The Gift

Part XVI

EJ and Sami were in another medical office, this one belonging to Dr. Lykens, the oncologist that Dr. McAllister had referred them to earlier. Dr. Lykens was a few years older than Dr. McAllister, his face lined with a few wrinkles, his hair graying at the temples, but his smile was infectious as he greeted Sami and EJ into his office.

They all took their seats and Dr. Lykens wasted no time in outlining the various procedures that would be necessary for Madison. He handed them both various reading materials and a list of books for them to be able to do research on leukemia.

Their conference stretched on for almost an hour, questions from them both about what Dr. Lykens thought would be the best possible treatment for Madison along with what they should expect from the treatments. Dr. Lykens had suggested for them to allow him to put a portal into Madison's body, situated about an inch below her right shoulder, this would allow them to administer the chemotherapy treatments easier, also it would allow for the doctors to collect blood from the site instead of having to go to various veins along her arms to take blood samples.

"This portal, is it safe?" Sami asked after Dr. Lykens had asked them to consider the placement of it in Madison's body.

"Very safe, it is a procedure we do on many different cancer patients, it lets us use one site instead of having to face multiple tries on veins, with Madison being so young, it also can prevent her veins collapsing during treatment and having to start over with the procedure again. Chemotherapy roughly takes two to two and half hours to administer after the initial dosage which can take up to almost six hours as we explain what is going to happen and get her set up. We have a special room set up in the pediatric ward for the children having to take treatments, that way they have their own place to go instead of having to go into the same room as the adults who are taking chemotherapy. We try to have the room looking bright and colorful for the kids while they are taking their treatments." Dr. Lykens explained his voice kind knowing the couple in front of him had a lot of tough decisions to make in the upcoming weeks concerning treatment choices for their child.

"Dr. McAllister also mentioned a possibility of Madison needing a bone marrow transplant," EJ brought up to Dr. Lykens, wanting to see what his opinion on the subject would be.

"He said we would need to have my son tested," Sami offered up, "along with us trying to see if we are a match."

"If you don't find a match, you do know what is another possibility is don't you?" Dr. Lykens asked them both.

"What?" they asked in unison, both not wanting to think that Will or one of them would not be a match for Madison.

"You can try to have another child together," Dr. Lykens answered. "We would use the blood from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby. This blood contains high concentrations of stem cells, which are cells from which all blood cells develop."

"We're not married Dr. Lykens," Sami spoke out before she could stop herself.

"Samantha is married to someone else," EJ explained, sensing Sami's anxiety over the mention of them actually conceiving another child together.

"I apologize for assuming that you were a couple, but you could consider the process of In Vitro fertilization which is a technique in which egg cells are fertilized by sperm outside the woman's womb. The process involves hormonally controlling the ovulatory process, removing ova which are your eggs from your ovaries and letting sperm fertilize them in a fluid medium. The fertilized egg or zygote is then transferred to the patient's uterus with the intent to establish a successful pregnancy." Dr. Lykens took off his glasses and laid them on his desk, "Hopefully we won't have to go that route, but you need to be made aware of all of your options."

"Thank you for taking the time to speak with us," EJ stood up and extended his hand out to Dr. Lykens which he in turn took to shake his hand.

"No problem, I'll be around shortly to meet Madison," Dr. Lykens said as he showed them to the door.

"We'll see you then," EJ said as he held the door open for Sami to walk out with him following close behind her. She wasn't saying anything, she was lost in thought as she held onto the brochures and lists that Dr. Lykens had handed them when they had went into this office.

EJ didn't say a word to her, he was as conflicted as she was, and he had never even considered that they may have to try to have another child together. Well at least they could hope that someone was a match before they had to even think of the options Dr. Lykens had given them.

The Gift

Part XVII

"Hey there baby," Sami said leaning down to give Madison a kiss on the cheek, after hugging and telling Marlena and John goodbye. They had come by earlier which allowed Sami and EJ to go to the meeting with Dr. Lykens. Marlena making sure Sami promised to call her if she needed anything along with John reiterating the fact to both Sami and EJ. Having John be so cordial to EJ was something he still couldn't get used to after all the animosity they had with one another in earlier years, but John had come to see while he still didn't trust any DiMera, EJ in fact did love his daughter Madison, and for that he had learned to let the hard feelings between them subside.

"Hey Mommy," Madison smiled and winked at her daddy before crossing her heart again.

"What's that all about?" Sami looked back and forth between Madison and EJ wondering what kind of silent communication they had going on with one another.

"Nothing Mommy," Madison grinned as her father gave her a look not to give their secret away.

"We need to talk to you," Sami urged EJ to sit down too, tugging on his hand without even thinking of it for him to get next to her.

"Is this more doctor talk?" Madison rolled her eyes looking as bored as she possibly could.

"Kind of," EJ said hating to release Sami's hand, but knowing it would make her uncomfortable if he kept holding it.

"What now?" Madison asked, hoping it wasn't going to be any more nurses coming in to take more blood from her. She liked Aunt Belle, but she didn't even want her to come in here if she was going to poke on her.

"We've talked to another doctor that is going to help Dr. McAllister get you better," Sami began as Madison made a frown upon her face.

"Another doctor? Isn't one enough?" Madison asked, not wanting to meet another doctor, they were scary for the most part, poking and prodding on her when all she wanted to do was go home.

"Remember when we talked about the new adventures we were going to have to take in our latest fairy tale?" EJ was drawing Madison back into their special fairy tale world.

"Yes Daddy, I remember," Madison shook her head in understanding as she recalled how they would all have to fight off the forces that were trying to take her magical powers away from her.

"Well, we have another helper in our battle, he is a great wizard, one who is wise and has special armory to help us fight," EJ said sounding very mysterious as he wove another tale for Madison and Sami to follow.

"What kind of arm-o?"

"Armory?" EJ asked as Madison shook her head yes that was the word she was trying to pronounce. "This is only something the most special sprites are allowed to wear, something so powerful and secret that it is hidden in your body."

"How Daddy?"

"Well, the great wizard, Dr. Lykens, we will call him Dr. Likey for short, is going to make an incision right here," EJ slid back Madison's pajama top an inch to a place below her right shoulder and gently traced a small line where they would place the portal under her skin. "Then he is going to give you the device that will help us ward off the evil forces."

"So not everyone gets something as cool as this, do they?" Madison's eyes lit up at EJ's explanation over what Dr. Lykens was going to place into her body.

"No, only the most special and magical sprite in the land," EJ emphasized touching her nose and then spreading his fingers in the air as if the magic fairy dust was coming down all around them, watching as Madison was warming up to the idea of the portal instead of being afraid of what was going to happen to her.

"That was very good Mr. Wells," Dr. Lykens stepped into the room after listening to EJ tell Madison her newest fairy tale. He walked over to Madison's bed and held out his hand for her to shake, "And this must be our very own sprite Madison?"

"How do you know me?" Madison asked her eyes all aglow from EJ's story.

"I'm Dr. Lykens."

"You're the great wizard Daddy told me about, Dr. Likey." Madison's smile grew as she shook his hand, thinking he must be one very cool wizard to visit her so quickly.

"That's me, Dr. Likey," Dr. Lykens began to chuckle, taking an instant liking to the little girl who would be one of his new patients. They began to talk eagerly as Madison told him of her friends and things she liked to do.

Sami sat in amazement; EJ could put Madison to ease with something as simple as a fairy tale, looking at both of them her heart swelled with more love than she thought possible. Why hadn't she seen beyond the façade that EJ had presented to her so very long ago? It was as if when she had found out he was a DiMera that she had turned her back and heart against him. Now seeing him here with their daughter, she felt the floodgates opening up once again; this was her knight in shining armor, her new best friend in town who had told her to fight against the hypocrisy of the people who had turned against her time and time again.

Why had she ever doubted in him? If she hadn't maybe things would have turned out differently for all of them.

The Gift

Part XVIII

A few days had passed, Belle and Phillip began organizing a huge donor drive to hopefully find a match for Madison since Will, Sami or EJ were not a match for her. Sami had seen how disappointed Will had been when Dr. Lykens informed him that he didn't have enough matching markers to help his little sister. When Sami had approached Will to ask him if he would consider being a donor, he hadn't hesitated in the least, immediately wanting his mother to set up the test.

Hearing the news that they would have to seek further to try and find a donor was a huge letdown for all of them. Madison had already undergone the procedure to have the portal placed into her body. It had been difficult to see their daughter be put to sleep again and now to see her bandaged up, but the reality set in when they saw the stitches right below her collarbone.

They needed to get Madison prepared for her first chemotherapy treatment. Both Sami and EJ were at a loss, not really knowing what to expect until it actually happened. Madison was scheduled for her first treatment to begin on the following Monday and both parents were dreading the day that was approaching faster then either one of them wanted it to occur.

Sami and EJ stayed round the clock with their daughter, getting very little sleep. EJ was thankful he had a competent staff to run Mythic while he was taking leave. It was strange not be going into the office to work, but he was afraid to leave Madison for any large amount of time, fearing something would happen to her while he was away.

He and Sami were worried and the stress of having their daughter in the hospital seemed to grow more and more each day. They had begun to form an almost uneasy alliance upon the news of Madison's health that was slowly slipping back into a surprising mode of friendship for them both.

Sami was grateful for the hospital suite EJ had obtained for Madison. The spacious room provided Madison with a modicum of security amidst all the unending tests and treatments that were quickly becoming a staple of her young life. Madison was able to get up from her bed and play when she felt like it, although lately she grew tired more easily.

Sami hoped today was going to be a good day for her little girl. Hope and Belle had arranged for Ciara and Claire to come visit Madison. The little girls looked around the hospital room, admiring all the toys EJ had set up for her around the room. They were going to have a tea party if Madison felt up to it.

Everything was set, and the girls starting giggling with one another. Madison had missed seeing her cousins terribly; they were her closest friends, having played with one another since they had all been brought into this world. Sami held back her tears of happiness seeing that Madison was once again reunited with her friends.

EJ was having a great time, serving the girls while they sat at the table, pouring them tea and telling them that it was a very special brand of tea, one that he had especially shipped over from England just for them. After they had eaten their treats and drank their tea, the girls all begged EJ to tell them a story after Madison had showed them the place where her portal had been placed proclaiming that she was getting prepared to do battle against the evil forces that were making her sick by trying to take away her magical sprite powers.

"Okay girls, gather round," EJ said as they all found a bean bag chairs to sit in, while EJ chose to sit upon the floor since he was dressed in his blue jeans and polo shirt. His business suits long forgotten since they had been at the hospital so much. The girls all leaned in close wanting to be sure not to miss a word of the story which EJ promised was going to be a new tale in Madison's ever growing saga.

Belle had left to go help Philip with the donor drive while Sami and Hope stayed on the other side of the room, quietly talking with each other until EJ began to weave another tale of mystical proportions to the very attentive group that surrounded him.

"Sprite Madison is preparing to wage war on the evil forces that are trying to steal her magical powers," EJ began in a very mysterious voice, "but she needs the help of her most beloved and special fairy friends. Do you girls have any idea of who these fairies might be?"

Claire and Ciara looked at one another trying to figure out who EJ meant while Madison's eyes lit up and a smile came upon her face. "Daddy, are the fairies Claire and Ciara?"

"You are such a smart sprite Madison," EJ nodded his head that Madison had indeed guessed that her new helpers in her fight would be her two best friends. "Claire, you are dubbed the fairy of light and love and Ciara you are dubbed as the fairy of song. Do you girls think you'll be able to help Madison during her difficult journey that she is now taking?"

Both girls nodded their heads in approval, both excited that they were now being included in Madison's stories that she always talked about with them.

"Excellent, you girls are the best of the best, friends who will fight alongside one another to help protect and defend each other in good and bad times. Do you always promise to love and support one another no matter what happens?"

"We do," all three answered in unison, their expressions growing serious as they reached out to join hands with one another, the bond between them forged.

"All right, I now need the special wand to pronounce your new titles." EJ got up and went to the bookshelf that he had brought in and reached to get the wand that was on the top of the bookshelf along with three tiny sparkling tiaras.

Carefully he placed the tiaras on their heads while he each proclaimed their own special title and powers that they now possessed since they had joined Madison in her adventures. The girls all danced and hugged one another they were so happy being together.

Ciara ran up to Hope, "Mommy look! I'm a fairy!" She danced around her mother happily.

"Oh you most certainly are!" Hope reached down to hug her daughter.

"Aunt Sami, where is my mommy?" Claire asked looking around the room for Belle and not finding her there. She wanted to tell her mommy that she was now a fairy too.

"Sweetie, she is helping Philip with something very important, but she will be back soon." Sami promised as she admired all the girls as they pranced around the room, preening with such confidence and joy.

"I'll go find Belle," EJ said coming over to where Sami and Hope stood. "I wanted to speak to both she and Phillip anyway to thank them for sponsoring the donor drive for Madison."

"Okay, she said they would be in the main lobby today until 4 pm." Sami told EJ until she saw him hesitate at the doorway, looking back at Madison. "Don't worry; I'll take good care of her while you are gone."

"I know Samantha, it's just that…"

Sami placed a hand upon his arm, "I know exactly what you are thinking. We'll plan to get something to eat when you get back."

"All right, I'll see you soon. Thank you Hope for allowing Ciara to come today to see Madison, I really think this has been her best day so far since she was admitted to the hospital."

Hope extended her hand to EJ, which he paused a minute before he took it into his own to shake, his uncertainty of having any of the Brady's approval of him was something of a shock. "Thank you EJ. You have made these girls day. I have no doubt that Ciara won't take off her tiara for a week or more."

"Well they are all so special. We certainly are blessed, aren't we?" EJ asked, then let go of Hope's hand.

"That we are EJ," Hope agreed, as she and Sami watched him leave the room. Hope turning back to Sami after he was out of earshot, "Sami, I would have never in a million years guessed that EJ would be so, so…"

"Incredible, caring, sensitive," Sami offered to Hope in trying to help her come up with what attributes she was trying to assign to EJ.

"Exactly, I mean I knew he was a good father to Madison, but I never would have believed that a," then she stopped herself short from completing her sentence realizing how catty she would sound if she finished her thought out loud.

"It's okay Hope, I had a hard time believing anyone with the last name of DiMera could actually care for anyone else either until I had Madison and from the first moment EJ saw her I knew without a doubt that he loved her. I only wish," Sami looked at Madison and shook her head, afraid to voice her wishes aloud.

"You only wish what?" Hope asked Sami looking at her closely.

"My days for wishes are long over," Sami refused to answer Hope, for to speak the wish of longing for things to be different was something she couldn't bring herself to admit to anyone, especially not to any members of her family, they certainly wouldn't understand at all.