"Bad," she answered softly shutting her eyes in hope of blocking out her nausea.
"Very bad?"
"The nurse took me into the testing area and gave me a hospital gown and another bottle of barium. Then, they stuck me in his tunnel, and I had to breathe in certain patterns so they could take pictures or scans, whatever they call them...Next, this huge barbian ass came in and hoved a needle in my skin to start an IV."
Nick's eyes narrowed in anger. "Did he hurt you?"
She extended her forearm so he could view the damage.
"He missed my vein four times, they had three damn people had to stick me before some nice lady succeeded."
"Assholes," her older brother hissed tightly gripping the steering wheel.
"And now that barium is flopping around in my stomach."
"I'll drive slowly," he promised. "Is there anything I can get you?"
"A new body?"
"Anything humanly possible I could get you?"
"No." The teen leaned her forehead against the cool glass window. "Do you ever feel like your being buried alive?"
"What?"
"Like everything is falling down around you and you can't dig yourself out?"
"Yeah, I've felt like that, Les."
She shifted sightly attempting to make her ill body comfortable. "What do you do to make it better?"
"Try to get some time to myself to seriously think things out."
"What if you're too confused to even begin to think?" the younger Carter pondered.
"Then, I seclude myself in my bunk or room and fall asleep. That way I sleep and aviod thinking all together. Besides, we both know I'm not known for having the best thinking skills anyway."
"Nick!!!" Leslie shouted abruptly her eyes shooting open.
"What?" he gasped shocked by her ouburst.
"I'm gonna' be sick!"
He pulled over just in time to let her stick her head out the car door and allow the barium to remove itself from her system. He leaned over steadying her. "It'll be okay, Lessie," he assured her.
Slowly, the sick teen lifted her head allowing her sibling to pull her up. "Nick...."
"Yeah?" he whispered stroking her cheek.
"Are you sure barium is legal?"
"Leslie, baby!" the girl's mother exclaimed as the teen entered with Nick standing closely at her side balancing her weary form.
"Hi, Mom," Leslie whispering gripping Nick's arm.
"Are you okay?" Mrs.Carter pressured examining her pale face.
"She got sick," Nick answered.
"Oh, God make this end..." Mrs. Carter silently begged taking her daughter's hand. "You wanna' go upstairs and lie down?"
"Yeah," she breathed giving a slight nod.
"I'll help you up," Nick stated keeping a tight hold around her waist.
Angel and Aaron sat quietly in the living room watching their sister being swept away in comforting arms. "I hate this," Angel said softly closing her eyes. "Why did this have to happen?"
"I dunno..." Aaron muttered flipping through the television channels. "Why does bad stuff happen? Nobody really knows, do they?"
"I guess not," his twin sighed bringing her knees to her chest. "Are you scared, Aaron?"
Aaron turned off the television throwing the remote aside. "Are you?"
"I asked you first."
"Of course I am, I love Leslie even if we do fight. I could never stop loving her."
"Me either. What do you think will happen if it is serious?"
"I don't know, to be honest I don't even wanna' think about it." He paused facing his sister. "How are you?"
"I'm okay, it's just mono. I'll live." She bit her lip. "I will, but will Leslie?"
"Of course she will!" Aaron decided pumping his fist.
"She has to! Besides, I've grown accustom to her mood swings, bitchiness and temper tantrums! I wouldn't know what to do if Leslie became some quiet, sick, meek girl. If she doesn't gripe about something, I get worried."
Angel rolled her eyes. "You make her sound like some kind of witch. She's not that bad, everybody has bad days and are moody."
"All teenage girls are moody!" Aaron groaned.
"Hey!"
Aaron smiled sheepishly wrapping Angel in a hug. "All teenage girls except you!"
"That's better."
"Anything else you want?" Mrs.Carter asked her daughter as she adjusted the comforter over the bed.
"No, Mama, I just need to sleep."
"Want me to sit with you?" Nick asked as helped to tuck her in.
"You don't have to," Leslie whispered gazing out the window. "You guys don't have to treat me like glass, I won't break. I might pass out, but I won't break."
"Don't talk like that," her mother sighed stroking her brow. "I'm going to get you some Tylenol, you just rest."
"Mom?" Leslie asked as the woman stood.
"Yes?"
"Where's Daddy?"
Her mother paused. "Honey, he had some business to attend to."
Leslie frowned. "About the label dropping me?"
"Basically, but don't you worry about that now. You just rest and when you're all better we'll focus on singing, okay?"
"Okay."
Nick patted his sister's shoulder. "It'll get better, Les, you'll see."
"I hope so."
Suddenly, one of the numerous Carter house pets entered jumping on to the mattress sticking it's cold nose against Leslie's side. She smiled hugging the furry animal. "Hi, Precious!" she whispered to the chubby pug. "I love you!"
"Woof, woof," came the response.
Her big brother patted the dog's head. "I think that means 'I love you too'," Nick translated. He took her hand. "That goes for me too, Leslie, I love you."
She gave him a weary grin. "I love you, too, even if you don't get to spend enough time with me."
"I will," Nick promised. "Scout's honor."
"You weren't a boy scout, dummy."
"It's just a metaphor for how I feel."
"Metaphor? Big word from blonde boy."
Nick shrugged. "I caught Kevin saying it."
Leslie looked up at him with frightened eyes. "What happens if it's bad? Will you still be here?"
Nick swallowed the vast lump forming in his throat and placed his pinky finger over her's. "If it is, I'll still be here, pinky promise."