When Lila and her parents left the doctor's office, not a word was said on the ride home.
It wasn't until they arrived back at the firehouse Lila asked, "Are you mad at me?"
"Sweetie, of course not.
We're just concerned about this "surgery" you're having," Jeanie answered.
"Mama, Dr. Blumenthal said it wasn't even considered an operation.
They just put me to sleep and put tubes in my ears, and I don't even have to stay in the hospital."
"Daddy and I are so proud of you for handling this like a big girl."
"Will it be OK if I do my school work later and color now?"
"Of course you can Lila.
Would you like to color with me daddy?
We always color together."
Maybe later Lila, I have some work to catch up on in the lab."
"I'll color with you Lila.
You can help me come up with the pictures for my new story."
"I like that idea very much mama."
Before going into Lila's room to color, Jeanie went into Egon's lab/ study.
"Egon, is everything OK?" she asked.
"Yes," Egon simply answered.
"You're lying.
You've been keeping to yourself ever since we left the doctor.
And turning down time to spend with your daughter to work, something is up, and I've seen you act this way before."
"The old me."
That, and when Ray had his accident when he got hit by that cab and you were feeling so guilty about it, you withdrew yourself into work," Jeanie referring to the time Egon's former ghostbuster partner Ray getting hit by a taxi, and Egon feeling responsible for the accident.
"I just...I feel so helpless," said Egon.
"About what?"
"Lila having this operation.
It's not fair, she's just a little girl."
"Egon, you heard what Dr. Blumenthal told us, it's normal for children Lila's age to have this problem, and it's only a minor thing she's going to have."
Jeanie placed her hands onto Egon's shoulders as he said, "You know, Lila is five years old and she's taking this a lot better and more maturely than I am."
"I can understand.
You want to protect her as much as you can, but sometimes life throws us these things we can't control.
She's going to be OK Egon.
We should be thankful that the doctor was able to find what was wrong with her and that it's nothing major and serious.
Also, if Lila doesn't have this done, her hearing is going to get worse."
Daddy, are you upset at me for being sick?" asked a voice.
Jeanie and Egon turned to see Lila, standing in the doorway.
Egon approached the child knelt down to her size, and said, "No, of course not baby girl, I'm not mad or upset with you at all.
I'm upset that you have to go through this."
"Don't worry daddy, I'll be OK.
Will a hug help you?"
You bet."
Egon lifted Lila into his arms for a big hug and nuzzled their noses together.
"Thank you Lila, I feel better already," Egon said with a smile.
What do you say the three of us color together."
"Sounds like a plan," said Lila.
The time before Lila's surgery went quick at the Spengler household.
Because of not wanting to get Lila sick before the surgery, the doctors suggested that Lila should stay home for school.
Lila, who was a fan of going to school, didn't want to miss out on any of her work.
Egon talked to Lila's teacher about having a special phone hooked up in the firehouse to the school, so Lila can still attend classes from home, which the teacher agree upon, as she mentioned on what a dedicated student Lila was.
The week prior to having the operation, Jeanie took Lila for a physical and lab work done at Dr. Brekowitz's office to see if she was healthy to have it , the check-up went well, and the lab work came back didn't even cry when the doctor poked her arm with a needle to draw blood.
There was one downside to getting ready for the surgery, in order to keep Lila healthy, the family couldn't really have any visitors over.
Not to mention that Lila couldn't really go outside that much either.
She missed going to the park, ballet classes, and seeing her friends, which were the other children of her dad's former teammates.
In fact, Tabitha Venkman, daughter to Peter and Dana, twin sister to Peter Jr and half sister to Oscar was her best friend, despite being grades apart.
Two days before the surgery, Lila was in her room, doing her homework, when Jeanie entered.
"It's just about time for dinner Lila," she said.
"I'll set the table mama," said Lila, getting up from her desk.
But to Lila's surprise, when she got to the kitchen, there was Peter Jr. Tabitha, and Oscar with their parents Peter and Dana, Andrew Stantz with his parents Ray and Jenny, and Gerald and Rhonda Zeddmore with their parents Winston and Grace, along with their cousins Jessica and Christopher.
"Surprise!" everyone said to Lila.
"What's all this?" asked Lila.
"We all want to wish you well for your operation," said Tabitha.
"And to get well soon my brown eye beauty," Peter Jr added, who had a slight crush on Lila, as well as several other girls in his kindergarten class.
All the guests had on surgical masks, so that they wouldn't pass on any germs to Lila.
Lila gave a big smile, as she was touched by her "family's" gesture.
The ghostbuster family enjoyed a tasty Italian dinner, with cookies for afterwards.
Before the evening ended, Lila was presented with a giant get well card, that everyone signed.
Lila thanked her "aunts", "uncles", and "cousins" as they left with giving her get well wishes, a hug, or both.
It was also good for Jeanie and Egon to have company as well, do to the fact that they to had to do work from home, until after Lila's operation.
The next day was a quiet one, as Jeanie and Egon wanted Lila to take it easy before her surgery.
Surprisingly, Lila seemed rather calm as was Jeanie, while Egon was feeling a bit on edge.
But seeing his daughter smile at him, as they either colored, read books or watched a movie together put him at ease.