Hailies Song

Chapter Five

Rated R

"You know, I think these doctors are full of shit," Marshall said, sitting at the kitchen table, watching Diane scrub a plate in the sink. She looked over at her shoulder at him, and he continued with his reasoning. "Its just, they say its a virus, her tests from the doctors office came back and they said it was a virus, but they didnt know what one it was. They gave her pennacillin, and she got better, but now shes even worse than before, and the hospital tests came back saying it was a virus. They dont know which one either. And like, dont you think DOCTORS should know what the hell they are doing if they paid how ever much money for medical school. What the hell is my insurance company paying them to do? Give her some asprin and tell her shes sick, when no shit sherlock!? Its fucking stupid."

Diane turned the water off and turned around, leaning against the sink and shaking her head. "I dont know. I just think, maybe like... you should try bringing her somewhere else, to be checked out."

"Well, they gave me the name of a virus specialist in Saginaw," He rolled his eyes. "Fucking far away, I have to call them today though. I swear Di, If I get her down there, and they cant fix whatever the fuck is wrong with her, Im going to blow someones fucking head off. This is killing me, I hate seeing her like this." He sighed.

"Im sorry," Diane walked across the kitchen, after wiping her hands on a towel, and rubbed his shoulder comfortingly. "Look, theyll find whatevers wrong with her, I know they will. And she will feel so much better."

"Yeah, well they sure are dragging their ass doing it." He said, irritated at the whole situation. He stood up as the doorbell rang, and nodded towards the front door. "Thats Kim. She came down to say hey to Hailie, and talk to her for a while, since she hasnt seen her in a while. I better get the door, I wouldnt want to take up any time that she could spend with Hailie..." He said sarcastically, annoyed at how Kim had to 'find time' to see her own daughter.

"Okay," Diane patted his back and watched him walk out into the hallway to answer the door, and she leaned against the wall, pursing her lips together and glancing at the clock.

"Hey Kim," Marshall said, pulling the door open, and staring at Kim, who smiled pleasantly at him. "C'mon in."

"Thanks. Hows she doing?" Kim asked. Marshall blinked, obviously surprised that the first thing out of her mouth was concerning her daughter, instead of something to pick at him about.

"Arent you going to pick on something about me? Nag me? Anything?" Marshall raised both eyebrows, suspiciously.

"Marshall, seriously. We may not always get along, but believe it or not, I have other things on my mind, like my daughter. Get over yourself," Kim rolled her eyes and shed her coat, handing it to him as he stared at her, open mouthed. "She in bed?" Kim asked, glancing at Marshall as she started up the stairs.

"Uh, yeah." Marshall said, watching Kim ascend the stairs, with no other word to him.

"Come in!" Hailie called, hearing a knocking at her bedroom door. The door opened, and Kim stepped in, smiling warmly at her daughter.

"Hey, baby," Kim said, walking over to her bed and sitting on the side of it, turning her body to face Hailie. Hailie smiled weakly at her.

"Hi mom."

"How you feeling?" Kim reached out and put a hand on Hailies forehead. "Any better?"

"No, I feel, like shit." Hailie sighed. "I just wanna die and get it over with."

"Dont talk like that," Kim tapped her leg scoldingly. "Come on, your gonna be fine. Its only the flu, or a virus, or something. What medications are you on?"

"Why Kim? Wanna steal them for yourself?" Marshall appeared in the doorway, smirking as he entered the room holding a glass of orange juice.

"Oh fuck off, Marshall. Im not your mother." She said coldly.

"Hey, Im just kidding." Marshall said, defensively. He handed the cup to Hailie and nodded to her. "Drink up. Diane got it for you, said its going to give you vitamins, fluids, blah blah," Marshall shrugged.

"Hes so technical." Kim turned to Hailie and watched her look down at the juice. "Arent you going to drink it, baby?"

"I dont know, not thirsty right now." She shrugged and handed the cup to Kim.

"Aww," Kim pushed some of Hailies hair off her face and sighed. "You'll feel better baby. Dad taking good care of you?"

"The best," Marshall said, leaning against Hailies dresser, and watching his ex wife and daughter talk.

"Yeah," Hailie nodded.

"Marshall, did you talk to the specialist?" Kim asked, looking at Marshall.

"Yeah, uh, we have an appointment, tommorow at 9. Hailie, get up at 6 and get ready to go, its in Saginaw...." He sighed. "We gonna have to haul ass."

"Okay," Hailie shrugged. She slept practically round the clock now that she was sick, so 6 was no worse than any other time she had to get up regularly.

"Mhmm. Do you mind if I have some of your juice Hailie?" Kim asked, "Im so thirsty."

"Go ahead," Hailie said, nodding as she watched her mouth drink half of the cup of juice as Marshall sighed. "Hows Whit? And Jake?"

"Oh, Whits doing great, she keeps asking about you. Maybe Ill take her up here to see you this weekend. Their at home with Aaron, he says he hopes you feel better, and oh!" Kim exclaimed, "Whit made you this card." Kim reached into her purse and handed a folded peice of white paper to Hailie.

Hailie smiled as she looked at the card. There was a drawing of, what she assumed was herself, laying in a bed with a thermometer. Above the drawing, in large, red letters, it said "FEEL BETTER SOON HAILIE". She opened the card, and read the inside. "I love you Hailie, I miss you. I hope you feel better. Love Whitney." Was in scratchy handwriting on the inside, with a smiley face sticker below it, and a drawing of a heart.

"Isnt that sweet?" Kim grinned as she watched Hailie read her sisters card.

"Yeah, will you tell her I love it, and I love her to, and that I miss her to? And that I say thank you?" Hailie said, smiling. She wanted to cry. That card was so cute.

"Of course," Kim nodded. "Jake misses you to. He asked when you were coming to see him. He wants you to watch a movie with him."

"Ohh," Hailie smiled. She missed her little sister and brother. She didnt get to see them as often as she liked, and this length of time away from her, made her feel bad. "I miss them. I missed you too mom."

"I missed you, Hailie." Kim leaned over to hug her daughter, and both girls sat back and glared at Marshall when they heard his mock sobs from across the room.

"This week, on a very SPECIAL episode of Blossom..." He said, in a serious announcer voice, smiling at the dissaproving look Kim gave him, and the eye roll Hailie gave him.

"Dad," Hailie shook her head.

"Marshall..." Kim did the same, and Marshall blinked, almost frightened at the realization that Hailie and Kim looked, and acted, almost the same. He raised both eyebrows, and watched Kim drink the rest of the juice.

"Kim, that was for Hailie..." Marshall gestured to the empty glass in Kims hand, and then to Hailie. "You know, our SICKLY child?"

"Sickly?!" Hailie exclaimed. "Dad, you suck!"

"I hope not," Marshall grinned at her and then watched Kim stand up.

"So get her more." Kim shrugged. "Hailie, I gotta go." She turned to Hailie and leaned down, kissing her forehead and straightening up. "Marshall, call me when you get home from the doctors tommorow, alright?"

"Sure." Marshall said.

"Bye mom, love you." Hailie said, watching her parents walk towards the door.

"Bye hunny, I love you too." Kim smiled and exited the room, followed by Marshall, who shut the door quietly behind him, and hurried to catch up with Kim in the hallway.

"Kim," Marshall said as he walked beside her, down the stairs. "Maybe you should bring Whitney and Jake over, to see Hailie. Might cheer her up, or something."

"Thatd be nice." Kim nodded. "You sure you want a 12 year old, and a 2 year old here for an hour?"

"Yeah, I dont mind," He shrugged as they reached the bottom of the stairs. "Whitneys a good kid, and Jakes cute."

"Well, maybe I will. We'll set something up tommorow when you call me to let me know how the appointment went. Alright?" She took her coat off the rack and Marshall nodded.

"See ya Kim," He held the front door open for her, and she nodded, and left.

"Bye Marsh," She said as she went.