Get It Straight, Or Say Good Night

Evie's Challenge.2.

"Blood test" Doctor Nate stated, they needed to get to the bottom of Evie's dilemma.

Nate was thorough and generous, John gave him that. No appointment and well before opening hours, nothing was a bother. Evie was poked softly and measured and weighed and had her temperature taken, now this, the horrid needle.

"Leaving John?" Challenge offered.

"No Nate, I will be staying" Challenge accepted. 

Then John added "I'll even hold her arm"  very effectively upping the ante.

"You'll need a firm grip not a weak wrist John" Lou smiled at his attempt to harness the lethargic yet still strong wiggly baby "You don't have a weak wrist do you John?" John caught Lou's eye and rolled his own, her insinuating he masturbated, or was that didn't masturbate...was a bit rude, seeing as he had her wrapped round his waist last n--

"Right here we go. Steady. Hold still little darling" Nate spoke in an even and soothing voice. Pushing the needle in the soft skin and everybody working to contain her limbs as Eve struggled and bawled loudly. "So strong little one, just a little more sweetie.... There all gone. Good lass!" Nate handed Eve a toy from his desk and taped her delicate skin with a small sticky plaster. "I'll take this down to pathology and have a look-see. Sit tight ..... Louise it's ok don't cry, look at Eve she's not going anywhere" Nate looked over Lou's teary face at John "..... John ..." Nate and John nodded in understanding, he took his cue and looked after his family as Nate went to pathology to run a barrage of tests.

John hugged Louise to him as he jiggled Eve on his lap. God, he loved them now, before he was underwater wondering if he'd ever surface from a bad dream now he wanted the current to float him along with them, keep the dream, stay close, be safe in love.

But Johns temper could be a powder keg and his patience as short as a record player needle, he knew he was impatient and blew his stack more often than not, every single time he attempted to curb his tongue he put his foot in his mouth anyway.

Louise took Eve in her arms, kissing and cuddling the little miss.

I need to relax, he argued with himself as tension began to brace his shoulders, letting his eyes wander over the bland room he  slowly counted to twenty, then rubbed a hand over his face as his knee bounced, his fingers pinching his leg as he hankered for a smoke.

Finally bringing his eyes down from the pasty yellow ceiling he decided to let the girls calm him, he knew they could, just with a look he could be brought back to happiness. Taking in Evie as she snuggled, finally asleep on Louise, then Louise who's head bounced a little on his shoulder where she lent.

He stopped bouncing.

Nate returned carrying an arm load of thick tomes, all bookmarked, and a sheet with Eve's test results. Lou sat up and clutched her handbag, then feeling Johns fingers by hers she let him intertwine them with his, safe, better.

Evie, having woken, found her thumb and sucked as Nate opened the three medical books, rereading before he addressed the two sat waiting for his news.

"Ok, first of all this isn't life threatening if treated, ok Lou..." Nate wanted to get that bit out first, to settle Louise nerves "She has a blood disorder" Lou cried out and John grappled her close to his side, wishing he could hide her away from the words. Keep them safe from harms way.

It wouldn't matter if ten doctors said your baby was not suffering a 'life- threatening disorder' your child was still ill, still in pain or still going to go through some sort of trauma and so would you. You the parent taking every needle along with your child, the pain, the frightening rooms, the frightening words, strange places, strange smells.