Illusions of the island *A LOST fanfic*

Chapter 44: Getting to the bottom of things

"Please tell me you found a cause for this in her x-rays Jack."

Jack nodded and sat down in another chair.

"Yes, I did find something. But maybe you should bring James in here. You both need to hear this."

Juliet stopped sewing a bunch of sequins on Hayley's dance costume and looked up at Jack.

"He went for a cup of coffee."

Jack nodded and put the blanket back over Cara's feet. His hands landed on the manila folder on the table top next to the bed. The two looked up when James entered the room.

"Hey doc. You got any news on my girl?"

James fidgeted in his seat and Juliet put a hand on his to still him. Jack opened the file and pulled out a set of Cara's x-rays. Turning on the lightbox on the wall, he pointed out a long radiolucent line on her spine.

"I found this radiolucent line along her spine yesterday. This is the one I took this morning. It seems to have tripled in size here."

James eyes grew wide and he was ready to pounce on Jack. But he had to remember, this was the real world, it wasn't like on the island where he could get into a fight with
someone and not get into trouble.

"Are you saying my little girl has cancer Jack?"

Jack frowned deeper and looked James straight in the eye.

"I didn't say that James. Cara has a bacterial infection. That's all. Now how it entered her spine, I don't know. I'm still trying to figure that out. I can start her on some medication to eradicate the infection. It should eliminate the swelling and she should be able to have her motor skills back. She'll be able to chew and swallow easily and we can take the breathing tube out."

Juliet couldn't hold her emotions in any longer and let out a sob. Pulling Jack into a hug, she let her tears go.

"Thank-you Jack. I don't know how much I can thank-you enough. You saved my baby."

Jack gave a small smile and checked the machine Cara was hooked up to. Cara opened her eyes and saw Jack. She gave a smile and opened her mouth. Jack stopped her.

"Don't talk sweetheart. You're going to be ok now. Uncle Jack is going to make you all better."

Cara tried reaching for water, but Jack got it for her instead. Jack watched as she tried to take a sip from the straw in the cup. He listened to a strange sound coming from her
throat and saw the tubing going from her to the machine change color. Cara looked very scared and Juliet swallowed hard as Jack slammed his hand against the emergency button behind the bed.

"Jack, what's going on?"

Jack shook his head as a gaggle of nurses flooded the room. He inspected the tubing and shook his head.

"Who put this tube in?"

A nurse came up next to Jack and shifted her eyes back and forth.

"Doctor Patterson did Doctor Shephard."

Jack shook his head and stared at the nurse just as David came in.

"Thought you could use my help Doctor Shephard."

Hayley sat in a corner clutching at her dance uniform trying not to cry. Juliet stood in James arms and hugged him tight. James reciprocated and held on.

"Everything's gonna be all right blondie. The doc and David are gonna make Cara all better ok?"

Juliet nodded but was having a hard time trying to process what was going on. Everything was a flurry of instruments and frantic words. But soon they had everything replaced and

Cara was breathing easier. Juliet wasn't sure what made her feel the way she was feeling suddenly, but her legs felt like two lead weights and she was being lowered into a chair next to the bed. James had a hand on her cheek and his own blue orbs were staring into hers.

"You alright blondie?"

Juliet nodded and sat for a minute, taking a breath.

"I'm fine. I guess when it's your baby it's not easy to see all the blood."

James almost scoffed.

"Well, well blondie. I guess there is something that makes you squeamish."

Jack had now left the couple alone to deal with what had just happened. There was a knock on the door and James answered it.

"Come in."

Kate entered the room and Megan trailed behind her.

"Mommy, where do you want me to put these flowers?"

Smiling, Kate pointed to the bed side table.

"Over there honey."

Megan place the flowers on the table and waved at James and Juliet.

"Hi Uncle James. Hi Aunt Juliet. How's Cara doing?"

Juliet gave Megan a smile.

"She's going to be just fine Megan. Why don't you and Hayley go down to the vending machine and get something to drink?"

Hayley vacated her spot in the chair in the corner and left the room with Megan. Kate took a seat in the now empty chair.

"That's better. I swear, this baby is making it more difficult to walk every day."

Juliet sympathized with Kate and smiled.

"Have you felt the baby move yet?"

Kate nodded and placed a hand over her belly.

"Yes, this morning was the first time. She has been moving around like crazy most of the day."

Juliet kept the smile on her face and spoke.

"Don't forget about your appointment with me tomorrow. Have you and Jack decided whether you want to know if you're having a girl or a boy?"

Kate only shook her head.

"We want it to be a surprise. But I've got a gut feeling it's another girl."

The girls by now had come back into the room and Kate reached for Megan's hand.

"Ok, let's go tumble bug. Let's give Aunt Juliet and Uncle James some rest."

Hayley had gone out of the room to find Jack, and Cara was fast asleep. Juliet suppressed a low moan as James trailed kisses down her neck.

"James, this isn't the place or the time for that. I do want to give Cara a little sister, but not here."

James sighed and nodded his head in defeat.

"You got it blondie."

To Be Continued...