What The Heart Desires

5.

TENBY IRWIN 9:00AM

My dad came in for a few minutes to check on me, then had to get back to work. I wanted him to stay with me. I wanted my dad to cuddle and hold me until I felt better. I turned on the TV in the hospital room, which was really just a bunch of old TV shows that I didn't really care to watch. I tucked my legs up to my chin, and stayed in that position quietly, anxiously waiting for someone, anyone to come in. I was so bored, and just wanted to go back home. I grabbed Nah Nah,and held her tightly to my chest.

Suddenly the door opened, and Michael came back in, dressed in scrubs.

"How are you feeling now, babe?" He asks me,pulling up a chair next to the bed.

"A bit better I guess. My tummy still hurts though" I admit, resting my chin on top of my tucked up knees.

"Calum should be coming in soon to look you over, and I bet the chief will let your dad pop in for a little longer. He had to go help Calum with a difficult patient who wouldn't sit still." Michael explains.

"But I don't want Calum. I just want my daddy." I say.

"I'm sure he wont be too much longer, sweetie. Plus you love Calum. You know he won't hurt you. He's gonna help you feel a lot better soon." Michael says

"I wanna go to your house and cuddle with South."

"I brought you Moose today."

I just giggled a bit, then stopped after my head started to hurt again.

"Do you want to lay down for a bit?" Michael asks me.

I nodded, curling up into my blanket.

ASHTON IRWIN 10:54AM

"Temp was 99 this morning when she woke up, then went up to 100.8 an hour later as I was leaving." I explain to Michael.

It had been a rough morning. With Tenby having a fever this morning, then a very busy ER as soon as I had gotten to work, I hardly had any time to even hear my own thoughts.

"I think we need to put her on IV fluids and monitor her for the rest of the day, maybe even overnight." Says Michael, placing a cooling rag on a sleeping Tenby.

She woke up just a moment ago, then went back to sleep. Which is fine, because sometimes sleep is the best thing you can do when you're sick.

"She had a bad cough and said that her head hurt, and that her stomach was sore, so I paged Calum just a bit ago." Michael said.

I nodded.

Calum was working on the wards today, as I am a pediatric ER doctor, and he is a Pediatrician, sometimes we have to work together.

"Hey Mate" Calum knocked at the doorframe of the hospital room.

"Hi." I grumble back.

"Ash, I know this is probably the last place you want to be right now, but I'm gonna check her out real quick and make sure she's alright before I can send her home." Cal said.

I nodded, going over to wake Tenby up.

"Ten, Wake up baby, Cal's here." I say.

Her eyes flutter open. I gently shake her shoulder to help her get more awake, then I help her to sit propped up on a pillow. I watch as she rubs her eyes, yawns, then slowly takes her blanket down off of her chest, allowing Calum to come near to her.

"Hey Tenby How're you feeling now that you've rested a bit? I was hoping to come by and see you soon for a game night at your house, but it appears your body had other plans. Is it okay if I take a few vitals and go from there?" Says Calum, speaking to Tenby in a calm and soft way, thermometer already in his hand.

That's what I really loved about Calum. He's always so gentle with everyone. Even though Tenby is 14, and knows Cal would never hurt her, he still speaks to her so kindly.

Tenby just nods silently, watching as Calum put the thermometer in her ear. Tenby made a face at me, as I know she doesn't like it, so I leaned forward to hold her hand.

Calum sighs and frowns at the reading.

"Okay Ten, I think we should keep you here overnight. Your body is most likely fighting an infection, so we are gonna do-" Calum stops in the middle of his sentence to the sound of the door being barged open.

"Oh my gosh I came as fast as I could as soon as I saw the name on the ER chart. Tenby what happened? Are you okay?" Luke rushes in, panic written all over his face.

"Chill out Uncle Luke I'm fine." Tenby smiles a bit.

"Yeah, I was just about to be sure she was fine until you came in here." Calum says, pushing Luke out of the way playfully.

"Sorry mate I just got so worried."Luke said, standing back by me a bit.

"Well There's nothing to worry about, we're just gonna do some blood work really quick, then I'll have a feel of your tummy, see what else is going on, then maybe put you on some fluids and antibiotics." Calum explained.

Tenby just nodded and groaned, most likely feeling completely drained of all energy.

"Alright, I'll let the lab know you're on the way there, and I'll see you later." Cal says, pressing a few buttons on his pager, then leaving the room.

Luke goes out of the room and comes back with a wheelchair, which I help Tenby into, grabbing Nah Nah off of the bed for her to hold.

The walk down to the laboratory was silent, the only noise coming from the elevator.

We meet the very nice young man, who must be new, as I don't think I've seen him before, who will be taking Tenby's blood. He looks fresh out of med school, so I pray that he knows what he's doing.

"Hiya, Tenby, I'm Josh. I'll have you sit in this nice big green chair, your dad can sit with you if you want." He says, smiling gently at her.

Ten just looks up at me, putting her arms up as if she were a toddler wanting to be held.

I carefully pick her up, sit in the chair with her on my lap, then start to roll her sleeve up on her left arm, that's closest to Josh.

Josh begins by putting on some gloves, then starts to explain what he's doing to Tenby, even though I'm sure she knows by now, my little hospital baby is all grown up, she doesn't even try to wiggle out of my hold, although I can feel the heat radiating off of her body, she may even just be too sick and weak to move about.

"All it is, is a little prick in your arm, then that's all, I'll be super quick, then have you right back up to your room. You can even pick out a sticker if you'd like." Josh says, gently tapping her arm for a vein.

Tenby squeezes her eyes shut, then grips my body a little harder, knowing what's happening.

The small needle slips right in, and she flinches a little, grabbing Nah Nah so hard I thought his beady little eyes might pop out.

"You're doing great baby, it'll be all done soon, then we can see if Uncle Mike can get you something from the cafeteria." I say, looking down at her.

"I bet they'll have those green jellos you like" Says Luke.

Soon, its all done, and Tenby gets a purple bandage wrapped around her arm, and we thank Josh, heading back up to the elevators.

On the way there, Tenby mentions that she wants a turkey sandwich from the cafeteria, so Michael heads down there to grab her one, while Luke has to get back to work.

I however, stay with my babygirl. I look over at her, seeing that she's on her phone, texting, probably Crivvy or Marnie.

"Dad, I wanna cuddle." She whispers, and I just barely catch it, but I wasn't about to pass up the offer when she scoots over, making room for me. I get up, and crawl into bed with my poorly girl. As soon as we know it, we're both asleep.

Hey guys! Sorry it took a while to update, I've been super busy with my job and taking care of our new puppy! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!!