Another One

Lacy shook her head and held Brandon's hand as they walked inside of the hospital.

"You think she'll be excited to go home?" he asked as they headed to her room.

"If she freaked out as bad as they told me she did, then yeah." She laughed a little. She looked at Brandon. "We're gonna go pick up your sister."

"Really? I mean.. oh. okay."

He chuckled a little and nodded as they reached her room. "Allison..."

Allison looked up from the coloring book that they provided her. "Daddy!" She grinned, reaching for him. "Home today?"

He went over to her and hugged her as he kissed her cheek. "Yep, you get to go home today."

"Promise? Cause I get up last night and you leave." She pouted.

"I promise today you can." he nodded.

"Mmkay daddy," Allison said as Lacy walked in with Brandon. "Mommy! Bam Bam!" She grinned.

Lacy chuckled and headed over to her with Brandon, placing him on the bed with his sister. "Hi baby," she said and kissed her on the top of her forehead. "How are you feeling?"

Allison accepted the kiss on the forehead before hugging Brandon, who reluctantly hugged her back. "Throat hurts, but I not sleepy." She grinned. According to her, being sleepy was the equivalent of being sick.

"I'm glad you're feeling better." Lacy smiled as the nurse walked in to hand them Allison's release forms. She had to check her vitals one more time, though.

Allison's entire demeanor changed and she let go of Brandon, beginning to wail as she saw the nurse. "Go 'way," she cried.

"Relax Ally, she just needs to check you one more time, then we're leaving."

"No," she continued to cry, cowering into Phil's side. "Last time she here, shots. They hurt, daddy."

The nurse frowned and sighed. "Unfortunately, she's right. We have to give her one more shot before she goes. It's for the swelling in her throat."

We have to give her one more shot...

Cue tantrum.

"I know it sucks, but you need this last one then no more."

That didn't calm her down at all.

Lacy sighed and got Brandon out of the bed before sitting next to Ally and pulling her in her lap, which calmed her a little and held her arm out for the nurse.

"Mommy, no..."

"Shh." She covered Allison's eyes with a hand. "We're gonna play a game."

The nurse took the opportunity take Ally's arm and clean it with an alcohol pad.

"G-game?" Allison stuttered, confused as to why mommy covered her eyes.

"When I count to 3, you're going to say your ABCs for Daddy. Didn't you learn them the other day? Don't you want to show him?"

"Yeah.."

"1...2...3."

"A, B, C, D..." Allison continued to sing, going for a little while longer "L, M, N, *the nurse stuck her with the needle* OWWWWWWWWWWWW...p," she finished meekly.

Lacy waited for a few seconds before uncovering Allison's eyes and showing her the cartoon band-aid on her arm. "See? You did it."

"You did it." Phil smiled at her. "Look at you being a big girl."

"I do it," Ally said, rubbing her arm. Shit hurt.

Lacy put Allison back down and let the nurse take the rest of her vitals like blood pressure and temperature, and she signed her release forms.

"Gonna go downstairs and pay for her treatment and get her medicine," she told Phil before going out.

"Alright." he said as he stayed with Brandon and Allison. "You did." he nodded. "Don't worry, no more shots for a long time."

"Nuh uh, more shots," Brandon teased. "Whole arm."

Allison looked scared at Brandon before looking back at Phil, whimpering. "Daddy..."

"Brandon, don't scare her. You wouldn't like to get all those shots either." he said as he chuckled a bit.

"I don't get shots because I not sick." Brandon grinned proudly.

"Big stupid," Allison muttered.

"Well when you get sick and need one, you can't be a baby about it." he chuckled.

"I not a baby." Brandon looked affronted. "I two!"

"Oh okay, so you won't be scared when you get one then?"

"Not scared." He crossed his arms proudly over his chest.

"Shut up, Bam Bam." Allison rolled her eyes.

"We'll see when the day comes." Phil laughed and grabbed Allison's sweater. "Here, put it on so we can leave." he said.

The nurses had held Allison change into her clothes and took the oxygen tubes off of her a long time ago (another thing she complained about because she only liked it when mommy, daddy or gramma dressed her). She did take the sweater and put it on... inside out. "Kay, I ready."