Empty Spaces

Check up

Stepping out of the hospital room Sylvie was finally able to take a breath. Matt had left a few minutes earlier to go and find a doctor and Ava and Bella were discussing what had happened in the past few days, it made Sylvie feel out of place, like she was eavesdropping on a private conversation.

She leaned up against the wall next to the door and closed her eyes, figuring she could relax for a minute before Matt to return with the doctor. She had thought finally getting a moment to herself would help to relax a bit and take her mind off the situation she was putting herself in, but she was wrong. Her mind kept replaying the moments between her and Casey and what Stella had said. She was beginning to hope maybe there was something between them, that this could finally be the thing that shows if he likes her the way she likes him.

Sylvie was pulled from her thoughts when she heard Matt and Dr Manning's voices approaching. She opened her eyes and pulled herself off the wall, trying to look the least bit presentable by the time they returned.

"Hey Nat. Any new on Ava?" Sylvie asked, her focus being switched from herself to the doctor. She was grateful to be able to put her mind to something different.

"Hey! We managed to stop her brain bleed without needing surgery. We're monitoring it and waiting for any major changes." Nat said, looking between Matt and Sylvie then into the room where Bella and Ava sat. "Is that Bella? We've all heard nonstop about her."

Sylvie looked over her shoulder at Bella with a smile breaking out before she looked back at Natalie. "It sure is. Would you mind looking her over really quick? She seems okay but we just wanted to make sure." Sylvie asked as she crossed her arms and bit her lip. Natalie had become a friend of the department. They were all pretty close and she knew how much Natalie loved kids. It was the main reason she became doctor.

"Of course." Natalie responded almost immediately, throwing her a reassuring smile. "I'm sure she's fine Syl, but ill check her out none the less.

Matt opened the hospital door for both girls before following them inside, he shut it once they were all inside, thankful for the privacy. Sylvie had made her way over to one side of the bed and Natalie walked to the other, Matt stood at the end.

They could tell immediately how nervous Bella was by the way she moved towards Sylvie and away from Dr. Manning. It made Sylvie's heart swell to know she was Bella's new safe space but also sad by the look on Ava's face at the realisation. She sent the girl a soft smile, to let her know she was sorry.

"Why don't we go to an empty exam room huh?" Natalie asked, knowing she would have to ask some uncomfortable questions and she didn't want her feeling uncomfortable around anyone in the room. She watched Bella shake her head and clutch to Sylvie, not wanting to let her go. "Sylvie can come too; it can just be us?"

At that Bella nodded slowly, still weary of the though but knowing Sylvie would be there helped calm her nerves some. Sylvie picked her off the bed and stepped around the bed, she brushed Matt's shoulder gently as they made their way out of the room. Whispering to him that they would be back, it gave him time to ask Ava a few questions and thank her for protecting Matt.

As they walked down the hall Sylvie whispered reassuringly to Bella, telling her about how Natalie (Dr. Manning) was a very good friend and a very good doctor. It did little to still the girls nerves, still unsure about new people. It was a plus that Natalie was female though, it made it easier to form a trust with her. She knew doctors were meant to be nice and that she could trust Sylvie's word but with everything she had been through it took a little to build up a relationship with someone.

As they entered the room Sylvie placed Bella on the bed who was watching Natalie close the blinds. The hospital room was decorated with stickers of different kid shows, it made Bella smile when she saw one, she recognised.

"Alright Bella. I'm just going to check your breathing okay?" Dr Manning asked, bringing her stethoscope up and checking her lung sounds and heart. Once that was over, she hung it back around her neck and pulled out her light. "Well they both sound great! Mind if I check your eyes?"

Bella nodded yes and Natalie turned it on, checking for pupil response. Both eyes measured good. Next, she checked the young girls blood pressure.

"Well Bella, you see like a very healthy little girl." Natalie smiled, grabbing a lollipop out of her white coat pocket and handing it to Bella who took it gratefully. Eating it almost immediately. "Sylvie, mind if I talk to you outside for a second?"

With a nod they headed outside, standing within site of Bella but far enough so she couldn't hear them. "On the outside she seems fine, her weight is pretty low, so I'd recommend feeding her small portions multiple times a day. Definitely see a nutritionist if you have her long term."

"Long term? No, we're just keeping her until this case is over. I don't even think they'd let us keep her." Sylvie said looking at Bella with sad eyes. She had always wanted to be a mother and she wasn't against adopting, considering she had been adopted herself, but she knew with her job she would never get approved unless the case was time sensitive.

"Sylvie, I've known you for 5 years and I have never seen you look at something with so much love, well besides one thing." Natalie said with a wink, causing Sylvie to break out in a blush. She was relieved when she heard Bella call out for her, leaving her with an exit before she dug herself into a hole. How was it everyone knew about her crush for Matt before she even did?

Bella raised her arms up as soon as Sylvie entered the room and she picked her up, placing her on her hip. Some would say Bella was to old to be held like this, but she was so tiny and hopeful that it made it easy for Sylvie to show her the affection. When Natalie told them, they were right to go Sylvie made her way back to Ava's room, walking in to find Matt and Ava laughing.

"And like we didn't already know, Bella is perfect." Sylvie stated, tickling Bella's side to made her laugh. She liked the way Ava smiled when she saw Bella smiling, it shows how much she cares for her.

"We should probably head out, go get Teeny some new clothes." Matt said almost reluctantly as he walked over to Sylvie, talking Bella when she reached out for him. He stepped back towards the door, watching Bella wave to Ava who waved back. "We'll meet you at the car. Give you two a moment to talk."

Once he exited the room Sylvie stepped closer to the bed and sat down, taking Ava's hand which was stretched out. She had been planning on how to thank the girl since Matt had mentioned they were coming here but as she sat here her mind was coming up blank. She was kind of shocked to hear Ava say it first. It was a simple thank you but it made Sylvie look up and really see the emotions in Ava's eyes.

"Thank you for taking care of her, for showing her the world isn't all bad. I tried so hard but I'm just a kid, ya know?" Ava began crying, a different girl to who was tough just minutes ago. She felt better, finally being able to let her emotions out. She had tried to be strong around Bella and to protect her but it was getting hard being just a teen herself.

"No no no no, thank you Ava. You protected her so well." Sylvie said, her own eyes filling with tears. "You have been the only thing constant in her life these past few months. You taught her so much."

Ava nodded and squeezed Sylvie's hand gently, bringing her free hand up to wipe her face. She loved how Matt and Sylvie were with Bella, how they acted like a family. "Please don't leave her." Ava said softly, her lip quivering as she spoke. The last thing she wanted was for Bella to go through the heart break of being left again.

"I'll try my hardest, okay? I'll try." She promised the only thing she could. She slowly stood, knowing she needed to leave and go meet Matt and Bella, but she didn't want to leave Ava upset.

"Thank you, now you better go. Don't wanna keep your man waiting." Ava smiled and let go of Sylvie's hand. Sylvie's heart almost stopped, before blushing. She felt like she had been doing a lot of that lately.

"Oh n-no, he's not my man." Sylvie let out an awkward laugh as she moved towards the door, trying to exit before she could embarrass herself.

"Oh really? The way he was talking about you when you left, I thought you two were together. Sorry about that." Ava chuckled, waving to Sylvie as she made her way out the door slightly in shock.

She was curious now to what they had spoken about while they were gone. She made it a plan to try get it out of him.