. To complete the ensemble she put a yellow cloth headband on the baby.

Matt stepped out of the bathroom and held his arms out to the smiling baby. She instantly leaned forward in her mother's arms so that he could pick her up. "Are you ready?" he asked Sarah.

Sarah nodded as she grabbed the diaper bag from the floor next to the bed. The diaper bag was light green and covered in baby Loony Toons characters. She silently followed her husband out of the apartment.

As they stepped into the house through the kitchen door, Annie looked up briefly from scrambling eggs on the stove to smile at Charlie.

Matt put the baby in the highchair at the table and stepped over to help his grandmother set the table.

Eric flipped the last slice of turkey bacon onto a plate and carried it to the table as Sarah took a plate of toast over to the table

The twins came bounding down the stairs loudly. Annie, Eric, Matt, Sarah, Mary, Ruth, and the Colonel all turned to frown at the youngsters. The boys slowed down reluctantly.

Simon came into the room just as the rest of them were sitting down at the table. He quietly took his seat without meeting anyone's eyes or saying a word.

Annie studied her middle son in concern as she offered Charlie a bit of salt-less scrambled eggs. At first, she had thought that Simon was just worried about Ruthie as they all were and didn't know how to handle his feelings. But she was starting to get very concerned about him. He was withdrawing from them more everyday. He left the room if Ruthie's name was even mentioned. He even avoided pictures of her. It was as if he was trying to erase every memory and thought of her in order to make her death less painful. She just wished that she knew how to help Simon. Maybe she should broach this subject with Eric.

Sarah spread a thin layer of strawberry jelly on her toast as she watched the other occupants of the table. The twins were chattering excitedly about something. Most of the others were tuning them out, not that it mattered because they were pretty much talking to each other. They and Charlie were the only ones at the table acting normally.

She herself was tense about Charlie and the semi-argument she had had with her husband the night before. She and Matt rarely argued about anything. It always scared her when they did. She knew that it was natural and that every couple did it but it still made her worry. She didn't want to become one of the couples that destroyed their children with petty arguments.

She smiled at Charlie as the offered the baby a bit of baby cereal. Charlie took a bit of the slimy substance.

Matt caught his mother's eye. "Mom?"

Annie smiled at her son. "Yes?"

Matt smiled back at his mother. Her smiles never reached her eyes anymore. Even when she smiled those who knew her well could still see the fear and sorrow lurking just beneath the surface. "Sarah and I discussed something last night that I want to share with you." He looked over at his wife. "We both want to share it with you."

"Okay," Annie responded. She and the others were all watching him curiously. Even Simon looked up from his plate briefly.

"We discussed Charlie," Matt stated.

"We've decided to have her tested today," Sarah added very softly.

Annie turned to smile at her daughter-in-law. She could see the fear and concern in the younger woman's eyes. She knew that fear and more. She knew how difficult this had to be for Sarah. "Thank you," she whispered. She reached out to take Sarah's hand briefly.

Sarah met her mother-in-law's eyes and instantly knew that she had made the right decision the night before. She had to do everything possible to help Annie. "Your welcome," she whispered back.

Matt swallowed the lump forming in his throat as he watched the emotion course between his wife and his mother. He could almost see the bond forming at that moment.

Eric watched Annie and Sarah and realized that the two women understood each other in a way that no one else at the table could, save his mother. He realized that Sarah was doing this as much for Annie as for Ruthie.

Matt waited a moment before speaking. "We don't want anyone to tell Ruthie though."

"Why not?" Ruth asked curiously.

"Ruthie has been disappointed enough," Sarah answered firmly. "There is a very big chance that Charlie won't be a match. We don't want to add to Ruthie's disappointment if she isn't."

"And if Charlie is a match it will be a great surprise for Ruthie," Matt added.

Annie nodded gratefully. They were right.

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Sarah held Charlie on her lap in the small cubical. Matt sat in a chair near her smiling reassuringly. He realized that this was going to be as hard for Sarah as it would be for Charlie.

Charlie grinned at the nurse as she stepped into the small area. The young nurse was wearing a brightly colored shirt with teddy bears of every color decorating it. The shirt caused Matt to look the other way and Charlie to burst out laughing as she reached for the vibrant material.

The nurse smiled at the happy baby. This was the part of her job that she loved; the happy, well cared for, healthy children that came through here. It broke her heart when she had to see a child who was slowly wasting away.

She disinfected a small spot on the baby's arm as Charlie watched her with wide, curious eyes.

Sarah tightened her grip on Charlie as the nurse moved her syringe close to the child. She made a conscious effort to ease her grip so that she didn't hurt the baby. She turned away as the needle punctured the baby's soft skin.

Charlie let out a startled wail and looked at the nurse through wounded eyes.

Sarah kissed the baby's forehead as she whispered soothingly to her.

The nurse put a bright red Band-Aid on the baby's arm. "All done," she announced cheerfully.

"Thank you." Matt's voice conveyed his gratitude.

The nurse patted the still very upset baby's head gently. "Good luck." She knew that they were getting this done in hopes of helping a family member in need of a bone marrow transplant.

"Thank you." Matt said again as she left.

Sarah ran a hand through Charlie's thin hair. "I hope this works angel," she whispered to the baby.

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Ruthie's POV

********* Something is going on. I have no idea what it is though. All I know is that after the bone marrow test results came back everyone who came to see me was kind of down trodden. They tried to hide their lack of hope from me, but I could see it.

They'd all tell me that we still had the registry and that almost everyone in town was praying for me. They'd try to convince me that they actually thought that there was a chance that a match would be found. I knew that it was an act meant to keep my spirits up for some reason. I played along because I knew that my mother needed me to.

But today things are different. I have no idea why but my parents seem somehow happier and less concerned. I mean, their concern, fear, and worry are still there, but it isn't all encompassing like it had been on the other days.

I am really glad for that change. I didn't like seeing my parents look older each time I saw them. I just wish I knew what was causing this change.

I really hope I find out what is going on soon. I could use the up lifting myself.

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