Author's Note: So here I am again. i have spent the last I dont know, two days or so doing nothing but writing into the wee hours of the morning. I actually wrote up to chapter 11 of this story. I hope that everyone keeps reading it, and I also hope that everyone likes it, but either way, this story isnt going anywhere, as long as it wont leave me alone. A HUGE thank you to IvyRaven03 for the amazing review! Seriously girl, you have no idea how good that made me feel, and how happy it made me, your awesome! Okay enough said, onto Chapter 5!
Chapter 5: A Little Girls Wishes
" Smile, what's the use of crying? You'll find that life is still worthwhile, if you'll just smile…"-Michael Jackson.
To say that working as Michael Jackson's personal assistant is easier than breathing, is a huge understatement. Michael is one of the most least demanding individuals I have ever met. That does not go without saying, what little he wants, has to be perfect. That's a downside, working for such a perfectionist. I stare out of the window of my hotel room, my notebook on my lap rubbing my eyes. For the last hour I have been making notes on anything and everything that I have learned about Michael in our short time together. This was going to be a long list. I sigh, putting my work aside, I walk to the large window, looking down at the lights of London and smile. My heart aches only slightly, at the thought of my family back home. I never thought I would miss them so much. Who would of thought I'd miss Mom nitpicking me about anything and everything.
" Mama," a soft voice calls to me, and I turn to see Carly-Ann sitting up in bed, her face flushed. I walk to her, sitting on the side of her bed, running my hand across her face. The stinging heat off of her face has me softly swearing under my breath. " Mama, I don't feel good." That one sentence has a dagger of pain stabbing into my very soul. I get up, walking to the bathroom in search of the children's Tylenol. I walk back into the room, pouring out Carly-Ann's dose when I hear her begin to vomit. I drop the Tylenol to the floor, not caring the slightest bit that I probably stained the carpet with my mess. Carly-Ann's tears have my heart wrenching, as I pick her up carrying her to the bathroom. I sit her on the counter, her soft sobbing echoing off the walls. I slide her shirt over her head, immediately wrapping a towel around her trying to stave off her shivering. I ruffle through my bathroom bag trying to find the thermometer, when a soft rapping at the door has me groaning with anger.
" Come on baby," I say, taking Carly-Ann in my arms, and she buries her face into my neck whimpering softly as she presses her fevered body close to mine. I walk quickly to the door, and pull it open ready to tear into anyone who is knocking on my door at two in the morning, but before any scathing remarks can make their way from my brain to my mouth the sight of Michael leaning lazily against my door frame stops me. I take in his appearance, snug black jeans and a white button up shirt, the first two buttons undone revealing a hint of smooth skin. I notice the sheen of sweat on his face and remember that he was at rehearsal for the last four hours.
" Hey, I was just stopping by to see how you two were doing," Michael says, and I try to smile at him but it doesn't quiet reach my lips.
" Actually, not good. Carly-Ann's sick, and I dumped the bottle of children's Tylenol, and" I stammer, trying to remain calm. It's always been hard on me when Carly-Ann gets sick, knowing that I can't do anything to take it away. Having to deal with it alone.
" Oh, well I can take care of that, just let me," he says pushing past me, walking to the telephone. I shut the door quietly behind me, murmuring to Carly-Ann, and just when I think this situation couldn't get worse, Carly-Ann vomits down my back. I sigh, closing my eyes, wishing that this wasn't happening. Carly-Ann begins wailing uncontrollably, and before I can get my head together, Michael takes her from my arms, sitting on the edge of the bed, rocking her, singing a soothing song.
" The doctor will be on his way here shortly, go change," he says, and I just follow his instructions. I grab a clean shirt from my bag, closing the bathroom door behind me. I pull off my shirt, tossing it into the bath tub, before pulling on the clean one. I grasp the counter, staring at myself. 'So this is what it's like? To not have to do this alone?' I shake my head, realizing that at any minute it can be just Carly-Ann and me again. I open the door and see the doctor sitting on the corner of the bed, talking to Carly-Ann in a soothing manner. I walk over, taking my daughter's hand in mine, listening as the doctor continues to make small noises, reassuring my daughter that everything is going to be okay. He presses two fingers onto the right side of her stomach, and Carly-Ann screams out in agonizing pain.
" Oh dear," the doctor says, and I lift worried eyes to the doctor.
" What, what is it?" I ask, clutching Carly's hand tightly in mine.
" I believe that she has appendicitis, we need to get her to the hospital promptly. If my suspicions are correct, she will need an appendectomy," the doctor says, his voice low and smooth.
" Surgery? Wait, hold on, I cant take this in," I say, sitting back heavily against the bed.
" There is no time to wait, we need to get your daughter in, now," he says, and I just nod my head, locking my emotions tightly.
" Okay, your right," I say, and I turn to Carly-Ann. " Okay baby, we're going to go see another doctor okay?" Carly-Ann's soft crying answer tells me she understands the best that she can. I grab a shirt for her and easily slide it on, taking her into my arms as I rush behind the doctor towards the door. I'm caught of guard when Michael enters the elevator with us.
" What are you doing?" I ask, peering at him over Carly-Ann's hair.
" Going with you. No parent should have to do this alone," he says, his chocolate eyes staring at me deeply. I nod my head simply, no words could ever express how thankful I am too him.
Three hours later I pace the waiting room of St. Mary's Hospital, trying to stay calm. It doesn't work. My head does nothing but race. Why didn't I see this coming? Or did I notice the signs but just wrote it off as jetlag? What if something goes wrong? Why my little girl? The feel of someone's hand on my shoulder causes me to jump, and I turn seeing Michael looking at me, a cup of coffee outstretched to me.
" You need to relax Dani, Carly-Ann is going to be fine. The doctor said it himself, you got her here in time," Michael says cupping his hands over mine.
" I cant relax. She's my daughter. I should have known something was wrong when she wasn't eating much, or how tired she was. I just thought it was jetlag, God, why didn't I see this coming," I ask, setting down the cup of coffee. Michael pushes me down into a chair, kneeling in front of me before I can get back up.
" Dani, your going to make yourself sick if you keep blaming yourself. You didn't know, it isn't your fault. You need to get those thoughts right out of your head, Carly-Ann is going to need you to be strong for her," he says, his eyes sincere, almost hypnotic. I take a deep breath, pushing away my fears, and the tears that have lingered incessantly in my eyes. I watch as Michael pushes himself to his feet smoothly taking the seat next to mine. I start thrumming my fingers against the arm of my chair trying to release some of my nervous energy.
" Stop that, your going to break a nail," he says, taking my hand in his, linking his fingers with mine. I look at him, my eyes shining from the connection. I lay my head back, closing my eyes to pray for my little girl.
" Miss. James," a soft voice calls to me, and I open my eyes, looking up to see the doctor looking down at me. I get pulled to my feet by Michael, his fingers tightening on mine.
" Yes, how's my daughter, how's Carly-Ann?" I ask, my heart pounding rapidly in my chest.
" She's just fine. She did brilliantly well. She's in recovery now, you got here her just in time a day or two longer and her appendix would have burst," the doctor says, laying a reassuring hand on my shoulder. I let out a breath I didn't even realize that I had been holding.
" Oh, oh thank God. Can I see her?" I ask, my voice shaking roughly with relief.
" Of course. I will send a nurse for you in a few minutes. Remember, she will be very tired, and she wont look like herself. It will be a few days before her color will return, we will want to keep her for at least forty-eight hours," the doctor says, and I nod my head. At this moment I would agree with just about anything if it meant that my daughter was going to be well again.
" Thank you so much," I say, and I watch as the doctor walks away. I loosen my fingers from Michael's hand, and wrap them tightly around myself, as if I could hold myself together. Michael turns me to look at him, and the minute our eyes meet I cant help myself as the tears flood down my cheeks and ragged sobs rip from my chest. " I, I'm sorry, I just, I have to," I say, sinking to my knees so that I can weep. It wouldn't be until later that I would remember that Michael sunk to his knees next to me, never letting me go.
Fifteen minutes later I walk into my daughters hospital room, and smile knowing that she is okay. I sit next to her, taking her hand in mine. I lift her hand to my lips, pressing soft kisses to her palm.
" Hi baby, it's Mama," I whisper and I watch her face smiling as her begin to flutter.
" Mama," Carly-Ann whispers, her voice slurred with sleep.
" It's okay baby, your going to be just fine, just sleep now," I say, brushing my hand over her hair. Her beautiful eyes close slowly, and I watch her, waiting for her to fall back into a peaceful sleep.
" Daddy" she whispers, and my heart breaks roughly, as I press my hands to my eyes. A soft knock on the door pulls my attention away from my own dismal thoughts and I smile at the huge stuffed animal being held up by someone. Michael peers his head around the giant teddy bear, a grin plastered on his angelic face.
" Oh Michael, you didn't have to buy that," I say, smiling despite my words.
" I know. But what better to make a little girl feel better when sick, than a teddy bear?" Michael asks, propping the stuffed bear in the corner of the room.
" She's going to love it," I say, getting up to get a drink of water.
" Well good. You know the doctor said that she's going to be here for at least forty eight hours," he starts saying, and automatically and in my fashion, I jump to the worst conclusion I can.
" I know. I understand, I will reimburse you the money you already paid me as soon as we get back to the states, I promise you," I say, wiping my hands against my pants. I dreaded having to go back home, to the states. What will people think? I couldn't even last a week. I groan inwardly at the pitied looks I would get, the people who would look down at me even more than they already do.
" What? Dani what are you talking about?" he asks, looking at me as if I had sprouted a second head.
" I just, I figured you were letting me go because I wont be able to work for the next few days," I say, running my fingers through my blonde hair.
" Are you nuts? It took me long enough to find you, I'm not letting you go now. I was going to say that if you are going to stay with Carly-Ann, which I know that you are going too, I will leave a driver with you to get you back and forth from the hospital and the hotel," he says, and I sigh, smiling.
" Sorry, I tend to jump to conclusions. Thank you Michael, really. For everything, you don't understand how much it means to me that I didn't have to do this alone," I say, following my impulses as I wrap my arms around him in a hug. I smile slowly when he cups his hand around the back of my head, holding me close to him.
I walk into the hospital the next day, feeling whole again. I was able to shower, change, and get something to eat before coming back to the hospital, a bag of clothes for Carly-Ann in tow. I smile at the nurses as I walk down the corridors to her room, and stop outside of her room when I hear murmured voices.
" So what are you going to name your bear?" Michael's familiar soft voice flows to my ears.
" Mmm, Michael," Carly-Ann answers, and Michael's laughter rings through the room and into the hall where I stand.
" Well that's kind of a boring name," he teases, and Carly-Ann giggles.
" No, it's the best name in the world," she says, and I smile at how smitten my daughter is with Michael, and its apparent that Michael feels the same about my sweet daughter.
" Well if you say so. Hey, that's a serious face you have there Carly-Ann, what's the matter?" he asks, and I debate with myself about whether I should announce my arrival, but Carly-Ann starts talking so I stop myself.
" I'm trying to remember that song you sang to me yesterday. What was it called?" she asks, her voice small.
" Smile. Did you like it?" he asks, his voice curious.
" Very much. Mama sings to me too. She has a really pretty voice, but not as pretty as yours," she says, and I smile, I couldn't be hurt by her confession. It was true, Michael's voice was amazing. Beautiful wasn't a good enough of a word to describe it.
" Thank you Carly-Ann. Have I told you today that you're the sweetest girl I know?" he asks, and my heart melts at his words.
" Mmm, no," she says, her giggles successfully melting my heart the rest of the way. " Did you get the picture I made for you?"
" I did, Max gave it to me the night you gave it to him. I meant to say thank you," he says, and my curiosity is peeked.
" Did you make your wish?" she asks, and I peer around the door to see Michael nod.
" What about you Carly-Ann what do you wish for?" he asks, and I stop myself from interrupting their discussion, because I want to know as much as he does, just what it is that my five year old wishes for more than anything else.
" I cant tell you, you'll laugh at me," she says, her voice serious, almost sad.
" I will never laugh at you for what you wish for Carly-Ann I promise," Michael says, and I listen intently.
" I wish for a husband for Mama. Someone who wont make her cry, who will make her happy. Mama cries a lot, she thinks I don't know, but I do. I want a husband for Mama, and a daddy. I really want a daddy," Carly-Ann says finally, and the tears that I thought I hid so well from my innocent daughter burn my eyes. I shake my head before Michael can respond and knock on the door, putting on my best happy face.
" Hi pretty girl. Look at you, you don't even look sick anymore," I say, dropping the bag of clothes on the chair before I press a kiss to her forehead before turning to look at Michael. " And you mister, you need to get going or your going to be late to your own concert."
" Fine, fine, Misses Bossy Boots," he says, making Carly-Ann giggle. Michael walks to the door way of the hospital room, turning to flash a final grin at her. " Remember Carly-Ann, Just smile." he sings the final words walking from the hospital room, whistling. I sink into my chair, realizing I'm in big trouble. I just fell in love with Michael Jackson, and there is nothing I can do about it.