All I own is Paige and the plot. CBS owns the rest.
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Paige opened her eyes at five the next morning. She smiled, knowing that in a few short hours, she would be able to see her mom again. She thought about her mother, her best friend, lying in the hospital bed. Soon she would be there to help her mom face the cancer and win.
She sat up in bed. The book she had been reading was setting on the table next to her. She was about half-way through it. She'd have to take it and another book with her for the flight. Her bag was by the door, and that day's outfit was hanging in the closet. She stepped out of bed and went to take a shower. She could hear Dave in the bedroom across the hall, rummaging through his closet. She quickly showered and got dressed before taking her bag downstairs. Rossi was already in the kitchen making coffee.
"Hey, there you are. I can make you some breakfast if you're hungry," he offered.
"No thanks. I'll just heat up some Chinese." She said.
"You must have gotten that from me." He replied. She looked at him quizzically. "Chinese is my favorite, too." He added.
She ate hastily and they drove to the airport. It was an hour before they finally boarded, and Paige looked at all the shops while they waited. Finally, they boarded the plane.
They sat in first class, and Rossi fussed over Paige, trying to make sure that she had all that she needed.
"Dave, I'm fine, I've got a book. I'll be content until we get there. You should take a nap or watch a movie and relax." Paige said.
"I just want to make sure you're comfortable. First flights can be scary." Dave replied.
"Wait how did you--"
"Profiler, remember? I don't miss much." He reminded her.
Rossi spent the flight sneakily observing his new daughter. She was too absorbed in her book to notice.
After three or four hours, the plane landed and they got a rental car. The drive to Mercy's Angels was short, and Paige was excited to be back in Florida. She spent the drive pointing out different places that she liked to visit.
Soon they were at the hospital, making their way up to Casey's room. Paige talked to the nurse, who seemed to know her very well. It was evident that she'd spent a lot of time at this hospital. Finally, they entered Casey's hospital room. It was full of dying flowers with cards that said "Mom" and pictures of Paige. Casey frowned when she saw her daughter.
"Paige, honey, I told you to go find your--" she stopped when Rossi entered the room.
"I did, Mom. I found him." Paige replied.
"Baby, I told you not to be here. It's getting close." Casey said, then coughed. Paige and Rossi winced at the sound. Casey was hooked up to several different machines, one of which supplied oxygen. Paige started to cry.
"I wanted to come see you, Casey." Rossi said.
"Dave, I'm so sorry I lied." Casey said, tears stinging her eyes.
"Casey, it's alright. I'm not angry." he told her.
"Paige, get your father some coffee or something." Casey said.
"But, Mom," Paige started to argue.
"Just go," Casey said. Paige obeyed.
As soon as Paige was out of ear shot, Rossi sat down next to his ex-wife.
"Casey, you know how much I loved you right? I still love you."
"Dave, don't. The past is the past." Casey said, coughing. "You have to listen to me though, while there is still time. I need you to take care of Paige."
"I will Casey, I want to."
"No, you don't understand. I need you to help her. She's changed ever since I got sick."
"What do you mean?"
"She used to be so happy all the time. She took dance lessons, and she was one of the best dancers I've ever seen, she was even captain of the drill team at school. She was a member of the Chess Club, and she was in Drama, too. She loved all of that. I loved going to all of her events, but when I started chemo, I couldn't go anymore. So she stopped. I want you to get her to do those things again, Dave."
"I will do my best, Casey." Rossi said.
"One other thing."
"What?"
"I don't know how much about herself Paige has told you, but I wanted to give you a head's up. Our daughter isn't like the other kids."
"What do you mean?" Rossi asked nervously.
"She tries to play dumb sometimes, but she's far from dumb. She's got an IQ of 176, we got her tested when she was little."
"Well, that's not so bad."
"She can also read super fast. I've never seen anyone blow through a book in ten minutes before. She does, all the time."
"I've seen it on numerous occasions. One of my colleagues is a genius."
"She can also memorize large amounts of information in a short period of time, and once it's in her head, it's there to stay."
"I've got a genius for a daughter?"
"Yes, but don't treat her like she's special, and don't make her feel bad about it."
"Why would I do that?"
"Paul did. Paul treated her like she was a freak. Especially after he found out." Casey wheezed. Again, another coughing fit took her.
"Mom? Are you okay?" Paige wandered into the room with a cup of coffee and handed it to Rossi.
"Dave, get the doctor," Paige said after Casey coughed up some blood. Dave didn't hesitate to listen.
"Baby," Casey said between coughs. "Please...listen to...your father..."
"Okay, Mom. I will," Paige said, tears springing to her eyes.
Dave and the doctor ran back into the room.
"I'm sorry, there's not much I can do." The doctor said.
"What if I can pay, cash?" Rossi asked.
"I'm sorry, sir. There really is nothing I can do."
"Can somebody with a real doctor's degree do something?" Rossi shouted.
"Dave...don't." Casey whispered. "I've been...to every doctor...imagineable. There's...nothing. I'm dying..." Casey said, the coughing subsiding.
"Paige, is this true?" Dave asked. Paige nodded, a few tears hitting the floor.
"I can give her a pain medication, but it will make her sleep. She doesn't have much time left. Casey, do you want pain medicine?"
"No, I want to spend my last minutes with my daughter." Casey replied. The doctor nodded and left, promising that he'd be just outside.
"Mom, you can't give up!" Paige exclaimed, then hugged her mother gently.
"Listen to me, my little Paige Out Of A Book, I'm tired. I want to go home. Up there." Casey said, smiling weakly.
"But, Mom, please!" Paige sat near her mother, holding her hand.
"Paige. I love you. With all my heart. Listen to your father, I'm sorry I lied." Her breathing grew labored. "I love you both."
Casey kissed Paige's hand, then closed her eyes and exhaled for the final time.
"Mom? Mom? Wake up! This isn't funny! Wake up! Mom?!" Paige cried, then realized her mom was gone. She began to sob hysterically. Dave lifted her away from the body while the doctors came in.
"Isn't there anything you can do now?! Bring her back!" Paige screamed. "Bring her back!"
"Your mother had specific wishes." The doctor replied.
"And I don't! I want my mother back!" Paige screamed through tears. She struggled to break free.
"Nurse, give her a sedative. She's hysterical." The doctor said.
"Yes, doctor." The nurse left for a moment, then came back with a needle. She injected it into Paige's arm, and then Paige's world went black.