In the end, it had been decided that Daniel would head up the team travelling to Mandana. Ben had really wanted to go himself but knew that his place was with his family and, after collecting Connie, he had returned to the hospital to be with Lilly and Finn.
It had made sense for Daniel to go. He knew the Tanger's and the Tanger's knew him. He was the obvious one to explain things calmly and without worrying the family too much and was now sat round Hanah's kitchen table, enjoying a bowl of her stew while explaining what had happened and what was going to happen.
"I must admit I feared the worse when I saw you walking down the lane," Sergi admitted as he passed Daniel the bread basket.
"I can't pretend that everything is okay," Daniel sighed, accepting a roll, "because it's not. Finn is still very sick and has a long road ahead of him."
"But the Platon's are confident that, if we return with you that we will be able to help him make a full recovery, is that right?"
"As long your blood matches Finn's if not he will have wait for another match."
"And, if that doesn't happen?" Hanah asked quietly as she poured Daniel some tea.
Daniel sighed heavily. "I can't answer that," he admitted. "Only the Platon's on Earth can answer that for you. All I know is Finn needs you and so do Ben and Lilly."
"How are they bearing up?" Sergi asked, leaning back in his chair.
"It's not been easy," Daniel sighed again. "The treatment that Finn's has had to undergo has been very harsh. Finn has been very ill and it hasn't helped that Ben had to be admitted to hospital for a short while as well."
"Oh dear!" Hanah exclaimed. "Is he all right?"
"He's fine now but was laid low with a nasty case of food poisoning. Poor Lilly had to deal with everything on her own."
"Why did you not contact us? We should have been there for her."
"She didn't want us to. Major Carter and I looked after Constance for her and, once Ben had a few days of hospital treatment he was soon back on his feet again."
"Poor Lilly, she must have been so scared."
"We looked after her, I promise."
"You are a good friend," Hanah reached over and patted Daniel's hand. "Thank you for being there for our family."
Daniel smiled and squeezed her hand. "It was no problem but you must return with me – they need you now."
"And, we will," Hanah smiled.
"What about Cara? Will she be alright about coming with us?"
"Of course she will," Sergi passed the stew bowl again. "We will visit her after supper and let her know what's happening."
"That sounds like a plan." Daniel agreed and then started to relax as they ate.
They would enjoy an evening of catching up but would need to travel back first thing in the morning.
Daniel knew that Ben and Lilly would be anxious to see everyone and find out if there was any way they could help their sick little boy.
xxx
Lilly felt so nervous waiting at the bottom of the ramp. She didn't really know why.
She was so looking forward to her family but knew they would be shocked to see Finn so ill.
Her son had had a bad night with nausea and pain. She hadn't wanted to leave him really but she knew that her parents and sister would need a friendly familiar face to greet them as they stepped onto Earth for the first time.
Ben was with Finn and Connie was waiting in a VIP with Sam, ready to greet her Grandparents when they'd been through all their medical checks.
Lilly fidgeted as she waited, her gaze never leaving the Stargate and, when the sound of the sirens confirming off world arrival sounded round the base, she took a large step backwards.
The iris shimmered into action and within seconds, Daniel led her parents and sister down the ramp followed by the rest of his team.
"Ma, pa, Cara!" Lilly beamed and then ran to meet them half way down the ramp. "Thank goodness you're here," she sobbed as she was immediately enveloped in their arms. "I've missed you so much."
Daniel stood back for a while and allowed the family their tearful reunion before reminding them that they needed to go straight to the infirmary.
Lilly took her father's arm and started to lead the way out of the gate room. Hanah and Cara followed, their arms linked as they stared around them.
Daniel knew that the welcome to Earth was not really one of the best but hoped that their step onto the world would turn out to be the most important step the Tanger family had ever made.
Finn was counting on them.
xxx
Ben smiled as Finn slowly turned his head to face him. "How you feeling, Finny?" He quickly placed his book down and took his son's hand.
Finn had been sleeping most of the morning after a difficult night. "Tired," he yawned and knuckled his eyes.
"Do you think you can eat something? Tim has just gone to fetch you some soup."
Finn shrugged in reply.
"We've got a big surprise for you after lunch," Ben continued, "so you need to try and regain some strength my love."
"What surprise?" Finn blinked slowly.
"Well, it wouldn't be a surprise if I told you would it," Ben chuckled and then reached to alter the bed so Finn was in a more upright position. He chuckled when his son quickly grabbed his cap, planted it on his head and grinned.
"Okay, where's my lunch?" He asked impatiently.
"Patience my boy, patience."
Ben was so pleased to see an improvement in Finn, the fact that he seemed eager to eat made his decision to tell him that there was a surprise a good one.
Also, the fact that Finn had no clue that his family were on their way, that they had travelled across the universe just to help him made the surprise even more exciting.
How many nine year old boys could say that!
Xxx
The medical cheeks for anyone coming through the gate were tedious but necessary.
Lilly was getting impatient though. She just couldn't wait to see the look on her son's face when his grandparents and auntie walked through his door.
It had been such a long six weeks, for everyone apparently.
Cara had told her how upset their parents had been, how her father kept a lamp lit in a window for them and how he insisted that it should not be extinguished until they returned.
The whole community had been praying for Finn, his school friends had sent piles of get well soon cards to Sergi and Hanah and the hospital personel had been continually asking Cara about his condition.
Keeping up the smoke screen story that the Ashton's were staying at a specialised clinic in the middle of nowhere had been difficult to keep up. Only Conrad, from outside the family actually knew where they really were.
The decision to keep Stargate travel as secret as possible had been equally as difficult. They didn't want to cause mass exodus from the planet, not that any request to leave Mandana wouldn't be considered, it had to be controlled properly though.
Lilly was just so happy that they were here and when her mother and father joined them in the briefing room, she immediately stood and gave them both a hug.
"Thank you for coming."
"Our place is with you," Hanah smiled, squeezing Lilly's hand before the whole family then took a seat round the briefing room table.
Hank Landry cleared his throat. "Welcome to Earth," he greeted. "I just need to go through a few things with you and then we will transport you to the hospital. I know there is a young boy who will be ecstatic to see you all."
Lilly watched her family as they all beamed and nodded.
She knew that it was just as important for them to be here as well as for Finn to have them here.
Xxx
Arrangements had been made, new identities had been given and Sergi, Hanah and Cara were now waiting nervously outside Finn's room.
Lilly had joined Ben to gauge Finn's condition, knowing that it was going to be a shock for her son to know his family was here. She just wanted to 'pave the way' so to speak.
Sergi grabbed his wife's hand and smiled reassuringly, knowing how scared and overwhelming everything was.
The journey over to the hospital had been a voyage of discovery in itself!
The hustle and bustle of a busy city had been such a culture shock for them. Ben had shown them photographs of his planet but they hadn't done Earth justice at all!
The cars, the high raised buildings, the planes in the skies were all light years away from their humble home and they felt so small in comparison to everything. Even the hospital seemed futuristic and alien to them!
They just hoped that all this advancement meant that Finn would be saved.
Xxx
"Well, you look much better than last night," Lilly smiled as she perched on the edge of Finn's bed.
"He's eaten a huge bowl of soup," Ben pushed the roll away table to one side, "and two of his shakes."
"That's just great!" Lilly enthused, happy to see such an improvement in her boy.
"Well, papi said that there was a surprise after lunch," Finn grinned as he peered over his mothers shoulder. "Where is it? Did you bring it with you?"
"Actually," Lilly glanced at Ben and smiled. "I did."
"You did. Where?" Finn sat forward eagerly.
Lilly patted his leg. "Hold on, I'll just fetch it," she told him, took a deep breath and crossed to the door, pausing slightly before opening it. She nodded and smiled at her family and then stood to one side as Sergi lead them into the room...
"Grandpi!" Finn immediately squealed and Sergi hurried to his side and took him in his arms.
"Oh, my boy. We have missed you so much!"
Lilly stood behind Ben; her arms wrapped round his neck and watched the emotional reunion, powerless to stop her own tears from falling.
Finn looked ecstatic, as if a huge weight had been lifted off his slim shoulders.
Her boy now had the support of both worlds.
xxx
The rest of the day was spent catching up on everything while Sergi, Hanah and Cara underwent medical procedures in preparation for the bone marrow aspirates.
Jarred had called them all into his office at the end of the day to explain whole situation to everyone and shocked faces of Sergi, Hanah and Cara had upset Lilly so much that she'd had to leave the room as the conversation continued.
"Lils?" Ben strolled over to his wife with his hands in his pockets. "You okay?" He asked as he leant against the wall of the corridor, mirroring Lilly's position.
"They are so shocked," Lilly sighed.
"You knew they would be my love."
"I know but it's just so, so..."
"Upsetting?"
Lilly turned to face him. "Yes," she sniffed. "I hadn't realised how upset they were going to be. It is hard enough for us but they've been alone, without word and must have been so scared."
"Well, they're here now," Ben pushed away from the wall. "We are all together." He took Lilly in his arms and gently rocked her."
"I just hope they can help our Finny," Lilly began to sob. "They will be devastated if they can't," she added and Ben had to swallow pass the lump in this own throat.
"God willing," he sighed, kissing Lilly on the top of the head. "God willing, Lils."
Xxx
Hanah tenderly kissed Connie's forehead and tucked the sleeping girl in. Her granddaughter had changed so much in such a short time.
Connie hadn't been quite as excited to see her grandparents as Finn had. They'd received a quick cuddle and a kiss at Lilly's prompting but she'd been so engrossed in a book that Sam was reading her that she'd barely noticed them after that.
However, once they returned to the apartment, Constance had come out of her shell and had been really happy that her Grandmi had given her a bath and that her auntie had played with her dolls house with her.
Hanah felt so sorry for her, knowing that she was really too young to know what was going on. The poor girl had had her life up rooted and must be so confused about everything. It was time for some stability for Constance Ashton and now that they were here, they could step in and help Ben and Lilly with their daughter.
It must have been such a difficult time for them all.
Xxx
Lilly passed Cara a cup of tea and then joined her on the sofa. "How are the girls?" She asked, taking a sip of her own drink.
"Growing fast and a real handful," Cara grinned as she relaxed. Hanah, Lilly and Cara had returned to the apartment to settle down Connie for the night while Ben and Sergi stayed at the hospital with an exhausted Finn.
"I'm sure they are," Lilly sighed. "I'm so sorry to pull you from them."
"Don't be silly. Finn might need me and Niall is more than capable of tending to the girls for a few weeks without me."
"He doesn't mind?"
"Of course not, he is in his element although I am sure more time will be spent at Papa Wenton's farm rather than ours. Mama Wenton is looking forward to spoiling her granddaughters for a while."
"I'm so glad you are here," Lilly admitted, placing her hand on her sister's knee.
Cara turned her head to face her. "Me too," she replied softly. "How you have coped with everything is amazing Lil."
Lilly rolled her eyes and sighed. "I'm not sure I've coped at all. There have been so many bleak times. Finn has been so dreadfully ill Car."
"I know, I know."
"And I was so alone when Ben was ill as well. Poor Connie must have been so confused and scared."
"We're here now. We will help with Constance and hopefully help Finn with a cure."
"God, I hope so," Lilly rested her head back and ran her fingers through her curls. "I truly hope and pray that you will."
xxx
It was three in the morning and Sergi held his grandson in his arms as his son in law slept on the couch.
After being animated in their company for hours, Finn had started to flag as the sunset and had been more than happy to lie in Sergi's arms and watch a movie. The film had fascinated Sergi, having never seen anything like it in his life, and he'd been so engrossed that he hadn't noticed Ben nod off.
Polly had been in to do Finn's midnight checks and had woken Ben and urged him to sleep somewhere more comfortable than the armchair and he'd reluctantly retreated to the couch, urging Sergi to wake him if necessary.
Knowing how tired his son in law was, Sergi had been more than happy to watch over his grandson while the exhausted man got some rest. For a while, he and Finn had lost themselves in the third instalment of Harry Potter but now, while the rest of the hospital slept, Sergi was rocking his sick, upset grandson in his arms.
"Shh, it's going to be okay, Finny," he soothed.
"I don't feel very well Grandpi," Finn sobbed.
"I know you don't but you have to try and relax so the medication Polly gave you will work."
Sergi had pressed the emergency button Polly had placed at his side when Finn, who he thought was sleeping, started to groan in his arms. The young nurse had given her patient a dose of Zofran for his nausea and some Tylenol for his low-grade fever, assuring Sergi that his symptoms were perfectly normal and usual for Finn at the moment.
Sergi knew that his grandson was sick but was so shocked at how sick he actually was. The exuberant boy of the afternoon was now trembling and crying, clawing at his lapels, trying to bury himself in his grandfather's arms.
Shifting slightly to allow Finn to wrap his arms round his neck, Sergi continued to rock the hot boy. "Grandpi's got you," he promised, planting a kiss on Finn's bald head.
"I'm so tired, Grandpi," Finn sobbed, turning his face into Sergi's shoulder.
"I know you are my love. You are being so brave."
"I w-want to go h-home."
"I know you do but you have to stay here Finn. You need to stay here to get better." Sergi reached for the sheet and pulled it up round Finn's shoulders. "Try and sleep Finny, you'll feel better for a sleep," he urged gently and Finn shifted in his arms a few times before resting his head against his chest and starting to suck his thumb.
"Good boy," Sergi praised as he felt the young boy start to relax in his arms. "I've got you Finny, Grandpi's here now..." He continued to rock his grandson to sleep with tears trickling down his cheeks.
Finn was so sick and his heart was breaking for him.
xxx
Waiting.
Watching the clock.
That was all they could do now.
Sergi and Hanah's aspirates had been as routine as Ben and Lilly's and, after an hour or so rest the couple had joined the rest of the family in Finn's room.
Each member of the family dealt with the anxious wait differently. Hanah sat quietly with Finn's hand in hers as Sergi occupied himself by reading to his grandson. Cara sat on the sofa, flicking through a magazine, one eye on the clock at all times. Lilly stood, staring out of the huge window just watching the world go by, seemingly lost in her thoughts and Ben paced, head down, arms behind his back.
The only sounds in the room being the gentle calming voice of Sergi as he read Huckleberry Finn and the ticking of the clock as the hands slowly made their way round to midday.
Jarred had promised that they would know the results by midday. That they would know one way or another whether a match had been made and whether Finn could start on his next journey, one that would hopefully save his life.
When the two hands finally meet at 12, the door opened...
Ben's heart sank for a moment when Jarred himself walked in the room but the huge grin the Oncologist sported then made his heart soar.
"You have a match?"
"Indeed we do!"
With legs that threatened to give way, Ben staggered over to his wife, turned her to face him and took her in his arms not really knowing what to say. He just let her sob into his shoulder and listened to the sniffles coming from the rest of the family.
Jarred let the family have their moment but soon cleared his throat to get their full attention.
"Right, we need to move quickly now," he stated, pulling Finn's rollaway table to the end of the bed and opening his patient's notes.
The rest of the family quickly huddled round the specialist and Jarred glanced up at Finn and smiled.
"Do you know what's happening young man?" He asked.
Finn nodded slowly. "I'm gonna get some new healthy cells," he returned the smile.
"Correct. Your Grandfather will be giving you some of his cells."
"I knew it would be you pa," Lilly reached and rubbed her father's arm. The scenario was perfect. Finn and his grandfather were so close, always had been and it was only fitting that Grandpi would be the one to try to save his life.
Sergi smiled at his daughter and then turned his attention to Jarred once more. "So, what happens next?" He asked.
"Well, Mr Tanger. You will be given a course of injections over the next few days to stimulate your stem cell growth and then the actual harvesting is pretty simple. We will just take some blood, filter it through a special machine, collect the cells then return the filtered blood back into your blood stream. The bags of cells will then be transferred into Finn in the way of a transfusion."
"It's that simple," Sergi frowned.
"Yes, it's that simple. The procedure will take just over half an hour and then you can carry on with life as normal. I do have to warn you that the injections you are given for the few days will make you feel slightly unwell, but that will disappear after the harvest."
Silence enveloped the room for a second or two until Jarred quickly closed the file and flashed Finn another smile. "Are you ready for all this young Finn?"
"I think so," Finn nodded.
"As I told you before, just one more round of Chemo and Radiation and then we will transfer the cells."
"'kay."
"You'll be moved into a new room where we can keep a close eye on you."
"'kay."
"We will all give you the support you need and that's a promise. It's going to be a difficult month or so but I know what a brave boy you are."
"Uh huh," Finn bit his bottom of his lip nervously. Ben, who could see how scared his son was, crossed to his side, and put his arm round his shoulders.
"You can do this Finn, I know you can."
Finn stared at him with tears brimming in his eyes. "Yes Papi."
Ben kissed the top of his head. "Good boy," he praised.
Jarred grabbed his things together. "Right. We need to start the injections straight away. Mr Tanger, will you come with me please?"
Sergi and Hanah nodded, crossed to give Finn a kiss and then followed the oncologist out of the room, Sergi stopping to give his daughter a comforting hug on the way out.
The next stage had begun.