Chapter 46: Feeling strong and beautiful

Author: zeusfluff.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Blue Blood's characters. They belong to CBS. I do own all originals though. Date Started: 3/19/25. Date Finished: 3/19/25. Enjoy!

"I've got a surprise for you ladybug."

Cora gave Jamie a tired smile as the nurse next to her disconnected the iv from her port.
"What's the surprise daddy?"

Cora could see Jamie smiling behind his mask.

"We're going shopping."

Face lighting up, Cora became giddy.

"Shopping daddy? Really?"

Jamie nodded his head.

"Yes."

A frown now appeared on her face.

"But daddy, I can't go to the mall. It's too crowded. My immune system…"

Slight sadness clouded Jamie's eyes for a moment and then he blinked, plastering a smile on his face, shaking his head.

"I promise you will like this surprise honey. I know of a place on the way home I'd like to stop at."

Cora became giddier.

"Daddy, what is it?"

Jamie kept smiling behind his mask.

"You'll see baby girl."

"These are for you to try on. Pick which one you like best. It's your choice baby girl."

Jamie and Cora had arrived at a shop that exclusively sold wigs for patients. The woman who owned the shop had a plastic box with a ton of wigs inside. Cora's eyes got wide and then they landed on a hot pink wig. It was curls like her natural hair. Picking it up, she placed it on her head. The woman held up a hand mirror so that Cora could admire the look of it.

"Oh daddy! I love this hot pink one!"

A smile still plastered to his face, he internally grimaces, but accepts what she's picked out.

"Um... sure. Yeah. Looks great."

Cora gave Jamie a look.

"Are you sure you like it?"

Jamie gave her a sympathetic look.

"It's your choice ladybug. I told you. Choose whichever one you'd like."

Cora nodded and removed the pink wig, placing a bright blue neon one on her head.

"Or what about this one? It screams bold, strong and beautiful."

Jamie tried to stifle a laugh. This earned him metaphorical daggers thrown from Cora's eyes. Jamie about choked on his laugh.

"If that's the one you want honey, take it."

Cora wrinkled her nose. She looked so much like Eddie when she did that.

"Mmm. Nah. I want to see what other kinds she has."

Jamie smiled at the woman whose name was Kathy.

"Thanks for doing this for us Kathy. I know how busy your schedule is."

Kathy waved a hand at Jamie.

"It's no trouble. Cora is a beautiful young lady who needs hair equally as beautiful."

Cora tried on an orange wig and shook her head no.

"Eh. This one just isn't me. Hmm… Let's see what else have we got here… Ah ha! This one!"

Placing a dark brown wig that was pure curls on her head, she moved her head left and then right slowly and smiled proudly.

"I want this one daddy."

Jamie perked up.

"That one?"

Cora nodded her head, which made the wig slip off her head a little.

"Yes. Oops."

Kathy, the shop owner only smiled at Cora.

"Not to worry. I have a way to keep this in place on your head. All we need is a few bobby pins here and voila! You look beautiful. How does it make you feel?"

Cora smiled at herself in the hand mirror Kathy held up for her.

"Strong and beautiful. I feel like me. I want this one."

Jamie nodded and looked at Kathy.

"How much do I owe you?"

Kathy smiled and shook her head.

"$40."

Jamie shook his head.

"Are you sure?"

Kathy nodded her head.

"Yes. You have enough to worry about. I see so many patients come through here, and charging them a hefty price for them to look beautiful isn't what I'm about. I make things affordable."

Jamie nodded and shook hands with Kathy.

"Alright. Where do I pay?"

Kathy led Jamie and Cora over to the register by the door. Cora couldn't stop running her fingers lightly through the wig.

"This feels like my real hair. It's weird."

Cora wasn't sure if the car ride was making her sick, or her third round of chemo. At the stop light, Jamie looked over at her with concerned eyes.

"You ok ladybug? You're looking a little pale."

Shaking her head no, Cora managed to speak.

"No daddy. Pull over."

Jamie went through the light as soon as it was green and pulled over. Cora found a trash can and lost what was in her stomach. Jamie got out of the car and closed the door. His hand landed on Cora's upper back, rubbing it in large soothing strokes.

"It's ok honey, let it all out. I'm right here."

Cora didn't feel so hot, but she didn't want to get vomit all over her new hair. She felt her dad pull the hair of her wig back as her stomach betrayed her one more time. Jamie supported her the whole time.

"It's ok baby girl. I'm right here."

Cora looked up from the trash can and saw a couple of beat cops walking a foot post. Her face turned beet red. Closing her eyes, she felt her stomach betray her again. Without opening her eyes, she heard one of the cops speak.

"Are the two of you ok?"

She listened as Jamie spoke.

"We're ok officers. My daughter isn't feeling well."

Opening her eyes this time, Cora saw one give her a look of pity. It was almost as if he knew she was sick.

"We'd be happy to call a bus for you."

Jamie shook his head no.

"No. That's not necessary. She'll be alright."

The cop with pity in his eyes nodded his head and looked at Cora one more time.

"Ok. You two have a nice day. Feel better."

Cora looked over at Jamie and straightened up as the two officers left.

"Let's go daddy. That was embarrassing."

Jamie rubbed her back and helped her back into the passenger side of the car.

"We're home!"

Eddie had barely come home and so had the kids. Patrick was sitting on the couch watching tv, and Maisie, Kaitlyn and Keena were playing a game in the dining room.

"Hey, your back."

Cora looked at her mom.

"I just want to go to bed mama. Sorry."

Jamie looked at Cora carefully.

"Can you make it upstairs by yourself ladybug?"

Cora shook her head no. So, Jamie helped Cora take her jacket off, placing it on the coat rack. Leading her to the staircase and up them, they got to her room fairly quickly despite how Cora was feeling.

"Do you want some help getting into your pajamas? I can send your mom in."

Cora nodded her head, and Jamie yelled down the stairs.

"Hey hon, Cora needs help with her pajamas."

Lowering herself into her computer chair, Cora swayed a little. Jamie steadied her and reached into his bag for some Compazine.

"Here baby girl. Take this. It'll make your stomach feel better."

Cora took the Compazine and put it under her tongue. She was exhausted. She needed some fluids in her. Jamie knew that. Eddie entered the room and gave Jamie a concerned look.

"Hey. How'd it go today?"

Jamie sighed; Cora was already fast asleep in the chair.

"Like the last two chemo treatments. She's fine until about 30 minutes after we leave the hospital, and then in the car she gets nauseous and vomits. I had to pull over and she lost her food in a trash can. She's not in any pain right now, but in another hour or two, I know she will be. She's been complaining about her bones hurting more and more. The radiation and the chemo have been very hard on her body. Once she's had a little rest, we need to get some fluids into her."

Eddie nodded and she watched as Jamie exited the room.

"I can get her pajamas on her, but I'll need your help getting her into bed."

Jamie nodded and stepped outside. He waited a couple of minutes and then knocked on Cora's door. Eddie came and opened it up.

"Come in bub. Help me get her in bed."

Jamie scooped Cora into his arms and placed her under her covers. Meanwhile, Eddie covered her with her comforter. Jamie whispered to Cora.

"Get some rest baby girl. We'll all be here when you wake up. We love you."

To Be Continued…

A/N: So, what'd you guys think?