***Cyan***
"Was that boy born in a barn?" Cole muttered.
Ed said, "Some people happen to be afraid of hospitals," before getting back on the bus.
"Is your sister afraid of hospitals?" Cole looked at Cyan out of the corner of his eye.
"She hates getting IVs and that mask to go to sleep. She likes it when they show her stuff. Think they've done that since she was young."
"Oh," Cole said. "How old is she?"
"She's... ten. She's probably had more surgery in those ten years than either of us will in our lifetimes."
Cole frowned. "I can't imagine the toll it must've taken on her. Eiran's a grown man and he's struggled with learning to walk again."
"Not to be insensitive, but I don't think that's the same thing. Getting into an accident as an adult and basically growing up with the issue take different tolls on the person that's affected."
"I guess. Someone who grows up with it would become desensitized to it over time..."
Cyan nodded. "It's like toiling the land as a kid, versus someone who grew up rich digging up a hole for the first time."
Cole stared at his hands.
"I didn't mean you!"
He laughed. "I know. I was just thinking of when I first grew potted pots. It was difficult."
Why did he do that? School activity?
He smiled. "Ready to see your sister for the first time in forever?"
Cyan slapped her cheeks. "Ready as I'll ever be."
Cole put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently. Cyan blushed and tried to cover it by messing with her hat. Cole didn't notice.
When they approached the desk, Cole said, "We're here to visit her sister."
The woman smiled. "What is her name?"
"Berry Sinclair," Cyan replied.
"Please look at the scanner."
Cyan and Cole both complied.
"Room 312. Take a right once you get off the elevator."
When they got to the elevator, he pushed the button on the elevator and they waited.
"I've missed her," Cyan whispered. "It's been so long."
"I'm sure she'll be thrilled to see you." Cole put a hand on her shoulder and gave her a gentle squeeze.
The elevator dinged and they stepped inside. The doors shut and Cole pressed the number for floor 3.
Cyan looked up at the elevator numbers as they ticked higher and higher.
When they reached their floor, Cole led Cyan to Berry's room.
Berry's face lit up when they entered the room. "Cy!"
Her dad pulled her into a hug. "You didn't have to come all the way here. You could have waited for us at home."
"But I wanted to," Cyan said.
"She's your daughter, Mr. Sinclair," Cole said.
"That she is. Please, call me Isaac."
Cyan and Cole took a seat in the room. Cyan scooted close to her sister and held her hand. "Is there anything special you want to eat when you feel better?"
"Tubes?"
"With the red sauce?"
"Yeah."
"I can do that." The woman smiled. "I'll see you later. I don't think I'll be allowed in the room when you wake up."
Knock-knock!
A man came into the room. "It's time to go, Berry."
Berry sighed. "Okay."
Iris patted her daughter's hand. "It'll be alright, dear."
Berry nodded and smiled. "I know."
Cy rubbed her shoulder. "That's our little warrior!"
The family and Cole watched as the doctors took Berry away.
Isaac sighed. "You think she'll be fine?"
"You worry as much as your older daughter, sir," Cole said.
Cyan narrowed her eyes at him. "You're making me out to be a worrywart!"
Cole chuckled as they walked out of the room. "And you aren't?"
Isaac smiled at the two. "Thank you both for being here for my daughter." He shook Cole's hand. "I hope she didn't give you any trouble."
Cole shook his head.
"Did you eat before you got here?" Her mom asked.
"I don't think I did," Cole said. "I got up early, so I wasn't hungry."
"I ate, but that was before we got on our ride," Cyan replied. "We should check on Ame and the others."
Ding!
Ame had sent her a text. We got Collin decently calm. He wants nuggets and fries. We could pick something up for you, if you'd like.
Cole chuckled. "See? You didn't need to worry about them."
Cyan smiled. "Guess not."
"You can just let them know we'll eat with your parents."
Cyan nodded. "Yeah."
Cyan blushed as her stomach suddenly growled.
"Cy, have you not eaten?" her mom asked. "That sounds like you're starving."
"We've just been busy," Cole said.
"I'm fine," Cyan insisted.
"Let's go get you something to eat then. We're all in the same area for now." Her mom smiled.
Cole put a hand on Cyan's back and led her out of the room. "It's not good to skip meals, even if you're busy."
Cyan nodded. "You're right."
They stepped into the elevator. "You need to take better care of yourself."
Cyan nodded again. "I'll make sure to do that."
Cole nodded. "Good. That's all I ask."
Cyan's mom turned to Cole. "Do you want anything for lunch? If we're eating, then we might as well get something for the whole group."
Her dad pushed the number for the ground floor.
Iris snickered and leaned into her daughter as they were seated. "Say, Cy. Is that dashing boy your boyfriend?"
Her face turned into a tomato as she shouted, "Mom? Don't act like some schoolgirl!"
Her mom chuckled. "Your reaction is telling, dear." Her smile widened. "How did you meet?"
"By being clumsy basically."
"Clumsy? How cliché."
She narrowed her eyes. "Mom..."
Cy sighed and glanced at Cole as he spoke to her father. Good thing he was distracted. How mortifying would it be if he had heard.
Her dad pushed the number for the ground floor.
"It's just down this way," Cyan's dad said.
They went into the cafeteria.
When they arrived, a tall, gangly looking man with thick glasses greeted them. "Hey, it's Berry's parents. How are you today?"
"Doing well, Mr. Roberts," her dad said.
Mr. Roberts turned his attention to Cyan. "Who's your friend?"
"I'm Cole. A friend of Berry's sister."
"What will you be having?"
"Two orders of chicken strips," her mom said. "One order of fries and two orders of nuggets."
"Anything for you, Cole?"
"No, thank you." Cole shook his head.
Cole held out his terminal and paid for all of them.
Cyan protested. "You don't need to pay for us."
"He's very kind," her dad said.
Cyan blushed.
"It's okay. It's the least I can do," Cole said.
"Then I'll treat you to dinner when we get back home," Cyan said.
"We'll see about that." Cole grinned.
Her dad chuckled. "I like you, Cole."
Cole grinned. "I like you guys too."
Her mom nodded. "We'll take a table. We'll come get you when it's ready."
***
After eating, Cyan, her parents, and Cole went to the waiting room. Only getting up occasionally to grab some coffee or go to the restroom. After what felt like an endless wait, a nurse finally walked over to them.
"Are you Berry Sinclair's family?"
Cyan's dad stood up. "Yeah. Is everything alright?"
The nurse smiled and nodded. "Don't worry. Everything went well. Berry might still be out of it from the anesthesia, though."
"That's okay." Cyan was anxious to talk to her little sister.