"What did Miss Memtre say exactly?" Ben asked as he washed his hands. He had returned home from work just in time for supper.
"She said that they had to wake him several times today and that she thinks he should take the rest of the week off." Lilly blew on Connie's dish of stew and then placed it in front of her daughter.
"Where's Finn now?"
"He is fast asleep on the sofa." Lilly took a seat and ladled a spoonful of stew onto Ben's plate.
Ben reached for a cloth and started to dry his hands. "Should I go and check him out?" He asked, nodding towards the door.
"He says he is fine," Lilly shrugged, breaking some bread for Connie. "That he's just tired. I examined him and couldn't find anything wrong with him – his ears and throat are clear, he doesn't have a raised temperature or headache. The only thing I can think of is that he may have a virus of some sort and I think that we should just to keep an eye on him to see if anything develops." She passed Ben his plate and he sighed as he spooned some potatoes on it and took a seat.
"I think you're right, Platon Ashton," he agreed and reached for some bread.
"Why thank you, Platon Ashton," Lilly retorted and picked up her knife and fork. "I have saved some supper for him for later," she said and then reached over to tap Connie's plate with her knife. "Eat up poppet," she smiled.
The rest of the meal was then spent chatting about Ben's day and gently teasing Connie while Finn slept on.
Xxx
"Hey pa," Finn yawned and stretched as he walked into the kitchen, his clothes rumbled and his hair sleep messed.
Ben looked up from the paper work he had scattered all over the table. "Did ya have a good sleep, buddy?" He asked, clicking his pen shut and giving his son his undivided attention.
Finn just shrugged in reply and then crossed to the sink. "Where's ma?" He yawned again as he pumped some water into a glass.
"She's putting Connie down for the night. She won't be long," Ben smiled and then pulled the chair next to him back a bit. "Come and sit down, tell me about your day." He patted the chair and Finn sauntered over, placed his glass on the table and sat down.
"Not much to say, pa," he sighed. "School was school."
"Miss Memtre told your ma that you they had to wake you up a couple of times."
"It was hot in the classroom," Finn shrugged again as he ran his finger round the rim of his glass.
Ben frowned when he then noticed the bruises on his son's forearm and he reached and tugged his sleeve up a little. "How did you hurt your arm?" He asked, tracing the bruises that peppered Finn's pale skin.
Finn peered at his arm. "I don't remember," he frowned. "I must have bumped into something."
Ben tutted before reaching to place his hand on Finn's forehead. "Are you sure you're feeling alright, Finn? I'm worried about you."
"I do have a headache," Finn admitted with a sigh and rested his head on the arms he then folded on the table.
Ben gently rubbed his son's back. "I'll fetch you some Tylenol," he told him. "They should help and then I want you to eat some supper."
"Not hungry, pa," Finn mumbled. "Too tired."
Ben planted a kiss on Finn's bowed head. "Just try for me," he said and then crossed to the sink, concern for his son's condition churning his stomach.
Xxx
Ben placed his bookmark in his book, closed it, placed it on his bedside cabinet and turned to face Lilly. "I'm going to take Finn into work with me in the morning," he told her with a sigh.
"Oh?" Lilly frowned as she marked her own page. "You're worried about him," she stated, noting the look of concern that Ben was trying hard to hide.
Both children were tucked up in bed, Connie's sleep was deep and restful but Finn had been tossing and turning the last time they had checked on him. His headache had been constant all evening and he'd barely eaten any supper at all.
"I think you're probably right about the virus," Ben turned onto his side and propped his head up in his hand. "But I'd like to run some tests to make sure he hasn't got an infection somewhere that a simple course of antibiotics won't fix."
Lilly nodded slowly as she placed her book down. "That's a good idea," she agreed. "Sometimes, because of our training, we miss the simplest of ailments," she smiled.
"Absolutely," Ben chuckled. "Do you remember when we thought that Connie was being obstinate but had that nasty chest infection brewing?"
"Indeed I do," Lilly inched down in bed. "That was a very long week," she sighed, placing her arm round Ben's chest as she nestled her head on his shoulder. "We all struggled for sleep that week," she yawned and then settled herself in his arms.
Ben continued to chuckle as he pulled her in for a hug. "Oh, yes. I remember that week very well," he agreed and tenderly kissed the curls under his chin. "Connie was a monster wasn't she?" When Lilly didn't immediately reply, Ben knew she was on the cusp of sleep so kissed her on the top of the head again. "Sleep well my love."
"You too," Lilly sighed, wriggled in closer and placed her hand over her husband's heart. Within minutes, her soft snores filled the room.
Ben sighed and reached up and ran run his fingers through his hair, knowing that sleep would not be as easy for him tonight.
He lay, staring at the ceiling as he held his wife in his arms with the feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach.
He'd seen Finn's symptoms before and was finding hard not to admit to himself that he was frightened.
Xxx
"Right." Ben smiled reassuringly as he sat next to Finn on the examination table in his office. "I'm just going to take a small amount of blood," he told his son who was sitting, hunched over with his head in his hands.
"Okay, pa," Finn replied softly.
Ben reached for a tourniquet and tied it round the top of Finns arm. "And then, I'm going to find you some Tylenol for that headache of yours," he sighed.
Finn had woken that morning with aching all over and with an awful migraine and Ben knew that all his son wanted to do was curl up and sleep but there was now a real urgency to obtain a blood sample from him.
He reached and grabbed a syringe from the pack of equipment he had laid out on the table. "You will just feel a tiny prick and it will all be over." He gently plunged the needle into Finns upper arm and was surprised that the young boy only whimpered slightly in response. "Good boy," he praised as he pulled the plunger back, filling the syringe with Finn's blood. He then removed the vial and pressed a rubber bung on the end. "Okay, you can lie back down again," he told Finn as he placed the vial in his lab coat pocket and quickly taped a wad of gauze over Finn's still bleeding puncture wound.
Finn listed to one side and then slowly lowered himself down so he was curled up, lying near the edge of the table.
Ben hopped down and then grabbed a blanket. "Just rest," he urged and covered his poorly son.
"'Kay," Finn sighed as he rubbed his temples and Ben tenderly carded his fingers through his boys silky hair.
"I'll fetch those painkillers for you now," he smiled softly. "Don't go to sleep just yet."
Finn nodded and buried his head under his covers with a groan.
Ben sighed heavily, smoothed Finn's covers and then hurried out of his office, patting his pocket to check he had the vial of blood he desperately needed.
Xxx
"Ah, Drena," Ben smiled as the young helena walked towards him. "Would you mind taking this to my office?" He asked, holding up the tray of water and medication he was on his way to give his son. "Poor Finn has a horrible migraine," he started to explain, "and I have to go to the labs as a matter of urgency."
"Of course I will," Drena smiled and held out her hands.
"Thank you," Ben handed over the tray. "He can have two tablets now," he told her. "And I would be very grateful if you could keep an eye on him for a while. I will be as quick as I can."
"No problem, Platon." Drena bowed slightly and then carried on down the corridor. Ben waited until she disappeared round the corridor before sprinting towards the laboratories, the feeling of dread still churning his stomach.
He didn't want to know but knew he had to know.
Xxx
"Oh, hell Finny!" Ben tore off his goggles and tossed them to one side. He rubbed his eyes and then peered into the microscope again but his fourth look only confirmed his first, second and third.
Although he wasn't certain, he knew that his deepest fears were a possibility.
Reaching for the vial of blood again, he quickly replaced the bung, dropped it into his pocket and rushed out of the room.
He needed a second opinion and knew just where he'd get one.
He jogged down the corridor and stopped outside Senior Platon Conrad Buener's door. After taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door.
"Come." Conrad quickly answered his hail and Ben took another deep breath before opening the door.
"Sorry to disturb you," he softly smiled at his work college and friend.
"No, no – it's fine," Conrad smiled back and pushed his work to one side. "Come in. Take a seat," he offered.
"I'd rather stand if it's alright with you," Ben stated as he quietly closed the door behind him.
Conrad frowned and cocked his head to one side. "Is everything alright Benjamin," he asked. "You look upset."
"I'm fine." Ben assured as reassuringly as he could. "I would just like to ask you a favour."
"Ask away," Conrad smiled, leaning back in his chair.
"Finn is unwell and I think I know what is wrong with him but I need a second opinion..."
"Would you like me to take a look at him?"
"No, actually I was hoping you could keep an eye on him while I journey to the stone ring if that's okay?"
Conrad leant forward, his frown deepening. "Benjamin? What's wrong?"
"I'm not sure yet but I have a hunch and if I'm correct then I'm going to need expert advice to treat my boy," Ben admitted, running a shaky hand through his hair. "Please don't ask me to explain but trust me when I tell you that I know what I'm talking about."
"Of course," Conrad nodded. "Although you are worrying me I must admit."
"I'm worrying myself," Ben admitted softly.
Conrad stared at him for a while until he realised that no other information would be forthcoming. "Where is young Finn?" He asked, leaning back in his chair again.
"He is sleeping in my office. He has a migraine and Drena is looking in on him when she can."
"I will look in on him too, I promise," Conrad nodded.
"Thank you." Ben flashed his friend a quick smile and then turned to leave but paused in the doorway. "Please don't tell Lilly anything about this," he asked. "I need to be sure first."
"Of course, my friend."
"Thank you," Ben repeated and then quickly left the room, his hand in his pocket making sure he still had the important ampoule to hand over to Doctor Lam.
He had to be sure – he needed to be sure.
xxx
"Doctor Lam to embarkation room."
Carolyn Lam crossed to infirmary phone, puzzled why she'd been called to the Gate room. There were no teams due back today and, although the sirens had sounded for incoming wormhole, there hadn't seemed to be any emergency.
"It's Doctor Lam," she spoke when the phone was answered. "I'm just checking. Do I need to bring a medical team with me?" She asked.
"No Doctor," Walter Harriman answered. "We have Ben Ashton on MALP waiting for some medical advice."
"I'm on my way." Carolyn quickly ended the call, knowing that if Ben needed advice then the problem was more likely than not a serious one. "Can you finish Sergeant Manners dressing please," she called over to her charge nurse. "I'll be back when I can," she added and then hurried out of the infirmary.
Xxx
"Sorry Ben but could you repeat that?" Carolyn asked as she quickly grabbed a pen and pad before taking a seat at the console. She watched as Ben hung his head and then took another deep breath. He seemed very distressed.
"I need a second opinion Carolyn," Ben started again. "I have...I h-have a patient, a young boy...aged nine and he...he presented at my c-clinic with text book symptoms of Leukaemia. I j-just n-need you to double check the blood sample I took."
Carolyn frowned as she pressed the button to speak again. "So, you've checked the blood yourself?"
"Yes, yes I have."
"And what did it show?"
"Decreased red count. Increased white count and low platelets. There were also blast cell's presents."
"I see," Carolyn sighed "And what were the boy's physical symptoms?" She asked while she scribbled down the information.
"Very tired, bordering on exhausted most of the time. Pale complexion and unexplained bruising to the arms, legs and torso."
"Okay. Did you do a bone marrow aspiration?"
"No."
"A spinal tap?"
"N-no."
"Well, you need to do both of those and a CT scan to make a full diagnosis."
"I c-can't."
Carolyn looked up from her writing. "Why can't you Ben?" She asked as she watched Ben struggle with his emotions.
"B-because...b-because it's F-finn and I j-just c-cant."
A stunned silence filled the room for a while as the information sank in. Eventually, Carolyn cleared her throat and pressed the button again.
"I'm so sorry Ben," she stated sincerely. "Of course I will re-do the blood test for you but I do think that your gut instinct may be correct and re-doing the test would only lengthen the diagnosis time."
"I k-know but I don't know what to do – I mean, we don't have the expertise or the specialist equipment here on Mandana to treat F-finn if he does have Leukaemia."
Carolyn paused before pressing the button again. "I think you need to bring him here, to Earth," she stated, not really knowing what Ben's reaction would be. She knew that the medic had fought long and hard to make sure that there was to be no interference from Earth with Mandanan medical practice but, as she watched him nod slowly in agreement, she quickly realised how extremely worried and upset he was about his son's condition.
"I k-know." Ben managed to finally stutter in response.
Carolyn then turned to Walter. "Can you fetch General Landry for me?" She asked.
"Yes ma'am," Walter nodded and hurried out of the room.
Carolyn turned to face the screen again. "Stand by Ben. We are just going to make a few arrangements this end."
"Yes, thank you... I appreciate it."
Carolyn leant back in her chair and waited for the General, knowing how hard it had been for Ben to ask for help like this.
Finn must be one very sick boy.
Xxx
Ben lay in bed, wide awake and processing the arrangements he had made with Carolyn. He had agreed that there was no real point in re-running the blood test and General Landry had cleared things with Washington that the Ashton family could return to Earth for any treatment Finn required. Ben knew that he had made the right decision but hadn't found a way to tell Lilly yet.
Connie had taken a tumble at Niall's farm and Lilly had been too busy tending to their daughter's various cuts and bruises for Ben to actually sit her down and speak to her.
Lilly had crawled into bed, absolutely exhausted after trying to settle Connie down to sleep several times so the opportunity had been missed tonight.
Ben hadn't wanted to add to her stress. Actually, that wasn't true. He just didn't really know how to tell her that they would be going to Earth the next day and that their son could be very sick indeed.
How could he tell her that?
Hence, he had been tossing and turning most of the night, mulling over how to tell her in his mind.
He was just about to give up on sleep and start the day extra early when he heard the padding of footsteps as one of their children walked into their bedroom
"Papi?"
Ben immediately sat up when he heard Finn whisper his name.
"What's wrong, buddy?" He whispered back so not to wake Lilly who was still fast asleep at his side.
"I h-hurt Papi," Finn sniffed and Ben quietly swung his legs off the bed, grabbed his gown and hurried over to his boy.
"What hurts Finn?" He asked, kneeling at Finn's side and reaching to brush his bangs out of his eyes.
"Everything," Finn hiccupped and Ben gently picked him up and carried him back into his bedroom.
He sat Finn on his bed and knelt in front of him again. "Let's get you out of these sweaty pyjamas hey?" Smiling softly he reached to undo the buttons. Finn sat trembling slightly and soaked in sweat.
"Then I'll find you some nice clean pj's and fetch you some medicine." Ben kept his voice low so not to disturb the rest of the household. "You'll soon be feeling better." He kissed Finns forehead before removing his pyjama top and tossing onto the floor.
When Finn started to shiver, Ben grabbed a blanket from the end of the bed and wrapped it round his shoulders. "Where do you hurt?" He asked again as Finn groaned and bent his head.
"My tummy," Finn complained.
"Do you feel sick?"
Finn shook his head as he continued to tremble. "No. My tummy just hurts," he looked at Ben with tears brimming in his eyes.
"Lie down for me," Ben carded his fingers through his sons sweat soaked bangs. "I just want to check you out, okay?"
"O-okay," Finn lay down, one arm wrapped round his middle and the other flung over his eyes.
Ben sat on the edge of the bed, rubbed his hands together to warm them and then gently pressed on Finn's lower abdomen. "Does this hurt?"
Finn shook his head. "N-no papi."
Ben moved his hands up further until they rested just below Finns ribs and gently applied pressure again.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he quickly apologised when Finn cried out and bucked in reaction.
"It h-hurts, It h-hurts," Finn began to sob.
Ben sighed heavily. "I know it does, Finn. I know it does." He gently covered his upset boy with another blanket and then sat and stroked his forehead. "I'm just going to get you something to make the pain go away," he smiled softly. "Just try and relax – I will be as quick as I can."
"'kay Papi." Finn took a shuddering breath and managed to smile which broke Ben's heart as he knew how much pain his boy was in.
"Hold tight my Finn." He kissed Finns forehead again and then hurried out of the room in search of some strong painkillers, knowing that decision to return to Earth had been the absolutely correct one as he added an enlarged spleen to the growing list of Finns symptoms.
Xxx
"Lilly, come and sit down. I need to talk to you."
Ben watched his wife as she rushed around the kitchen, frantically clearing the breakfast things away.
"I will, in a minute," Lilly flashed him a smile as she reached for the dirty plates on the table. "I just need to clear up before I fetch the eggs."
"I need to talk to you now," Ben persevered but Lilly moved to the sink with the plates and then, when she noticed Connie's bear on the floor, she quickly abandoned her task and reached for the soft toy.
"Damn it Constance," she tutted before dashing out of the house, calling for her father to wait up.
Ben sat patiently at the table. He didn't want to rush what he was about to tell Lilly but knew they had limited time to pack their things together. He was just grateful that Sergi and Hanah were looking after Connie for them this morning as it would give him time alone with Lilly and Finn to explain things.
"Honestly," Lilly huffed as she walked back into the kitchen, pinning her hair that had come loose in her hurry back again. "Constance is hopeless. It's a good job I noticed Muffin or she will have shown off for my parents all morning," she tutted and moved to the sink again, pushing up her sleeves as she went. "I'll just finish these, collect the eggs and see if Finn could manage some breakfast." She pumped some water into the sink and then reached for the pot of water she had boiling on the stove. "What time did he call out for you this morning?" She asked as she poured the water into the sink.
Ben took a deep breath, pushed upright and crossed to the sink. He wrapped his arms round his wife's waist and kissed the nape of her neck. "I need to talk to you, Lils," he muttered.
"And I need to do the dishes," Lilly turned her head and smiled.
Ben gently turned her round to face him and plucked the cloth out of her hands. "It's important, Lils. I need to talk to you now."
"Surely it can wait?" Lilly frowned and reached for the cloth again but Ben tossed it over her shoulder and into the sink.
"I have something important to tell you," he repeated. "It's about Finn."
Lilly continued to frown. "What about Finn?"
"Come and sit down." Ben gently took her arm and led her over to the table.
"What's wrong? You're worrying me."
"Please sit down," Ben pulled a chair out and Lilly reluctantly sat down.
"What's going on?" She asked urgently. "Ben?"
Ben sat next to her and grabbed her hand. "There is no easy way of saying this so I'm just going to get it over with..."
"Ben? You're scaring me."
Ben hung his head slightly, took another deep breath and then looked Lilly straight in the eye. "Finn is sick, Lilly."
"I know he is," Lilly nodded slowly.
"No – he's really sick."
He watched as Lilly swallowed hard and then run her fingers through her curls. "H-how sick?" She asked tentively and Ben could feel her other hand start to tremble in his grasp.
"I ran some blood tests at the hospital yesterday."
"And?"
"They were abnormal."
"How abnormal?" Lilly narrowed her eyes and asked.
"Abnormal enough that I had to travel to the Stargate to ask for Doctor Lam's opinion."
"And, w-what did she say?"
Ben gripped Lilly's hand tighter when she began to tremble harder. "She agreed with me," he told her gently.
"Agreed with you about what?" Lilly shook her head. "I don't understand what you're telling me, Ben."
"I think – we think, that Finn has Leukaemia, Lils."
Lilly sat in stunned silence and Ben continued.
"We're not totally sure. He needs to undergo a few more tests but the blood results and his growing symptoms are pointing that way."
"W-what? I mean... I don't understand. Did you say Leukaemia?"
"Yes."
"D-didn't, d-didn't Conner d-die of L-leukaemia?"
Ben turned his chair to face Lilly and grabbed both of her hands. "Listen to me Lil," he urged. "Finn is young and strong. Several forms of Leukaemia are perfectly treatable, especially childhood cases. You have to hold on to that."
"T-they a-are?" Lilly stuttered, her eyes filling with tears.
"Yes, they are," Ben smiled as reassuringly as he could. "And we are going to get him the best possible treatment and find him the best possible specialists."
"W-we are?"
"Yes, we are," Ben nodded adamantly.
"Where? I don't know the first thing about treating an Earth ailment?"
"I know you don't and neither do I."
"So?"
"So we're taking him back to Earth, Lil. We're all going."
"When?"
"Today."
"T-today?"
"Yes. Finn needs to be properly diagnosed as quickly as possible and if he does have leukaemia, his treatment will need to start straight away." Ben reached over and tucked a loose curl behind Lilly's ear. "We have to be strong for our boy, Lils. It's going to be a hard few months for him."
"Few months!" Lilly exclaimed pulling her hands out of Ben's grasp. "A few months?" She repeated loudly.
"Six months, maybe a year, if not more."
Lilly pushed her chair back, stood and wavered in shock slightly before starting to pace up and down. "I don't understand, I don't understand. He is just tired – you said so. He just needs a few early nights..."
"Lilly," Ben stood and reached out to her but Lilly shrugged him away.
"Just a few early nights," she repeated as she continued to pace. "I j-just don't believe this is h-happening. Perhaps Conrad will see him. He'll know..."
"Lilly, please" Ben snagged her arm, halting her pacing. "He will be alright, I promise. We just have to be strong."
"I- I..." Lilly began to stutter and Ben pulled her into his arms.
"Shh, shh," he soothed while he tenderly stroked her hair. "It will be alright, you'll see."
"W-what d-do I tell my parents?" Lilly sobbed.
"I don't know," Ben admitted as he rocked her. "But we'll find away, we'll find away."
He stood, with his devastated wife in his arms fighting back his own tears.
Telling Lilly had been the hardest thing he'd ever had to do in his life and he knew his in laws were going to be equally as devastated. Not only was their only grandson probably very sick but half of their family would be leaving for another world, for a very long time – a world they would have limited contact with.
How the hell were they going to tell them that!