Hey, thank you for all the reviews! I do plan on including everything that has happened to Faith. I started it before the episode about Faith. I don't quite know how I'm going to include it. I also don't know if Faith has told Stevie. What do you think? I'm thinking I might have Ellie melt down to Faith at some point and then Faith speaks to her about it.
Stevie had just arrived at the school to pick the girl up. She had slept from 8-2 o'clock after returning from her night shift so knew that she had had enough sleep. She felt bad as she really hadn't spent much time with the girl this week having been on nights.
"Hello, I'm here to collect my niece. She has an appointment" Stevie told the receptionist who nodded and disappeared for a minute. Suddenly the automatic doors opened and Ellie walked out. Stevie smiled and instantly put her arm around the girl's shoulder.
"Thank you" She called before walking out of the school with the girl.
"So how do you like your new school?" Stevie asked and Ellie nodded.
"I actually really like it" Ellie admitted. "I was a bit nervous starting like in the last term but actually it's really good".
"I'm glad" Stevie said, "Have you made any new friends?"
"Yeah, there are like a group of 5 girls that I've been hanging out with. I'm closest to Lucy though, she's in all my classes" Ellie explained, and Stevie nodded. She was glad that the girl was starting to settle in.
"Though, they like assume that you are my mum" Ellie admitted nervously.
"Did you confirm it?" Stevie asked and Ellie shook her head.
"No but I didn't correct them. I said I was getting picked up early to go to the hospital and they just turned it around into my mum was collecting me. I didn't say anything or correct them" Ellie admitted, and Stevie shrugged.
"I get it, but well I think you are best to be honest. It might cause some questions but whose business is it who you live with anyway" Stevie shrugged and instantly Ellie felt better. She was glad that she had spoken about this with her aunt. She decided that once she was closer to her friends she would explain the truth but not everyone needed to know especially not so early on.
They arrived at the hospital and quickly went to the outpatients. Stevie was very hopeful that they wouldn't have to wait too long.
Luckily they only had to wait about 10 minutes after their appointment time to be seen. The young doctor appeared very nervous having heard a lot about Doctor Nash and stuttered over his words a few times.
"So basically the x-ray shows that everything is healing as it should be and that she doesn't need an operation" Stevie asked and the doctor nodded.
"Yes doctor Nash" The young doctor replied and Stevie had to hide the smirk that was fighting to come through.
"Right let's go then" Stevie said helping the young girl stand up and escorting her out of the room.
"Right, well it's 3:15 now, I start work at 7 so we have almost 4 hours. I thought we needed a bit of a catch up" Stevie said and Ellie nodded. She liked the sound of that.
"Do you fancy going to the dessert place and getting ice cream?" Stevie suggested and Ellie's face light up. She nodded eagerly.
They soon arrived at the dessert café and quickly looked at the menu. There were so many options and Ellie didn't know where to start. Stevie had noticed that the last few days, the girl's panic around money was starting to ease. She had confidently asked Stevie for money for lunches for starting her new school and then again when she commented that she wanted to buy herself a tie.
"Can I get the strawberry cheesecake sundae please" Ellie asked, and Stevie nodded.
"Go and grab a seat for us" Stevie encouraged, and the girl went ahead and did as she was asked.
"So you are settled at school. How are you finding the classes?" Stevie asked as she sat down and handed the girl her sundae.
"It's classes, I think it'll be good when I start my GCSEs though because they have a lot of different subjects which I'm interested in" Ellie explained.
"Ah that's good, do you know what you want to be when you grow up?" Stevie asked and Ellie shrugged.
"I don't think I've really thought about it. I kind of felt really low living in care so I didn't think much about the future. I know I should have had the outlook that I can change and not be that failed care kid but after so many years in care and hearing all the same stories, it's hard" Ellie admitted, and Stevie nodded.
"I can't imagine how it must have felt" Stevie said taking a hold of the girl's hand. Ellie nodded.
"Well, you can start looking into the future now. I will be with you every single step of the way" Stevie said squeezing the girl's hand.
"How have you been feeling the last few days?" Stevie asked supportively.
"Fine" Ellie said not to sure what her aunt was getting at.
"Are you okay staying with Faith?" Stevie added and Ellie nodded.
"Yeah, I think Sunday night really helped me understand how much you and Faith were protecting me" Ellie explained and Stevie nodded. "Though, I am kind of excited about you finishing your nights on Friday because I've really missed you".
"Aw, I've actually really missed you too" Stevie said which she didn't realise that she would feel.
"Right, let's head home for a bit and then I'll drop you off at Faith's on my way to work" Stevie said as they finished their sundaes. Ellie nodded and quickly stood up.
The rest of the evening went really quickly, and it wasn't long before Stevie dropped Ellie off at Faith's. It was only the children who were in as Faith finished as Stevie started. Faith arrived home about an hour after and spoke quickly with all the children before making dinner. She noticed that Ellie had eaten very little but put it down to her having ice cream with Stevie earlier. She kept an eye on all the children before ensuring that they went to bed at reasonable times.
Ellie tossed and turned all night. Her stomach just wouldn't settle. She wasn't sure what was going on, but she just didn't feel well. She eventually got to sleep and was rudely awoken by Faith.
"Morning Ellie, this is your 15-minute warning" Faith said gently waking the girl.
"Are you okay?" Faith asked placing a hand on the girl's head.
"You feel a bit hot" Faith commented.
"I'm fine" Ellie stated before turning around. She needed 15 minutes of no one talking to her. Faith stood up and went to finish getting ready. Due to the start time of her shifts, she would wake all the children up but have to leave before they left for school.
Fifteen minutes later, Faith checked in again on Ellie who was sharing a room with Ana.
"Come on Ellie, time to get up" Faith said. She had a rule of not leaving the children until they were out of the bed. It reduced the dance of them getting back into bed.
"Are you sure you are feeling okay?" Faith asked just having a niggling feeling that something was up.
"I'm fine" Ellie said before encouraging the woman out of the door so that she could get dressed. Ellie quickly dressed whilst Ana was in the shower and then went into the bathroom once it was empty.
"Right, Natalia is going to drive everyone to their school" Faith shouted before leaving. All the children replied in chorus and then the door was slammed shut.
Are you sure you are feeling okay today? X
Ellie sighed when she read the message from her aunt. Why did everyone always have to be on her case?
I'm fine
Ellie put her phone away before lying on the sofa. She really didn't feel well but she was not going to tell anyone. She lazed on the sofa with her eyes closed before Natalia instructed them all to get into her car.
She drove them all to school and Ellie was the second person to be dropped off.
"Thanks, Nat" She mumbled as she clambered out the back of the car and dragged herself into school. She just needed to get through today, she thought.
The bell rang and Ellie took herself to her first period class. She hoped that it would go quickly but she continued to feel worse and worse as the lesson went on.
"Ellie, I know that I don't know you too well, but you really don't look well. I think we should get you to the nurse's office" the teacher explained.
"I'm fine" Ellie said going to stand up as it was the end of the lesson. Ellie swayed slightly and caught herself against the desk.
"Nope, you need to go the nurse's now. I'll walk you down" The English teacher explained. She quickly called into the classroom next door asking that they keep an eye on the next class so that she could walk the girl to the nurse's.
"Hello, this is Ellie Smith. She isn't feeling very well" The English teacher explained, "She was reluctant to come down, but I definitely think a parent needs called to collect her"
The nurse nodded and quickly put Ellie's name into the system.
"Right, so we have your aunt down as your emergency contact so I will give her a call now" The nurse explained, and Ellie nodded. She was very nervous as to how Stevie would react.
"Your aunt is on her way" The nurse explained, and Ellie nodded. She was given a sick bowl and asked to wait at reception.
Luckily, it only took about 20 minutes for her aunt to arrive. Ellie was starting to feel more and more sick. She jumped up as soon as she her aunt at the door. She was quickly let out and walked along side her aunt to the car.
"Faith knew that you were well this morning, why didn't you just say something?" Stevie asked but Ellie didn't reply. They got into the car and began to drive home, Ellie was silent the whole way before suddenly throwing up as they drove into the street.
"It's okay" Stevie tried to keep the girl calm but was relieved when she was able to park the car and run round to the passenger side.
"Oh sweetie" Stevie said as she held the girl's hair back whilst she threw up.
"I've got you" Stevie said as she rubbed the girl's back with her other hand.
"Are you ready to come up to the flat just now?" Stevie asked softly and Ellie nodded. She allowed her aunt to guide her up to the flat. Stevie quickly binned the sick bowl and found a bucket for the girl to be sick in.
"Let's get you changed into your pyjamas" Stevie said before making work changing the girl. Stevie loved that the girl was finally relaxed enough to let her help her without complaints.
"I'm going to be sick" Ellie announced, and Stevie quickly got her to the toilet. She got her there just in time for her to start throwing up. The girl was throwing up until there was nothing left for her to throw up.
"Oh darling" Stevie said as she rubbed the girl's back. She waited until the girl had stopped being sick before guiding her to the living room.
"Lay down" Stevie instructed, and she wrapped her arms around the girl.
"There is a bucket if you think you are going to be sick" Stevie said, and the girl nodded before curling into her aunt and drifting to sleep. So much of Stevie wanted to find out why the girl hadn't told her that she was sick, but she knew that it could wait until later.
The rest of the day, Ellie was sick a further 3 times. Stevie had woken up each time and dealt with the girl before rocking her back to sleep. She wasn't sure how many more times the girl would be sick. She didn't understand what the girl could still have in her stomach to throw up.
"Will you be okay going to Faith's tonight?" Stevie asked and Ellie nodded.
"You can sleep with Faith, okay? I promise you that she will get up with you every time you are sick just like I did today" Stevie said and Ellie nodded. She was still nervous though.
"I don't want to be a hassle" Ellie admitted.
"Oi, you are not a hassle. Is that why you didn't tell me you were sick?" Stevie asked and Ellie nodded.
"You silly girl, I will always, always help you when you are ill. Don't ever be scared of me" Stevie said pulling the girl into her arms.
"Right, I'm going to drive you to Faith's now and then go to work. She isn't working today so I'll explain to her what's up." Stevie explained to Ellie.
They arrived at Faith's house just after 6.
"Hey, Ellie really isn't feeling well. She's been sick all day. I did debate calling in sick but there literally isn't anyone who can cover my shift. I told her that you would help her. Can she sleep with you? She's not the best at shouting or asking for help when she's being sick" Stevie explained, and Faith nodded.
"Oh no, darling. Of course, you can spend the night with me" Faith said running her hands through the girl's hair.
"Go and bring the duvet down from your bed and cosy up on the sofa. Your aunt will just tell me what's being going on today" Faith explained, and Ellie nodded heading up the stairs.
"She's been sick 5 times now, I don't know what else she can throw up. I gave her water to sip but it's not really staying down" Stevie explained, and Faith nodded. She told Faith the times of the medications that she had given the girl before kissing the girl as it was time for her go.
"Any issues text me, both of you" Stevie said and they both nodded.
"Right, let's get a movie on" Faith said snuggling up with the girl on the sofa. She missed the girl's being this size. She got good cuddles from Ellie.
"Right b-e-d time" Faith said as she noticed that it was almost 10 o'clock. The girl had spent most of the time sleeping on and off. She hadn't been sick at all which Faith was glad about. They started walking up the stairs when currently Ellie froze.
"Toilet now" Faith said guiding the girl to the bathroom. They just made it to the toilet where Ellie kneeled over and started throwing up into the toilet. Faith held the girl's hair back and rubbed her back until she had finished.
"Good girl" Faith said wiping the girl's face.
"Go to the bathroom and then into bed" She instructed. She walked to her own room and quickly messaged Stevie an update. By the time she had finished typing, Ellie was in the room.
"Jump in" Faith said opening the duvet. Ellie snuggled into the bed whilst Faith disappeared to the bathroom to get changed and got ready for bed.
Faith smiled as she entered the room and saw that the girl was already sleeping. She saw a thank you message from Stevie and drifted off to sleep herself.
So what do you think? I'll look at adding about Faith's fear of needles to the story at some point.