"Leslie, you have to," her mother sighed.
"I can't!" she shouted. "It's enough to make a person sick just trying to digest it!"
Mrs. Carter held her daughter's hand. "Honey, you have to drink the barium to have the tests. You already drank one glass an hour ago, just try to get this one down."
"I don't want the tests!"
"I know you don't, but we don't have any other alternative at this point. Just drink it, baby, then we'll go and get this over with."
Leslie grimaced as she consumed the thick slime. "Mom, I don't want you to take me."
Her mother fought to hide her sadness. "Well, whatever you want, Les. Your dad can take you."
"I don't want Dad to take me either. You guys freak out."
"We 'freak out' because we love you so much, and hate witnessing this."
"I know, Mom, but please just let Nick take me. Please?"
"Okay, if he wants to."
"Wants to what?" Nick yawned as he stumbled into the kitchen.
His mother faced him. "Leslie would like you to take her for her tests this morning."
Nick lifted an eyebrow. "Why don't we all go?"
"No! It's not going to turn into a damn family outing!" Leslie hissed.
"Okay, okay," Nick whispered. "I'll take you. You know the way there well enough to give me directions?"
She nodded.
Nick wrinkled his nose as he selected a muffin. "What the hell is that shit you're drinking?"
"Barium," she snarled. "It tastes like soured milk and used glue paste."
Nick placed the muffin back in the basket. "There went my appetite."
She gave a slight shrug. "Sorry, but at least you don't have to drink it."
"True." Nick patted his mother's shoulder. "Did the doctor say what was wrong with Angel yesterday?"
Mrs.Carter ran her hands through her hair in frustation. "Mono."
"The kissing disease?"
"Yes, but that's not how she contacted it."
"Then how?"
"I'm not sure, Nick, but I guess it doesn't really matter now. The fact is she has it, and it has to be treated. And the only cure is rest hoping it will go away sooner than later."
"Tough break."
"There," Leslie whispered pushing the glass away, "finished."
"Yes?"
"How bad is this place? I mean, what will I see?"
"It shouldn't be too bad, you'll be going to the hospital not the doctor's office. So, you shouldn't see anything other than the waiting room."
"Wow, this sure wouldn't be a fun place to have a party, huh?" Nick chuckled as he glanced at the scenery of the small waiting room.
"Guess not," Leslie whispered.
He patted her knee. "Don't worry, it'll all be okay."
"You don't know that."
"I can hope," Nick sighed.
Leslie pushed her hair away from her face. "Hoping and knowing are two different things."
"I guess, but it can't hurt to hope."
"Tons of people hoped to God, they'd be okay, and now they're dead a lot of good it did them."
Nick wrapped his arms around her. "Just have faith, Leslie."
"It's hard."
"I know, but try."
She fought tears. "But..."
"Shh....just calm down," he soothed stroking her back gently. "Just calm down."
A tall nurse walked over to them. "Excuse me, but it's time to go back Leslie."