Erika

[Erika]

Erika whimpered, and her body suddenly jerked under the hands of the doctor.

[evan..relic]

'Erika, it's fine. Doc Malone is a dear friend of mine, he wouldn't dare harm you...'

Malone ran the paddles over Erika abdomen, while carefully watching the screen, "Nothing yet..." He muttered as he tweaked the frequency dial.

[Erika]

Erika's eyes flew open as she felt the paddles on her skin. She stayed silent, and held her body stiff, as the pain intensified with the pressure on her tummy.

[evan..relic]

Ben squeezed Erika's hand to let her know that he was still there.

'It's going to be fine.' He thought to her, 'I promise.'

Malone suddenly cheered, "Found it! You were right Benny. Appendicitis. Full blown. We need to get her down to ER quickly."

"Fine."

[Erika]

Erika panted for air, as pain ripped through her again. She squeezed her eyes shut, and screamed. "DADDY!" Was the last thing she said, as she fell totally unconcious from the pain.

[evan..relic]

Ben smiled, "She's out like a light. Let's get her down to the ER."

Malone saluted, "Yes sir!" He ran out of the room and grabbed a stretcher. Gently, Ben put Erika down on the soft blankets that Malone had put down.

"Can you wheel her down? I have to find the rest of the surgical team."

"Sure. JUST HURRY!"

"Alright! Alright! I'm going!" He ran off, the doctors coat flapping like a startled bird

Ben sighed as he began to wheel Erika down to the ER.

Coming to a stop, he waited. Less than fifteen seconds later, Malone and about seven other people came along, Malone walked up to him, "We'll take it from here. Wait out in the waiting room."

"Fine." Ben grumbled as he stalked off, keeping his mind open for Erika.

Malone and his team whelled Erika in to the room, "Alright, we're gonna need some anasthetic, about 25 cc should do. Routine appendix removal." He said as they got started.
******************************************
Ben grumbled as he paced back and forth in the waiting room, people kept gazing at him like he was nuts.

Making up his mind, he walked over to a payphone, slipped in two quarters, and dialed a number.

On the third ring, she answered, "Hello?"

"Mirriam? It's Ben."

"Oh. Hi, Ben. What's going on? Your voice seems stressed."

"Oh, Eri is in the hospital. Appendicitis."

No response on her end, only a gasp.

"Can you come down here? I'm getting antsy."

"Sure. I'll be there in ten minutes." Click.

'Alright....' Ben thought to himself, then resumed his pacing.

[Erika]

Erika's mind became alive, and she paniced. She felt her body going numb, and knew she was having surgery. 'Daddy?' She asked through her mind. 'What's happening to me?' She asked. Her voice was filled with fear and confusion.

[evan..relic]

Ben's mind reacted, 'Erika! Don't worry, an old friend of mine will get rid of the pain you've been feeling. Just relax and it will be over quickly. I promise. Afterwards, we'll all go for ice cream.'

[Erika]

Erika began to calm down after hearing Ben's voice. She couldn't feel her body anymore, and her mind was becoming fuzzy. 'Daddy.' She said, before welcoming the darkness that was sleep.

[evan..relic]

'That's right, Daddy's here for you, Eri.' He thought to her as she crossed into unconsciousness.

Grumbling, he sat down in one of the seat in the waiting room. And he waited.

About five minutes later, Mirriam came walking in. She spotted Ben and made a beeline for him, she took a seat beside him, "What's going on?"

"Like I said, appendicitis. Thankfully I have an old friend on the surgery team, so I'm not too worried. But I am."

"Like a good father should be."

Ben's face went red at this, and got so red that he was forced to look away until the heat in his cheeks died away.

"Hey, Mirriam. After Eri is done here, I promised her that we'd go for ice cream, you want to join us?"

She looked at him directly in the eye, her gaze making his face go warm again, "Sure." She said, "What happened to the movie?"

"Ahh. That. Well.... we'll just have to postpone it."

"Makes sense."

((You can timeskip to the end of the operation, not going to bother with the scene. Just say something about how Erika felt as she came out from under the knife, or so to speak, for example. Then I'll post Malone, Mirriam, and Ben's scene.))

[Erika]

Erika came out of unconciousness, and felt a warm bed under her. She also felt pain in her side, but not as bas as it was. 'Daddy.' She said groggily, and stuck her thumb in her mouth happy to be out of surgery.

[evan..relic]

Ben's head suddenly snapped up, 'Erika.'

Mirriam noticed the movement, "What's wrong?"

"Erika's awake."

"And right you are, Ben. She recovering nicely now." Malone came up from behind him, "And who is this lovely lady, may I ask?" He bowed.

Mirriam blushing, Ben said, "Erika's teacher and a friend."

Malone winked and whispered in Ben's ear, "And I'll guess, you want to be more than friends?" He winked.

Playfully punching his arm, Ben said, "Just take us to Erika."

"Of course, of course. Follow me." Malone said as he lead the way down the hall and to the west wing, or the 'recovery area.'

'I'm coming for you Eri."

[Erika]

Erika heard Ben, and smiled. She continued to suck her thumb, as she waited patiently for her daddy. She sensed two other people with Ben, and hoped it wasn't bad news coming her way.

[evan..relic]

The group reached the door, Malone gestured, "She's in here. I'll let you two see her, I have to deal with things over on the east." He clapped Ben's hand, "Good to see you again, Ben."

"Likewise."

Malone rushed off down the hall, occasionally climbing the walls thanks to his mutation.

Rolling his eyes, Ben laughed while Mirriam chuckled, "He's a charming man."

"If a bit on the... uh.... crazy side. Anyways." Ben put his hand on the door and pushed.

He walked in and saw Erika on the bed, he walked over to her and put a hand on her head to let her know that he was there, "I told you I'd be back, Erika."

[Erika]

Erika awoke, and mumbled something unintelligable, for the effects of the anesthetic was still in her body. Her thumb was still stuck her mouth as well, and her eyes closed. She was too tired still to realy make her body respond the way she wanted it too. Her mind was a jumble of mixed emotions, and images. 'Daddy.'

[evan..relic]

'I'm here, Eri.'

He looked her over, the 'shine' of the operating room on her skin made her look pale, her face slack from the relaxing effects of the anesthetic, and in her left hand ran an IV tube up to a bag full of saline solution.

Mirriam sat on a chair on the other side of the bed, "Hey Erika. How are you feeling?"

Ben kept his hand on her head as reassurance.

[Erika]

Erika moved her head slightly to nuzzle Ben's hand as it rested on her head. Hearing Mirriam, she took her right thumb out of her mouth, and placed it on her belly. Opening her eyes slightly, she hissed and closed them again. Moving her left hand she felt the IV tube pulling on her skin, and she paniced, ripping it out of her hand, and trying to get away, though she was still weak from the operation.

[evan..relic]

Mirriam jumped back as Ben lunged and grabbed Erika around the chest, "It's okay Erika. Nothing's gonna hurt you." He said to her both physically and mentally.

He looked at the hanging IV drip, "Brilliant." He muttered.

[Erika]

Erika started to cry, as pain started not just in her belly, but in her hand. She tried to curl up into a ball, wanting to escape from whatever had been in her hand. Becoming nauseas, she threw up.

[evan..relic]

Shaking his head, he eased Erika back into a laying down position, 'Erika, you need to rest, then the pain will go away and we can go for ice cream like I promised.'

Mirriam was about to pick up a phone that was in the room when Ben put up his hand, "No, don't. I have an idea." He said as he looked at Erika's hands.

[Erika]

Erika laid down on her back on the bed, too weak to resist Ben. She had a scrunched up face as the pain came and went. Becoming calmer the pain left her body, and she relaxed under Ben's hand.

[evan..relic]

Grinning as the idea took full bloom in his head, he asked Erika, 'Erika, can you channel your healing power through me so it's me who is healing you in a way?'

[Erika]

Erika became still, and slowly opened her eyes. Moving her right hand to Ben, her eyes conveying her answer, she placed it on the part she could reach, his arm, and started to channel her power to him.

[evan..relic]

Taking in deep breath, Ben began to deflect the power from him and down his arms and back to Erika.

Slowly Erika was bathed in the light.

Mirriam kept silent, but mouth open in wonderment.

The light died away, and Erika lay there, healed.

[Erika]

Erika felt warm, and she closed her eyes. Opening them again, she felt her body was healed. Slowly getting up to her knees, she hugged Ben. 'Daddy.' She said crying.

[evan..relic]

Ben picked her up gently and hugged Erika close to him, 'Welcome back Eri.'

He took Kitty from his pocket and gave it to her.

Mirriam smiled and said quietly, "A Kodak moment."

[Erika]

Erika took kitty, and hugged it and Ben. Hearing Mirriam she smiled, and fell into untroubled sleep in her dad's arms.

[evan..relic]

"Come on. Let's get out of here. Hospitals make me nervous." He said, remembering his days in the Human Army.

"Agreed." Mirriam nodded.

The two of them walked out while one slept, Ben easily checked Erika out of the hospital. Thanks to Malone.

"Don't worry, she'll wake when she smells the ice cream." He said as they approached Erika's favourite ice cream parlour.

[Erika]

'Daddy.' She said sleepily, as she awoke. She smelt the ice cream cones being made, and then the unmistakable scent of the actual ice cream. Yawning, she kissed him on the cheek.

[evan..relic]

Ben laughed and kissed Erika on the cheek, "What do you say Eri? Triple scoop cone with choco sauce on top?"

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