Willow is an interesting character to write, but I have to admit that getting inside an eight-year-old's mind was hard! Please review and tell me what you think!

"She's being very stubborn," Catherine announced when she walked out of Willow's room. "I think something's wrong, but she won't talk to me."

"You want me to try to get her up?" Steve asked. Usually it wasn't this difficult to get Willow ready for school.

Catherine sighed. "You should try, but just to warn you, she's not in a very good mood." She had been attempting to get Willow up to get ready for school since a half an hour ago. The eight-year-old was refusing to move.

Steve entered Willow's room and sat on the side of the bed. "Willow, it's time to wake up," he said gently.

Willow shook her head and coughed. "Go away!" she exclaimed. "I don't wanna talk to anyone!"

"Tell me what's wrong. I can't help you if you don't tell me."

Willow frowned as she shivered. "I can't tell you."

"You know you can tell me anything, so why can't you?"

"'Cause you'll make me go to the doctor!"

Steve now understood what his daughter wasn't telling him. "So you don't feel good, Willow?" He gently placed his hand on Willow's forehead. "You're forehead is very warm. You probably have a fever."

"But I'm cold."

"When you have a fever, you actually feel cold even though you have a high tempterature. What else doesn't feel good?"

"My head hurts really badly and my throat does, too. Please don't make me go to the doctor," the little girl begged, one again coughing.

"If you don't feel good, you have to go to the doctor. That way he'll make sure you get all better."

"I don't wanna. Don't make me," Willow pleaded. "Don't you love me?"

"Yes, and that's why I'm taking you to see the doctor. I want to make sure you're okay."

Willow looked up at him with big eyes traced with sadness, a look that may have broke Steve's heart (not that he'd ever admit it, though-he had a tough image to keep up). "Will you hold my hand?"

"Of course I will."

Catherine stood in the doorway. "Everything okay?"

Steve nodded. "Willow doesn't feel good. I'm going to take the day off work and bring her to the doctor."

"Are you sure? I can take the day off."

"No, I will."

Serenity walked up next to Catherine. "Mom, I'm ready to go."

"Okay, honey, let's go."

"Willow's not coming with us?"

"She's sick," Catherine stated. She walked over to the side of Willow's bed. "Bye, angel. I hope you feel better. Use Daddy's phone to call me as soon as you get out of the doctor's office, okay?"

"Okay," was Willow's weak reply.

Catherine gave Willow a sympathetic smile before leaving with Serenity.

"Willow, I'm going to get the phone. I'll be right back," Steve said.

Willow just nodded, keeping her eyes closed.

It didn't take long for Steve to go get the phone and return to Willow's room. The first call he made was to Willow's school.

"Hello, you've reached 'Uhane School. How can I help you?" a voice asked.

"My daughter is sick. She won't be coming in to school today."

"What's your daughter's name and what grade is she in?"

"Willow McGarrett. She's in third grade."

"Okay, it's all set."

"Thank you."

He hung up the phone as Willow asked after a cough, "I'm not going to school today?"

"No school when you're sick," Steve stated. He dialed another number.

"I haven't even gotten to headquarters yet and I already have to talk to you," Danny said when he answered the phone.

"I'm not coming to work today. Call me if there's an emergency."

"Something wrong?"

"Willow's sick. I'm staying with her."

"Alright."

Steve called Willow's pediatrician to schedule an appointment when he hung up after talking to Danny. Then he helped Willow get up and get ready.

Willow was half asleep when Steve carried her out to the truck. She felt too sick to keep her eyes open.

The wait at the doctor's office wasn't long since it was still early in the morning. Willow leaned against Steve as they sat on the blue chairs in the waiting room.

A nurse came out and stood in front of Willow. "Hi, Willow. My name is Ashley. You and your daddy can come right back here," she said with a warm smile.

Willow stood up and followed the nurse to an exam room. Steve was right behind her, keeping a concerned eye on his daughter. He lifted her onto the table and sat beside her.

Ashley sat down with a file in front of her. "Okay, Willow, what doesn't feel good?"

"My head and my throat."

Nodding, Ashley wrote that down in the file. Then she looked at Steve. "Have you noticed any other symptoms?"

"Her forehead feels warm and she's been coughing."

Scribbling notes in the file once more, Ashley stood up. "Alright, Dr. King should be in shortly," she said before leaving.

"Why are you making me do this, Daddy?" Willow questioned.

"I want to make sure you're okay," Steve explained.

Pouting, Willow said, "I'm mad at you. I'm not talking to you for the rest of the day, starting now."

"Don't be mad at me, Willow."

"Why not?"

"I thought you weren't talking to me."

Willow's hands flew to cover her mouth. "I'm not talking to you, starting now."

"Can you tell me why you don't want to be here?"

Willow glared at him. "Daddy, I said I'm not talking to you!" she exclaimed.

"But how can I know why you're mad at me if you don't tell me why?"

Sighing, Willow thought that over for a moment. She finally said, "Fine, I'll talk to you."

"Why don't you want to be here?"

"'Cause I'm scared," Willow admitted, her face wearing an apprehensive look.

Steve placed a hand on Willow's back. "Why are you scared, honey?"

"It's gonna hurt," she said, her voice very childlike with fear echoing her words.

"It won't," Steve promised.

"I'm not being a big girl," Willow proclaimed. "I'm being a wimp."

"You're not a wimp. It's okay to be scared."

Dr. King came in before they could say anything else.

"I have to call Mommy," Willow announced when they got back in the truck. Steve handed her his phone.

After dialing her mother's cell phone number, Willow put the phone to her ear. It rang twice before Catherine answered, "Willow, how'd it go?"

"I have a sinus infection," Willow stated. "I have to have...Daddy, what do I have to have?"

"Antibiotics."

"Right. I have to have anitbiotics. And guess what?"

"What, sweetheart?" Catherine asked.

"I was so scared that it was gonna hurt but Daddy said it wouldn't and it he was right. It didn't hurt at all."

"That's great, Willow. I'm so happy it didn't hurt. Now you're going to start to feel better. Sweetie, can I talk to Daddy for a minute?"

Willow reached from the backseat to hand Steve the phone. "She wants to talk to you, Daddy."

"Catherine?"

"I wanted to tell you this morning but it was a little crazy at home. Steve, I'm pregnant."