August 29th, 2000

Fran smiled at the Camera as Skip did the weather. Her mind was else where. She was thinking about the latest chapter to her book. The red light came on the camera in front of her.

"Thank you, Skip for that wonderful weather report." Fran said, "I'm Fran Redman for the six o'clock news. Have a safe night." The theme music played and then faded out.
"Good work today, Fran." Justin Michel said. She smiled.
"Thanks." She pushed back her chair and got up. "I'll see you guys tomorrow." Fran want back into her dressing room to clean up. Who knew she'd be a newscaster and reporter seven years ago? She chuckled softly kicking her shoes off. Life and the world had changed. The rules had changed. The phone began to ring. She snatched it up, "Redman."

"Frannie, it's me." Stu said. She began to smile.
"Hey, baby. What's up?" She asked, "I should be home in an hour. I have a few things I need to do around here."

"It's Abby." He said bluntly.
"Abby? What's wrong with Abby?" Fran asked. There was silence on the other end. "Stu?"

"She's sick." Stu said.
"What do you mean she's sick?" Fran asked.

"She's sneezing. I think...I think she has the flu." Stu said. Fran froze. The flu. Stu just said Abby had the flu. Fran's body began to tremble, "You need to come home, Fran."

"I'll be there soon." She whispered hanging the phone up. Fran tried not to break down as she ran out to her car.

* * *

Abby looked so small laying there in bed. She was covered in sweat and was spiking a 103 fever. Fran just stared at her. visions of Roslyn slowly die entered her mind.

"Dr. White, may I talk with you outside?" Stu asked getting up from the chair. The doctor nodded as he grabbed his bag. As soon as they were outside, Stu turned to him, "Is it Captain Trips?" Dr. White shook his head.
"I don't believe so." Dr. White said. Stu exhaled, "But It doesn't mean it's not a new form of it. Medicine we knew a decade ago is completely different." Stu closed his eyes.
"Is my daughter going to die?" He asked.

"Wait the night out, Stu. You may be surprised." Dr. White said, "If she gets any worse call my office, all right?" Stu nodded.

"All right." He said as he showed the doctor out. He couldn't bury another child. burying two was hard enough. When Stu walked back into the room, he saw that Abby was awake.

"She wants some water." Fran said. Stu nodded.

"I'll get her some." He said. Fran smiled softly at Abby.

"See? I've trained Daddy well." She said. Abby nodded.

"I don't like being sick." Abby said.

"I don't like you being sick either, but in a few days you'll be fine." Fran flashed her a smile. She wasn't sure if it was true, but she would pray to God that Abby would be okay.

September 12th, 2000

Abby was slowly getting better form her sickness. it wasn't Captain Trips or any other strain. it had just been the regular flu. That calmed Fran and Stu down some, but they still did have some fears.

"What do you want for your birthday?" Stu asked as he watched Fran make a sandwich. She gave him a soft laugh.

"I don't need anything really, East Texas." She looked at him, "I have everything I could possibly want right here."

"You don't make this any fun." Stu smiled as he sat down.

"I'm sorry." Fran chuckled as Tom walked in, "Hi Tommy."

"Hi Fran." he said standing in the doorway.
"What can we do for you, Tommy?" Stan looked at him.

"She won't stop crying and I don't know what to do." Tom said.

"Who? Lucy?" Fran asked.

"Laws no. Nicci." Tom said.

"Where's Lucy?" Fran asked sitting up.

"She left to go help Joe and Gina." Tom said, "I'm supposed to watch Nicci and Larry for an hour. I am to not turn on the stove or give them a bath until she gets home."

"Tommy, where are they?" Stan asked.

"Home." Tom said. Stu sighed and got up.

"You can't leave them alone, Tommy. Larry isn't old enough to take care of Nicci yet." Stu went to the door, "Come on. Let's go home." Tom nodded and followed Stu.

"Lucy told me to call you if I had any problems. Today was my test to see if I could handle both of them. I don't think I can, Stu." Tom said. Stu patted Tom's back.

"It's all right, Man. You did a right thing by coming over to the house. I will help you until Lucy gets back." Stu said.

"Gee, Stu, you're always so nice to me." Tom grinned bouncing up the stairs. Stu chuckled.

"Well, I like you so I'm nice to you. That's what you're supposed to do when you like someone." He said walking inside. he could hear Nicolena screaming. "Where is she?"

"In the kitchen." Tom said. Stu walked into the kitchen and saw Nicolena laying in the laundry basket. He bent down and picked her up.

"Why is she in the laundry basket?" Stu asked.

"Cause she fell and I didn't want her to fall again when I came and got you." Tom said. Stu stood up with Nicolena in his arms. She started to calm down some.

"What do you mean that she fell?" Stu asked. Tom started to look sad and worried.

"I put her on the washer machine. I turned to get her bottle and she fell. I only turned away for a second, Stu, honest. I wouldn't hurt no baby." Tom said, "She's my daughter. I wouldn't hurt her. Laws no!" Stu sighed and nodded.

"I know that, Tommy." Stu said, "It was an accident."

"Retards have a lot of accidents." Tom muttered.
"Tommy, what have I told you about that word?" Stu said.

"That it isn't a nice word and I am not a retard. I am special." Tom said. Stu smiled and nodded.

"We all have accidents like these. I dropped Abby when she was two once. She was too squirmy." Stu said.

"Really?" He asked.

"Really." Stu said, "You're not bad for dropping her, Tommy, but you can never ever leave her here alone."

"She was with Larry." He said.

"Larry isn't old enough to watch Nicci." Stu said. "Under no circumstances are you to leave Larry or Nicci alone, do you understand, Tom?" He nodded.

"Yeah." He said. "Is Lucy going to be mad at me?"

"I doubt it, buddy." Stu said, "Why don't you go check on Larry and I'll feed Nicci?"

"Sure thing, Stu!" Tom smiled and left the room. Stu sighed and looked at Nicci.

"He tried, pumpkin." Stu gave Nicolena her bottle. It was good of Lucy to give Tom a trial run, but she should have told Stu so he could have kept an eye out. Maybe next time.

* * *

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* I forgot to add the Astrix at the end of the last chapter. It was from Stephen King's The Stand of course