Ben tapped Connie's dish with his fork. "Eat up poppet," he told her but Connie scowled and pushed her dish away.

"Don't want it. Don't like it," she huffed. "I want loops."

"Loops are for breakfast. This is supper and it's stew for supper." Ben forked a mouthful of chicken into his mouth and grinned. "Yummy."

"I want loops!" Connie continued to protest with her arms crossed so Ben sighed, picked up her dish and spooned the contents onto his dish. He was too tired to deal with Connie's stubborness tonight.

"Okay, you win," he gave in as he crossed to the kitchen. "Loops it is but you're going to eat the whole dish full and an apple afterwards."

"'kay," Connie called back with a look of complete triumph on her face.

Ben sighed again as he poured the cereal. His girl had him wrapped around her little finger, that was for sure.

After adding milk and a small amount of sugar, he crossed back into the dining area, snagging an apple from the fruit bowl on his way.

"Eat," he told Connie, placed the bowl and apple in front of her, and then returned to his meal, grinning as Connie dug into her cereal with gusto.

He was such a pushover.

Xxx

"Finn. Sorry to disturb you sweetie but I need to draw some blood."

The night was drawing in as Polly checked her patient again. The Chemo had finished dripping into Finn's blood stream three hours ago and Polly was concerned that he was still sleeping.

"That's a good boy," she praised as Finn's eyes fluttered open. "How are you feeling Poppet?" She asked, accessing his port to take her sample.

"Tired," Finn mumbled, closing his eyes again.

"Do you feel sick?"

"No. Tired," Finn yawned and knuckled his eyes. "Wanna sleep."

Polly quickly finished the procedure, capped Finn's port and smiled reassuringly at Lilly. "It's normal for him to be so sleepy," she told her. "It's the best thing for him actually," she added, placing the vial of blood into an emesis bowl. "I'll just take this to the labs and return with his evening medication."

"Okay," Lilly smiled back and picked up her book again. She reached and switched the overhead light on and settled down to read again.

Everything seemed peaceful and calm.

Xxx

Bath time was always a battle with Constance Ashton and tonight was no exception.

Wet towels littered the bathroom floor as 'her ladyship' lounged in a bath full to the rim with bubbles.

"Try and keep the water in bath, Connie," Ben sighed as he laid yet another towel down.

"'kay papi," Connie grinned and carried on playing with her boat.

Supper was eaten, dishes were in the dishwasher and all Ben wanted to do was curl up on the sofa with something trashy on the TV but had to deal with the disaster area first.

It was times like this that he wished he were the one with Finn.

At least it was peaceful in his room.

Xxx

"Hold on Finn." Lilly quickly grabbed another sick bowl and placed in under Finn's chin. He had woken up from his sleep feeling very nauseous and within minutes had started to vomit violently.

"It's okay, it's okay," she soothed as Finn continued to dry heave. She held the bowl in position with one hand while she reached for the emergency button with the other.

"Just spit it out, sweetheart," she sighed when Finn started to vomit again.

So much for a peaceful night.

Xxx

Connie was squeaky clean, tucked up in bed and sleeping soundly.

The bathroom was now back to normal, all signs of the desperate struggle gone.

Ben opened the fridge, grabbed a bottle of beer, flicked the top off, walked into the lounge and settled on the sofa, snagging the TV remote off the coffee table when he reached to place his beer down.

He pointed the remote at the TV and started channel hopping.

He just wanted to watch something light hearted, that didn't need any concentrating on and when an old episode of Everyone Loves Raymond came on, he tossed the remote onto the sofa and grabbed his beer.

He soon found himself chuckling at the programme as he relaxed even further.

Xxx

"Is that better?" Polly asked, running a damp cloth over Finn's face.

"Uh huh," Finn nodded and started to suck his thumb again.

After a consultation with Mr Freeman, they had increased Finn's dose of anti nausea medication and he seemed more comfortable.

"Right," Polly smiled, placed the cloth into the bowl and reached for her thermometer. "I just need to check your temperature and then you can go back to sleep, poppet."

It was now three in the morning and Finn was so tired having battling his nausea and sickness for hours.

Polly smiled over at Lilly. "The new drug will make him drowsy so he should sleep," she told her and Lilly returned the smile.

"Good," she whispered, noticing that Finn's eyes were beginning to close again. "He needs to sleep."

"So do you," Polly said as she waited for the thermometer to bleep. "Try and rest while he does."

"Okay."

The familiar bleep of the thermometer then sounded and Polly removed it from Finn's ear and frowned.

"What's wrong?" Lilly asked, noting the look of concern on the young nurse's face.

"His temp is up." Polly sighed, placing the back of her hand on Finn's forehead to double check. "I'll just go and hurry up his bloods," she sighed again when her touch confirmed the raise the thermometer told her.

"I won't be long," she added before rushing out of the room leaving Lilly shocked and not sure what was happening.

She quickly placed her book down, crossed to her son's side and laid her own hand on his forehead. "Oh Finny," she sighed when she registered the heat under her touch.

When Finn started to toss his head from side to side, she perched on the edge of his bed and took his hand. "It's going to be okay, my darling," she soothed with a confidence she was far from feeling.

Xxx

Ben turned onto his back with a groan and started to rub his churning stomach.

Ghoulish nightmares had assailed his sleep and, although he was loathed to admit it, he really didn't feel that great.

Opening his eyes, he surprised to see how dark it was. He must have fallen asleep and the subtitled black and white movie that replaced Everyone Loves Raymond confirmed the fact. Turning onto his side again, he drew his legs up into his stomach to smoother a painful cramp that struck suddenly.

As he rocked from side to side to cope with the pain, he realised how hot he felt. "Damn it," he groaned when the pain lessoned slightly. He then managed to uncurl and sit up. His stomach still felt 'off' and when he placed his hand on his forehead his heart sank at the heat he felt under his touch.

"Damn it," he repeated. "Damn, damn chicken."

Another cramp quickly then hit and he found himself rocking again.

Damn Earth food. He should have known better.

Xxx

Finn's room quickly filled with medical personel.

"W-what's going on?" Lilly asked Polly when the nurse followed Jarred and his team in.

Polly took her to one side while the Doctor started his tests. "Finn is running quite a high fever."

"I k-know," Lilly looked over the nurses shoulder and watched as Jarred hooked Finn up to an IV.

"His white blood count is falling which means he more susceptible to infections," Polly explained slowly and carefully, knowing how worrying and upsetting any complications were. "Mr Freeman is starting Finn on some broad spectrum antibiotics and we will be monitoring him very closely overnight."

"O-okay," Lilly stuttered, her eyes still transfixed on the activity surrounding her son's bed.

"This is very common, Lilly," Polly reassured as she gently rubbed Lilly's arm. "Mr Freeman knows just what he is doing. Finn is in very good hands."

The door opened again and a junior doctor wheeled in a large machine.

"W-what are they d-doing," Lilly took a step forward but Polly held her back.

"They're just doing a scan. He's going to be just fine."

"I- I..." Lilly mumbled, longing to go and comfort her son but knowing that she couldn't interfere.

"Why don't we go and grab a cup of coffee," Polly suggested softly. "Let them settle Finn."

Lilly continued to stare as Jarred barked out his orders.

"Come on," Polly urged gently again. "He is in good hands."

Lilly started to nod and then wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt before turning to Polly. "He is going to be alright, isn't he?"

Polly took her arm and started to lead her out of the room. "He is going to be just fine" she reassured. "Let's let the doctors do their work."

Lilly glanced at Finn as they walked out, happy to see that he was still sleeping, although restlessly.

At least he didn't know what was happening.

xxx

Ben felt absolutely dreadful.

He had no idea how long he'd been camped out in the bathroom, dealing with awful bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea but as reached to flush the toilet once more he could see a slither of sunlight coming from the window and figured that it must be morning.

Sitting back so he rested his back against the cool bathroom tiles and picked up his glass of water again and took a sip, debating whether it added to his nausea or not. He knew he needed it to try and keep hydrated as he was losing body fluids rapidly not only through his sickness bouts but his high fever too but, as quickly as he drank he anything it was making a reappearance just as quickly.

His clothes had been long since discarded and he sat in his boxers, panting to try to control not only his continual nausea but also the extremely painful cramps that ripped though his guts.

He should have known better than trust Earth food. Years of living on Mandana with fresh food daily had obviously lowered his defences. He was just so glad that Connie hadn't eaten the stew as well. His little girl had been right to push it away. It hadn't been yummy at all.

The water he'd just drunk was sloshing around uncomfortably again. Ben wrapped an arm round his stomach as the slight cramping that had started to assail him escalated to out and out pain, which stole his breath away.

Within minutes, he was struggling to his feet, discarding his boxers in his haste to make it to the toilet on time.

He then gave in to his body's demands with a groan, his forehead resting against the blissfully cool sink as he dry heaved in response to the dreadful stench that filled the small room.

He felt so ill.

Xxx

Polly passed Lilly another cup of coffee, noting how her hands shook as she took it. "He will be fine," she reassured for what seemed like the tenth time in as many minutes. "We see this thing all the time. It's one of those little blips that we expect."

Lilly gave her a shaky smile and then took a sip of coffee, the shaking of her hands lessening only because she had to grasp the cup.

Polly sat and stirred her own drink as she watched Lilly continue to drink. "Would you like us to contact Ben for you?" She asked, knowing that there was no real reason, that, yes, Finn was sick but Jarred would hopefully sort him out in no time.

"It's late. He has to look after Connie," Lilly smiled ruefully. "I don't want to disturb him if you don't think it's necessary."

"I don't," Polly assured and took a sip of coffee. "Anyway, he will be here soon. Dawn's breaking," she nodded in direction of the canteen window and Lilly turned and looked that way too.

"So I see," she sighed and rubbed a hand over her face. She was so tired.

"Exhausting isn't it," Polly stated, leaning back in her chair.

"Yes it is," Lilly agreed softly.

"Nothing prepares you for this sort of thing, does it?"

"You sound as if you are speaking from experience," Lilly leant back too.

Polly nodded slowly. "I nursed my father through Cancer for years. I suppose that's where I got my calling from," she shrugged. "I'm giving back to all the wonderful nurses that cared for him."

"That is very noble of you."

"I don't see it as noble I see more as doing my best to help families through the devastation that is Cancer."

"Well, you do a wonderful job."

"Thank you."

Polly took another sip of coffee. "And, what about you?" She asked, placing her cup down again. "You're a Doctor; you must have had the same sort of calling."

Lilly thought for a moment, knowing that she needed to concoct some sort of story so to put a smoke screen to hide the truth. "Well, I supposed I continued with the family business," she shrugged. "I followed in the footsteps of a dear friend who was part of my family and he taught me all he knew."

"Ah, you can't beat the expertise of the wise."

"No you can't."

"And, what about Ben? How did you meet?"

"Um...through medicine. We...um...trained together."

"I'm sure you make a good team."

"Yes, well, I suppose we do," Lilly shrugged again. "Mind you we are general physicians and have no idea about specialist treatments."

"Well, I chose to specialise as I'm not sure I'd be cut out to do what you do. I know alot about one thing, anything else would scare me," Polly admitted with a chuckle.

"You would do just fine," Lilly reached for her cup and downed its contents. "Should we not get back to Finn now?"

Polly finished her own drink and then pushed up out of the chair. "Before we do we have to put on gowns and masks," she stated.

"Oh, why?" Lilly frowned as she got to her feet also.

"Because of his low white count his immune system is ripe for attack so we have to make sure we don't bring any germs back with us to his room."

"Oh, yes – of course," Lilly smiled, quickly trying to hide her ignorance about the situation.

"Infact," Polly continued as the two women then walked out of the canteen. "He will need to be barrier nursed for a while. No one will be allowed in the room without protection."

"Will someone greet my husband and inform him?"

"Of course," Polly nodded and held the door open for Lilly. "We need to stop at the nurses' station and get gowned up."

Lilly nodded and then stopped at Polly's side. "Thank you for the coffee," she smiled.

"You are very welcome," Polly smiled back. "Now, let's go see how Finny is doing hey."

xxx

"Papi? Papi? Where are you?"

Ben could hear his daughter calling for him and almost felt weak to respond, but somewhere in his fever haggled brain he knew that Connie must be very scared so he lifted his head. "I'm in the bathroom. I won't be long," he managed to respond before resting his head back down again.

All he wanted to do was sleep but when the sound of the television blaring at full volume then filled the apartment, he knew he had to see to his daughter so he dragged himself upright, staggered over to the shower and turned it on to heat it up.

After snagging his gown off the back of the bathroom door, he continued his stagger into the living room where he crossed to the television and turned it down slightly. "I'm gonna have a shower," he told Connie who was sat crossed legged on the sofa, bouncing Muffin up and down on her knee.

"Kay," she grinned back.

Ben then made his way back into the bathroom, using the furniture to steady himself when his legs threatened to give way.

He quickly managed to shrug his gown off and, after stopping to dry heave into the toilet a couple of times he gingerly climbed into the shower where he rested his pounding head against the wall, hoping that the cool water that ran down his neck and back would lower what he knew was a raging fever.

When another wave of nausea washed over him though, he fell to his knees and started to vomit again, watching his bile as it was washed down the plughole.

How on Earth was he going to cope with Connie? How on Earth hell was he going to cope with his shift with Finn?

Xxx

"What time is it?" Lilly asked Tim as she dipped her cloth in the bowl of water again.

"Just gone nine," Tim told her while he hung another bag of antibiotics.

Lilly continued to wipe down her boy's hot body. "Ben will be here soon," she looked up and smiled.

It had been a long few hours while she and the nursing staff battled to control Finn's fever.

Finn had been alternating from listless lethargy to bed shaking shivering as they continued to bathe him in tepid water. He was now laying bonelessly, his head lolling from side to side...

He hadn't really woken up at all, even when they stripped him of his clothing and inserted a Foley catheter; he had just remained lost in delirium as they tended him.

His poor condition scared Lilly but Jarred didn't seem too concerned. He had informed her that his white count was climbing, although slowly and he would soon respond to treatment. Lilly trusted him, knowing that he knew exactly what he was doing but it didn't stop her worrying and when Finn started to mumble and cry out, she quickly sat at his side.

"It's okay, It's okay," she soothed as she wiped down his chest, mindful of the port. "You're okay, just try and rest, sweetheart," she urged gently.

"Wanna go home," Finn started to sob and Lilly couldn't help the tears that sprang in her eyes.

"I want Grandpi, I want Grandpi." Finn continued to mumble, his whole body moving restlessly.

Tim looked up from his work. "Would you like us to contact his Grandfather?" He offered.

Lilly quickly cleared her throat. "N-no no," she managed to smile, knowing that would be an impossible task. "He lives in a...He lives a long way away," she stuttered.

"We could get him on the phone if you like," Tim shrugged.

"No. We'll be alright won't we Finny." She dipped her cloth the cloth again and dabbed the sweat of her son's forehead, praying that Ben would hurry up.

He would know what to say.

She felt so out of depth.

Xxx

"Let's get your hood up," Ben reached and pulled Connie's hood up and knelt to fasten her coat buttons.

It was absolutely pouring with rain outside.

He felt marginally better for his shower, his fever had definitely dropped and although he felt very weak, he was almost confident that the worse was over.

"There we go," he managed to give his daughter a shaky smile before struggling to his feet, having then to steady himself on the wall of the lobby when wave dizziness hit him. After taking a few deep breaths to ward off what was now a dimming world, he grabbed Connie's hand.

"Come on, sweetie," he urged softly and led her into the cold wet morning, with one arm wrapped tightly around his still rolling stomach, his confidence that the worse was over wavering as he took stumbling steps in the rain.