Chapter three

He can only looked and keep the photo embedded in his mind.

He noticed that Don had taken off his sling and it had fallen onto the floor.
Alan shook his head and took it and folded it and put it on his bed.

He then took a chair and sat near the bed, he didn't want his son to wake up to see his old man staring at him holding a teddy bear.

After some time, Don stirred and he felt he was holding something soft and cuddly, opened his eyes and he smiled.

Alan turned and saw his son smile and he wished again that he had a camera.

"And who is your friend?" Alan asked looking at him over his newspapers.

"His name is Goofy."

"Oh I see, where did you get him?"

"A little friend brought him to me."

"What? Thinking you needed someone to hug? Very kind of your friend."

"Don?" A very small voice called out from the door.

"Trixie? Come here, why did you leave Goofy here?"

Alan saw an incredibly cute little girl with curls like his Charlie came hesitantly into the room.

She saw Alan and looked at Don, "This gentleman is your father?"

Alan raised his eyebrows at Don who smiled and said, "Yes, this gentleman is my dad."

"How do you do Mr. Eppes, my name is Trixie and I came to apologise to Don, but he was sleeping so I left Goofy here so that he'll know that I came by."

"How do you do Trixie. Why do you need to apologise to Don or is it a secret?"

Trixie laughed and Alan smile and looked at Don, "You want to wait until she's old enough?"

'Why did you ask Don to wait until I'm old enough?"

"Dad!"

Alan whispered to Don,
"Well, I like her, she's adorable and she's smart and polite."

"Dad! will you please excuse us for a moment?"

"Well, OK, Ok, nice to meet you Trixie and you better take back Goofy." and in a softer voice he said ,"I saw him hugging Goofy, he might not want to return him to you."
Trixie laugh again and Alan said in a very serious tone, "I think you better hold on and wait for her."

"Dad!"

"I'll be at the canteen for a cup of coffee, er..Trixie, how old are you?"

'Eight going on nine."

"You're sure?"

Trixie laugh again and said yes.

Alan held on to the door and said, "Don, hey, you only have to wait seven years!" and he quickly exited.

Don looked at Trixie who had gone silent.

"Pixie, what's the matter? Come on and sit here."

She nearer to Don but stood in front of him, "I'm sorry, Don."

"Why are you sorry? You have the right to be mad at me. You and your mother got hurt in the accident which was partly caused by us.
It's OK to be mad at me."

"No, I told Nana what happened, how Dr. Stewart called you Agent Don Eppes and you said work for FBI and that I hit you and said I hated you.
Nana did not scold me but told me that's not how we should behave and then Nana explained everything to me.
It was not your fault but the bad man's fault and Nana said FBI had caught the bad man who had kidnapped a small girl and that FBI had saved the girl.

I am very sorry Don." And she started sniffling.

Don got down to Trixie's level and put a hand to her chin and said,
"No, Trixie don't cry. It's alright. Come on, don't be a cry baby."

Trixie sniffled once more and she went to Don and hug his neck one handed but he cast on the other hand hit Don on the shoulder and he involuntarily cried out.

Trixie jumped and pulled away and she looked at him, "I've hurt you?! I'm sorry!"

"It's alright, come let's sit down."

Don held her one handed and shook her and said,
"Hey com'on, what did you tell me just now, You said you're a grown up, so grown up little pixies do not cry easily."

Trixie stopped sobbing and look up at Don and she said, "You're funny, Don."

"Yea , yea I'm the joker."

"No!" she laugh and said, "You're a clown."

"Oh so, I'm a clown." Don made some funny faces at her and that got her laughing.

"Don, you did not wear your sling, so you did not break your hand like I did?"

"No, pixie, I did not break my hand but my shoulder is very sore, that's why I needed the sling to keep it still."

"So why are you not wearing it now?"

"Eh.. oh… it fell off?"

"You're funny. How can a sling fall off when you hang it like this." She lifted her sling which was wound round the neck.

"Oh.. OK I did want to put it on,..beee…cause I wanted to hold Goofy?"

"Oh. OK." She nodded her head, "can you let me see where you're hurting?"
"
"No, you cannot see but you can touch here, but mind you, gently." Don touched his shoulder.

Trixie put her hand to his bandaged shoulder ever so lightly,"Oh it's all bandaged up, is it very painful?"

"Not so much now."
"Don?"

"Yes, pixie?"

"I'm really sorry that I hit you on your shoulder."

"It's OK, all forgotten and I think you'd better go back, else your nana will come looking for you."

"OK, daddy will be looking for me too."

"Come on then, I'll take you to your room and don't forget Goofy and thank you for letting me hold him. He's really very goofy looking."

Trixie laughed and said, "you are so right." And both ended up laughing.

They both had a bit of fun trying to hold Goofy which was almost as tall as Trixie and to hold each other's hand as both were one handed, almost.

In the end, Don took hold of Trixie's hand with one hand and the other clutching Goofy; he asked her which way and Trixie didn't want to go back so soon, took Don the long way to her room.

They were talking and walking and Don noticed that Pediatrics Ward was on the opposite direction and he turned to Trixie.

"Somebody's not telling the truth and we are going the wrong way."

Trixie started laughing and when Don turned her around, she gave a shriek and resisted, "No! No!."

They started playing a game, after a few steps Trixie pretended to resist and Don made a clown face at her and she laughed and tried to imitate him.

The passing nurses who saw Trixie playing the game with the tall man smile at them which made Don a bit embarrassed.

Not paying attention, Don turned the wrong corner,Trixie was still playing her game pulling at Don's hand and shrieking, suddenly Don felt somebody slammed into him and he hit the opposite wall, his head and shoulder took the brunt of it.
Don saw stars and slowly slid down the wall.

tbc