Jordan- 8
Hank awoke one morning to hear the sound of someone vomiting then crying, his father instincts had kicked into overdrive. He ran down to the bathroom to see Jordan on the bathroom floor curled up crying, some of her pajamas had vomit on them.
"Jo, sweetheart what's wrong". Hank says going to her.
"Daddy...my tummy...hurts". Jordan cries.
The older father picked her up and felt the heat coming off her small body, he brought her back to her room then quickly ran to grab the thermometer and brought it back to her room. He put it in her ear and waited for it to register after a moment it beeped, her temperature registered 102.4.
"Looks like you have a fever sweetheart".
"My tummy hurts daddy, make it stop".
To hear his little girl cry out in pain it killed Hank. "Let me go get some medicine for you, you rest baby".
Jordan nodded weakly he kissed her head then went to the bathroom and grabbed some medicine and grabbed a bucket. Hank headed back to her room setting the bucket down then poured some medicine and gave it to her, as soon as the medicine went down Jordan threw it back up but Hank had put the bucket under her in time. He gently rubbed her back as she continued to heave, after a moment it stopped.
"Daddy...make it...stop". Jordan cried.
"It's alright sweetheart". Hank soothed.
He then carried her from her room down the stairs and laid her on the couch and began heating up some soup, while the soup was heating up he called out of work for the day. When the soup was heated he poured some into a bowl then poured some orange juice. Hank brought it over to her.
"Alright sweetheart try to eat a little bit of soup".
"Ok".
Jordan managed to eat some of the soup before pushing it away, Hank brought the stuff back in the kitchen and went back over to the couch. He carefully brought his little girl into his arms and held her.
Over the next half hour Jordan laid in her father's arms whimpering, crying, her hands gripped her father's shirt. Another round of nausea came and Hank got the bucket just as Jordan began heaving again. This was starting to get the older father more worried and was thinking this wasn't a stomach bug at all.
"Sweetheart what part of your tummy hurts?" Hank asked gently.
"R-right side". Jordan answered.
Hank then swept her up wrapping her in the blanket running out the house putting her in the car, he then got in the driver seat and sped down the street with the lights and sirens on. He looked in the rear view mirror to see Jordan tossing and turning as she continued to whimper and cry in pain.
"You'll be ok sweetheart I promise".
"Daddy...make it...stop it hurts".
To hear the pain in her voice like that it killed Hank, he continued to drive down the street and finally arrived at Chicago Med. Once he parked he rushed to get his little girl out after he has Jordan he kicked the door shut then ran inside. Maggie saw the older father rushing in with Jordan.
"Maggie I need help it's Jordan". Hank said.
"Dr. Choi!". Maggie called.
"I got it. What's going on". Dr. Choi says.
"It's my daughter, she said her stomach's been hurting its her right side". Hank replied worried.
"She'll be in good hands, what's her name".
"Jordan but she'll answer to Jo".
"Jo can you tell me what hurts". Dr. Choi says gently to the upset eight year old.
"My...tummy". Jordan whimpered.
"Which side?"
"Right".
He then quickly examined her and when he gently pressed down on her right side that had sent pain through her side causing her to cry out in pain.
"Daddy make it stop".
Hank then bent down taking her hand and brushing her hair back. "You'll be ok soon sweetheart I promise".
"I think I know what the problem is". Dr. Choi said.
"What is it".
"Jordan is gonna need her appendix removed".
Hank felt his heart shatter when he heard those words, Jordan needed surgery. When the eight year old heard that she looked up at her father with a fearful expression.
"Daddy, how are they gonna get it out?" Jordan asked.
"You're gonna have to get surgery for it sweetheart, they'll make a small cut and get it out then you'll feel better afterwards". Hank explained.
"You'll be here right?"
"I'm not going anywhere baby girl".
"Can you call Justin and Erin".
"Of course".
"She's gonna have to get up to the OR now". Dr. Choi says coming in.
Hank then kissed Jordan's head and she kissed his cheek.
"I love you daddy". Jordan said.
"I love you too sweetheart". Hank replies.
The eight year old was then wheeled out of the room and taken up to the OR, Hank then called his son and Erin quickly informing them of Jordan's emergency surgery. The whole time the older father was walking around, pacing hoping his baby would be alright. His heart was racing in his chest so fast it could have popped out, Hank was now on his fourth coffee when Justin and Erin came rushing in.
"Pop!" Justin called out.
Hank turned around to see his son and surrogate daughter rushing up to him.
"Where's Jo?" Erin asked.
"She was rushed into surgery to get her appendix removed". Hank explained.
"Jo Jo's strong she'll pull through". Justin says.
The three adults sat in the waiting room, it's been almost an hour since Jordan was taken to surgery which caused Hank to get even more worried. Erin glanced over at her father figure then put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Jo will be ok, she's a fighter". Erin said.
"I thought it was just a stomach bug". Hank whispered,
"Hank this isn't your fault, you couldn't have known that it was this serious".
"Hank!" A voice called.
The three turn around to see Alvin, his wife Meredith and Lexie.
"How is she?" Alvin asked.
"She's still in surgery". Hank replied.
"Jo's gonna be ok right?" Lexie asked, concerned for her cousin.
Lexie loved Jordan the two girls were close as could be even though they were cousins the two were more like sisters. They would hang out for hours on end, Jordan idolised her older cousin.
"She'll be just fine honey". Erin says giving a smile.
Trudy then arrived concerned for her goddaughter. They all were in the waiting room sitting, after 15 minutes Dr. Choi entered the waiting room getting everyone's attention Hank didn't waste anytime rushing over to him.
"How is she?" Hank asked right away.
"The surgery was a success, Jordan's in recovery right now once she's in a room you'll be able to see her". Dr. Choi says.
Hank had sighed in relief, his little girl was ok. Jordan was finally moved to a room and everyone was inside of it, Hank was right by her side. Her small little face looked fragile. Justin was on his sister's other side, to see her in the hospital bed killed him he wished it was him in the bed instead of her.
Everyone had to leave Jordan's room due to visiting hours being over, Hank couldn't leave his baby girl's side so they allowed him to stay if he had to sleep in an uncomfortable chair to be with her he'd do it. The older father covered himself with his jacket and fell asleep, the only noises in the room was the soft breathing from Hank and Jordan along with the monitors.
Jordan then slowly began to stir she groaned a bit then slowly opened her eyes, Hank then started to wake up once his eyes were fully open he saw that his little girl was awake.
"Jo, are you ok sweetheart". Hank says gently.
"Daddy? How long was I asleep?" Jordan asked, her voice was groggy.
"You were asleep for a while sweetheart".
"My tummy doesn't hurt anymore".
"See I promised that you'd be ok and you are".
"Are Justie and Erin here?"
"They're at home getting a few things".
"Could you lay with me? Please".
"Absolutely".
Hank carefully laid beside Jordan and she curled into his side using his shoulder as a pillow, the older father had his arm around her protectively after a while they fell asleep. Justin and Erin arrived back at the hospital and made their way to Jordan's room once they were outside the room the two saw the scene before them; Jordan was snuggled up against her father and Hank held her protectively.
"Even in his sleep he's protective". Erin chuckled.
"Dad's always been like that and I can probably guess he'll stay like that". Justin responded.
The two then entered the room Justin carefully laid Jordan's favorite stuffed animal in her arm, Erin was in one chair and Justin was in another after a while they fell asleep. Dr. Choi wanted to quickly look over Jordan but when he saw that everyone was fast asleep he smiled then cut the light out leaving the small family to rest.