Disclaimer: I do not own Strong Medicine or the characters. They belong to Whoopi Goldberg, and Tammy Ader, and Lifetime TV.
The Same Evening After Dinner
Marc rose from the recliner as he picked up their glasses and plates.
"I want to talk to you guys." Lu said from where she sat on the couch with her arm around Marisa.
Marc put the dishes in the sink and looked back at Lu, "Something wrong?" he asked.
Marisa looked at Lu, her eyes wide with fear.
"No, no, no. no," Lu assured them quickly, "Just something I've been thinking about for awhile and I want your opinion."
Marc returned to the recliner and sat down.
Lu looked between Marisa and Marc. "Marisa, you know how much we love you. I can't imagine you not being here."
Marisa smiled and snuggled close to Lu.
"I can't either." Marc agreed
Lu took a deep breath, unsure of how to continue. "What do you guys think about adoption?"
Marisa looked up at her godmother in confusion "Adoption? You mean adopt me?"
Lu smiled at the young girl, "Yes, but only if you want me to."
Marisa thought for a minute "Then you would be my Mommy for real?"
Lu pulled thesmall child into her lap. "Legally, yes." She ran her fingers through Marisa's hair, "But your Mom will always be your Mom, nothing will ever change that. I'm not trying to take her place sweetheart." Lu moved a pillow on the couch and gently propped Marisa's leg up.
The young girl absentmindedly rubbed her cast as she thought. "Would my last name be Delgado?"
"If you want it to be, or it can stay Sanchez." Lu replied as she looked up at her son. "Marc, what do you think?"
"I think it's a great idea," he smiled, "if Marisa wants to." he quickly added.
"Do you want to think about it for awhile?" Lu asked the little girl.
Marisa shook her head, "No, I already know..." her voice trailed off. Marc and Lu watched as a smile broke across Marisa's face. "I want you to! I want to be Marisa Delgado!" she hugged her godmother tightly.
Marc laughed at her enthusiasm "Marisa Delgado, I like the sound of that."
"So do I." Lu smiled in agreement. She gently sat Marisa back down on the couch and propped the small child's leg on the pillow again. "I'll start on the paperwork tomorrow." Lu promised as she went to the kitchen.
Marc turned on the TV and began flipping through the channels. He settled on a program as Lu started washing the dishes.
A few minutes later a knock sounded on the front door. Almost up to her elbows in soapy water, Lu called from the kitchen, "Marc get that for me please."
Knowing what was about to happen, he winked at Marisa. "Hi Lana," Marc said as he opened the door, "Come on in."
"Lana! Guess what!" Marisa called cheerfully from her place on the couch.
"Hey kid." Lana ruffled Marc's hair and then turned to Marisa, "What darling?"
Lu rinsed her hands off and walked to the living room.
"Mommy's going to adopt me! I'll be Marisa Delgado!" the young girl chattered excitedly.
"That's wonderful!" Lana kissed Marisa on the top of her head.
"What are you doing here?" Lu asked, smiling at her friend.
"What a nice welcome." Lana joked.
"No, no, no, I'm glad to see you," Lu hurried to explain, "just surprised."
Lana glanced at Marc and Marisa, "Everything ready?"
Marisa nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Yes ma'am." Mar replied and walked to his bedroom.
"Ready for what?" Lu asked in confusion.
"You, my dear, are being kidnapped." Lana walked over to where Lu was standing and took the dishtowel from her hands.
Marc returned with a suitcase, a duffle bag, and his and Marisa's backpacks.
"What are you talking about?" Lu asked as Lana tossed the dishtowel on the table.
"We're going to stay at Dr. Campbell's house." Marisa giggled at Lu's expression.
"No, we're not." Lu protested.
"Oh yes you are, doctor's orders," Lana replied as she tugged on Lu's arm, "and before you say it, I know I'm not a doctor. But Dr. Campbell is, and I'm under very strict orders to deliver you, Marc, and Marisa into her custody tonight."
Lu looked between Lana and the children, "You've got to be kidding."
"No ma'am, now hop to it before the Colonel shows up herself." Lana responded, gently pushing the young doctor toward the door.
"You guys knew about this?" Lu asked as she picked Marisa up off the couch.
"Who else do you think was going to pack?" Lana asked with a laugh.
Marc walked out carrying their bags and Lana followed with Marisa's crutches.
"That's our clothes, Mommy." Marisa pointed to the suitcase Marc was carrying.
"What's in the duffle bag?" Lu questioned as she carried the small child out and closed the door behind them.
"My clothes." Marc held the elevator door open with the suitcase.
"And the backpacks?" Lu looked at the bags.
"Our school stuff!" Marisa laughed and wrapped her arms around Lu's neck
Lana smiled as she ushered her newly acquired charges off the elevator and into her car.
Ten minutes later
"Good job, Hawkins. No casualties of war, I see." Andy greeted the small group cheerfully as they emerged from Lana's car.
"No ma'am Colonel ma'am!" Lana saluted sharply as a smile danced across her lips. She never could resist playfully teasing her friends.
"Would someone PLEASE explain to me what we are doing here?" Lu asked as she watched Marc lug their bags into the house.
"You're staying here for a few days." Andy replied as she picked Marisa up, "Isn't that right sweetheart?" she asked the young girl.
"Right!" Marisa giggled from where she was securely held in Andy's arms.
"And why, exactly, are we doing that?" Lu questioned.
"Come on in, sit down, and we'll talk." Andy walked towards the house carrying Marisa.
Lu sighed and began to follow.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Lana got back in her car.
"Thanks Hawkins." Andy called over her shoulder.
Lana waved as she drove away.
The two doctors walked in the house just as Marc returned from taking the bags upstairs.
"Why don't you guys go get settled in?" Andy suggested.
"Come on kiddo." Marc took Marisa from Andy and quickly carried her upstairs.
"Alright, let's talk." Andy led Lu to the living room couch.
"Now what's going on?" Lu looked at her friend quizzically as she sat down.
Andy sat down next to her, "Delgado, you're tired..." she began to explain.
"I'm fine." Lu interrupted hastily.
Andy layed her hand on Lu's shoulder, "You're exhausted," she corrected.
Lu sighed, "That's part of being a mom... and a doctor."
"Yes," Andy agreed, "but you are past the point of exhaustion and it shows. We have taken it upon ourselves to clear your schedule."
"Andy! My patients need me!" Lu exclaimed in shock.
"Peter and I will cover for you," Andy reassured her friend before continuing, "You are going to rest here for a few days. Lizzy is bunking with Jessie, so Marc can have Lizzy's room. You are staying in the guest room, and Marisa is bunking with me."
"Maybe she should stay with me." Lu hesitated
"I've already talked to her and she's fine with it." Andy answered.
"But she just broke her leg." Lu protested.
"I'll keep an eye on it, you know that." Andy looked at Lu sternly.
"Alright," Lu agreed reluctantly, "how long are we talking about?"
"A week." Andy answered, her stern gaze unwavering.
"No way," Lu shook her head emphatically, "one day."
"A week." Andy repeated.
"Two days." Lu insisted.
"Six days." Andy backed down a little.
"Three days." Lu bargained.
"Five days." Andy replied.
"Four days, no longer." Lu answered stubbornly.
"Alright four days," Andy agreed, "at least."
"No longer." Lu insisted.
"We'll see how you're doing in four days and then decide." Andy rose from the couch and held her hand out to Lu.
Lu sighed in resignation and took her friend's hand, allowing Andy to pull her to her feet. She rubbed her neck and followed Andy upstairs.
"Go on and unpack if you want to," Andy pointed to the guest room, "I'll be in there in a minute."
Lu nodded and disappeared into the guest room.
Andy continued down the hall and stuck her head in Jessie's room, "I thought I might find you in here." she said as all four children looked up from their card game.
"How did it go?" Jessie put her cards down and turned her full attention to her mother.
"Lu agreed to stay four days." Andy sat down on the bed between Marisa and Jessie.
"I thought you were going to make her stay a whole week." Lizzy spoke up from her spot across the bed.
"I still may," Andy replied, "depends on how much she rests between now and then."
Marisa looked up with a hopeful expression, "Can I go see Mommy?"
"Of course you can sweetheart. Come on, I'll take you to her." Andy rose from the bed and picked the young girl up.
"You coming Marc?" Marisa asked as Andy carried her out into the hall.
"Sure." Marc put his cards down and followed them to the guest room.
Andy opened the door and stepped in holding Marisa, "Someone wants to..." Andy's voice trailed off as she looked at the bed and saw Lu already asleep on top of the covers.
Marc smiled and reached for Marisa, "We'll be in the hall."
Andy relinquished her hold on the young child. She walked across the room and pulled a blanket out of the dresser drawer.
"But I want to see Mommy." Marisa protested.
"Shhh," Marc whispered, "We'll see her in the morning." he walked out of the room being careful not to hit Marisa's cast on the doorframe.
Andy quickly crossed the room again and gently covered her sleeping friend with the blanket. She turned the light off and slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her.
"I'm glad she's finally sleeping." Marc sighed as he shifted Marisa to his other hip.
"I want to talk to her. I can't wait for her to adopt me!" Marisa smiled excitedly.
"Tomorrow..." Andy promised, "we'll all sit down and talk about it tomorrow."