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9

I took Aaliyah home, making damn sure she stayed hydrated.

Calum said she would be fine one more day and I managed to get my hands on a steroid shot and an antibiotic for her.

"Okay princess" I spoke, bringing all of the medicines along with food and drinks into her room.

She blinked away from her phone and to me, sticking her hand out towards me.
I set down all of the stuff, sitting beside her and holding her hand gently.

"Cal is on the way" I spoke, knowing he had boarded his plane about an hour ago, only thirteen more to wait.

"Good" she spoke quietly, glancing to what I knew was all the stuff on her bedside table.

"Let's take medicines" I announced, immediately grabbing the pills that she needed, dropping them into her hand, giving her water to take them.

"What's the needle for?" She asked, making me look to it.

"It's a steroid to give you a little bit of an immune boost until Calum can get here" I spoke and surprisingly, she didn't argue.

She stuck her arm out to me, making me laugh lightly.

"No princess, I need your upper butt"

"You've gotta be kidding me"

But I knew she wasn't feeling well considering she gave me one small whine before turning onto her stomach, letting me pull down her waistband, easily wiping and giving her the shot.

"Strings" she spoke into the pillow as I put a bandaid over it, pulling her waistband back up.

"I know, princess" I exhaled, kissing the back of her head gently.

"Bite?" I asked her, putting a spoon with scrambled eggs on it to her mouth.

She examined it for a second before opening her mouth, letting me put the food in her mouth.

"Spoiled ass" I laughed, sitting beside her- planning to feed her until she wouldn't eat anymore, because I just wanted her to eat.

"I don't like feeling like this" she spoke quietly as I brought another spoon to her mouth, watching her open, letting me drop the food into her mouth.

"I don't like watching you feel like this, princess"

She only took about three more bites, but I got her to drink a bottle of water, which felt like success to me.

I closed the curtains, laying down with her- knowing we both didn't get enough sleep last night, so we needed a nap.

I pulled her into my chest, listening to her lungs wheeze lightly as she breathed.

I kissed the back of her head, feeling her place her clammy hand over my own, making me smile lightly

I loved this kid

I woke up around noon, getting out of bed without waking Aaliyah.

I grabbed a thermometer, touching it to her forehead, seeing a high temperature- but it wasn't over 101 degrees, so I tried not to panic.

I woke her up, making her take more Tylenol.

"Cal home yet?" she questioned slowly, making me laugh.

"He won't be home until about eleven o'clock tonight princess" I spoke slowly.

"And we are staying home tonight?" She asked me slowly.

"No baby, we're meeting Calum at the hospital first thing."

That certainly didn't make her happy.

Soon she had showered and was wearing Nike shorts and one of my t shirts- laying in bed as I made her drink more water, thankful that she ate a little bit of dinner.

And then I got a text from Calum.

Just landed, should be at the hospital in 30

I gave Aaliyah time to prepare herself to go to the hospital, getting myself ready also before guiding her to the car.

We rode quietly, her wheezing the one thing filling the car with noise.

"Relief is coming soon, baby" I exhaled, squeezing her knee lightly as she coughed- gripping her chest as if she was stabbed.

We thankfully pulled into the parking lot around the same time as Calum, us able to hug and welcome him home.

"Baby girl" Calum spoke slowly, pulling her into a hug, kissing her forehead gently, lingering there for a moment.

"She's got a little fever" he mumbled, glancing to me.

"We haven't been able to break it" I spoke to him, watching him grab her hand, focusing to her sad and tired face.

"Let's go prove these dumbasses wrong, shall we?"