Molly paced the waiting room of Trent's clinic wringing her hands. He was taking longer than she expected him to. The door opened and Blank walked in. "You're gonna wear a hole in that floor."

She sank into a chair.

He gave Molly her bags and sat next to her. He put his arms around her. "She's gonna be fine."

"I can't help but be so scared though..."

"I know, sis...I'm scared too."

She hugged him tightly.

After a few minutes Trent walked into the waiting room.

Molly jumped to her feet. "What is it???"

"Influenza."

Molly gasped.

"I'll do what I can, Molly..."

"Is there anything you CAN do?" she asked worriedly.

"YES, Molly there is something I can do...and there is something you can do too..."

"What is it?"

"Go home and get some sleep."

She gave a worried frown. "You'll.. you'll come get me right away if something happens?"

"I promise," he said, turning her toward the door. "Go get some sleep."

She gave a whimper of protest but finally left.

Trent turned and walked back down the hall to the room where China sat with Kendra.

"How did Molly take it?" China asked him.

"Not well...I sent her home to get some sleep," he said, placing his hand on Kendra's forehead.

"Perhaps we should send her some sleep aid?"

"Good idea," he said.

"Would you like me to do it, or will you?"

"Why don't you take it to her...I'll sit with Kendra."

She nodded. "I'll be back shortly."

He sat down beside Kendra and wet a cloth, gently bathing her face.

She whimpered a little and opened an eye. "You're not my momma..."

"I know sweetie...she's taking a nap."

Kendra sniffled. "I want my Momma..."

"She's really tired, Kendra..."

She sniffled again.

He gently took her in his arms. "Can you drink some water for me?"

"I'll try..."

"I know your throat hurts, sweetie..."

She took the cup from him and took a tiny sip.

"Good girl," he said, stroking her tangled hair.

She took another sip and then gave him the glass again and plopped down on the bed, burying her face in the pillow.

"Kendra..."

"I don't wanna drink no more..."

"I need you to drink just a little bit more..."

"I"m not thirsty..."

"I know...but their is some medicine in this water...so I need you to drink some more..."

With a pout, she took the cup again and drank another sip.

"Just a little more..."

She pouted. "Can't I drink more later...?"

"If you drink a little more I'll go get your baby doll...your uncle left her in the other room..."

She made a face and took another sip of the water.

"Good girl," he said, setting her back on the bed. "I'll be right back with your dolly."

She plopped back against her pillow and snuggled beneath the blankets, coughing a bit. He disappeared for a moment and returned with her baby doll. He handed the doll to her. She took it and clutched it tightly. "Thank you."

"I've got another surprise for you..."

She looked up at him with a sleepy little yawn.

He smiled at her. "Close your eyes...and open your mouth..."

She did as she was told.

He placed a small piece of candy in her mouth. "Close your mouth."

She did so and gave a hoarse little squeal.

"If you continue to be good, I'll let you have another lemon drop tomorrow morning."

She nodded. "Yessir."

He adjusted the covers around her. "Finish your lemon drop and go to sleep, Kendra."

"Yessir," she murmured with a yawn.

She cuddled her baby doll as her eyes drifted shut.

Trent patted her head gently and left the room. China returned to the clinic just as he left the room. "Did Molly take the sleep aid?" he asked China.

"Under protest," China answered.

"She's been around Rae too long," he said with a bit of a smile.

"How's Kendra?" China asked, dropping wearily into a chair.

"Asleep for now, I hope."

"I'll sit with her tonight," China said.

"You don't have to, sweetheart," he said, taking her hands.

"I don't mind."

He stroked her cheek gently. She rested her head on his shoulder.

He kissed her temple and held her close. It was rare, this quiet moment. She sighed happily. "I love you, China," he said with a smile.

She looked up at him. "I love you too, Trent."

"Of course you do. Who couldn't love a doctor?" he said playfully.

She smiled at him. "When is Rae supposed to stop by?"

"Some time in the next couple of days...I'm not sure when they'll be getting into town..."

"I hope Spot is making her rest..." China said.

"I'm sure he is...he's really good about that..."

"I hope so... Rae can be pretty forceful."

"She looked really weak the last time I saw her."

"I know..."

He closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

She kissed Trent gently. "You're doing the best you can."

He nodded wearily. She stroked his hair. His breathing became even and she knew that he had dropped into an exhausted slumber. Carefully she stood up and lowered his head onto the couch and then, ever so gently, lifted his feet on the other side. Kissing his brow, she then went to go check up on Kendra. She gently placed her hand on the girl's fevered brow. Kendra squinted a bit in her sleep but didn't wake. China began to gently bathe the girl's face in an effort to break the fever.

Kendra shifted in her sleep and opened a groggy eye.

"How do you feel sweetie?" China asked softly.

"Hot. My throat hurts."

China reached for the glass of water on the table beside the bed. "Drink some water for me..."

She whimpered. "It makes my throat hurt more..."

"I know...but you have to drink lots of water."

She fussed.

China sighed. "If you don't drink lots of water you're only gonna get sicker Kendra."

She took the glass with a pout and took a sip, cringing.

"That'a girl."

"It hurts..."

"I know."

She clung to China.

"Are you ready to go back to sleep?" China asked.

She nodded and then croaked, "Can you read me a story??"

"Trent and I don't have any stories around here..."

"You don't know any??"

"I can try..."

She snuggled up against China.

"Once upon a time..." China said, stroking the little girl's hair. She was asleep before China could take a breath. China shifted on the bed so that her back was against the wall and pulled the quilts up around Kendra. She was such a sweet girl. 'I'm just gonna close my eyes for just a minute,' she thought to herself, closing her eyes. And shortly after, she too fell asleep.

~*~

Spot stepped from the carriage and turned to help Rae down.

"Ready?" Spot said, squeezing her hand.

She gave a slight sigh. "I guess so."

He tapped on Trent's doorway with the triplets situated between him and Rae.

A moment later China cracked the door. "Come on in," she said, throwing open the door and taking Robert from Rae.

"Thank you," Rae said with a sigh of relief, shifting Lizzy in her arms.

"Sit down..."

She did as told and Spot followed the suit. Just as they sat down a bell rang. China sighed and rolled her eyes. "I'm beginning to regret giving her that bell," she muttered, handing Robert to Spot and walking down the hall.

"I wonder what she's talking about," Spot said.

Rae leaned her head back and closed her eyes. "I have no idea..." she said, wearily. He put his arm around her and squeezed her shoulders.

When China came back down the hall a few minutes later, Rae had dozed off. "Has she been getting enough sleep?" she asked Spot.

"A lot of sleep..."

"Well, that is good. Would you like to leave her here while you drop the girls off where they need to go?"

"We dropped them off at Sippi's on the way over..."

"Well, you can't expect me to keep up with your business, Spot Conlon," China said.

He smirked as the bell rang again.

She made a noise of frustration. "I'm going to whack that girl's head!"

"Who is it?"

"Kendra."

"What's she doing here?"

"She contracted influenza a few days back. But I think she's getting better. She's rang that bell nearly non-stop today."

He laughed. "I'd say she's getting better."

"It's a blessing and a curse."

"If you'll take the babies I'll go see if I can't do something to make her happy."

"Sounds good to me. I could use a break." She took the boys and Spot walked down the hall.

"'Hey there, Half-pint," Spot said, walking into the room where he heard the bell ringing.

"Spot!" she chirped.

He stopped near her side. "How are you, kiddo? I heard you got sick."

She nodded. "And Trent gave me nasty medicine..."

He smiled, stroking her hair. "But I see you're feeling better."

She nodded again. "But they're bein' mean to me..."

"Oh? How are they being mean to you?"

"They make me stay in bed."

He laughed. "That's the only way you'll get better, sweetheart."

She folded her arms and made a face.

He ruffled her hair. "Probably another day or so of rest and they'll let you go home."

She looked up at him. "Did you bring Pape with you?"

He shook his head. "Nope.. I forgot. Sorry, sweetie." She pouted. He ruffled her hair. "I'll bring her up soon, I promise."

She crawled into his lap and hugged him.

He kissed the top of her head. "I hope you were being well behaved for Dr. Trent and Mrs. China."

"I'm tryin'..."

"You better," he said with a smile.

"Did you bring the babies?"

He nodded. "China is taking care of them right now."

"Can I see them?"

"I wish you could, Half Pint...but you've been sick..." She pouted. He kissed her forehead and placed her back on the bed.

"Where's Rae?"

"Sleeping...she's real tired."

"Is she sick?"

"A little."

"Will she get better??"

"Dr. Trent is gonna try and make her better."

"Good."

He kissed her forehead again. "I'm gonna go check on Rae, alright?"

"Okay."

Spot went back into the waiting room and found Rae awake talking to Lizzy.

"Hello, sweetheart," he said, sitting next to Rae and giving her a peck on the cheek.

"Hey," she said with a small sigh.

"What's the matter?" he asked, letting Lizzy grab his hand in a tight fist.

"I'm just wondering what it's going to be like when she's older...trying to teach her to walk..." Gently he stroked her hair. "What are we going to do, Spot?"

"I don't know. Take it one day at a time."

She handed Lizzy to him. "I'm gonna go and find China and the boys."

"All right." Rae left the room and Spot look down at Lizzy. "Hey there, baby girl," he said, gently running his finger down her nose.

She gurgled and waved her arm around.

"Lizzy..."

She waved her fist at him again.

"Daddy's gonna take good care of you, sweetie..."

She cooed and gurgled. He kissed her forehead. She patted his cheek. He smiled.

Spot looked up when Rae returned. "Find China?"

She nodded. "The boys were asleep and she was making a bed for them in Trent's sock drawer."

He smiled and motioned for her to sit next to him. She dropped onto the couch next to him. He put his arm around her and situated Lizzy between the two of them.

"She's beautiful," he whispered in Rae's ear.

"I know... so beautiful."

"So are you."

She blushed. "No, I'm not." She rested her head on his shoulder.

"I haven't told you that often enough, have I?"

"It doesn't matter."

He gently tilted her head so that she was looking at him. "It does matter, Rae. You are

very beautiful..."

She shook her head. "I'm not the same girl you married...I've gained a lot of weight...I'm

pale...always sick..."

"You're just as beautiful, if not more."

"You're a terrible liar, Spot."

"I'm not lying."

She sighed and looked away.

"Rae..."

"What?"

He carefully placed Lizzy on the floor and knelt in front of Rae, taking her hands. "Sweetheart..."

"What?"

"Look at me."

She looked.

"You are very beautiful, Rae. You may be pale and sick, but that doesn't matter to me. You had triplets not all that long ago, it only makes sense that you've put on some weight, but you are NOT fat." She sniffled. He reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I love you, Rae."

She hugged him tightly. "I love you too, Spot."

He held her close, rocking her gently.