1Lucky Spencer had avoided the hospital like the plague since the demise of his marriage. It was a typical and wise move of self-preservation. No one in their right mind wanted to hang out at their ex-wife's place of business. But he had no choice when Elizabeth called to tell him that she had brought Cameron in because he was running a high fever. Luckily, she had mentioned that Jason was held up by something and wouldn't be accompanying her. The hospital was bustling with activity and Bobbie barely had time to push him down the hall. She shoved him into an exam room before pulling the door shut behind him. Cameron fussed uncomfortably, reaching for his father. Lucky lifted his son into his arms, briefly making eye contact with Elizabeth over Cam's head. The little boy's cheeks warmed Lucky's neck, filling his father with concern. Elizabeth made a quiet sound, distressed with the close quarters. It was the first time they had been alone in a room together in six months. Lucky wanted to make a sarcastic remark, play it off and lighten the mood. "So what exactly is holding up lover boy? I really don't see how anything is more important than Cameron,"
"Lucky, do you have to be a jerk right now? Our son is sick," Elizabeth sighed, lowering herself into one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs. Lucky nodded, a silent agreement to behave until the crisis was avoided. Cameron mumbled something and Lucky realized that he had fallen asleep on his shoulder. Elizabeth held out her arms to take him, but let them fall when she realized that her ex-husband had no intention of letting their son go. The silence drew all the air from the room at a rapid pace, suffocating them both. Liz looked up, meeting Lucky's inquiring gaze. Her facade of strength fell away and tears filled her blue eyes. "I'm so scared,"
"Don't be. Cam's tough," Lucky reminded her, shifting the kid in his arms. He smirked as Cameron murmured 'daddy' in his sleep. It was always one of his favorite things to hear his son say. It reassured him that Jason could never take his place in the little boy's life. Elizabeth sniffled, trying to hide the few traitorous tears that slipped down her pale cheeks. Lucky's smirk faded into a reassuring smile lacking full confidence. Elizabeth laughed through her tears softly.
"He didn't want to go to daycare today so right before we left he told me he was sick. I didn't believe him, Lucky. Now look at him," Elizabeth buried her head in her hands, her shoulders shaking from restrained emotion. It pulled forth a familiar emotion that he had tried so hard to banish. He moved across the room stealthily, careful not to make a single noise. He placed a hand on her should, squeezing it ever so gently. "I'm so stupid!"
"You're not stupid. How many times has he given that excuse to get out of things? He may be little, but he thinks like a Spencer. I started saying that as soon as I could walk and talk," Lucky pointed out, licking his lips and removing his hand. Elizabeth smiled gratefully, a silent thank you for the comfort. Lucky nodded, their gazes locked. The moment shattered when the door swung open and Patrick Drake fell to the floor on his back. His face was smudged with lipstick and Robin stood over him laughing. She opened her mouth to apologize for their debauchery, but Lucky waved the words away before they left her mouth. Robin offered her husband a hand, helping him to his feet while he dusted off his white coat and scrubs. "I take it the honeymoon went well,"
"I almost thought about leaving my profession, shacking up on the island, and carving coconuts for a living," Patrick answered, smiling ruefully. Robin smacked his arm, all business suddenly, as she lifted Cameron out of Lucky's arms and laid him on the examining table. Elizabeth forced a smile for her two friends, but her worry was as evident as the sun outside the window. Lucky shook his head as Robin picked up a tongue depressor and threw it at her husband. Patrick only shrugged and began checking Cameron's temperature and blood pressure. "BP is normal, but he's got quite a fever going on over here,"
"I get that you're both doctors and that Elizabeth a nurse, but I'm warning you not to use any medical propaganda around me. I'm a cop and I can find some reason to bring you down to the station. The district attorney seems to love harassing innocent citizens," Lucky warned, placing a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder as they stood over the sleeping little boy. Robin nodded, touching his arm as she passed him. She checked the rest of his vitals as Patrick moved around her to check his ears.
"Red as a cherry," Patrick announced, proud at his discovery. Robin double checked before smiling with relief. Elizabeth sighed, her shoulders sagging as the weight of worry vanished. Lucky raised a curious eyebrow. Patrick laughed, smacking him on the back. "It's just an ear infection,"
"That's it? An ear infection?" Lucky asked, studying the two doctors carefully. Robin nodded, scribbling out a prescription for antibiotics. Elizabeth pressed a kiss to their son's warm forehead. Cameron's eyes popped open and he rubbed them sleepily as he examined his surroundings. Robin tapped his nose with a smile and he reached for his honorary aunt. She lifted him into her arms so that he could rest his head on her shoulder while she finished filling out his file. Patrick opened a drawer, digging around until he found a lollipop and a sticker for Cam. Lucky mussed his son's hair playfully as Elizabeth took him from his Auntie Robin. "So no daycare for awhile and a round of antibiotics, right?
"Yeah, that's it. This will probably all clear up in a few days and you'll be good to go," Robin answered, smacking Patrick when he triumphantly held up another lollipop for himself. She rolled her eyes as he smacked a stick onto his white lab coat as well. She lowered her face to Cameron's, a wide smile in place. "Uncle Patrick acts like he's your age. Should we send him down to daycare too, Cam?"
"Don't listen to Aunt Robin," Patrick warned his nephew teasingly. Cam smiled tiredly, yawning into his little fist. Patrick smiled, rubbing his back as he wrapped his arms around his wife's waist. Elizabeth shook her head at their playfulness, suddenly drained from the chaos of the day. Lucky kissed the top of his son's head and smiled gratefully at his friends. "Now rest up, demand a lot of juice, and drive everyone crazy, okay kid?"
"Patrick, don't encourage him!" Robin scolded, waving to Lucky, Cameron, and Elizabeth as she dragged her husband out of the room and into the hallway. Liz laughed as the door clicked shut behind the bantering couple. Lucky could only shake his head, an amused smile on his face. He opened his mouth to say something when Robin appeared back in the room, distress clearly written on her face. A momentary panic for Cameron, and then everyone else they knew, filled the tiny room. "It's Sam... Jason just brought her in. Something about the baby,"
-- I just want to thank everyone for all the reviews and support. It means so much to me! And it really does make me want to write more and more for you guys. This story is a lot of fun and I hope you guys really enjoy it as much as I enjoy writing it. Also... Everyone keeps mentioning how LuSam obviously won't last... I can honestly say that they may make it... Or they might not. I have no idea who is going to end up with who in this story. We'll be surprised together, okay? Love you guys! --