Code Blue

~ Chapter 81 ~

Imma be honest I was at the hospital for my grandma all day yesterday and never read thru this so if anything is wrong...well

Chapter 81
Saturday December 23rd
Harry's POV

"I'm so excited to go home daddy!"

At her declaration, I briefly stopped what I was doing and looked over at my smiling daughter. Nearing the time for her next chemotherapy, she was growing weaker yet again and becoming tired more easily, but she still wore that beautiful grin on her face. For the last few days she has been talking my ear off about this subject and each time, it brought that same sparkle in her eyes. Stevie is beyond elated to spend a few days back at the house, and I was just excited that she's still able to consider something other than this hospital home.

"I'm excited too lovebug" I gave her a wide smile in return, genuine, because I am also looking forward to it. It's been months since I've gotten to see my daughter back where she belongs, somewhere other than these white walls. Her cancer has taken so much of her life from her, and I am hoping these next few days will be motivation to get us through her last chemo cycle. Perhaps we will even get a taste of what a 'normal' life would look like again.

I'd get to see my daughter wake up in her own bed with fitted ballerina sheets surrounded by the pile of stuffed animals she's acquired over the years. We'd get to cuddle together and read the stories that have gone untouched on her bookshelf. We can lay on the floor and play Barbie dolls together. She can run out on Christmas morning to see the decorated tree with wrapped presents like other kids. Maybe we can even bake something together, an activity that has been neglected since her cancer came back. For the next few days, we can make memories that all of the other families get to make, that I've been missing for a majority of her childhood.

"Can we...decorate the Christmas tree?" Stevie tilted her head as my movements resumed. I was packing up a few of her favorite things to bring back with us for our short visit home, although there wasn't much that we needed. Stevie still has a closet full of clothes, some that we bought right before she was admitted again, that she never even had a chance to wear. She had a variety of toys to choose from in her room as well as all the crafting supplies she could ask for.

"Of course" I answered easily, that was a priority on my list once I get her home. I'd dig it out from one of the storage closets and hold her high in the air so she can place the star on top, and it would be a moment that I remember for the rest of my life.

"And bake cookies for Santa?" Stevie watched me, keeping the conversation going.

"Obviously" I chuckled.

"Can we play with my dollhouse?" She kept going.

"We can play with all of the toys" I pointed a finger. I managed to get myself away from the hospital the entirety of Christmas day, which was rare in this scope of work to begin with, even more when you're a specialty chief. However, I was determined to make this Christmas the best that Stevie has had so far, and I can't do that from an operating room. She's at an age now where she'd old enough to truly appreciate the day and knows what is going on, and after the year that she's had, I want to make that the special ending. I kept having to tell myself that my floor will be fine with Dr. Plack in charge, and hopefully eventually I'll start to believe it.

"What about hot chocolate?!" Stevie gasped excitedly as the idea came to her head.

"That sounds fun" I nodded along, willing to agree with everything she was saying thus far. As the list keeps growing, our Christmas day is only going to become more packed with things to do, but it's not like she doesn't deserve it. I do not mind spending every waking second adhering to what she wants to do on Christmas day, and I don't care what mess it leaves behind. We can jump from one thing to the next if that's what she wants to do, and everything else can wait.