Chapter 3
"Nana!" Rebecca wailed, clutching at Charlie's hair. "Naaaana!"
"Shh…" Charlie tried to sooth her, bouncing her gently, a tear trickling it's way down her cheek. "It's ok sweetheart…" she cuddled her tighter. "Gina'll be ok."
Smithy paced the corridor, before going back to Charlie and Rebecca, pulling them into his arms as the three of them huddled together, each drawing strength from the others.
"She will…" Charlie looked up. "Won't she." She gently reached up and cupped Smithy's cheek. "She'll be ok…"
"Course" Smithy nodded, convincing himself as much as the other two. She's gonna be just fine."
Charlie collapsed against him, burying her head in his chest, Rebecca reaching for Smithy as a doctor came through, looking over to them." Sergeant Smith?" he asked, smiling kindly.
Smithy nodded quickly, glancing up. "How is she?"
"She's conscious…" he assured, smiling as Charlie released a sigh of relief, looking to Rebecca.
Rebecca frowned suspiciously at the doctor, attempting to eat her fist, before settling for Charlie's hair instead.
"What was wrong?" Smithy asked quickly.
"Patient confi-" The doctor started, Smithy cutting him off with a wave of his hand, "Can we see her?"
"Of course." The doctor turned, holding the door open. "If you'd like to come this way."
Charlie clutched Smithy's hand, balancing Rebecca on her hip as she followed the two men through, holding Smithy's gaze as they stopped outside the cubicle.
"Do you want-" Charlie started, before Smithy shook his head, reaching forward, drawing the curtain back, the two of them shocked at what they saw.
Gina lay dozing, hooked up to machines and drips, each machine being in turn.
"…Smithy." Charlie whimpered softly, tightening her grip on his hand, shocked by the transformation.
Rebecca remained unfazed, spitting Charlie's hair out, wriggling round in her hold. "Na!" She said simply, clapping her hands as Gina's eyes fluttered open, "'ya!" She grinned, waving.
Gina slowly blinked from Rebecca, to Charlie and on to Smithy. "..You still here." She tried to make it sound light hearted, sounding only tired.
"We couldn't leave you." Charlie sighed, watching Rebecca as she pouted, trying to get down onto the bed, glaring at Charlie as she realised there was no way she could.
"How're you feeling?" Smithy asked, trying his hardest to look at Gina and not the machines.
"Oh you know me." Gina said, her voice thick with sarcasm. "As fabulous as ever."
"Ma'am." Smithy sighed, looking down as Charlie edge closer, gently squeezing his shoulder.
"Gina…" Charlie said quietly. "What's wrong?"
"I'm fine." Gina shrugged it off. "I'll be out by tonight."
"You're not going anywhere!" Smithy almost reprimanded her. "Not until the doctors say you can."
"I'll be fine." Gina repeated, looking at the curtain. "I can look after myself."
"Not this time." Smithy said solemnly, shaking his head.
"You can stay with us.." Charlie smiled sympathetically. "I'll make up the spare-"
"For heaven's sake!" Gina snapped. "I don't need looking after."
"Just for a couple of days!" Charlie insisted as she sat on the edge of the bed, Smithy sitting in the chair beside it, nodding.
"I can get through this." Gina sighed, resting her head against the pillow. "I not need you two playing nursemaid!"
Charlie shook her head, sitting Rebecca beside Gina, holding her hands to prevent her pulling on any wires. "We have the room, we insist!"
"Charlie!" Gina sighed exasperatedly, "I don't need your help."
"Nonsense. " Charlie smiled. "We-"
"Not everything can be solved by you fussing!" Gina snapped. "Will you get-"
"Gina!" Smithy sighed, "She just wants to help, we both do!"
"You can't!" Gina sounded tired, "Not this time."
"Why?" Smithy watched as Gina took hold of Rebecca's hand. "Gina?" he said softly. "What's wrong?"
"I have…" Gina sighed and took a deep breath, looking away from them both, fixing her gaze on Rebecca. "I have cancer…"
