He walked down the hall in a daze. Elliot came running from the opposite direction.
"JD." She said letting out a sigh. "I wanted to make sure you were okay. Carla told me about Hannah's diagnosis."
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just a hit below the belt to see that she's probably going to die at such a young age."
"JD, you can't say that. It's setting up for a far harder blow, if she doesn't make it."
"I just don't want to talk about it." He hurried away.
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"Marsha," Dr. Cox yelled causing him the jump. "I don't see work being done. After so long, you would think that you could figure out what needs to be done in this hellhole people call a hospital. Now, Kelso wants you in his office. So, Sara, pick up your pompoms and go be the kiss ass cheerleader you were born to be. I'll watch the girl."
JD simply nodded and walked off.
Dr. Cox grabbed the chart as he shook his head and walked into the room mumbling something under his breath. He looked over the top of the chart and quickly looked back at the chart. But what he didn't see made him do a double take. He looked at the little girl sitting in bed as her shut the chart putting it under his arm and crossed them across his chest.
"Hey, kid. Where are your parents?" He asked.
"At home." She said looking at him with her big innocent eyes.
"Why aren't they here?"
"I have seven siblings." He made a face.
"Seven? Have they been here at all since you got here?"
"Yeah, for a little bit to drop off some things."
"Okay…" He said unsure of what to say. He walked over and checked her stats.
"Dr…"
"Cox."
"Can you play a game?"
Dr. Cox looked at the little girl and sighed. He looked around to be sure nobody was looking. Then, he looked at his watch before sitting down beside the bed.
"What do you got, kid?" He said adjusting himself. He took off his badge and stethoscope.
"Do you know how to play… um, Candy Land?"
Dr. Cox thought about weather or not to do it. He looked back up at her. Something made him cave. He let out a sigh and nodded.
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JD opened the door the find Dr. Cox laughing along with the little girl. His eyes diverted to the floor. Dr. Cox looked up and stopped laughing. He stood up and looked down at the little girl.
"Bye, Dr. Cox." Hannah said.
"Bye," He gave JD a roll of the eye before walking out. "Newbie."
JD sighed and nodded.
"I'll be right back, Hannah."
"Yes, Dr. Cox." He said.
"That was… In there… I was just…" He said.
"I understand, Dr. Cox. Don't worry about you're reputation." He said before walking towards the nurses' station.
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He walked into the room, hours later. She was asleep in the bed. Her face was rested on the pillows softly. Her cheeks look sunken in most likely from all the wait the disease was causing her to loose. Her arms rested on the top of the blankets. They looked do thin. It looked like you could see the bones.
He walked over to the other side of the bed to where the IV was hooked up. They had gotten consent to try chemo. Dr. Jameson, an oncologist in the hospital, had given him to okay to give her the first dose. He had hoped that the parents would be there. But they were too busy with the others. It was just wrong.
"Hannah?" He said quietly hoping not to startle her too much. "Hannah?"
She opened one eye.
"Hey." He touched the side of her face. "How are you feeling?"
"Sleepy." She said yawning.
"Well, you can go back to sleep, but we're going to try to give you some medicine that might make you feel better, okay?"
"Is Mama and Dada here?" She said with little hope.
"No, I'm sorry." He said softly. "They wanted to be, but they couldn't."
"Can you…" She yawned as he injected the dose through the IV. "Can you stay with me? I don't want to be alone." He looked around and nodded.
"Yeah, yeah I can." There was a brief silence and she tried hard to keep her eyes open. "You can go to sleep."
"I need to stay strong. Dada always said so."
"You grew up pretty quick. I mean you're only five and you're talking like you're fifteen."
"I have a lot of younger sisters and brothers to look after." She yawned. He stayed silent for a second.
"Life isn't supposed to be this hard, Hannah. You shouldn't have to always be strong."
"I'm a big girl now." She yawned again. He took her hand.
"Go to sleep, Hannah. Sleeping doesn't make you weak."
She nodded and her eyes fluttered shut.