We rode the elevator down to the main lobby with a little apprehension. It was possible that the public had already found out that the guys were here. We had discussed it briefly on the way to the elevators and decided that if there were too many people about we would go back. When the elevator doors opened, sure enough, the lobby was full of people. We stepped out and went as quickly as possible around the corner. I peeked around the corner and tried to get an idea of how many people were out there.

“Okay guys, this is going to be tricky. There are several people that work here out there: volunteers, transports, etc. Then over in the corner where all those couches are is the admitting area. There are quite a few people over there too. Plus some other random people that are probably visitors and stuff. I can’t see outside though.” I informed them.

Brian looked disappointed. “Does that mean we have to go back up?”
Kevin frowned. “Bri, we don’t want you to get seen. That could cause some major problems. What if we get mobbed?”
A thought occurred to me. “Wait! There is a side exit that the staff here sometimes use. It is usually pretty quiet. Should we try that?”
Kevin still looked hesitant, but with Brian’s pleading he finally gave in. They followed me through a couple of short hallways that led to a single door. AJ caught up to me.

“If this isn’t a main door then how do you know about it?” He asked me.

“I’ve used it before.” I answered him simply.

He shrugged, opened the door and held it for the rest of the guys to get Brian and his equipment through. Kevin pushed the I.V. pole through the door first and cursed when the pole’s wheels got caught on the door’s threshold. The pole started to tip and Kevin made a grab for it. He missed, but luckily AJ caught it. In the process the I.V. line got stretched taught and Brian cried out. Instinctively I grabbed the line and yanked it towards Brian, giving him some slack.

“Oh my gosh! Brian, I am so sorry. I don’t know what happened. The wheels just got stuck. Are you okay?” Kevin looked upset.

“Nice one, Train. Why don’t you just rip out his I.V.?” Nick barked.

“Nick...” Howie chastised. “He didn’t do it on purpose.”
“S’okay Kev.” Brian said as he looked at his I.V.

Nick pushed him over to a bench that was right outside the door with Kevin and Howie followed closely behind. Brian was still inspecting his I.V. I sat down on the bench.

“Let me see it Bri.” He held out his arm reluctantly and I looked closely at the site where the needle went it.

“Does it hurt?”
“Not really. It tugged, but it doesn’t really hurt.”
I used the pads of my fingers to poke around the needle and he flinched. “Ow! That hurts.”
“Sorry, but at least it isn’t swollen. You’re fine.” I said confidently.

“Yes, Nurse Ellie.” Brian grinned at me.

“Like you know what you’re doing!” AJ scoffed at me as we started walking down the sidewalk

I pretended to look hurt. “I do.”
Kevin looked relieved. “I was going to feel really bad if I ripped that out of you.”
“Well, you’re lucky it didn’t. I would have gotten out of this chair and beaten you to a pulp.” threatened Brian.

Kevin busted up. “Yeah, you who can’t even stand on your own two feet!”
“So!” Brian challenged.

Howie started laughing too. “Not to mention that you are like half his size.”
“Okay, fine. I’ll knock this pole over again and this time I will make sure it lands on you.” Brian looked smug.

“Not without my say-so. You are at my mercy! Haha!” Nick gloated as he made Brian’s wheelchair pop a wheelie.

Brian’s eyes grew wide. “Hey! Don’t do that you punk. What if I fall over?” He said laughing. He pulled Nick’s jacket around him a little tighter. Nick saw it.

“What’s wrong Frick? Are you cold?” He asked.

Brian nodded. “A little. But that doesn’t mean that I am ready to go back in.” He added hastily.

Kevin took notice too. “Tough, cuz. You don’t need to be getting sick on top of all this.”
“Yeah, besides I’m cold too. You’ve got my jacket, remember?” Said Nick.

“Okay, okay.” Brain relented. We walked back inside and got on the elevator. AJ was looking carefully at the elevator buttons. He leaned down and blew hot air on the 5. It lit up.

“Wow. Cool. It’s heat sensored.” He looked impressed.

“I always knew you were full of hot air!” Howie cracked. We all busted up, including AJ.

“That was wrong, man, but it was good.” He said between laughs.

Suddenly the elevator stopped. I looked up at the number bar on the top of the elevator and the third floor was lit. “Why did you push three?” I asked AJ.

“I didn’t. I don’t know why we’re stopping.” He looked at us.

“You didn’t push it because five was the only button that lit up.” Brian added.

“Well, duh, guys. Maybe someone on three is getting on.” Nick suggested.

The elevator doors opened. There was no one in sight except for one little girl standing right in the middle of the hallway. She was donning the faded yellow hospital pajamas and couldn’t have been more than 4 years old. She was crying.

“This must be the kid’s floor.” Said Howie softly.

Without a word Brian reached down and wheeled himself out of the elevator.

“Brian!” Kevin admonished as he hurried after him with the I.V. pole, followed by Howie. “That time it wouldn’t have been my fault.”
Brian ignored him and wheeled up to the little girl. “What’s wrong, honey”? he asked her.

“I want my mommy!” She cried.

Brian looked around. “Well let’s go find her okay?” He smiled at her reassuringly.

“She’s not here! She had to go to work. I want her to come back!” She wailed. The poor girl was scared to death. It broke my heart.

“Where’s your room?” Nick asked her.

“I don’ remember!” She cried harder.

“Okay, tell you what. How about we help you find it? Want to go for a ride?” Brian smiled at her again.

She nodded shyly and climbed up into the wheelchair. Brian struggled to help pull her up, but it was clear just how little strength he had. She didn’t seem to notice and curled up in his lap. Almost immediately her crying subsided.

“My name’s Brian. What’s yours?”
“Cassie.” She sniffled.

“Okay little Cassie, let’s find your room.” Brian looked up at Nick for help.

“Oh now you need my help. You sure didn’t in the elevator! I see how it is!” Nick looked at us knowingly.

“Just push us you brat!” Brian demanded. But he was smiling.

“Yes sir!” Nick saluted. We started down the hallway. You could definitely tell that we were on the children’s floor. There was a small playroom across from the nurse’s station. Inside was a small table, some bean bag chairs, one of those children’s kitchens with the plastic food, and a T.V. that was playing The Lion King. There were several kids in there along with an adult who I assumed was one of their moms. Covering the walls in the hallway were childish drawings on construction paper. Handmade mobiles hung from the ceiling.

As we passed one of the rooms a nurse hustled through the door. She was a little plump and had shoulder length brown hair. She had one of those kind, motherly faces that never seemed to show anger. She stopped when she saw Cassie sitting in Brian’s lap.

“There you are Cassie. I was just getting ready to go find you. Who’s your friends here?” She looked at us inquisitively.

Brian spoke up. “Hi, my name is Brian. Actually we were on our way back up to my room when the elevator stopped on this floor. Cassie was standing in front of the doors looking for her mom. Oh, and this is Nick, AJ, Howie, Kevin, and Ellie.”
“Nice to meet all of you. My name is Dorothy. It was sure nice of y’all to bring her back.” Dorothy smiled at us. She turned her attention to Cassie. “Sweetie, it’s time to check your blood sugar. Let’s go to your room okay?”
Cassie held tighter to Brian. “Can Brian come with me?”
“Well sure, if he wants to.” Dorothy told her, glancing at Brian.

“Let’s go then, cutie.” Our small group made its way toward Cassie’s room.

Dorothy sat on Cassie’s bed across from Brian’s wheelchair. “Do you want to get in your bed or stay where you are?”
“Stay here!” Cassie hugged Brian tighter.

Dorothy turned to us. “Cassie was just diagnosed with diabetes. Given her age, she is terrified of needles.” She said quiet enough that Cassie wouldn’t hear.

Brian chuckled. “I’m 25 and I still hate needles!”
Dorothy smiled. “No doubt. We’re are still in the process of trying to regulate her blood sugar level. We have to keep adjusting the insulin doses.”
“Poor thing.” Commented Howie. “Where is her parents?”
Dorothy shook her head sadly. “Her father left when she was about a year old and it has been just her and her mom since then. They have been struggling financially. Her mom has spent the past three days straight here with her. This morning her work called her and said that if she doesn’t come in then she wouldn’t have a job come back to.”
“That is wrong. You’d think they’d be a little lenient when her child is in the hospital.” AJ said disgusted.

“Really.” Echoed Nick.

“She wanted to tell them where they could stick it, but she really needs that job.” Dorothy continued. She turned her attention back to Cassie. “Okay sweetie, we’re going to have to prick your finger now. Can you be brave for us?”
Cassie nodded and held out her hand. Brian took her other hand and held it in his own. Dorothy took out what looked like a pen with a small red button on the side. She held it up to the tip of Cassie’s middle finger.

“Do you want to tell Brian how it works?” Dorothy asked Cassie.

Cassie nodded again. “When Dorothy pushes the button the needle comes out and pokes me.”
“You are brave, kiddo.” Brian said with a grin.

She beamed, but that happy face soon dissolved in tears when she felt the needle prick her skin. Dorothy then took Cassie’s hand a let a drop of blood drip onto a strip of paper. Then she put it into a machine.

“This will tell us if Cassie needs any insulin.” While we waited for the machine to process its information, Brian put a Band-Aid on her finger. She gazed at him, her tears forgotten.

“What is that for?” She asked, pointing to the oxygen tube.

“It’s to help me breathe better.” Replied Brian.

“Oh.” She thought about that. “How come you are in this?” She patted the wheelchair’s arm rest.

Brian hesitated. Howie rescued him. “It is because he is really tired.”
“Oh.”
With a quiet beep, the machine was done. Dorothy spoke to Cassie. “Your blood sugar is low, sweetie, so we are going to have to give you some insulin.”
“No! No shots!” Cassie cried. Her eyes filled with tears and she buried her face in Brian’s chest.

“Cass, this one hurts less than poking your finger. Come on now, be a good girl.” Dorothy said gently.

“Do you have to go get the insulin?” Asked Nick.

“No, I thought we would probably need it so I brought it with me. I think a lot of this is psychological. The insulin shot is a smaller needle so it really should hurt less.” She held up the pen thing that was used to prick Cassie’s finger. “The needle in this is bigger and actually sort of square shaped. It really is more painful. But because she can’t actually see the needle, she isn’t afraid of it. She can see this one though so she is scared of it.” She spoke softly as she held up the insulin syringe.

Brian nodded. “Hey Cassie, how about we sing to you while you get your shot? How would that be?” He glanced at the rest of the guys and they nodded, smiling.

Cassie smiled through her tears. “Okay.”

Brian started softly.

Then Nick sung his part.

They all joined in for the chorus. Cassie didn’t even notice when Dorothy slipped the needle in her arm. Cassie was leaning against Brian with her eyes closed. She looked totally content. I didn’t blame her. This was the first time I had ever heard them in person and I was completely blown away. I closed my eyes and let the music wash over me. All too soon they finished the song. I opened my eyes and looked around. Cassie was still holding onto Brian, but at least now she didn’t look upset. Dorothy’s eyes were moist.

“That was beautiful. But if you keep that up then your fans are going to find out you are here.” she said with a smile.

Their mouths gaped. It was funny. Finally AJ found his tongue. “You know who we are?!” He said in disbelief.

“Well of course! I’m a big fan. You boys have such talent! Of course you aren’t boys though are you? Young men, I mean.” She winked at them.

“Wow, thanks.” Kevin smiled.

“I heard what happened on the news a couple hours ago. I have been praying for you ever since. All of you.” She looked at me. “You’re the one who brought him in, aren’t you?”
I nodded.

“Well bless your heart.” She said patting my shoulder. “Brian, it looks like you ought to be heading up to your room. You look exhausted.”
“Will you come back and sing to me tomorrow?” Cassie looked up at Brian.

“Oh sweetie, I wish I could, but I have to have surgery tomorrow morning.”
She looked like she was going to cry again so Howie quickly said, “how about the rest of us come back and sing for you?”
Cassie thought about that and then brightened. “Okay.” She looked Brian in the eyes and whispered loudly, “I still like you best!”
Brian laughed. “Why thank you!”
Dorothy smiled. “Okay now we have to let Brian go back to his room now.” She lifted Cassie out of Brian’s lap and into her bed. “Now what do you say to them for singing to you?” She prompted.

“Thank you!” Cassie said with a big smile.

Dorothy walked us to the elevators. “And I thank you too. That was very kind of you to help Cassie like you did.”
Nick spoke for all of them when he said, “It was no problem. We were glad to do it.”
“You guys get him back to his bed. He’s looking kind of pale.” She instructed. “You said you are having surgery tomorrow morning?” She asked Brian.

He nodded.

“Well you are in my prayers, honey. Don't you worry at all. You’ll pull through just fine.” She said sincerely.

Brian tried to smile. “Thank you.” He whispered.

We got on the elevator and Dorothy gave us a wave as the doors shut. AJ pushed the button for five and Kevin crouched down next to Brian.

“Are you all right kid?” Concern was etched into Kevin’s face.

Brian leaned against the arm rest. “I think this wore me out. I feel dizzy.” He murmured. His color worried me and he was breathing too hard for just sitting there.

I groaned in frustration. “Can’t this elevator go any faster?!”